"Not really," Qin Xiangnuan wrinkled her little nose and then climbed onto the hospital bed to help her brother Qin Xiangyang get dressed, "Brother, don’t worry, we can make money. Once you get well, Nuannuan will take you to make money. In the future, Nuannuan will treat you to delicious food, dress you in nice clothes, and even send you to school. How about we build a big house to live in then?"
"Okay, I’ll wait for Nuannuan to take me to make big money," Qin Xiangyang scratched his sister’s head with a chuckle, not sure if he was finding joy amidst the hardship.
"Are you hungry, Brother?" Qin Xiangnuan knew Qin Xiangyang didn’t believe in her, but it didn’t matter. She wouldn’t argue or explain. When they truly started making money, her brother would believe.
"I really am hungry," Qin Xiangyang checked his stomach, wondering how he could get so hungry after sleeping.
"I’ll go get some food," Qin Xiangnuan hurried downstairs and bought two large steamed buns, a large bowl of egg soup, and a big serving of ribs for less than 50 cents. They hadn’t eaten meat in a long time. Since her brother was sick, he needed to eat well—to recover quickly.
Seeing so much food, especially the ribs, Qin Xiangyang was taken aback.
"Sister, isn’t this expensive?"
"Just eat," Qin Xiangnuan picked up a rib and stuffed it into Qin Xiangyang’s mouth, urging him to eat without talking.
"Mmm..." It took Qin Xiangyang a while to swallow the rib, savoring the meaty flavor so intensely he almost bit his own tongue off.
This was also the first meal with meat Qin Xiangnuan had since her rebirth, and the tastiest she had ever had in both her lifetimes, shared with her brother.
They shared a large bowl of ribs and two buns. Qin Xiangnuan was full after eating just half a bun, while Qin Xiangyang ate one and a half himself, and once he started on the soup, he couldn’t stop until he had finished the last drop. Then, satisfyingly rubbing his belly, he felt truly full—even overly stuffed.
After eating, Qin Xiangyang laid down and fell asleep.
Not long after, the doctor came to change the IV. After being well-fed for several days, Qin Xiangyang’s condition finally stabilized. Fortunately, the high fever didn’t damage his brain. Though still a bit slow, his mind was certainly working fine.
Qin Xiangnuan handled all the hospital bills, paying about 30 yuan in total. The 30 yuan was well spent—it saved her brother’s life and secured their freedom. It was well worth it.
"We’re going home," Qin Xiangyang packed his clothes into a bag, ready to be discharged from the hospital.
Outside the hospital, there was warm sunshine today.
No one came to pick them up; they walked home by themselves. They were grown up enough to take care of themselves and make a living on their own.
"Brother, shall we buy a stove?" Qin Xiangnuan stopped in front of a general store selling miscellaneous goods, just as private entrepreneurship was beginning to thrive and supply and marketing co-ops were starting to transform. Private businesses were sprouting up everywhere like bamboo shoots after rain.
That said, the early 1980s were truly filled with opportunities everywhere. However, those steeped in old ways of thinking couldn’t easily adapt, particularly the folks in the countryside, for whom the land was everything and more sons meant more labor power.