With Gu Ye back, the house suddenly felt different.
When Sanqi was hungry, people rushed to wash her diapers; when Liujiu was hungry, people eagerly prepared delicious food for her. Baoni became a hands-off manager, enjoying this for a few days, until Gu Ye went back to work, and then the privileges were gone again.
"Baby, how about taking the baby to your parents' house for a stroll today?"
Gu Ye has been back for two days, but he hasn't visited his mother-in-law and the others yet. When he was on a mission, his wife and children were taken care of by them.
"Okay, bring along diapers and stuff, let's move around and stay overnight."
Back in June, it was too cold, and Bao Ni was afraid the baby would catch a cold, so she didn't go back to her parents' home to escape the cold after the baby's one-month celebration. Now that it's warm, she can go back and avoid the heat.
The family set off immediately, with Liu Jiu leading the way, Gu Ye carrying San Qi behind him, and Bao Ni bringing up the rear with their belongings. The people in the compound saw this family walking with such pride and swagger, their presence quite impressive.
"Liu Jiu, where are you going?"
"Go to Grandma's house, go hide in that den of scoundrels."
This is what her mother said to her father this morning, and Liu Jiu remembers it.
"Oh my god, you little rascal, do you even know what a hideout is?"
"Auntie, should I know?"
Liu Jiu replied with a puzzled look, "Just go with Mom and Dad, that's fine."
"Oh? That's true, you don't need to know."
"Sister-in-law Wang, we're leaving."
Bonnie waved and greeted the women nearby as well.
During the autumn harvest season, the streets are filled with busy figures.
The autumn harvest on the island is a race against time, every second counts, especially in case a typhoon hits.
Bonnie greeted the aunties and older women she knew, and Liu Jiu walked very fast, almost running.
"Liu Jiu, what's the rush?"
"Mom, I want to go pick up rice ears with Xiaobao."
Seeing an oxcart carrying rice toward the threshing ground, Liu Jiu remembered what Xiao Bao had said about going to the fields to pick up rice ears in the fall.
Bonnie looked at the sky; it was still early, and she couldn't go pick up rice ears too early. Before Bonnie could even speak, Liu Jiu had already run far away.
"Xiao Bao, I thought you had already left. I ran here. Luckily, you're still here. Were you waiting for me?"
Before Bonnie even entered the hospital, she heard her daughter's voice, crisp and clear, and quite narcissistic.
"Liu Jiu, I didn't know you were coming today. I'm waiting for Great-Grandpa!"
Xiao Bao's straightforward remarks left Liu Jiu speechless.
Liu Jiu was a few months older than Xiao Bao, and they were about the same height. Neither of them would submit to the other, and both wanted to be the older one. Liu Jiu tried to use force to subdue Xiao Bao, but Xiao Bao was good at crying. In the end, neither of them wanted to be the younger one, so they started calling each other by name.
"Great-Grandpa, when are we leaving?"
As soon as Grandpa Lin came out, Liu Jiu asked anxiously, "I want to pick up some rice ears."
"Let's go right away. Your clothes won't do. You need to wear long sleeves, or you'll get itchy."
"Grandpa, are you going to the fields too?"
Bonnie entered the courtyard. Her grandfather was dressed in a patched-up work outfit that looked quite old.
"Gu Ye is back, and Sanqi is here too."
When the old man saw Gu Ye, he was relieved. He hurried over to see Sanqi. It was only a few days after she was born that he and Grandma Lin visited her at Bao Ni's house. Now, more than twenty days have passed, and she has grown quite a bit.
Well, Bonnie felt her status had been pushed back again.
Bonnie carried her things back to her old room. Her mother and grandmother were cleaning, and the room was not much different from before.
It is considered a blessing for a married woman to have a room at her parents' home. Not to mention nowadays, in many families in later generations where there are not only children, the woman no longer has a room after marriage.
Many women endure domestic violence and mistreatment from their mothers-in-law without getting a divorce, partly because they can't bear to leave their children, and partly because they have nowhere to go after a divorce. They don't have their own room at home; after marriage, their parents' home becomes just that—their parents' home—not their own.
In the courtyard, Grandma was calling out to Gu Ye, finding clothes for Liu Jiu, and occasionally San Qi could be heard making "ah ah" sounds. It was so lively; this must be what life is all about!
When Bonnie came out, Liu Jiu had already left with Great-Grandpa and Xiao Bao, and Gu Ye was helping Grandma tidy up the vegetables in the yard. Bonnie fed Sanqi, and then she wanted to take a walk in the mountains to see if the apple trees from last year were still bearing fruit.
After finishing her milk, Sanqi fell asleep again.
"Grandma, I'm going for a walk up the mountain. I've left the Panax notoginseng in your room, so please keep an eye on it."
"I'll go with you."
Gu Ye was worried about Bao Ni going up the mountain by herself, as she had only just finished her postpartum confinement and her body hadn't fully recovered yet.
"Yes, let Gu Ye go with you. Don't go too far, just take a stroll and come back."
Grandma knew that Bonnie was really anxious because she knew she wouldn't be able to go hiking or swim anymore once her belly got bigger. She was very worried.
"Okay, Grandma. Keep an eye on Sanqi. She can sleep for more than an hour. We'll make lunch when we get back."
Bonnie and Gu Ye each carried a basket up the mountain. They moved quickly and soon reached the foot of the mountain.
The autumn forests are beautiful; the leaves are no longer just green. There are yellows and reds. Although it's still early and the leaves haven't changed color extensively, a few red and yellow leaves scattered among the green look like flowers blooming from afar.
Bonnie has a keen sense of direction; she can remember the way to places she's been to and can easily find last year's apple tree.
"Gu Ye, this is the apple tree. Look, the fruit is still there. After you finish picking them, go over there, there's another one."
Gu Ye climbed the tree and picked a basketful of apples. The two of them picked up the apples and started eating them with gusto. The taste was as good as ever, sweet and sour, and very juicy.
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