It was already getting light outside when I stepped outside. I went to the woodshed to fetch firewood and start a fire. I took out the sweet potatoes I had steamed last night and put them in a large bowl in the cupboard. I washed the pot and boiled water. I tidied myself up, put on my leather hat, and headed towards the village based on my memory.
Honestly, Xiao Hongmei's home is quite far from the village. I don't know what her parents were thinking, leaving such a young girl to live alone here. It's really cruel of them. The little girl wasn't traumatized, just a bit withdrawn. It has to be said that Xiao Hongmei is very strong. I remember her nephew was seven or eight years old and still afraid to be home alone. Her mother had to take him with her even when she went out to buy groceries, otherwise she would cry and be impossible to soothe. This little girl is really adorable. Thinking back to when I was 10, I only helped my mother sweep the floor, and I didn't even have to pull weeds in the fields myself. But this little girl not only had to cook and do laundry, but also had to do farm work. Fortunately, the villagers helped her, otherwise, I don't know if she could have survived. But after reading Xiao Hongmei's memories, she didn't blame her parents at all. After her parents passed away, she even made excuses for them. What a good child, so sensible that it breaks my heart.
Upon arriving at the village chief's house, Zhang Hongmei, knowing the customs of rural people, realized that one should not enter another's house when there is a funeral. So she stood at the door and shouted loudly, "Third Uncle, Third Aunt, are you home? I am Hongmei."
"You're here, you're here! Hongmei, are you feeling better? Don't catch a cold again. Do you need to see your third uncle?" Li Cuihua answered as she walked over.
Seeing the door open, Zhang Hongmei said, "Third Aunt, I'm all better now. I'm not cold anymore, and I'm wearing a cotton hat. I just wanted to ask my Third Uncle about the township's phone number. I want to know how my parents died, and if it's possible to bring them back and bury them in our village, so that I can visit their graves whenever I miss them, and burn some paper money for them during festivals."
"What a good child! Your third uncle is having porridge right now, it'll be ready soon. Hongmei, would you like to come in and have a bowl of porridge?"
"No, Auntie, I can't come into your house right now. I'll just wait for my Uncle outside. You should go eat quickly, or it will get cold."
“I eat fast, I’ve finished eating. Hongmei is becoming more and more sensible. In the future, you should play with your friends more often and not stay cooped up at home all the time. You need to stand on your own two feet and make yourself independent. You also need to learn how to navigate the social interactions in the village, do you understand?”
Zhang Hongmei was genuinely grateful. This stranger, with no blood relation, was so considerate of her, truly treating her like a junior. This Auntie was truly kind-hearted. "I'll remember that, Auntie. I'll ask you if I don't understand something in the future. I also want to learn how to make clothes and shoes from you. My mother used to make them for me; she didn't have time to teach me. Now I'm all alone, and it's not good to keep bothering others, so I have to learn it myself."
"Yes, that's it. I'll come to your house to teach you while you're still a bit immature these days. Do you have all the sewing tools you need at home, like needles, thread, thimbles, scissors, and awls?"
"Yes, everything is there. My mom uses it, it has everything. Auntie went to a lot of trouble."
“It’s nothing. Although I’m not very familiar with your mother, your father and I grew up together. How can I just stand by and do nothing after they lost their only daughter? Don’t be so polite with your aunt.”
"What are you two talking about?" Liu Maocai, the village chief of Liujiatun, came out.
"Honey, Hongmei is here to see you. You two chat, I'll go get ready. Hongmei, I'll come to your house to teach you later."
"Okay, Auntie, go ahead and get busy. Uncle, I just want to ask about my parents. Who in the village answered the phone? And how exactly did my parents die?"
"The township head answered the phone and told me that your parents had died fighting the enemy at the border, but I didn't know the specifics." Liu Maocai was stunned when he heard what the township head said. Without asking for details, he hurriedly returned to inform Zhang Hongmei.
"Uncle, could you take me to the village to ask around today? I want to bring my parents back." Zhang Hongmei said, then lowered her head.
"Okay, I'll take you to ask right away. This girl is filial and wants to bring your parents back. Come on, I'm going to a meeting in the township today, so the two of us can take the bus. Do you have any thick cotton-padded clothes at home? You'll be freezing in no time wearing these."
"Yes, I can wear my mom's military overcoat. I'll go home to change."
"Go ahead, come find me at the brigade after you've changed."
"Alright, Uncle, I'll go back and change right away. Tell my Aunt that I'll go to the village with you. We've already agreed that Aunt will teach me how to make clothes."
"Okay, I'll say so, go ahead."
Zhang Hongmei turned and ran home.
"Don't rush, take it slow, you don't need to run. I'll wait for you at the brigade. Don't fall down again."
"Understood," Zhang Hongmei replied without turning her head. Back home, she took out her military overcoat, put it on, locked the door, and went to the brigade headquarters; she couldn't keep them waiting.
Liu Maocai went back into the house, told Li Cuihua, and put on his cotton-padded coat.
“You know, Hongmei has really changed. She’s become so filial. None of our children have ever been this sensible.” Li Cuihua chattered along with Liu Maocai.
"That's right. It's like this girl suddenly became enlightened after her parents died. Well, how could she not grow up after something like this? We should take better care of her in the future."
“Yes, I know without you saying it. Zhang Aiguo grew up playing with us. Even when he went to serve in the army, he would come to see us every time he came back. Now that he’s all we have left, we have to take care of him.”
"You passed, you know it's a pass, I'm off." Liu Maocai dressed and went out the door. When he arrived at the brigade, he hitched up the oxcart and Zhang Hongmei arrived.
"Uncle, I'm here. Let's go."
"Come on, you get in the car first. It'll probably take us about an hour to get there."
"Uncle, how do you know the time?" Zhang Hongmei pressed for an answer.
“I have a watch. Your dad brought it back for me from out of town.” Liu Maocai raised his wrist to show Zhang Hongmei his watch.
"What time is it now, Uncle?"
"It's 8:35, why are you asking this?"
"Nothing much, just asking," Zhang Hongmei replied to Liu Maocai, but her consciousness entered her spatial dimension. She found her watch and adjusted the time so she wouldn't forget what time it was. She just wasn't sure if Liu Maocai's time was accurate; she'd ask someone else in the village when they got there.
"Don't talk in this wind, or you'll get a stomachache. Just hide behind me and I'll shield you from the wind."
"Okay, I'll sit behind you." Zhang Hongmei was genuinely touched; the couple were truly kind-hearted.
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