That evening, Mrs. He cooked another huge feast at home.

"Zhen Dong, it’s rare for you all to visit. You should stay a few more days," Mr. He said.

"Second Uncle, we can only stay for two days before we have to head back. We need to find a storefront as soon as we get back. But still, the provincial capital can’t compare to Beijing City."

Mr. He nodded. "That’s true. Beijing City has more people and higher prices. We didn’t see you when we went back for the New Year. Your father said you came back but left in a hurry right after the first day."

"I was in a rush to go back and sell off last winter’s inventory. Otherwise, once the weather warms up, I’d have to store it for another year. It’s a small business, so I can’t afford to keep too much stock."

Mr. He smiled. "Running a shop is a good thing. You’re still young, so work hard."

He Zhendong threw up his hands. "I wouldn’t say I’m working hard. I’m just trying my best to learn from my third brother."

Hearing this, Mrs. He grinned from ear to ear.

"They’re all good, all good children."

That night, He Lang took He Zhendong aside to explain the general process of opening a shop and some of the necessary procedures. Meanwhile, Yang Xiaoxia had already pulled Xue Yue away for a private chat.

After showering and lying down, Yang Xiaoxia was still marveling, "It’s really amazing when you think about it. I always used to talk about coming to Beijing City to see the sights of the Imperial City, and I never thought I’d actually see it. And now, here I am, just lying here."

Xue Yue stared at the ceiling. "Yeah, time flies. In the blink of an eye, we’ve already been in Beijing City for three years. We’ll be graduating next year."

Yang Xiaoxia turned to look at Xue Yue. "Three years have passed. I’m just getting older and older, while you seem to be getting younger."

Xue Yue said, "I think you look a lot better than the last time I saw you back home, too. Have you been losing weight this past year? I can see your waistline again."

The corners of Yang Xiaoxia’s mouth turned up. "You noticed? I’ve been trying to eat less or skip dinner. Zhen Dong is around all sorts of young girls and wives every day. How can I not feel a little insecure? I have to keep myself looking presentable when I go out."

Xue Yue smiled. "You’re not wrong about that."

Yang Xiaoxia teased her, "He Lang interacts with young women every day, too. And there’s that really pretty one at your clothing store. Don’t you feel the least bit insecure? Aren’t you afraid someone will snatch him away?"

Xue Yue paused for a moment. "Oh, you mean Guan Wenwen?"

"Whoever it is! She’s a beauty, you know, and she’s always around He Lang. Don’t you get jealous?"

Xue Yue honestly hadn’t thought about it. "What’s there to be jealous about? He Lang isn’t that kind of person."

Yang Xiaoxia laughed. "You trust him that much."

Xue Yue nodded. "Of course. Besides, if he really had his heart set on it, watching him every day wouldn’t do any good. It comes down to self-control. If that day ever came for He Lang, it would just mean I was wrong about him. And that wouldn’t just be his problem—it would mean there was a problem with me, too."

Yang Xiaoxia rolled over to face Xue Yue. "Xiao Yue’er, I’ve realized you’ve really matured these past few years. I almost don’t recognize you anymore."

Xue Yue sighed. "We’re mothers to several children now. How could we not grow up? Right now, I just wish time would slow down so I can properly enjoy the present." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Yang Xiaoxia pouted. "I wish time would speed up. Once Zhen Dong’s business takes off, my career is stable, and the kids grow up sooner, maybe my life will get a lot easier."

For two friends who had grown up like sisters, talking about their lives, chatting about the future, imagining what’s to come, and sharing their innermost thoughts late at night was a truly gratifying experience.

He Zhendong and Yang Xiaoxia stayed in Beijing City for a few days before leaving.

Soon after, He Lang received a call from He Zhendong, who told him that he had already secured the shop.

In truth, it wasn’t just the provincial capital. All across the country, the 1980s had ushered in a torrent of rapid development.

That year in Beijing City, high-rises were being built one after another, and more and more shops lined the streets.

People’s fashion had changed dramatically. The simple color palettes of gray, white, blue, and black were gone, replaced by a market flooded with clothes of all colors and styles.

In October, He Lang had telephone lines installed at both his home and the clothing store.

The previous week, He Nan had sent a letter saying that Da Liushu Village had also gotten a telephone, right in the village office. From now on, they could call directly if anything came up.

He Lang felt that writing letters and sending telegrams was indeed inconvenient. Besides, telegrams were quite expensive, since they charged by the word.

However, installing a phone wasn’t cheap either. For both the store and the house, it would cost five thousand yuan. The moment Mrs. He heard the price, her heart ached with regret.

"Why don’t we just skip the one at home? Just install one at the store."

He Lang couldn’t help but laugh. "Mom, the one at home is the most important. The phone at the store is for contacting us. If there’s only one at the store and not at home, how are they supposed to reach us?"

Mrs. He could only watch as He Lang hired people to run the lines and install the phones, the money flowing out like water.

But the phone did have its advantages. The moment it was installed, He Lang called the Da Liushu Village office and asked for He Nan.

Suddenly hearing He Nan’s voice over the phone absolutely astonished Mrs. He. She held the receiver to her ear and endlessly asked He Nan about things back home.

He Nan answered from the other end, "Everything’s fine, things at home are great. When are you and Dad coming back? The kids all miss you. By the way, how is Third Brother’s supermarket construction going?"

Mrs. He chatted happily while Mr. He leaned in close to listen, chiming in from time to time.

"Ask our eldest how the harvest was back home this year."

Mrs. He relayed the question.

"It was pretty good! Now that you’re not here, whenever the villagers see me, they ask when you and Dad are coming back."

"Soon, soon. We’ll be back at the end of the year."

By the end of the year, He Lang’s building was finally completed.

Since it was already the end of the year, the plan was to wait until the new year for the grand opening.

This year, everyone decided to go back home early.

On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, He Lang’s entire family, Xue Xingzhou’s family, and Xue Xingjun all prepared to leave. In a rare turn of events, Zheng Guofeng also decided to go back with Xue Xingzhou’s family for the New Year. He had nothing to do by himself in Beijing City and wanted to be with the younger generation and go back to have a look.

Shitou and Yang Wenxiu, Little Chen and He Ziqing.

And so, this large group of family and friends set off on their journey.

The funny thing was, a few days before they left, Qin Haize came looking for Ruanruan. When he heard that she and her family were going back to their hometown for the New Year, he immediately declared that he wanted to go too.

Xue Yue had no choice but to tell him to go home and ask his family. If they agreed, she would take him along.

In the end, his grandfather refused and simply had the security aide carry him away. The little guy even had a good cry over it. Xue Yue felt a bit soft-hearted, as he was, after all, a regular visitor to her home.

Xue Yue was quite fond of him. The boy had become increasingly sweet with his words and would often bring them all sorts of strange and interesting things.

One time during the winter, he showed up with two soft-shelled turtles, saying they were for Xue Yue and the others to nourish their bodies.

"Auntie, my grandpa said these are very nourishing! You should stew them and drink the soup. My grandpa and Grandpa Qian caught them while fishing. I brought them for you."

Xue Yue was shocked. "What? Did you sneak these out?"

Qin Haize shook his head. "I didn’t sneak them. The security aide uncle saw me."

Xue Yue glanced over. Following behind Qin Haize was the same security aide, a man of pitifully few words. He actually nodded at Xue Yue and said, "Okay to eat."

He said three words. A rare occasion indeed.