Ling Xiao returned from the south a month later.
In June, the weather gradually got warmer. The busy farming season in the village had just ended. Xing Zhaozhao didn't need the work points, so she didn't join in. However, her three little ones, along with other children in the village, went to the fields to pick up wheat ears with their little baskets on their backs. After a few days, they were all tanned like little black monkeys, a stark contrast to their chubby, fair-skinned daughter at home.
That day, after lunch and a nap, the three little ones each ate a piece of watermelon that Xing Zhaozhao had bought from there, and then each carried a fishing rod and the small fish baskets that Uncle Hao had made for them, and went fishing by the river.
When she saw them off, Xing Zhaozhao gave them a special warning: "You are only allowed to stay on the shore and not to go into the water. If I find that anyone's pants are wet when you come back, all three of you will get a beating."
A few days ago, after picking wheat ears, because it was too hot, the three little ones went to soak in the water on the riverbank with the other children in the village. Hongyu was young and accidentally stepped into the water and fell. He was almost swept away by the underwater current. Fortunately, Lingze caught him quickly, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.
When they returned, Xing Zhaozhao rewarded each of them with a meal of stir-fried bamboo shoots and pork. To this day, the marks on their little bottoms probably haven't completely faded.
Hearing that they were going to get a beating, and remembering their previous experience, the three little ones all shuddered, still a bit scared, and hurriedly nodded in agreement.
After seeing the three little ones out, Xing Zhaozhao closed the door, returned to the main room, sat down, and took a palm-leaf fan. While fanning herself, she watched Fu Lan drawing patterns on the table and casually muttered, "Dafei isn't young anymore, and Xiaoyu is getting bigger and bigger. It's not good for them to stay at home all the time. Back in the army, there were schools we could send them to, but after returning to the village, I found out that the village primary school was closed down a few years ago because of a big incident. There's nowhere to send them to school. I was even thinking of sending them directly to my godfather so he can teach them."
“When Qingshan came to see me yesterday, I heard him mention this as well.” Fu Lan looked up at Xing Zhaozhao and said, “The brigade leader also feels that there are too many children in the village, and they have nothing to do. They just play all day and make a lot of noise. He is planning to reopen the primary school, but the busy farming season has just ended and he has a lot of things to do. Once this busy period is over, he should come up with a plan.”
"That's great." Xing Zhaozhao said, looking at Fu Lan with a knowing smile. "Speaking of which, you and Qingshan have been getting along quite well lately, haven't you?"
Fu Lan's pretty face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly: "Mm."
"When I ran into Aunt Gao last time, she said she was hoping you and Qingshan could get married soon. What are your plans with Qingshan?" Xing Zhaozhao asked.
Fu Lan became serious and said, "I asked Qingshan, and he said he didn't want to get married too early. He wanted to save more money. Also, once I got married, my family would definitely urge me to have children. He didn't want me to have children too early. His maternal cousin got married and had children at my age, but she had a difficult childbirth and both she and her unborn child died."
Xing Zhaozhao nodded seriously: "Qingshan's consideration is good. You are still young, and you should indeed wait two more years."
“However, we can settle the marriage first. We plan to pick a date once my sister’s marriage is settled,” Fu Lan said with a happy smile.
Xing Zhaozhao raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise: "Fu Hong has a boyfriend so soon, are you getting engaged?"
Fu Lan nodded: "Grandpa and Grandma met him on the fifteenth of next month, and they said he was quite nice."
"The one surnamed Dong?" Xing Zhaozhao asked.
"Mm." Fu Lan nodded again.
"Then it should be right. Please congratulate her for me," Xing Zhaozhao said.
"Okay," Fu Lan replied with a smile.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Who would come at this time?" Xing Zhaozhao asked curiously, getting up and going out to open the door under the blazing sun.
"Long time no see." Ling Xiao stood outside the door, smiling at Xing Zhaozhao.
"Ling Xiao? You're back?" Xing Zhaozhao said in surprise, turning to look at the smiling woman standing beside him, who was none other than Old Madam Jing in her youth.
"This is my wife, Jing Sa, Ling Ze's mother," Ling Xiao introduced to Xing Zhaozhao.
"Your wife? Didn't Ling Ze say his mother had passed away a long time ago?" Xing Zhaozhao asked, feigning surprise.
Ling Xiao: "..." Keep pretending, keep pretending.
Unfortunately, he couldn't expose her yet.
“No, Jing Sa separated from us because of some things, and Aze has never known,” Ling Xiao explained.
As for the reason, Xing Zhaozhao knew, so she didn't ask any further questions, and Ling Xiao was also happy that she didn't ask.
"Oh, I see." Xing Zhaozhao looked enlightened, then smiled and looked at Jing Sa, extending her hand to her, saying, "Hello, Comrade Jing, my name is Xing Zhaozhao. Ling Xiao should have already mentioned me to you, right?"
Jing Sa quickly grasped Xing Zhaozhao's hand, her emotions running high. She nodded and said, "Yes, Xiao has already mentioned you to me. Thank you. If it weren't for you, even if I had come back, I probably wouldn't have been able to see Aze."
As she spoke, Jing Sa's eyes reddened, and she tightly grasped Xing Zhaozhao's hand: "Thank you, Comrade Xing..." She seemed a little unaccustomed to the form of address.
"If you'd like, you can just call me Zhaozhao," Xing Zhaozhao said with a smile.
Jing Sa's tense emotions relaxed, and she nodded with a smile: "Okay, Zhao Zhao, you can just call me Jing Sa, there's no need to be so formal as to call me Comrade Jing."
"Okay, Jing Sa." Xing Zhaozhao smiled and invited the two inside. "Please come in and sit down."
Ling Xiao and Jing Sa went into the house together.
The thought of seeing her son, whom she hadn't seen for many years, made Jing Sa tense up again.
Xing Zhaozhao introduced Jing Sa to Fu Lan.
Fu Lan was surprised to find that Xiao Lingze's mother was still alive. She quickly tidied up the things on the table and said, "Please sit down. I'll get you some water."
Jing Sa suppressed her nervousness, sat down, looked around, and, not seeing the child, asked, "Where's A-Ze?"
"He just went fishing with my two kids. I'm going to go find him and bring him back," Xing Zhaozhao said, turning and leaving.
Jing Sa waited anxiously, her hands trembling involuntarily as she held the water glass.
Soon, the sound of footsteps came from outside, and a small, jet-black monkey darted in, shouting, "Daddy..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com