Seeing the two siblings still talking in the yard, Chen Ma, who had already set the table, shouted, "Alright, alright, you two can talk after you finish eating, or the food will get cold."
Although the dishes on the table were not commonly eaten, the usually cheerful Chen family dinner table was somewhat subdued today, and the family ate an unusually quiet dinner.
After the meal, Chen Shuning did not help his mother clear the table as usual. Instead, he looked around the house with a reluctant expression.
Their family lived in the west wing of a three-courtyard house, a small room of only a dozen square meters that was divided into three parts by wooden boards.
The outermost, slightly larger room was Chen's parents' bedroom and living room. To the left of the entrance was a fire wall about half a meter high, next to which was an old wooden bed. At the foot of the bed were two wooden chests with neatly folded quilts on them. To the right of the door was a set of old-fashioned wooden table and chairs.
The slightly larger room on the east side near the window now belongs to Chen Shuning, while the smaller room without windows closer to the inside belongs to his younger brother, Chen Jiandang.
Chen Shuning's room didn't have a bed, but a narrow kang (a heated brick bed) about two meters wide. Originally, she slept there with her older sister, but the room only became her own after her older sister went to the countryside.
The small kang (heated brick bed) was built along the fire wall of the main house. It was heated by the earthen stove in the outer room. At the end of the kang was a wooden box containing some clothes. In addition to bedding, there was a very small kang table on it, which was made for her by the original owner of the house, who is now her father.
According to the original owner's memories, she completed all her homework from elementary school to high school at this small table.
The room of the youngest brother in the Chen family was even smaller. The small kang (heated brick bed) that was about one meter wide was built directly from her side. The width of her kang was the same as the length of the youngest brother's kang. So the youngest brother's kang was so small that there was no place to put a wooden box. There was only a small kang table, just like Chen Shuning's, placed at the end of the kang.
Housing was truly scarce in Beijing at that time. Before the implementation of the one-child policy, families had several children, and the pace of urban development could not keep up with the rate of population growth, resulting in the current situation.
However, Chen Shuning is quite satisfied with his current home. Although the small room is old and dilapidated, it is kept clean and tidy. Although there are many brothers and sisters in the family, they all get along well and have never had any conflicts.
What pleased Chen Shuning even more was that both her parents had relatively stable and well-paying jobs. If the Chen family hadn't separated so late, and if the old man and woman hadn't been so biased, causing the family's finances to be a bit weak, their lives would have been quite comfortable.
Mr. Chen is a retired soldier. After his discharge, he was assigned to the Public Security Bureau in Xicheng District. Ms. Chen originally worked in the army canteen when she was with her husband in the army. She had a formal job. Later, when Mr. Chen was discharged and came to Beijing, she was assigned to work at the supply and marketing cooperative in Xicheng District.
Given Mr. and Mrs. Chen's income, their family's financial situation should be quite good.
Finally, her gaze fell on the large and small bags of luggage piled on the floor of the house. Although she was reluctant to leave, Chen Shuning knew that leaving for the time being was the best choice.
Putting aside the fact that her name had already been submitted for the rural assignment and that was an unchangeable fact, the main issue was that she was an imposter. Although she had the original's memories, her personality, which was completely different from the original's, was fine for a day or two, but sooner or later her family would find out. Therefore, leaving temporarily was the best option.
When she returns in a few years, she can use the excuse that the environment has changed her personality, and at that time she will be able to rest assured and regain this warm home.
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