Chapter 74

After he finally let her go, Ye Qingshui panted heavily for quite a while.

Lowering her head, she wiped her eyes. Her face burned, her ears were scarlet—she didn’t dare look at Xie Tingyu.

This was the one and only time in all her memory she had ever done something like that. She hadn’t expected herself to be so bold.

But when she snuck a glance upward, she was startled to see that Xie Tingyu’s ears were red too.

Not just his ears—his pale, handsome face was faintly flushed, like a soft bloom of pink blossoms exploding in her chest with a bang .

Suddenly, Ye Qingshui felt a little courage.

Fingering the watch in her hand, she finally made up her mind. Lifting her chin, she scolded him: “From now on, you’re not allowed to waste money.”

Hearing the little girl lecturing him, Xie Tingyu’s heart melted into a soft puddle. How could he possibly refuse?

He immediately said, “I won’t spend recklessly anymore. I’ll hand all my money over to you.”

As he spoke, he hugged her tightly again, heart pressed against hers—only now did he realize how warm and sweet this feeling could be.

He pulled out his money. Ye Qingshui hadn’t intended to take it, but she still counted it carefully and helped him straighten it out. When she finished, she couldn’t help but laugh.

The blush that had faded from Xie Tingyu’s face came rushing back. In a quiet voice he said, “It’s not much… in the future, I might have to rely on Shui’er to support me.”

In truth, he also wanted to tell her: in the capital he had a house, as well as some fixed assets. All of it would be hers one day. But when he secretly looked at her—the lively girl smiling with bright eyes as she obediently counted his money—his chest grew warm again.

This was enough.

After counting twice, Ye Qingshui determined that his total assets came to 502 yuan, 3 jiao, and 1.5 fen.

It wasn’t a fortune, but compared with others, hardly any educated youth in Red Flag Commune had such a thick wallet.

Most educated youth were poor—ten yuan allowance from the bureau each month, about forty jin of grain, some meal tickets and vegetable coupons. Just enough to keep themselves fed. Because of their lack of strength, their annual share of team grain was pitifully small.

By contrast, Xie Tingyu was already a wealthy man.

If this had been her past life, Ye Qingshui might have been shocked by such a “huge sum.” But in these recent weeks, she had already earned far more than that.

She handed the money back to him.

But Xie Tingyu said, “Shui’er, you keep it. All my money is yours.”

His large hand wrapped around hers, his dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that brooked no refusal.

She thought of his generous, easygoing nature—how freely he spent, how he loved buying her things, even unnecessary ones.

At last, she tucked the cash and coupons away, then pulled out a single big unity ¹ a ten-yuan bill and pressed it into his hand.

“I’ll keep it safe for you. I don’t want your money. If you need some, just ask me.”

He had emptied his pockets and been left with only ten yuan. Yet his heart was filled to the brim, steeped in happiness.

He gave a soft “Mm” and ruffled her hair.

This time, she didn’t dodge. Her hair became messy under his hand. Looking at his handsome profile, smelling the faint warm scent of soapberries on him, she thought she should give him more chances.

She shouldn’t keep rejecting him just out of fear.

When his hand fell gently against her cheek, Ye Qingshui nuzzled her face into his slightly sweaty palm and said with a smile: “I’ll go make dinner.”

After dinner.

Once again, Xie Tingyu saw her take out that “tattered” book. Calling it a book was generous—it was really just a stack of papers carefully stitched together. Old and worn, with pages aged and even mildewed in places.

Seeing his gaze, Ye Qingshui explained casually: “This was written by Teacher Zhou himself.”

She told him about Zhou Cunren’s situation.

Xie Tingyu picked up the book. Sitting at her side, he read it carefully—for a full half hour.

By the oil lamp’s glow, his refined features were sharply outlined. His slightly furrowed brows, his focused eyes—Ye Qingshui stared at him, dazed, for a long moment.

At last, he said, “It’s quite engaging.”

“But publishing it will be difficult. First, Teacher Zhou’s credentials. Second… his background.”

Ye Qingshui clenched her hands. “His credentials are fine—he was once a university professor, a doctorate in mathematics. It’s just his… background…”

At that, they both fell silent.

Unwilling to see her so disappointed, Xie Tingyu clasped her hand and encouraged, “Let’s at least try.”

She nodded. “We’ll each find our own way to look for a chance to publish.”

A smile tugged at his lips. “Then I’ll definitely be faster than you.”

With that, he pulled out a clean sheet of letter paper and began writing slowly: “Grandmother: I hope this letter finds you well…”

Ye Qingshui’s fists tightened. She hadn’t expected him to write directly to his grandmother for help. But Xie’s grandmother was a cultured woman—if asked, she might truly have some connections.

Not willing to lose, Ye began thinking hard herself.

A few days later, Ye Qingshui went to the city’s First People’s Hospital. Spending two fen on registration, she found a doctor and carefully inquired about stomach cancer.

She wrote down every word the doctor said in her little notebook.

Medicine was cheap in the seventies—sometimes only a few mao, even a few fen per prescription. Urban workers with letters of introduction from their work units could even receive extra nutrition like eggs or pork bones.

But serious illnesses like cancer weren’t covered. They required constant medication, even chemotherapy—very expensive.

With a heavy heart, she wandered the hospital for a while. When she finally stepped outside, she happened to see He Fang.

He Fang was supporting a female educated youth. Clearly surprised to spot Ye Qingshui, He Fang froze.

Her face went pale at first, then she asked Ye Qingshui: “Why are you coming out of here?”

Following her gaze, Ye Qingshui turned her head and saw the two bold Song-style characters on the wall behind her: “Gynecology.”

“I just came to ask some questions.”

“I see…” He Fang looked thoughtful.

Ye Qingshui didn’t say anything more. She wasn’t close to He Fang, so she left quickly.

The female educated youth He Fang was helping was named Shen Yan. Her face was as white as paper. Shen Yan unconsciously wiped the sweat from her pale face and murmured enviously:

“So nice… She and Comrade Xie must be having a child soon… Truly, people live such different lives…”

The image of Xie Tingyu defending Ye Qingshui at the Xie household flashed across He Fang’s mind, leaving her with a sour feeling.

“I don’t think she and Comrade Xie have that good of a relationship. Otherwise, why would she come for a checkup all by herself?”

Fortunately, Ye Qingshui was a married woman. Otherwise, if word got out that she had gone to the hospital gynecology department with an introduction slip, she would’ve been torn apart by gossip.

Shen Yan asked nervously: “She… she won’t spread this around, will she?”

After all… Shen Yan recalled how she had slandered Ye Qingshui in the past, stabbing her in the back and insulting her behind her spine. Comparing that with her own miserable state now, her face turned even paler.

To avoid attention, she had deliberately bypassed the village health clinic and come to the city hospital. Who could’ve expected to still run into Ye Qingshui here?

He Fang patted Shen Yan’s back and whispered: “What are you worried about? You’ll soon be selected as a Worker-Peasant-Soldier student. By then, none of us will still be here.”

Only then did Shen Yan finally relax.

But Ye Qingshui hadn’t given their brief encounter a second thought. Her mind was completely occupied with Zhou Cunren’s illness.

The next day, she and Xie Tingyu worked together to bring Zhou Cunren to the First People’s Hospital.

They also carried with them a large bag full of draft papers. The paper was coarse and yellowish, very cheap—just a few cents could buy a whole bag.

Xie Tingyu smiled and said: “Now Teacher Zhou can write his book in peace. The hospital here has a cafeteria, so it’s convenient—meals will be delivered to him three times a day.”

Zhou Cunren quietly whispered to Ye Qingshui: “Shuiya, the Zhou family’s treasure is hidden in…”

“Let Ke’er take you there.”

Ye Qingshui immediately understood what he meant, and hurriedly shook her head.

“No. You keep it. If you don’t, I won’t stay here another moment. I’m going back to Hongqi Town!” The old man flipped back the quilt, glaring with round eyes, snorting furiously.

Zhou Ke pouted, grabbed Ye Qingshui’s hand, and stubbornly pulled her toward the door like a little ox.

At her side, Xie Tingyu bent down to whisper in his wife’s ear:

“Shui’er, take it.”

After all… this was the last, humble plea of dignity from a dying old man.

Zhou Cunren had long known that this young girl liked such things. The very first time Ke’er had shown her that agate bead, the amazement in her eyes had been impossible to conceal. Although… perhaps now they weren’t worth much anymore.

But still, letting her keep them brought him some comfort.

After the couple left the hospital, that stubborn old man who had endured a lifetime of hardships finally broke down in tears, sobbing like a child.

An elderly patient in the same ward muttered: “What’re you crying for? Your son and daughter-in-law treat you so well—fruits, eggs, I heard they even ordered milk for you! You won’t find such treatment even with a lantern. Look at us, nothing but bare beds, not even a fruit to eat.”

Zhou Cunren choked back his sobs: “They… they’re not my son and daughter-in-law.”

Leaving the hospital, Ye Qingshui and the others took a car back to the county. Zhou Ke led them to a dilapidated abandoned public latrine.

The outhouse had long since fallen into disrepair, abandoned for years. But because it was remote and rarely used, the authorities had never rebuilt or demolished it.

So, under Ye Qingshui and Xie Tingyu’s startled gazes, Zhou Ke dug into the muck with a shovel, scooping one foul load after another.

The stench was overwhelming, but Zhou Ke’s resolute expression never wavered, as though he smelled nothing at all. At last, he reached down with his bare hands and pulled up a bucket from beneath the layers of filth.

He dragged it onto a cart and pushed it home. To any passerby, it was no different from hauling away night soil as usual.

Back home, Zhou Ke scrubbed the bucket thoroughly under the tap, murmuring apologetically: “Grandpa said this is oxidized copper—it’s the most corrosion-resistant material, even buried for decades it won’t rot. Don’t… don’t mind the smell.”

Who could’ve imagined the old man had hidden the family heirlooms in a cesspit? What kind of genius—or madman—would think of such a method? No Red Guard would have dared dig through a latrine pit in search of treasure.

At that thought, both Ye Qingshui and Xie Tingyu couldn’t help but laugh.

“We don’t mind at all.”

Rolling up her sleeves, Ye Qingshui joined in scrubbing the bucket with soapberry solution.

The neighbors, long used to seeing Zhou Ke wash buckets, barely gave it a glance—some even cursed at the stench drifting into their rooms: “Brat, hurry it up! Stinks to high heaven, how’s anyone supposed to eat dinner like this?”

Zhou Ke just ducked his head and grinned, showing his tiger teeth.

Together, they carried the bucket upstairs.

Zhou Ke struggled with scissors, using all his strength, but couldn’t pierce the oxidized copper.

“Let me.” Xie Tingyu studied it for a while, found the threaded lid, and twisted with all his might. After ten minutes of straining, the bucket finally gave a muffled pop and the lid came loose.

Ye Qingshui wiped the sweat from his forehead.

When the lid opened, her expression froze for a moment. Xie Tingyu’s hands stilled as well.

So this was what they meant by “jewels and treasures.”

In the sunlight, porcelain patterns gleamed delicate and clear, jade shimmered with soft luster, pearls sparkled with dazzling brilliance, along with agates, jades, and exquisite wood carvings.

Even Xie Tingyu was left speechless in shock. After a pause, he resumed wiping his sweat and said:

“Ke’er, these things… we can’t take them.”

Zhou Ke’s resolute face crumpled. Tears welled up instantly as he fell to his knees, knocking his head to the ground.

“Please don’t say that! Grandpa always said—you can’t take treasures with you to the grave. No matter how valuable, it’s not worth more than his life. You’re willing to spend so much to treat him—he’d gladly give you all of this. Please, accept it! If you don’t, neither Grandpa nor I can feel at ease. Tomorrow he’ll insist on leaving the hospital and never seek treatment again…”

What were these things worth, really?

Zhou Ke didn’t know. Perhaps once they’d been precious, perhaps once they’d shone brilliantly. But dead things were still dead things. No matter how valuable, they could never surpass his grandfather’s life—or dignity.

Both grandfather and grandson only wanted to live with dignity. Not to survive on others’ pity, but to hold their heads high.

Looking at Zhou Ke, still so young yet already bearing such weight, Ye Qingshui’s nose stung with emotion.

This was the first time she had met people like them. With their actions, the grandfather and grandson showed her that they could still live proudly.

People are different. A spring can bend and rebound, leaping high when favored, bowing low when defeated. But jade and stone cannot—they can only shatter when forced.

She realized: not even this pair of grandfather and grandson believed their book could be published, nor that they could earn the money, nor that the illness could be cured.

But they believed in her.

Believed in her and Xie Tingyu—that they wouldn’t betray them.

Ye Qingshui helped Zhou Ke to his feet, her voice tight: “Alright…”

Zhou Ke broke into a smile through his tears, wrapped the treasures in straw paper, and tucked them into Ye Qingshui’s green military satchel.

Walking out of the shabby building, Ye Qingshui couldn’t help but say: “I will definitely make sure Teacher Zhou’s book gets published.”

Xie Tingyu smiled faintly and said softly: “Oh, Grandma sent me a telegram…”

Ye Qingshui thought to ask: So soon? But then remembered that in these times, with such slow communication, a letter from here to the capital would take at least half a month.

Xie Tingyu explained warmly: “She asked if you’re doing well, said she misses you very much, and hopes you’ll write to her more often.”

Ye Qingshui laughed: “I’ll write right away. Grandma just happens to want to send her some local specialties. She brewed lychee honey last year and wants her to try it.”

Brewing lychee honey was no small feat. Grandma had kept bees in her youth and had the skill for it.

Now that the wild bees no longer recognized her, she could only make one jar a year. Before, she’d always saved it for her granddaughter. Now, she wanted to share a little with her in-law.

Xie Tingyu smiled. “Grandma is wonderful.”

Indeed… Half a month later, the sweet honey from the southern countryside reached Madam Xie’s hands. Drinking a little each day steadied her hands and lifted her spirits. To anyone she met, she happily bragged about how her granddaughter-in-law had sent her pure lychee honey.

Real honey—and lychee, no less! Lychees were rare in the capital, impossible to buy even with money.

Tasting the honey, rich with lychee blossom fragrance and the pure essence of a quiet countryside, Madam Xie sighed in delight.

“Yu’er chose well. His wife is sensible, diligent, kind-hearted, always thinking of this old lady. She cooked delicious meals for me at New Year, and she’s ambitious too.”

She praised her to the skies.

After all, gossip in the military compound often mocked her grandson for abandoning a bright future to live in some backwater, and mocked the Xie family’s grandson-in-law for being a mere village girl.

But that was another matter.

Protective as ever, Madam Xie wrote a letter to her grandson and granddaughter-in-law: “Children, when you made your choice, Grandma didn’t stop you. Because I knew—it was your decision. You responded to the nation’s call and went to a remote countryside. I am proud of you. Everyone makes different choices. Do not feel disheartened just because your work seems ordinary. Even in ordinary posts, one can make great contributions. Grandma will always be proud of you.”

To Ye Qingshui, she wrote: “The cured meat you helped make was delicious—everyone who tasted it couldn’t stop praising it. The pastries you sent tempted the neighbor’s children to tears when they couldn’t get enough. Grandma truly hopes you can come to the capital again soon.”

Here’s the full English translation:

Author’s Note:

Shuiya: When I run into difficulties, I know to contact Grandma.

So capable, Brother Yu, what a promising lad!

I don’t rely on Grandma, and I can still make it!

A few days later, Brother Yu was holding a freshly delivered Teacher Zhou’s Math, Physics, and Chemistry Handbook sent from the capital.

He looked with pity at Shuiya, who was still struggling.

Shuiya & Ping Shengjun: “……”

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