Chapter 10: The Zhou Family is Truly Blessed

Xia Yao rode on the back of her aunt’s bicycle to get noodles. Zhou Erwa’s restaurant wasn’t hard to find; it was right at the main gate of the textile factory.

As the bicycle came to a stop, Xia Yao hopped off and immediately spotted a little girl in a small floral-patterned padded jacket sitting at the entrance of the restaurant.

The little girl was incredibly cute, with a round face, delicate, doll-like features, and skin that was white with a rosy glow. She was eating a piece of candy, and when she looked up and saw Xia Yao, she paused for a moment before speaking in a soft, adorable Sichuan accent—and she was even complimenting her.

"Little one, you are so well-behaved." Xia Yao felt her heart melting. She rummaged through her pockets for a moment, but she hadn't prepared any snacks before leaving the house.

"Here, baby, have some candy." Meng Anhe parked the bicycle, fished two White Rabbit creamy candies out of her leather handbag, and handed them to Zhou Momo with a smile.

"Big bunny!" Zhou Momo’s eyes lit up. She reached out to take the candy, then looked up at Meng Anhe and said with a cheerful smile, "Thank you, pretty auntie!"

"Mm, what a good girl." Meng Anhe was very fond of the little one with the smiling, crescent-shaped eyes. She couldn't help but sigh to Xia Yao, "Daughters are just better-behaved. Unlike those two little monsters of mine, who only know how to give me headaches."

"My cousins are actually quite well-behaved," Xia Yao said with a smile. "At least they’re quiet when they’re asleep, haha."

"Are you two here for noodles?" Zhao Tieying heard them and came out to greet them with a smile.

Zhou Yan, who was just about to tally up the day's business, also looked toward the door, his eyes brightening.

The young woman on the left had a classic oval face, eyebrows like distant mountains, a cherry-red mouth, and skin so white it seemed to glow.

She was tall, with long black hair draped over her shoulders. A white dress was cinched at the waist, highlighting her slender, elegant figure, and she wore a light beige knit cardigan over it, carrying a bulging handbag in her hand.

When she looked down at Zhou Momo, her eyes curved into crescents and shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth, making her look both bright and gentle.

The woman on the right looked to be in her early thirties, with a perm and a resemblance to the young woman beside her of about sixty or seventy percent.

She wore a white pointed-collar shirt with an exquisite gold button pinned to the collar tips, and slightly flared trousers that covered her black mid-heel leather shoes, topped with a red knit cardigan.

She wore light blush and lipstick, giving her an aura of great confidence; she exuded a sense of flair and fashion from head to toe.

As Zhao Tieying looked at the two women standing at the door, she felt a sense of awe. She subconsciously pulled her feet back, hiding her old cloth shoes with their patches.

Among the middle-aged women in Zhou Village, she was considered fashionable.

But in front of these two women, she felt like a complete novice.

That perm, those bell-bottoms, those high heels—she had only ever seen them in movies. This fashion trend hadn't reached the village yet, and it was rare even in town.

"Auntie, my name is Xia Yao. I’m here to thank Comrade Zhou Yan for saving my life," Xia Yao said with a smile to Zhao Tieying.

Her tone was gentle, carrying the soft, glutinous lilt of the Jiangnan water towns.

"Ah, it’s you." Zhao Tieying realized. So, this was Deputy Factory Director Lin’s niece, and the other one must be his wife. No wonder they were so stylish. She quickly turned back and shouted, "Zhou Yan!"

Zhou Yan had already heard their conversation and put the money into the drawer.

The light at the doorway dimmed as a tall figure stepped out.

Xia Yao looked up and was momentarily stunned. She subconsciously tilted her head back—so tall!

At 1.82 meters, Zhou Yan was definitely a tall man in this era of material scarcity. He was a few centimeters taller than Lin Zhiqiang, who had come from the North, and he stood out in the crowd of the Bashu region.

Looking at his face, it had sharp, well-defined features, deep-set eyes, and a clear, handsome expression. He happened to have "peach blossom" eyes, with a smile always lingering at the corners, making him look affectionate even when he was just looking at a dog.

He wore a white cotton shirt common among chefs at large restaurants, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top button undone. A dark blue apron was tied around his waist. The same clothes looked clean and well-fitted on him.

Xia Yao felt that even the captain of the basketball team, who was the most popular boy among the girls at her art academy, didn't look as good as him.

Meng Anhe observed Zhou Yan and couldn't help but nod slightly. For a fleeting moment, she had the feeling of the first time she met Lin Zhiqiang in Moscow. He had been the "campus heartthrob" among the international students back then, but in the blink of an eye, he had developed a beer belly. A man’s prime was just too short.

"Comrade Zhou Yan, I am Xia Yao. Thank you for jumping into the river to save me the day before yesterday without regard for your own safety." Xia Yao extended her hand to Zhou Yan, acting with poise and grace.

"You're welcome." Zhou Yan reached out and shook her hand lightly. Her hand was fair and slender, with skin as smooth as warm jade, though it felt slightly cool.

Xia Yao, however, felt that Zhou Yan’s hand was exceptionally rough, especially at the fingertips, which were covered in thick calluses. He was young, but he clearly hadn't been lazy when it came to his craft.

"Are you from Zhejiang Province?" Zhou Yan felt a sense of familiarity in her accent, and his heart couldn't help but flutter.

Xia Yao nodded, a bit surprised. "I grew up in Hangzhou, but my ancestral home is in Zhoushan. Have you been to Zhejiang?"

Beside them, Zhao Tieying also looked at him with confusion.

"No, I just met someone from Zhejiang before and thought your accent sounded a bit like theirs," Zhou Yan said with a smile, brushing it off.

"Then you’re quite impressive. Xia Yao’s accent is actually already very faint," Meng Anhe said with a smile. "I’m Xia Yao’s aunt. Thank you for saving her. My Old Lin couldn't stop praising you when he got home yesterday. He went on a business trip yesterday afternoon, so I brought Xia Yao here today."

"You're too kind. I didn't think much of it at the time, but anyone would have done the same," Zhou Yan said hurriedly.

He could tell that this Mrs. Lin didn't look like a typical housewife; she radiated the aura of a career woman, the kind who was decisive and firm in her work.

"Most people wouldn't have that kind of courage. You are a true hero," Meng Anhe praised.

The workers had all gone to work, and the vendors at the factory gate were idle. Seeing two stylish women at the entrance of Zhou Erwa’s restaurant, they all pricked up their ears and stretched their necks to listen to the gossip, with some nosy ones even moving closer to watch the spectacle.

Learning that these two were the wife and niece of Deputy Factory Director Lin, and that they had come to thank Zhou Yan, they all began to whisper.

"Didn't Deputy Factory Director Lin just send over a '28-inch' bicycle yesterday? Why are they here to thank him again today?"

"City people are particular. Today, the girl must have come to thank him in person. But she is truly beautiful—prettier than the female workers in the textile factory."

"They look like a good match, a talented man and a beautiful woman."

"What kind of match? Zhou Yan is just a self-employed individual. Would a college student from the city look at him?"

...

"This is a small token of my gratitude." Xia Yao opened her handbag and began to take things out one by one.

Shanghai-brand malted milk, Friendship-brand vanishing cream, Pechoin cold cream, a whole carton of Yuxi cigarettes...

The onlookers' eyes widened, and they grew more envious by the second. These were all rare items! Who among them could afford to buy such things? City people were truly generous!

"Little one, this malted milk is for you." Xia Yao handed the malted milk to Zhou Momo.

"Thank you, pretty sister." Zhou Momo held the malted milk, her eyes shining. She had eaten this at her uncle’s house during the New Year—it was so, so sweet!

"Auntie, this vanishing cream and cold cream can prevent frostbite and chapping in the winter."

"This is too expensive, I can't take it. We usually just use clam oil; we don't need this," Zhao Tieying said, waving her hands repeatedly.

"This works better than clam oil, and you can even rub a little on the little one's face when it gets cold. These cigarettes are for your husband. My uncle said these are good, though I don't know if he’s used to them. And here is the lunchbox from yesterday." Xia Yao stuffed the items directly into her hands.

"This... how could I?" Zhao Tieying said, though she couldn't help but smile.

These city girls were so thoughtful. They said they were here to thank Zhou Yan, but they brought gifts for everyone. They were generous and spoke so sweetly. If only she could find a daughter-in-law like this.

Xia Yao took a peacock-blue fountain pen from her bag and handed it to Zhou Yan. "This pen was a gift from my father. I hope you will accept it."

Zhou Yan looked at the Parker pen with its 24K gold-plated clip and cloisonné cap jewel, and shook his head. "This imported pen is too valuable. I already feel ashamed for accepting the bicycle; I cannot take something so precious."

She really was a little heiress. Her family background was likely no worse than Lin Zhiqiang’s, and her upbringing was impeccable.

Meng Anhe looked at Zhou Yan, a bit surprised. He knew his stuff—this Parker 45 cost 45 yuan, and you needed foreign exchange certificates to buy it. It was a birthday gift from Xia Yao’s father.

"You saved my life. If my father were here, he would definitely want you to accept it," Xia Yao said, looking at him with a firm attitude.

Zhou Yan hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take the pen and nodded. "Then I will accept it. Thank you."

"You're welcome." Xia Yao smiled again. "I had your pork rib noodles yesterday, and they were so delicious. My aunt and I haven't had breakfast yet, so we came specifically to have some noodles."

"Little one, hurry inside and sit down. Let Zhou Yan make them for you right away," Zhao Tieying said with a smile.

"Okay." Xia Yao replied softly, the dimples at the corners of her mouth deepening. The way she addressed the older woman as "auntie" always made people feel close to her.

"The menu is on the wall." Zhou Yan also walked inside.

Seeing Zhou Yan and the others enter the restaurant, the vendors began to gossip again.

"Friendship vanishing cream, Pechoin cold cream—those are things only rich women in the city use. She just gave them away like that."

"She gave a whole carton of Yuxi cigarettes! A carton like that must cost thirty yuan!"

"The Zhou family is truly blessed!"

"Did you see that pen? The factory director usually keeps one just like it in his pocket, just a different color. Last time I heard Director Liu call it a 'Parker' pen, American-made. One costs 45 yuan!"

"Oh my god! Forty-five?!"

The crowd gasped, all of them shocked and speechless.

A tiny fountain pen cost more than a textile factory worker’s monthly salary! And that girl just gave it away!

Zhou Yan had really struck it rich this time.

The couple, Old Wang and his wife, turned green with envy as they listened. Not only had their business been snatched away, but seeing Zhou Yan strike it rich was more than they could bear!