Lin Xiaoxiao didn't dare dwell on it too deeply. In her dreams, her brother had been gravely injured—unconscious. Was that what was really happening now?

If so... was it possible he was already gone?

The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. If her brother really left, leaving behind that troublemaker of an original owner... what would her parents do?

Zhou Xiaoling noticed the faint reddening at the corners of Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes. She gently rubbed her back. "Sis, I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe it's just the pregnancy making you feel unwell? Whatever it is, let's go to the city tomorrow and get it checked out."

After comforting her for a while, she let Lin Xiaoxiao rest while she went to cook.

While stir-frying vegetables, Zhou Xiaoling saw Wang Wenju arrive with a woman in her twenties. She looked sallow and thin, her clothes patched in multiple places.

Curious, Zhou Xiaoling watched as Wang Wenju brought her into the yard. She guessed this must be the nanny he'd found for Shanzi.

Wang Wenju carried a net bag of apples and looked deeply apologetic. "Is sister-in-law around? I'm so sorry for all the trouble these past few days. I found someone to look after Shanzi—this is Li Yu."

Li Yu stood nervously, clutching the hem of her shirt, and nodded timidly at Zhou Xiaoling.

Zhou Xiaoling was even more curious. "Where did you find her, Brother Wang?"

"I've been looking for days with no luck," he explained. "Then today, when I was in town on business, I saw Li Yu begging on the street. I asked if she'd be willing to look after a child—for pay."

Zhou Xiaoling didn't overthink it. "Well, you should make sure you know her background. You can't be too careful when it comes to childcare."

Li Yu quickly waved her hands. "I came from Beiwā—fleeing the famine. I'm not a bad person. I attended literacy classes—I can read."

Zhou Xiaoling had heard of Beiwā—over two hundred kilometers away, deep in the mountains. They relied on the weather for harvest, and last year's drought had been severe. She'd heard many had slipped away secretly.

She advised Wang Wenju to be cautious. "Brother Wang, it's your decision—but I think you should look into her background properly."

After all, Li Yu was essentially a undocumented migrant. If discovered, she could be detained.

But Wang Wenju was too desperate. Lin Xiaoxiao had been watching Shanzi during the day despite her pregnancy. He was terrified the boy might accidentally bump into her—the consequences didn't bear thinking about.

So when someone seemingly suitable came along, he didn't overthink it. After questioning her, he decided Li Yu—though malnourished—had clear, honest eyes. She didn't seem deceitful. He decided to bring her back on a trial basis.

Lin Xiaoxiao had dozed off inside and knew nothing about the nanny or Shanzi leaving. She woke to find Zhou Xiaoling already cooking, now sitting at the small table waiting for her, chin in her hands.

Zhou Xiaoling jumped up when she saw Lin Xiaoxiao was awake. "Are you feeling better? Anywhere still hurting? Dinner's ready—go wash up and eat."

She brought over a basin of water, helped Lin Xiaoxiao wash her face and hands, and filled her in about Wang Wenju's new nanny.

Lin Xiaoxiao was shocked. "He just brought some stranger home to watch the child? What if she's dangerous?"

She remembered news reports about children going missing or being abused—often at the hands of nannies, even those from reputable agencies.

She believed you could never be too careful when entrusting a child to a stranger.

Zhou Xiaoling shrugged. "Wang Wenju seems to trust this Li Yu. And she looks honest enough."

Lin Xiaoxiao hadn't expected Wang Wenju to be so careless. Were people in this era simply more trusting? More inherently decent?

Curious, she stepped outside and saw a unfamiliar woman squatting by the water tap in the next yard, washing clothes. Shanzi stood quietly beside her. He glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao, then turned back, intently watching Li Yu work.

After observing for a few moments, Lin Xiaoxiao had to admit the woman looked genuine. If Wang Wenju trusted her, it wasn't her place to interfere. She turned and went back inside.

Zhou Xiaoling served the food. "See? She looks reliable, right? Even if she is a famine refugee, it might be fine. Wang Wenju can probably arrange a temporary residence permit for her."

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't comment further. "If she takes good care of the boy, it'll be one less worry for Wang Wenju."

Over the next two days, Lin Xiaoxiao observed quietly. Li Yu was indeed attentive to Shanzi—his clothes were clean, the yard tidy.

Every morning, the clothesline was full of washing. She was clearly hardworking.

It seemed Wang Wenju had stumbled upon the right person by accident. Shanzi clearly adored Li Yu, following her everywhere. He would smile when he saw Lin Xiaoxiao but wouldn't go over—his father had told him not to bother the auntie, so he didn't dare.

He still longed for the treats at her house, though.

Lin Xiaoxiao was happy to have her peace back. Watching a child was exhausting.

Xiao Yan had been absent for two days. Lin Xiaoxiao wondered where she'd gone to pull strings. Who could Xiao Yan be turning to now?

During those two days, Xiao Yan had been staying at the educated youth point, eating, living, and working alongside the others. She made a point of reminiscing about their early days together—how they'd huddled for warmth and support.

She was trying to rebuild connections, hoping no one would sabotage her college ambitions.

One of the female youths asked her curiously, "Everyone's saying the entrance exams will be restored. You meet lots of people at the hospital—have you heard anything? Is it true?"

Xiao Yan waved her hands dismissively. "No, I haven't heard anything about exams. Probably just another rumor—remember a few years back? I don't believe it. I'm just focusing on working hard at the health clinic. If we're allowed back to the cities someday, it'll be easier to get assigned a job. You should prepare for that too. Getting sent back to the city seems more likely than exams, if you ask me."

Some found her reasoning sound; others thought she was being sly. After all, when they'd first arrived, she'd been the one to cozy up to the party secretary and the work-point recorder—getting the easiest jobs while earning similar points.

Later, she'd somehow found out the clinic was hiring, secretly learned to give injections, and smoothly gotten the position.

She'd always done these things behind everyone's backs. If exams were really coming, she'd never tell.

Xiao Yan smooth-talked everyone, then headed to the village party secretary's house with two bottles of Daqu wine.

The secretary's family was about to have lunch when she arrived. They politely invited her to sit.

The secretary's wife, Yuelian, couldn't help staring at Xiao Yan's fair skin and slender figure—proof of her easier life at the clinic.

The party secretary rolled a cigarette and looked at her. "Comrade Xiao, what brings you here?"

Xiao Yan smiled. "Nothing important. I just came to see you. I've been so busy with work, but I've always remembered how you helped me when I first arrived."

Just then, the secretary's intellectually disabled son ran out from inside the house. "The new wife ran away! The new wife is back!"