After being persuaded by Feng Mingshu, Wang Ma finally accepted the envelope.
That day, the family packed their bags and went to Xiaowangzhuang with Wang Ma.
In previous years, the Feng family would usually go there in March or April, when spring was in full bloom and the whole family would enjoy a spring outing.
This year we set off early, the weather was cold, and we had a lot of luggage. These days it's not easy to hire a car, so we had to take the bus, then transfer to a donkey cart, which made the journey quite chaotic.
The usually optimistic Xiaomingxue, squeezed among the luggage piled on the donkey cart, couldn't help but mutter to her sister beside her: "Sister, we have too much luggage. If only brother-in-law were here, he would be so strong. The other night when you were drunk, he picked you up in one go."
Xiao Mingxue's eyes lit up when she talked about her brother-in-law, while Feng Mingshu's face flushed; that drunken night was a shameful memory she didn't want to recall.
"Mingxue, don't worry. Once we get to the village, there will be plenty of people to help you carry your things," Wang Ma comforted her with a smile.
Indeed, when the donkey cart arrived in the village, Wang Ma called on her son and daughter-in-law, along with a few neighbors she got along well, to help carry the things, although the villagers were a bit clumsy when it came to work.
Aunt Wang quickly reminded everyone, "Be careful, don't drop anything."
"Comrade Yu is back? Is he staying here this time?" The captain rushed over to ask after receiving the news.
After Yu Jingqiu summoned her three children to meet the brigade leader, she replied with a smile, "I plan to stay for a day or two. I'm afraid I'll be causing you trouble, brigade leader."
"What trouble? It's not spring yet, there's not much work in the team. If you need anything, just come to the brigade headquarters to find me." The brigade leader said with a smile, making some polite remarks, and then turned his gaze to Feng Mingshu, "Young lady, I heard you recently got married. Your husband is a soldier. Didn't he come with you this time?"
The dark-skinned and unassuming brigade leader had a bright light in his eyes, revealing a spirit of inquiry.
Feng Mingshu seemed oblivious, a hint of shyness on her face as she said, "He was originally going to see us off, but unfortunately he had to go through military academy training and won't be out for ten days or half a month. We didn't want to wait for him, so we came first."
Upon hearing the words "military academy," the battalion commander's eyes lit up even more: "Your spouse is still in military academy? Then naturally, his studies should be his priority. Once he graduates, he will surely have a bright future."
Feng Mingshu did not deny the captain's compliment, but said with some worry, "He will graduate in a few months. I don't know where he will be assigned, or how close he is to Bincheng. If it's far, I will go with the army and may not be able to come back every year. This old house may become a den of snakes and rats?"
If someone wants to accompany a soldier to the military, they need to be at least a deputy battalion commander. Since the other party is a graduate of a military academy, they can be promoted quickly and might even become a military region commander in the future. Their village can also benefit from this.
The brigade leader, having calculated everything clearly, smiled even more broadly: "What's the big deal? With your uncle as the brigade leader, how could we allow your old house to be invaded by snakes and rats? I'll also remind those naughty boys in the village not to go in and cause trouble."
"Thank you very much, Captain." Feng Mingshu quickly expressed his gratitude.
"What are you thanking me for? Your grandfather even drank with me back then..."
After exchanging pleasantries and reminiscing, the two became much closer.
Feng Mingshu then presented the festival gift as a junior. After the other party declined, the brigade leader accepted it and immediately called over several young men to help clean up the Feng family's old house, fix the stove, fetch well water, and bring firewood that would last for about ten days.
The brigade leader's wife personally delivered some cabbage, radishes, potatoes, and other vegetables.
Many families in the village brought eggs and other mountain products.
These things are not easy to give money for, and not many festival gifts were prepared, so Feng Mingshu took out candy and melon seeds to distribute to the people who helped, and also took out red envelopes to give to the children who were with the people who delivered the gifts.
The guests and hosts had a pleasant time, and the villagers gradually dispersed when it was lunchtime.
Wang Ma would also go back to her youngest son's house.
But the work of the Feng mother and daughter had only just begun.
After coaxing the twins to eat pastries and go to bed on the kang (heated brick bed), they went to the inconspicuous woodshed in the courtyard.
The woodshed was made of stone, and there were some grayish stones piled up in the corner.
After removing these stones, you'll find the same muddy ground as elsewhere. Once you dig it open, you'll see a large stone slab.
Pushing aside the stone slab revealed a small earthen hole about one meter square.
Feng Mingshu's eyes lit up, and he was about to put down the things he had brought when Yu Jingqiu stopped him.
"The things on top are just for covering up."
As Yu Jingqiu spoke, she went down into the earthen cave, found a spot on the side, inserted a strange key into it, heard a sound, and another cave appeared below.
Feng Mingshu was completely astonished, because the hole was the size of a room, paved with bluestone slabs, seamless, without a trace of dampness, and the air wasn't too bad, obviously designed with ventilation holes, but she couldn't find them.
"Mom, how did you do that?" Feng Mingshu jumped down into the hole, looking at it with a face full of surprise.
“Mom doesn’t know either. Your great-grandfather had this underground room dug. It’s been so long that no information was left behind, but it’s quite safe because no one knows about its existence except for us.” Yu Jingqiu said with a smile, handing her the key. “Your grandmother gave me the key before she passed away, and I’m passing it on to you now.”
"Mom, I don't want it, you keep it." Feng Mingshu quickly pushed it back.
Yu Jingqiu shook her head: "Now, you are the only one in this family with the surname Feng, and only you can inherit this old house."
"What about your younger siblings?"
“They changed their surname, so naturally they have nothing to do with the Feng family.” Yu Jingqiu handed the key to her daughter and said calmly, “You kept the surname and took the risk, so this wealth should be yours.”
Feng Mingshu immediately understood all of her mother's arrangements. She gripped the key tightly and said, "If this wealth can be preserved in the end, I will give my younger siblings their share."
Yu Jingqiu smiled gently and said, "That's just the affection between you siblings, I won't interfere."
Half an hour later, the woodshed was restored to its original state.
After waking up, the twins, having asked their mother for permission, ran out to play with the other children their age in the village.
A roguish-looking young man suddenly appeared and stopped the group of children. He grinned and said to the handsome boy from the city, "Hey, young master Feng, has your sister returned yet?"
Li Mingyu glared angrily at the other person: "I'm not some rich young master, and you have no right to pry into my sister's affairs."
"Young Master, don't be so fierce. In previous years when you came back, I even took you out to play." The young man said with a grin.
"Brother, let's go back." Li Mingxue was a little scared and tugged at her brother's sleeve.
"Don't go! I know a great place. I'll take you there."
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