After Liao Yujie left in a cheerful mood, Zhu Jingsu came over to talk to Qin Hanshu.
Zhu Jingsu and the others, including Zhao Chunmiao, didn't have much to say to each other. They had already finished eating and were watching TV with the children.
Who was that looking for you just now?
Qin Hanshu replied, "Her name is Liao Yujie. She was also a former educated youth who was sent to the countryside. She got married and stayed in Haowan Village."
Zhu Jingsu asked casually, then quickly changed the subject, "Your second brother can't come back today, so he asked me to tell you that he'll be taking the kids to the county in a few days to give you a proper welcome."
With so many relatives here today, it would be too high-profile for Zhou Weili to show up.
Qin Hanshu smiled and shook her head, "I understand, Second Brother doesn't need to take it to heart."
After the two talked for a while, Zhou Ruilan also came over.
Qin Hanshu took the opportunity to get her to mention the sick leave certificate.
When Zhu Jingsu heard that Zhou Ruilan was going to Jiangcheng to relax, he was very supportive and promised to get her the leave slip.
The commotion lasted a long time that night. Even after the party ended, the crowd was reluctant to leave and, despite the biting cold wind, watched television in the Zhou family's courtyard.
After the evening news broadcast, two episodes of a TV drama were shown, both emotional dramas, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that everyone was completely engrossed in watching them.
Finally, the TV started showing snow, but people were still reluctant to leave, which prompted Zhao Chunmiao to start chasing them away.
Zhao Chunmiao carried the TV back into the house like a precious treasure, complaining, "I'm already sleepy... We have to lock this TV away from now on, otherwise it'll want to live in our house, how can we live like this?"
Zhou Chang'an disagreed, "You actually did it! And you even locked it up, just wait for people to talk about how stingy you are behind your back."
"It's my stuff, I can do whatever I want with it, nobody can tell me what to do with it!" Zhao Chunmiao said disdainfully, "Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? You just like people to fawn over you and say nice things to you. As long as they praise you a few times, you'll eat the TV instead of watching it!"
Zhou Chang'an walked into the house with his hands behind his back, saying, "I'm too lazy to talk to you."
The helpers who organized the banquet tidied up the yard and kitchen, and everything was done by then it was almost eleven o'clock.
When Zhou Chi and Zhou Sheng were washing their faces and feet, they kept their eyes closed, as they were very sleepy.
The house that the family built for Zhou Weiguang to marry his wife was never lived in by the couple or anyone else. However, over the years, it has become filled with a lot of miscellaneous items.
Zhao Chunmiao tidied up the bed and changed the bedding, and Qin Hanshu slept with the two children.
Just as I was getting ready to go to sleep, Zhou Ruilan brought Yang Le over.
"This child is being difficult, insisting on sleeping with his third aunt." Zhou Ruilan said helplessly and a little annoyed. Yang Le is usually very well-behaved, but tonight he had to whine and throw a tantrum.
Seeing her mother was angry, Yang Le became frightened and whispered, "Mom, don't be angry, I won't sleep with my third aunt anymore..."
Zhou Ruilan clicked her tongue and frowned, saying, "You really know how to make a fuss, bringing you all this way..."
Seeing this, Qin Hanshu quickly beckoned to Yang Le, "Come here, sleep with me tonight."
As he spoke, he chased Zhou Chi away, telling him to go to Zhou Chang'an and Zhao Chunmiao's room, where the kang (heated brick bed) was big enough for him to sleep on.
Zhou Chi was fine, but Zhou Sheng bared his teeth and yelled, "I don't want to sleep with girls!"
Qin Hanshu glanced at him and said, "I'm a girl too. You should go to Grandpa and Grandma's room."
Zhou Sheng protested again, hugging Qin Hanshu and pleading, "No, I want to sleep next to Mommy, it's so sweet~"
Qin Hanshu rubbed her goosebumps, ignored him, and helped Yang Le take off his coat and come upstairs.
***
With a few days left until the Lunar New Year, Qin Hanshu took Zhou Chi and Zhou Sheng for a walk around the village.
The dormitory at the educated youth settlement was completely empty, and the several cave dwellings were abandoned.
Qin Hanshu went into the cave dwelling where she lived and looked around, and felt as if she had been transported to another world.
The small vegetable garden outside is gone, but those paulownia trees are growing very well.
Qin Hanshu sighed to her sons, "This is where your mother lived during the Cultural Revolution."
Zhou Sheng asked, "What is cutting in line?"
Qin Hanshu said, "That's right, educated youth from the city come to the countryside to farm."
Zhou Sheng said, "I want to farm too, Mom. I won't leave after the New Year. I'll stay and farm in the countryside with Grandpa and Grandma."
Qin Hanshu chuckled and didn't take his words seriously.
Zhou Chi pulled his cotton-padded coat tighter around himself and shivered, saying, "It's so cold. Let's go back and warm ourselves by the fire."
Qin Hanshu: "...Your physical condition is really poor. You should exercise more."
Zhou Sheng: "I'm not going back, I want to play outside."
Zhou Chi said, "Then I'll go back first. You guys have fun."
After saying that, he actually left.
Qin Hanshu couldn't stop her, so Zhou Sheng was left to wander around with her.
As I walked, I passed by Niu Quangen's house and happened to see him coming out of his cave dwelling.
Qin Hanshu greeted him.
Niu Quangen said happily, "It's been so many years! You haven't changed at all. How is Weiguang? He doesn't even say he'll come back to visit."
Qin Hanshu exchanged a few polite words, "Wei Guang is busy; his profession is special."
Niu Quangen nodded, "That's true."
As he spoke, Niu Quangen called out into the cave, and a little girl came out. "This is Zhao Rusheng's daughter, her name is Qianqian. Qianqian, call her Auntie."
Qianqian was very shy. She hid behind her father, only peeking out with her eyes, and didn't say a word.
Niu Quangen said helplessly, "This child is very difficult to give birth to."
Then, Niu Quangen tried to call Zhao Ru out, but there was no response from inside after calling for a long time.
Seeing this, Qin Hanshu wisely decided not to linger and left.
After Qin Hanshu left, Niu Quangen went into the cave dwelling and complained, "You were all sent-down youth back then, what's wrong with going out to say hello?"
Zhao Ru glared at him. "Yeah, we were both sent-down youth. What kind of life are they living now, and what kind of life am I living? How could I possibly go out and greet them?"
Niu Quangen remained silent.
He has done his best to provide Zhao Ru with a good life, but his abilities are limited; he cannot provide the kind of life Qin Hanshu enjoys.
Zhao Ru had complained a lot over the years, and Niu Quangen understood. It was unfair that a young woman from the city was with a bachelor like him who had a child.
Niu Quangen's silence only fueled Zhao Ru's anger, leaving her with nowhere to vent it.
The worst thing about living is comparing yourself to others.
Qin Hanshu's trip back to his hometown to visit relatives directly made Zhao Ru depressed.
Even some ideas that had long been dormant in my mind started to resurface.
***
On New Year's Eve, Zhu Jingsu brought them to the city to celebrate the New Year.
When Zhou Weili met his two nephews for the first time, he gave each of them a large red envelope.
Just as we were about to have our New Year's Eve dinner, Yang Guangyu arrived.
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