Xu Ancheng is good at making money, and Yi Roujing has plenty of money and vouchers. Besides keeping a large amount untouched regularly, Yi Roujing actually spends quite a bit too. She thinks about Ding Anmin and Feng Lishu when buying things, so she’ll buy for them as well, to lighten their load a bit. After all, as women, they understand each other best.

Overall, their lives are quite good. They don’t need to support the elderly and have elder support for raising the young. Xu Zongyin, Xu Ancheng’s father, spends money on Baozi without a care. Feng Lishu’s parents send her money every month since she moved to Jing City because, after all, there are two kids. Feng Lishu’s mother is just waiting to retire soon so she can come to Jing City to help take care of the kids.

Ding Weihuo and Li Hongying haven’t been idle either. Under Xu Ancheng’s arrangement, Ding Weihuo went to a scrap recycling station in Jing City. Even as a temp worker, he makes more than sixteen yuan a month, gets a few vouchers, and doesn’t have to work too hard. He even has priority in picking good items to recycle.

Li Hongying looks after the kids, but when they nap, she makes clothes on the side. She takes orders from a textile factory every month, doing quality over quantity, and can earn about twelve or thirteen yuan a month, which is enough for daily expenses.

Not to mention Xu Zongyin often asks Uncle Cao to send them stuff, whether it’s food or daily necessities.

Li Hongying decided to give Feng Lishu ten yuan every month to buy milk powder for the kids, since raising two kids is no easy task and they go through milk powder much faster than an average family.

Feng Lishu knows all too well the kindness Li Hongying shows her. Marrying into the family truly feels like a stroke of luck. Reciprocity is natural; whatever good things Feng Lishu has, she shares with Li Hongying, whether bought or sent from her family. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship they share is practically familial.

This time, they had a rare four-day break. Xu Ancheng, Yi Roujing, and Baozi stayed a night at the courtyard house while Xu Zongyin was at work.

Li Hongying was delighted at the arrival of Xu Ancheng’s family of three and prepared a large table of dishes to welcome them.

The twin Dumplings and Tangyuan were fond of Baozi too. Though they couldn’t speak yet, they babbled and smiled at Baozi. The three engaged quite well in the playpen dressed in thick clothes.

With Mantou joining in, it got even livelier. Baozi is relatively reserved, while Mantou is more lively.

With Ding Anmin around, Feng Lishu wasn’t far behind. Yi Roujing gave lipstick and pearl cream to Feng Lishu.

"Thank you, sister-in-law," Feng Lishu accepted the gifts from Yi Roujing without hesitation; their relationship has always been good, transitioning from coworkers to family.

"How’s school? Are your classmates and dormmates fine?" Yi Roujing inquired further about Feng Lishu’s school, which she hadn’t visited, showing her concern.

"Yes, they’re all great, very down-to-earth. Plus, I’m quite capable. When a classmate didn’t feel well during military training, having been a nurse, I immediately stepped in to help."

"One of the female classmates had menstrual cramps, and I used my knowledge to relieve her pain, even shared my brown sugar selflessly. After that, many classmates approached me for help, and I was honest with them, making me quite popular now," said Feng Lishu, pleased with herself.

"My classmates are grateful too; they bring me specialties like dried vegetables and pastries, which has brought us closer."

Li Hongying happily chimed in, "Indeed, it has improved our meals at home too." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

On Sunday, March 26, the weather was clear. Before school resumed, Yi Roujing took Baozi to Jing Suburb to seek spring. This was their first solo outing, and Yi Roujing even requested Mrs. Kang to prepare a tablecloth, lunchboxes, drawing sheets, drawing pens, and two water-filled kettles.

The mother and son wore matching blue cotton jackets, black cotton pants, and black leather shoes. They boarded the bus to Maple Forest hand in hand.

"Dear girl, you and your little brother both look so dashing," said an older woman, following behind them on the bus, leaning on her cane, carrying a bundle, with gray hair and a slightly hunched back. Yi Roujing helped her to a seat.

Once seated beside Baozi again, the older woman complimented Yi Roujing and Baozi with a smile.

"She’s my mom." Baozi innocently corrected, startling the elderly woman.

"Dear girl, this is your son? Oh dear, you look just like an unmarried young lady," the woman chuckled, rummaging through her bundle to pull out two candies, "for the child to eat. This child looks so handsome and resembles you. It’s rare to see children raised so fair and lovely like him."

"You’re too kind, ma’am, please keep them for yourself. We brought candy," Yi Roujing smiled, politely refusing.

"What you bring is yours, what I give is my token of kindness."

Hearing this, Yi Roujing accepted it and thanked her, with Baozi quickly following, "Thank you, Grandma."

"Oh, such a sweetheart with such a sweet mouth," the elderly woman beamed.

Subsequently, a lot of people boarded, dressed in cotton workwear, dressed in wool coats, dressed fashionably and colorfully. Once the doors closed, a shout emerged, and four young people about twenty-ish managed to get on.

"We finally made it, Yijin, are you okay? Have some water to calm down," said a young man with black-rimmed glasses and a gentle demeanor, opening a canteen and handing it over to Cheng Yijin.

"Thank you, Third Brother," Cheng Yijin smiled warmly and took a sip of water.

Yi Roujing immediately recognized Cheng Yijin; she had seen him before with Song Cenran and Song Yiluo at the cinema entrance.

Third Brother, so the one in the black cotton coat, black-rimmed glasses must be Cheng Yimo, who likes Hua Yiran.

"It’s just a pity Yiyi didn’t come. Yimo, wouldn’t it be boring for you?" the girl sitting next to Cheng Yijin playfully teased.

Cheng Yimo furrowed his brows slightly, "Zhou Zeqiu, this isn’t the first time I’ve corrected you on this."

Zhou Zeqiu stuck her tongue out in response.

"Yimo, it’s alright. Zeqiu is just a bit straightforward with no hidden meanings," a young man in military green sitting next to Cheng Yimo laughed, patting his shoulder.

"Lun, you ought to know better," Cheng Yimo looked at Deng Yilun with a hint of impatience in his eyes.

"I know, I know, but isn’t it just like Prince Xiang having intentions while the Goddess is uninterested?" Deng Yilun replied with a wry grin, and a hint of disappointment crossed Cheng Yimo’s face.

Yi Roujing listened with a keen ear. What juicy gossip! It seemed Deng Yiyi liked Cheng Yimo, but Cheng Yimo liked Hua Yiran. This love triangle, perhaps it wouldn’t be too appropriate to indirectly inquire about it next time she sees Hua Yiran.

"You all better work hard! Look at them, they look about our age, and they already have such a big child," Zhou Zeqiu nudged the group to observe Yi Roujing.

"Different families, different upbringings, different mindsets, Zeqiu, you shouldn’t compare at random," Cheng Yijin whispered with a smile, "What if they get upset?"