Chapter 341 The Orphanage's Lies: The Handsome Flower Boy 41
Ms. Feng Juxiang felt that the illness that had plagued her for many years had been largely dispelled. She insisted on cooking for her daughter and grandson herself.
She held Shen Ci's hand tightly, just like when they were children. She had to work in the fields, worry about the family, and take care of her daughter, so she could only take one step at a time.
If Shen Ci weren't so grown up now, she would really like to carry the child on her back like she did when she was a child.
She was afraid that if she let go of her daughter's hand, her daughter would disappear again, just like before.
Shen Ci looked around and saw that only her children and parents were home. Where were her two older brothers and sisters-in-law? She took the initiative to ask.
Shen Dashan, the father, originally intended to go to the fields, but now that his daughter has returned, he has packed up his things and doesn't plan to work in the fields anymore.
The work in the fields can be done anytime, but my daughter only came back today.
"Your eldest and second eldest brothers went to the commune to repair the irrigation canal. Your eldest sister-in-law is in the vegetable garden, and your second sister-in-law went to wash clothes by the river. They should be back soon."
Upon hearing this, Mother Shen quickly sent her two grandchildren to the fields and the riverbank to call for help.
"Go quickly! Tell your dad and uncle that your aunt is back! Put aside everything else and come home right away!"
And call your mothers back too.
The loss of their daughter, son-in-law, and grandson is an unspeakable tragedy for the Shen family for over a decade.
Because of this, their family was often ridiculed by villagers and openly mocked by those they didn't get along with.
It's one thing to be mocked by others, but what's even more painful is the grief in the hearts of one's own family.
The Shen family's house was not large; the kitchen and the main dining room were connected by an old cloth curtain.
While busy at the stove, Mother Shen kept turning around to check if Shen Ci was still there, making sure he was still within her sight.
Having lost her and then found her again, she cherished her all the more, afraid that her daughter would disappear again in the blink of an eye. The way she cautiously peeked out made Shen Ci feel a pang of sadness.
Mother Shen was in a great mood and took out all the good things she had saved up at home. Today made her even happier than during the New Year. In the past, her daughter wasn't home for the New Year, so she wasn't in the mood.
My daughter is back; it's an even more important day than the Lunar New Year.
Mother Shen cooked many dishes, including a large pot of stewed cabbage, vermicelli, and pork belly. The pork slices were cut very thickly, not stingy at all, and glistening with oil.
A large bowl of scrambled eggs, golden brown and sprinkled with chopped green onions, along with homemade pickled radish shreds and steaming hot millet porridge.
They even took out a large plate of cured pork, which they only ate during the Lunar New Year, and steamed it. They also took out all the little bit of precious white flour they had left and made a few flaky pancakes.
In the winter of 1979, this table of dishes was made with almost everything the family had; they brought out everything they could afford. The Shen family had never eaten so well during the Spring Festival.
Almost every dish contained meat and was cooked with oil. She wanted to make up for the home-cooked meals her daughter hadn't had in years.
Not long after, shouts came from outside, the voices were very excited, and there were also hurried footsteps.
"Sis! Where's my sis?!"
Shen Ci's eldest brother, Shen Guodong, and second brother, Shen Guoliang, ran all the way back.
They heard the news from the child and initially thought it was fake. They ran back home until they actually saw the well-dressed, elegant person standing in the house.
Both of them were stunned and dared not recognize each other. If they saw each other outside, they would only think that they were strangers.
In their minds, the younger sister was a girl with long braids, wearing coarse cloth clothes, and a lively and energetic smile.
"Big brother! Second brother!"
Shen Ci looked at the two dark-skinned men in front of him and grinned as he shouted.
"Aci! It really is Aci!"
The eldest brother, Shen Guodong, a kind and honest man, instantly had tears in his eyes.
He imagined touching his sister's head like he did when they were little, but he awkwardly withdrew his hand halfway through. He just grinned and kept smiling, but his eyes were wet with tears.
My younger sister has grown up and changed so much that I can't recognize her at all. Only by looking very closely can I find traces of her from when she was little.
They have similar faces, but they feel like completely different people.
The second brother, Shen Guoliang, was more outgoing and not much older than Shen Ci. He was extremely excited, constantly rubbing his hands together, unsure how to express his joy.
"It's good that you're back! It's good that you're back!"
These past years have caused our parents so much worry! We've also..."
As he spoke, his voice trembled and he couldn't continue. He turned his head away and secretly wiped his eyes, feeling surprised, happy, scared, and mostly heartbroken.
A complex mix of emotions converged into the simple statement, "It's good that you're back."
Shen Ci then pulled Lu Jinnian over and introduced him to everyone.
"Xiao Nian, this is your eldest uncle, and this is your second uncle."
Then she spoke to her brothers.
"Big brother, second brother, this is the Little New Year."
Lu Jinnian greeted people obediently.
"Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle."
The two uncles looked at the incredibly handsome young man in front of them, who had the air of a student, and couldn't help but sigh with admiration.
My sister left home because of this boy, and now we've finally found her.
One after another, the eldest and second sisters-in-law also rushed back. The eldest sister-in-law is a straightforward and efficient person. When she got married, Shen Ci was still at home, and the two sisters-in-law had gotten along before.
At that time, they didn't have their own children yet, and they treated Shen Ci as both a younger sister and a daughter.
As soon as she entered the house, she looked around and knew which one was her younger sister. She quickly grabbed Chen Ci's hand and burst into tears.
"Little sister! You're finally back! My heart can finally be healed!"
The second sister-in-law, a little shy, also called out "little sister" with red eyes.
When Shen Ci left, her eldest brother was already married and she had met his wife before. Her second brother, however, was not yet married and she was meeting his wife for the first time.
The entire Shen family has finally reunited, with not a single one missing; this is true family reunion.
The sorrow of parting is endless, and the pain of longing is boundless.
Once everyone's emotions had calmed down a bit, Shen's father remembered something and cautiously probed her with a question.
"Ah Ci, tell your father, how have you been all these years? Where are you settled now?"
Even though she's his own daughter, he didn't dare ask too many questions, afraid of asking something he shouldn't. But there are some things that parents can't ignore.
Shen Ci had already prepared these arguments.
"Dad, Mom, brother, sister-in-law, I took some money and tickets and went to Beijing to look for my child."
But that address was fake. In this vast sea of people, money doesn't last long, and it was all gone in no time.
I couldn't find a way to come back, and I was too ashamed to come back. I also couldn't find my child. Later, when I had no other choice, I secretly went abroad with a group of people who went to Southeast Asia to work on ships.
Out there, unable to speak the language and with no relatives or friends, I did all sorts of jobs, washing dishes, sewing clothes for others...
They tried to make a living while asking around for news about the Lunar New Year.
It was as if God took pity on me; this year I finally found some clues, and I immediately returned from abroad and found Xiaonian in Beijing.
"As soon as I found the child, I brought him back to see you all!"
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