Many educated youth from their village go back to visit their relatives every year. Those who are better off will bring back some things, but most of them return empty-handed.

In the village, only Xie Yan and Gu Bin were carrying back large bags and small packages like this.

Seeing Xie Yan and Gu Bin's mountain of packages, Uncle Yu jumped off the oxcart quickly and walked over to help put the things on the oxcart.

After putting all the packages on the shelf, Gu Bin took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, and handed it to Uncle Yu with a smile: "Here, Uncle, try this cigarette. I secretly took it from my dad."

"I'm sorry to trouble you to wait here in the dead of winter."

Uncle Yu quickly waved his hand and said with a simple smile, "It's nothing, no trouble at all. Hui girl, get in the car quickly. It's cold outside and you're carrying a child. Let's go back quickly."

While the group was walking towards the car, Uncle Yu took the cigarette, held it to his nose, and gently smelled it, savoring the aroma that was completely different from that of hookah. His eyes lit up with excitement.

I never imagined I'd be smoking this kind of cigarette in my lifetime.

He held the cigarette in his hand, turning it over and over, then brought it close to his nose to smell it. Finally, he couldn't bear to light it and carefully tucked it behind his ear.

He usually smokes hookahs that cost one cent a piece. Every year during the Spring Festival, his daughter, being a dutiful daughter, would buy him two pieces, which would be enough for him to enjoy for a whole year.

But he had never smoked cigarettes rolled in paper before.

Because there were too many packages on the oxcart, Xie Yan could only sit in the front, squeezed next to Uncle Yu.

Normally, Uncle Yu would definitely be reluctant, but after that cigarette, the situation was different. It was Uncle Yu who took the initiative to suggest that Xie Yan sit in the front.

Uncle Yu skillfully wielded the reins, and the oxcart swayed and bumped its way directly to Gu Bin's doorstep.

As soon as you get off the car, you can see wisps of smoke rising from the house. The thin smoke slowly rises into the cool air, as if telling a story of the warmth of home.

Xie Yan didn't need to guess; he knew his wife and Chaochao were definitely inside.

Ever since Gu Bin's telegram arrived, Yu Yuehui has been coming over early every day to clean the house thoroughly and to keep the kang (heated brick bed) warm every day.

If the kang (heated brick bed) here is not heated for a period of time, it is easy to get damp, so it must be heated two or three days in advance so that people can sleep on it comfortably.

Xie Yan had just gotten off the oxcart and hadn't even had time to pick up the packages at the back when he heard a series of hurried footsteps.

Chaochao, like a cheerful little rabbit, came running out of the house, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she looked at Xie Yan and asked eagerly, "Daddy, where's Tongtong?"

As soon as Tongtong heard Chaochao's voice, before she even got off the oxcart, she excitedly turned her little head and tried to look over, calling out in her childish voice, "Chaochao, sister~"

"Wow~, Tongtong, you can talk now!" Chaochao's eyes widened in surprise. Before she finished speaking, she ran towards the back of the oxcart like a gust of wind, completely forgetting her father, Xie Yan.

Seeing this, Xie Yan quickly reached out his hand, striking the classic Er Kang hand pose, trying to make a final attempt to persuade him to stay, looking as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Yu Yuehui, who had just come out of the house, happened to see this scene. Thinking something had happened, she quickly walked over and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Xie Yan instantly switched into acting mode, exaggeratedly clutching his chest and pretending to be heartbroken, saying, "People say that once you have a wife, you forget your mother; but our Chaochao has friends and forgotten his father!"

"My heart, as a father, is so cold and broken. I'm heartbroken."

Yu Yuehui was now used to Xie Yan's occasional dramatic outbursts, and perfectly played along, feigning anger as she said, "Is that so?"

Xie Yan nodded sincerely.

Yu Yuehui, with an air of profound understanding, said, "We don't want such a rebellious daughter."

Xie Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Yu Yuehui with teary eyes (of course, this was just his own perception of being teary-eyed; in reality, it was probably just a slightly exaggerated expression), and nodded heavily, echoing, "Yes! No more."

"What do you not want?" Gu Bin, carrying a large bag and panting as he walked over, looked at Xie Yan speechlessly.

Why isn't this guy helping to carry things? What's he babbling about here?

Xie Yan glanced at him sideways and said irritably, "I don't want you anymore. I'll send you out to beg for food!"

Gu Bin rolled his eyes.

This guy doesn't even look where he is. He's saying he doesn't want him right in front of his own house. Is this guy out of his mind?

If it weren't for Yu Yuehui being there, he would have definitely said a few sarcastic remarks.

Yu Yue glanced back at Gu Bin, said nothing, turned around and walked to the back of the oxcart, where she unloaded everything from the cart.

She easily lifted two large bags with one hand, her steps steady, and she didn't forget to ask Zhang Linghui about her health and whether she was carsick.

Zhang Linghui was completely captivated, like a little fangirl. If Xie Yan hadn't been looking after the child, she would have definitely followed Yu Yue back into the house.

As Yu Yue returned to the house, she ran into Gu Bin, who was coming out from inside.

He asked, "Where should I put it?"

Gu Bin glanced at Xie Yan, who was strolling in leisurely, and to be honest, he felt a tiny bit envious.

His gaze unconsciously drifted to Zhang Linghui, who was holding the hands of the two children behind him, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes.

Sigh, my wife is great in every way, except she doesn't have this kind of strength.

If my wife were also a strongwoman...

Just as he was thinking, Gu Bin suddenly came to his senses, shook his head in fright, and screamed in his heart: Ahhhhh!

How could I have such depraved thoughts!

Help!

It's all Xie Yan's fault; he must have influenced me.

Seeing Gu Bin's constantly changing expression and his refusal to answer her questions, Yu Yuehui's expression darkened, and she asked again in a low voice, "Where do you put these things?"

Gu Bin snapped out of his daze and looked up to see Yu Yuehui's somewhat frightening gaze. Startled, he quickly took the bag from her hand, his face beaming with a fawning smile, and said obsequiously, "Over here, over here."

He had personally witnessed Yu Yuehui's expressionless and cruel way of killing a wild boar with one hand; at that time, the wild boar's blood splattered directly onto his face.

That incident gave him a profound understanding of Yuehui's strength, and ever since then, he has felt a deep fear of Yuehui from the bottom of his heart.

As soon as they entered the house, they were enveloped by the warmth of the heating.

Looking at the spotless house and the hot water that had been boiled long ago, Zhang Linghui felt even more grateful to Yuehui.

Yu Yue returned to the house, put her things away, and then turned to Zhang Linghui and said, "Linghui, I've boiled the water. Would you like to take a bath?"