Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Seeing that her niece was well-behaved and obedient, An Yaping felt even more at ease, and her tone became much gentler.

"Wanwan, go back to your room and put your schoolbag away first. We can start eating when your brother and aunt's husband come back."

"Okay, Auntie." Zhou Qingwan asked casually, "Where's my sister?"

An Yaping chuckled helplessly, "Your sister's in the backyard toilet. Doesn't she feel cold on her bottom? She's been squatting there for ages."

Zhou Qingwan smiled upon hearing this.

Then he gripped the bag strap tightly and hurried back to the small room next to the kitchen.

She breathed a sigh of relief after seemingly casually closing the door with the curtains half-drawn.

Every time I face an elder whose eyes are like searchlights, I feel like I'm sitting on pins and needles, unable to relax at all, for fear of being scolded.

Zhou Qingwan looked around the small room, her gaze sweeping over the cabinet on the small heated kang and the cabinet next to it, before finally landing on the desk.

Because this small room was shared with Liang Huihui, the desk was also shared, but the drawer below belonged to her.

Zhou Qingwan glanced warily at the door with a small glass window.

Although there was a white embroidered curtain blocking the view, some things could still be seen if you looked closely into the room.

Once she was sure that her aunt Anya Ping wasn't in the kitchen and wouldn't be peeking, she quickly took out the notebook with the two photos tucked inside her bag.

After opening the photos, Zhou Qingwan looked at them again and still thought they were very well taken.

Unfortunately, it can't be displayed openly for the time being; it can only be hidden away for quiet appreciation when there's time.

After Zhou Qingwan had placed the photos in the bottom compartment of the drawer and pushed it back, she heard Liang Huihui running towards the small room, yelling that it was too cold.

She hurried to the door and opened it.

Liang Huihui, shivering from the cold, rushed onto the kang (heated brick bed) inside the house. "Wanwan, you're back. Why is it so cold here? It's really not suitable for human life. If it weren't for the New Year, if you weren't here, I would rather stay in Haicheng for the rest of my life."

Zhou Qingwan was somewhat envious of her cousin's carefree and easygoing nature. Just as she was about to speak, her aunt An Yaping came in.

"You little brat, you've only been studying at a university in a big city for a short time, and you've already become so disgusted with your hometown. Besides, you want to stay after graduation, but it's not that easy."

Liang Huihui glanced at Zhou Qingwan subconsciously, then swallowed her words, "Who knows if it's easy or not? What if I can stay? Would you really not want me to?"

An Yaping's breath hitched when asked the question, and she couldn't bring herself to say anything against her conscience, so she had to admit, "Of course I'm willing. However, the destinations of college graduates are basically assigned by the state. In principle, those like you who come from remote provinces should be assigned back to support the development of their hometowns after graduation."

"Mom, you work in a government agency, so in principle, those three words are definitely left open to personal relationships and flexible operations. It's not allowed in principle, but there are always exceptions."

For example, Wanwan also got into a university in Haicheng. When she graduates and gets assigned a job, she definitely won't have any problem staying. After all, she's been exonerated…”

Before Liang Huihui could finish speaking, An Yaping interrupted her sternly, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Then, looking at Zhou Qingwan, she said softly, "Your sister has a loose tongue, Wanwan, don't take it to heart."

Zhou Qingwan shook her head and said with a slight smile, "It's alright, Auntie."

Then, he said earnestly to Liang Huihui, "Sister, if you really want to stay in the future, I'm willing to talk to him for you, but I don't know if it will be of any use..."

Liang Huihui tried her best to suppress the smile on her face, but couldn't. "Wanwan, you're so good to me! You truly are my good sister! But let's talk about that later. What if I can stay on my own merits?"

Anya Ping looked at her daughter and niece with a complicated expression, unsure of what to say.

Who would have thought that some people who were once universally despised, like rats crossing the street, would return to their posts...

Meanwhile, shortly after Xu Bei dropped Zhou Qingwan off at home, he took his sister to the store with a thermos lunchbox.

It was lunchtime, and most of the people who came to the street to buy goods had already gone home for lunch.

Zhao Fengying and Xu Li were also able to enjoy lunch at a relaxed pace.

Today's meal was especially special, as it was prepared by Xu Bei.

The mother and daughter should savor it properly.

Furthermore, listening to Xu Juan's animated narration made the meal even more enjoyable.

"That's right. If you want to pursue a girl, you have to be like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, letting everyone know what you're good at."

"Yeah, you guys don't know, my brother is so charming when he cooks. I think Sister Xiaowan is quite satisfied."

"That's great. As long as Miss Zhou is satisfied with her meal, that's good for you too."

Xu Li swallowed the sauerkraut and pork belly in her mouth and continued, "Little brother, I was right, you're really good at this. This sauerkraut stew is so delicious, even better than mine."

Xu Bei naturally couldn't reveal that his culinary skills were honed over the years. "I never expected to have such a talent for cooking, otherwise I would have already made it for you. If you like it, I'll stew it for you every day from now on."

"Sure. But we need to eat regularly, otherwise we'll get tired of eating the same thing every day."

As soon as Xu Li finished speaking, Zhao Fengying agreed, "Yes, even dragon meat can't be eaten every day, let alone this pickled cabbage, which isn't anything special either, and eating too much of it is not good either."

"Son, your cooking skills are just as good as mine. I think you should cook the New Year's Eve dinner this year."

Xu Bei readily agreed, "Sure, I'll do some research and then I'll be the head chef and make you a unique New Year's Eve dinner."

In particular, this year is the first New Year after her mother's divorce. Xu Li will definitely be spending the New Year at her husband's house, leaving only the three of them, mother and son. Even if there are fewer people, they should still make the most of it.

"Then we can really look forward to it."

"Yes, don't forget to save some, so I can have some when I go back to my parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year."

Xu Bei was amused by his sister's words, "Of course I won't let you miss out on eating it. I'll make it fresh for you."

Listening to her family members chatting and laughing, Xu Juan laughed along with them, while also being extremely curious.

"Brother, can you give me a heads-up? Why is the New Year's Eve dinner different?"

Xu Bei mysteriously kept everyone in suspense, saying, "I definitely can't tell you. Anyway, there's less than a week left, and you'll find out then."

No matter how much the three pressed him for details, Xu Bei remained silent. After his mother and sister finished eating, he took the insulated lunchbox and left first.

However, Xu Bei did not return to the rented house, but instead went to the newly purchased house.

The Jiang family has completely moved all their belongings out and handed over the keys.

However, just to be on the safe side, Xu Bei changed all the locks on the front door and the house door.

As soon as he unlocked the new door and entered the room, he felt a chill wash over him.

In winter, it's always cold in a single-story house if you put a fire in it. Even if no one lives there, you still have to light a stove and heat the kang (a traditional heated bed) every day to keep the water pipes warm and prevent them from freezing.