When I arrived in my hometown county, it was already afternoon.
After getting off the train, the family went to a department store to buy some things, then hired a donkey cart and headed straight for Houpo Brigade of Yangjiazhai Commune.
"Mom, when will we get to Grandma's house? How far is it?"
On the way, Qingqing nestled in Lu Fangfang's arms, curiously looking at the surrounding environment.
This place is different from Qilian in Northwest China, and it's also different from the seaside.
The fields on both sides of the road were full of green wheat seedlings.
In the distance, there are rolling hills and slopes.
In the dead of winter, apart from the wheat seedlings, there wasn't a trace of green.
"We're not far now, we'll be home soon."
Holding her daughter, Lu Fangfang gazed at the distant village, a feeling she couldn't quite describe welling up inside her.
Soon, the donkey cart carrying several people entered the village.
From a distance, Lu Fangfang could see an old man sitting at her familiar doorway, smoking a pipe.
On this freezing day, he was outside smoking his pipe; what he was waiting for was obvious.
Lu Fangfang straightened up and couldn't help but call out, "Dad!"
"Girl...daughter."
Lu Zhaokun's hand holding the pipe trembled slightly. He stood up, his eyes wide, and stared into the distance.
Afraid he had misread it, he rubbed his eyes vigorously again.
"father."
Lu Fangfang jumped off the donkey cart, picked up Qingqing, and ran over.
Seeing this, Zhuang Mingcheng quickly picked up his son and followed closely behind.
"Dad, I...I'm back. I've brought my son and daughter to see you."
"Okay! Okay!"
Lu Zhaokun wiped away his tears and only managed to say a few words of approval.
Looking at his rather unfamiliar son-in-law, he hurriedly called out into the yard, "Old woman, come out quickly... Fangfang is back."
"Fangfang? My daughter, my daughter..."
Inside the house, Yang Cuilan ran out crying.
Looking at her daughter, who seemed somewhat unfamiliar to her, she opened her arms and hugged her.
"Mother, your daughter is back."
"Waaah, my Fangfang, you're finally back! I've missed you so much."
Lu Fangfang felt terrible upon hearing this, and tears inexplicably streamed down her face.
"Mom, please don't cry. It's all my fault."
Beside him, Lu Zhaokun turned his head away and secretly wiped away his tears.
Yang Cuilan cried for a long time before letting go of her daughter and looking at the others.
"Dad, Mom, your son-in-law kowtows to you."
Zhuang Mingcheng felt uneasy and even a little guilty.
He knelt down and performed the grand ceremony for his father-in-law and mother-in-law that he had not performed before.
"Oh dear, good child, get up, get up quickly."
Lu Zhaokun and Yang Cuilan quickly stepped forward and helped Zhuang Mingcheng up.
Seeing their son-in-law in his military uniform, looking handsome and spirited, the two were extremely satisfied.
This son-in-law is even more handsome than in the photos.
"Egg, Qingqing, quickly call Grandpa and Grandma."
Lu Fangfang took out a handkerchief, wiped away her tears, and then quickly told her son and daughter to call for help.
"Grandpa, Grandma."
"Hello, Grandma. Hello, Grandpa."
"Okay, okay, come inside quickly, it's cold outside."
Lu Zhaokun and Yang Cuilan, holding the two children's hands, happily walked into the yard.
Lu Fangfang picked up the things from the donkey cart.
Zhuang Mingcheng carried the seafood and strode into the courtyard.
"Father, Mother, where's Xiuxiu? Why haven't we seen her come out?"
"Hmph, don't mention her to me!"
Hearing her father's tone, Lu Fangfang immediately understood that Xiuxiu must have mentioned Lao Xu's matter.
She and her husband exchanged glances, neither daring to ask any more questions.
Having been away from home for several years, she looked around and found that the environment at home was better than before, and there was even a dog in the yard.
Upon entering the house, a metal stove was burning.
Yang Cuilan led the child to the stove and began stuffing wood into it.
"Dad, Mom, I bought you a set of clothes. They were all bought according to the size Xiuxiu mentioned. Please try them on and see if they fit."
Zhuang Mingcheng put down the seafood and took out two sets of clothes from his bag.
“Perfect, perfect. My son-in-law bought it, so it must be perfect.”
Lu Zhaokun pulled his son-in-law to the table, poured tea, and they started chatting.
Over the years, he has only communicated with his son-in-law through letters; they have never spoken face-to-face.
After a while, the eldest and second eldest sons of the Lu family also heard the news and came over.
The two were still a little uncomfortable facing the regimental commander's brother-in-law.
The village team leader, accountant, and some senior clan members also came after hearing the news, wanting to see the clan leader's son-in-law.
For a time, the room was quite lively.
...
"elder sister?"
Xiuxiu stood outside the door, calling out softly and secretly.
Lu Fangfang looked around and came out out of curiosity.
She pulled her younger sister to a corner and whispered, "What did you say to Mom and Dad? Why did you make Dad so angry?"
“I’ll just tell the truth; I can’t lie.”
Xiuxiu was quite happy. "Dad said he's going to separate me from the family and he won't care about anything else. He'll let me do whatever I want."
Lu Fangfang: "..."
She was speechless looking at Xiuxiu, this silly girl.
Father must have said it in anger, but this silly girl took it seriously.
"Never mind, you help me carry the seafood out and wash it together."
He called Xiuxiu into the house, and she brought out a sack of sea cucumbers, which she then washed and processed with water.
It was the dead of winter, and it was freezing cold outside, but thankfully the water in the well wasn't cold.
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