Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Aunt Zhang finally spoke up quietly, "I won't take anyone back."
One sentence seemed to press the pause button, and everyone in the room fell silent.
"Hmph, she's just a nanny, how could she possibly take people out? You're all dreaming!" Yang Min scoffed at everyone's foolishness.
Aunt Zhang glanced around at everyone and then slowly spoke again: "I really don't have that ability."
"Then why did someone bring you back? We all saw it." A tall, big young man, clearly not a local.
"He's a migrant worker in Beijing. We were going back to our hometown together, and he was worried I'd get lost and wouldn't be able to find my way home, so he gave me a ride back," Aunt Zhang explained. Whether they listened or not was another matter.
Looking at everyone, Aunt Zhang sighed helplessly, turned around and walked out of her house.
This farce is finally over.
Aunt Zhang was carrying some things. She was going to visit her fourth uncle, who was the most senior member of the Zhang family. She hadn't been back for many years, so she had to ask her fourth uncle to look after her.
Fourth Uncle was sitting in the courtyard weaving bamboo baskets when he saw Aunt Zhang walk in, and he was quite surprised.
"Third brother's wife, you're back?" Fourth Uncle called out into the house, and soon a young woman came out with water for Aunt Zhang.
"This must be Erquan's wife! I haven't met her yet. This is a red envelope from your aunt." Aunt Zhang only heard about the wedding of her fourth uncle's grandson earlier this year after she returned home.
The young woman glanced at her grandfather, and when she heard him tell her to put it away, she smiled and thanked Aunt Zhang.
"Should we return it?" Fourth Uncle asked, taking a puff of his pipe.
Aunt Zhang nodded: "Going back, Lingzi is filial, and they said they'd take care of me in my old age."
"That's good. Don't worry about the family. There are people helping to look after them!" Fourth Uncle sighed. His third son and his son were both outstanding people in their generation. It's so unfair that they both sacrificed their lives.
"Fourth Uncle, this is some Niulanshan Erguotou liquor and braised meat that I bought for you from Beijing. It tastes different from what we have here. Try it," Aunt Zhang said, pointing to the items on the table.
"Why spend this money? You've had a tough time in Beijing, you should keep some money for yourself!" her fourth uncle reminded her.
"Don't worry, I know." Aunt Zhang is rich; Liu Zi pays her a salary, and she also receives government compensation. This is the main reason why the villagers are jealous of her.
When Aunt Zhang returned home, everyone who had been sitting there had left. It was almost noon, and everyone had to go home to cook for the men.
Aunt Zhang locked the door and went into the kitchen to boil a pot of water.
The kang (heated brick bed) hasn't been lit for a long time, so it's a bit damp. It needs to be lit before we can sleep comfortably.
Besides, she'd been in the car for so long, she must have smelled, so she needed to wash up.
Aunt Zhang locked the front gate and entered the courtyard through the back gate. She didn't want to be disturbed and planned to rest for a while.
That's why they say she's incredibly insightful!
Those who were still determined to come and talk to her gave up when they saw the lock on the door.
Aunt Zhang had a comfortable sleep; sleeping on her own heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) was still the most comfortable. Zizi said she would also build a kang for her home in Beijing, but she didn't know when it would be ready.
The next morning, Aunt Zhang took a basket full of offerings and went out.
Zhang's husband died of illness at work. Although he could be buried in the martyrs' cemetery, Zhang was unwilling, thinking that the couple should be buried together.
So now my wife lies alone in the Zhang family ancestral grave.
Aunt Zhang laid out her things and began chatting with her husband about their life over the past year.
"I'm doing well in Beijing, don't worry. Zizi said she'll definitely send me back to be buried with you after I pass away. Sometimes I wonder if it's because you and our son are protecting me over there that I was able to meet such a wonderful family. Lingzi is filial and considerate, and Qiqi is lively and adorable. You have no idea I even took a plane ticket—a ticket that cost over a thousand yuan. Zizi bought it for me without even stammering. I got to experience the trendy life of traveling."
"Zizi told me that at the end of the year, she would take me to Yunnan Province to see our son and pay respects at his grave. Why did you all leave? Leaving me all alone..."
In the end, Aunt Zhang couldn't hold back her tears and started crying.
After crying, Aunt Zhang felt much better, her gloomy mood lifted after several days.
She was thinking of visiting her older brother's house and leaving them her phone number so they wouldn't be unable to reach her if needed.
Zhang Da Niang originally had two brothers and three sisters, but now only she and her eldest brother are still alive.
The eldest brother originally worked in the mine, but his health deteriorated, so his son took over the job.
Right now, I stay home and weave some baskets, then go to the market to sell them and earn some pocket money.
Aunt Zhang picked up the things she had bought for her brother and walked to the next village.
After her husband passed away, her second brother suggested that she go home and remarry, but she was worried that her son would not want to take a step forward in the future. It was her eldest brother who saw her persistence and agreed to her decision.
After that, he often helped her financially and raised her son.
Later, when her son sacrificed his life, it was her eldest brother who called his son to her and instructed them to take care of his aunt until her death.
Aunt Zhang just didn't want to put her eldest brother in a difficult position. She had a pension and could manage on her own, so her nephews didn't need to bear any burden.
Only after hearing Aunt Zhang's refusal did her sister-in-law finally smile.
Back then, everyone said she was a tough person, and no one wanted to have much contact with her. She understood that her sister-in-law was worried about her son's safety, so she took the initiative to keep her family at a distance.
I wonder if my brother's illness is getting better?
She had previously asked Liu Zi to buy medicine in Beijing, thinking that she would let her older brother try it out when she got back.
Liu Zi had inquired about Zhang Da Niang and Zhang Da Ge's condition beforehand, so she had a general idea of what was going on. In modern terms, this was an occupational disease; inhaling too much powder weakened lung function, and the cough was very uncomfortable.
Western medicine doesn't have any good solutions, but I've heard that a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Beijing has a lung-clearing pill that's effective.
Aunt Zhang bought two large bottles with her own money.
In addition, she also brought clothes, wine, snacks, and braised meat, all of which were local specialties she bought in Beijing.
The two houses weren't far apart; it only took Aunt Zhang half an hour to walk there.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed. She had really enjoyed herself this year; she was already this tired after walking only a few steps up the mountain.
Seeing that no one was in the yard, Aunt Zhang called out twice as soon as she entered the gate.
"Who is it?" A familiar voice came from a side room.
"Big brother, it's me, I'm back." Aunt Zhang immediately went to greet him.
"Little sister! When did you get back? Why didn't you call ahead so Dapeng could pick you up at the train station?" Sun Laoda shouted excitedly.
"I came back yesterday, and I thought I'd come and see you today." Old Master Sun looked to be in good health, which put Zhang Da Niang at ease.
"Come in and sit down!" Old Master Sun ushered the man inside.
He was extremely worried when his younger sister left last year. She wasn't familiar with that family, so what if they were bad people?
He was constantly on edge, and only felt a little better after his younger sister called from Beijing to let him know he was safe.
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