The Lin's brothers' homes were side by side, separated only by a half-crumbling brick wall. Anyone sneezing in one yard could be heard clearly in the other.
From dawn to dusk, Lin Qingya could hear her sister-in-law's voice drifting over, loud and cutting.
"A woman who can't even keep her husband shouldn't act so proud!"
"She came back with a child, eating other people's rice everyday. What a shame!"
Most villagers had started to get tired of hearing it. A few even symphathized with Qingya.
"She's a city woman; she's not used to all this," they whispered.
"Her ex-husband must have given her something in the divorce. Why doesn't she just move out?"
But Lin Qingya remained calm. She washed clothes, cooked, and helped in the fields as if nothing could get to her.
Not long though, the gossip took another turn.
"Have you heard? Qingya's elder sister-in-law is arranging a blind date for her!"
"What? Already? Isn't it too soon?"
"The man's a divorcee too, I think. With two sons, both of school age."
"She has her own child too, right? Why would she jump from one mess into another?"
"And to make it worse," someone added dramatically, "the man is her sister-in-law's former brother-in-law! Can you imagine family gatherings?"
The gossip rolled through the village faster than the summer wind.
In the courtyard, Lin Qingya was grinding soybeans for breakfast when her elder sister-in-law burst in, face shining with excitement.
"Qingya, the man I told you about; I got news! He's back from the city. You should meet him."
Qingya looked up, her tone even. "What's his name?"
"Han Yuzhe. Ex-Major from the Southern Millitary Division. After the reforms, he was reassigned to a local security in Xicheng. He has a good reputation, good temper, doesn't drink, doesn't gamble. He has two sons, yes, but they are very obedient trust me."
Qingya's grinding stone slowed. She had heard that name before.
In her previous life, Han Yuzhe had become Chief Inspector of Xicheng. Famous for his integrity and fairness.
When corruption scandals broke years later, he had been one of the officers who stood his ground. He was the kind of man who returned every bribe untouched, even turning in his own relatives for misconduct.
Back then, she had admired him from afar while struggling through her second unhappy marriage.
So...this was him?
Her sister-in-law kept talking, oblivious to the whirlpool in Qingya's mind. "You see, he's got an urban household registration. If you marry him, you'll be able to transfer yours too. Then you could register that courtyard house your Ex left behind. Don't waste the chance, Qingya."
Qingya wiped her hands and stared into the distance.
The courtyard house.
In her previous life, she had lost that house because of her pride and ignorance about paperwork. Her ex-husband, Lu Jianhao, had moved her rural registration back before the divorce. The deed was written in her name but useless without a city ID.
When the government later demolished the neighbourhood, the compensation apartments had all gone to him. She had walked away with nothing.
Not this time.
If marrying a good man could help her transfer her registration back, it wasn't a loss.
But there was one more reason.
Han Yuzhe wasn't like other men. She remembered reading an article about him in her past life. "A Policeman Who Never Took a Bribe." He had raised two sons alone after his wife left him. Working himself to exhaustion to send them to school and take care of them.
He wasn't rich, but atleast he was decent.
And decency was something she had learned to value far above wealth.
....
That evening, Lin Qingya and her son ate simple cornbread buns at the low wooden table.
Li Chen chewed slowly, his cheeks puffed out. "Mom, this is too dry," he muttered trying hard to swallow. After all he wasn't the eight-year-old boy who understood when they didn't have nor the mature successful man. He was still her little world and did not understand why they ĥad to eat that.
She laughed softly. "It's not that bad. Close your eyes and pretend it's cake."
"Cake isn't so hard to swallow, If we had sugar, it'd taste better." he said seriously.
Her heart twisted, and she smiled to cover it. "Then how about we make it better tomorrow? Maybe dip it in white sugar?"
His eyes widened. "Really?"
"Really."
The truth was, she had only ten yuan left, hidden in a folded handkerchief at the bottom of her pillow. But she couldn't bear to see him eat with such effort.
So the next morning, she went to the small convenience stall near the village gate. The owner, a plump woman with golden earrings, measured out half a kilo of white sugar into a brown paper bag.
Lin Chen stood on tiptoes beside her, his hands gripping the counter as he sniffed the air. When the sugar poured into the bag, he giggled at the sound like falling rain.
On their way back, the familiar sharp voice sliced through the air again.
"Oh my, Lin Qingya buying white sugar! Must have found another man to pay your bills."
Her younger sister-in-law walked past, a roasted chicken swinging from one hand, her son munching on a drumstick. The aroma made Lin Chen swallow hard.
"Poor child," the woman said loudly, "Your mother's sweet on some ex-soldier now, huh? Don't worry, maybe he'll feed you too."
Qingya turned her head slightly, eyes cool.
"Better sweet than bitter, don't you think?"
The woman's smirk froze. She muttered under her breath and stalked off, chicken swinging wildly.
.....
That night, Lin Qingya tore a small piece of cornbread, dipped it in sugar, and handed it to her son. The grains sparkled under the lamplight like time stars.
"Try it," she said.
He took a bite, eyes brightening instantly. "It's so good Mama!"
She smiled. "Then eat slowly. Sweet things are meant to be savored."
He nodded earnestly and began to eat with full concentration, tiny fingers careful not to spill even a grain.
Watching him, Qingya felt warmth spread in her chest and determination solidify in her bones.
She had once believed love could protect her.
Now she knew better: only stability could.
And this time, she would build it with her own hands, even if it meant accepting a practical marriage.
She looked toward the small bag of sugar on the table. In her previous life, she had promised Lin Chen she would be back to eat with him the cake she had bought for him before leaving for her second marriage.
He had saved that stale cake for three months, waiting for her return.
This time, she whispered, "No matter what happens, I won't leave you behind again."