At the beginning of the year, the two brothers Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan pooled their money together to build a new house on the site of their old house. After decorating it inside and out and adding furniture, it was completed at the end of last month.

I came back to Shenjiagou, on the one hand to celebrate the Spring Festival, and on the other hand to warm up the new house.

In order to make it easier to drive to the doorstep, Shen Mingzhu paid for a five-meter-wide cement road in the village out of her own pocket.

On New Year's Eve, Shen Mingzhu had breakfast at home before heading back to Shenjiagou.

When I got back, the house was bustling with activity both inside and outside.

The two brothers Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan were killing chickens and ducks by the well. Shen Jianguo was directing them with his hands behind his back. The Husky kept circling around the father and two sons, excited like a fool.

In the open space outside the courtyard gate, Du Juan was surrounded by a group of village wives who were vying for her favor.

Jia Yuemei stood a little further away, eating melon seeds while watching over her son. She would glance at Du Juan from time to time with a sour look on her face as if she was dissatisfied.

With Shen Mingzhu's return, the wives in the village moved their positions and surrounded Shen Mingzhu.

"Yeah, Mingzhu is back."

"Tsk tsk, it's like she took a magic pill, she's getting younger and younger, she looks no different from a 20-year-old girl!"

"Mingzhu, why didn't you drive back your new multi-million dollar car? We wanted to see it for ourselves."

"The car has been taken for maintenance. You'll have a chance to see it later."

Hearing what Shen Mingzhu said, everyone couldn't help but feel sorry that cars worth millions of dollars can only be seen on TV.

Even if you can't afford to drive one in this lifetime, it's good to satisfy your eyes.

Knowing that Shen Mingzhu was impatient to deal with this kind of situation, Pei Yang got out of the car with the candies he had prepared earlier and distributed them to everyone one by one, with each person grabbing a handful.

Everyone was tactful and took the candies and went home happily.

…

"Little sister, you are so lucky."

When the two aunts and sisters-in-law were sitting in the yard warming themselves by the fire, Jia Yuemei suddenly said this.

Following each other's gaze, they saw the brothers Pei Tang and Shen Chaobei squatting by the well, cleaning the internal organs of chickens and ducks.

Ten years ago, the brothers Shen Chaobei and Shen Xiangnan were considered handsome guys in the village.

Shen Chaobei looks like Shen Jianguo, with a typical square face, while Shen Xiangnan looks more like Qin Jinlian, with delicate features.

Moreover, both brothers are tall and big, and are very popular among the young girls in the village.

Unfortunately, time is a butcher's knife.

Now both brothers have gained weight to varying degrees. Shen Chaobei's square face has grown into a big round pancake, while Shen Xiangnan has a round beer belly.

In comparison, Pei Yang has no problem with weight gain that common among middle-aged men.

Her sideburns were neatly trimmed, and her bangs were combed to the sides with hairspray, revealing her full forehead and deep, three-dimensional facial features as if carved by a knife. The gold Rolex watch on her wrist was shining.

Even though she was wearing Shen Jianguo's old coat, it couldn't conceal her maturity and charm.

"So many years have passed, and you and Pei Yang haven't changed much. Little sister, if you have any secrets to maintaining your looks, please teach us." Jia Yuemei said flatteringly.

Shen Mingzhu glanced at the other party and said, "Second sister-in-law, do you really want to know?"

"Ah, I do."

"Mind your own business, talk less, and read more."

Although she could tell Shen Mingzhu was teasing her, Jia Yuemei still smiled and said, "I don't have many books at home. How about I borrow a few from you when I have time?"

"If you want to read books, it's easy. Go to the city library and get a library card. Then you can read any book in the entire library."

Jia Yuemei was still trying to get close to him, but she heard her son crying outside the yard, so she had to get up in a hurry to see her son.

"After all these years, she is still the same as before, calculating and calculating, and trying to figure out who else can see through her."

After glancing at Jia Yuemei's back, Du Juan complained to Shen Mingzhu in a low voice.

Shen Mingzhu smiled and changed the subject.

After lunch, the sun came out for a rare occasion, making the yard warm.

The men were busy preparing the New Year's Eve dinner in the kitchen.

Shen Mingzhu moved a rocking chair to the yard and prepared to take a nap.

Just as I was about to lie down, I saw an old man standing at the gate of the yard.

Holding a bamboo stick in his hand, he staggered and tried hard to step into the gate of the courtyard.

Shen Mingzhu went forward to support the other person to prevent him from falling down at the door of her house, which would have made it difficult for him to explain himself.

Only when I got closer did I recognize it was Liu Cuihua.

The man looked much older, his hair was almost completely white, he was extremely thin, his back was hunched, and he looked like he was in his eighties or nineties.

"Aunt Liu, are you okay?"

The other person looked at her, his eyes cloudy like stirred sand, "Mingzhu, you're back?"

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The tone was unexpectedly kind, revealing a weak attempt at flattery.

Shen Mingzhu nodded, "Yes."

Perhaps she realized that Shen Mingzhu had no intention of inviting her in, or perhaps she just didn't have the strength to cross the threshold, but Liu Cuihua no longer thought about going in. She held onto the stone lion sculpture in front of the door with her withered hands, her wrinkled face filled with emotion and envy.

"I have been fighting with your mother all my life, but in the end, no one has a good ending. She didn't have children and grandchildren, and I lost my daughter. We both have the same miserable fate."

"Tell me, is my Baolan still here?" Seeing that Shen Mingzhu didn't respond, she asked again.

"With Shen Baolan's abilities, she should be able to live well anywhere." Shen Mingzhu comforted her insincerely.

Although I don't like Liu Cuihua, as a mother, I can't help but feel sympathy and regret for her losing her daughter.

"Why doesn't she come back? I miss her every day."

"You damn girl, you've been causing me so much trouble since you were little..."

Perhaps she heard the answer she wanted to hear, Liu Cuihua walked away again with her crutches, muttering to herself.

After being interrupted by Liu Cuihua, Shen Mingzhu lost her sleepiness.

After lying in the rocking chair for a while, she took out her cell phone and called Pei Qiuxia.

After chatting about some family matters, the call was transferred to Shen Zhemin.

"Does your bureau still plan to continue investigating Gao Hualiang's case?"

"That's tough. There are countless old cases like this. Unless new clues emerge, this is probably the end of it."

"Why are you sitting here alone? Didn't you say you wanted to take a nap in the sun?"

Looking at the man squatting in front of her, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but talk about Liu Cuihua asking about her daughter.

Pei Yang sneered: "She has caused trouble for you before, and you still care about her life or death?"

"That's not the case. I just feel that there has to be an explanation as to whether a person is dead or alive."

Seeing her sad, Pei Yang comforted her: "Okay, let's not talk about her. The duck today is quite fat, and Dad said he wants to eat roast duck, why don't you go roast one?"

Shen Mingzhu said casually: "Just let your second brother roast it."

"His baking is not as good as yours. Come on, I'll help you and you just need to talk."

After his repeated coaxing and persuasion, Shen Mingzhu reluctantly got up and went to the kitchen.

After working hard for a year, she wanted to take a few days off during the Chinese New Year, but she really wasn't in the mood to cook the New Year's Eve dinner.

…

Time flies like an arrow.

Three years later.

"Bride and groom, look this way..." (End of this chapter)