The couple embraced and wept bitterly.
In the past, Xu Dazhu could have forced his wife to leave him and remarry to live a good life.
But now, amidst the chaos of war, and with his wife having gone through so much hardship to find him, he could no longer bring himself to say those words.
He also couldn't bear to leave Chunfeng again.
At the edge of the terraced fields, Jiang Zhi quietly asked Er Rui what was going on and why he had brought people up here so casually.
Xu Errui was very proud: "I found my sister-in-law in the village last night."
Xiaoman felt it looked familiar, but she wasn't sure yet, so we went to check it out.
"Mother, don't worry, my sister-in-law left from outside the village; no one else knew she went up the mountain."
Knowing there was no problem, Jiang Zhi was relieved and congratulated Xiao Man Ye beside her, saying, "Uncle Chang Geng, this is the will of Heaven!"
Grandpa Xiaoman, who already knew the news, didn't rush home. At this moment, his eldest grandson and his wife would definitely have some intimate words to say.
He sat on the edge of the field, gazing absently at the rising night mist in the distance: "Alas! This is fate! Chunfeng is a good girl, still thinking about the Xu family. She must have suffered a lot of injustices over the years!"
"If she stays by Dazhu's side, she'll suffer in the future!"
Jiang Zhi nodded secretly. Although Xiaoman was old, his mind was still as clear as a mirror.
To spend one's entire life caring for a paralyzed person at such a young age involves hardships that are unimaginable to most people.
Xu Errui interjected, "Sister-in-law Chunfeng said that even hardship is better than remarrying, and she is willing to stay and take care of Brother Dazhu!"
Then he recounted all the experiences Chunfeng had told him on the way.
It turned out that Chunfeng was tricked into returning to her parents' home by Xu Dazhu with a letter of divorce. She ran back to Xu's house several times but was driven away each time. Unable to accept this, she fell ill and was bedridden.
Seeing her like this, her family was very worried that she would lose both her money and her husband, so they hurriedly accepted the betrothal gifts and put her in a sedan chair to remarry someone else.
The marriage was entered into against her will, so her husband was unhappy with it, and her mother-in-law and her whole family treated her badly. She had to do everything at home and outside, and she would be beaten for the slightest thing.
Without money or travel permits, she couldn't stay at her husband's home, nor could she return to her own home. She didn't even know where to go to escape.
Taking advantage of the family's escape from famine, she finally ran away halfway through the journey.
Originally, she wanted to find a place to hide and live off wild vegetables, but she still missed Xu Dazhu.
Xu Errui sighed, "Sister Chunfeng walked back alone, asking for directions as she went, before finally finding her way back to the village."
Knowing that everyone in Xujia Village had fled the famine, she built a makeshift shelter under the crumbling walls of the old house, saying that even if she died, she would wait there for Brother Dazhu to return.
Jiang Zhi was already at a loss for words to admire Chunfeng. She stood up, feeling that she should get along well with this loyal and righteous young wife: "Uncle Changgeng, let's cook a good meal and have a get-together today!"
After Xu Errui finished speaking, Xiaomanye wiped his beard, which was wet with tears, and said, "Alright, there's still some dried meat at home. Bring it all out and give Dazhu's wife a welcome feast."
Suddenly, Jiang Zhi seemed to remember something and hurried home: "Chunfeng came back in a hurry, she must not have brought any clothes. I'll have Qiaoyun get her clothes right away!"
When they moved up the mountain, she asked Xiaoman why there were no of her sister-in-law Chunfeng's things in the house.
Xiaoman said that her elder brother sent everything back to his sister-in-law's family home without leaving her with a single regret.
Now that Chunfeng is back, she definitely won't have any extra clothes.
Qiaoyun became pregnant not long after getting married, and she hadn't even worn the two sets of clothes she had bought.
When Jiang Zhi arrived at Xiao Man's house with the clothes, Xu Dazhu had already lain back down on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Chunfeng was still wearing the same dirty and tattered coarse cloth clothes, talking to Xiaoman's grandmother.
Upon seeing Jiang Zhi, Chunfeng immediately bowed and said, "Thank you for taking care of me, Auntie!"
From a young age, she already knew that her family's current situation was entirely due to the help of this aunt.
Jiang Zhi supported her: "Don't say anymore, it's good that you're back. From now on, the family will live a good life together!"
Chunfeng was not tall, her hair was yellow, messy and tangled, held up only by a twig. Although she looked haggard, you could still see her former pretty face.
Jiang Zhi found it hard to believe that the frail woman in front of her was the same shrew who had set the thugs on fire that night.
Xiaoman's house is a big house, and it's inconvenient to change clothes now, so Jiangzhi took Chunfeng back to her own home.
When Chunfeng needed to change her clothes, the first thing she had to do was cut open her clothes.
Those fine, dense stitches, I don't know how she sewed them, they make my eyes dizzy just looking at them.
As Chunfeng removed her layers of clothing, her body was revealed, and Jiangzhi almost cried out.
Because the clothes were sewn on tightly, Chunfeng hadn't taken them off for the past few months.
Needless to say, her skin was covered with a thick layer of rashes, obscuring its original color. Some areas were festering sores, while others were covered in thick, cowhide-like scabs.
"You're in so much pain!" Jiang Zhi felt sorry for you.
Chunfeng retorted, "You won't attract men this way!"
well!
There's nothing we can do about the existence of such beasts. Who would willingly suffer this torment? Jiang Zhi had nothing to say!
Qiaoyun, holding her child, was also terrified by Chunfeng's miserable state. She couldn't imagine what it would be like if she were also on the road fleeing famine.
Fortunately, fortunately I listened to my mother and moved up the mountain instead of running around with the villagers.
In cases like Chunfeng's, it's not enough to simply change clothes; the dirt and scabs on her body also need to be washed away.
As soon as the weather got hot, Jiang Zhi built a bathroom in the woods so that she and Qiaoyun could take a bath.
Inside, there was an earthen stove and a bench made of wooden sticks. People could sit next to it to take a bath, which not only provided warmth by burning firewood but also made it convenient to brew medicine.
First, take some herbs from the attic where the herbs are kept and boil them in water. Then, add spring water and wait until the temperature is right. Then, Chunfeng takes off her clothes and sits on the wooden stool.
There was nothing to be embarrassed about at this point, and Jiang Zhi helped her take a bath.
First, use a wooden ladle to scoop water and pour it on her body and head to soak out the scabs, and then rub them off with a towel at the end.
Chunfeng's hair was already tangled, so she could only wash away the grease with wood ash first, then rub it with crushed soap pods to create lather, and finally comb it out with her fingers.
This washing took an hour, and the meal was already prepared. It was only when Grandma Xiaoman called for dinner that the washing was finally finished.
After taking a bath and changing into new clothes, Chunfeng seemed like a completely different person, beaming with joy and radiating happiness.
Especially the bamboo hairpin in her hair, which Xu Dazhu had carved when he made a bamboo figurine for Nini some time ago.
The hairpin body was polished with horsetail grass until it was smooth and glossy, and the hairpin head was specially polished to resemble an apricot blossom.
Xu Dazhu initially thought it was just something to express his feelings, never expecting it would come in handy.
Everyone was happy today. We stewed the smoked meat we had at home, cooked dried bamboo shoots and mushrooms, made braised green beans, and stir-fried a big plate of chili and eggs. It was a whole table full of dishes.
Qiaoyun was still in her postpartum confinement period, so Xu Errui took food back to be with his wife and child, while Jiang Zhi stayed at the foot of the cliff to eat with them.
The precious oil lamps were lit in the room, and everyone was laughing and talking. In the joyful atmosphere, only one person felt awkward.
Nini sat next to Chunfeng, head bowed in a huff, motionless like a wooden doll.
He didn't even look up at the dishes piled in front of him, nor at his "mother" who was smiling at him.
"Nini, your dad says you love bamboo shoots the most!" Chunfeng put the bamboo shoot shreds to her daughter's mouth, coaxing her to eat, and tried hard to control herself from crying.
She returned, but her daughter didn't recognize her. Even when her brother Dazhu called her "Mom," she kept her mouth shut and didn't say a word.
However, she is confident that she can win her daughter's acceptance and make up for the two years of maternal love she missed.
Xu Dazhu leaned against the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed). Although he couldn't sit at the table, his smile never stopped as he watched his wife and daughter eat.
While the family reunited happily on Laoyun Cliff, Xu Family Village was in an uproar.
Hu Laoda, a refugee, has disappeared, along with a woman!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com