Chapter 14

Jiang Huanming rode with Meng Jinyu for a long time. The shiny 28-inch bicycle seemed to glow under the setting sun. Who wouldn't be envious when seeing it?

The villagers stared at it for a long time, and some children even wanted to reach out and touch it.

But this is a precious thing, and the adults in the family don't allow you to touch it: "Touch it, touch it, what are you touching? If you break it, can I sell you to compensate for it?"

Jiang Cheng and Jiang Guo also ran over, their eyes sparkling.

Jiang Huanming smiled and said, "After dinner tonight, I'll take you for a walk!"

Jiang Guo jumped three feet high with joy: "Great! I want to sit first!"

Jiang Guo is pretty, with eyes that are curved and clear like a crescent moon.

Meng Jinyu smiled and touched her hair: "You can sit, let's go out for a ride as a family tonight." At this point, she suddenly thought of something, "Oh, Huanming, there is one more thing, our Shanshan has learned to speak!"

Jiang Huanming's eyes lit up: "Really?"

Jiang Huanming usually doesn't care about his children, but whenever he is with them, he acts like a strict father.

Normally, the kids couldn't talk to Jiang Huanming. Once they saw him, they would immediately run away and try to slip away.

But even though Jiang Huanming's feelings for them were not that deep, he still felt worried when he saw that Jiang Shan was three years old and still couldn't speak.

He has always been the only person in the village who can read. From childhood to adulthood, everyone has to praise him, which makes him feel elated.

Not long after graduating from high school, he found a decent job and his sense of superiority deepened. But who could have imagined that in addition to the daughter-in-law who embarrassed him, even his youngest son was a troublesome person.

People often say that Jiang Huanming is so smart, how could he give birth to a fool? At first he didn't want to believe it, but as time went by, Jiang Huanming felt uncomfortable in his heart - could Jiang Shan really be a fool?

But now, he breathed a sigh of relief.

His youngest son is not unable to speak, he just speaks slower than others!

Meng Jinyu saw the obvious joy in Jiang Huanming's eyes and immediately understood what he was thinking: "Shanshan in our family is very smart. She usually doesn't speak, but she is actually thinking in her heart. The children in our family all take after you. You are so capable, so of course the children will not be bad." After a pause, she smiled and said, "Who knows, Shanshan may be able to get into university in the future."

"Nonsense, the college entrance examination has been cancelled!" Although he said that, Jiang Huanming still felt happy. The corners of his mouth widened, his chest straightened, and he was full of pride.

The breeze blew by, blowing Meng Jinyu's hair. Now she was not as rude as before. There was a hint of gentleness in her every move. Not only did she have more temperament, but she even revealed the charm unique to women.

The two children's faces were filled with happiness and joy.

This home is so warm and makes people nostalgic.

Jiang Huanming couldn't help but stretch out his hand, wanting to put his arm around Meng Jinyu's waist. After hesitating for a moment, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

Looking at the look in their parents' eyes when they looked at each other, Jiang Cheng and Jiang Guo blinked and looked at each other.

This was the first time since they were little that they saw their dad willing to look at their mom more, and his eyes were full of love...

…

Jiang Huanming and Meng Jinyu returned home with their two older children.

"I'll go cook first, you take a rest." Meng Jinyu said.

Jiang Huanming nodded and was about to pour himself a glass of water when he suddenly saw Youyou coming out from the inner room.

"Youyou, Dad bought a bicycle, go and take a look."

The little girl didn't say a word. She just kept walking outside with her head down and her hands on her trouser pockets.

"I don't know what's wrong. He's so worried at such a young age." Jiang Huanming muttered in confusion and called Jiang Shan to his side.

The father and son are not close, but when Jiang Huanming hears his little baby voice, he can't stop smiling. What's more, his newly bought bicycle is parked outside, which makes him even happier.

Not long after, Jiang Gaoming and Jiang Jianmin came back.

They kept looking back as they walked through the yard, and when they entered the house, their eyes were still fixed on the handlebars of the bike.

The three brothers of the Jiang family have always had a good relationship. Now that Jiang Huanming is back, he explains his plans in detail.

Uncle Jiang scratched the back of his head and said, "I am just a farmer. I don't know anything. You are educated. If you think it is good, then it is good."

Afterwards, Jiang Huanming went to see Mrs. Jiang again and said, "Mom, you have worked hard these years. I will stay at home and take good care of this family."

Mrs. Jiang said, "I have something to tell you."

"What's the matter?" Jiang Huanming sat up straighter.

"About your wife, she..." Old Mrs. Jiang was interrupted by a voice from the kitchen when she was halfway through her words.

"It's time for dinner—"

Jiang Huanming took the old lady's arm and said, "Let's eat first."

Naturally, there won’t be any big fish or meat at home.

Jiang Huanming used chopsticks to scoop up the thin sweet potato porridge and ate it with wild vegetables to fill his stomach.

After dinner, Meng Jinyu stood up and massaged her shoulders.

Jiang Huanming looked at his eldest brother and second brother.

Mrs. Jiang Da and Mrs. Jiang Er were considerate enough to take on the dishwashing job. They didn't start complaining until Meng Jinyu went back to the inner room.

"Jin Yu has been behaving himself these days, but today he actually slacked off."

"This isn't the most rare thing. The rarest thing is that Third Brother seems to be quite concerned about her?"

"Did you hear what Third Brother said just now? He said he wanted to be transferred to work in the commune supply and marketing cooperative and move back to the old house in the future. It was fine before because we were far away and didn't know anything, but now that he's back and sees his wife being pointed at in the village, can Third Brother get over the hurdle in his heart?"

The two sisters-in-law talked quietly for a long time, enjoying the chat so much that their saliva was almost dry, and they had no complaints about any work.

After dinner, the family went out for a walk.

Shanshan had never seen a bicycle before. He was placed on the diagonal bar, and the wheels were spinning very fast. His little chubby face was squeezed into a ball, and his hands were tightly clinging to his father's neck, and a few of his tiny teeth were slightly exposed.

Jiang Guo and Jiang Cheng stood there waiting until they came back after going around a circle, clamoring to get in the car.

Meng Jinyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and she carried Jiang Shan down: "You two have sat here twice, it's getting late, hurry up and take your brother back to the room to wash up and go to bed."

"Youyou—Youyou sit down." Shanshan's baby voice was soft and sweet.

"Why doesn't Youyou come?" Jiang Huanming asked.

Jiang Cheng said: "I just called Youyou, but she didn't come out."

Meng Jinyu sighed and said, "I don't know what this child is being stubborn about. How can a mother and daughter hold a grudge overnight?"

…

After washing, Meng Jinyu and Jiang Huanming lay close to each other on the kang.

"Sister Hongmei, who has been to the city, said she knows a doctor. She said Shanshan might be able to speak after being stimulated. I know he and Youyou have the best relationship, so I made such a fuss at that time." She turned around and snuggled in Jiang Huanming's arms. "I wanted to explain it to the child afterwards, but I didn't expect the matter to become so big that it even alarmed the village party secretary. I - I was even dragged to the villagers' meeting to make a self-criticism. Huanming, you won't blame me for embarrassing myself, right?

Jiang Huanming guessed that this was what Old Lady Jiang wanted to talk to him about.

Jiang Huanming could smell the aroma of soapberries on his wife's body. He sighed, "Shanshan can indeed speak now. This is all thanks to you. As for Youyou, I will talk to her when I have time."

Meng Jinyu nodded gently, hooked her hands around his neck, and the two looked at each other affectionately.

The air seemed to become thinner, and suddenly, Meng Jinyu said again: "You will live at home from now on, and I want to buy some things for the house. Tomorrow morning, let's go to the town for a walk, and then I will buy you some washbasins or something, okay?"

Jiang Huanming's voice became a little rougher: "I'll do as you say."

Meng Jinyu added: "Bring Youyou over there too, so I can comfort her and tell her not to be angry with me anymore."

"Okay." Jiang Huanming lifted the quilt, pulled her into bed.

But suddenly, Meng Jinyu chuckled and pushed him away: "I don't feel well today."

…

Youyou has fallen asleep.

She slept uneasily and once again dreamed of the scene in the original book.

It turns out that she was not abandoned by her stepmother after several years.

It was a sunny morning and she followed her father and stepmother to town.

There were so many people on the road, and she was like a little tail, following the adults, afraid of getting lost.

Later, my father was called over by the leader of the supply and marketing cooperative for a talk, so my stepmother bought her some candied haws and asked her to wait at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Time passed by minute by minute, the supply and marketing cooperative closed, and the sky gradually darkened.

There were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the road. Youyou was so scared as she walked through the unfamiliar streets.

It was raining heavily. Youyou fell down in the rainy night and got up again. Her knee was injured and blood was flowing out.

An uncle with crooked eyes and a slanted mouth came and picked her up.

Afterwards, Youyou in the original plot was sold to a distant place.

“No, Youyou won’t go…” Youyou shook her head vigorously in her sleep and waved her little hands vigorously.

It was late at night, and Jiang Cheng lit the kerosene lamp when he heard a sound like a struggle.

The cute little ball was lying on the kang. He was obviously sleeping soundly, but his two feet were moving back and forth.

She was huffing and puffing and panting from exhaustion. Was she running away?

This is both hilarious and heartbreaking.