"chug……"
The tractor's chimney was billowing black smoke, and Bonnie felt like her intestines were about to be jolted out of her body before they finally arrived home.
"Oh dear, Bonnie, your hair is all messed up by the wind, haha..."
Auntie's laughter was so penetrating that Uncle, Bonnie's parents, and Sister-in-law all came out of the house.
"It's windy today, honey, how are you feeling?"
Bao Ni's mother came over to help her daughter calm down her sticking-out hair and smooth it out.
"It was so bumpy, I felt like my internal organs were going to shift."
Bonnie rarely takes public transportation in Beijing. She walks when the distance is short, and rides a bicycle or tricycle when the distance is longer. She rarely needs to take public transportation.
"The roads on our island are already pretty good. You're going to the foot of the mountain, where there are so many potholes. How could it not be bumpy?"
Uncle San laughed too. Bonnie's appearance just now was too peculiar; her hair stood on end like a hedgehog.
"Give me a hand, move these things down, and hurry up and pack them up."
Bonnie's dad actually wanted to laugh too, but he held back, afraid that his daughter would be embarrassed.
Bonnie and her older brother were the only strong ones there, so they were in charge of carrying the loads into the yard. The others helped out, and with more people working together, they got everything into the yard in no time.
Fortunately, everyone was busy in the fields at that time, and there was no one at home nearby, otherwise, it would have attracted a crowd of onlookers.
Six people worked together to sort the seafood.
"Mom, there are two big octopuses left. Let's eat them for lunch. We'll also have braised sea cucumber with scallions and braised abalone. It's been so long since we've had anything fresh."
Bonnie swallowed hard as she ordered the food; she really wanted to eat it.
"Sister-in-law, hurry up and do it! Look, Bonnie's drooling is practically dripping out!"
"Ha ha……"
Bonnie successfully amused everyone. She's almost forty and still managed to entertain her family in her colorful costume—it was worth it!
Although the group kept talking, they didn't stop working.
Bonnie didn't get to have a seafood feast at noon because her mother said she needed to quickly prepare all the seafood so they could eat it in the evening.
"Lin Yu's wife, Lin Wei is taking the college entrance exam next year, right? How's her studying?"
The Lin Wei mentioned by the third aunt was the daughter brought over by the eldest sister-in-law. She later changed her surname and was named Lin Wei.
"It's alright. Erbao said that if nothing unexpected happens, Weiwei will be able to get into university."
When her daughter was mentioned, Sister-in-law Lin rarely smiled.
“If Erbao says he can pass the exam, he definitely will. Erbao has never lied since he was little.”
Third Aunt liked Erbao; that child was more humane than his brother. Although Erbao seemed a bit simple-minded, he was quite perceptive and knew who was sincere to him and who was just pretending.
"Yes, Erbao is also doing well in his studies and is very hardworking. He's been working from dawn till dusk lately."
Sister-in-law Lin spoke of Erbao naturally and warmly, and you could tell they had a very good relationship.
"It's also because you taught me well. You've suffered a lot over the years."
Brother Lin's relationship with Lin Wei's mother progressed from strangers to acquaintances, from simply living together to working in unison. It was a gradual process of getting to know each other.
Over the years, she has done her best for both her eldest and second children, taking care of their every need, trying her best to treat them equally—it hasn't been easy. Especially the eldest child, who, for some reason, is full of resentment towards the family, and nothing she says can change that.
Bonnie listened to everyone talking about people and things they knew or didn't know, and she found it quite interesting.
This is the first time the house has been so lively since my grandparents passed away. I can hear the laughter and joy of the past, just like when my grandparents were still here.
Bonnie felt that her grandparents certainly didn't want their children to remain in grief for too long, but rather hoped that the children could move on as soon as possible, because life had to go on.
After a long day of work, her back ached from all the effort, but she finally finished cleaning all the seafood. Bonnie thought she could get it all out in one go and avoid having to do it twice. She forgot that drying it was also a huge undertaking.
That evening, Bonnie enjoyed the seafood feast she had been craving, feeling especially happy. She wished her brother Ye was there too, as he also loved her mother's seafood cooking.
Time flies, and before we knew it, Bonnie was going back home.
"Mom and Dad, after the New Year, pack your things, entrust the house to my eldest brother and sister-in-law, and come to Beijing. I'll have my second brother or Lin Bo buy you sleeper tickets, and I'll pick you up at the station."
If you don't like military compounds, you can stay in a traditional courtyard house. During your rest time, I can even take you around for a walk.
Bonnie gave the instructions again, just in case her parents changed their minds and didn't go.
“I understand. We won’t go back on our word. It’s been over ten years since you were transferred away from the island with Gu Ye. We’ve only seen each other a few times in a hurry. Your father and I are getting old, and we just want to stay with you and live a few more years together.”
Bao Ni's mother stroked her daughter's hair. In the blink of an eye, her daughter was almost forty. She could still picture her daughter waving her little fists and fighting with a bunch of boys. The dark-skinned little girl had grown up, had a son and a daughter, and was doing very well.
"Okay, then it's settled. From now on, you two will stay here and take good care of me. Liu Jiu is going to university, and he won't be able to come back more than a few times a semester. San Qi will also be going to university in a few years. The children at home have all grown up and flown away, and I will be lonely."
Bonnie is telling the truth. She's used to her current life, finding it fulfilling with her parents, children, and a man by her side, and she doesn't find it noisy. Her children will grow up and leave, so she'll stay with her parents and keep them company.
"Okay, then we'll stay by your side and eat you out of house and home."
Bonnie's father listened to the mother and daughter chatting away. He didn't say anything, but the smile on his face didn't lie.
The next morning, Bonnie's parents, third uncle and aunt, eldest brother and sister-in-law went to the dock to see Bonnie off.
"Third Uncle, Third Aunt, when my parents go to Beijing next year, you should come and stay for a while and take a good look at our capital."
"Going to Beijing? I've only been to the city a limited number of times, I've never really thought about going to such a far place."
Aunt Bao Ni was somewhat tempted. She was getting on in years, and her children were all grown up and had their own families. As parents, they had fulfilled their responsibilities. Perhaps she really could go to Beijing to take a look.
"Go, let's go with your older brother and sister-in-law. We'll get to go to Beijing thanks to Bonnie, we'll be content."
Seeing the longing in his wife's eyes, how could Uncle Bonnie refuse?
"Then I'll wait for you in Beijing. Brother and sister-in-law, please come visit sometime."
"When we're not busy."
Bonnie and her older brother and sister-in-law were just saying it casually; they all knew that the chances of them going were slim.
"Alright, get on the boat. Be careful on the journey, and give us a call when you get home."
Bonnie's father urged her to leave, saying that no matter how reluctant he was, he had to let his child go.
"goodbye!"
"Take care of yourself!"
The ship set sail, and Bonnie stood on the deck waving until she could no longer be seen.
People on the dock waved goodbye until the ship sailed far away and they could no longer see anything.
"Let's go back."
"Yes, I'm going back."
Bonnie's parents walked back one after the other, having seen their daughter off once again. Although they had experienced this many times before, it still broke their hearts every time, and they couldn't help but want to cry.
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