The two followed the old man into the courtyard.

Liu Changhe's family also came out of the house, still with that smiling face, and the two quickly greeted each other.

"Okay, hurry up and come inside. Your great-grandmother is waiting."

Hearing the commotion outside, the old lady slowly sat up. Her health was truly failing; if it weren't for Hongmei, she might have died long ago. But at a hundred years old, she knew that one day she might not be able to open her eyes again.

"Grandma."

Looking at the elderly man who didn't seem to be in very good spirits, Shi Tou felt a lump in his throat.

"You two sit down." The old lady took their hands as they sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed).

Stone felt as if he were holding a block of ice. "Grandma, are you cold?"

"It's not cold, that's just how it is when you get old. You're lucky, young man, this girl is lovely."

Liu Xu smiled and called out "Great-Grandma," her hand unconsciously reaching for the old woman's pulse. She was startled; they hadn't even been gone a month, how could the old woman's health have deteriorated like this?

The old lady also sensed Liu Xu's movements. "Good child, it's alright, you're already this old, don't tell Hongmei."

“Grandma, this won’t do. Madam must be very anxious.” Liu Xu insisted.

"I'm fine. I'm already a hundred years old. It's all worth it."

"Grandma, why don't you go back to the capital? It will save Sister Hongmei from worrying."

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll die at home. It's okay, I can live another year or two without any problem, don't make a fuss."

Liu Xu sighed inwardly, thinking how wise and capable this old woman truly was. She was aware of her own physical condition.

"Grandma, my parents will be home in another four or five days."

"Yes, I know. Your mother called. I had someone choose an auspicious date, and the wedding is on the sixteenth of the twelfth lunar month. No rush, there are still ten days, enough time to prepare."

By the way, what about Pengfei, Ping'an, and Zhiyuan?

"Grandma, the three of them came back with my older brother by bus. I'll go to the village to pick them up in a bit."

"These three kids. They've had enough of riding in the car."

"Yes, Zhiyuan has been annoyed for a long time. Grandma, let's go back and clean up the house."

"Go ahead, come over for dinner tonight," the old lady said with a smile to the two of them.

"Yes, we'll come over when they're all back. I'll go back and start the fire first."

"Go ahead, your aunt is here, the house shouldn't be cold, she started lighting the fire yesterday."

When the two returned home, Hu Aifen was helping to clean up.

"Auntie, we're back, I'll do it." Shi Tou quickly snatched the rag from Hu Aifen's hand.

"Okay, I'll leave it to you. I'm getting old, and it's hard for me to do any work. I can't deny that I'm getting old."

"Auntie, let me help you inside to rest." Liu Xu and Hu Aifen returned to the living room. It was really warm and exceptionally clean.

The two sat in the living room. "Daughter, once you marry into our Liu family, you can rest assured, Shi Tou won't dare to do anything out of line."

"Yes, Auntie, I believe him."

Stone cleaned all the windows outside and then immediately went inside.

"Auntie, you still need to tell me how to distribute it, I need it to announce the good news."

“Well, you have quite a few families to share good news with, don’t you? Why don’t you put it away for now, and we can discuss it again when your mother comes back? Don’t forget which families they are.”

Shi Tou agreed, saying that there were still ten days left, enough time to prepare.

"It's a success! I'm going back to prepare dinner. We'll make dumplings for dinner tonight."

"Okay, we'll go over there once my older brother and Pengfei come back." Shi Tou stood up, wanting to see Hu Aifen off.

"I don't need you to deliver it yet. You guys hurry up and put your things away."

The two watched the old man leave from outside the door. Stone felt a pang of sadness.

They carried things inside, trip after trip, until everything was organized.

“Aidang, why don’t you go and pick up your older brother and the others?”

"Okay, you can stay home by yourself, or you can go to your aunt's?"

"I'll go to my aunt's house to help make dumplings. You go ahead, I can find my own way."

When Shi Tou arrived at the town's bus stop, the bus hadn't started running yet, and it was already dark, so it would probably be running soon.

The three children on the bus found everything fascinating, but the ride was incredibly bumpy; even in the capital, a bus journey wouldn't take this long.

"Uncle, it's already dark, haven't we arrived yet?"

"We'll be there soon, in ten minutes. Your second uncle must be waiting for us."

"Uncle, you've said it so many times already, it'll be here soon."

"Hehe, this time it's for real. Zhiyuan, are you tired? How about switching with your uncle?"

"No need, I'll just wait to get off the bus, it's fine, Uncle." Zhiyuan was anxious, though, as the bus ride was really uncomfortable.

When they finally arrived at the terminal, Zhiyuan got off the bus with the crowd and immediately spotted his own car.

The remaining three also got off the bus and waved to Zhiyuan.

Stone also got off the bus. "Everyone, hurry up and get on the bus, don't catch a cold."

"Second Uncle, how long have you been waiting for us?"

"It's only half an hour left, hurry home, your grandma is making dumplings for you."

Twenty minutes later, they went directly to the old lady's house.

Zhiyuan wasn't familiar with the old lady, but Pengfei and Ping'an were.

The two of them took off their shoes and climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), nestling down next to the old lady.

"Ancestor, Ancestor, I've returned safely to see you."

The old lady hugged Ping An, smiling broadly. "Good, good! Ping An has grown so tall."

"Ancestor, Pengfei is back."

“Our Pengfei is a grown man now, he’s even taller than your dad, right?”

Ping An glanced at Zhiyuan to the side, then quickly stepped aside, gesturing for her younger brother to come over.

Zhiyuan, who was never afraid of strangers, said, "Ancestor, you are the ancestor. I am Zhiyuan, Cheng Zhiyuan."

The old lady looked at the clever little boy beside her. She was pleased; this child was very bright.

"This is Zhiyuan? I remember seeing you when you were little, you've grown up so much."

Standing on the ground, Shi Tou and Liu Jianguo looked at the old lady, who was clearly much happier, and felt even more heartbroken. This old lady must be so lonely.

Liu Changhe's family came in. "Mom, it's time to eat. The children must be hungry."

Ping An let out a loud cry, "Great-Grandma, Great-Grandma, Ping An is back!"

"Alright, alright, Ping An is back to see us. Hurry up and come downstairs with your ancestor to eat dumplings."

Pengfei got off the ground and approached Liu Changhe's house. "Grandma, Pengfei is back too."

"Okay, good, you're all good kids. Come on, Grandma will take you to eat."

"Great-Grandma, I'm here too. I'm Zhiyuan."

Liu Changhe's family walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), smiling as they looked at Zhiyuan, "Finally, I've met Zhiyuan."

The family sat in the dining room eating dumplings. "Great-Grandma, your dumplings are the best," Ping An said, having already finished a bowl.

"Eat as much as you like, Zhiyuan, do you like it?"

"Great-Grandma, I love to eat it too."

Liu Aimin invited Shi Tou and Liu Jianguo to drink, and the four of them each drank one cup of wine.