Chapter 24
There was no kang in the room, but they used a stove for heating. There was a wooden bed. Jiang Jiang had always slept on an earthen kang since he was a child, and this was his first time sleeping on a bed. It was covered with a thick quilt, which felt very soft. The quilt had floral patterns and was very clean and warm.
Children are easily sleepy, and Jiang Jiang fell asleep in a short while.
In the afternoon, Lin Youqing went to the Chengguan market, bought some wooden boards and tarpaulins, then used a fence to enclose a small area in the yard specifically for raising chickens and built a chicken coop.
Lin Youqing was nailing the wooden boards, and Jiang Jiang was helping to hold down the boards and ropes.
Building a chicken coop was not a difficult task for Lin Youqing. With the help of Jiang Jiang, they were very efficient and built the chicken coop in just one afternoon. He Guijuan also picked up some old scraps of cloth from the house and put them in the chicken coop.
Jiang Jiang drove the old hen into the fence, and it seemed that it was very satisfied with its new home.
The second day after entering the county town was the fifth day of the first lunar month. Lin Youqing had already started working and was busy. He Guijuan did not go to work until the sixth day of the first lunar month. Before going to work, He Guijuan took Jiang Jiang back to her mother's home in Yuanjiang County.
He Guijuan's parents' home is in Guaigou Village in Yuanjiang County. He Guijuan and her daughter took a bus for about an hour to get back.
Her father was originally a cadre, but he retired and returned to the village when he was old. Her mother is a housewife. He Guijuan has no other brothers or sisters except a younger brother who is a few years younger than her.
Her father was a man who could not sit still. After retirement, he grew crops at home and helped with some housework. He Guijuan used to be popular in the village. As soon as she entered the village, people greeted her enthusiastically.
"Guijuan? I haven't seen you for a while. Your parents must be very happy to see you back. Who is this little girl?"
The person who was questioning was one of He Guijuan's cousins. They all knew that He Guijuan had been married for many years but had never given birth to a child. So why did she bring a baby girl back this time?
"This is my daughter." Facing everyone's doubts, He Guijuan explained, "Jiang Jiang is an orphan, and my husband and I don't have any children either, so we brought her to live with us."
As soon as He Guijuan said this, everyone suddenly realized that she had adopted a girl.
For a moment, everyone was talking about all kinds of things. Some envied Jiang Jiang for being lucky enough to be adopted by He Guijuan and his wife. He Guijuan and his wife were both cadres, and if this girl could follow them, even if she didn't become rich, she would definitely not lack food and clothing.
Those who want a daughter also envy He Guijuan for being able to adopt such a beautiful girl. The girl has beautiful eyebrows and eyes, and she will definitely be a beautiful girl in the future.
Some people also think that since they are not their biological children, it is not certain whether they can be raised well.
It was He Guijuan's aunt who said, "The little girl is so pretty. Your parents will be so happy to see you bring the child back. You should take the child back to meet your parents first."
"Okay, I'll take the child back to meet my parents first."
He Guijuan took her child back to her parents' home.
Old man He was chopping wood in the yard. When he saw his daughter coming back, a warm current instantly surged into his chest. He called out to his wife who was busy in the kitchen in surprise, "Old woman, stop working, Guijuan is back."
He's mother was making radish dumplings in the kitchen. When she heard this, she rushed out of the kitchen with glutinous rice flour on her hands, "The girl is back?"
"Dad." He Guijuan called Old Man He first, then turned to look at Mother He, "Mom."
Then he introduced the daughter next to them to the two elders, "This is Jiang Jiang."
Jiang Jiang called out politely, "Grandpa, Grandma."
The girl sent a letter before the New Year. The old couple of the He family had already known that their daughter and son-in-law had adopted Jiang Jiang. When they saw the child, they waved to her affectionately and said, "Hey, you are so cute. Come over and let us see you."
His daughter and son-in-law are in their thirties and still don't have any children. The old couple are anxious but can't show it. Youqing and Guijuan are already anxious enough and he can't make things worse for them.
The He family’s elderly couple supported their decision to adopt Jiang Jiang.
Having an adopted daughter, even if I really can't have my own children in the future, at least I have someone to rely on.
"Good, he looks like a well-behaved and smart child." The old couple looked at the child and were very happy. People of the same age as them in the village already have children and grandchildren around them, but they are the only ones without any children. Their daughter and son-in-law have no children, and their son and daughter-in-law have been married for two or three years and there is no news.
This is really worrying.
Although she was just an adopted girl, she was also the first grandchild of the He family.
He Xiaojun and his wife had just returned from the vegetable garden when they saw their sister coming back.
"Sister? You're back, so why did you bring so many things with you?"
"These are all gifts for you. I bought tea for Dad, gloves for you, and silk scarves for Mom and Hongmei. I bought a red one for Hongmei and a blue one for Mom. Come in and try them on."
"Just stop talking, come inside and warm up."
Although it was spring, it was still very cold in the first month of the year. There was a kang in the house, so it felt warm immediately after entering the house.
As soon as she entered the house, He's mother rummaged through the drawers and cupboards to find tea leaves to make tea for her daughter. Thinking that Jiang Jiang might not like drinking tea, she made her a cup of sugar water.
"Is this my niece you mentioned in your letter?"
"Yes." He Guijuan smiled and touched the child's head.
"Uncle, aunt, happy new year."
"Happy New Year, this is the red envelope my uncle gave me. I prepared it early in the morning. I was thinking that if your mother didn't bring you here, I would go to the city someday. Come and take it."
The red envelope in her hand was very thick. Jiang Jiang looked up and took a look. Only after He Guijuan nodded did she accept it. "Thank you, uncle and aunt."
He Xiaojun was a young man in his twenties, wearing an army green shirt and navy blue pants, and his hair was about an inch long. His aunt Tang Hongmei was about the same age as He Xiaojun, and she wore a blue uniform-style coat. Her hair was about shoulder-length and tied up with a green hairband.
He Guijuan didn't expect her daughter to be so smart. The red envelope was given by her younger brother, and Jiang Jiang even said thank you to her aunt when receiving the red envelope.
Jiang Jiang held the sugar water and drank it, which was very sweet. He's mother also found some snacks from home to treat them.
He Guijuan took a sip of tea and said, "Isn't this the tea I bought for Dad last year?"
"Dad usually doesn't want to drink it, and only when you come back does he feel like taking it out." He Xiaojun said.
"This tea will only go bad if you leave it alone. Dad, I'll buy you more after you finish drinking it."
"My sister is right. Drink when you need to. We don't lack the money to buy tea."
"Okay, okay, okay. I used to be the one explaining things to you, but now you are the ones explaining things to me."
When He Guijuan and her brother heard this, they looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com