Chapter 84: First Update

"I agree." Qin Yao signed the paperwork with the film crew, providing the novel she had written to be adapted into a local propaganda film.

Since the 1970s, many films had been produced domestically every year. People were tired of the old movies, but Qin Yao's novel had a compelling story and intricate plot that aligned with local realities, making it highly suitable for a film adaptation to be shot on the island for promotional purposes.

At that time, income for literary and artistic workers was low. Actors filming movies received ordinary wages of a few dozen yuan, just like regular people. Most actors were from local song and dance troupes or drama troupes, and their involvement in films was considered volunteer work, with only a small subsidy of a few yuan.

The two hundred yuan Qin Yao received as her creation fee was a decent amount.

"Is it really being made into a film?" Xiao Pan's eyes almost popped out. To him, the two hundred yuan was trivial compared to the fact that it was being made into a film. Could Qin Yao's story really be made into a film?

Xiao Pan was green with envy. He would even do it for free if his writing could be made into a film. Were the people at the film studio crazy? Was this just a waste of time? Qin Yao's manuscript had been rejected, so how could the film be any good?

He pressed his lips tightly together, hoping that Qin Yao's film wouldn't get made.

Qin Yao soon received her two hundred yuan creation fee—twenty brand-new ten-yuan bills. Holding them, she felt a little joyful. The modern-day Qin Yao could never have imagined using these ten-yuan bills in her lifetime.

Speaking of these bills, she remembered a funny incident from her school days. A classmate of hers copied an essay where the uncle "pulled out a few large ten-yuan notes," so he wrote the same. However, by that time, this edition of banknotes was no longer in circulation.

The stack of twenty ten-yuan bills felt substantial in her hands, fresh and uncreased, as if they had just been printed, still carrying a faint smell of ink.

Qin Yao couldn't bear to fold them. She didn't plan to deposit them in the bank but to keep them at home.

"Look at the money your wife earned." Qin Yao fanned out the twenty notes in front of Gu Cheng.

Gu Cheng counted them, exactly two hundred. "Not bad, twenty notes."

"I feel like it's such a loss, Gu Cheng. After slaving away for months, pouring our hearts into it, we end up with just two hundred yuan." Qin Yao felt quite upset.

At that time, without the internet, it was tough to be a writer. To get published, you first had to get past the editor’s preferences. Editors were human, and humans had their likes and dislikes. Sometimes, a manuscript was rejected not because of the work itself.

Some famous authors, even if their manuscripts were mediocre, would still be selected by editors.

"A loss? That's several months of your salary."

"True." Qin Yao calculated that even if her monthly salary was forty yuan, two hundred yuan equaled five months of her salary, rounding up to almost "half a year's salary."

At that time, a pound of pork cost just over a yuan. Two hundred yuan could buy over a hundred pounds of pork. Even on the black market, two hundred yuan could buy a hundred pounds of pork.

"I suspect someone is showing off." Gu Cheng had been away for the past few months, but his salary had increased due to various sea subsidies. This two hundred yuan was just over a month's salary for him.

Gu Cheng sat next to her, laughing. "The money in our house is managed by you, isn't it?"

"Wife, now that we've got some cash, should we splurge on a new sofa?"

"A sofa?" Qin Yao nestled in his arms. "Let's wait until the kid's a bit older. It's safer to use old stuff for them."

Using old clothes for children was wisdom passed down from ancestors. Although they looked a bit dirty, they contained fewer harmful substances.

"How about we buy a set, put it in the room on the second floor, and air it out for half a year before using it."

Gu Cheng chuckled. "As you wish."

Qin Yao hugged his neck and whispered, "I’m going to blow through a few months’ worth of your sea pay."

Although Gu Cheng's subsidies were higher when he wasn't home, she would rather have him there with her.

*

By the end of the year, Qin Yao’s pregnancy was advancing, and her belly was growing bigger. Her mother, Shen Guixiang, called ahead to say she would come to help with the birth and Qin Yao’s confinement. Despite the challenges, Qin Yao felt a sense of calm knowing her mother would be there for her.

Shen Guixiang originally had a job as a factory worker. She transferred her position to her daughter-in-law and retired early with honor. Although her monthly pension was far less than her previous salary, her elder brother, second brother, and fourth brother gave their parents a small amount of pension money every month. Even if each family gave a few bucks, it added up. Additionally, her father, Qin Chuanrong, had many side incomes, allowing the elderly couple to live comfortably.

Shen Guixiang traveled south for two reasons: first, to be with her youngest daughter during her pregnancy and to take care of her after childbirth; second, to meet Xie Hongni.

The third son had voluntarily gone to the countryside, and the whole family felt guilty about it, understanding the sacrifice he had made. Since this son had found a wife, Shen Guixiang wanted to come and see for herself, bringing some gifts for the new daughter-in-law.

Aside from these legitimate reasons, Shen Guixiang also wanted to spend the winter in the south and experience the island scenery.

After obtaining a family visit permit from the local committee, Shen Guixiang traveled south by train in December, enduring a bumpy boat ride to the island. Third Brother Qin and Xie Hongni met her, and they spent a day at the farm before heading to the family apartment to see Qin Yao.

Upon seeing her youngest daughter, Shen Guixiang's eyes immediately turned red. It had been since the previous Lunar New Year when she had sent her daughter off to marry, and now her daughter was about to become a mother. She felt both happy and sentimental, seeing her daughter as a little girl still.

"Yaoyao, how have you been living on the island?"

Qin Yao smiled, "Mom, just look at me, and you'll know how I'm doing."

Pregnant, Qin Yao had, unsurprisingly, become "round and curvy." Not only had her belly grown, but her whole body had become full, exuding a healthy, rounded glow.

It seemed that her current state was the healthiest for her body.

Gu Cheng treasured her appearance, holding her in his arms at night, gently teasing her.

After a long reunion, Shen Guixiang asked Qin Yao, "I heard from your brother that you're writing books now?"

Her daughter's academic performance had been neither particularly good nor bad. She had struggled with math and science but had done well in Chinese, ranking in the top ten of her class.

Qin Yao had not caught a good time; when she was in middle school, classes were no longer properly conducted. Shen Guixiang feared that her daughter had learned less than she had back in her day.

And now she was writing books?

"Yes, Mom, would you like to take a look?"

Shen Guixiang nodded, and Qin Yao handed her the manuscript. After reading a few pages, Shen Guixiang's initial shock subsided, "You write in plain language that even I can understand."

People of Shen Guixiang's generation mostly read literary works from writers of the Republican era and various translated foreign literature, which often featured complex and awkward sentences.

Her daughter Qin Yao's writing was characterized by "fluency," or in other words, "plain language."

Shen Guixiang didn't have much literary appreciation ability. In her eyes, such plain language clearly lacked "literary depth."

Qin Yao couldn't help but laugh. She had deliberately written in plain language, and now it was seen as a flaw indicating her "lack of culture."

When she wrote this book, she hadn't thought about any profound literary qualities but instead focused on creating an exciting story.

No wonder the film studio was interested.

As Shen Guixiang read more pages, she gradually became engrossed. Qin Yao's story was filled with suspense, each plot point intricately connected, drawing the reader in. At the most critical plot points, it was especially thrilling.

Shen Guixiang spent nearly an hour and a half reading the story.

After finishing, she looked outside and was surprised by how early it still was, "It's still early."

Qin Yao smiled, "Mom, it's not early anymore."

"I finished it so quickly because it's so easy to read. Why isn't it being published yet? It's so well-written." Shen Guixiang loved the story and wanted to take it back to show off in the neighborhood courtyard. This was a novel written by her daughter, soon to be made into a film.

In the courtyard across the alley, there lived a film projectionist. If one day he screened a film based on her daughter's story, we'd definitely have something to brag about.

"Maybe my daughter will become a great writer, but you need to polish your writing a little more."

Qin Yao was speechless.

Soon after Shen Guixiang arrived on the island, her mother-in-law Liu Shuqin said she would come to keep her company during the birth. She was already on her way and had brought quite a few items, especially brand-new cotton fabrics, to make clothes for the grandchildren.

As soon as Liu Shuqin arrived on the island, the house became even more lively. Gu Cheng had to add an extra cup of rice when cooking; his mother could still eat a lot, and they had to cook more dishes at night because they didn’t want the “mothers” to go into the kitchen.

Shen Guixiang rarely went into the kitchen. At home, she mostly handled the rice, while her son and husband took care of the cooking. It wasn’t her turn to cook. Liu Shuqin occasionally went into the kitchen, but mostly, the meals were prepared by the nanny.

But here at her son’s house, she got to enjoy meals prepared by her own son.

“Not bad! Looks like Yaoyao’s been teaching you a thing or two,” Liu Shuqin nodded. Her younger daughter-in-law was sharper and had really won him over.

After the meal, Liu Shuqin mentioned making some clothes for the children in advance. Whether it was a boy or a girl, the clothes could be worn by any child.

“The island’s climate means we don’t need to worry about using too much fabric. There’s no need to prepare many padded jackets.”

“We’ll still need a couple of warm outfits for winter.”

“Let’s prepare in advance, and don’t forget the children’s diapers. We’ll need plenty for two children. We should prepare bamboo baskets to dry them over the fire.”

Gu Cheng said, “Mom, you should go out and feel the wind. With this wind, do we even need to dry them?”

“With this kind of wind, we still need to be prepared. Better safe than sorry.”

Liu Shuqin had also brought a few bottles and nipples for the children.

Without waiting for the elders to remind them, Gu Cheng and Qin Yao had already prepared the children’s clothes. Qin Yao even asked Gu Cheng to carefully embroider some designs on the baby clothes.

When Liu Shuqin saw those clothes, she praised Qin Yao’s craftsmanship. “This needlework is impeccable. The children have a good mother.”

Qin Yao felt slightly embarrassed but didn’t deny it.

“Threads in the hands of a loving mother, clothes on the body of a traveling child.” Shen Guixiang felt quite emotional. “My needlework wasn’t good, and I didn’t demand much from you. I didn’t expect that after you got married, Yaoyao, you would know how to embroider.”

Qin Yao was speechless.

“Guixiang, come and see. Look at these two little ducks. Could it be that my son embroidered them?” Liu Shuqin called over her relative to share in the joy.

“Yaoyao, tell me, are you not conspiring with Xiao Cheng to hide it from me?”

Qin Yao spoke the truth. “I embroidered them.”

“If you don’t believe me, don’t worry about covering for him.”