Chapter 60: Though the Family Faces Hardships, Thankfully I Have You

With Du Song helping to carry the glutinous rice flour, Du Yun found the journey home from the town much easier. Chatting with her eldest brother along the way, her affection for him soared.

Du Song worked as an apprentice in a large shop in town, not just a regular store but a major trading firm. His apprenticeship had advanced; he now assisted the shopkeeper directly. Though his pay was still that of an apprentice, his experience and connections far surpassed those of ordinary apprentices.

As she conversed with her brother, Du Yun realized that, though he appeared stern and serious, bearing the responsibilities of an eldest brother, he was not inflexible. In some ways, he was remarkably diplomatic. His approach to life inspired both a sense of security and an ability to adapt, making him well-suited to be a shopkeeper.

Before long, the group arrived home. The whole family was overjoyed at the return of Du Song and Du Yang. Grandmother asked Du Yun’s mother to cook all the pork belly Du Yun had bought earlier, which had been intended for the Mid-Autumn Festival, showing just how grand the occasion was.

Du Yun's eldest sister, Du Zhi, was to be married on the eighth day of the eighth lunar month, just over a month away. But as the family was poor, her dowry consisted only of a red dress and a new set of bedding. Despite the approaching wedding, there was little sense of preparation in the Du household.

“These are tobacco leaves for Grandpa and Grandma, and this is tea—meant for the tea ceremony when Big Sister marries. These two pieces of fabric, I thought, could be for Big Sister’s dowry,” Du Song said as he set down Du Yun’s glutinous rice flour. Surrounded by the family, he opened his bundle and revealed his gifts one by one.

Watching her brother present these gifts, Du Yun suddenly felt her cheeks grow warm. Before her journey to this world, she had no family; when she earned money, she bought things mostly for herself, occasionally thinking to buy something for her family, but mostly food, indulging her own tastes.

But her brother was different. Tobacco, tea, fabric—he spent his money wisely. Tobacco was essential for her grandparents; both needed their daily smoke, and without it, they would be restless all day. Tea was a luxury, crucial for the wedding tea ceremony—the quality of the tea would reflect on her sister’s reputation. And the fabric, too. Du Yun began to reflect deeply on herself. After so many lonely years, though she wished to care for her family, her efforts lacked sincerity. She realized how far she still had to go.

While the family laughed and chatted, Du Yun resolved quietly to cherish her hard-won family, beginning with helping prepare her sister’s dowry.

That evening, the family enjoyed a sumptuous dinner with meat, everyone’s faces glowing with comfort. Du Song had returned, bringing his hard-earned savings to help gather a dowry for his younger sister, and everything revolved around this purpose.

“Grandma, these are my savings from the past six months. I plan to give half to the household, and the other half to prepare a dowry for Big Sister,” Du Song said, pulling fifty yuan from his pocket and placing it before his grandmother, in the dim light. At this moment, only the two of them were in the room. Grandma had sent everyone else out, knowing Du Song would bring money.

“Half for Zhi?” Grandma’s smile was unstoppable as she saw the fifty yuan—her grandson’s wages had clearly increased if he could save so much in just six months.

But to give half as Du Zhi’s dowry—wasn’t that too much? Their bride price had only been fifty yuan; to offer half as a dowry?

“Grandma, twenty-five yuan isn’t much. Big Sister’s bride price was used to pay off our debts. Her dowry is so meager; I fear her husband’s family will look down on her,” Du Song explained, knowing his grandmother thought twenty-five yuan was too much. But Du Zhi was his real sister—if she married with nothing, how could she hold her head high?

“That’s true, but what about your own marriage?” Grandma wasn’t indifferent to her granddaughter; she wouldn’t have doted so much on Du Yun otherwise. But while granddaughters are precious, grandsons are even more so. If all the money went with Du Zhi, what about Du Song and Du Huai’s future weddings?

“Grandma, Big Sister’s wedding is soon. I can still earn more for mine,” Du Song replied, his heart aching. With so little money, urgent needs had to come first.

As for his own marriage—he sighed. Was it so easy for him or his brother to marry? They had carried debts for decades; even now, with the debts cleared, the family had no foundation. The house was rundown, and any future bride would have no proper place to live. Who would want to marry him?

Grandma sighed as well. Her grandson’s thoughts mirrored her own—both sides were flesh and blood, but even splitting a single yuan in two was not enough.

“Grandma!” Du Yun stood at the door, hearing the silence in the room, and softly called out.

“Du Yun, come in,” Grandma said, taking a deep breath, collecting the money, and turning around as Du Yun entered.

“Grandma, this is what I earned today.” Du Yun pulled a five-yuan bill from her pocket and pushed it across the kang toward her grandmother.

“Five yuan?” Grandma and Du Song were both astonished. Last time, Du Yun had earned just one and a half; now she had five. The increase was remarkable. Du Song was even more shocked that his sister had earned in one day more than he had in a month as an apprentice.

“Grandma, I made more pastries today, and only bought a little glutinous rice flour, so I had more money left over. I plan to keep making pastries these days—Big Sister is getting married soon, and I want to earn enough to help with her dowry.”

“Good, you are all wonderful children!” Grandma’s eyes were slightly damp. Though the family’s circumstances were hard, the children growing up here were good—capable of earning money, and, more importantly, deeply caring for one another. It was the great blessing of the Du family.

Having handed the money to Grandma, Du Song and Du Yun returned to their room. Seeing the joyful faces of their parents and siblings, Du Song smiled and, with a mysterious air, pulled a small paper packet from his pocket. He beckoned everyone over, and the family craned their necks in curiosity.