Entering September, the weather did not change significantly. After all, the climate in Yunnan Province does not change much throughout the year, unlike the north, where there are four distinct seasons and significant temperature differences.
After harvesting the grain in Yu Yin's space, she replanted it. It would still take some time to achieve true food freedom, as there were too few seeds. This time, the harvested grain was not eaten; it was all used as seeds and planted back in the soil.
During that period, Yu Yin worked incredibly hard, feeling like she was developing muscle mass.
Fortunately, the work environment is relatively relaxed. Their accounting and finance departments don't have a larger platform, and there's no competition between Sister Wang and her. Their direct supervisors won't retire for at least eight or ten years, and there's no pressure for promotion.
This kind of work life reminded Yu Yin of a skit she had once seen, which said that after working in a government office for several years, all she had besides a little belly was a herniated disc.
Ping An An has grown a bit more, and her old clothes are all too small now, but Yu Yin couldn't bear to throw them away. She'll keep them as a keepsake, unlike other children who wear the same clothes multiple times, from the oldest to the youngest.
Putting aside the fact that she and Lu Shurui still sleep in separate rooms, even if they did sleep together in the future, the doctor said that her body had been damaged, and the possibility of her getting pregnant was almost nonexistent. Having only these two little ones is enough; she has no regrets. No matter how many children she has, as long as they are well-behaved and don't cause harm to society, that's considered a success.
"Lu Shurui, shall we have hand-pulled noodles for dinner? How about some persimmon and egg sauce?"
"Okay, you knead the dough, and I'll roll it out."
"That's right, that's what I mean."
Lu Shurui was sometimes stumped by Yu Yin's occasional remarks, and he didn't know where she had heard them from.
Yu Yin wanted to say that this was nothing; there were many internet slang terms in later generations, and she only knew a tiny fraction of them, which was very limited.
To give her child more room to move around and not be confined to the stroller, Yu Yin went to a Dai village to find an old man and asked him to help her weave a bamboo mat similar to a tatami mat.
It measures two meters by two and a half meters and is fifty centimeters high. It is also surrounded by a fence to prevent children from falling to the ground once they start crawling.
At the time, with Ah Xiang's help in translating, the old man still had to listen many times before he understood. Yu Yin took the opportunity to discuss the bamboo furniture with the old man.
Yunnan Province has many trees, but also a lot of bamboo. Bamboo furniture is inexpensive and breathable. Because it cannot be made as tightly sealed as wood, it is well-suited to the local climate, which is humid and hot, and prone to mold growth.
The old man was pleased to understand Yu Yin's explanation. Craftsmen love to research new things, and it also helps them increase their income.
Yu Yin ordered two large wardrobes, two bamboo tables, and matching bamboo stools, paid a deposit, and agreed to have them delivered to her door once they were ready.
"Yu Yin, thank you for giving the old man an extra source of income."
"There's no need to thank me. I was just doing it for my own convenience. Uncle's cooking is really good."
Ah Xiang's village was considered one of the better-off in the area, not too far from the county, and Ah Xiang's father was involved in some clandestine activities. However, in a time of hardship for everyone, things could only get worse.
"Ah Xiang, if you have any honey, please save some for me. I can exchange it for money or tickets, it doesn't matter."
“Okay, these things are not difficult for people who travel in the mountains all year round.”
People live off the mountains and rivers, and this mountain has bestowed many blessings upon generations of people who have lived here. As the saying goes, as long as you're not lazy, you won't go hungry. But once your stomach is full, you crave something more – good food.
"Ah Xiang, has Qian Weiguo contacted you again?"
“I contacted him a few times, but I ignored him and eventually gave up. My father’s friend introduced me to a soldier, and I’m going on a blind date with him next day off. Don’t worry about me, I know what I’m doing and I won’t fall for it.”
"That's good."
Yu Yin didn't want Ah Xiang's family to be among the children who would later run to Shanghai to look for their fathers.
"Alright, I'm going back now. Lu Shurui will take care of the child by herself."
"You two are getting along well now?"
"It's alright. I've been through a lot and figured a lot out. What's done is done. Since I can't change it, I'll learn to adapt. I've tried my best, so even if the result is still not satisfactory, I won't regret it."
What the original owner couldn't figure out, how could I, who had been a burden since childhood, not understand?
After saying goodbye to Ah Xiang, Yu Yin returned home, the home she had built herself.
In the courtyard, Lu Shurui was reading a storybook to the children, her voice warm and full of emotion.
The two little ones opened their big, round eyes and responded to their father with "ah, ah" sounds from time to time.
"You're back, can you do it?"
"Yes, we can do it. I've also ordered two wardrobes, two sets of tables, and chairs."
"Yes, our home is a bit simple, we need to gradually furnish it."
"Take your time, there's no rush. When you have the chance, buy a radio and listen to national affairs."
"Well, we have a bicycle and a sewing machine, but all we're missing is a radio."
At that time, it was fashionable to get married with "three turns and one sound" (a watch, a revolving door, a rotating door, and a radio). They both had watches, but they were really missing a radio.
The bicycle was a ticket given by the Lu family, and the sewing machine was part of Yu Yin's dowry, bought by her mother.
Sigh, thinking of Yu's mother, it's truly a tangled mess!
Just as the noodles were cooked, Mr. Yu came in carrying a bag.
"Dad, have you eaten?"
"I just came here to freeload a meal, did you have anything good to eat?"
"Persimmon and egg noodles, it smells delicious."
Fearing it wouldn't be enough, Yu Yin cooked some more noodles.
"Your cooking is still the best. Your mother has never figured out how to cook in her whole life."
Why didn't you say that in front of my mother?
"Hehe...you silly girl, I thought you wouldn't call me Mom anymore."
Mr. Yu came today for two reasons: first, to deliver millet to Yu Yin, and second, to talk about the events of these past years.
Parents may not be able to treat all their children perfectly equally, but they also won't intentionally neglect any one child. They are all their own flesh and blood, but the child who is busy making a living and doesn't fight for anything is more likely to be overlooked.
"No way, Mom is still Mom, that will never change."
Yu Yin didn't actually care anymore; the reason she exploded that day was simply because something had been triggered.
"That's good. Your mother and I won't interfere with how you siblings get along in the future. You're all adults now and capable of doing so."
"I understand, Dad. There's no deep-seated hatred between us, it's just that our feelings are different, so our way of getting along is different too."
After the conversation was over, Mr. Yu played with his two little grandsons for a bit and then went home.
Yu Yin sat inside the mosquito net, looking at the millet in her hand. It was sent from Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, by her father through a former comrade-in-arms. Along with it came rice from Northeast China, which Yu Yin had mentioned several times. Her father hadn't said anything and had arranged it directly.
Alright, the bond between parents and children lasts a lifetime. Let bygones be bygones after the arguments and fights. I'm no longer that little girl who desperately craved her parents' love. Let's handle things like adults.
I'm not going to think about it anymore. I'll just let nature take its course. The priority is to plant the millet first. In a few months, the baby will be able to eat solid foods. Millet porridge is a good choice.
Swinging a hoe in the air, sweating profusely, Yu Yin had no time or energy to think about those trivial matters; she was too tired!
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