“A decent house might be out of reach, but 150 is enough to build a mud-brick house to get by.
I’ve already said yes—how could it be trouble? It’s helping me! With these in-demand goods, I’ll be able to build good relationships with so many people in the compound.”
“Sis, I really can’t take this money. Just let me borrow your name. Look at how rosy your brother and sister-in-law are—we don’t need you to support us.
This is nearly a year’s salary for you. If you give it all to me at once, your mother-in-law will have something to say.”
“Oh, don’t worry! My mother-in-law knows I’m bringing this money. Keep it for now—use it in an emergency. When you’re better, you can pay me back.”
Her husband’s family only consisted of her husband and her sister-in-law, so there was no talk of splitting the household.
For now, her mother-in-law was in charge and held the purse strings. She’d discussed it with her mother-in-law before bringing the money.
“Alright, stop talking so much—you and your sister-in-law need your rest.
I’ll head off now—the kids can’t be left alone for too long.”
Her mother-in-law had retired, but since the babies were just born and couldn’t be without their mother, she’d gone back to cover for her.
Her mother-in-law had worked at the supply store and was quick and efficient—no one minded.
She planned to wait a few months until the kids were older, then switch with her mother-in-law—she’d go back to work while grandma watched the kids.
She’d only been able to make this trip today because her mother-in-law had the day off.
“Second Aunt, wait—take these things back with you.”
In the time it took to speak, Lin Xiaohe had already packed a burlap sack. “I’ll tie it to the back of your bike.”
She didn’t take no for an answer, grabbing two lengths of hemp rope and securing it.
Lin Xia’s eyes stung—it reminded her of her own childhood.
Times had been hard back then—father didn’t care, birth mother was dead.
The stepmother was gone too.
Then another stepmother came, always finding ways to make their lives miserable.
She knew she had to leave the village to have a chance—otherwise, when her stepmother’s son needed a wife, she’d be married off for a bride price.
She’d cried and fought, nearly hanging herself in front of the house.
Her father feared the shame, and finally relented, letting her go to school.
Back then, she too had carried a small sack—coarse grain inside, a bundle of firewood on top—walking alone to school.
Her third brother had always followed her around, making a fuss alongside her, and they’d both been beaten for it.
Later, Qian Sancao’s kids grew up and needed schooling too—no matter how much they protested, Third Brother never got to go.
And now, his family had suffered so much, and she hadn’t even known.
“Second Aunt, what are you thinking? You spaced out! The kids are waiting at home—you’d better go. It’ll take you an hour to get back.”
“Almost forgot—these are sponge cakes from my mother-in-law’s birthday a couple days ago. I brought them for you.
Eat them when you’re hungry. I live far—a round trip takes over two hours, so I can’t come back often.
Your aunt knows where I live—if anything comes up, just have her send word.”
After a few more reminders, Lin Xia pedaled away.
When she got home and opened the sack, she was stunned.
Right on top was two jin of gleaming white lard!
Her mother-in-law, who had connections at the supply store, would line up at midnight when shipments came in—and she’d never gotten lard this good.
Below the lard, wrapped in newspaper, was sugar.
There were also dried bamboo shoots and mushrooms.
At the very bottom was grain—white, gleaming rice, almost blinding to look at.
“Why are you back so soon? Didn’t you say you were worried about the house—why didn’t you stay longer?”
Cai Juhua came out of the room carrying a baby. Their family was small, and in their cramped apartment, they’d squeezed out a tiny living room.
To the left of the entrance was a partitioned room for the daughter; to the right, the son and daughter-in-law’s room.
Going toward the balcony, that area was partitioned into the living room, and the rest was for her and her husband.
Her eyes glanced at the floor—and she nearly dropped the baby in shock!
“All this good stuff—your brother got it from the black market?!”
“Shh, shh—keep your voice down, Mom! The neighbors will hear.” Lin Xia quickly raised a finger to her lips.
“Right, right—keep it down, keep it down!” Cai Juhua’s face crinkled into a smile like a chrysanthemum. “This lard is amazing—just think how much oil it’ll render!”
“And this brown sugar is excellent—drink plenty of it.”
“Oh, and this grain—it’s better than what we get from the ration station!”
The more she looked, the more excited she got—the wrinkles on her face never smoothed out.
“Oh, Mom—I also need to discuss something with you.
My third brother’s house collapsed, you know. He’s planning to rebuild once he’s better.
He wants to get goods through the black market, and I can mark them up and sell them in the compound—make a little profit on the difference.
I think he’s got solid connections—can get just about anything.
What do you say—should we do it?” If her mother-in-law said no, she’d do it on the sly anyway.
This was too good an opportunity! Important people lived in this compound—this could help her get her permanent position. She’d been stuck as a temp for years, always told there were no permanent openings—but she didn’t buy it.
Cai Juhua’s eyes lit up. “Do it! Why not?”
“We’ve lived here for years—I know who’s reliable and who’s not. Leave it to me, don’t worry.
When I’m home on my days off watching the kids, you go get the goods. I’ll find a few trustworthy families and split it up.”
She hadn’t expected her daughter-in-law’s third brother to be so well-connected in the black market. She’d been there herself—without the right connections, you couldn’t get anything good.
When her daughter-in-law first asked for the money, she hadn’t been thrilled.
But she gave it anyway—they could spare the 150 yuan.
No point causing conflict over it.
Still, there was a bit of resentment.
Now, it had all vanished into thin air!
This would make it much easier for her daughter-in-law and daughter to get permanent positions.
She’d come from the supply store herself—she knew the ropes.
Getting a permanent spot required the manager to apply to higher-ups—it was a process.
Without achievements outstanding enough to justify the paperwork, most managers wouldn’t bother.
But if people remembered your kindness, that was different.
No one had gotten permanent status at the supply store in years. No need for bribes—just give their relatives first dibs on good stuff, and that was enough to earn their goodwill.
No need to gift anything and risk complications.
The more she thought about it, the happier she got—this wasn’t just her daughter-in-law’s brother, he was their family’s lucky star!
“You’ve been biking back and forth—go rest. Haven’t had lunch yet, have you? I’ll make you some noodles.
Tonight, when everyone’s cooking, I’ll quietly render the lard.”
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