Volume One, Chapter 11: A New Way to Make Money

“Dad! This really is wonderful news. Congratulations!” Su Wanyue was delighted for her father. A sincere smile spread across her face, and tears of excitement shimmered in her eyes.

Hearing both father and daughter say that, Liu Zilan gradually felt a touch of happiness well up inside her. Though she did not quite understand the exact reason, seeing how joyful her husband and daughter were made her happy as well.

“That’s wonderful, then. I’ll go prepare dinner.”

With that, she rose and headed toward the kitchen, her steps much lighter than before.

“Wanyue, here. Take this.”

After Liu Zilan entered the kitchen, Su Junye let out a soft sigh. His eyes held both tenderness and affection.

Slowly, he pulled two crumpled bills from his pocket. They were savings he had painstakingly set aside over several years.

Seeing the money in her father’s hand, Su Wanyue felt a warmth spread through her heart, but she still shook her head firmly.

“Dad, I can’t take it!”

She knew how hard it was for her father to earn money. He had saved every penny by living frugally; how could she bear to accept it?

When Su Wanyue refused, Su Junye’s brows drew together slightly.

He stepped forward, gently took his daughter’s hand, and firmly pressed the money into her palm.

“Don’t think it’s too little. Once I start working at the textile mill, things at home will gradually improve. Then you can have some pocket money, just like the girls in the city, and buy yourself some pretty clothes.”

As he spoke, Su Junye’s gaze grew even gentler and more resolute. Looking seriously at his daughter, he continued, “Dad knows you’re trying to find ways to earn money and make life better for the family. I want to help you, so don’t refuse me.”

Feeling the warmth and strength in her father’s hand, Su Wanyue was deeply moved.

She knew that he truly wanted the best for her—and she did indeed need the money to tide her over.

So she stopped protesting and gave a slight nod.

“I understand. Thank you, Dad.”

Su Junye waved his hand lightly, a relieved smile appearing on his face.

“What’s there to be polite about with your own father?”

Su Wanyue smiled and said nothing more.

She knew that, at times like this, silence spoke louder than words. She had already engraved her father’s kindness deep within her heart.

Early the next morning, while the sky was still only beginning to lighten, Su Wanyue rose from bed.

To save what little money she had, she decided not to take a vehicle and instead walked to the market.

Her steps were hurried all the way. She paid no attention to the distance or her growing fatigue.

At last, she reached the market and moved from stall to stall, carefully selecting the ingredients she had taken note of the day before.

Her eyes were sharp and capable. She overlooked no detail, doing her best to find the goods with the best value for money.

By the time she returned home, Su Wanyue was panting with exhaustion. But she had no time to rest. After taking a sip of water, she immediately began making the iced glutinous rice balls.

She looked around the crude kitchen and could not help feeling a little wistful.

In the modern era, with all kinds of advanced appliances—microwaves, induction cookers, steamers, and the like—making iced glutinous rice balls would have been effortless. It would hardly have taken much time or energy.

But in this era, rural households had none of those modern conveniences. Everyone relied on firewood for cooking and boiling water. Though people in the cities had begun using gas canisters, the cost was far beyond what a family like theirs could easily afford. Su Wanyue simply could not bear to spend that money.

Yet she also knew that cooking over firewood was not only slow but made it difficult to ensure the quality of the iced glutinous rice balls.

After careful consideration, she decided that she still had to find a way to obtain a gas canister.

After thinking it over, Su Wanyue turned her attention to Old Uncle Zeng, who prepared meals at the Production Brigade cafeteria.

She knew that the cafeteria was the only place in the village with gas canisters, and that they were replaced at regular intervals.

Some of the discarded canisters still contained a little gas—enough to last another two or three days.

If she could borrow one of those, she could wait until she had earned some money before having it refilled, saving a considerable amount on costs. For someone as short of money as she was, it was undoubtedly the best solution.

With that thought, Su Wanyue hurried to the small shop at the village entrance and carefully chose a packet of decent-quality cigarettes. Then she went straight to the Production Brigade cafeteria.

When she arrived, Old Uncle Zeng was busy preparing food for the workers. The kitchen was filled with steam and swirling smoke.

Sweat covered his face as he worked with complete concentration, paying no attention to Su Wanyue’s arrival.

She stood quietly to one side and waited.

She waited for a long time, until all the workers had collected their meals and the cafeteria gradually fell silent. Only then did Old Uncle Zeng finally have a moment to himself.

Su Wanyue stepped forward with a warm smile.

“Uncle Zeng, do you have a moment to talk?”

Old Uncle Zeng raised his head and glanced at her, then gave a slight nod.

“What is it?”

There was a trace of suspicion and wariness in his eyes. He was rather surprised by her sudden appearance.

“It’s like this. I was hoping you could do me a favor.”

Su Wanyue pointed toward the gas canisters used for cooking. Her eyes were filled with sincerity and expectation.

“Could you lend me one of the canisters you’ve just replaced—the kind that still has some gas left in it?”

At those words, Old Uncle Zeng immediately became alert. He frowned at her.

“What do you want a gas canister for?”

He could not help feeling uneasy. Su Wanyue’s reputation in the village was not very good, and everyone knew about her marriage and subsequent divorce from Lu Zetao. He worried that she might be planning something improper with the gas canister—perhaps seeking revenge on someone or even setting a person’s home on fire.

“I just want to make some snacks and earn a little money.”

As she explained, Su Wanyue quickly took the cigarettes from her pocket and held them out to him. She put on a ingratiating smile.

“Uncle Zeng, I’m truly troubling you. You know that things are difficult for me right now. I just want to earn some money with my own hands and support my family.”

In those days, an old smoker like Uncle Zeng could hardly afford to buy cigarettes. Usually, he would only treat himself to a pack or two during the New Year or other festivals.

When he saw the cigarettes Su Wanyue offered him, his heart stirred faintly. After hesitating for a moment, he finally accepted them.

Pointing to one of the canisters that had just been replaced, he said, “I can see that life isn’t easy for a woman on her own, so I’ll lend you one. This one was just replaced and should still last a few days.”

“Thank you, Uncle Zeng! Thank you so much!”

A radiant smile immediately bloomed across Su Wanyue’s face, and grateful tears glimmered in her eyes.

She thanked him repeatedly. With Old Uncle Zeng’s help, she carefully carried the gas canister back home.

Now she had everything she needed.

After washing her hands, Su Wanyue immediately began making the iced glutinous rice balls.

First, she skillfully mixed the glutinous rice batter. Then she carefully simmered a pot of sugar water and set it aside.

Next, she washed the fruit thoroughly and cut it into small, evenly sized pieces.

Once the glutinous rice batter had finished steaming, she mixed it with the sugar water and evenly sprinkled the fruit pieces over it.

Just like that, the delicious iced glutinous rice balls were ready.

In less than half an hour, Su Wanyue had made a large potful.

Looking at the fruits of her labor, she was filled with a deep sense of accomplishment.