"Jihong, are we going to take photos this year?" Fang Sandi always remembered what Yu Jihong had said.

"Go ahead, we have bicycles now, it'll be convenient to get there."

Yu Jihong changed into a bright red coat, Fang Yu sat on the front crossbeam, and Yu Jihong sat in the back seat.

As soon as she saw it, people laughed at her, saying, "Look, this madwoman saw that Mei Li wore a red dress to her wedding, so she immediately copied her by wearing a red dress and riding on the back of a bicycle."

"My third brother is really good to her; he does everything she asks."

Yu Jihong looked at her red clothes and then at Fang Sandi's back as she walked.

At that moment, she felt like a bride being picked up by the groom's family. In a daze, Yu Jihong seemed to see his back; he had come to take her away...

"Fang Yu, are you cold sitting in the front?" Fang Sandi asked Fang Yu.

Yu Jihong snapped back to reality, shook her head to clear her mind, and realized it wasn't him.

The photo studio was warmer than outside, filled with the smell of turpentine and old wood, and props were piled up on a wooden shelf in the corner.

Yu Jihong chose a small red velvet hat for Fang Yu.

"This hat looks good on the little girl," the photographer complimented.

Yu Jihong tidied the hair at the brim of her hat and was quite satisfied. "So beautiful!"

Fang San Di immediately chimed in, "Beautiful, so beautiful!"

"Choose a scene." The boss pointed to the scene set on the wall.

Two decorative paintings hang on the wall: one depicting red peonies, titled "Wealth and Prosperity," and the other featuring pine and cypress trees, titled "Great Wall Scenery."

"How about this one?" Yu Jihong asked Fang Sandi.

"Sure, you can choose whatever you like."

Yu Jihong brought her daughter to the set, but Fang Sandi was still standing to the side and hadn't come over. "Come here!" Yu Jihong called to him.

“I took one last year, it’s the same as always, so I won’t take another one,” Fang Sandi waved his hand.

Yu Jihong paused for a moment, then walked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, really nothing. I'm always like this. I just take a picture and look at it. Fang Yu has grown up a lot this year. You and she can take a picture together."

"Are you really alright?"

"It's just taking a picture, what's the big deal? I feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, you guys take the picture."

"Oh, then let's take the picture!" Yu Jihong put her hands on Fang Yu's shoulders, tilted her head slightly to her side, and smiled as she captured the moment.

After a few days in the first month of the lunar calendar, villagers began to go to the fields with their hoes.

Fang Meihao stayed at home because school wasn't in session, and Fang Dongqiang was still staying at his maternal grandmother's house with Fang Meihao.

"Auntie, when is Second Aunt coming back?"

"My second aunt will rarely come back in the future. She has her own home and is busy with her own things."

"Auntie, what about you? Will you have your own home?" Fang Dongqiang asked again.

"Yeah, I think so!"

"Then who should I be with? Who will guide me?" Fang Dongqiang seemed a little flustered.

Fang Meihao bent down, looked into his eyes and smiled, "You'll be all grown up now! You won't need anyone to take care of you anymore. You can go to school by yourself, study, and see the outside world."

Fang Dongqiang's eyes blinked, as if he were full of anticipation for his future.

Fang Damiao brought Fang Meixiang to his mother-in-law's house.

"Dongqiang, Mom and Dad are here," Fang Damiao called out.

Fang Dongqiang glanced at Fang Damiao and Fang Meixiang, who was following behind Fang Damiao. "Dad, Mom!" he called out, then continued playing with his head down.

"Dongqiang, how about you stay with your aunt?" Fang Damiao asked.

"Okay!" Fang Dongqiang replied while playing with the wooden toy gun that Fang Meixiang's father had made for him.

"Meihao will be going to school in a few days, and you'll have to take her back with you," Fang Meixiang's mother said as she sewed shoe soles.

"Mother, I wanted to talk to you about something," Fang Damiao said, walking to the side. "I want to go out and work this year."

"Huh?" Fang Meixiang's mother looked up. "Where are we going?"

"Go to Guangdong, go to Shenzhen and take a look. They say there are a lot of houses being built there, lots of work."

Fang Damiao followed up, saying, "Farming at home all year round doesn't earn much money. I want to go out and earn more so I can build a house. Right now, we only have one room, and it won't be comfortable to live in when winter comes."

"What about Meixiang and Dongqiang if you go outside?"

"Yes, Mother, that's what I came to talk to you about. Meixiang and Dongqiang, just let them come back home and stay with you."

"I'll bring the money back when I earn it. I'll give Meixiang and Dongqiang the money for their meals when I come back for the New Year," Fang Damiao quickly added.

"Don't farm the fields. We'll discuss such a big matter as going out with Dad when he gets back."

"Okay!" Fang Damiao picked up Fang Dongqiang's small wooden gun and made "bang, bang bang" sounds.

"You're a bad guy, I'm going to hit you." Fang Dongqiang snatched the pistol.

"Okay, I'll play the bad guy, you're the hero."

Fang Dongqiang chased after Fang Damiao with a series of loud bangs.

Fang Damiao raised his hands, "You're such a great hero, I surrender!"

Fang Meixiang grinned as she watched them play.

Fang Meixiang's mother went to cook, and she was going to put in extra rice for lunch.

In the first month of the lunar calendar, there wasn't much work to do in the fields, so Fang Meixiang's father went for a walk and came back early.

"Dad, you're back!" Fang Damiao hurriedly handed him a cigarette.

“I just passed by your field. There were a few places where the field ridges collapsed, so I reinforced them. When you have time, go and loosen the soil in your rapeseed field and sprinkle some wood ash.”

"Dad, I want to go out and see the world this year. I'll let you plant all the fields this year."

"Aren't you going to farm anymore?"

"Yes, I want to go out and work to earn more money. Farming doesn't make money."

Fang Meixiang's father took a drag of his cigarette.

"I just told Mom that Meixiang and Dongqiang are at home, living with you. I'll give them money for meals when I come back for the New Year."

Fang Meixiang's father also knew that farming wouldn't leave much money. He doubted whether Fang Damiao, with his lazy nature, could earn money outside. "Damiao, working outside is hard work. People pay you wages if you have work to do."

“I know, no work is easy, but I’ll do it no matter how hard it is. Right now, we only have this one-story house, and Dongqiang is being raised here by you all. When I grow up, I won’t be able to do it without a house, will I? No matter how hard it is, I’ll do it.” Fang Damiao said confidently. “Dad, I’m the only one who goes to the fields at home, and I still have to cook when I come back.” Fang Damiao started to complain a little, and Fang Meixiang’s father glanced at him.

Fang Damiao immediately said, "The little bit of land I cultivate is barely enough to make ends meet throughout the year, so I need to go out to earn money."

"Dinner's ready!" Fang Meixiang's mother called out.

Fang Dongqiang sat next to Fang Meihao, looking at the rice in his bowl.

"Hoeing the fields at noon, sweat drips onto the soil. Who knows that every grain in the bowl is the result of hard work?"

"Impressive!" Everyone at the table looked at Fang Dongqiang.

Fang Dongqiang clapped his hands, "My aunt taught me."

Everyone joined in the applause.

“My son will be a college student too, just like your auntie.” Fang Damiao gave a thumbs up and looked at Fang Dongqiang with pride.

Fang Meixiang held her chopsticks, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at Fang Dongqiang. She understood, and she was proud.

"Meixiang, eat your food, it'll get cold if you don't."

Fang Meixiang kept her head down as she ate, but her eyes kept glancing at Fang Dongqiang.

"Dad, Da Miao said today that she wants to go out and work. What do you think?" Fang Meixiang's mother asked her father for his opinion that evening.

“It’s good to go out and make money. But can Da Miao endure hardship? He wants to enjoy himself when he has a little money. Will he have any money left to bring back for the New Year?”

"That's what I was thinking too. Should we ask him to go?"

“If he goes there, he won’t be able to concentrate on the work in the fields. Let him give it a try; it’s another option.”

It was almost the Lantern Festival, and Fang Meixiang's mother invited Fang Meili and Yuan Xinkang over for a meal.

The lingering warmth of the first month of the lunar calendar had not yet dissipated, and a thin layer of frost still clung to the ridges of the fields, while a light mist carried the scents of earth and firewood.

Yuan Xinkang was already riding his bicycle, his feet wet with dew, on his way.

Fang Meili sat in the back, carrying a bamboo basket. One end of the basket contained fresh ribbonfish, and the other end contained a small tin train that she had bought for Fang Dongqiang. The train's green paint was shiny and bright.

"Mom!" Fang Meili called out as she got off her bicycle.

Four-year-old Fang Dongqiang crawled out of the inner room, his little cotton shoes making a "plop" sound on the muddy ground. When he saw Fang Meili, he opened his arms and rushed over. She picked him up and bounced him around, kissing his cheek. "Look what your second aunt brought you?"

Fang Meili took a toy train out of the basket, and Fang Dongqiang's eyes widened instantly. He picked up the train with his little hands and hopped off to play, "Choo-hoo!"

Yuan Xinkang parked his bicycle and whispered in Fang Meili's ear, "What can I do for you so early?"

"You play with Dongqiang," Fang Meili teased Yuan Xinkang, looking at Fang Dongqiang who was lying on the ground playing with a toy train.

Yuan Xinkang smiled and rolled his eyes at Fang Meili, then squatted down next to Fang Dongqiang. "Dongqiang, your uncle will play with you."

When Fang Meixiang's mother saw this, she quickly brought a stool and placed it next to Yuan Xinkang, saying, "Xinkang, come on, sit down."

Turning to Fang Meihao, he said, "Go and call Dad back quickly."

Fang Meihao timidly called out as she passed Yuan Xinkang, "Brother, you're here!"

"Hey, Meihao, you're going to school in a few days, right?"

"Okay." Fang Mei nodded and walked out the door.

"Mom, this ribbonfish is fresh. Everyone'll be here at noon, let's cook it and eat it." Fang Meili handed the basket to Fang Meixiang's mother.

“Okay, okay,” Fang Meixiang’s mother said when she saw the shopping basket. “It’s so big! I’ll take it to the kitchen first.”

A short while later, Fang Meixiang's father and Fang Meihao returned.

Yuan Xinkang stood up from his chair. "Dad, you went to the fields so early?"

"Since you were coming today, I thought I'd go to the fields early to check on things and come back as soon as possible."

"When I came back today, Mei Li got up early and wanted to come over."

Fang Meili came over and said, "I feel like I've been at his house for a long time. He said he couldn't sleep this morning after he got back."

“It’s your home too,” Fang Meixiang’s mother corrected.

"I'm not used to it yet," Fang Meili said, lowering her head and smiling shyly.

Fang Damiao and Fang Meixiang arrived shortly afterward.

Yuan Xinkang offered Fang Damiao a cigarette.

Fang Damiao also joined Fang Meixiang's father and Yuan Xinkang's chat.

“Xin Kang, after the fifteenth, I plan to go to Shenzhen. I heard there are many construction sites there, and working there for a year is equivalent to digging the land at home for three years.”

"Yeah, that's good. There are more opportunities to make money outside."

Fang Meixiang sat beside Fang Dongqiang and watched him play.

Fang Meixiang doesn't talk much; she doesn't even talk as much as Fang Dongqiang right now.

Fang Meixiang's parents and Fang Meili taught Fang Dongqiang from a young age that this was his mother and that he should protect her when he grew up. Although he had less contact with her after weaning, Fang Dongqiang still communicated with her occasionally.

"Dongqiang, recite 'Hoeing the Rice' for your uncle. Dongqiang is amazing now; he can even recite ancient poems." Fang Damiao wanted his son to show off.

"No food is complete without hard work." Fang Dongqiang shook his head innocently.

"Haha, okay, I'll memorize it when we eat."

Fang Meili and her mother were chatting in the kitchen. "Meili, do you get along well with your in-laws?"

"In such a short time, I haven't really felt whether we can get along or not?"

"Yes, that's true. If you do your job well, others won't have any complaints."

"Yes, Mother. Is there something you need us for dinner today?"

"Meihao will be going to school in a few days, and Damiao wants to go out to work this year. Let's have a family meal together."

“If you want to make money, there are more opportunities outside. It’s good for my sister and Dongqiang to live at home. I’m still worried about how they will manage things after Dongqiang goes back this year.”

“Mom,” Fang Meili thought for a moment and then said, “You have to talk to him about it. He has to pay for my sister and Dongqiang’s living expenses. It’s not that I have any objections to my sister and Dongqiang living at home, but I’m afraid that he will only care about himself when he’s out there, leaving all the responsibility to you and Dad.”

"He said he would give Dongqiang and my sister money for food during the Spring Festival. They are his own nephew and daughter, and they haven't even gone out to earn money yet, so what can we say?"

"Yes, I know. I'm just worried that he'll have an easy time out there."

"Let him go for a year and see. Before he even leaves the village, everyone knows he's going out."

"That's just how he is; he starts making a fuss about things before he's even started doing them."

Dinner was served, and Fang Dongqiang was seated on a high stool, which seated exactly eight people.

“After Meili and Meihao have children, this eight-immortal table won’t be enough. We’ll need to give their children a separate table,” Fang Meixiang’s mother said with a smile, looking at the table full of people.

“Dongqiang is the big brother now. Oh, Dongqiang, it’s time to eat. Sing a song about hoeing the fields.” Fang Damiao immediately urged.

"Hoeing the fields at noon, sweat drips onto the soil. Who knows that every grain in the bowl is the result of hard work?" Fang Dongqiang held half a steamed bun in his little hand, tilting his head back and reciting the poem earnestly.

"Wow, amazing!" Fang Meili clapped her hands.

The presence of children at the dining table makes it even more lively.

After the Lantern Festival, Fang Meihao went to school.

Fang Damiao packed a few changes of clothes in his snakeskin bag and boarded the train heading south.

Fang Dongqiang still lives at his maternal grandparents' house, just like before. However, he used to sleep with Fang Meili and Fang Meihao, but now he sleeps with his maternal grandparents.

Fang Meixiang also moved back in with a change of clothes.

The room that the three sisters used to live in together is now occupied by her alone.

That evening, Fang Meixiang's mother looked at Fang Dongqiang, who was fast asleep.

I stroked a few strands of hair on his forehead. They say a nephew resembles his uncle, so I guess his son will look just like that when he grows up.