In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 123, Section 122: Reply from the Northeast, New Plans, Second Brother's Visit to Relatives

Mid-August, afternoon.

The incessant chirping of cicadas tore at the sweltering air of Shanghai, growing louder and louder, as if trying to boil the entire alleyway.

In the courtyard of a Shikumen house, the bluestone slabs sizzle under the scorching sun, releasing a strong, sultry smell mixed with the sweltering heat of withered moss—a unique characteristic of summer in the alleyways.

Li Guihua, clutching a bulging envelope, walked briskly across the small, steamy courtyard.

The envelope was in her sweaty hands, like a freshly baked sweet potato, hot to the touch, yet so precious that she couldn't bear to let go of it.

The unfamiliar postmark on the envelope was like a mark from the far north.

She didn't rush to dismantle it; instead, she carefully placed it under the gleaming glass tabletop of the dresser, which was so shiny it could almost reflect a person's image.

Since receiving that letter from Northeast China, which complained about his situation, Yang Guangming made a special trip to the post office to find out the details. After the whole family solemnly discussed and came up with a plan, he sent a letter each to his second brother, Yang Guangyao, and his second sister, Yang Xiangmei, who were far away in Northeast China.

That letter carried the family's heavy sentiments and limited resources.

Yang Guangming wrote it very clearly in the letter.

First: The family sends each of them a remittance every six months, a subsidy of thirty yuan per person, totaling sixty yuan per person per year. This is an amount that has been saved up from the smallest of circumstances, so don't think it's too little.

Second: Starting now, the family will gradually exchange precious national food coupons, like ants carrying food, while also rummaging through drawers and cabinets to prepare old quilts and old cotton clothes.

The harsh cold of Northeast China is a fear etched in the hearts of people from the Jiangnan region, and the whole family will do their best to prepare.

Third: Old cotton quilts and old cotton-padded clothes are heavy and bulky, so they can be sent through the post office. However, the post office has strict restrictions on the national grain coupons, which are precious and sensitive items. They can only be entrusted to an absolutely reliable person to be taken to the Northeast for forwarding.

Finding this person is like searching for a needle in a haystack; we have to search slowly and inform them only when we have definite information.

In addition, Yang Guangming also clearly wrote down all the post office's mailing regulations and restrictions in the letter.

Firstly, I wanted to give a brief explanation so that my older siblings wouldn't be confused; secondly, I wanted to let them know what was going on so they wouldn't make a mistake out of ignorance and get into unnecessary trouble.

After sending this weighty letter home, it's been a whole month already, and time has flown by like a snail's pace.

Now, the long-awaited response has finally been secured in Li Guihua's hands.

……

Around three or four o'clock in the afternoon, the deathly silence in the alley was gradually stirred.

The bicycle bell rang out, its crisp sound carrying a hint of impatience, announcing the return of workers.

The noisy footsteps approached from afar, drawn-out and weary.

Zhang Xiuying carried a worn-out bamboo vegetable basket, her forehead covered with glistening beads of sweat, and a few strands of gray hair clung damply to her temples.

Behind her, Yang Yongkang followed silently, his blue overalls soaked with a large patch of dark sweat stains, clinging to his hunched back.

He was like an old ox that had been unharnessed, each step he took was heavy.

A little later, it was Yang Guanghui. He was pushing that old "tank" bicycle, which was creaking and about to fall apart at any moment, except for the bell which didn't ring. The sound of the chain rubbing together was enough to make your teeth ache.

Yang Guangming was also caught in the flow of people returning home. His figure flashed and he walked into the front building, which was slightly dimly lit and had a stagnant atmosphere.

"Mom! A letter has arrived from the Northeast!"

Li Guihua's voice, like a pebble thrown into still water, carried a deliberately elevated joy, instantly breaking the stuffiness and silence in the room.

She strode to the chest of drawers, deftly pulled out the bulging envelope, and shoved it into Zhang Xiuying's hand, who had just put down her shopping basket and was still wiping away sweat.
"Look! It's bulging and feels thick when you squeeze it! Yao Yao and Mei Mei's letters should be inside!"

The envelope was somewhat dirty and heavy, carrying a sense of weariness from a long journey, as if it still carried the chill of the Songhua River.

Zhang Xiuying's fingers, those hands that had toiled for half her life and whose knuckles were somewhat large, began to tremble slightly.

She tore open the seal hastily and almost violently.

Two neatly folded sheets of paper slid out and lay quietly in her palm.

One handwriting is delicate and graceful, like a flowing stream; the other is slightly messy and unrestrained, carrying a hint of impatience.

"Mingming! Quick, read it aloud!"

Zhang Xiuying practically slapped the letter into her youngest son Yang Guangming's hand, while nervously clutching the faded hem of her clothes.

Her cloudy gaze was fixed on the thin paper, as if she wanted to use all her strength to penetrate the barrier and see what her children looked like thousands of miles away—had they gained or lost weight? Were they smiling or worried?

Sunlight brightened as he unfolded the letter paper with its delicate handwriting—it was the handwriting of his second sister, Yang Xiangmei.

He cleared his throat, his Adam's apple bobbing, and tried his best to read in a steady and clear tone, enunciating each word with extra care:

"Dear Mom and Dad, eldest brother and sister-in-law, and little brother:"
Greetings! Don't worry.

Everything is fine here in Northeast China.

The difficulties mentioned in the last letter have all been overcome with the enthusiastic help of the team leaders and villagers. Please rest assured.

I've learned a lot of chores from Aunt Wang, who's very kind in the village: planting vegetables, feeding chickens, tending the garden, and even making sticky rice cakes from Northeast China!
Although it was my first time making it, and it looked crooked and not very pretty, it tasted quite good after steaming, with a slightly sweet flavor..."

In the letter, Yang Xiangmei rambled on, describing the mundane daily life in the village in the Great Northern Wilderness as if she were having a casual chat.

She described how the wildflowers on the meadow were blooming so beautifully, like a colorful carpet; how her new friend taught her needlework and was so kind; and how the dogs in the village were so well-behaved, never barking at strangers…

Regarding the crucial issues of work points and food rations, she wrote in a relaxed tone:
"...I firmly disagree with the matter of sending money home and providing food coupons!"
Mom and Dad, eldest brother and sister-in-law, younger brother, life in the city isn't easy for you either; your rations are all limited!
Zhuangzhuang is growing rapidly and has a big appetite, so we absolutely cannot skimp on food for me from your mouths!

Even if my family goes to great lengths to exchange for food coupons and send them to me, I will never use them. There's really no need to go through all that trouble and waste my family's favors and effort.

As for cotton quilts and cotton-padded coats, I know your family is also struggling financially. Old cotton-padded clothes can be washed, padded thickly, and used. Just do your best, please don't be too hard on yourselves by scraping together new ones…”

After Yang Guangming finished reading, the front building fell into an even deeper silence.

The only sounds were the faint noises of people moving through the alleyway outside the window, the ringing of bicycle bells, and the faint, almost inaudible buzzing of a 15-watt incandescent light bulb overhead, its surface covered in dust.

Zhang Xiuying's eyes instantly reddened, and a thin layer of moisture filled the air.

She quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, her voice already choked with sobs, as if something was blocking her throat:

“This child…this child is always like this! She only reports good news and hides the bad! The more casually she says ‘it’s nothing,’ ‘everything’s fine,’ ‘don’t send it,’ the more uneasy and anxious I feel…”

She could almost see her daughter in the icy wilderness, wearing a thin old cotton coat that couldn't keep out the cold wind, her hands and feet red with cold, yet she still forced a smile and wrote down these words "all is well" stroke by stroke.

"Meimei... is really sensible."

Yang Yongkang uttered a muffled sentence, his voice so low it seemed to come from underground.

He instinctively picked up the well-worn, oily pipe on the table and tapped it lightly on the corner, producing a hollow "tap-tap" sound. The pipe was long since extinguished, leaving only cold ashes.

Li Guihua also let out a long sigh, her tone complex, carrying an indescribable heartache:

"Yes, she's so sensible, so sensible that it makes people...sigh, it breaks my heart."

Even though she herself had suffered countless hardships over there, she was always thinking of her family and afraid of causing them any trouble.

Her words carried a rare sincerity, not merely empty platitudes. As a woman herself, she could understand the hardship of such restraint.

Yang Guanghui nodded silently, his dark, rough face etched with deep wrinkles filled with worry.

His lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing.

Yang Guangming felt a slight pang in his heart, as if he had been gently pricked by a tiny needle.

The resilience and understanding revealed in his second sister's words made him feel both heartache and admiration, as well as a sense of powerlessness.

"Take another look, take another look at Yao Yao's letter."

Zhang Xiuying sniffed, suppressing her surging emotions, and urged him on with a barely perceptible tension in her voice.

Her palms clenched tighter without her realizing it.

Yang Guangming unfolded the letter paper as instructed, the handwriting was messy and the paper was slightly wrinkled—it was the handwriting of his second brother, Yang Guangyao.

The opening still features that familiar, resentful tone:
"Mom and Dad: I received the letter."

Sigh! Life here is truly unbearable!

There's always work to be done! I'm so tired I can barely straighten my back! And the food? It's practically pig slop! Thin soup, bland and tasteless, it hurts my throat!
Those guys I live with are either incredibly lazy or cunning; not one of them is any good!

Squeezing onto the same kang (heated brick bed) with them, smelling their odor, and listening to their snoring—it's like shortening my lifespan! I really couldn't stand it for even a day!

Team leader? Hmph! He's a snob too! All he does is bully us educated youth from out of town, assigning us all the dirty and hard work..."

The complaints and grievances filled most of the page, and the words were full of frustration and dissatisfaction.

Only when the letter was almost empty did the hasty handwriting suddenly change, becoming "sincere and heartfelt," even conveying a sense of warmth:
"...Regarding the remittance from home, I would like to thank my parents, elder brother and sister-in-law, and younger brother!"

Sixty yuan a year was a real lifesaver, relieving Xianglan and me of our urgent need!

And grain coupons, the more the better! The family went to the trouble of exchanging them; Xianglan and I will always remember this kindness!
Old cotton quilts and cotton-padded jackets should be padded as thickly as possible.
"You can't imagine how cold it is in Northeast China! Ears and fingers often freeze off! I'm not exaggerating!"

Then, he dropped the most crucial information, and his handwriting seemed to have become a little neater:

"...The post office has many rules for sending things, it checks very strictly, and it's as slow as a snail's pace."

I was thinking that it would be difficult to entrust these valuable items, especially the national grain coupons and banknotes, to someone else to carry them. Firstly, I didn't trust them, as I didn't know if something might go wrong along the way. Secondly, it would be troublesome for them, and I would owe them a favor that would be hard to repay later.

Perfect timing! I spent ages negotiating with the team, and we finally got it sorted out!

After the autumn harvest, when there's no work in the fields and it's the off-season for farming, around the beginning of November, I'll ask for leave to go home!
It's safest to bring these things back myself! That way, nothing will go wrong!
I really miss home. I want to see how my parents are doing, and how much Zhuangzhuang has grown. I haven't seen Zhuangzhuang for over a year, and I miss Xiaonan.

I discussed it with Xianglan, and she felt that the journey was too far, and it would be difficult and expensive to travel back and forth, so she wouldn't come back with me.

As for her family visit leave, the team leader agreed to combine it with mine. This way, I can stay at home longer, without having to rush back and forth so much, and I can have more time to spend with you all.

"Just wait for me to come home, don't worry too much."

I've finished reading the letter.

The atmosphere in the front building became somewhat subtle, like a pot of water that was about to boil, calm on the surface but turbulent underneath.

Zhang Xiuying and Yang Yongkang, the elderly couple, exchanged a glance instinctively. As parents, their first reaction is always worry and heartache.

“Early November…” Zhang Xiuying murmured, her brows furrowed into a deep frown. “Such a long way! How many days and nights will it take by train? I heard the roads are very chaotic… Will he be able to manage alone? Is it safe on the road? It’s getting cold; it’s probably already snowing up north…”

A barrage of worries poured out like beans, and his voice was filled with anxiety.

Yang Yongkang, being more practical, frowned and said in a low voice, "What about the travel expenses? A round trip by train costs a hundred yuan, plus food and drinks along the way, it'll cost quite a bit! I wonder if the two of them can scrape together that much money?"

He habitually began to calculate the family's income and expenses again, and this extra expense also needed to be included in the plan well in advance.

Li Guihua inwardly scoffed, the contempt almost bursting from her throat and escaping through her nostrils.

She forced herself not to pout, but unconsciously tightened her grip on Zhuangzhuang's arm, causing the little boy to shift uncomfortably.

She thought to herself: What a scheming person! He couldn't stand the hardship over there and wanted to run back to enjoy a few days of peace and quiet, all while pretending to bring things back, as if he were a very family-oriented person! What's even more infuriating is that he even took up Xianglan's family visit leave!
He was a strong and healthy young man, yet he was more delicate and timid than Xianglan, a young girl!

Travel expenses? Hmph, easy for you to say. You're probably hoping your family will foot the bill, aren't you? Your scheme is so cunning, even the people across the Songhua River can hear it!

Yang Guanghui picked up the pair of old Liberation rubber shoes on the table, which seemed impossible to clean, wet them, and continued to scrub the mud spots on the uppers with all his might, as if he wanted to rub through the yellowed canvas.

He was already well aware of his younger brother Yang Guangyao's behavior, but at this moment he just felt embarrassed and ashamed for his brother.

Going to the countryside is tough, but aren't other kids all enduring it? Why is Yang Guangyao so precious that he can't bear it?
I have to make a special trip back, and the round-trip fare will cost me almost a hundred yuan. Just thinking about it makes my heart ache! It's such a waste of money and effort, just adding to the burden on my family!

He wiped his shoes with even more force!

Yang Guangming's reaction was much calmer, even carrying a hint of relief that everything had settled. He gently put down the letter, understanding dawning on him.

He was also very clear about his second brother Yang Guangyao's character—selfish, afraid of hardship, calculating, scheming, and prone to complaining.

He had seen those complaints and grievances in the letter before. But in the end, they were blood relatives, still brothers.

Looking at the deep, almost overflowing worry in my parents' eyes, and then thinking of my second sister's letter, I felt a sense of forbearance and strength, where she only reported good news and not bad.

Yang Guangming felt that, within his means and without revealing his own secrets, it was only right to help his relatives far away, making their lives easier and less painful.

After all, he possessed the hidden advantage of having a refrigerator space. These "extra" supports were merely a matter of convenience for him, something he could do with a thought.

Since my second brother has taken the initiative to ask for the items back, we can take them all with us at once, saving us the worry and potential risks of having someone else deliver them.

As for the second brother enjoying the second sister's vacation, Yang Guangming knew perfectly well that he had objections, but some things were easier to say when they met in person.

The 100 yuan round-trip fare was a very real issue for him, and he didn't care too much about that small gain or loss.

In his mind, family ties are always more important than petty calculations.

"Alright." Yang Guangming spoke first, breaking the somewhat stagnant atmosphere in the room. His tone was relaxed, as if something had finally been settled. "Now that Second Brother is coming back, we don't need to bother figuring out or asking around about having someone deliver the grain coupons."

He looked at his parents and said, "This is good. It saves us from having to search everywhere for a reliable person, worrying that something might go wrong. He can take care of it himself without any middlemen, which is the most reassuring thing."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiuying and Yang Yongkang felt a sense of relief.

Asking someone to bring things, especially sensitive and precious items like national grain coupons, always weighed heavily on their minds.

They were afraid that the person they entrusted with the task was unreliable and would run into trouble halfway through; they were also afraid that the handover would be unclear and cause trouble; and they were even more afraid of implicating the person who helped them.

Now that the stone has been removed, although the worry about his son's safety on the long journey remains, the enormous psychological burden has indeed been greatly reduced.

"Yes, yes, yes! Take good care of yourself, take good care of yourself!" Zhang Xiuying nodded repeatedly, the worry on her face easing slightly. Her mind immediately focused on the new and more specific task, and her voice became lively:

"There are still more than two months from now until the beginning of November, so we need to hurry!"
Old cotton quilts and clothes need to be thoroughly washed, leaving no musty smell or sweat stains. The quilting should be thicker and stuffed full.

She spoke with increasing enthusiasm, as if she could see plenty of thick cotton wool for all she needed:

"Anyway, you don't have to go to the post office to weigh and calculate the parcel fee. The rules for bringing luggage on the train are not so strict, so you can stuff as much cotton as possible into the baggage."

During this time, I dug out all the old cotton that had been stored away at the bottom of the chest!
Let's think of another way to see if we can get some new cotton coupons to replace as much old cotton as possible. It's best to avoid using those hardened, stale cotton that doesn't keep us warm.

There's not much we can do at home to help, but we want them to be warmly dressed and sleep soundly!

Her gaze swept over the few old quilts piled in the corner, and her eyes became unusually firm.

"You should also hurry up and save up your grain coupons!" Yang Yongkang immediately added, glancing at Li Guihua and Yang Guangming with a sense of entrustment.

"Save as much as you can! If Yaoyao comes back, bring him all at once. It'll be hard to have such a good opportunity again." His considerations always leaned towards practicality and safety.

The mention of grain coupons instantly perked Li Guihua up, her face radiating a confident glow, and she even straightened her back a bit.

She put down Zhuangzhuang, who was squirming in her arms, her voice carrying a hint of barely suppressed pride, deliberately lowered yet clearly audible to everyone:
"Mom! Dad! Don't worry! Leave the food coupons to me!"

She patted her chest, as if making a solemn pledge, "Ever since Mingming started bringing back nice things to supplement the family income from time to time, I've become more and more familiar with this method! I've figured out the tricks of the trade perfectly!"

She counted on her fingers, her eyes sparkling as if she were counting precious jewels. Her voice was lowered, but her excitement was impossible to hide.

"I haven't been idle for the past month and a half! And I certainly didn't waste the good stuff Mingming brought back!"

She knew them all like the back of her hand:
"Thanks to the fine rice noodles, sweet honey, and glossy walnuts that Mingming brought back, and that precious white sugar from last time..."

I secretly arranged things with a few aunties in the alley who were tight-lipped and had a clear understanding of the situation, as well as a few close and trustworthy sisters from my maternal family.

After all that, I've accumulated this amount—

She held up two fingers, then deliberately bent her thumb, making a clear "seven" gesture, her eyes fixed intently on everyone.

"Twenty-seven jin!"

She practically whispered this astonishing figure in her ear, her face radiating an undisguised sense of immense accomplishment. "These are all genuine, hard-earned national grain coupons! Absolutely no exaggeration!"

"Twenty-seven jin!" Zhang Xiuying gasped, her eyes widening and her mouth slightly agape, she could hardly believe her ears!

In an era when each person was rationed only 20 to 30 catties of grain per month and even eating a piece of tofu required a coupon, what did 27 catties of national grain coupons mean?
This means that you can reliably exchange for the same amount of grain anywhere in the country, at any grain depot, and even get a corresponding amount of cooking oil!
This is an absolutely unimaginable, enormous fortune! In critical moments, it's a life-saving form of hard currency!

A rare look of shock appeared on Yang Yongkang's wrinkled face, and he almost dropped his pipe.

Even Yang Guanghui, who had been silently polishing shoes, suddenly looked up, his dark face filled with disbelief, and the way he looked at Li Guihua changed.

“Osmanthus...you...how did you get so much…” Zhang Xiuying was both surprised and delighted, but then a deeper worry arose, “Won’t…won’t something go wrong? What if someone finds out…” She dared not think any further.

"Oh dear! Mom! You can rest assured, okay?!"

Li Guihua patted her chest and assured him, her voice still low, but her tone resolute and full of confidence:

"I'm sensible and know my limits when it comes to handling things! I'm clear-headed and only seek out people I know well and can rely on!"
We exchange our scarce goods for other people's surplus grain coupons that they don't need or can't use right now—it's a fair and mutually agreeable transaction! No cheating, young or old!

She emphasized, "Everything I take out is top-notch, of the highest quality! The prices are fair too, and people are eager to trade with me! If you keep your mouth shut and your hands clean, what problems could there be?"

She looked at Yang Guangming, her eyes carrying a tacit understanding between allies:

"As long as Mingming can maintain this momentum and send back some 'hard goods' every now and then—whether it's food or household items, as long as they're in high demand and people are short of them—I guarantee it will be ready by the end of October."

She held up four fingers and waved them forcefully in front of her family, with an air of unquestionable authority:

"Get at least another forty jin! That'll bring the total to sixty or seventy jin of national grain coupons! That'll be enough for Yaoyao and Meimei to eat comfortably in the Northeast for quite a while, without having to count the grains of rice at every meal!"

This number once again exploded like a bomb in the small front building.

Sixty or seventy jin of national grain coupons!

This was an astronomical sum that their family had never dared to dream of before; it was a key resource that could change the quality of life for the two of them in a foreign land.

"Good! Good! Good!" Zhang Xiuying exclaimed three times in a row, her eyes welling up with tears again, this time from joy.

She grabbed Li Guihua's hand and held it tightly. The rough palm conveyed a burning gratitude and a new, heavy sense of reliance.

"Guihua! You've really gone to a lot of trouble with this! We're all counting on you! We're so lucky to have you in our house!"

Life in the family is undergoing a dramatic transformation thanks to the youngest son's mysterious connections and the eldest daughter-in-law's shrewdness, competence, and social skills.

Being able to provide such powerful and concrete support to her children far away, the guilt and long-standing sense of powerlessness in her heart were replaced for the first time by a real sense of confidence that "there are ways" and "it can be done".

This confidence seemed to straighten her hunched back a bit.

Yang Yongkang's tense expression completely relaxed, and a rare smile even appeared in his deep wrinkles.

He nodded solemnly to Li Guihua, his eyes filled with approval, recognition, and a heavy sense of entrustment.

"Hmm, well done. Osmanthus, you... are very thoughtful."

Yang Yongkang paused, then emphasized, "Safety first, we must be extremely cautious."

He then added, "We also need to hurry up with the cotton matter and get it done together."

"I understand, Dad! Don't worry!" Li Guihua replied loudly, her voice filled with the joy of being recognized and high spirits.

At this moment, her status in her in-laws' hearts undoubtedly reached an unprecedented height.

The atmosphere at home became completely lively, as if it had been infused with flowing water.

The worries that had been weighing on my head for so long were dispelled by these successive good news, replaced by a clear sense of purpose, division of labor, and high morale.

Everyone was mobilized to work towards the November reunion and the warmth of the North.

Zhang Xiuying immediately sprang into action, starting to calculate which old quilts in her home could be disassembled, washed, and refurbished, and which old cotton-padded jackets had cotton that had become compacted and needed to be completely re-fluffed, muttering to herself:

"Old Yang, look at the bottom of that camphor wood chest in the corner. Isn't there an old cotton-padded jacket lying around? It's a bit thin, but it can still be used after washing it..."

She looked like a general about to command a major battle, her sharp eyes scanning the "supplies" in the house.

Yang Yongkang nodded silently, put down his pipe, walked to the corner, and began to rummage through the bundles of old clothes tied with hemp rope.

Silently calculating in my mind how many cotton coupons were left at home, whether I could still get some from my old colleagues, or whether I should borrow something to exchange with them...

He calculated with utmost care; every ounce of cotton held weight in his heart.

Yang Guanghui also put down those old rubber shoes that seemed impossible to clean.

He walked over to his mother and silently began to help tidy up the pile of old clothes in the corner. His movements were clumsy, but he did it with great care.

He picked up a stiff, old cotton-padded coat, weighed it in his hand, and pressed it down hard with his palm, as if assessing its "potential for renovation".

Yang Guangming stood quietly to the side, watching his family members' busy yet hopeful figures, feeling a warm sense of peace in his heart.

The inexhaustible supplies in the refrigerator are being safely, discreetly, slowly, and effectively transformed by the sister-in-law's shrewd and efficient hands into a source of strength to support the family and bring warmth to relatives far away.

This transformation is subtle and stable.

Li Guihua picked Zhuangzhuang up again, her face beaming with satisfaction and pride.

She enjoys this sense of being indispensable and pivotal in family affairs, and even more so, she enjoys the unprecedented and undisguised recognition and attention from her parents-in-law.

The occasional "subsidies" that Yang Ming brought home made the family's dinner table more and more savory, and Zhuangzhuang's little face became visibly round and rosy.

This tangible improvement, coupled with the sense of accomplishment she felt in helping her family solve such a big problem, made her feel that even the damp and sweltering days in the alleyway had become exceptionally promising.

The amount of food coupons that she slowly accumulated was not just a number, but also the source of her confidence to live and stand tall in this family!

As the setting sun gradually sank behind the window, it painted the staggered rooftops of the Shikumen with a warm and brilliant golden edge, and cast long shadows into the narrow courtyard.

The path to help children far away is clear: a cash subsidy of sixty yuan per person per year, thicker and warmer cotton-padded clothes and quilts, and as many national food coupons as possible.

All of these will await a returning soul in November—Yang Guangyao—who will personally carry them to that cold and remote black land.

Zhang Xiuying's rough fingers rubbed against a wad of yellowed, stiff old cotton that she had just taken apart. With that rough touch, she could almost feel the warmth of the thicker, whiter new cotton that was about to be injected into it.

She raised her head, gazing at the sky outside the window gradually being tinged with twilight, and silently murmured in her heart, a call that seemed to travel across mountains and rivers:
Yaoyao, Meimei, wait a little longer, wait a little longer... At home, this longing is being layered, becoming thicker and warmer.

(End of this chapter)