In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 50. Backing Someone Up
"Jinhua ham?!"

Wang's eyes widened instantly, her voice changed, and she took the heavy, oily package in disbelief. Her fingers unconsciously rubbed the oiled paper, feeling the outline of the firm chunks of meat inside.

These days, let alone a large whole piece, even a small slice of Jinhua ham is an unimaginable luxury!
Her smile immediately became incredibly sincere, and she repeatedly said, "Oh my! I can't accept this! It's too kind! Thank you, Mom! Thank you, Mingming! Your mom is so too kind!"

Yang Guangming smiled and took out another drunken chicken wrapped in the same oil paper: "This is a drunken chicken, a gift from a friend. It tastes quite good. Let me share it with you."

The rich aroma of drunken chicken, combined with the salty and savory flavor of ham, filled the small living room with an enticing atmosphere.

Holding the ham and the drunken chicken, Wang was beaming with joy, repeatedly expressing her gratitude, as if her earlier harassment of her daughter-in-law had never happened.

Just then, a little figure with two small pigtails and wearing a faded floral dress wobbled out from behind the big bed. It was two-year-old Honghong.

She stared at her unfamiliar uncle with her big, bright eyes, sucking on her fingers with curiosity.

"Honghong, quickly call him uncle!" Yang Xianglan came over with a teacup and hurriedly called to her daughter.

Honghong was a little shy and shrank behind her mother, but her big eyes were fixed on Yang Guangming without blinking.

Yang Guangming's heart softened instantly.

He crouched down and, as if by magic, pulled the tin box of White Rabbit candy from his military satchel, opening it with a "click".

The colorful milk candies filling the container immediately caught Honghong's attention.

"Honghong, call me uncle, and I'll give you candy, okay?" Yang Guangming picked up a White Rabbit candy, shook it, and smiled gently.

The allure of milk candy was immense. Honghong glanced timidly at her mother, and encouraged, finally called out softly, "Uncle..."

"Hey! My sweet little girl!" Yang Guangming responded loudly, immediately unwrapped the candy, and stuffed the milky white, fragrant candy into her little red mouth.

With the candy in her mouth, Honghong's little face immediately lit up with a smile, and her initial timidity vanished.

Yang Guangming stuffed the entire candy box into Honghong's arms and then picked her up.

Honghong hugged the heavy, cool candy box and giggled happily.

Yang Guangming then solemnly handed the last item from his satchel—a generous bag of beef jerky wrapped in thick oil paper—to Yang Xianglan, raising his voice slightly as he did so:
"Sister, these beef jerky and milk candy are specially brought for Honghong."

The little one is growing and needs to eat well. Beef jerky is chewy and nutritious; milk candy is good for calcium and helps teeth grow strong. Keep these safe and give them to Honghong slowly.

Yang Xianglan took the two heavy packages; she could tell they were quite heavy just by holding them.

The chewy texture of the beef jerky and the coolness of the milk candy box made her heart skip a beat.

Ham, drunken chicken, and so many expensive snacks! Little brother, what is this...? She looked at Yang Guangming, her eyes filled with shock and inquiry.

Wang watched from the side, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Beef jerky! White Rabbit milk candy! And so much of it! How much money and how many tickets must that cost! She felt a mix of envy and jealousy, but could only praise, "Oh my! Little brother is so thoughtful! Honghong is so lucky! Uncle is so happy for you!"

Yang Guangming, holding Honghong, smiled casually and recounted the story he had told his family before about "receiving a gift from a cadre for saving an elderly person." He concluded by saying:
"...This cadre insisted on giving it to me. We can't finish it all at home, so I'm giving it to my sister and Honghong."

"You...you're incredibly bold!"

After hearing this, Yang Xianglan patted her younger brother's arm with lingering fear, but she couldn't hide the pride in her eyes: "However... we were really lucky this time, we met a kind family who understands reason."

Holding the heavy bundle of beef jerky and milk candy, she felt a warm glow in her heart, knowing that her younger brother was trying to make it up to her.

The conversation naturally turned to Yang Guangming's new job. Yang Xianglan asked with concern, "What's the specifics of your job? Mom wasn't clear on the phone; she said you became a manager in the factory administration office?"

Yang Guangming then briefly recounted how Zhao Guodong appreciated him, how he arranged for him to work as a clerk in the factory affairs office secretariat, his cadre status, and his salary of twenty-three yuan.

He spoke calmly, without boasting, simply stating the facts.

But the "fact" itself is enough to shock the listener.

"Factory Affairs Office? Secretariat? Clerk? Cadre position!" Yang Xianglan's eyes lit up as she rattled off these words, her joy and pride overflowing. "Oh my! Amazing! Amazing! Our family has really produced a cadre! Mingming, you've really made us proud!"

Wang was completely stunned as she listened.

The factory affairs office—that's where all the factory's cadres are managed! The secretariat—they're always running around after the factory leaders! They're government-employed cadres, receiving government-subsidized rations! Twenty-three yuan a month—not much now, but it'll probably increase in the future!
The way she looked at Yang Guangming had completely changed; her previous enthusiasm was now tinged with utter awe and fawning.

"My goodness! You've truly had incredible luck! Little brother, you've leaped over the dragon gate like a carp, ascending to the heavens in one step! Your future is bright! Your future is bright!"

Xianglan, look at your younger brother, how successful he is! You should learn from him!

She now finds her daughter-in-law much more agreeable, after all, she has such a "successful" brother from her own family!

Although Honghong couldn't understand what the adults were saying, she could sense that her mother and great-grandmother were very happy, and that her uncle was holding her comfortably and steadily, with sweet words coming from his mouth, so she grinned along with him.

Seeing the genuine, triumphant glow on his older sister's face, Yang Guangming felt a little more at ease.

One of the purposes of his trip has been achieved—to give his elder sister some confidence in her husband's family.

Seeing that it was still early and the sun was shining, a thought crossed his mind. He sat down on the stool with Honghong in his arms and said with a smile to Wang Shi and Yang Xianglan:

"Mother-in-law, sister, I'm free today anyway, so I'd like to stay and see Honghong, and wait for my brother-in-law to get off work so we can chat, okay?"

Yang Xianglan was taken aback at first, but then she understood her younger brother's intention. Her heart warmed, and she quickly said, "Great! Great! Your brother-in-law will definitely be happy to see you!" She couldn't wait for her younger brother to stay a little longer.

Madam Wang was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes! Little brother, please sit for a while! I'll go prepare dinner right away! You must stay for dinner tonight!"
Xianglan, look after Honghong and keep an eye on your brother. I'm going to buy some groceries!

(End of this chapter)