Fang Damiao bought the New Year's goods and left them at Fang Meixiang's house, so it was obvious where they would eat during the New Year.

After lunch, Fang Damiao rushed to the small shop to report for duty.

"Da Miao, I heard you're doing business outside?" someone asked as soon as we arrived at the shop.

"I've seen business opportunities, but it's hard to do it alone without a partner. The night market outside is even more lively than our daytime market here." Fang Damiao's experiences outside were all new to those working at home.

Some people who had returned from outside shared their experiences: "These days, scammers see that everyone has made some money and comes back for the New Year, so they target them. A group of them conspire to pull a trick on the train."

They had also experienced the coin toss game on the train, but they didn't participate; instead, they openly shared what they had seen.

"Has anyone been scammed?" The inexperienced person leaned over and asked with great curiosity.

"Yes, there are always people who want to make quick money and are greedy for small gains."

"So the money was stolen?"

"Yes. Who told them to try and take advantage of others? They tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead."

Fang Damiao remained silent, feeling guilty as he waited for the next topic to come up before continuing the conversation.

On the afternoon of the 28th of the lunar calendar, Fang Meili rode her bicycle to her parents' home. A rattan child seat with a soft cushion underneath was mounted on the crossbar of her bicycle, where Yuan Tingting sat. "There were fewer people at the shop this afternoon, so I came back for a visit," Fang Meili said as she unloaded her things.

Fang Meixiang's mother held Fang Tingting beside her, saying, "There will be plenty of food at home for the New Year. Da Miao also bought New Year's goods last time, and she brought so many things again."

"It's Chinese New Year, so I'll make a little extra for everyone."

"Second sister is here!" Fang Meihao came over and hugged Yuan Tingting.

"Meihao, where's Dongqiang?" Fang Meili asked.

"He went out to play."

"Oh, why don't you take Tingting to play too? I need to talk to Mom about something." Fang Meili and her mother sat down in the corner of the room.

“Mom, a few days ago, Damiao came to the store and gave Tingting 20 yuan.”

"He said he was going to visit Tingting that day."

“He’s still generous even though he has money now. I gave him 10 yuan back. We’re not short of money now, so it’s enough as a token. Mom, tell him about what I mentioned last time while he’s home.”

“We also think it’s a good idea, but we’re a little hesitant to say it,” Fang Meixiang’s mother said hesitantly.

“Well,” Fang Meili thought for a moment, “how about I speak?”

"Do you think this is appropriate?" Fang Meixiang's mother felt it was inappropriate.

"What's wrong with it? The money isn't going to me, it's going to his wife and son." Fang Meili said dismissively.

“Melli, I’ve told Dad that we were saving the money for him to build a house. He said he was going out to earn money to build a house.”

"Sure, this dilapidated house really needs to be rebuilt."

"Hmm. It would be more appropriate for Dad and me to talk to him."

“That works too. Tell him to keep a little money for living expenses from his monthly salary and send the rest over. That way, he won’t have money to squander outside. Mom, what do you think?” Fang Meili glanced at Fang Meixiang, then pulled her chair closer and whispered to her mother, “Do you think he might be looking for women outside? They say there are plenty of those kinds of places in the city.”

“You run a shop on the street, you see and hear a lot, so you start talking nonsense.” Fang Meixiang’s mother patted Fang Meili’s leg.

“He’s so far away, if he really wants to go to that kind of place, who can stop him? So, we tell him to send his salary back every month. It’s more reassuring if he doesn’t have money. Look, he’s been away for three years now. How much did he send in the first year? He only sent you about a hundred yuan. Last year, he sent money to buy a bicycle, and then nothing. Has he sent any this year?”

"They gave me a little something when I came back for the Chinese New Year."

“He’ll squander any money he has. Tell him to send you money regularly so you can keep it safe. Even if it’s only 50 a month, it’ll add up to 500 or 600 a year!”

"Okay, let me discuss with Dad how best to bring it up."

“Take building houses for example, we really do need to build houses.”

Fang Meili sat at her parents' house for a while, and before the sun set and the weather got cold, she put her daughter on her bicycle and prepared to go back.

"Meili, you can leave Tingting here. We don't have any work in the fields during the New Year. Meihao is also at home and can take care of her together."

"It's alright, her grandma is helping to keep an eye on things, she can manage."

"Second Aunt, let my little sister stay here and play with me. I'll take care of her," Fang Dongqiang added.

"Okay, when your little sister is a bit older, you can take her to play. Mom, I'm off!"

Fang Meixiang's mother pulled Yuan Tingting's scarf up a little, "Okay, ride slowly."

Yu Jihong delivered the last batch of seat cushions she had made this year. The New Year was a lively time, and there was a lot of conversation. Everyone was excitedly waiting to receive and inspect the goods.

“My cousin works in an electronics factory in Guangzhou. He earns two hundred yuan a month! Two hundred! We make so many cushions day and night,” a woman with short, ear-length hair said, holding up two fingers.

"That's right. I heard there are many factories over there. As long as you're willing to work, you won't have to worry about not having work. One of my neighbors has been working there for several years and is already preparing to build a new house."

They chatted back and forth, talking about the latest happenings in the outside world and ways to make big money.

Yu Jihong gripped the handlebars tighter, her heart churning as if something had stirred within her.

There were also more fashionable people on the streets, clothes that were hard to find even in the county town. Some wore maroon ski jackets with the zippers zipped up high, revealing a snow-white woolen collar. Others wore fitted corduroy jackets with the buttons neatly fastened, but the cuffs were deliberately rolled up to their forearms, revealing a thin digital watch on their wrists.

Their hair is no longer the braids commonly seen in the countryside; instead, their hair is permed into fluffy curls, making it look exceptionally thick. They have neat bangs in front of their foreheads, or a strand of curly hair is parted to the side and falls to their cheeks.

As they walked down the street, they stood out like outsiders in the crowd. Not only Yu Jihong, but everyone else who saw them would take a second look.

On the way back, Yu Jihong remained silent. Fang Sandi noticed her thoughts and asked, "Do you also want to go out and see the world?"

“Think about it, we put so much effort into it. As soon as we finish working in the fields, we go home and make lanterns and put on cushions. We don’t have a moment to spare. We spend all year eating and using up our money and we don’t have much left. Yet they can bring money back from celebrating the New Year away from home.”

"What will happen to Fang Yu if we go outside?"

"Yes, I was thinking about Fang Yu, who will be starting school next year." Yu Jihong thought about asking Fang Sandi to go outside and take a look, but then swallowed her words.

Even after returning home, Yu Jihong still kept thinking about this matter, trying to find something to earn money at home, but after more than half a year, she still hadn't found anything. Seeing others earning money outside and bringing it back, how could she not be tempted?

They are also husbands who go out and wives who stay home to take care of the children, so why do they have so many concerns?

"Third brother, why don't you go outside and take a look?" Yu Jihong finally spoke up.

"What will you do if I go outside?"

"I stay home to take care of Fang Yu. Aren't there other husbands in the village who go out to work while their wives stay home to take care of the children?"

“I,” Fang Sandi thought of his two older sisters who had come specifically to tell him not to go out, “we can manage to get by by staying home like this and doing some chores.”

Seeing that Fang San Di didn't seem to mean it, Yu Ji Hong felt it wouldn't be good to say anything more, as it would seem like she was trying to get him to leave.