There are two rooms on each side, a main room in the middle, a kitchen and a woodshed outside, plus a courtyard. Behind the house, there is also an outhouse and a private plot of land, a typical farmhouse.
There was half a water tank at the kitchen entrance, a tank of cornmeal in the rice jar in the kitchen, and a lot of firewood piled up in the woodshed. It seems that the old bachelor is not so lazy after all, at least much more diligent than Li Qiang.
Li Ping found a broom and an old rag, wiped the entire yard inside and out, swept the ground clean, and washed her hands to prepare some steamed buns for lunch.
The old bachelor woke up just as the steamed buns were coming out of the oven. Eating the sweet buns, he felt a sense of belonging. He was a man with a wife now, someone to cook for him, someone to sweep the floor, and he would have to raise a son in the future.
Li Qiang was arrested, and Li Ping moved away, leaving only Ye Chenming's family in the cowshed. Ye Huixian and Fu Qingping thoroughly cleaned Li Ping's room and let Ye Chenming move in, since everyone was an adult and it wouldn't be convenient for them to live together.
Ye Chen'er and the others were overjoyed. They wouldn't have to be so careful when Aunt Cuihua came over anymore. Cuihua's embroidery skills had reached a level of perfection, and even the way she held the needle and embroidered was a delight to behold.
Ye Chen'er and Ye Chenming followed Yan Xiaonan's advice and picked up their junior high and high school books, reading them carefully and memorizing them meticulously. Although they didn't know why Yan Xiaonan wanted them to do this, based on their trust in the girl, the two of them would pick up their books and read whenever they had a break.
When Yan Xiaonan turned seventeen, Yan Daqiang returned with Yan Aidang. This time, instead of writing to inform Grandma Yan, they braved the heavy snow and knocked on the door. When Yan Xiaoqiang opened the door, he saw two snowmen carrying luggage and could hardly believe his eyes.
"Mom, Mom, Big Brother is back! Ai Dang is back!" Yan Xiaoqiang's voice startled Grandma Yan and Yan Xiaonan, who were eating longevity noodles. The two quickly put on their thick cotton-padded coats and ran out. When they saw that their eldest son and grandson had indeed returned, they were so happy that they didn't know what to say.
"Daqiang, why didn't you say you were coming back? I could have asked Qiangzi to pick you up. Look at you two, covered in snow. Come inside."
Yan Daqiang quickly dropped his luggage and helped Grandma Yan inside: "Mom, it's cold outside, let's go inside and talk."
Yan Aidang patted Yan Xiaonan's head with his thickly gloved hand: "Nannan has grown up, and you're getting more and more beautiful. I almost don't recognize you anymore."
Yan Xiaonan also took a serious look at Yan Aidang: "Brother Aidang has grown taller too, and he's so handsome! Congratulations!"
The two men, who were flattering each other, laughed heartily. Unexpectedly, a cold wind blew into their throats, and they both coughed at the same time. They quickly covered their mouths with their hands and rushed into the house. Yan Xiaoqiang couldn't help but laugh when he saw this. Looking at the luggage bags scattered on the floor, Yan Xiaoqiang shook his head. That's how his older brother is. Every time he moves things here, it's like he's moving house.
"Mother, I was supposed to come back last year, but there have been some changes at the higher-ups, and I really couldn't get away, so I'm only coming this year. Please don't blame me, Mother," Yan Daqiang said helplessly.
"I know, I know, Nan Nan read your letter, I know everything. Mother doesn't blame you, work is more important." Grandma Yan wiped away her tears again, she didn't know why, she was easily saddened lately.
Liu Jin, standing nearby, became anxious: "Great-Grandma, what's wrong? I'll go call Grandma." After saying that, he glared at Yan Daqiang and went to the kitchen to find Cuihua.
Five and a half pounds followed closely behind, saying, "Grandma, I'll go get Mom."
Liu Jin is nine years old and attends Mushroom Village Primary School. Liu Limin likes Liu Jin very much and thinks that this boy is the smartest and most mischievous child he has ever met, so he made him the class monitor.
Liu Jin did not disappoint Liu Limin's expectations. He managed to keep the group of children in line. They listened attentively in class, wrote diligently when it was time to write, and played wildly, even tearing the house apart, when it was time to play.
Five-and-a-half jin is four years younger than six jin. He is usually Liu jin's little shadow. Ever since Liu jin started carrying his schoolbag to school, Five-and-a-half jin has been pestering Southwest for his schoolbag, wanting to read and write. Southwest is also a high school student, so of course he supports his son.
Every month, I buy notebooks and pencils for my two children. They often review their high school textbooks whenever they have free time. Nan Nan has said that they should never forget to study. If I don't read for two or three days, Nan Nan will be unhappy.
Tang Xiaoling rushed over after hearing her son's complaint. When she saw that it was her uncle who had returned, she understood why Grandma Yan was wiping away tears. She quickly went into the kitchen and poured out two cups of malted milk powder. The hot malted milk powder warmed their hands and stomachs.
Cuihua was cooking noodles for Daqiang and Aidang in the kitchen. They must not have eaten properly on the train and must be hungry now. Besides, it's Mom and Nannan's birthday today, so it's only right that they eat two bowls of birthday noodles.
Yan Daqiang saw the two bowls of noodles on the table and hurriedly ran out to find the package. Inside the package were new clothes and pants that he had brought for his mother, as well as a pair of leather shoes.
Watching Yan Daqiang rummage through the pile of luggage, Yan Aidang joined in the search. The two of them, like groundhogs looking for food, looked around and touched everything. Finally, they were satisfied and carried a few bags into the house.
Yan Daqiang handed the clothes, pants, and shoes to Grandma Yan: "Mom, I'm so glad I can finally celebrate your birthday this year. I'm so unfilial; this is the first time I've celebrated your birthday in all these years."
Yan Aidang also took out items from his bag: "Grandma, this is a pipe, a birthday gift from me. This is top-quality tobacco, a gift from my older brother Aiguo. This is a cashmere scarf and gloves, a gift from my mother."
Grandma Yan looked at these things and felt so happy. Her birthday had always been celebrated by Cuihua and Qiangzi with the children. This year, she finally got to celebrate with her eldest son.
Cuihua brought the noodles over: "Big brother, Ai Dang, are you hungry? Come and have a bowl of noodles. Today is Mom and Nan Nan's birthday, eat more."
Yan Daqiang quickly took it, but said politely, "Sister-in-law, have you eaten yet? Why don't you eat first?"
Cuihua smiled and said, "You all eat. Xiaoling is still cooking. There's enough noodles for everyone today. We'll also prepare some good wine and dishes tonight so we can all have a good meal."
Yan Aidang was already starving. Hearing Cuihua say that, he grabbed the bowl of noodles like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, picked up his chopsticks and started slurping the noodles. In the blink of an eye, half of the bowl of noodles was gone. Yan Daqiang saw this, picked up his bowl of noodles and started eating as well. He seemed to be eating in an orderly manner, much faster than the impatient Yan Aidang.
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