Qian Duoduo was wiping the kang mat with a rag, preparing to lay out the quilt and go to sleep.
Hearing his sister-in-law's words, he said, "Two years ago, when my eldest brother and sister-in-law came back, they built this house. In our area, this house is called a 'connected house.' The one on the east side belongs to my eldest brother and sister-in-law, and the one on the west side belongs to my second brother and sister-in-law."
Chen Runan, holding Qian Yufei, looked over and said, "Are all rural families in Northeast China like this?"
Qian Duoduo shook his head and said, "No, this brick house was built with my eldest and second eldest brothers' early military allowances."
Chen Runan nodded and saw that Qian Duoduo had already made the bed, with Qian Yufei's small blanket between the two of them. She said, "The temperature outside is already quite low, but it's quite warm inside."
Qian Duoduo said with a smile, "This year, Brother Qian Xiang, who is the eldest brother of my uncle's family, brought a lot of firewood for our family when he went to collect it. Otherwise, in the winter, without firewood, people would really freeze to death."
Chen Runan nodded. It was her first time in such a cold place, but it seemed nice here.
Qian Duoduo said, "Sister-in-law, come up on the kang (heated brick bed). It's warmer there. Let Feifei play on the kang."
Chen Runan obediently placed her daughter on the kang (a heated brick bed). Qian Yufei, now free, climbed up and sat down in front of Qian Duoduo. The two girls faced each other, and Qian Yufei suddenly smiled, revealing a few tiny teeth and a trickle of water flowing down her face.
Qian Duoduo laughed and took the handkerchief from her second sister-in-law. She wiped her mouth for her first, and then stopped. Qian Yufei felt that it was different from when her mother wiped her mouth. She stretched out her chubby little hand and snatched the handkerchief from Qian Duoduo's hand.
While Chen Runan went to get some pajamas, she saw that Qian Duoduo and Feifei had already started playing. It should be said that it was Qian Duoduo who was teasing the child. She laughed and thought, "This child hasn't grown up yet!"
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