As the village chief Guo broadcast the news over the loudspeaker that evening, everyone knew that An Moxue had returned to the village and had even brought back a wild boar. In particular, the reactions of each family varied after they heard the howling of wolves that night.
The next morning, An Moxue had just gotten up and was practicing her boxing in the yard when several aunties and sisters-in-law from the neighborhood came knocking on her door.
"An Zhiqing, you're back! Can you stay for a few days?" Tiger's mother held a basket filled with cabbage, radishes, and pickled cabbage, and handed it to An Moxue. "Take it home and eat it. Your two wolves are back, so we won't go in. We just came to see you."
An Moxue took the basket and said with a smile, "Thank you, sister-in-law. Come back for the New Year and then leave again."
Aunt Gui took out a bunch of mushrooms she had picked herself and said with a smile, "Don't be disgusted, I remember you like to eat these mushrooms."
Sister Qi took a bowl of homemade pickled vegetables, smiled, and handed it to her.
An Moxue happily accepted them, "Thank you, aunties and sisters-in-law. I'll take them up the mountain and then invite you all inside. Call the children over; I brought them some candy."
"Okay, okay." The group became even more sincere. When An Zhiqing was in the village, she had given their children plenty of candy. Otherwise, why would they have brought her their own vegetables so early in the morning? No matter how much it was, it was all out of goodwill. The children's candy couldn't be given away for nothing.
After seeing off her neighbors, An Moxue finished her meal, put on her military overcoat, put a bag of brown sugar, a bag of dates, and a bundle of dried seaweed into her pocket, and slowly went to Aunt Meihua's house.
Yesterday, Aunt Ma told me that Aunt Meihua's family had a new granddaughter, and Aunt Meihua is very happy!
An Moxue approached and saw the red cloth hanging on the gate, indicating that it was not yet a month old!
An Moxue entered the courtyard and asked at the door, "Aunt Meihua, are you home?"
"Yes, come in quickly." A cheerful voice came from inside the house.
Then, as soon as An Moxue opened the door, Aunt Meihua came out. When she saw An Moxue, she showed her white teeth and said with a smile, "I recognized your voice, you've become even more beautiful." With that, she affectionately pulled An Moxue into the east room.
"Auntie, you finally have the little granddaughter you've been longing for, aren't you happy?" An Moxue said, taking out some food from her pocket.
Aunt Meihua spoke enthusiastically about her granddaughter: "So happy! You don't know, my little granddaughter is so adorable. She never cries or fusses, at most she'll whimper a couple of times when she's hungry or sleepy. She's so cute and rosy, she gets prettier every day. Look at you, I'm already so happy just to see you. Why are you taking things?"
An Moxue joked, "I came here especially to congratulate you on the birth of your precious granddaughter! Now you don't have to be envious of other people's little girls anymore. I'll give your granddaughter some nourishment."
When An Moxue said the gifts were for her granddaughter, Aunt Meihua didn't refuse and said with a smile, "Then I'll accept them on behalf of my granddaughter. Would you like to see them?"
An Moxue tentatively asked, "Is it okay? Are there any taboos here? I don't really know much about it."
"No, no, we country folk don't have any special customs or taboos!"
"Then wait a while, I'm feeling cold. I'll talk to my aunt for a bit before I go to see her."
Aunt Meihua's smile never faded; anyone could see her good mood: "Good, you're so thoughtful. How are things going out there?"
An Moxue pointed to her face and said jokingly, "Auntie, look at my sincere face, it couldn't be better."
Aunt Meihua glanced at her a few times and said, "It looks better than when you were at home, but nothing outside is as comfortable as home. Let me tell you, I harvested a lot of things this autumn. I'll give you a little of each in a bit so you can have a taste when you get home."
“Okay! I love our local specialties, so I won’t stand on ceremony with you, Auntie.”
"Don't be so polite with your auntie. Let me tell you, my little girl is so adorable now. Your Uncle Mi doesn't even go out anymore. He just stays home with me and our granddaughter. All she does is eat and sleep. We can't get enough of her! The more we look at her, the more we love her. Come on, let's go see her."
Aunt Meihua grabbed An Moxue's hand and rushed into the west room.
Once inside, Aunt Meihua immediately tiptoed, and An Moxue followed suit, walking quietly as well.
She pulled An Moxue closer and looked at the little girl sleeping soundly on the kang (heated brick bed). "How is it? Isn't she pretty?"
An Moxue glanced at him, then at Dazhu's wife sitting next to her, and whispered a greeting.
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