After dinner, it was completely dark, and the countryside was so quiet that only the occasional chirping of insects could be heard.
Yu Chengyuan crouched down, preparing to sneak out like a thief, but by sheer coincidence, he was caught red-handed by his older brother Yu Ping'an, who was returning from the outhouse.
"Chengyuan, are you going out?"
"Where are you going so late?"
Yu Pingan immediately spotted his younger brother standing next to the bike shed, holding a key and fiddling with the bicycle lock.
I was wondering to myself, where is my brother going so late at night?
Seeing that he couldn't hide it any longer, Yu Chengyuan chuckled, his face beaming with happiness, and said, "Hehe, big brother, I want to go see my wife and my little Tangtang."
"Ah...it's so late at night, you can't see the road clearly. Why don't you go during the day!"
Yu Pingan frowned slightly, looking worried.
He thought to himself, "It's dark at night, and my brother is riding his bicycle alone. What if something happens to him?"
"I've barely had any time during the day these past few days, brother."
As you know, I'm taking my older sister to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow, and we're also starting construction on our house tomorrow. There's a ton of stuff to do, so I have to go tonight.
It's alright, brother. I brought your headlamp. It's very bright and you can see the road clearly.
Besides, what am I, a grown man, afraid of? I'm not a little girl, am I supposed to be afraid of being assaulted?
As Yu Chengyuan spoke, he deliberately puffed out his chest, a hint of humor on his face.
He wasn't afraid of walking at night at all; it was still quite safe in this day and age.
"Fine, since you've said that, I won't say anything more."
Just be careful and stay safe.
"Then let's hurry up and go, the sooner we go, the sooner we'll be back."
Yu Pingan knew his younger brother too well; once he made up his mind, nothing could change it, so he stopped trying to stop him.
"Understood, brother."
I'll be back soon. Oh, and please don't tell Mom and Dad that I've gone out.
If they ask, just say I went to the outhouse.
Yu Chengyuan didn't want his parents to worry about him, so he told his older brother not to let anything slip.
"I understand. By the way, I'll sleep in your room these next few days, and my sister will sleep in mine."
I'll come to your room in a bit.
Yu Pingan added another sentence.
Okay, I understand.
You should go back inside right away!
Yu Chengyuan responded and hurriedly pushed his bicycle out of the courtyard gate.
He wore a miner's lamp on his head, the light drawing a bright trail in the darkness, as if carrying his deep longing for his family, heading into the distance.
An hour later, Yu Chengyuan finally arrived at his father-in-law and mother-in-law's house.
At that moment, Liu Jianguo and his wife were sitting on the sofa watching TV when they were both taken aback by their son-in-law's sudden appearance, looking travel-worn.
Liu Jianguo quickly stood up and said, "Xiao Yu, what brings you here so late?"
Have you had dinner yet?
Yu Chengyuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a smile, "Dad, Mom, I've already eaten at home."
I was just missing Sulan and Tangtang.
I haven't had time to come over during the day these past few days, so I come over after dinner in the evening.
And I have something else to tell you all: my family is building a new house tomorrow.
"Oh, I guess I've been a bit busy."
The two elders nodded: Building a house is a big deal, and we can't be careless.
"Today, my older brother and I brought my older sister back with us. She has suffered a lot these past few years."
"Dad, Mom, I was thinking of taking my older sister to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow. I was wondering if you two, being familiar with the hospital, could you please look after her?"
As Yu Chengyuan spoke, he looked at his father-in-law and mother-in-law, unsure whether his mother-in-law would agree.
Upon hearing this, Weng Hong quickly said, "What's the problem? Don't worry, I'll talk to them tomorrow and they won't have to wait in line. Just come find me when you get to the hospital, and I'll take your older sister there."
Sigh, hearing about what your older sister went through is heartbreaking.
Weng Hong genuinely sympathized with her son-in-law's older sister's situation.
So I agreed without even thinking about it.
Yu Chengyuan said gratefully, "Thank you so much, Mom."
"Then I'll go see Su-lan and Tang-tang first."
"Okay, go ahead!"
Little Tangtang isn't asleep yet!
"You talk to Su Lan."
Yu Chengyuan nodded and couldn't wait to go inside to see his wife and daughter.
As soon as I entered the house, I saw my daughter-in-law, Liu Sulan, sitting on the edge of the bed playing with Tangtang.
Seeing her husband push open the door and enter, Liu Sulan was surprised and said with a smile, "Chengyuan, what brings you here?"
Yu Chengyuan's face instantly lit up with a bright smile. He walked a few steps to the bedside, sat down, and said, "Sulan, I've come to see you and Tangtang. I missed you both."
Our new bed isn't finished yet. Once the big bed and Tangtang's crib are done, I'll come pick you and your daughter up to take you home.
"Okay." Liu Sulan nodded.
"By the way, we brought my older sister back today. She's been bullied terribly all these years."
"Huh? What happened?"
Liu Sulan was taken aback and asked with concern.
In her memory, this sister-in-law was a very kind and gentle woman.
Yu Chengyuan briefly explained what happened today.
Liu Sulan was both surprised and indignant, and cursed, "This Zhang family mother and son are truly despicable!"
"It's good that my older sister is back; she won't have to live that kind of hard life anymore."
"I knew you were the best, Sulan, you definitely wouldn't object."
He knew that his wife was the best wife in the world.
"Fool, your older sister is your family, so she is my family too."
Moreover, as a woman myself, I know her marriage was very unhappy, while I am much happier than her, and of course I don't want her to suffer that kind of hardship again.
Liu Sulan said gently.
"Yes, honey, there's something else I need to tell you."
"What's wrong?"
"My brother is getting engaged in a few days. The girl's name is Hao Xiaohe, and she works at a hair salon."
I always felt that something was off about her being in such a hurry to marry my older brother, and I kept having doubts about it.
Moreover, her family was insatiable, demanding a dowry of 1,000 yuan and three large gifts right off the bat.
Upon hearing this, Liu Sulan thought for a moment and said, "This is simple. Just go to a few barbershops in the county town tomorrow and ask around. That way you'll find out what's going on with Hao Xiaohe."
Who knows, we might find something.
Liu Sulan felt that this family, who could demand such a high bride price, were probably not a simple and honest family.
Yu Chengyuan slapped his forehead and suddenly realized, "Oh dear, my wife is so smart, how come I didn't think of that?"
Okay, I'll go ask around tomorrow.
After saying that, he picked up Tangtang and kissed his precious daughter.
The young couple chatted happily about other things.
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