As Chunxiao entered the courtyard, she heard Zhou muttering, "It's past dinner time and you still need someone to invite you. You can't even take care of yourself. How can anyone trust you when you're living alone in the future?"
Chunxiao walked into the main room. Everyone was already seated and ready to eat. "Mom, I didn't mean to do that. I was just dragging some wood."
Yan Dashan suddenly clapped his hands. "Oh, I forgot. I forgot you had to get the wood back from the foot of the mountain." He smiled embarrassedly. "Did you get it back? As soon as your sister-in-law came back, she started sorting the firewood, and then she was busy cooking. You didn't even remind me."
"I've already prepared it. It's just a short distance. I can drag it back myself. Why would I ask you to do that?"
"Okay, let's eat. If you continue talking, you won't be able to see me soon."
The family gathered around the table and started eating.
"Mom, is my bedding ready? If it is, I'll wash it at home and then move in." Chunxiao asked while eating.
"Okay, it's all dried. Are you really going to stay there tonight?"
Chunxiao said "hmm".
"Okay, there's one thing we forgot to buy today. We bought lamp oil but forgot to buy a lamp. Next time you get the pot, remember to buy one. You can use the one at home for the next two days. After dinner, wash up and go to bed. I'll give the lamp at home to Chunxiao."
"I understand, mother." Tian replied with her head down.
"I'll take you there later." Yan Bingfa suddenly said.
Chunxiao originally wanted to refuse, but after thinking about it, she agreed.
After dinner, as usual, everyone took turns washing their feet. Zhang from next door came over and asked Chunxiao if she was going to sleep at home. After receiving a positive answer, she went back.
The children washed and went to bed first, followed by Chunxiao, and then the rest of the people. After everyone went to bed, Chunxiao took the bag, and Yan Bingfa took her to the end of the village with a clay lantern.
"We live our lives one day at a time. It may be hard in the beginning, but you have your parents and brothers to look after you, so you can get by."
"Dad, I dare to come back like this because you gave me the confidence. I know you won't despise me."
"What I mean is that you should try your best to make ends meet, but if you can't make it, don't force yourself. Your parents are still here, and they can always find a way to accommodate you. Although your brothers have separated, your brother and sister-in-law are decent people, so you can still lean on them when you need to."
"Dad, I understand. Don't worry."
Yan Bingfa looked at her and sighed, "You are still young. You still have to find a man to live with in the future. Take your time to find one. There is no rush."
"Dad, I don't want to think about this for the time being."
"Not everyone is like the Zhou family. There are many families like ours. As long as the family works together, it doesn't matter if they are a little poor."
The father and daughter walked and talked until they reached the end of the village. Chunxiao pushed open the door of the fenced yard.
"You should also lock the gate of this fenced yard at night. If anything happens, remember to come to us in time. I've placed a long stick by your door just in case."
The two entered the house. Chunxiao threw the quilt and bag onto the bed, took out the lamp, found the lamp oil, and lit the lamp in the house.
"Okay, I'll go back first."
Chunxiao sent Yan Bangfa out of the yard and closed the gate. She returned to the house and spread the sheets in the dim light. The quilt was already on. She sat on the bed and felt so comfortable. From now on, this would truly be her home. Before coming, Zhou gave her the land deed, household registration and the divorce certificate. She would buy a small locked box to store these important items when she had the chance.
The window was always closed. She took off her clothes and went to bed. When she first got into the quilt, it was a little cold. Slowly, her whole body began to warm up. She felt more satisfied than ever before.
Perhaps because the quilt was too comfortable, or perhaps because she was tired from the day's work, she fell asleep quickly. She went to bed early, waking just as dawn broke outside. She got up excitedly. The kitchen water tank was full, but because it had a gap, a full tank was only half full. Chunxiao scooped up some water to wash, but since there was no hot water, she washed her face with cold water.
This was her first day at home, and everything felt new and new. She took her axe and headed out to the yard, chopping the wood she'd dragged back the day before into one-meter-long pieces. The wood was dense, making it difficult to chop, but the axe was quite powerful. By the time the sun rose, she'd already chopped halfway through, and her body was starting to feel warm.
Just as she was wondering if she should unbutton her clothes since no one was around, she heard someone calling "Auntie," and there were more than one person. She walked past the fence and saw all five little ones coming. "Why are you all here?" she asked.
The little ones ran over happily when they saw her. "Auntie, why are you outside?" They saw that she was holding an axe. "Are you chopping wood?"
"yes"
"Aunt, let's take a look at your new house."
"You guys can play by yourselves for a while. Auntie is working, so I won't take you with me."
"Aunt, where do you want to put this wood after it's cut? Let me help you." Shu Duo squatted beside her and watched her cut the long wood into short pieces.
"Later, Auntie is going to spread all this wood out on the open space over there to dry for half a day. If you want to help, try to see if you can move the wood first."
"Duo'er can't move me with her." Shufeng stretched out his hand to test the wood on the ground, "It's okay, I can carry it."
So the little ones started to help her dry the wood. Yan Qi and Shu Duo lifted it together. Pan'er also wanted to help, but Chun Xiao stopped her. "You are too young. Don't hold me. If you get hit by the wood, I can't afford to pay for it. Go to the house and get a stool and sit over here and watch me work."
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