The Lu family didn't have a telephone, so the call was first made to Xiahe Village. The caller recognized Qiao Wanyue's voice immediately. She was told to wait a few minutes, and then there was a series of beeps. Soon after, Lu Rong's panting voice could be heard.
"Wanyue".
Lu Rong was chatting with someone in the greenhouse when she heard a loudspeaker announce, "Aunt Lu Rong, your wife is calling you!" Upon hearing this, Lu Rong turned around and ran, reaching the brigade headquarters as fast as she could.
"Mom, have you prepared the New Year's goods?"
Lu Rong: "I've prepared everything. Your friends sent over a lot of things—food, drinks, and clothes. I don't need anything. How are you doing over there? Has Yunzhou returned from his mission?"
It was Lu Rong's first time spending the Lunar New Year alone, and he felt a little empty.
She had thought her eldest son and daughter-in-law would come back, but she didn't expect them to decide to settle there as well. It would be a lie to say she wasn't sad, but she knew that the countryside in Linxian was definitely better than the capital.
She couldn't hold her child back from moving forward.
“Yunzhou hasn’t come back yet. I’m fine here; I’ve already started my holiday. My sister-in-law and I will prepare tomorrow, so don’t worry about us. But you, are you sure you’ll be okay spending the New Year alone?” Qiao Wanyue was still a little worried.
Seven days ago, my older brother called my mother-in-law and asked her to come over, but she rented a large greenhouse and refused to come no matter what. She said it didn't matter if they didn't come back, as she was much more at peace.
Qiao Wanyue knew that she said this to avoid worrying them.
"No problem, don't worry. Your grandma told me to come to her house for New Year's Eve dinner, as well as the brigade leader's house and Secretary Guo's house. I can't even finish all the New Year's Eve dinners. I chat with the villagers during the day and people visit me at night. Don't worry, I'm not lonely at all."
Qiao Wanyue was at ease. She had been running the business in Xiahe Village for so long, even if she left, Lu Rong wouldn't be bullied.
"Okay, take care of yourself."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law chatted for a few more minutes.
Lu Rong reluctantly hung up the phone.
"Auntie, is this a call from Wanyue?" The team leader's wife swayed as she walked in.
Lu Rong took out a few cents and put them on the table. "Yes, they're worried I'll be lonely during the New Year. What do I have to worry about? I have hands and feet, I don't need them at all," she said with a smile.
But there was still some regret in his tone.
The captain's wife didn't continue that topic, but changed the subject.
The two chatted for a few minutes, when a plump auntie came over.
"Lu Rong, you're here."
"Auntie Pang, what's wrong?" The team leader's wife was a little confused. Auntie Pang was a well-known matchmaker in their village. She usually didn't come to their village unless she had a reason. Her coming to see Lu Rong didn't seem like a good thing, but rather like she was going to arrange a marriage.
As it turned out, she was right.
Aunt Pang cut to the chase, "Rong, are your children not coming home for the New Year?"
Lu Rong looked somewhat disappointed. "Yeah."
She tugged at Lu Rong's arm, "That's how kids are when they grow up. They're not as considerate as their old man. You're not that old, and your sons are all grown up now, so you don't have to worry about anything. How about I introduce you to someone else?"
Lu Rong immediately opened his eyes wide.
Is that what she meant?
The captain's wife immediately became alert.
He asked casually, "Who is it?"
The plump aunt said with an ambiguous look, "He's from the next village, Brother Stone. Like you, his wife died, and now that his children are grown up, he's looking for a companion. Why don't you two get together?"
Lu Rong was completely dumbfounded.
The captain's wife knew that Stone Brother.
The eldest of the three sons is now 22 years old, just married, and works in a pastry factory. His wife seems to be pregnant. The second son is also of marriageable age, and the youngest son has just started high school.
This isn't about finding a life partner; it's more like looking for a caregiver.
She subtly pulled Lu Rong away, saying, "Auntie Pang, we still need to talk to Lu Rong's son and daughter-in-law about her matter. Why don't you ask Wan Yue and Yun Zhou first? If they agree, then you can talk to Lu Rong."
The fat aunt's expression froze.
"How can a mother tell her child when she's looking for a partner?" A guilty look flashed in her eyes.
The Shi family hadn't divided their property yet, and they had three sons. It was easy to imagine that if a woman married into the family, she would have to take care of her daughter-in-law. The Shi brothers also wanted to find someone to take care of their daughter-in-law, but while they wanted to, they couldn't say it outright.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
