Winter is the most leisurely time for farmers. They spend their time relaxing on the kang (a heated brick bed), chatting with family and visiting neighbors.
Song Lili, wrapped in a cotton coat, went to the courtyard where the elderly lived, wanting to visit them.
The earliest of them has been here for eight years. They have seen a lot, their hair has turned white, and their bodies have become hunched.
"Grandpas and Grandmas, I've come to see you!" Song Lili called out from the doorway before going inside.
The first to emerge was Lin Mu, a generous and magnanimous man who was also upright and honest.
"Lili's here? Don't come in, it's very cold outside."
Song Lili followed with a smile and saw the old people sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed), gathered together. Zhao Qian was holding a needle and thread in his hand, which seemed to be someone's clothes.
Guqin sat beside her, but her expression was not good.
Guqin's body was already severely depleted before she came to Hongqi Village, and when she arrived, she was so weak that she was barely clinging to life.
It was only with Song Lili's secret help that they were able to recover a little, and coupled with years of hard labor, their condition was already precarious.
Xiao Yue led a group to launch a surprise attack. In order to prevent them from noticing anything amiss, Qin Hongxia went all out that time, and it was then that Guqin's body collapsed once again.
She dragged her feet like this, and by now she was old and frail, her life force draining away.
Song Lili was worried that she might not make it through the winter.
Seeing Song Lili enter, Guqin merely lifted her eyelids slightly, her voice barely audible, "Lili's here?"
Song Lili's eyes welled up with tears. After all these years, she had developed feelings for you all. "Yes, I came to see you."
The oldest of the group, Zhao Qian, was old and frail, with many wrinkles on his face, but he was still so gentle when facing Song Lili.
“We are all doing well. Coming here has brought us peace of mind. The orders have actually made us feel more relaxed and open-minded.”
"This makes me feel more at ease, and I can live a few more years." Qian Xianming told a joke, which made the others laugh along. Even Gu Qin twitched the corners of his mouth.
"Don't worry, you can live for another twenty or thirty years, don't worry." Song Lili smiled as well.
These people have always been by her side. In the past, the situation was serious, and she didn't dare to act openly. Recently, things have gotten much better, so she hasn't been so concerned about them.
So, people in the village gradually learned that they had been in contact.
But they had been here for many years and had more or less contact with the people in the village, so Song Lili didn't seem so out of place.
"Lili, how's Xiaochen doing lately?" Zhao Qian asked.
Her favorite thing was the little dumpling. Seeing him made her happy, and she looked forward to seeing him every day.
Qian Xianming secretly told her again that it was because there was no one left in Grandma Zhao's house, everyone had left, except for a little grandson who was only about the size of a small steamed bun.
Song Lili didn't know whether Qian Xianming meant "left" or "passed away" when he said "left," and she didn't ask.
However, she would always bring her little dumpling over to visit.
"He was asleep when I arrived, so I didn't bring him with me."
"Then let's not bother him. It's so cold, you can't just bring a child out like that. What if he gets sick?" Zhao Qian quickly said.
I'm afraid Song Lili will bring the little bun over for my own sake.
Song Lili flashed her white teeth and said, "I'll bring him here again when the weather clears up."
There was no need for Song Lili to guide him; the little boy could reach out on his own.
The children in the village all grew up wildly, running around the whole village. By the age of five, they were already able to play by themselves.
Song Lili ignored her completely, only telling her not to go to the river behind the village and not to go up the mountain.
She grew up like this and never thought there was anything wrong with it.
"Then... is there any enlightenment?"
"Not yet. I'm thinking of starting this year, or maybe next year."
She hadn't actually figured out what to do yet, but when Zhao Qian asked, she just said that.
"Why don't you hand him over to me?" Zhao Qian asked tentatively and cautiously.
She really loves the little dumpling. Seeing him reminds her of her grandson and always brings back many wonderful memories.
Even though I knew it wasn't right, I couldn't help but speak up in the end.
Song Lili didn't hesitate at all, "Okay, anyway, Grandma Zhao, you don't like me anymore, you only like Little Baozi."
As she spoke, she put on a pitiful look, which amused Zhao Qian, who poked her nose.
"You've changed a lot since you got married. You're much more playful and mischievous than before."
Song Lili was embarrassed; how could she not reminisce about the past?
When she came here, she was trembling with fear, filled with both the unknown and the environment.
Therefore, I am always extra cautious, for fear of making a mistake. Naturally, I need to be calm and composed in order to keep myself at ease.
After getting married and having Zhang Qinghua, he takes care of things and spoils her, so she gradually changed and returned to her original personality.
This is what everyone calls "change".
Song Lili said coquettishly, "I was just trying to make you all happy, Grandma Zhao, why did you expose me?"
"Ha ha……"
"Hahaha……"
Seeing Song Lili's antics, the elderly people burst into laughter.
If they didn't know that the situation outside was naturally bad, they would have the illusion that this was a place they had escaped to retire in.
The people here are kind and simple, and they are tolerant of them. Here, they felt warmth.
And then there's Lili, who has taken care of them day after day for the past few years, always showing them warmth and concern, even more so than their own family.
Over the years, we've become like family.
Song Lili stayed there for a while, talking with the elderly people, before turning around and going home.
There's nothing here that she needs help with; the elderly can handle everything themselves.
"Where's your big brother?" Song Lili asked, flicking the little bun's ear.
The little boy immediately covered his ears and glared angrily at Song Lili, "Mom, it hurts, you're mean."
"Hmm, I'm bad. Where's your dad?" When she came back, she didn't see Zhang Qinghua at home.
"I don't know." The little bun turned around angrily, leaving his little bottom facing Song Lili, which made her laugh.
"Oh dear, are you angry? Are you really angry? You're not even talking to your mother anymore? Well... do you want some egg pancakes for dinner?"
Song Lili's temptation led to a more lenient policy, allowing every household to raise chickens, ducks, and geese, albeit with a limited number.
Song Lili's family raises two hens, which lay eggs every day, two eggs a day.
Every day, Song Lili would try her best to feed Xiao Baozi and Zhang Qingguo's son, Zhang Zhe, an egg.
Children need to grow and get enough nutrition, otherwise they will look pale and thin, which is not good-looking.
However, not all families are willing to spend so much; it's probably only Song Lili's family that would be so willing.
Other families save their eggs and exchange them for money at the supply and marketing cooperative. They can't bear to eat them, so how could they have them every day?
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