Sold into a ghost marriage? Four-year-old and his thuggish father go on a killing spree.

The Zhao family, like a filthy plague, was finally and completely swept away from Chengjiawan.

The dark clouds that had been hanging over the father and daughter had completely dissipated.

The whole world seemed to brighten up.

That evening, Aunt Wang brought over a large bowl of freshly cooked cabbage stew with pork and vermicelli, topped with two golden poached eggs.

"Eat! Eat it all! Let's get rid of the bad luck and nourish ourselves!"

Without a word, Aunt Wang shoved the basin into Gu Yanqiu's hands. Looking at the father and daughter, who were so thin they looked unrecognizable, her eyes were filled with heartache.

The aroma of meat, mixed with the fragrance of firewood, filled the entire dilapidated house.

Nian Nian's appetite has improved more than ever before.

With the heaviest stone weighing on her heart lifted, she felt as if she could breathe easily again.

She ate her meal with gusto, and gave half of the fried egg that Aunt Wang had given her to her father.

Gu Yanqiu's eyes welled up with tears as she watched her daughter wolf down her food.

This meal was the most delicious one he could remember.

Without threats and fear, life began to move forward at a steady and hopeful pace.

Gu Yanqiu felt like he had inexhaustible energy.

During the day, he worked tirelessly at the brick kiln in Baiyang Commune, making clay bricks, carrying bricks, and loading kilns. He took on all the dirty and tiring jobs. The foreman saw that he was honest, hardworking, and strong, so he valued him more and more and always gave him the highest work points.

At night, he would light an oil lamp and continue repairing the various agricultural machines sent by nearby villages. His reputation had spread far and wide, and even people from the neighboring commune came to him for help.

On weekends, he would go up the mountain before dawn with a basket on his back to pick wood ear mushrooms, mushrooms, and various herbs.

Money, like a trickle, gradually accumulated in this impoverished little home.

Every penny, every single coin, carries the sweat and warmth of Gu Yanqiu.

Niannian became the little "housekeeper" of this family.

She found a hardcover notebook from somewhere and used a pencil stub to draw a crooked but logically clear accounting table on it.

The first column is "Income".

"Tractor repair: 5.3 yuan."

"Selling mountain produce: 2.15 yuan."

"Brick kiln factory wages (advance): ten yuan."

The second column is "Expenses".

Salt: 12 cents.

"Buy cornmeal: three yuan."

"Pencils: 5 cents"

The third column is "Deposits".

Without fail, Niannian sets aside one-third of every single income and writes it down in this column.

What shocked Gu Yanqiu the most was the last column.

Niannian named it the "Gratitude Fund".

Below are rows of crooked names and items.

"Aunt Wang: Braised cabbage and pork with vermicelli, and two poached eggs."

"Grandpa Cheng and Grandma Liu: Support us, cornbread, broom."

"Uncle Cheng Fulai: Ticket to Baima Town, and a tea egg."

Aunt Zhao Fengying (Baima Town Supply and Marketing Cooperative): Take me in, three yuan.

Uncle Zhang Dacheng (truck driver): Help! My military overcoat.

"Aunt Li Huilan (my mother's coworker): Fifty yuan."

……

Everyone who helped them, even if it was just a word of comfort or a kind look, was solemnly recorded by this little girl in her childish handwriting.

As Gu Yanqiu looked at the notebook and at each of the names, a surge of emotion welled up in her eyes, and her vision blurred instantly.

His daughter understood the meaning of gratitude and affection better than any adult.

She has not forgotten any of those who lent a helping hand during their darkest times.

She wants to repay them one by one.

Spring has arrived quietly.

The wild grass on the hillside began to turn green again, and the old locust tree in the yard also sprouted tender yellow buds.

Behind the dilapidated house, Niannian cleared a small vegetable garden and planted a few garlic sprouts.

Every day, she squats on the ground and carefully waters the garlic sprouts with a small, broken bowl.

The warm sunlight shone on her, and her small, focused figure finally showed a hint of the innocent and carefree nature that truly belongs to a child.

Gu Yanqiu leaned against the door frame, looking at her daughter, her heart filled with an immense sense of happiness.

He felt that even if life was tough and tiring, it was worth it.

That afternoon, he had just returned from work at the brick kiln when he saw Cheng Tiezhu walk into his small courtyard with his hands behind his back.

Cheng Tiezhu's expression was not as relaxed as usual; instead, it carried a rare seriousness.

In his hand, he was holding a copy of the Qinghe Daily, its edges slightly curled from being flipped through so many times.

"Yanqiu."

Cheng Tiezhu got straight to the point.

"There's something I'd like to ask you."

Gu Yanqiu's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "Uncle Cheng, what happened?"

Cheng Tiezhu did not answer directly, but handed over the newspaper in his hand and pointed to an inconspicuous corner.

"See for yourself."

Gu Yanqiu followed his finger and saw a small notice printed on it, about the size of a tofu block.

"The county tractor station is recruiting two full-time repairmen from across the county. Requirements: Junior high school education or above, or at least three years of experience in agricultural machinery repair. Applicants must pass both academic and practical skills exams..."

Gu Yanqiu's heart skipped a beat.

Full-time employee!

That's a secure job! It means you get a guaranteed food ration!

It was something he never even dared to dream of before!

As he stood there in a daze, he heard Cheng Tiezhu look at him and ask, in an extremely solemn tone, word by word:

"Yanqiu, the county tractor station is recruiting permanent staff, and there will be an exam."

"Would you like to give it a try?"