As summer vacation was drawing to a close, Yu Youqing and Mao Jianlan returned from their hometown, bringing Yu Youfen's two daughters with them. Yu Youfen's eldest daughter was already eight years old and in elementary school, while her younger daughter was in preschool.

Yu Youfen had been working away from home for years, rarely seeing her daughter and always feeling guilty. She now worked as a foreman at Zhao Mingyue's factory, earning several tens of yuan a month. She spent little and saved all her money, always wanting to bring her daughter to Beijing. Fortunately, Yu Youqing and his wife were both teachers and promised to tutor her two children, so she gritted her teeth and brought her daughter over.

The fact that the two girls could come to Beijing made many villagers envious, all saying they were only able to do so because of Zhao Mingyue. These two children had often faced discrimination at their grandparents' house; their parents were divorced, and their father was a rapist sentenced to death. It's no wonder children from such backgrounds were discriminated against. This was why Yu Youfen wanted to bring her daughters to Beijing; being far away meant no one knew their background, and therefore, there was no reason for discrimination.

Yu Youfen knew that this was indeed thanks to Zhao Mingyue. If it weren't for Zhao Mingyue's help, she would at most be a sewing machine operator in a garment factory in Shenzhen. Although her salary wouldn't be much less, it would be virtually impossible for her to bring her two daughters to live with her; she simply couldn't manage to take care of them alone. Now that her younger brother and sister-in-law were here to help, Zhao Mingyue had allocated her a single room so her daughters could live with her, and the family could finally be reunited.

Yu Youqing brought tea to Zhao Mingyue, who saw him and asked, "Youqing's here?"

"Yes, school was about to start, so I came over," Yu Youqing said with a smile. Over the years, he had shed his youthful naiveté and appeared much more mature. The first two years of their marriage were indeed very difficult, but fortunately, Mao Jianlan was a good homemaker and managed to persevere. After paying off their debts, the pressure was relieved. Mao Jianlan took meticulous care of her husband and daughter. Although their life wasn't wealthy, it was peaceful and warm. Yu Youqing felt more at ease, and he even gained a little weight, no longer as thin as he had been in his younger days, and looked much healthier.

"Please sit down. Have you brought Sister Fen's daughter over as well?" Zhao Mingyue got up to make him some tea.

Yu Youqing placed the bag of tea on her desk: "They've arrived. The two children were very happy to hear they were coming to Beijing."

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "Yes, the family is finally reunited."

Yu Youqing sighed: "Yes, we should have brought them over a long time ago. They've been cooped up at home for too long."

"What's wrong?" Zhao Mingyue sensed a heaviness in his voice.

Yu Youqing said, “It’s not like that in the countryside. Children don’t know any better and always speak ill of each other. Just like when I was a child, I was always bullied because of my family background. I never thought that after the label of ‘class background’ was removed, my two little nieces would be labeled with another kind of label. Both children are very timid, especially the older one.”

Zhao Mingyue looked at the teapot on the table and sighed, "It's alright, the child has a short memory. He was happy in Beijing and forgot all the unpleasant experiences."

Yu Youqing smiled and said, "Yes, that's what I think too. I want to keep both children with me, and Jianlan and I can educate them together. My sister is afraid of troubling us, so she wants to keep the children with her. The children can't speak Mandarin, and there aren't any other children in your factory, so I don't think it's appropriate. The children would be very withdrawn."

Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Yes, that's a problem. Why don't we go and talk to Sister Youfen and let the two girls stay at your house for now, and then they can come to my mother's place on the weekend?"

"That's what I think too. My sister doesn't agree, so I came to you for help to persuade her. She listens to you the most."

Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Okay, I'll go tell her. Is everything alright at home?"

Yu Youqing said, "That's great. These teas are all produced in your brother's factory, and they're all packaged."

Zhao Mingyue opened the bag and took out a box of tea. The box was a tin box with a green background and the tea's name printed on the outside. She smiled and said, "My older brother really did some packaging. Not bad, it looks much more upscale now." Branding and packaging were Zhao Mingyue's suggestions. Previously, their tea was always sold loose by weight. Such good tea would be given away, and if someone else packaged it, its value would increase several times over. By creating their own brand, they could at least double their profits, let alone earn several times more.

Yu Youqing smiled and said, "This was your idea, wasn't it? You always have such strange and wonderful ideas, it's truly admirable."

Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "No, it's just that I've seen too much outside and subconsciously imitated it. If others can do it, we can definitely do it too. Don't underestimate yourself."

Yu Youqing recalled how Zhao Mingyue had persuaded him to take the college entrance exam back then. She never looked down on anyone, and he was able to get to where he was today because of her encouragement and advice. He smiled and nodded: "Yes, that's right."

Zhao Mingyue said, "My parents are doing well, right?"

"They're doing great. The two elders often hang around the tea factory, helping out. The tea factory has been rebuilt and is much better than before. Some people in the village are even starting their own tea factories like your brother." Zhao Mingyue had already learned about this from her phone call with her family, but seeing it through someone else's eyes and hearing it from them confirmed it.

"I'm going home to visit at the end of the year; it's been so long since I've been back," Zhao Mingyue sighed.

Yu Youqing smiled and said, "You're different from us; you have too many things to do. You're usually so busy, but you should take care of your health."

Zhao Mingyue nodded: "I know, thank you for your concern. Let's have lunch here too, I'll ask the cafeteria to cook a few dishes."

Yu Youqing waved his hand: "No need, I'll be back in a bit. I just got back, and the house needs to be tidied up. Jianlan is taking care of the children alone at home, and she's too busy. School hasn't started yet, so I'll let my two nieces stay with my sister for a few days. Could you help me persuade them to come and learn Mandarin with me?" Once outside, the language barrier is the first hurdle to overcome.

"Okay. Take care then. Come over and visit sometime," Zhao Mingyue said with a smile.

Yu Youqing nodded, got up and left.

Around lunchtime, Zhao Mingyue came out early. Yu Youfen's two daughters were coming over, and as their aunt, she naturally had to go and welcome them. Of course, they would only eat in the factory canteen. The factory canteen had two types of canteens: one with communal meals and the other with stir-fries. The workers usually ate the communal meals, and the workers would contribute a small amount for the food, while the management would have their meals and accommodation provided. The stir-fries were charged separately. Zhao Mingyue was the boss, so she didn't have to pay for the canteen meals; she just had to order.

Zhao Mingyue went to Yu Youfen's dormitory. Yu Youfen was still at work. The two girls were playing in their mother's dormitory. The two girls were dressed very simply; their clothes, though not patched, were quite worn. Zhao Mingyue knocked on the door and said in her hometown dialect, "Little girls, Yanyan, do you still recognize your auntie?"

Zhao Mingyue hadn't been back for over three years. The last time she saw Nannan, Nannan was not even five years old, so she probably wouldn't remember Zhao Mingyue. When Nannan saw her, she covered her eyes with her hand and smiled shyly, revealing her missing teeth. The little girl was losing her baby teeth: "I recognize her. I've seen her in a photo at home."

Zhao Mingyue smiled, "My sweet little ones, Mommy's not off work yet?" She went inside, pulled the two girls to her knees, and talked to them while hugging them. The two children were quite timid, but with Zhao Mingyue beside them, they stood obediently. Nannan looked at her hands, while Yanyan, being a little bolder, secretly sized up Zhao Mingyue. Zhao Mingyue patted the two children's heads, "I'm Aunt Mingyue, and I'm Daya's aunt." Daya was her second brother's eldest daughter.

Yan Yan clapped her hands with a smile: "I know, you're that big boss aunt from Beijing."

Zhao Mingyue laughed heartily: "Auntie isn't a big boss. From now on, you'll just call me Auntie Mingyue, okay?"

The two sisters readily agreed: "Aunt Mingyue."

"So good." Zhao Mingyue looked at the two girls. Fortunately, they both looked like Yu Youfen, and it was hard to tell that they were of Cheng family blood. This made them look much better. Because they grew up in the countryside, the children were dark-skinned and a bit simple-minded, but they had good natural features and were quite pretty. After raising them for a while, they would be as fair-skinned as city kids. The most important thing was to cultivate their courage and confidence.

Zhao Mingyue gave the two children the candy she had brought: "Have some candy."

Yan Yan was young, and when she saw the food, she quickly reached out to take it, but her older sister grabbed her hand: "Little sister, you can't take Auntie's candy."

Zhao Mingyue looked at Nannan and said, "It's okay, Nannan. You can accept things that Auntie gives you. But you need Mommy's permission to give you things."

Nannan looked at Zhao Mingyue with her doe-like eyes, still hesitant to take the candy from Zhao Mingyue's hand. Just then, the get off work bell rang, and both children involuntarily looked towards the door. The younger one asked, "What rang?"

Zhao Mingyue said, "It's the bell ringing to signal the end of the workday. Mom is off work. Auntie will take you to eat later."

"Is Mommy going?" Nannan asked.

Zhao Mingyue smiled: "Of course I'll go too."

Nannan looked relieved.

Within two minutes, Yu Youfen rushed upstairs, eager to see her daughter. Seeing Zhao Mingyue sitting in her room, she exclaimed, "Mingyue, you're here!"

The two girls ran up to their mother with great joy and hugged her, saying, "Mommy!"

Zhao Mingyue said with a smile, "Sister Youfen, both of your daughters are very cute. Nannan is so sensible. When I offered her candy, she refused it and had to wait for your permission."

Yu Youfen reached out and touched her daughter's head: "My little girl is so good. Thank you, Auntie."

The little girl nodded: "Thank you, Auntie."

Zhao Mingyue placed the candy on the table: "Let's go eat. I'm treating two kids to a welcome dinner today."

Yu Youfen didn't refuse: "Then quickly thank Auntie."

The two girls obediently said thank you.

Zhao Mingyue walked ahead, with Yu Youfen holding one daughter's hand in each. The three chattered excitedly, with Zhao Mingyue occasionally chiming in. Zhao Mingyue led them to a small canteen and ordered several meat dishes for each of them. It was the two little girls' first time eating out, and they were incredibly excited, cautiously looking around. Zhao Mingyue, seeing their expressions, understood their feelings. It was their first time in a strange big city; everything was new, yet also filled with awe.

While waiting for the food to be served, Zhao Mingyue said to Yu Youfen, "Youqing just told me that he wants his two nieces to come to his place."

Yu Youfen looked at her two daughters and said, "I want the children to have lunch at his place and then take the bus back by themselves in the evening. I don't want to trouble them too much. He has a child of his own, and it's too hard for him to take care of three children."

Zhao Mingyue said, "But I think that since they are teachers, they can better nurture the two children. If you let them stay with their uncle during the week and come to your place on weekends, they can make many friends of the same age there, which will be good for them to integrate into Beijing as soon as possible. They can learn to speak, play games, and so on. If they stay in the factory, there will only be the two of them, and they will become more and more isolated."

Yu Youfen hesitated, looked at her two daughters, and sighed. Nannan looked at her mother nervously, as if her mother was about to send her away, and her face showed a tearful expression.

Zhao Mingyue quickly patted her head and said, "Nannan, don't cry. You've been to your uncle's house before. They're at school, with lots of friends and older brothers and sisters. You'll learn to speak Mandarin faster there. Then the kids in Beijing won't make fun of you, you know? If you miss your mom, you can ask your uncle to bring you over, or you can call your aunt and I'll come pick you up. During holidays, you can come stay with your mom."

When Nannan heard Zhao Mingyue say this, she had an expression of understanding on her face. Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "You don't want your classmates in Beijing to cancel your Mandarin, right?"

Nannan nodded: "How long does it take to get here from Uncle's house?" Although she came by car with her uncle, she was so excited to see her mother that she didn't notice how long the car ride took. Besides, a seven or eight-year-old child doesn't really have a concept of time.

Yu Youfen patted her daughter's shoulder: "It'll be quick, we'll be there soon by car. You can come to Mom's after school."

Zhao Mingyue said, "School hasn't started yet, so you can stay with Mom for a few days first, and then go to Uncle's. Later, on Saturdays, Uncle will bring you to Mom's. Once you can ride in a car, you can bring your little sister by yourself."

Nannan nodded, while her younger sister Yanyan didn't say anything, just focused on eating her candy and occasionally talking to her mother, seemingly not worried about the issue at all.

The dishes arrived, including chicken and meat. The two children's eyes lit up immediately when they saw the food on the table. So much meat! They only get to eat meat during the New Year and when guests come over. Zhao Mingyue kept piling meat onto the children's plates, saying, "Eat more, so you can get fatter."

The two children buried their heads in their bowls, no longer thinking about the problems they had just worried about. For them, having meat to eat was the greatest happiness at the moment.

Yu Youfen looked at her daughters with heartache, her eyes welling up with tears. Zhao Mingyue said, "You should eat too, Sister Youfen."

Yu Youfen wiped her nose, nodded, and began to eat. Zhao Mingyue said, "You can leave the child with Youqing. They'll take care of his schooling. You just need to give him some living expenses each month. Jianlan is a very understanding person and will raise the child well." When Yu Youqing married her, he paid a dowry of one thousand yuan. Mao Jianlan had always kept that in mind, feeling indebted to Yu Youqing and his family, and had been looking for an opportunity to make amends. Now, she would definitely be more than happy to help her older sister take care of the child.

“I will pay my own tuition,” Yu Youfen said.

Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Of course. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me."

Yu Youfen shook her head: "Okay. Actually, there are no difficulties now. I've saved up some money, enough for both children to go to school."

Zhao Mingyue said, "Don't be too hard on yourself. Take care of yourself and dress up nicely. You're still young, only in your early thirties, not old at all." She didn't finish her sentence: if someone suitable comes along, find someone to marry. After all, raising two children alone is too hard. Although Zhao Mingyue felt that women don't necessarily have to rely on men to survive, for Youfen, what currently supports her is her two daughters. Once her daughters grow up, have their own lives, and leave her one by one, what will be left in her life? This is a very real and cruel question that she has to consider.

Actually, she had heard that some people had tried to introduce potential partners to Yu Youfen, but she had refused them all outright. In her current factory, there were more women than men, and it was located in the suburbs, so finding a suitable family wasn't easy.

Yu Youfen smiled but didn't say anything.

Zhao Mingyue didn't force her. Marriage is a personal matter; only the person drinking the water knows whether it's hot or cold. Yu Youfen had experienced a failed marriage, and it would probably take a lot of courage for her to get married again. Zhao Mingyue understood her perfectly.

The factory compound was filled with the lively energy of two innocent little girls. The workers adored them and often gave them candy. The two children had never received such attention and affection before, and were initially overwhelmed, but they gradually got used to it and even started speaking Mandarin. In fact, they unconsciously spoke Mandarin when talking to their cousin from their maternal uncle's side. Children learn quickly, especially the more vivacious Yan Yan, who soon learned to speak Mandarin, while Nan Nan, being a little shy, learned more slowly.

Zhao Mingyue had also brought the two girls to her home to play, and they got along quite well with Liangliang and the others. As the start of the school year approached, Yu Youqing took her two nieces away to help them adjust to life in Beijing.

Seeing Yu Youfen's two children, Zhao Mingyue longed to go home. She had previously planned to take her son back to her parents' home during summer vacation so he could experience rural life, but now she didn't even have summer vacation anymore, working like a spinning top every day, and that plan hadn't materialized. Liangliang had always longed to go to his maternal grandparents' house to feed the chickens and ducks, fish and catch shrimp, and even swim in the river. Zhao Mingyue had promised her son, but hadn't been able to go, so she felt apologetic and said, "I'll take you to your maternal grandparents' house for the New Year this winter."

Liangliang said, "Okay, let's go bathe in the river." He's truly a fearless calf.

Zhao Mingyue laughed: "Why would you take a bath in winter? You'll freeze to death."

"What can you do? Can you go fishing?" Liangliang looked at his mother expectantly.

Zhao Mingyue said, "I'll have your uncle take you to the mountains to catch pheasants then."

Liangliang clapped his hands excitedly: "Great, great!" So Liangliang looked forward to the New Year every day. When the New Year came, his mother took him to his maternal grandmother's house.

Winter vacation finally arrived, and Liangliang eagerly awaited his mother taking him to his maternal grandparents' house. Zhao Mingyue couldn't just leave on a whim; she needed to arrange all her year-end work, wait for wages and year-end bonuses to be paid, and for all the factory workers to be on holiday. She also needed to arrange shifts before she could leave with peace of mind. Their factory was doing well, but the Spring Festival was the most important traditional Chinese festival, and even the busiest factory had to give employees a holiday. So, a twelve-day holiday was arranged, and Zhao Mingyue took the holiday with everyone else.

Shen Xuyue's holiday wasn't as long as Zhao Mingyue's, only a few days for the Spring Festival. However, he could take annual leave. He had been working for several years and had five days of annual leave, which, combined with the Spring Festival holiday, roughly overlapped with Zhao Mingyue's holiday. So, on the 26th of the lunar year, the family of three embarked on their journey back to Zhao Mingyue's parents' home.