In the front yard, Zhu Xingtong was watching the children when Chen Xiaofang suddenly came over. Ever since they met last time, Chen Xiaofang had treated her as a close friend and would chat with her from time to time. Thinking of her mother comforting her aunt in the backyard, she smiled. They really were mother and daughter. Sure enough, after seeing her, Chen Xiaofang was envious at first, and then began to tell her about her stepmother. She didn't say anything bad about her stepmother, but only about some small things in life. Chen Xiaofang felt that Zhang Lan didn't treat her as well as Nini, and thus began to feel sorry for herself.
Zhu Xingtong had advised her to be more open-minded before, telling her that they weren't biological mother and daughter, and that the current situation was fine. Chen Xiaofang then said, "But it would be so great if she were my biological mother, or if my mother could be like her. Look how well she manages my father. I always feel like they are a family, and I'm just superfluous."
Zhu Xingtong didn't think she was wrong. People always yearn for perfection. Not knowing how to persuade her, she could only remain silent.
Fortunately, Chen Xiaofang was used to this kind of silence, and she kept talking about how her grandmother was so good to her when she was at her grandmother's house, and how nice it would be if she could stay at her grandmother's house. As she was talking, she talked about school, and asked Zhu Xingtong if he would go to school in the second half of the year. Zhu Xingtong said yes, and honestly said that he wanted to skip a grade and go directly to the fifth grade, saying that this would save money. Chen Xiaofang was very surprised, "Can you keep up?" Zhu Xingtong nodded: "Yes, I can keep up. My parents have been teaching me to read at home. Even Tongtong, my parents are going to send him to preschool."
Chen Xiaofang envied him, "A-Tong, you're amazing! When the time comes, I'll be in the same class with him, and I'll help you take care of him. My mom also has an education, but she used to have so many things to do every day that she had no time to teach me. If she hadn't found my grandmother, I might not be able to go to school now."
Zhu Xingtong said, "I envy you too. Look at the bra you're wearing. It's so beautiful. I don't have anything like that."
Chen Xiaofang immediately said, "Do you want me to lend it to you for two days?"
"No need. My mother is lazy and doesn't want to wash clothes. What I'm wearing is more resistant to dirt and easier to wash." Zhu Xingtong said without hesitation.
Liang Yuan, who had just arrived at the front yard: "..."
Chen Xiaofang saw her and hurriedly tugged at Zhu Xingtong's clothes.
Zhu Xingtong turned around and saw her mother, and added, "I'm telling the truth."
Liang Yuan simply said: "I am lazy and I am proud of it. I tell you, you can't be too diligent, otherwise you will have to do all the work."
Chen Xiaofang thought she was angry and didn't dare say anything.
Zhu Xingtong said: "She is not angry, that is what she really thinks."
Liang Yuan also said, "Xiaofang, ignore her. Come over here and I'll give you some malt sugar. I like good kids like Xiaofang the most. Unlike Ah Tong, who talks too much, I really don't like him."
When they heard that there was candy to eat, the little ones lying on the ground immediately raised their heads.
"We have them all, except Atong." Liang Yuan said as he took Chen Xiaofang into the house, and several little ones followed him in.
Soon, Chen Xiaofang came out with a piece of maltose in her hand. After looking inside the house, she stuffed the maltose into Zhu Xingtong's pocket and said, "Tong, have some. I've eaten a lot of candy at my grandma's house."
Zhu Xingtong took it, broke the candy into two halves, put half into her mouth and the other half into his own mouth, "Let's eat together."
Suddenly, Huang Juhua ran in from outside, "Xiaofang, you are here as expected." Chen Xiaofang stood up immediately after hearing that, "I went to your house to look for you, but your aunt said you went out to play, so I came to Atong."
"My brother and I went fishing in the ditch by the river. We caught half a bucket." Huang Juhua said happily.
"Fishing is good, but I haven't done it yet," Zhu Xingtong said with some regret. Since coming here, she's been unable to learn many of the things she used to learn. And because she needs to take care of her health first, she can't practice all day like before. Suddenly, she has a lot more free time. She's now able to try everything she never did before, which is pretty good for a pseudo-child like her.
Liang Yuan heard her words from inside the room and smiled. It's not bad to be here. Ah Tong seems to be much more lively.
Huang Juhua heard this and said, "Next time there's something good like this, I'll call you. This time it was my brother who caught up with us, hehe."
Chen Xiaofang said, "A-Tong, do you want to go fishing too? There are a lot of thorns and stones in the mud. You don't know, I cut my foot with a stone last time."
Zhu Xingtong quickly said, "It's okay, I'm not afraid of pain." Then he looked at Huang Juhua.
Huang Juhua understood and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll definitely ask you to go fishing next time. Since you like fishing, you probably like catching shrimp too. My brother has a few nets in the pond, and I help him collect shrimp every afternoon. Do you want to come and have a look?" It's essentially a net like a mosquito net, with four long sticks tied to the corners and tied together at the other end. Bait like flatbread is placed in the net. To fish it out, all you need is a long bamboo pole.
"Okay, I'll go." Zhu Xingtong agreed without hesitation.
Chen Xiaofang listened and said, "Then I'll go too."
Huang Juhua clapped her hands: "Great, now it's going to be lively."
As they were talking, someone outside suddenly shouted, "Dung Basket is leaving. Someone is coming to pick them up in a car."
Huang Juhua was about to run out after hearing that, but after a few steps she turned back and waved to the others, "Why aren't you moving? Come and watch the fun. It's good now that Youqing is back in town, so we don't have to pick up cow dung anymore."
Zhu Xingtong and Chen Xiaofang had no choice but to go with her. However, they were too late, and by the time they reached the bay, the car had already left.
In the car, Liang Youqing had been leaning against the rear window, looking at the children at the bay entrance. Only when Zhu Xingtong appeared did he wave slightly.
Liang Guodong was talking to Liang Yanchao in the back seat when he caught a glimpse of him. He wondered if the kid had any friends here. He'd heard that no one in the team wanted to play with him. He looked toward the bay and saw the village entrance filled with children. He had no idea who he was saying goodbye to.
Liang Yanchao also noticed it, reached out and touched his son's head, and said softly: "Do you want to go back and say goodbye?"
Liang Youqing returned to his chair and sat back down. "No thanks, Fourth Uncle."
Liang Guodong couldn't help but say, "This child has suffered." The child is so young, but he doesn't have the liveliness that a child should have. It can be seen how much the father and son have suffered here.
Liang Yanchao didn't say anything, but turned his head to look at a hill next to him where his wife was buried.
"Everything will be fine." Liang Guodong comforted him.
Liang Yanchao nodded, "Yes, everything will be fine."
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