After returning home, Gu Shunhua took a few pieces of the sponge cake to Granny Tong and Old Master Pan. Then she brought the children back, washed their hands, and gave them the egg cakes to eat. “This is sponge…
The news that Gu Quanfu would be taking up a position as head chef at Yuhuatai quickly spread through the shared courtyard compound, and naturally, the neighbors were happy for him. But it wasn’t long before the news reached the…
That day, Chen Cuiyue didn’t say a word. She returned home in silence, unwrapped the bundle she had packed, and carefully placed her clothes back into the cabinet. Then she tidied up the house, fed a fresh briquette into the…
Everyone stared in stunned silence as the coal briquette was crushed beneath her foot—utterly flattened. That was a coal briquette. A coal briquette, for heaven’s sake! In these times, if your stove wasn’t lit and you needed to borrow even…
Gu Shunhua made another trip to the Educated Youth Office. But once again, they told her to wait—too many educated youths were returning to the city, and a long queue was already backed up. There were indeed some job openings,…
The sun had been bright these past two days, melting the icicles that hung from the eaves. Water dripped steadily, making the steps slippery and wet. Everyone had to tread carefully when coming and going, lest they slip. Sunny days…
Back when she was still at the coal mine in Inner Mongolia, Gu Shunhua had watched wave after wave of fellow educated youth return to the city. Not a moment passed without her longing to go back herself—she had wished…
Gu Shunhua had every reason to be thrilled. In those days, everything—food, clothing, even toilet paper—required ration coupons. Coal was no exception. Each neighborhood committee was assigned to a coal depot, which then served several storefront branches. Her alleyway had…
On her way home, as soon as Gu Shunhua stepped through the door, she saw Feng Xian’er and Chen Lu sitting inside. Feng Xian’er had a stern face. The moment she saw Gu Shunhua enter, she gave a mocking smile…
Despite what Ren Jingnian had said, Gu Shunhua still found her heart gently warmed. Ever since she had discovered the contents of that book, she had been deeply shaken. She no longer dared to fully trust this man. That was…