My cousin was very happy to see me, and even happier to know that we were going back to our hometown in Qingzhou together. "Last year when we went back, we picked so many oranges and dates that we couldn't even finish them all. There are so many more fun things to do at my aunt's farm. It's a pity you didn't go back."
I haven't left yet, but my heart has already drifted away.
We finally boarded the train back to Qingzhou. The journey from the capital to Zuoyuan County takes about 18 days, but the escort provided by the carriage company provided us with many conveniences. Despite the cold weather, my heart was filled with joy, as were my parents. We were all incredibly happy. If there hadn't been officials escorting us along the way, I think we would have been even more relaxed and happy.
On the 20th day of the 12th lunar month, we finally arrived at Yanjia Village in Zuoyuan County. Actually, calling it Yanjia Village isn't quite right, as that was its old name. Nowadays, everyone calls it Yanjia Town. Yanjia Town is beautiful; I've never seen a more beautiful town. The roads are wide, the houses neatly arranged, and they're more beautiful than any other. More importantly, the roads are lined with rows of fruit trees, and right now, there are still tons of oranges hanging from them. We were already excited before we even got home.
Huai Yin was indeed a child. Seeing the fruit trees on the road, he actually shouted with joy, "Big brother, second sister, look, there are so many oranges."
The last time he came here he was only three years old, so he probably doesn’t have a deep memory of this place. In fact, this scene happens every year, and I’m no longer the kid who makes a fuss.
Before the car even arrived, many people arrived. They were all villagers from Yanjia Town. Someone actually ran to the front to report the news. Soon, I saw my grandfather and grandmother whom I had missed so much. After not seeing them for two years, my grandmother was still the same, calm and elegant, not like an old woman in the village at all. She stood in front of the house and smiled at us.
I got out of the carriage and flew towards her, "Grandma!"
As a result, before I could jump into grandma's arms, grandpa picked me up and held me in his arms. "Little girl, you've grown up and grown taller. If you rush over like this, your grandma won't be able to catch you. Grandpa should hold you."
I happily called grandpa and grandma.
Dad, Mom, and my third uncle and aunt all came. Even though my third uncle is a high-ranking official, he behaved like a child in front of grandma. Several uncles, aunts, and grandma all came out, as well as many of my cousins. I felt an unprecedented liveliness.
Grandpa reached out a hand and touched his eldest brother and Huai Yin. "I haven't seen you for two years. You've all grown up. How great."
Dad and Mom came over to greet Grandpa and Grandma, "Dad, please put Yinxiang down, it's very heavy."
"It's okay, I can hold you. The weather is cold, and the journey is smooth?" As they said this, I felt very proud. I was the most favored one here, because everyone said that I looked most like my grandma when she was a child.
"I thought you wouldn't come back this year?" Grandma said with a hint of reproach in her tone.
Dad walked over to her, held her hand, and smiled ingratiatingly, "Your son has been wanting to come back to see you every day, but he really doesn't have the time. This time, we'll leave after the New Year, so I can stay at home for a few more days. I asked you to come to the capital to live with us earlier, but you didn't want to."
"I live very comfortably here. Why would you go to the capital for no reason? It doesn't matter whether you come back or not. Your father and I are used to living here."
"I think my younger sister is becoming more and more capricious as she gets older. Wen Chi is in office. If you don't go, can he come back often? It takes more than a month for him to go back and forth." At home, only my aunt would talk to my grandmother like this.
Grandma stopped talking.
Dad looked at Grandpa again and said, "Dad, General Dingwei asked us a while ago when you could go to the capital to meet him. He said that you were hiding in the countryside and had forgotten even your old friends."
Grandpa smiled and said, "If he wants to see me, just let him come. You can talk to him. When he comes, he will understand why I am hiding in this country place."
On the second day, many people came to our house. I could call some of them by name, but I had forgotten who some of them were. Anyway, under the guidance of the adults, we were introduced to each other. There were so many people at home that my cousin took the three of us and a group of children from the village to climb a tree to pick persimmons. The persimmon tree was very tall, but the children from the village climbed up in no time. Huai Yin and I were stunned.
"Sister, do they all know martial arts?"
"They don't know martial arts, they just know how to climb trees." I became interested and pestered the older brothers in the village to teach us how to climb trees. The brothers were happy to teach us at first, but soon their parents came and they didn't dare to teach us anymore.
"Yinxiang, this tree is too high, don't climb it. If you want to eat persimmons, can your uncle and aunt pick some for you?"
I was a little disappointed. I wanted to pick persimmons, but I wanted to learn to climb trees even more. I looked at my brother, who was frowning at the tree in front of him. Then he looked at me and said, "If you really want to learn, let's go find Grandpa. He will definitely be able to teach us."
Yes, Grandpa can climb trees. Two years ago, he climbed a tree to pick persimmons for Grandma. I looked at my brother and cousin and said, "I'll go find Grandpa right away."
Grandpa came soon. He looked at the persimmon tree in front of him and said, "This tree is so high, are you sure you want to climb it?" There was a hint of interest in his eyes.
I nodded confidently, "Grandpa, if you teach me how to climb trees, I will be able to climb trees and pick fruits by myself in the future without anyone's help."
"I, I want to learn too." The eldest brother actually spoke.
Grandpa took another look at the tree. "Don't panic. Let me try. I haven't climbed it in a long time." He looked around and said, "Please keep an eye on it for me. Your grandma doesn't allow me to climb trees anymore. If I'm caught, I'll be in big trouble."
My cousin laughed and said, "Uncle, don't worry, I'll help you watch it."
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