After returning to her room, He Tiantian couldn't fall asleep. She paced back and forth in her room, looking here and touching there.
"Sweetie, go to bed early and don't walk around like that," Wang Shuping reminded He Tiantian from outside, telling her to rest early so as not to overwork herself.
He Tiantian obediently lay down on her single bed, feeling completely relaxed. It was so nice to be at home; it was so comfortable.
There's no place like home, and she was a little reluctant to leave her doghouse.
I drifted off to sleep, and when I woke up the next day, it was already 10 a.m.
Wang Shuping returned to work last month, but because her daughter arrived, she asked her husband to take the sick leave certificate issued by Jiang Lifang to the factory to apply for leave today.
Because her daughter woke up late, Wang Shuping made a simple breakfast for her. At noon, Wang Shuping prepared a more substantial meal for her.
There were still a few dried wild rabbits in the Snake King's protective barrier, packed in a small burlap sack. The Snake King threw them all out.
Even in the city, one might not eat more than ten kilograms of meat a year. This half-sack contains about fifteen or sixteen kilograms. He Tiantian had planned to save it when she arrived at Qijia Village to bring back for the New Year. Since she's back early, she might as well give it to her parents sooner.
"Mom, there's something delicious here. Why don't you cook it for lunch?" He Tiantian carried the sack to the kitchen and placed it next to her mother.
"Huh?" Where did this sack come from? "Did you bring it? I didn't see it yesterday."
He Tiantian smiled and said, "I left it in the yard yesterday, but you didn't notice it because it was dark. I was so excited last night that I forgot about it too."
"Oh!" Wang Shuping had no doubts. She was so excited to see her daughter come back yesterday that she didn't notice these little things.
Seeing that her mother had no suspicions, He Tiantian felt relieved.
Wang Shuping opened the sack and was surprised to find five dried rabbits and two pheasants inside. She asked in surprise, "Sweetie, where did you get so many dried rabbits and pheasants?"
Seeing her mother's surprised expression, He Tiantian said proudly, "I was in charge of cutting grass for the livestock team in Qijia Village. I often went up the mountain to cut grass, so I learned how to dig traps and set snares. I actually caught quite a few. I secretly hid these to bring back for the New Year. I came back early this time because I didn't know if I could go home for the New Year, so I brought them back to help you get some nourishment."
"This...you really caught this?" Wang Shuping couldn't believe it. Her daughter used to scream and turn pale when she saw caterpillars in the yard, but now she was actually hunting them.
"Yes, otherwise where would we get it from!" He Tiantian said, extremely grateful to the Snake King, as she now had no worries about food and drink!
Wang Shuping was conflicted, sometimes happy that her daughter was capable, and sometimes lamenting that her daughter had suffered.
All of this stemmed from her mother's love for her. He Tiantian felt a warm glow inside, without the slightest impatience, and worked with her mother to stew rabbit with potatoes. One rabbit made a large pot, enough for the family of three. Thinking that Huo Zhekun and He Jingyu had gone to the commune together, perhaps they would come over for lunch, Wang Shuping stir-fried a large plate of cabbage.
"Mom, what happened to you after I left?" He Tiantian asked. "How did you get through those difficult times?"
My daughter is all grown up now; I can't hide the truth from her anymore.
“A few days after you left, your father and I were arrested by the commune and detained in the detention center for a few days. Although they didn’t find anything in our house, we were put on the re-education list. But the day before we were to be taken out for re-education, someone reported that the commune director was corrupt and taking bribes. The city’s discipline inspection commission sent people to the commune director’s house and confiscated a lot of antiques and paintings. A young wife, who couldn’t take the torture anymore, took this opportunity to report that the commune director, Yang, had raped women. In just two days, Yang was taken away. People from the province came and re-examined us, and those of us whose houses were not found were released. Two months ago, your father went back to work and researched new varieties of peaches; a month ago, I also went back to work. Now things are better at home, so you don’t have to worry about home.” Wang Shuping told the story slowly and deliberately.
Although it's all in the past, He Tiantian could still hear the helplessness and fear in her mother's tone.
"Director Yang from the commune?" He Tiantian frowned. "Is he the one nicknamed 'Big-Headed Yang'?"
"Yes!" Wang Shuping nodded. "You know him too?"
More than just acquaintances! In his past life, this Yang Da Nao was incredibly powerful! Throughout the entire special period, he held the position of director of the Nanshi Commune, a prominent figure in Nanshi, wielding immense influence! However, after the reform and opening up, those who had been persecuted before came out to take charge of the work, and Yang Da Nao, who had offended many people before, suffered a tragic fate. It seems he was accused of rape and imprisoned.
What happened after that, I don't know.
“I used to have a classmate named Yang Susu. I heard from Liu Lingli that Yang Susu’s father was the director of the commune and had a very big head,” He Tiantian explained. Anyway, Liu Lingli wasn’t around, so she wasn’t worried about being exposed.
What puzzled He Tiantian was that Yang Da Nao had fallen from power, seven or eight years earlier than before!
“Oh, that Yang with the big head is no good. If he knows someone has something valuable, he'll arrest them. Even if they give it to him, he won't show leniency; he'll torture them even more. If they don't give it to him, he'll keep criticizing them. Luckily, heaven has eyes, and someone still knows about his crimes.” Wang Shuping said through gritted teeth, then, afraid of frightening her daughter, added, “But things are better now. The new Director Tang was promoted by your Uncle Huo’s father. He’s diligent and has handled every case. There are no wrongful convictions now, and things are much more peaceful. But your Uncle Tang is also quite capable; you know what, he actually caught a few traitors who were colluding with the enemy.”
He Tiantian was taken aback and asked, "How do you distinguish between a traitor and a villain? You can't just say someone is a traitor because their ancestors studied traditional Chinese culture or their family had some valuable possessions, can you?"
“Of course it’s not what you said,” Wang Shuping explained. “The chubby kid who lives across the street from our house—the one who used to pull your pigtails when you were little—had a radio found in his house. It could send telegrams abroad. The telegrams they found involved a lot of secrets…”
"Huh? Little Fatty?" He Tiantian asked in surprise. "How are they doing now?"
"Of course he was arrested. As for where he's being held, I have no idea," Wang Shuping whispered. "Don't tell anyone about this, or you might get into trouble."
He Tiantian covered her mouth and repeatedly promised that she would not forget to tell anyone.
Besides the fact that the villain Yang Da Nao died prematurely, even the little fat boy's family is different from the previous life.
All the crises were inexplicably resolved. (To be continued.)
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