After another walk, Fang Damiao and Fang Meixiang's father were already sitting at the door when they returned.

"Dongqiang, where did you go with your second aunt's husband?" Fang Meixiang's father asked.

"We've walked around the village several times," Yuan Xinkang said as he carried Fang Dongqiang down.

"Yeah, we rode to so many places," Fang Dongqiang said as he ran into the house.

When Fang Meixiang's mother saw them return, she brought out longan tea. "Here you go, Xinkang, Damiao, this is New Year's fortune tea. May you all make more money this year after drinking it."

"Grandma, I want to eat too, and I want to get rich too."

"Hehe, where are you going to make your fortune? Here, this bowl on the table is for you." Fang Meixiang's mother tried to lift Fang Dongqiang onto the table.

"I want to eat at the entrance too."

“She just likes to imitate others.” Fang Meixiang’s mother carried a bowl in one hand and a stool in the other to the door.

Fang Dongqiang dragged out a bamboo chair and placed it in front of the stool.

"Dongqiang, be careful, you have to spit out the kernel inside."

"I know." Fang Dongqiang pouted and spat out a pit, which flew far away. He shouted triumphantly, "Second Uncle, Grandpa, Dad, look!" He pouted and spat out another one.

"Yeah, you're amazing!"

"Wow!" Fang Dongqiang opened his mouth wide, his eyes wide, as if he had discovered something. "The men are all sitting outside, and the women are all sitting inside."

"Dongqiang, you can sort things now?"

Fang Dongqiang got up again and looked at Fang Mei's mother and the others through the door. "Yes, I can also sort stones," Fang Dongqiang answered earnestly.

"I think Dongqiang is so smart, he's destined for academic success," Yuan Xinkang praised.

Fang Damiao looked at Fang Dongqiang with satisfaction, "Be more ambitious, so you can benefit from his influence in the future."

"Mom, let's go back early. Xin Kang and his wife are looking after the shop." After sitting for a while, Fang Meili got up and said she was going back.

"I'll cook it early, then I'll eat dinner and go home."

"No, I'm not hungry right now, and it'll be inconvenient to walk around in the dark."

"That's true, you should ride slowly."

Fang Meixiang's mother packed up a few eggs, saying, "Take these eggs with you."

"No need, Mother, there's plenty of food where I live."

"Those things are not as good as eggs."

"Give this to Dongqiang. Children are growing up, and eating well will make them smarter."

"Second Aunt, here you go. I'm very smart now, I'm giving this to the little brother in my belly." Fang Dongqiang stood at the door and saw them off.

"You're so confident, you even praised yourself for being smart."

“It was my second aunt’s husband who said I was smart,” Fang Dongqiang replied matter-of-factly.

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Merry, are you going back so soon?" a neighbor asked.

"Yes, I still need to check out the store."

As the bicycle crossed the bridge, Fang Meili saw Hua Mei standing on the slope with her daughter, Hua Hua's small body close to hers, her eyes glancing from time to time in the direction Fang Meixiang's house had come from.

Hua Mei's gaze remained fixed on the spot where they had sat together yesterday. The pebble beach was bathed in a soft light and was very quiet.

Hua Hua was probably tired from standing, her little body swayed and she whimpered softly.

Fang Meili couldn't help but look back again and again, wondering if they were waiting for someone to play together.

At this moment, Fang Meili regretted telling Fang Meihao not to associate with Hua Mei. However, her mother-in-law was indeed difficult to get along with, and getting involved might cause some trouble.

Until the two figures, one large and one small, disappeared from sight.

"You went back to your parents' home, are you feeling better now?" Yuan Xinkang asked.

"Mmm, this feels so good."

"She's about to become a mother herself, yet she still clings to her mother."

"Let me give you a try. If you stay at my house all year round, do you miss your mother?"

“I lived at your house for many years, and Dongqiang and I became best friends.”

"Hehe, you two get along really well."

"It's true, it's more comfortable playing with Dongqiang at your house. With your sister like that, how come Dongqiang is so clever? Is Da Miao that smart?"

“My sister wasn’t born like this; she was very smart when she was little.”

“If your sister were normal, Dongqiang would be better off.”

"Yes, Xin Kang, so sometimes I bring things to my mom's house, and you should support me in being nice to Dong Qiang."

"I support him. I like Dongqiang very much too."

Fang Meili reached out and wrapped her arms around Yuan Xinkang, pressing against his back. "Thank you!"

"There are more people in town, and if someone sees us carrying each other like this," Yuan Xinkang said, feeling embarrassed.

"So what if I see it? I'm hugging my own husband." Despite saying that, Fang Meili still took her hand away.

Yu Jihong was at home when she heard someone calling outside, "Third brother, Jihong." It sounded like the voices of her two older sisters-in-law.

"Is Jihong busy?" The eldest sister-in-law spoke first as she came in, her face beaming with smiles. She moved the paper package she was carrying closer to the stove. "I came to see you all and brought some candy for Fang Yu."

"Where are my third brother and Fang Yu?"

"Third brother went to pick vegetables. A few kids came over from the neighbor's house to play at Fang Yu's. Eldest sister, second sister, please sit down."

Yu Jihong washed her hands, wiped them on her apron, and pulled a chair over from the corner.

Last time, because Fang Yu took Fang San Di's surname, there was a bit of an unpleasantness between her and Fang Yu regarding the transfer of their household registration, and they haven't been in contact since. Why are they back together this year?

Although Yu Jihong was grumbling to herself, she didn't stop working. She added a ladle of water to the stove and took out two eggs from the cupboard. No matter how puzzled she was, she had to entertain the guests.

My second aunt leaned closer to the stove, her eyes sweeping over the gleaming iron pot and then glancing at the neatly stacked firewood against the wall.

"Jihong, you are really capable. Look how clean and shiny the kitchen is. Unlike my house, where the pot rims are always covered in soot."

"Yes, my third brother is so lucky to have married you. The room is so clean and tidy. Now it should feel like a home."

My second aunt was still wandering around, saying, "You know, these past few years they've gotten bicycles and sewing machines, life is getting better and better."

"As long as you work hard and put your heart into it, things will get better," Yu Jihong said as she stuffed firewood into the stove.

Yu Jihong brewed the egg tea and brought it to the table. "Eldest sister, second sister, come and have some tea."

"Okay, okay, Ji Hong, you're too kind."

"Eldest sister, second sister, what brings you here today?" Yu Jihong asked directly.

"What could be wrong? Everyone's free during the first month of the lunar year, brothers and sisters can get together."

"Oh, okay." Yu Jihong forced a smile. "You guys eat first."

The two older sisters had eaten egg tea, but Fang Sandi had not yet returned.

“Let’s go check the fields; my third brother hasn’t come back yet,” said the eldest sister-in-law.

"Do you know where the land is? Let's go there together."

“Of course I know about my own land,” the second aunt replied, but immediately realized it was inappropriate.

Looking at her sister-in-law's awkward smile, she said, "Back in our day, we went to the fields every day. Our parents passed away early, and the two of us took care of our younger brother like he was our own child."

“Yes, my third brother was raised by my eldest and second eldest sisters,” Yu Jihong said.

"Let's go to the field and take a look now."

"Okay." Yu Jihong didn't go with them.

When the eldest and second eldest sisters-in-law reached the bridge, they saw Fang Sandi returning from picking vegetables.

Fang San Di didn't notice his eldest and second eldest sisters. He was looking at Hua Mei and Hua Hua standing on the slope, holding hands. He had seen them standing there when he went to the vegetable garden earlier, as if they were waiting for something.

"Third brother!"

"Big sister, second sister, what brings you here today?" Fang Sandi turned around and was very happy to see his two older sisters.

I came to see you!

"I thought you wouldn't come to see me."

"How could that be? We sat at home for a while and even had egg tea."

"Ji Hong was still polite and didn't hold any grudges against us because of what happened last time."

"No, she's magnanimous and won't hold a grudge."

“Third brother, we were doing this for your own good. We don’t even know who her daughter’s father is. If you transfer their household registration here, we’re afraid that when her biological father comes back, they will take away all the family’s assets.”

"Jihong and I are living a good life together, so don't overthink it."

"Now she seems like someone who lives a simple life."

"Eldest sister, let's get down to business," the second sister urged.

"Right, right, right, we've been rambling on and on, we've forgotten the important thing. It's good that Jihong isn't here right now." The eldest sister-in-law whispered to Fang Sandi, "Third brother, have you ever thought about going out to work?"

"No, did you come here because you know of any good jobs outside that you could send me to?"

"We're asking you to go? We're just worried you'll go out and we're telling you not to go."

“Ji Hong loves to dress up and spends money, so we’re afraid she’ll ask you to go out and work to earn money.”

"I never thought about going outside."

"That's good. We can't leave her alone at home," the older sister-in-law repeatedly reminded her.

Back home, after putting down the basket, Fang Sandi casually remarked, "Jihong, I saw Huamei with her daughter on the slope just now. It looked like they wanted to go play by the stream."

"We didn't make plans to go out today."

“When I went there, they were standing there, and when I came back, they were still there.”

"Oh!" Yu Jihong responded, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

"Jihong, are all these sewing machines in use?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm using it." Yu Jihong seemed a little absent-minded.

"Then if we need anything sewn or repaired in the future, we can bring it to you and you can do it for us."

"Alright, bring it here." Yu Jihong looked outside. "Third brother, I'll go take a look."

"Where to go, and what to see?"

"Go check on Hua Mei," Yu Jihong said as she untied her apron.

"It's possible that she just wanted to go out for a stroll with her daughter. If she really wanted to find you, she could come to your house since it's such a short distance away."

"I'm going to take a look." Yu Jihong had already reached the door.

After Yu Jihong left, her two aunts asked Fang Sandi about it.

"Third brother, Jihong, here," the eldest sister-in-law pointed to her head, "Is there a problem? She keeps the house tidy better than a normal woman, but judging from her behavior just now, something seems off."

“Yes,” the second aunt chimed in, “What business is it of hers if others are on the slope? Why should she rush over there in such a hurry?”

"That woman on the hillside just now looked unfamiliar. Whose wife is she?"

"The tree root family's."

"The original wife of the tree root family was said to be unable to have children, so his family didn't want her anymore."

"Yes, my wife has given birth to a daughter, but she's a little mentally unstable."

"Huh? She's a madwoman too. If a madwoman is standing on a slope, and Jihong wants to go see her, how can Jihong be considered normal?"

“Ji Hong is normal, unlike them,” Fang Sandi said.

"Third brother, don't be fooled by her good looks. It's good to have a wife for company, but you have to be careful, understand?" The eldest sister-in-law leaned over and whispered.

“Yes,” the second aunt chimed in, this was exactly the topic she was interested in, “Keep an eye on her, she needs to know the finances in the house.”

"I know, I know!"

"I'm doing this for your own good, so don't get impatient listening to me."

"You must manage your family property well. Fang Yu will treat you well in the future and can support you in your old age. You can give her anything you have, but don't give her anything too early. Keep some for yourself."

"What can we give you from home? Fang Yu is only a few years old. Why are you thinking so far ahead, even about taking care of your parents?" Fang's third brother said, both amused and exasperated.

"You took them in because you wanted someone to take care of you in your old age, right? Otherwise, why would you feed and house them?"

"Ji Hong also worked together."

“Look, look, look, we haven’t been here for years and you keep saying how good she is, like she’s brainwashed you. It’s a family, after all, the men do most of the physical labor, they do the farm work and earn the most.”

Yu Jihong had already reached the top of the slope, but it was empty and deserted.

Yu Jihong could understand the disappointment of waiting in vain all too well. Hua Mei must have been very disappointed after waiting for so long.

She looked in the direction of Hua Mei's house; Hua Mei, holding Hua Hua's hand, was almost at the intersection and about to turn the corner.

"Hua Mei!" Yu Jihong shouted loudly.

Hua Mei paused for a moment, turned around, saw Yu Jihong, and her brows relaxed slightly.

She and Hua Hua exchanged a glance and both smiled.

"Fang Yu is here," Hua Hua said excitedly.

Hua Mei gripped Hua Hua's hand tightly and rushed up the slope.

"Fang Yu didn't come." Hua Hua was a little disappointed to see that only Yu Jihong was there.

“My third brother just said you were here. I didn’t know you weren’t waiting for us, so I came to check on you,” Yu Jihong explained.

"We still want to play with stones." Hua Hua lowered her head in disappointment.

"Hua Mei, Hua Hua, we're not coming to play today. I'm here to tell you something, in case you've been waiting too long."

"Oh!" Hua Mei responded.

"Then go home early. You've been waiting for so long with the kids."

Hua Mei was about to turn and leave when she noticed Yu Jihong was still standing there. "What about you?" Hua Mei asked, showing concern for Yu Jihong.

"I'll stand here a little longer."

Hua Mei was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll go with you."

"Huh?" Hua Mei's words surprised Yu Jihong.

"No need, I'll just stand here for a bit and then go back. Um, I need to think about something. Once you've all gone back, I'll head back right away too."

Hua Mei nodded and left, pulling Hua Hua along.

Yu Jihong raised her head, lowered her shoulders, and looked into the distance. Back then, she had done this countless times at her parents' home, first at the village entrance, then at the door of her house, and when her belly grew bigger, she would hide at home and sit by the window upstairs, waiting and hoping.

In the end, he never came.

So many years have passed, and Yu Jihong has gradually forgotten about him. She no longer thinks of him as often as before. Yes, it has been a long time since she thought of him.

Hearing that Hua Mei had been there for a long time, as if waiting for them, touched a chord deep within her heart.

The feeling of waiting in vain was too painful, so she ran over to say that she didn't want Hua Mei to experience that kind of disappointment.

Yu Jihong breathed a sigh of relief and decided to stop thinking about it and just focus on living her life in the present.

Yu Jihong walked home and saw Hua Mei still watching her from the other side of the road.

Yu Jihong raised the corners of her mouth and waved to Hua Mei. Although they were so far apart that Hua Mei couldn't see her expression, Yu Jihong still wanted to smile at her.

Wait a minute, Hua Mei and Hua Hua disappeared at the intersection.

When Yu Jihong returned home, her two aunts were just about to leave. "Jihong, come and play with your third brother," the two aunts said politely.

"OK."

After her aunt left, Yu Jihong immediately asked Fang Sandi, "What did your sister come here for?"

"What are you going to do at your brother's house, sister? Just come and visit us during the first month of the lunar year," Fang Sandi said vaguely.

"Us? We've come to see you, haven't we?"

"Why make such a clear distinction? They came here just to see all of us."

"Fang Yu was playing next door, and they didn't say anything about calling her over or going to check on her."

Fang Sandi was speechless and could not answer.

"It's okay, I won't overthink it. They're not related to Fang Yu by blood," Yu Jihong wanted to say, but she couldn't.

"We haven't spent much time together, so it's normal that there's no affection between us."

"Are you still angry with them because of the conflict over the last household registration transfer?" Fang Sandi asked cautiously.

"No, I understand. They're afraid that Fang Yu and I will come and take your house. We've been living together for several years now. You know in your heart whether I've been living a good life or not."

“I understand, I understand. After I lost my parents, my two older sisters raised me. I can’t just stop keeping in touch now that I have my own family.”

"I didn't tell you not to visit each other. Brothers and sisters should visit each other. As long as they have no objections to me, I have no objections either."

"Jihong, you're really reasonable." Fang Sandi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Pshaw! I'm telling you I'm being reasonable."