After delivering all the items to her parents' home, Shiyue didn't let anyone stay any longer. After thanking them, she saw everyone off one by one.
The huge courtyard suddenly fell silent.
The Shi family arrived late; by the time they moved in, there was hardly any homestead land left in the village.
So the brigade allocated a separate plot of land for his family near the back of the mountain.
The land is very large, but it is also in a remote location, several hundred meters away from the nearest neighbor's house.
At night, the surroundings were pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
Apart from the occasional howl of a wild animal coming from the distant mountains, there wasn't a single human voice.
Fortunately, the old man had put in a lot of effort when he built the house.
Although the house is also an adobe house, it is made entirely of large bluestones found in the mountains from the foundation to waist height, and the roof beams are also made of good materials.
Therefore, the house was built very sturdily.
This is why, even though the house had been uninhabited for over a year and was still in good condition, Shiyue was able to request to move back.
Not only that, the old man also built a high wall around the yard back then.
This is something that no one else in the team has.
This wall not only blocks the view of outsiders, but also prevents any small animals from running out of the mountains and into the house to harm people.
Of course, it can also give people a great sense of security.
So even though she was alone at home, Shiyue wasn't afraid.
Back here, she felt completely at peace.
Shiyue glanced at the sky and saw that the sun was already starting to set, so she didn't waste any more time and hurried to get ready.
"Shiyue, Shiyue!"
Just then, Sun Xiaohong's voice came from outside the courtyard.
Shi Yue turned around and saw the Sun siblings, who had just finished helping her with her work, standing together at the courtyard gate.
The two men each carried a bucket of water and a bundle of firewood.
Upon seeing Shiyue, Sun Xiaohong immediately said, "Come and help me, I'm exhausted!"
“I already said no, no, and you still made the trip again. I can carry water myself, and I can chop firewood.”
Shiyue quickly stepped forward and took the firewood from Sun Xiaohong's hand, gently scolding her.
"Why are you being so polite with me?" Sun Xiaohong rolled her eyes.
"Don't you even look at the time? By the time you finish your work and go chop firewood, it'll be completely dark! If you don't heat the kang (heated brick bed), how are you going to sleep tonight? You'll freeze to death!"
As Sun Xiaohong spoke, she walked into the courtyard with Shiyue.
Looking at the desolate-looking courtyard, she couldn't help but suggest again, "Why don't you come home with me for a couple of days? We can share a room, so it won't bother anyone. You can come over during the day to tidy up the room and warm it up properly, otherwise you might get sick in this damp and cold place."
"Isn't this the firewood you brought? I'll start heating the kang now," Shiyue said with a smile.
Sun Xiaohong knew she had been rejected again.
So I gave up trying to persuade them.
She ignored Shiyue and instead told her younger brother, Sun Sanping, to pour water into the water vat and then go outside to wait.
He then took out a multigrain flatbread from his pocket and stuffed it into Shiyue's hand.
After stuffing it in, Sun Xiaohong turned and left.
Shiyue grabbed her arm.
"I don't want it!" She quickly shoved the pancake back into Sun Xiaohong's hands. "Forget about the firewood, but I can't accept the pancake. If I eat it, you'll go hungry today."
“Who said I would go hungry? This was sent by my mother, not mine.”
As she spoke, Sun Xiaohong forcefully shoved the pancake back into Shiyue's hand, then turned and ran away, ignoring her calls.
Watching the siblings' departing figures, Shiyue felt a lump in her throat.
It was late 1964, and the famine had only recently ended.
Although the team had a good harvest this year, it was only enough to eat wild vegetables to keep people from starving. As for surplus grain, no one had any.
Even in the team leader's family, it would take a lot of effort to pry out such a small piece of mixed grain cake, about the size of a palm, from the mouths of the entire family.
Shiyue silently kept this kindness in her heart, then took the cakes back to the kitchen and lit a fire.
She put the slightly cooled pancake on the fire to warm it up, then eagerly stuffed it into her mouth—
This was the first bite of food she had eaten all day.
The mixed grain cakes contained dried wild vegetables and finely ground bran, which were a bit harsh on the throat, but Shiyue didn't care at all.
She chewed it in small bites as if savoring a delicacy, then slowly swallowed it.
Not even a tiny crumb that falls into the palm of one's hand can be wasted; one licks it back into the mouth with the tip of one's tongue.
Even so, the pancake was quickly finished.
Shiyue's stomach was still empty; she was still very hungry.
If only there were one more.
Shiyue couldn't help but smack her lips, silently saying to herself.
[Ding dong! Have you opened the free meal gift pack you received?]
[Ding dong! Do you want to open the free meal gift pack you received right away?]
[Ding-dong! ...]
Just as Shiyue was savoring the taste of the multigrain pancake, another voice suddenly exploded in her mind.
The sound was crisp and loud, so loud that Shiyue was so startled that she almost fell off the bench and onto the ground!
She then remembered that she had almost encountered a ghost that afternoon and couldn't help but shudder.
She quickly looked around.
The room was very quiet, except for her breathing and the crackling sound of the burning firewood.
Ding Dong!
Just as that voice rang out again, Shiyue finally couldn't take it anymore and screamed in fright, "Open!"
Then she quickly closed her eyes.
Shiyue remembered the envelope from before.
She was afraid that if she didn't agree, something else would appear and keep flashing in front of her.
It's getting dark, and she's all alone at home.
If they really angered those mountain spirits and monsters, they could just drag her away and no one would know. (That's right, Shiyue felt like she had bumped into a mountain spirit.)
So let's just go with the flow.
Maybe that will save your life.
Thinking of this, Shiyue closed her eyes even tighter, deciding to avoid seeing it altogether.
She sat on the small stool, her whole body tense, her fists clenched, with an expression of resignation to death, yet a hint of despair appeared between her brows.
The moment Shiyue closed her eyes, she suddenly realized that she had been moved to a different position.
She was no longer in her own kitchen, but in an empty room!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
