The next day, while resting, Jiang Ruyu told Zheng Yang that she had something to do: "My second brother has a girlfriend and they'll probably get married next year. The New Year is coming soon, so I'm going to look around and see if I can find anything good. It's just a little something from me as his sister."

Zheng Yang laughed. That's just how this girl is. She'll repay anyone who's good to her tenfold. Jiang Jun has always treated them like his own younger brother and sister-in-law since they were little. Although he doesn't talk much, he's really there for them when something happens.

“Go ahead, I have to go out too. My dad keeps urging me to start preparing for the wedding. I have to go out and find some wood; the things we’ve prepared at home are still a bit lacking.”

Jiang Ruyu glared at him somewhat embarrassedly: "Hmph, you think you can fool me with this? Don't try to pull any tricks on me."

Zheng Yang chuckled: "I'm not just saying this casually. I'm just showing you my loyalty. I won't marry anyone but you."

Jiang Ruyi spat at him: "Shameless! What are you saying in broad daylight? Aren't you afraid people will hear?"

"So what if I heard? I'm not afraid." Zheng raised his head. "But seriously, Ruyu, do you think we should get engaged?"

"Why do you suddenly want to get engaged?" Jiang Ruyu asked, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Zheng Yang wasn't afraid of her laughing at him: "Well, I was afraid you'd run away, so I wanted to settle things down quickly to prevent any other clueless people from coming up with us. Besides, your second brother is back now, so the family is more complete, and the timing is right. It would be more legitimate for us to go out for meals, movies, and trips together."

These days, if a gay man and a woman who are not officially engaged get even a little close, they are easily accused of having questionable morals. Even if they are officially in a relationship, they haven't really settled down. These days, once you're engaged, you're basically obligated to get married, unless there's a very serious problem.

Jiang Ruyu thought for a moment before saying, "I'll go back and discuss it with my grandma."

This meant she had no objections, and Zheng Yang immediately laughed like a fool again. Jiang Ruyu couldn't even look at him and pushed him away, saying, "Can't you be a little more capable? Look at how worthless you are. Let me tell you, even if it were me, anyone with a bit of cunning could easily manipulate you."

"Hehe, I only act this way with certain people. I can't fool just anyone. You underestimate your boyfriend." Zheng Yang protested. He wasn't stupid; how could he not tell the difference between genuine and fake affection?

Jiang Ruyu ignored him and went back into the house to get a basket: "I'll go to the post office first and send some New Year's goods to Dazi. That kid can't come back this year. I wonder how he's doing over there. I hope he can't even afford to eat."

Zheng Yang quickly ran inside and brought out several packs of cigarettes for her: "Here, take these. I saved them up. Send them to him."

Jiang Ruyu took it and nodded: "I'm leaving now."

It snowed a couple of days ago, and the roads were very slippery, so she didn't ride her bike and just walked there.

The city of Yanjing, which is about to celebrate the Chinese New Year, is already starting to feel festive. People on the streets are in better spirits, and there are many more young people than before, who are obviously former educated youth returning to the city to visit their families.

After walking through Houhai Park, the artificial lake there was frozen over. Many children and young people were playing on ice sleds and ice skates. You could hear their laughter from afar. Even wearing thick cotton-padded coats didn't stop them from having fun.

The city of Yanjing, which had just been covered in a heavy snowfall, looked like it carried a strong sense of historical destiny from afar, against the backdrop of its blue brick and gray tile buildings.

Hearing the laughter, Jiang Ruyu's mood brightened as well. She walked to the post office with a smile on her face. She was already quite familiar with Wang Fang and Zhao Ying. They both told their colleagues that she was their younger sister. Jiang Ruyu would come once a month, and each time she would buy some stamps and mail things. She used to send them to her second brother, and later she also sent them to Fang Da.

Fang Da had written several times saying that he didn't want to be sent anything, as it would make him feel ashamed. So Jiang Ruyu changed the monthly mailings to once every three months, making it harder for Fang Da to refuse.

With the New Year just around the corner, Jiang Ruyu sent Fang Da some of her smoked cured meat—not much, just two jin—along with sunflower seeds she'd gotten from signing in, dried mushrooms, dried green beans, pickled radishes, stir-fried mushroom and meat sauce, about twenty salted duck eggs, and a few oil and sugar coupons. Fang Da had written last time saying that the people at the educated youth compound were hard to get along with, and that he could use all of this by himself.

"Sister Wang, Sister Zhao, I've filled out the form. Please make a note of it for me. I'm going out for a bit. See you at the usual place." This means they have the goods and will be making the transaction soon.

Wang Fang and Zhao Ying exchanged a glance and laughed: "Go quickly, it will be packed in a bit."

Jiang Ruyu went to a secluded spot she always avoided when she came here. It was a dead corner where no one came. She packed the items she was going to trade and went to the lounge to wait for the two of them.

Soon after, Zhao Ying and Wang Fang arrived. As soon as they knocked on the door, they rushed over and said, "Hurry up, we've been waiting for you. The supply has been hard to come by lately. People have been queuing up since four or five o'clock. My family has been queuing for a week and we only managed to buy a pound of pork, and it was even a lean piece."

Zhao Ying nodded in agreement: "That's right, my family has been out of eggs for two or three days and we can't buy any."

Jiang Ruyu then took out the soft straw basket on top of the main basket: "What a coincidence, I brought a hundred eggs this time."

"That's great, Lao Wang, do you want it? If you don't, I'll buy it all!" Zhao Yinghao said boldly.

Wang Fang quickly said, "Ahem, give me twenty, and the rest is yours."

"Haha, you said it." The two of them laughed and talked as they finished dividing up all the things Jiang Ruyu had brought in the basket.

Jiang Ruyu said goodbye to them and left with a smile. One hundred eggs cost eight yuan, two hens weighed four jin each, totaling sixteen yuan, four jin of pork belly cost four yuan, ten jin of pork fat cost ten yuan, two jin of rapeseed oil cost two yuan, two jin of sesame oil cost four yuan, five jin of wheat flour cost two yuan, and five jin of refined rice cost two yuan and fifty cents. The two of them discussed and divided these things, and the total cost was forty-eight yuan and fifty cents.

The prices at Jiang Ruyu's place are definitely higher than at the supply and marketing cooperative's grain station, but cheaper than the black market. No coupons are needed, and the quality is good. The rice and flour are all premium quality. They are unwilling to risk going to the black market. Having this channel can solve the family's nutrition problem for a month. This is also the reason why they are willing to continue their long-term relationship with Jiang Ruyu.

Jiang Ruyu was also aware that the things they bought were definitely not for their own consumption. As for whether they brought things back for others, she didn't care. She only needed to ensure that the supply line was safe.

"Here, ladies, take some candy home for your children. We have some new varieties at the counter, not many, just to sweeten their mouths."

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, this is a rare find."

They were just being polite, but they actually accepted the candy with smiles on their faces.

Jiang Ruyu also took her savings and the stamps she always bought and prepared to go back. Her basket contained six feet of light yellow pure cotton cloth, which was for her second brother's girlfriend as a token of her affection.

Jiang Jun is the person she is willing to be good to, not for any other reason than for the sake of her childhood brother, who would fight with others to protect her, get beaten black and blue, and be told by his aunt that he deserved it when he got home.