The north wind of December, carrying snowflakes, swept across the fields of the North China Plain, yet it could not dispel the warm mist that lingered over the Red Flag Production Brigade. The rumble of the green train rolling over the tracks gradually faded into the distance. Lin Wanqiu stood under the old locust tree at the village entrance, gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar scene before her, her eyes involuntarily welling up with tears.
The dirt road at the village entrance has been paved with smooth gravel. The poplar trees on both sides have lost their lush greenery, their branches adorned with fine white frost, pointing straight to the sky like silver branches and jade trunks. On the distant field ridges, wheat seedlings, topped with snow, reveal glimpses of new green. Several mud-brick houses are scattered haphazardly across the fields, their chimneys emitting wisps of smoke that turn into a light white mist in the crisp air, swirling around the distant green mountains, creating a tranquil and simple rural scene.
“Mother, look at that old locust tree. It’s still as lush as it was back then.” Shen Nian’an pointed to the old locust tree with its lush branches and leaves not far away, her voice full of emotion. The trunk was so thick that it took two people to hug it. The cracked bark was covered with the marks of time, and a few withered locust fruits hung among the branches, swaying gently in the wind.
Lin Wanqiu nodded, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the hem of her clothes, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Years ago, it was under this very old locust tree that she and her frail child, Nian'an, were evicted from their home by Old Lady Shen and Zhang Lan, leaving them homeless; it was also under this tree that Aunt Wang secretly slipped her half a sweet potato, and Uncle Li helped her build a makeshift shelter. Those small acts of warmth during those difficult years, like the roots of the old locust tree, were deeply embedded in her heart.
"Let's go, let's go see Aunt Wang first." Shen Tingzhou's voice was calm and gentle. He carried a heavy bag filled with gifts for his old neighbors—signature pastries and functional soft cakes from "Late Autumn Food Workshop," as well as finely crafted ginseng powder and dried goji berries from the space. Each item carried their heartfelt wishes.
The three walked along the gravel path towards the village, encountering many villagers along the way. Most were unfamiliar young people, with a few elderly people with gray hair, whose appearances could still be vaguely discerned from their younger days. Upon seeing Lin Wanqiu and her group, the villagers all stopped, curiously observing them and whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that Lin Wanqiu? The widow with a child back then, I heard she's a big boss now!"
"Isn't that her man, Shen Tingzhou, next to her? Wasn't he supposed to have sacrificed himself back then? How come he's back?"
"And their son, Chen Nian'an, is really handsome. I heard he owns a big factory in the city!"
The whispers reached her ears, but Lin Wanqiu paid them no heed. She smiled and nodded to the villagers, her eyes gentle and open. Shen Tingzhou remained composed, only nodding slightly when the villagers cast curious or respectful glances at him. Shen Nian'an greeted everyone warmly, his young face full of sincerity.
As we approached Aunt Wang's house, a familiar smell of firewood mingled with the aroma of food wafted towards us. The courtyard walls of the adobe house were made of rammed earth, with withered morning glory vines climbing on top. A string of dried red peppers and corncobs hung on the gate, exuding a strong sense of everyday life.
"Aunt Wang, are you home?" Lin Wanqiu gently pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate and called out.
A rustling sound came from inside the house, and then an elderly woman with gray hair and a hunched back came out leaning on a cane. It was Granny Wang. Time had etched deep wrinkles on her face, and her eyes were somewhat cloudy, but the moment she saw Lin Wanqiu, her cloudy eyes lit up instantly.
"Wanqiu? Is it really you?" Aunt Wang stepped forward excitedly, reaching out her trembling hand to touch Lin Wanqiu's face, but hesitated. "I'm not seeing things, am I? You're really back!"
"Auntie, it's me, I'm back." Lin Wanqiu quickly stepped forward, tightly grasped Aunt Wang's hand, and felt the roughness and warmth of her palm. Tears welled up in her eyes. "How have you been all these years?"
"Good, good!" Aunt Wang smiled, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, and pulled Lin Wanqiu into the house. "Come in quickly, it's cold outside. Tingzhou is back too, and so is Nian'an. They've grown so much, and they're getting more and more energetic!"
Upon entering the house, Lin Wanqiu looked around. The furnishings were still simple: a kang (heated brick bed), an eight-immortal table, and a wooden cabinet with peeling paint. A few yellowed New Year pictures were still pasted on the wall, but the house was clean and tidy. On the kang table was a bowl of steaming corn porridge, a dish of pickled vegetables, and two white steamed buns, clearly indicating that Aunt Wang was preparing lunch.
"Auntie, we brought you some things." Shen Nian'an put her bag on the ground, opened it, and took out various pastries and tonics. "These are all made by our own food workshop. Please try them; they're good for your health."
Looking at the table full of things, Aunt Wang's eyes reddened again: "You children, you come back, but why bring so much stuff? You don't earn money easily."
“Auntie, this is all from our hearts.” Lin Wanqiu sat on the edge of the kang and massaged Aunt Wang’s back. “If it weren’t for your and Uncle’s help back then, Nian’an and I might not have made it through. These things are nothing compared to your kindness back then.”
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door, and Uncle Li returned carrying a hoe. Seeing Lin Wanqiu and her group inside, he paused for a moment, then a warm smile spread across his face: "Wanqiu? Tingzhou? You're back!"
Uncle Li looked much older than he had been back then; his hair was almost completely white, and his back was a little hunched, but he was still in good spirits. He put down his hoe, rubbed the dirt off his hands, and strode into the house: "Please sit down, please sit down. I'll go kill a chicken right away, and we'll have a good time at noon."
“Uncle, no need to trouble yourself. We just came to see you and your wife,” Lin Wanqiu said quickly.
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all!" Uncle Li waved his hand and said with a smile, "You've finally come back, so we must treat you well. Back then, Tingzhou was the pride of our brigade, and Wanqiu, you were an even more capable person in our brigade, leading everyone in planting and cooking, ensuring that many people had enough to eat. Now that you've made something of yourself, you still think of us old neighbors, and we're so happy!"
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