Fang Yu's heart skipped a beat, and she paused in her tracks. Yu Jihong glanced at her daughter and teased with a smile, "Oh, who's writing to Fang Yu?"

Fang Yu's face flushed instantly. She lowered her head shyly and quickly walked to the mailroom to take the letter. The three characters "Fang Yu" on the envelope were written in a bold, flowing style—the very handwriting she had been waiting for for over half a month. She clutched the envelope tightly.

"Look at you, your face is all red." Yu Jihong walked over and patted her on the back. "Whether you look at it now or go home to see it."

"I'll see when I get home." Fang Yu put it in her bag.

"Okay, we still have groceries at home, let's go straight home." Yu Jihong quickened her pace.

Back home, Yu Jihong said, "Go to the inner room, Mom is cooking dinner outside."

Fang Yu smiled shyly and went to the inner room. Yu Jihong closed the door. "Mom, the letter didn't say anything. You don't need to close it."

"I'm afraid the cooking fumes will come in," Yu Jihong said as she closed the door.

"Oh!" Fang Yu sat on a small stool in front of the low table, carefully opened the envelope, and took out the letter.

Fang Yu read it three times, and couldn't help but smile. She really wanted to reply to Fang Dongqiang's question immediately, but no, she would be embarrassed if her mother saw her replying so hastily.

Yu Jihong cooked the noodles and called Fang Yu out to eat. She didn't ask any questions. Fang Yu would tell her what she and Fang Dongqiang talked about, but they were talking about the kinds of things ordinary friends talk about.

From Monday to Friday, Fang Yu and Yu Jihong went to and from get off work together. Whenever Fang Yu replied to Fang Dongqiang's letter, she would always hope that the gatekeeper would call her name when she passed by the gate.

Recently, the two of them have become obsessed with watching "My Fair Princess". Every night, they wash up early and watch it on time.

The headboards of both single beds were against the wall. Behind the headboards, Yu Jihong had bought two large plastic stickers with small floral patterns and stuck them on. Fang Yu wrapped herself in a thick quilt, with only her head sticking out, leaning against the large headboard pillow, her eyes fixed on the TV.

On television, Ziwei is kneeling before Emperor Qianlong, tearfully recounting her life story.

"If the Emperor doesn't acknowledge her, how pitiful Ziwei will be," Fang Yu muttered softly, her eyes never leaving the screen.

“He will acknowledge her; what father wouldn’t acknowledge his own daughter? It’s just that the Empress and Rong Momo are too wicked.” Yu Jihong said, her brows furrowing as if she were indignant on Ziwei’s behalf.

Just then, Xiao Yanzi suddenly rushed in, grabbed Ziwei, and started arguing with the Emperor. Fang Yu chuckled, "Xiao Yanzi is really something. If it were me, I would have been scared stiff."

"She's just reckless," Yu Jihong said, but a smile crept onto her lips. "But we're also very fortunate to have her; otherwise, Ziwei would have suffered so much injustice."

The two chatted casually, enjoying their own little world as the TV drama unfolded.

Suddenly, a loud "bang" came from outside the window, as if someone's tin winnowing basket had been blown over by the wind. This was followed by a howling north wind, which swirled with dry leaves and hit the glass with a soft "tap-tap" sound.

The wind was still blowing outside the window, but it couldn't dispel the warmth and coziness inside the room.

On the weekend, the two of them went shopping together, went to the park, and watched the leaves turn yellow and fall less and less.

Winter came early in 1998, and a thin layer of condensation covered the kindergarten's windows.

In the small classroom, Fang Yu was leading the children in singing "Happy New Year," as the semester was about to end.

The last day of the semester is also the kindergarten's year-end awards ceremony.

When the principal announced "Outstanding Childcare Worker, Yu Jihong," Fang Yu was even more excited than if she had won the award herself, and her hands turned red from clapping so hard.

Yu Jihong stood there stunned until her colleagues nudged her, then blushed and walked onto the stage to accept the red certificate with gold lettering.

She did farm work, made breakfast, and took care of household chores, never imagining that she could receive such recognition for taking care of a group of children.

After returning home, Yu Jihong carefully put the certificate in the drawer.

I also made a few extra dishes. The braised pork gave off a rich aroma of soy sauce, and the delicious white broth contained crucian carp and tofu. There was also stir-fried cabbage and scrambled eggs with tomatoes, which Fang Yu loves.

"Mom, you're amazing! Congratulations on winning an award in your first year of work." Fang Yu raised a glass of juice.

"Isn't this all thanks to you? Being in the same class as you gives me more motivation to work."

Fang Huahua would occasionally contact Fang Yu, who was still working at the bamboo handicraft factory. Fang Huahua asked Fang Yu if she was coming home for the Chinese New Year this year.

"Mom, are we going back home for Chinese New Year this year?"

“Go back,” Yu Jihong said without hesitation, “Go back around the New Year. There needs to be someone at home this year. Otherwise, when Dad comes back…” Yu Jihong’s eyes reddened.

Fang Yu placed her hand on Yu Jihong's hand. "Yes, let's go back for the New Year."

Fang Dongqiang returned home for winter vacation, carrying a bulging bag.

Fang Meili's shop was already busy, so he got out of the car and went straight to the wholesale department.

"Second Aunt!" Fang Meili, wearing an apron and holding a pen for bookkeeping, was writing down the wholesale orders of her small shop's customers. "Dongqiang is back!"

"Is this your nephew?" the customer asked.

“Yes, my eldest nephew, he’s back from university for the holidays.” Fang Meili looked at her eldest nephew, whom she hadn’t seen for half a year.

"Hmm, time really flies. Another year is about to pass. That's all the goods I have today. I'll pack them up and deliver them over later."

"Okay, okay, I'll definitely deliver it to your shop by tomorrow at the latest." After seeing the customer off, Fang Meili linked arms with Fang Dongqiang and pinched his arm. "You seem to have lost a little weight."

Another customer came in and asked for two cases of orange juice. Fang Meili quickly walked to the shelf and moved the cases.

Fang Dongqiang quickly stepped forward to lend a hand, but Fang Meili waved her hand, "No need, no need. There's duck soup simmering in the back, and Tingting is watching it. Go check on Tingting."

Fang Dongqiang carried the soda to the customer's car and headed to the back where the food was cooked. "Tingting."

"Brother, you're back!" Yuan Tingting, who was looking at the duck soup, ran over and pulled Fang Dongqiang. "Was university fun?"

"We're not going there for fun, sis!"

"Oh, they all say that you'll be free once you go to university."

Fang Meili came in and said, "You two go out and watch the shop. I'll cook the dishes while no one's around."

“When you came back today, my mom went to the market early this morning to buy groceries. She picked out all the things you like to eat, saying that since you eat in the school cafeteria, you should eat something nice when you come home.” Yuan Tingting ran outside.