Chapter 161 A New Year Begins

“Brother Chao, then why are you here?” Cao Huifang was still puzzled.

She immediately heard Cao Shuchao reply, “I’m working for your brother, making money by helping out.”

He had accepted this arrangement from the start and didn’t feel even a little embarrassed about it.

“I couldn’t make it outside anymore, so thank goodness your brother was willing to take me in.”

Cao Huifang was truly surprised to hear this—someone was already working for her brother, earning a living and supporting their family.

It was completely beyond her expectations.

Strolling slowly through the orchard, Cao Huifang made her way to the spot where she and the others had planted the Kiwi Fruit Trees. Looking at the small, plastic-sealed tag still hanging from one of them, she remembered how they’d planted these trees during the May Day holiday, when they were still covered in leaves.

Seven months had gone by in the blink of an eye. Now, all the leaves on these Kiwi Fruit Trees were gone, leaving behind only bare branches.

She reached out and ran her hand over a branch. The bark was rough and scratched her hand—it wasn’t beautiful at all.

Cao Huifang sighed inwardly: “Time really does fly.”

She was already in the first semester of her junior year now. If she didn’t plan on grad school, she had less than two years left to enjoy carefree days at university. At this realization, an intense sense of urgency welled up inside her.

After saying goodbye to Cao Shuchao, Cao Huifang left the orchard on the hillside and, with light steps, headed east toward the Yellow River Dam.

The wind on top of the dam was fierce, and the icy gusts felt like knives cutting into her skin.

Cao Huifang stuffed her hands in her pockets, not daring to take them out—even letting a little bit show made her shiver all over.

Standing at the top of the dam, she gazed across to the far side of the Yellow River, where she could see the sunlight reflecting on the ice forming across the river’s surface, casting colorful glints.

She also saw someone riding a bike, drifting across the ice. Cao Huifang wanted to run over and warn him how dangerous that was, but in the next moment she saw someone else leading a cow, walking leisurely from the other side of the river, and she gave up on lecturing anyone. Everyone has their own path—let them do as they please.

Back at home, Cheng Xiaolin was helping her mother-in-law try on clothes and shoes.

Wang Yuelan was saying how buying her clothes was wasteful, but as soon as she put on the new outfit and shoes, the smile blooming on her face told a different story.

“Linlin, do I look good?” Wang Yuelan asked.

Cheng Xiaolin nodded. “Mom, you look beautiful in that outfit.”

“If you don’t believe me, ask my dad,” Cheng Xiaolin said.

Wang Yuelan instinctively glanced at her husband, Cao Jianguo, who hesitated for a moment before sheepishly nodding and saying, “It really does look much better.”

“Pfft, what do you mean ‘much better’?” Wang Yuelan grumbled, but inside she was absolutely beaming.

Before long, she changed out of the clothes again. Cheng Xiaolin asked why she didn’t want to wear them a little longer.

Wang Yuelan replied, “It’s not the New Year yet, and besides, the new clothes should be washed before wearing them. There’s always a lot of grime on new things.”

That was true, so Cheng Xiaolin didn’t argue.

In the last few days of December, Cao Shujie spent even more time strolling around Cao Family Village with Grandfather.

But that peaceful rhythm ended as the temperature dropped lower and lower—Cao Zhenghu stopped coming out.

So Cao Shujie had more chances to go check on the orchard up on the hill.

It was like a special period of dormancy for all living things. Everything was waiting for the warmth of spring, for a fresh burst of life and vitality.

“Shujie, come here a minute,” called Cao Shuchao.

Curious, Cao Shujie walked over and asked, “Brother Chao, what’s up?”

“Shujie, these fifty cows are eating more and more. Right now, Uncle Jianguo and I can still handle it, but if we buy more cows after the New Year, it’s going to be too much for just the two of us. You’ll need to hire another person,” Cao Shuchao said.

Cao Shujie nodded. “Brother Chao, don’t worry about that. If I find someone as reliable as you, I’ll bring them on right away.”

It sounded good, but Cao Shuchao wasn’t sure if he meant it. He asked, “Shujie, do we hire people from other villages?”

“Brother Chao, do you have someone in mind?” Cao Shujie seemed to catch his meaning.

Cao Shuchao nodded. “Yeah, a former coworker of mine just quit his job out there. He’s been wanting to find something suitable to do since he got back, but there aren’t many good jobs around here.”

“I’m lucky—I ran into you, Shujie. But my friend hasn’t had such good luck. He’s looked in a few places, but nothing fit. After he heard I was working for you, he asked me to find out if you’re still hiring.”

Cao Shujie didn’t rush to ask about his friend’s character.

He thought for a moment, and when Cao Shuchao was starting to feel anxious, finally asked, “Brother Chao, which village is your friend from, and what’s his name?”

Because of his line of work, Cao Shujie only wanted to hire people he knew well, if possible.

Cao Shuchao hadn’t thought about that, but after hearing Cao Shujie ask, he told him everything about his friend.

Basically, his coworker was from the neighboring Taodong Village. The fact that he and Cao Shuchao got along well said a lot about his personality—they were both honest types.

“All right, we won’t hire anyone before the holiday. Have him come by after the New Year,” said Cao Shujie.

After all, it wasn’t long until the holiday, and there wasn’t much work in the orchard at the moment—they could handle it themselves.

Privately, Cao Shujie asked around about this ‘Zhu Shenglian’. He soon learned that Zhu Shenglian’s temperament was much like Cao Shuchao’s, and realized why he’d turned to Cao Shuchao for work. As it turned out, the two of them were similar types.

That was all Cao Shujie needed to know. He figured he’d bring him in after the holiday.

On the last day of December, Cao Shujie settled the month’s wages with Cao Shuchao.

Through all of December, Cao Shuchao hadn’t taken a single day off. His base pay was 1,705 yuan, and Cao Shujie gave him a 115 yuan bonus, for a total of 1,820 yuan.

When Cao Shuchao received the money, a wide smile spread across his face.

It was just as he’d hoped—he received two months’ pay before the Spring Festival.

With this money, he could afford to buy plenty of New Year’s goods and extra treats this year.

There were still three weeks until the holiday, but Cao Shuchao wasn’t in any rush to hit the market. He kept working as diligently as ever, not daring to slack off in the slightest, even after getting his wages.

And when his wife, Ma Wenqian, received the 1,820 yuan, she could hardly express how happy she was.

She kept asking, “Should we get something for Cao Shujie before the end of the year?”

“Oh, don’t be silly! What would we give Shujie? You’re always getting muddled at the worst moments and never believe me,” Cao Shuchao said with total confidence. “Now that Grandpa Zhenghu is back, we’ll bring a gift to visit him for the New Year, isn’t that enough?”

“Oh, you’re right, Shuchao! How could I be so clueless?” Ma Wenqian slapped her forehead. “It’s all right, just a silly mistake on my part.”

“As long as you realize it.” That was Cao Shuchao’s response.

Ma Wenqian suddenly recovered and glared at her husband. “Shuchao, you’d better remember this, because even if I let it slide for now, I’ll deal with you next time I’m in a bad mood.”

Cao Shuchao: “…”

He realized he might have gotten a little carried away.

But either way, he’d managed to muddle through the day.

When 2012 began, Cao Shujie didn’t see any sign of that so-called “end of the world” the internet had hyped up. Instead, he felt a drive he’d never known before, his whole being restless with anticipation to achieve even more this year.

Cheng Xiaolin started busying about early in the morning, and by the time she finished, there was a light sheen of sweat on her forehead.

“Shujie, let’s go now—leave early, get back early,” Cheng Xiaolin said.

She wanted to take advantage of the New Year’s holiday to visit her parents, so she wouldn’t have to go again before the Spring Festival.

Cao Shujie had no objections. After telling his parents, both his father, Cao Jianguo, and his mother, Wang Yuelan, were totally supportive. His mother even went to the supermarket to buy several gift boxes for them to bring along.

When Cheng Xiaolin tried to refuse, Wang Yuelan said, “Linlin, this is from your father and me to your parents. You must take it to them and make sure they keep it—and pass along our greetings, or we’ll be embarrassed.”

From the beginning, Wang Yuelan had always been thoughtful and considerate toward her daughter-in-law, and this time was no different.

Cheng Xiaolin could sense her mother-in-law’s care and support in every aspect. In fact, Wang Yuelan’s gesture was another way to reassure Xiaolin’s parents that their daughter was well cared for in her husband’s family.

As they were about to set off, Cheng Xiaolin let her daughter wave goodbye to her grandmother.

Mengmeng was especially well-behaved. She waved her hand and shouted loudly, “Grandmother, goodbye! I’ll miss you!”

To anyone who didn’t know better, it would sound like they were going to be gone for a really long time.

Cheng Xiaolin was exasperated with her daughter’s antics. She corrected Mengmeng, “Mengmeng, we’ll be back this afternoon.”

“Oh!” Mengmeng then stuck her head out the car window and called again, “Grandmother, I’ll be back this afternoon. Make lunch and wait for me!”

“Alright, there’s no way I’d forget your food,” Wang Yuelan replied with a cheerful smile.

After watching the car drive off into the distance, Wang Yuelan turned and headed back inside. She was spending the day at her son’s house, planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve together tonight.

When Cao Huifang saw her mother come in, she asked, “Mom, when are we going to visit my uncle’s house?”

“Let’s wait until your brother is finished with his work and comes back. It’s so cold now—do you really want to ride the electric scooter over there?” Wang Yuelan asked her daughter.

The moment Cao Huifang heard that, she shook her head quickly. “Mom, do you think I’m silly?”

“You don’t look silly, but you really are,” Wang Yuelan said, not wanting to argue further with her.

Grandfather Cao Zhenghu was sitting in the living room, with the radio on playing Peking opera. He was swaying his head and humming along, looking utterly absorbed. At times like this, no one would think to interrupt him.

……

Meanwhile, when Cao Shujie drove to Cheng Family Slope in Dayao Town, Anwu County, it wasn’t even 10 a.m.—plenty early.

Father-in-law Cheng Rengui had ultimately taken the advice of his son-in-law, Cao Shujie, and decided to start raising cattle after the New Year.

When he saw his son-in-law, Cheng Rengui went over the details of cattle farming with him again to make sure everything was in order.

Cheng Rengui planned to raise five head of cattle. Considering the cost of buying these five calves and the following feed expenses, this was already the most money their family could put forward.

He had also discussed this with his son, Cheng Yunping.

Cheng Yunping figured his older sister and brother-in-law wouldn’t cheat them. Since his brother-in-law said that raising cattle had a promising outlook, and their father hadn’t found steady work anyway, it really might be better just to raise cattle at home and see what the profits were like by the end of the year.

If it worked out, Cheng Yunping thought, he wouldn’t go out to find work next year. Wouldn’t it be better if father and son could raise more cattle together at home, compared to working a regular job?

But Cheng Yunping wasn’t in any rush, nor did he plan to jump in with everything they had right away. He knew perfectly well that he’d never done this kind of work before, and their family had never raised cattle. While it sounded simple enough, he was sure there would be all sorts of unexpected problems to deal with.

Maybe because both of his parents had just come home from working away, little nephew Cheng Tiandong wasn’t shy like before—he didn’t hide from people, or cower behind Grandmother Li Xiaojuan anymore.

Today he seemed lively. When he saw Cao Shujie and Cheng Xiaolin, he even called out on his own, “Uncle, Aunt!”

This single greeting left Cao Shujie and Cheng Xiaolin stunned. They glanced instinctively at the little boy, feeling like he seemed different from before.

(This chapter ends)

— Translator’s Notes —

• Spring Festival: The Spring Festival, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival in China. It is a time for family reunions, feasting, and preparing for the new year according to the lunisolar calendar.