"Why are you here at this hour? Aren't you going to work in the fields? Did something happen at home?" Wu Jiang asked, puzzled.
At this time of year, it's not a major event, and farmers generally don't visit relatives or neglect their fields.
"No, there wasn't much work in the fields, so I didn't go. My uncles and the others are still working in the fields. I just haven't been to my uncle's house in a long time, so I came to see you all," Song Lili quickly said, otherwise Wu Jiang wouldn't know what to guess.
"That's good, that's good, it's good that everything's alright." Wu Jiang indeed seemed relieved, and his expression relaxed.
These days, the worst thing is something going wrong.
"Uncle, this is some food that my uncle asked me to bring for you. Where should we put it? Please take a look." Song Lili changed the subject.
"You guys, why did you bring food when you came? You could have stayed at home and eaten there. What's with always bringing it to us?"
“We haven’t even finished the food you gave us for the New Year, and look, you’ve brought us more. Don’t do this again. Keep it for your own family to eat.” Wu Jiang said reproachfully.
However, it wasn't suggested that Song Lili take the things back, as that would damage their relationship.
"Uncle, don't worry about eating. You've seen my greenhouse before. We can have food whenever we want."
"Since I've brought it, don't leave it there. Eat it if you have any, and I'll get you more when you're done. Don't worry about not having enough," Song Lili said with a smile.
"Sigh...you've grown up, kid," Wu Jiang said with a sigh.
The child who used to need his help is now helping him. Thinking about it, I feel both happy and sad.
Song Lili also felt a little uneasy, but she didn't know how to comfort Wu Jiang. Just then, her cousin Wu Huan and the others came back, breaking the atmosphere.
"Lili? What brings you here?" Wu Huan rushed over excitedly when he saw Song Lili.
"Cousin, you're back?" Song Lili said happily.
Next, the two sisters greeted everyone. This was the first time Song Lili met her aunt Zhang Qiaozui, her cousin Wu Lele, and her cousin's wife Ma Xiaoxiao.
Aunt Zhang Qiaozui was clearly the kind of person who was good at talking. As soon as they met, she started talking to Song Lili very affectionately.
Wu Lele inherited all of her aunt's good qualities; she's very talkative. Her cousin, Wu Huan, is just like her uncle—generous and open-minded.
Only cousin-in-law Ma Xiaoxiao was a bit shy. When she saw Song Lili and her sister, she just smiled and greeted them, then stood quietly to the side listening to their small talk.
"Alright, stop talking and hurry up and cook. The two kids must be hungry, and it's time for our family to have lunch." In the end, it was Wu Jiang who interrupted Zhang Qiao.
"Oh dear, look at me, I was so busy talking to Lili that I forgot I had to cook. Lili, you sit down, I'll go cook." With that, she hurried off.
My cousin's wife, Ma Xiaoxiao, quickly followed, and my cousin, Wu Lele, also went along.
Song Lili sent Song Fang out with her, wanting to take this opportunity to talk to Wu Jiang.
"Does Uncle know what's going on outside?" Song Lili asked directly.
"I've heard some of it, and there's been some commotion in our village lately, but not many people are involved."
Whenever this is brought up, Wu Jiang asks wistfully, "What about your village? Is it the same?"
Song Lili nodded, "More or less, maybe even more serious than yours, since we live closer to the town."
If anything happens in the town, Hongqi Village will be the first to be affected.
"Yes, it's a bit further away from here, so it's not that serious yet."
"Uncle, don't worry about those things. Just focus on your own business. Even if everyone else goes, don't go."
"That's not a glorious thing; you can easily put yourself in danger if you're not careful." Most importantly, Red Guards don't live long, and they might face retaliation later on.
"Lili, do you know something?" Wu Jiang wasn't stupid, so he immediately asked as soon as Song Lili said that.
"I don't really know anything, I just heard a bit of a rumor, so I thought I'd come and let my uncle know."
"Uncle, don't let your cousins get involved. You should avoid it if you can. Of course, it's not difficult to go against them." Going against them is truly foolish.
Wu Jiang fell silent for a long time before listlessly nodding, "Okay, I understand. I'll tell your cousins."
"Did Lili come here today just to tell her uncle this?" Wu Jiang asked with a smile.
"Yes, I also came to see you, my uncles. It's been so long since I've been here." He probably had never been before.
If Wu Jiang hadn't treated his siblings so well, better than Song Yongli's family, Song Lili wouldn't have gone to all this trouble.
"Yes, everyone is busy. Who has time to visit relatives?" The main problem is that they can't afford the gifts needed for visiting relatives.
Therefore, even if many people miss each other, they won't visit each other's homes unless they are very close relatives.
"I will come to visit you more often, Uncle," Song Lili said with a heartfelt sentiment.
The uncle's family was doing better than the Song family when Song Lili first arrived, but it was still incomparable to the Song family's current situation.
I'll make more trips in the future.
Soon, Zhang Qiaozui and the other two had prepared a meal: a thick batter with half a dish of pickled vegetables, and two cucumbers that Song Lili had brought, which they had made into a cold salad.
"Lili, this is all we have at home, just make do with this," Zhang Qiaozui said somewhat helplessly.
She wanted to do something better, but there was nothing at home, and this was all she could do.
If it weren't for what Lili brought, she probably would have felt even worse.
"Auntie, this is already very good. Isn't this how every household does it now? This is great. You should come and eat too."
What Song Lili said was true; most families eat it this way.
Although her family eats better food, they still eat porridge occasionally and they don't find it unacceptable.
Zhang Qiao smiled and nodded, but she knew in her heart that what Song Lili said was not entirely true. Wu Jiang had told her what Lili's family was like when he went home.
However, Song Lili's understanding nature made her feel warm and gratified.
"Stop talking and let's eat. Everyone's hungry," Wu Jiang said.
He knew perfectly well that his niece wouldn't mind at all; just look at Fangfang's expression—she was eating with great relish.
The others also saw Song Fang's appearance, and they all relaxed and sat down together to eat what was a belated lunch.
After lunch, there's a rest period of over an hour before we go back to work around 2 PM.
Song Lili kept Zhang Qiaozui company, asking about her recent situation and occasionally exchanging a few words with her cousin.
An hour later, Song Lili left with Song Fang, not wanting to delay her uncle's family from going to the fields.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
