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

In the early morning, before dawn, there was already movement in that small room in the tenement.

Chu Yuanjun was the first to get up quietly, and using the dim light filtering through the torn window paper, he began to pack up his few remaining belongings.

She moved very quietly, afraid of waking her sleeping husband and children. But in fact, everyone was awake except for the young Jingyi.

Yang Guangming opened his eyes the moment his mother got up. Having absorbed memories from several lifetimes, he was a very light sleeper and his alertness far exceeded that of ordinary people.

He lay on his side, his gaze calmly fixed on his mother's busy figure in the dim light.

Yang Huai-ren also woke up. The persistent dull pain from his leg injury made it difficult for him to sleep deeply. He sat leaning against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), silently watching his wife begin packing the clothes that were covered in patches. His face was expressionless, but deep in his eyes lay a complex emotion that was hard to describe.

The family has separated and is moving away, leaving this crowded place where they've lived for nearly two years and which holds countless difficult memories. The future is shrouded in thick fog; the only clear thing is the heavy burden of supporting the family, which now mostly falls on their son's still-slender shoulders.

Jingwan woke up too. The little girl was very sensible. Knowing that they were moving today, she quietly got up and helped her mother pack.

The family's valuable possessions had all been pawned before the division of property. What remained were only tattered clothes, a few old, stiff quilts with clumps of cotton, and some trivial daily necessities.

After looking around, the only things that could be considered "major items" were an old kang mat with torn edges, which was laid on the kang, and a broken wardrobe with loose tenons and badly peeling paint.

Chu Yuanjun stroked the kang mat, then looked at the empty wardrobe, a look of reluctance on his face.

“Dad, shall we take this mat and cabinet with us? The new rented house is fully furnished, but having an extra mat and a cabinet to store things will make things more convenient.” She asked her husband in a low voice, her tone filled with hope.

Before Yang Huai-ren could speak, Yang Guangming had already sat up and softly advised, "Mother, let it go. In our new home, the kang mat is new, and there's a wardrobe too."

The straw mat on the kang (heated brick bed) has several holes, and the cabinet is wobbly and difficult to move. It would attract attention on the way, and there's nowhere to put it when we get there. The main problem is the shipping cost; it's not worth it.

He paused, looked at his parents, and said in a calm but persuasive tone, "Let's leave it to Grandpa and Grandma. The mat in their room is even older than ours. My second and third uncles have more children and more stuff. They might find this cabinet useful."

Since we don't lack anything at our new rented place, consider these old things a favor.

Yang Huai-ren listened to his son's words and thought they made sense. He nodded and said to his wife, "Guangming is right. Taking them won't be of much use, and it would only make us look stingy and petty. Let's leave them for our parents; it's a small token of our affection before we move away."

Although Chu Yuanjun was still a little reluctant, she stopped insisting because her husband and son said so.

She sighed, carefully rolled up the kang mat, stood it in the corner, and emptied the last bit of clutter from the wardrobe.

In the end, everything that needed to be taken was packed into an old but sturdy basket, and two small bundles were also packed, and that was considered all that was needed.

Their possessions were pitifully few.

After a quick wash, the family looked at the almost empty old house and couldn't help but feel a little lost.

"Let's go say goodbye to our parents," Yang Huai-ren said, leaning on his cane and trying to stand up straight.

Yang Guangming carried a heavy basket on his back and a bundle in his left hand. Chu Yuanjun supported her husband, while Jingwan held her sister Jingyi's hand and carried another bundle in her right hand.

The family silently left the house they had lived in for so long and headed towards the main house.

Inside the main house, Grandpa Yang Hanzhang and Grandma, along with their second and third uncles and their families, seemed to be waiting for them. The atmosphere was somewhat somber.

When the eldest son's family entered, especially when they saw Yang Guangming carrying a full basket on his back and a bundle in his hands, everyone's expressions varied.

Grandpa Yang Hanzhang's face showed obvious reluctance and worry, while Grandma was more focused on looking at Yang Guangming's luggage.

Second Uncle Yang Huaiyi and Third Uncle Yang Huaili forced smiles and said polite things like, "Eldest brother and sister-in-law, come back and visit often in the future," and "Guangming has made something of himself, keep up the good work."

The two aunts and the children were also standing to the side, and the two aunts said a few words of farewell.

"Father, Mother," Yang Huai-ren said, bowing slightly to his parents with his son's help. "We're leaving now."

Yang Hanzhang stepped forward, patted his eldest son's shoulder forcefully, then looked at Chu Yuanjun and his two granddaughters, finally fixing his gaze on Yang Guangming. His thousand words were condensed into a few weighty admonitions:

"Huai Ren, Yuan Jun, live your lives well in your new place. Guangming, take good care of your parents and sister... Be tolerant when things happen, but don't let others bully you."

"Grandpa, don't worry, I will," Yang Guangming replied solemnly.

"Father, Mother, please take care of yourselves." Yang Huai-ren's voice was choked with emotion.

Chu Yuanjun, with tears in her eyes, bid farewell to her parents-in-law.

Without much small talk, under the silent gaze of the family seeing them off, Yang Guangming, carrying a basket on his back and a bundle in his hand, Chu Yuanjun supporting Yang Huai Ren, and Jing Wan holding Jing Yi's hand, turned and walked out of the main house and out of this crowded and dilapidated courtyard.

Leaving the place they had rented for nearly two years and stepping into an unknown new environment, the family of five was filled with trepidation.

Since his father was unable to walk, Yang Guangming hired a cart at the entrance of the alley, helped his father onto the cart, and put his luggage on it as well.

No one spoke along the way, each lost in their own thoughts.

Yang Huai-ren sat on the cart, his mind blank, feeling somewhat lost about the future.

Chu Yuanjun followed beside the cart, occasionally offering a helping hand. His gaze swept over the dilapidated scene on both sides of the street, and he prayed in his heart that the new home would be as peaceful as his son had said.

Jingwan and Jingyi followed obediently by their parents' side. The two little girls felt a little uneasy about leaving their familiar environment, but when they thought of their brother's description of "a house with its own courtyard" and "having their own room", a hint of curiosity and anticipation appeared in their eyes.

Yang Guangming walked at the front, his steps steady. He felt no trepidation, only a calm and certainty that a new chapter was about to begin.

After walking for about twenty minutes, passing through several increasingly neat alleys, Yang Guangming stopped in front of a two-courtyard siheyuan with blue bricks and gray tiles.

"Father, Mother, we're here, this is it." He pointed to the courtyard gate in front of them.

The black lacquered wooden door, with its gleaming brass rings, was far more impressive than the previous cramped courtyard.

Yang Huai Ren and Chu Yuan Jun stared at the courtyard gate, somewhat stunned, seemingly finding it hard to believe that this was the place they were about to move into.

After paying the fare, Yang Guangming stepped forward and knocked on the door knocker. Soon, footsteps came from inside, and the door creaked open. It was Liao Dazhuang, the "nest-necked" master Liao who lived in the front yard.

"Oh, Mr. Yang! Your family is here! Moving things? Come, come, let me help you!"

When Liao Dazhuang saw Yang Guangming's family, a warm and friendly smile immediately appeared on his face. He then stepped forward to take the basket from Yang Guangming's back.

"Master Liao, you're welcome. It's not much, I can manage on my own." Yang Guangming stepped aside, smiled and thanked him. "We'll be neighbors from now on, you can just call me Guangming."

"That won't do. We still need to observe proper etiquette."

Liao Dazhuang rubbed his hands together, then remembered the important matter and quickly said, "By the way, Mr. Yang, the timber matter has been taken care of."

This morning, someone was hawking a cartload of firewood at the alley entrance. As you instructed yesterday, I stopped them and bought 100 jin (50 kg). It's all good quality firewood, and I've already stacked it for you under the awning in the southeast corner of the east courtyard.

I already told Mr. Shen about the pile of old firewood, and he moved it elsewhere. From now on, that place is yours to use.”

"That's great, Master Liao, thank you so much. Please also thank your wife for me." Yang Guangming was satisfied; Liao Dazhuang was indeed efficient and reliable.

"You're too kind. It was nothing. It's only right for neighbors to help each other out," Liao Dazhuang said, waving his hands repeatedly.

After saying goodbye to the hospitable Master Liao, Yang Guangming led the family into the courtyard.

Passing through the front courtyard, around the screen wall, and through the hanging flower gate of the middle courtyard, you arrive at the moon gate of the east courtyard.

Although the moon gate doesn't have actual doors and is slightly less private than a true detached house, it's still a world of difference compared to the previous cramped courtyard where several families were crammed into one yard with absolutely no privacy.

Standing in the courtyard of the east wing, looking at the square and clean blue brick floor, the three main rooms facing south, the east wing, and the old pomegranate tree with lush branches and leaves in the courtyard, Yang Huai-ren and Chu Yuan-jun could hardly believe their eyes.

This yard, this house, is even better than they imagined! Clean, tidy, and spacious—it's the kind of home they could only dream of!

"This...this is really the house we rented?" Chu Yuanjun's voice trembled as she instinctively gripped her husband's arm.

Yang Huai-ren was so excited that his lips trembled, his hand holding the cane shook slightly, and his eyes greedily swept over every corner of the yard, as if he wanted to engrave this scene into his heart.

"Father, Mother, let's go inside and take a look." Yang Guangming smiled, took out his key, and unlocked the doors of the main house and the east wing in turn.

He first led his family into the main house. The main room was spacious, and the eight-immortal table and chairs were spotless. In the two bedrooms on the east and west sides, the kang mats were indeed new, and the kang cabinets and wardrobes were complete, although the wood was ordinary, they were all in good condition.

Then we looked at the east wing. One room was a kitchen, complete with a stove, water tank, cupboard, and pots and pans. The other room was empty, with a bare bed and an empty wardrobe inside.

"Father, Mother, you two will stay in the east room of the main house, and Jingwan and Jingyi will stay in the west room. I will stay in this room in the east wing," Yang Guangming arranged.

"Brother! We...we really have our own room?" Jingwan could hardly believe her ears, her face flushed with excitement.

Jingyi also looked up, her big eyes filled with surprise, and timidly tugged at her brother's clothes to confirm: "Brother, my sister and I don't have to share a bed with Mom and Dad anymore?"

"Yes, Jingwan and Jingyi will have their own rooms from now on," Yang Guangming said, patting his younger sister's head.

The two little girls cheered and ran hand in hand into the west room of the main house. They curiously touched the kang mat and looked at the wardrobe, extremely excited.

Looking at her daughters' happy faces, and then at the spacious, bright, and fully furnished house, Chu Yuanjun felt a lump in her throat, and tears almost welled up in her eyes again. But this time, they were tears of joy, tears of bittersweet excitement at the end of hardship.

Looking at his wife and daughter's joyful expressions and their new home where they had settled down, Yang Huai-ren's tense nerves finally relaxed a little, and a long-lost, heartfelt smile appeared on his face.

His injured leg doesn't seem to hurt as much anymore.

The family moved their meager belongings into the house and put them away.

Those few things, placed in the spacious new room and new wardrobe, seemed even more empty, but this emptiness brought peace of mind, because it meant there was space and hope to fill it with a better life.

After tidying up his luggage, Yang Guangming said to his mother, "Mom, it's getting late, time to make breakfast. There's rice, flour, oil, and salt in the kitchen. I also brought back some mushrooms, vermicelli, and pickles yesterday. What do you think is convenient to make?"

Chu Yuanjun nodded quickly, wiping the corner of his eye with the back of his hand: "Okay, okay, I'll go cook right away."

The thought that there was food stored at home and that she wouldn't have to worry about the next meal made her feel much more at ease.

In these years of war and chaos, she often took her two daughters out to dig for wild vegetables, enduring wind and sun, living in fear. Especially as her two daughters grew up and became more and more beautiful, she was always on tenterhooks every time she went out in this chaotic world, fearing that she would encounter bad people.

Now that her son is supporting the family, the three of them can finally stay at home with peace of mind. Thinking of this, Chu Yuanjun felt as if a heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart for many years had been lifted, and she felt much lighter all over.

"Mother, you don't need to take the younger sisters out to dig for wild vegetables anymore." Yang Guangming looked at his mother and said earnestly, "I'll take care of the family's food, clothing, and other necessities. You just need to stay home, take good care of Father, and tutor Jingwan and Jingyi in their studies. It's dangerous for girls to be out running around all the time during wartime."

These words struck a chord with Chu Yuanjun, and she finally couldn't hold back her tears. She nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay, Mother will listen to you. Mother will stay at home and teach them to read."

When Jingwan and Jingyi heard that they no longer needed to go out to dig for wild vegetables and could stay home to learn from their mother, they were overjoyed and gathered around.

Despite her difficult circumstances and the inability of her two daughters to attend school, Chu Yuanjun persisted in teaching them to read and write without interruption. However, she had to temporarily stop teaching them for the past six months due to the extreme hardship.

Yang Guangming picked up the bucket by the kitchen door and said to his family, "I'm going to fetch water from the front yard. There's a well in the landlord's yard, in the southeast corner, so it's convenient to get water."

He walked to the southeast corner of the front yard and sure enough, he saw a stone well platform.

The water drawn up was clear, but had a slightly astringent taste. It was a bitter well, and the water quality wasn't very good.

In Beiping during that era, sweet water wells were a rarity; most ordinary families drank bitter well water.

Yang Ming has the means to buy sweet well water for his family, but since they have just moved here, it's not advisable to be too ostentatious.

Even the landlord, Mr. Shen, drinks water from this well. If he, as a tenant, suddenly ordered expensive bottled water from outside, it would be too conspicuous. We can only make do for now and think of ways to improve things gradually later.

He went back and forth a few times and quickly filled the large water vat in the kitchen, which was about half the height of a person, to about eight-tenths full.

Chu Yuanjun had already started a fire to cook. When she lifted the lid of the rice jar and saw it full of plump, full grains of rice, her hands trembled slightly. This rice was even better than the finest rice she had ever seen in the grain store!

She carefully scooped out a sufficient amount of rice, rinsed it clean, put it in the pot, and added the right amount of water. Then she took out the pickles and fermented bean curd that Yang Guangming had put in the cupboard yesterday, and put a small dish of each.

The long-lost aroma of rice filled the kitchen. This fragrance was an irresistible temptation for a family that had been on the verge of hunger for a long time.

Thanks to Yang Guangming's insistence, Chu Yuanjun used enough rice this time to cook porridge, which was so thick that chopsticks could almost stand upright in it.

When the family sat around the eight-immortal table in the main room, holding steaming bowls of white rice porridge that exuded a rich aroma, accompanied by crisp and refreshing pickles and savory fermented bean curd, everyone ate with extra relish and cherished the meal.

This was the first time since they separated from their family—no, in the last two years—that they had eaten such a hearty and reassuring meal.

Jingwan and Jingyi sipped their porridge slowly, savoring the sweet taste of the rice grains melting in their mouths, their faces beaming with happy and contented smiles.

As Yang Huai-ren ate the long-awaited white rice porridge, he was filled with mixed emotions.

Looking at his composed son, and at his wife and daughter whose faces had regained their radiance, he felt that the gloom brought by his injured leg seemed to have been dispelled by the warm aroma of the meal.

Hope, like the bright sky outside the window, truly shone into this newly settled home.

Five days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Over the past five days, the Yang family has quickly adapted to their new environment. The newly rented east wing not only offers excellent privacy, but what reassures the family most is the security it provides.

The families living in the courtyard, as the landlord Mr. Shen said, are all honest and law-abiding people.

With the "forceful force" of Master Jiao and his son in the front yard, the local thugs and idlers rarely dared to cause trouble. In the past five days, not only were there no troublemakers, but not even a suspicious person peeking around was seen.

On the afternoon of his first day after checking in, Yang Guangming returned carrying a heavy fish basket. It was filled with his catch from the river, mostly lively fish and shrimp.

As planned, he delivered about two catties of fish to each of the following families: Mr. Shen, the landlord; Mr. Liao and Mr. Jiao in the front yard; and Mr. Zhao and Mr. Guan in the back yard.

The neighbors were delighted to receive this unexpected "housewarming gift".

Landlord Mr. Shen smiled and praised Yang Guangming for being capable; Master Liao thanked him repeatedly, feeling that his new neighbor was a good person; Master Jiao didn't say much, but he also clasped his hands in thanks; Manager Zhao politely gave him a small packet of tea in return; and Mr. Guan asked his wife to bring over some of their homemade pickled vegetables.

Although it was just a simple exchange, the atmosphere was harmonious, which set a good precedent for the Yang family's life in this new courtyard.

During these five days, Yang Guangming had nothing to do, so he did go to the river outside the city twice, and each time he came back with a "great harvest".

Using this as an excuse, he gradually took out various grains, vegetables, oils, seasonings, and other daily necessities from the space, slowly filling the new home to make it look more and more like a proper home.

The rice and flour containers in the kitchen were always full, new dishes were added to the cupboard, and the jars of oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar were never empty. He even bought new towels, shoes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other odds and ends.

To put his mother's mind at ease, on the third night after moving in, Yang Guangming handed a small cloth bag to Chu Yuanjun.

Chu Yuanjun opened it with a puzzled look. Inside were ten heavy, gleaming silver dollars and ten brand-new gold yuan notes.

“Mother, please keep this money.” Yang Guangming said casually, “Silver dollars won’t depreciate, so keep them safe for emergencies. For daily expenses, these gold yuan notes will suffice. I’ll give you more money as I earn it later.”

Holding the heavy ten silver dollars, Chu Yuanjun's hands were trembling.

Silver dollars are hard currency, the most reliable support in chaotic times! Her son actually gave her so many at once!
There are also ten-yuan gold coins, which should be enough for the family's expenses for a while.

"Guangming...this...this is all...you earned it from fishing?" Chu Yuanjun's voice trembled with disbelief.

She knew her son seemed to have some knack for fishing and had a good catch, but she never expected to earn so much money, especially silver dollars.

"Well, we were lucky. We caught a few rare and valuable ones and found a discerning buyer." Yang Guangming explained vaguely, but his tone was firm. "Mom, don't worry about keeping it. From now on, our family's life will get better and better. This money is just the beginning."

Looking into his son's confident and composed eyes, Chu Yuanjun, despite having a thousand questions in his heart, turned them into unconditional trust.

She carefully put the cloth bag away and hid it at the very bottom of the wardrobe, pressing it down with her hand as if only then could she confirm that it wasn't a dream.

With this money, especially the ten heavy silver dollars, Chu Yuanjun's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out.

On the fourth day after moving in, Yang Guangming handed over 20 jin of first-class rice to his landlord, Mr. Shen, as payment for next month's rent.

Mr. Shen inspected the quality of the rice. He was very satisfied with the glistening and plump grains and praised them repeatedly. His gaze toward Yang Guangming was filled with more appreciation and curiosity.

This young man is truly capable; he actually managed to get his hands on such scarce rice.

Five days have passed since we moved into our new home, and life has been peaceful and stable. Yang Guangming thinks of his grandfather in the old house, and a pang of longing stirs in his heart.

Although I know that my second and third uncles are here and will do their best to take good care of me, we are far away after all, and I can only feel at ease if I see for myself how things are going.

Moreover, after a few days, he could also legitimately use the "profits from selling fish" as a pretext to send some grain and silver dollars to his grandfather, making the old man's life a little easier.

That morning, Yang Guangming told his parents and then went out with the covered bamboo basket on his back.

He walked at a leisurely pace until he was almost inside the alley where the old house was located. He looked around to make sure no one was there, then quickly focused his consciousness into his spatial dimension and transferred the things he had prepared in advance into the bamboo basket on his back.

There were ten pounds of Northeast rice packed in a cloth bag, and about ten pounds of various beans, millet and other grains, as well as two pounds of white sugar wrapped in oil paper and a one-pound jar of snow-white lard.

If these things are only supplied to the elderly couple and they eat them sparingly, it will be enough to last them for half a month.

Stepping into the familiar courtyard, it was quiet. At this time, my second and third uncles should have gone to work, and my two aunts were most likely out with the children digging for wild vegetables; neither of them were home.

Yang Guangming walked straight to the main house, lifted the curtain, and went inside.

Grandpa Yang Hanzhang sat leaning against the headboard, his complexion slightly better than a few days ago, but still looking haggard. Grandma was sitting on the edge of the kang sewing shoe soles when she heard the noise and looked up.

When the old lady saw Yang Guangming come in carrying a heavy bamboo basket, her eyes lit up instantly, and her face immediately lit up with a warm smile. She put down her work and came to greet him.

"Oh my! It's Guangming! Come in quickly, come in quickly! What are you carrying on your back? It looks so heavy!" Her eyes were almost glued to the bamboo basket.

"Grandpa, Grandma," Yang Guangming greeted politely, carefully placing the bamboo basket on the ground.

"The light has come." Yang Hanzhang smiled when he saw his grandson and struggled to sit up straight.

Yang Guangming squatted down and began taking things out of the bamboo basket one by one.

First came the ten-pound bag of rice, then the bag of mixed grains, then two pounds of white sugar, and finally the jar of white lard.

With each item brought out, the old woman's eyes widened, and her surprise and disbelief deepened. When she saw the jar of lard, she couldn't help but gasp, her Adam's apple bobbing.

"This...this is all...Guangming, you child...you've gone to such lengths!" The old lady was so excited she was almost incoherent, reaching out to stroke the rice bag and oil can as if confirming their authenticity. "Do your parents know? They're having a hard time too..."

"Grandma, don't worry, everything's taken care of by my parents. They have plenty of food." Yang Guangming said calmly. "This is what I earned from selling fish these past few days. I was thinking that Grandpa and Grandma might not be well-off, so I bought some grain and oil to bring over. You can mix this sugar with water to drink, and the lard will make the dishes more fragrant."

"Good! Good! Good child! What a filial child!" The old lady's smile was like a blooming chrysanthemum as she praised him repeatedly. "You... what can I say! You are truly... truly blessed to have my eldest grandson!"

As she spoke, she deftly moved the items to the inside, as if afraid they would be snatched away.

Yang Hanzhang looked at the things on the ground, then at his grandson, his eyes filled with complex emotions—gratification, gratitude, and a hint of barely perceptible guilt. He opened his mouth, but ultimately only managed to say, "Guangming, you're so thoughtful. Is everything... alright at home?"

“Grandpa, we’re all doing well. The new house is very quiet, and the neighbors are friendly,” Yang Guangming replied.

"That's good, that's good." Yang Hanzhang nodded.

There was no hot water readily available in the house, and the old lady was unusually attentive today. She said to Yang Guangming, "Guangming, why don't you talk to your grandfather? Grandma will go to the kitchen to boil some hot water for you. You must be thirsty after walking such a long way."

"Grandma, no need to trouble yourself..." Yang Guangming said politely.

"No trouble at all! Please sit down!" the old lady said, picking up the half-empty thermos in the corner and quickly walking out.

Just then, Yang Guangming also had something he wanted to say to his grandfather alone.

Only the grandfather and grandson remained in the room. Yang Guangming walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and sat down.

Yang Hanzhang lowered his voice and asked, "How are you settling into your new place? How's the surroundings? Has anyone caused you any trouble?"

"Grandpa, don't worry, everything is fine. The house is a detached house with a courtyard, very quiet. The landlord is a nice person, and the other tenants in the courtyard are all law-abiding citizens. There's also a martial arts expert like Master Jiao living in the front, so there are no safety issues." Yang Guangming gave a brief introduction to the situation.

Upon hearing this, Yang Hanzhang's face showed a relieved expression.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yang Guangming took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, quickly stuffed it into his grandfather's hand, and whispered, "Grandpa, please keep this safe, for emergencies."

Yang Hanzhang felt a weight in his hand, and when he squeezed it, the familiar shape and weight made him immediately realize what was inside.

It's silver dollars! I touched it with my hand, there should be ten of them!
He suddenly looked up, staring at his grandson in shock, his lips trembling: "Guangming, this...this is unacceptable! Your family is also struggling; your father's leg hasn't healed yet, and that's exactly when they need money! How can I take your money!"

"Grandpa, please accept it."

Yang Guangming pressed down on his grandfather's hand, which was trying to refuse, and said firmly, "Since I can afford it, it means the family isn't short of money. I've also prepared the money to buy medicine for my father."

"You're getting old, and having some savings is helpful. If you get sick or have an emergency, or if your uncles have any problems, you can manage. We live far away, so it's not as convenient for us to help."

He paused, looked into his grandfather's cloudy but still shrewd eyes, and said sincerely, "Now that I have the ability, it is only right that I show my respect to you. Please accept it without worry, just don't let anyone else know."

Feeling the heavy weight of the cloth bag in his hands and listening to his grandson's heartfelt words, Yang Hanzhang was filled with mixed emotions.

He never expected that after a lifetime of hard work, in his old age, his family would suffer misfortune, and his three sons would be so unsuccessful, not allowing him to enjoy much happiness. Instead, it was during this most difficult time that his young grandson, who was forced to drop out of school, stepped forward, not only supporting their small family but also helping him, an old man, in return.

This made him feel both immensely gratified and deeply heartbroken and regretful that his grandson was forced to give up his studies and shoulder the burden of life at a young age.

In peaceful times, with his intelligence and diligence, he could get into university and his future would be limitless...

But in this world... surviving is more important than anything else.

Yang Hanzhang did not refuse again. He simply squeezed his grandson's hand tightly, tears welling in his cloudy old eyes, nodded heavily, and then carefully stuffed the small cloth bag into his inner pocket, hiding it carefully.

"Be careful out there too." All those words were condensed into a single, weighty admonition.

“I know, Grandpa.”

Just then, the old lady came in carrying a kettle of boiling water, her face still beaming with a warm smile: "Come, come, Guangming, have some water, Grandma will pour you some."

She poured a bowl of hot water for Yang Guangming and another for Yang Hanzhang.

Yang Guangming took the bowl, thanked him, and slowly drank the warm water. He then chatted with his grandfather for a while, asking about his second and third uncles' families and what had happened in the past few days.

I learned from my grandfather that both of my uncles had pawned some worthless items to get some food. Although life was tight, they were still managing to get by.

Yang Guangming felt somewhat relieved after hearing this. As long as things could be maintained, he didn't need to interfere too much for the time being. Assistance should be moderate; it should be provided in emergencies, not to alleviate long-term problems.

After finishing his bowl of water, Yang Guangming got up to say goodbye.

Yang Hanzhang struggled to get off the kang (a heated brick bed) to see him off, but Yang Guangming held him down.

"Grandpa, don't move, rest well. I'll come to see you and Grandma again when I have time."

The old lady escorted Yang Guangming to the door, repeatedly saying, "Guangming, come back often when you have time! Be careful on the road!" (End of Chapter)