Jiang Cheng and the pregnant woman, Du Yun, left the crowded courtyard one after the other, standing facing each other in a discreet corner.
"Sister Yun, have you made up your mind?"
Jiang Cheng spoke first, and the asked Du Yun looked at Jiang Cheng, whose face was partly covered by her hair, thinking of the confrontation she had with the Lin Family in the courtyard.
"I've made up my mind."
Du Yun said with determination, "Tomorrow morning, we'll go handle the paperwork. While I'm in confinement after giving birth for these two months, you temporarily take over my job, and when I return…."
"Rest assured, Sister Yun, you tell me to be back at nine, and I'll leave at 9:01 sharp, not a minute longer."
Jiang Cheng's tact gave Du Yun considerable peace of mind.
After setting the time, Du Yun supported her back and walked a step ahead, while Jiang Cheng leaned against the corner of the wall, one foot kicking back against the wall, head tilted up to look at the sky.
"Once the housing issue is settled, it'll be stable for now."
Jiang Cheng had never thought about returning to the village; her biological parents were gone, and she couldn't farm, but staying in a city in this era wasn't as simple as wanting to stay.
She approached Du Yun because Du Yun was nine months pregnant.
By chance, Jiang Cheng overheard Du Yun's mother-in-law advising her to temporarily hand over her job to her sister-in-law while she had the baby.
Du Yun wasn't stupid; she feared if she handed it over to her sister-in-law, she wouldn't get it back, so Jiang Cheng seized the opportunity, directly stating she could replace her for two months.
Initially, Du Yun didn't believe it, didn't believe Jiang Cheng had the capability to leave the Lin Family until today.
Jiang Cheng straightened her body, the former hunched back replaced by a straight spine.
The person was still the same, but her energy and spirit were entirely different.
Jiang Cheng returned to the crowded courtyard.
From the direction of the Lin Family, black smoke billowed.
Jiang Cheng: Did the heavens finally open their eyes?
Getting closer, Jiang Cheng found it somewhat disappointing; it turned out Lin's mother was cooking under the eaves.
She didn't quite know what Lin's mother was doing; there was no visible flame, but smoke filled the entire courtyard.
Jiang Cheng's lips curled slightly; Lin's mother hadn't touched kitchen work in three years.
"Cough, cough, cough — Lao Lin Family, are you trying to smoke out mosquitoes? This smoke... my house's beams are going to be full of your flavor!"
Jiang Cheng stood openly by the side, watching the chaos of the Lin Family.
The speaker was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhou Family, who always clashed with Lin's mother.
Squatting and tending the fire, Lin's mother's face, maintained for three years, was smudged with soot, her attempt to retort thwarted by choking smoke, her mouth wouldn't open, her eyes wouldn't stay open, making Jiang Cheng feel delighted inside.
No choice, she was just that straightforward.
"Jiang Cheng!"
Standing at the door, Lin Jiaojiao covered her mouth and nose with one hand, her sharp eyes spotting Jiang Cheng who had just returned.
She trotted over, reaching out to pull Jiang Cheng.
"You go start the fire!"
Jiang Cheng didn't move, sidestepped, and with a single hand behind her, left Lin Jiaojiao grasping at air.
"Shamelessly bold, dumb as a pig."
After accurately pointing out eight characters, Jiang Cheng turned and walked to the Shen Family's door in the East Wing.
Lin Jiaojiao's eyes were filled with rage, yet before she could speak, she was shouted back by Lin's mother.
Reluctantly, Lin Jiaojiao returned, only to be glared at several times by Lin's mother.
For the first time, Lin's mother even agreed with Jiang Cheng's words; indeed foolish!
Fresh from a fight, what good could come from getting involved now? Even if she had something to say, she should wait until things died down.
"Serves her right!"
The eldest daughter-in-law of the Zhou Family, ever eager for drama, eyed Lin's mother with satisfaction before returning delightedly.
Jiang Cheng had no time to bother with the Lin Family's pitiful fire-starting affair; she was happily chatting with Grandma Shen.
"Grandma Shen, here's my rent for this month, three yuan and five cents. Please count it."
"I'll also need to borrow some things, and would like to join you for a few meals. I won't be a freeloader."
Opposite the eight-immortal table in the living room, Grandma Shen counted the money in front of Jiang Cheng and with a face full of wrinkles, smiled kindly, "Alright, I'll accept it."
Having said that, Grandma Shen got up and led Jiang Cheng to open the south-facing bedroom.
The bedroom was about fifteen square meters; a double bed hugged the wall, a desk by the window with two chairs, a double-door wardrobe against the opposing wall, and two stacked wicker trunks.
Grandma Shen walked to the front, taking out a set of bedding from the wardrobe.
"This is the mother of two children's bedding, if you don't mind…"
Jiang Cheng smiled and stepped forward, cradling the bedding in both hands.
"These stitches are so fine, clearly made with care, the craftsmanship is top-notch as well."
With just one sentence, Jiang Cheng brought a nostalgic smile to Grandma Shen's face, her wrinkled hands coming to rest on the bedding.
"Indeed, my niece-in-law had the deftest hands."
Grandma Shen withdrew her hand, "You sort yourself out, and come out for dinner later."
"Alright, I've been looking forward to trying Grandma Shen's cooking; you didn't know, every time you cooked, I secretly enjoyed the aroma."
The playful remark from Jiang Cheng widened Grandma Shen's smile once again.
Grandma Shen left, closing the door carefully.
Jiang Cheng placed the bedding on the bed and spread it out neatly, without any disdain.
The niece-in-law Grandma Shen mentioned was the lady of this house, Mother Shen, who had died unexpectedly three months ago in a work accident at the factory.
Mr. Shen had passed away years ago due to illness; the elder son of the Shen Family had been in the military for many years, leaving only two children in the Shen Family at present, with Grandma Shen, the children's grandaunt, coming over to help take care of things.
Jiang Cheng chose to rent here firstly because she was already familiar with the crowded courtyard, and secondly because she had secretly observed the good character of Grandma Shen and the two children.
As a single woman with some money who also happened to be quite attractive, renting a place on her own in this era would be neither peaceful nor safe.
All things considered, the Shen Family was a good choice.
In her previous life, she was an earthquake orphan, saved by the Liberation Army after being trapped for nearly twenty hours.
Her intelligence led her to skip grades, eventually becoming a five-language translator accompanying leaders at international summits.
If it weren't for this accident, she wouldn't have come to this era of scarcity, yet full of potential.
Thankfully, she had her space.
A large jeep transformed into the space came with her, its trunk stocked with her longstanding "fear of death" supplies such as earthquake bags, fire bags, first-aid kits, and more.
Moreover, she hadn't been home for two months, and had returned with many purchases from the supermarket.
Rice, flour, grains, condiments like sugar, vinegar, oil, salt, fruits, snacks, dried fruits, fresh and deli meats, sausages, and plenty of sanitary cleaning supplies.
Most importantly, the items in the space were infinitely renewable.
This means after she takes something from the space, it automatically replenishes itself.
This bug gave Jiang Cheng a great sense of security.
Collecting her thoughts, Jiang Cheng first stored away the six hundred yuan she got from the Lin Family.
Six hundred yuan in large denomination bills formed several thick stacks, which Jiang Cheng had previously carried in a green "Serve the People" backpack but now moved to her space for added security.
Once the money was secured, the bedroom door was knocked upon.
"Knock—knock—knock"
"Sister Jiang Cheng, grandaunt asked me to call you for dinner."
At the door, Shen Yue's small face puffed up, hesitating whether to call again.
Creak, the door opened from the inside.
"Hello there, Comrade Shen Yue."