Li Xiangdong, his fourth sister Li Zhen who was finishing work, his third brother Li Jiabao who was getting off school, and his fifth sister Li Ping happened to meet on the way home. They started bickering and playing around on their way home. Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered the door, they heard their little sister, who never cried, crying her heart out.

Several people rushed into the house and saw their father sitting motionless on a stool, while their mother held their little sister who was crying loudly, trying to comfort her while tears streamed down her face.

What's wrong?

The children looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Zhenzhen is off work?" Zhao Sufang looked at her fourth daughter with great affection.

Like Li Guoling, Li Zhen also worked at the brick kiln.

Working at a brick kiln provides both work point subsidies and a monthly salary of over ten yuan, which is an incredibly desirable job for farming families who rarely see cash throughout the year.

"I'm back, Mother. What happened?"

Li Zhen's personality is like his mother Zhao Sufang's; he is both gentle and obedient.

"You hold Little Swallow, Mother will go get the rice."

Zhao Sufang handed her youngest daughter to Li Zhen, wiped her already red and swollen eyes, and was about to lift the lid of the pot to serve rice.

"Oh, Mother, you rest, I'll go get the rice and set the table." Li Zhen turned and went to the main room.

"Look! Look! Open your eyes and take a good look! What a good child I am, how could you be so heartless!"

Zhao Sufang pointed at Li Jin, gritted her teeth and spoke softly, afraid that her fourth daughter would hear.

Li Jiabao is seven years old and Li Ping is nine. They don't know what happened between their parents. Seeing that nothing serious has happened, they threw their schoolbags on the kang (a heated brick bed) and turned to run to their fourth sister. They were hungry and had already smelled the aroma of flatbread.

Li Xiangdong stood there, motionless, when he remembered.

Li Xiangdong angrily smacked his head. How could he have forgotten?

He's been restless these past few days, feeling like he's forgotten something important.