During the Chinese New Year, while Zong Shao was on vacation, Lin Wei organized several family activities, but they were all just around the corner.
Zong Shao also went fishing for half a day with Lin's father. Originally, Lin's father considered himself an old hand, and passed on a lot of experience to Zong Shao before he cast his rod. In fact, the key point was just one thing, that is, to have patience. However, he talked a lot and in the end, Zong Shao caught five fish in the afternoon, while he, who had only slightly better than zero catch, caught a palm-sized fish.
But after all, Lin's father had been the brigade secretary for so many years, and he was thick-skinned enough. When he came back, he boasted to his wife, daughter and grandson that he had taught well and that his son-in-law had a good harvest today, catching five fish.
Mingming is a fan of the show. He immediately clapped his hands and said, "Dad is awesome! Grandpa is the best!"
Although Ruirui was not as supportive as his brother, he also looked at his grandfather and father with admiration.
Mother Lin was a little suspicious: "Usually you only catch one or two fish when you sit on the beach for a whole day. Did your son-in-law really catch five fish today?"
Father Lin thought it was bad and forgot to discuss with his son-in-law and asked him to leave two fish for himself. But thinking that he had already said it, he could only bite the bullet and say, "Of course, but I was teaching Xiao Zong today, so I didn't fish much and only caught one fish."
“That’s six fish!” Lin’s mother waved her hand, thinking that it was no big deal. She asked them where the bucket was and went to clean up the sea fish herself, leaving some for dinner and pickling the rest.
Sea fish die quickly when brought ashore and cannot be released quickly. The remaining fish can only be dried and preserved.
Father Lin breathed a sigh of relief: "It's in the kitchen."
Lin's mother went to the kitchen, found the iron bucket containing the fish, and counted them one by one, over and over again.
Lin Wei, who entered the kitchen later, saw it and asked, "Is there anything wrong with the fish?"
"I keep counting and I always feel like there's one missing," said Lin's mother, making way for her. "How about you count?"
Lin Wei hummed, leaned over to count, and asked after a while: "Five?"
"That's not right. Xiao Zong caught five fish and your dad caught one, so shouldn't that be six?" Lin's mother asked with a frown, "You didn't pack one less when you came back, did you?"
Lin Wei took an iron basin used for washing dishes and vegetables from the side and said, "Maybe we can try pouring it out from the bottom?"
The two of them worked together to pour the fish in the bucket into the iron basin. Along with the sound of sea fish entering the water, the mother and daughter counted how many fish were in the bucket.
Reaching out and picking up the palm-sized sea fish, Lin's mother was both angry and amused: "Needless to say, this must have been caught by your father."
Although Lin Wei was somewhat surprised that there was such a small fish among the six, as a daughter, she still had to speak up for her father: "It's not necessarily possible. They were all mixed together. Maybe this one was caught by Zong Shao."
"I don't know your father well. If Xiaozong caught this small fish, he would definitely emphasize that Xiaozong caught four big fish and one small fish!" Lin's mother said with certainty, "This one was definitely caught by him. I said he was vague at the time. He must have felt ashamed."
Lin Wei: “…”
Although she wanted to save her father's face, she had to admit that what her mother said was indeed something her father could do.
After all, they have been married for many years. Mother Lin looked at the palm-sized fish for a long time and finally said, "Forget it, let's give him some face and not expose him. How about roasting a big fish and a small fish tonight and making the rest into pickled fish?"
"Can."
Lin Wei nodded and started working with her mother.
After killing the fish and before pickling it, Lin's mother went back to the main house to drink some water. As soon as she entered the house, she heard Lin's father saying, "Instantly, I shouted 'Fishing rod!' Guess what happened?"
Mingming Ruirui, who was surrounding Lin's father and listening to him brag, oh no, talk about his fishing experiences, asked hurriedly: "How was it? Any fish?"
"Of course there was a fish this big, pulled by the fishing line and leaping out of the water." Father Lin said, comparing the size.
Mingming Ruirui was amazed: "Wow! Grandpa is so awesome!"
Father Lin was complacent: "Of course not."
Mother Lin couldn't stand it any longer. She quickly swallowed the water in her throat and ran out to ask her daughter who was washing her hands by the sink, "Do you know what your father is doing now?"
"What are you doing?" Lin Wei asked.
"You're just bragging!" Lin's mother parroted a paragraph and then complained, "He's not afraid of bragging to the sky!"
Lin Wei: “…” Maybe he’s not afraid.
Although Lin's mother resisted the urge to expose her husband, she gave the small sea fish to Lin's father during dinner and said, "You worked hard all day to catch this fish. Eat more."
Mingming was sitting next to Lin's father. When he saw the fish, he exclaimed, "What a small fish! Where did it come from?"
Father Lin said vaguely: "I caught it today."
Mingming didn't think much about it, he was just a little confused: "But aren't the fish that Dad catches all big?"
Father Lin looked embarrassed, Zong Shao came to his father-in-law's rescue and said, "There are big fish and small fish, what's the problem?"
"Nothing?" Mingming shook his head, but he couldn't help but look at the fish in Lin's father's bowl.
With his son-in-law helping him out, Father Lin had adjusted his mentality and was ready to eat. However, just as he was about to bring the fish to his mouth, he noticed his grandson's gaze and asked, "Why are you looking at Grandpa?"
"Grandpa, can we eat fish instead?" Mingming said as he picked up the fish belly meat in the bowl. "The little fish looks delicious."
Father Lin was overjoyed and quickly put the fish in Mingming's bowl and said seriously: "This fish is for you, but you don't need to change the fish, grandpa can catch it yourself."
Having said that, he didn't reach into the plate of fish with his chopsticks. He didn't want to eat fish at all tonight!
…
After dinner, Zong Shao washed the dishes, Lin's father played with the two children, and Lin Wei and her daughter went upstairs to pack their luggage. The New Year was over, and it was time for Lin's father and mother to go back.
The luggage that needed to be packed mainly consisted of two parts: one was the clothes brought by Lin's father and mother, and the scarves that Lin Wei made for them during the New Year period. The scarf was not useful on Yazhou Island, so Lin's father and mother only tried it on for a while and took it off because they felt hot. However, they liked the style very much and felt it was very comfortable to wear, better than one knitted with wool.
The second is the local specialties that Lin Wei prepared for them, mainly food, among which coconut products are the most common, including coconut horns, coconut candy and coconut jam.
Then there were various dried seafood items, the most numerous of which were dried fish, which Lin Wei bought with her own money, plus the ones Lin's father had caught during this period, for a total of six dried fish.
She also bought two kilograms of dried shrimps. Shrimp are not expensive and do not require coupons to buy. Plus, they can be stored after being dried. So Lin Wei often buys half a kilogram at a time to use in making soup to enhance the flavor. After drinking the soup made with dried shrimps, Lin's mother also thought it tasted good, so Lin Wei bought two kilograms of shrimps before the festival and packed them for her parents to take back.
The rest were more scattered, including dried abalone and sea cucumber, and some dried scallops, not in large quantities, and they were bought to bring back to Lin's father and mother to save face. These things are very common on Yazhou Island. The small ones are not valuable, but they are rare in Shicheng. A small bag of them is enough to give as gifts.
Finally, it was tea. Since Lin’s father loved to drink it, Zong Shao specially asked someone to buy two boxes for him.
The rest were cakes and biscuits. Because they could not be stored for too long, they were given to Lin's father and mother to eat on the road. Each weighed only one or two taels, and the total amount was less than one pound.
She didn’t feel it when she was preparing these specialties, and Lin Wei was even quite happy about it. But when it came time to clean up, the feeling of reluctance still surged in her heart.
Lin Wei packed more and more slowly, and finally couldn't help asking: "Mom, how about you and Dad continue to live here for a while?"
Mother Lin shook her head and said, "You can't live here anymore. Your father is the brigade secretary. There's nothing to do during the Chinese New Year, so it's okay for him to take a leave and live here for a while. After the Chinese New Year, the brigade will be busy, turning the fields and planting crops, and he can't be left without him."
In fact, Lin Wei knew what Lin's mother said, but when she thought that she didn't know when they would meet again after they left, or even whether they could meet again in the future, she couldn't help but want to keep them for a while.
Seeing her daughter with red eyes, Lin's mother put down the work she was doing, sat down next to her and said, "Look at you, why are you crying again?"
"I just can't bear to leave you." Lin Wei said with a sob.
Mother Lin took her daughter into her arms, gently stroked her hair, and said softly: "You can't bear to leave me and your father, but how can we bear to leave you? It's just that the child has grown up and has a promising future, and he will eventually fly. Although we hope that you can stay with us, we also hope that you can fly higher and farther."
Lin Wei lay in her arms, sobbing softly.
Hearing her crying, Lin's mother felt very uncomfortable. The main reason she came here this time was because she was worried about Lin Wei.
Among her three children, the youngest daughter seemed the most fragile and the one who needed her parents' decisions the most, but she was very clear that Lin Wei was the strongest, most independent and most sensible of the three children.
If she hadn't encountered any trouble, given her personality, she would never have written a letter home in her first year in the army, asking them to come to Yazhou Island to celebrate the New Year.
The conversation on the first night after arriving on the island also let Lin's mother know that her daughter had indeed encountered trouble, but she just kept it in her heart and didn't say anything.
Through conversations with other people in the family quarters during this period, Lin's mother learned what happened after her daughter came to the island.
She knew that Lin Wei had a difficult time when she first arrived on the island. Her neighbors were always causing trouble, and the job she had originally planned for fell through. But Lin's mother knew that her daughter was a person who would become more courageous as she faced more setbacks, and would not be easily defeated by them.
And it turned out to be just as it was. Lin Wei survived and entered the military primary school, where she was successfully converted to a full-time teacher. The class she taught performed well in the final exam, and she herself was recognized as an advanced teacher.
As for family, no matter what outsiders said or what she saw with her own eyes during this period, she could be sure that they had a very good relationship. Zong Shao cared about his family and was hardworking, and he did not let her daughter suffer any grievances.
Therefore, until now, she still doesn't know what is hidden in her daughter's heart.
But she didn't ask any more questions. She just touched Lin Wei's hair and said, "When your father and I came here, we were worried that you wouldn't be able to adapt after joining the army. We didn't know how to get along with Zong Shao after being separated for so many years. But after watching you for a while, mom is relieved. Xiao Zong is like his mother and is very affectionate. But you, don't keep everything to yourself when you are getting along with each other. You are husband and wife. If you encounter any difficulties, you can discuss it with each other, right?"
However, Lin Wei in her arms stopped crying, remained silent for a long time, and then hummed softly.
Mother Lin didn't know whether Lin Wei's words were a promise or just a perfunctory response. She thought for a long time and just sighed deeply.
…
Just like when he came, the next morning, Zong Shao drove a military jeep, took his wife and children, and sent his father-in-law and mother-in-law away.
Although she had already cried once last night, when it was time to say goodbye, Lin Wei's eyes were still red in a cowardly way. Seeing her like this, Lin's mother pretended to be disgusted and said, "You cry more and more as you grow older. You are already a mother, aren't you afraid that your child will laugh at you?"
Lin Wei looked down at the two children whose mouths were poutier than hers, sniffed and said calmly, "I can't bear to leave you."
Mingming Ruirui also sniffed and said, "Grandma, can you please not leave?"
"You guys made me want to cry." Mother Lin turned her head to wipe her eyes, touched the heads of the two children and said, "Mingming Ruirui, be good. Can grandma come to see you again during the Chinese New Year?"
Mingming asked doubtfully: "But isn't it Chinese New Year now?"
“That was last year.”
"Okay," Mingming didn't quite understand, but he didn't dwell on the time. He looked at his grandmother with watery eyes and asked, "Then how long will the New Year be this year?"
"About a year."
Mingming opened his mouth wide: "That's still a long time."
"How could that be? A year has passed in the blink of an eye. Hasn't it been almost a year since you came to the island?"
Mingming still remembers when he first came to the island. The weather was still very hot at that time. Of course, the temperature is still high now, but... Mingming turned around and asked his brother: "Has it been so long since we moved to our new home?" He felt that a year was so long, but the time that had passed was so short.
Although Ruirui was smart, he was too young and had no concept of time. He said uncertainly, "It seems like a long time."
Hearing his brother say this, Mingmin felt that a year didn't seem very long, so he said to his grandmother, "Then you must come when you get to old shígGdujia."
"Okay, if grandma can't come by then, you can go back home to celebrate the New Year, okay?" Lin's mother asked, "You can see your cousin when you go back."
It seemed possible to go back, but he was still a child and could not go alone, so he looked up and asked, "Mom and Dad, can we go back for the New Year this year?"
Lin Wei didn't dare to be too sure, so she said, "It depends on whether your father has time by then."
Mingming said "oh" and said to Lin's mother, "Grandma, if Dad has time during the Chinese New Year, we will go back to celebrate the New Year."
Mother Lin agreed with a smile and coaxed Mingming into submission, and Ruirui also got better, and Lin Wei's eyes were not as red anymore. Just then a soldier came over to remind them to set off immediately and asked them to board the ship early. Lin's mother gave her final instructions: "Think carefully about what I said to you last night."
Lin Wei pursed her lips and said, "I understand."
Mother Lin swallowed the sigh that was about to come to her lips, winked at Zong Shao, and only after seeing him nod did she pick up her luggage and followed Father Lin to the boat while saying, "We are leaving, you guys should go back early."
Lin Wei responded, and Mingming Ruirui jumped up and down, waving her hands and saying, "Goodbye, Grandpa. Goodbye, Grandma!", just like when she came to pick them up before the New Year.
As the figures of Lin's father and mother disappeared at the cabin door, the door was quickly closed. Soon, the whistle sounded, and the supply ship slowly moved and headed towards the vast ocean.
Zong Shao and Lin Wei stood side by side on the shore until the dark clouds that had blocked the sun all morning dispersed and the first rays of sunlight poured down. Then they called out to their two children who had already started playing and went home hand in hand.
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