After eating two pancakes, Ye Wan looked at the woman who had barely touched her chopsticks, and the man who was only busy drinking porridge, with an embarrassed look on his face, "Auntie, the food is so delicious. We've been hungry for a long time..."

"It's okay, it's okay, eat, eat more!"

The woman smiled and pointed to the kitchen. "Although we are not rich, we still have enough food. Eat as much as you can. Just eat until you are full."

Ye Wan felt relieved, picked up a pancake, put an egg and red oil turnip on the pancake, rolled it up, and started to eat it.

"Aunt, you and uncle are the only ones at home? Where are the children?"

As they were chatting, they saw the man pause in drinking his porridge.

The woman looked normal, "Three children..."

“Ahem…”

The man coughed, and the woman paused, "Two. The eldest daughter married in the neighboring Dongli Town, and only comes back during the holidays. The youngest son is in school in town."

"Isn't it already holiday?"

"The college entrance exam is just a few months away, and the teacher is giving them tutoring, saying they should prepare for the final sprint. They will be back after the Little New Year..."

"How are your grades, brother?"

"Very good. He is always in the top three in the class. His teacher also said that as long as he eats and drinks well and doesn't get nervous during exams, he will definitely be admitted to university."

Speaking of her younger son who had good grades, the woman had more to say than before, "I've seen his papers, and at first glance, they were all red ticks, with very few crosses. Ah Gui said that once he gets into college, he'll be able to leave town. When he finds a job in the future, he'll bring me, his father, his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew to the city."

A taciturn father and a gentle mother.

A kind sister and a sensible brother.

If it weren't for the "two children" that he changed his words after coughing, Ye Wan believed that the family in front of him was a happy family of four that looked like a template.

They talked about where Ye Wan and his friend came from, where they watched the sunrise, and where they wanted to go next.

The woman looked at the man tentatively, "Dad, why don't you go to town and buy two pounds of meat and let the guests have lunch at home. This breakfast is really too simple."

The man held his pipe tightly, without looking at Ye Wan. He only glanced at He Sichen, who had not spoken since entering the room, then stood up and left.

Ye Wan felt relieved almost as soon as the man left.

"Auntie, thank you for your help..."

Ye Wan helped the woman collect the dishes and followed her to the kitchen.

There is almost no farm work to do in the village in winter.

After washing the dishes, the woman took out her sewing basket and started to sew shoe soles.

One is interested in exploring, the other has been holding it in his heart for too long and needs to be listened to.

The third child, who had just been covered in a cough, was brought out so naturally.

"My Ah Xi had just been born from my belly. I only took one look at him before Uncle Muhei took him away... He didn't even have a sip of my milk before he walked away, and I could still hear his crying."

There was endless pain in the woman's words, and her eyes were as red as blood, but there was not a single tear.

It's as if I've shed too many tears and my tears have dried up.

"I thought it would only be three days, and that after three days, I would be able to see my Ah Xi. I didn't expect that it would be 24 years since I left."

Beside the warm fire, Ye Wan heard an absurd yet sad story.

(End of this chapter)