When the group finally arrived at their hometown, Xia Liang felt a subtle tension. She didn't want her two daughters to see any potential rift between her and her parents. She knew that as a mother, she needed to project strength and harmony.
The old house in her hometown still looked the same as before, except for two new buildings next to it, which Xia Liang guessed were probably the new homes built by her cousins. The old couple sat in rocking chairs under the eaves. Old Man Xia held his pipe in his hand, puffing out smoke that revealed the tranquility of time; Old Woman Xia, on the other hand, seemed a little bored, her eyes revealing a hint of fatigue, her spirits not as good as they used to be.
Xia Dahe had not returned for many years, and at this moment, he was incredibly excited. With tears in his eyes, he ran to the elderly couple, his voice choked with emotion: "Dad, Mom, I'm back." At that moment, years of longing and guilt turned into tears, streaming down his face.
Xia Liang watched this scene, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She stepped forward and gently greeted her parents, trying her best to create a harmonious family atmosphere. Her two daughters stood aside, observing the emotional exchange between their elders. Although they didn't fully understand all the emotional entanglements, they could feel the deep family affection and respect for their elders.
After staying in her hometown for a while, Lin Xia took her two children to the village chief Xia Youshun's house. The village chief's wife had passed away a couple of years ago, and Xia Liang had returned home then, but the two children couldn't come because of school. Seeing the now hunched-over Xia Youshun, Xia Liang's eyes welled up with tears, and she asked with concern, "Second Grandpa, how have you been lately?" She then placed the nutritional supplements she had brought on the table for him. Xia Youshun was quite surprised to see Xia Liang; "Isn't your company busy?" he asked. Xia Liang smiled and replied, "My brother is watching over things. I came back with my parents to help them build a house."
When refining this description, we can add more nuanced portrayals of the characters' emotions and a heartwarming depiction of family affection in the countryside. Below is the refined version:
After a brief stay in her hometown, Xia Liang decided to take her two children to visit the village chief, Xia Youshun. Two years ago, when the village chief's wife passed away, Xia Liang had returned home once, but the children couldn't accompany her because of school. Now, seeing Xia Youshun again, his back now hunched, a warm feeling welled up in Xia Liang's heart, and her eyes involuntarily moistened.
She stepped forward and asked with a warm tone, "Second Grandpa, how have you been lately?" As she spoke, she gently placed the nutritional supplements she had brought on the table as a token of her appreciation to her elder.
When Xia Youshun saw Xia Liang, his face showed a mixture of surprise and joy: "Xia Liang, you're here. This is such a surprise. Isn't your company busy?" His words revealed his concern for Xia Liang's career.
Xia Liang smiled and replied, "My brother is in charge of the company. I came back specifically to accompany my parents to build a house." Her smile revealed her longing for her hometown and her deep affection for her family.
Xia Youshun nodded, praising Xia Liang's filial piety: "What a filial and good child. Your family is truly blessed to have a descendant like you." His words were full of pride for Xia Liang and expectations for the future of the family.
The children stood aside, watching their mother and the village chief interact, and felt the simple family affection and neighborly warmth in the countryside.
When the family returned to the thatched-roof house they had bought, they found the roof was damaged and leaking in several places. Knowing they couldn't stay there overnight, Xia Liang decided to take his family to town, where at least there were guesthouses to temporarily solve their accommodation problem.
The family made do with the place at the town's guesthouse for the night. Xia Liang felt somewhat helpless, but she was more concerned with finding a long-term solution. The next day, she arranged for Zhou Xiong to find suitable housing, as staying in the guesthouse long-term was neither convenient nor economical.
Xia Dahe also took action, taking Tian Longhui to buy the materials needed for building the house. After negotiating the price with the seller and paying, they arranged for the materials to be delivered to the village. Xia Dahe believed that it was more appropriate to find someone in the village to build the house, since everyone was from the same village. If they were to find an outsider to build the house, the villagers might feel it was inappropriate and it wouldn't be good for maintaining neighborly relations.
In the village, Xia Dahe found some reliable villagers to help with the construction. They were all acquaintances in the village, ensuring the quality and craftsmanship of the construction. This not only ensured the smooth progress of the construction work but also maintained and strengthened his relationship with the villagers.
Xia Liang's eldest cousin-in-law, Wang Xiaocui, was a thoughtful and tactful person. Upon learning that Xia Liang's family was facing hardship because their thatched-roof house in their hometown was uninhabitable, she offered to let Zhao Danxiang and the rest of the family stay at her home. This gesture not only solved Xia Liang's family's accommodation problem but also brought Zhao Danxiang and the rest of the family closer together.
Xia Dahe and Zhao Danxiang gratefully accepted Wang Xiaocui's invitation and moved into her home. Xia Xiaogu, along with her four grandsons, moved into Grandma Xia's home, thus providing everyone with a warm and welcoming place to stay.
Xia Liang, along with her two children and Chen Yanling, chose to stay at the town's guesthouse. Although it wasn't as comfortable as their home, it at least met their basic living needs. Whenever they needed materials for building a house, Xia Dahe would call Xia Liang and tell her in detail what supplies were required.
Xia Liang always responded quickly. She carefully selected the necessary materials in town and then contacted local merchants to arrange for the materials to be delivered directly to the village. This arrangement greatly reduced the construction time.
Gu Yuanzhi's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She tugged at Xia Liang's hand and asked in a pleading tone, "Mommy, can I go to the state-run restaurant where you and Daddy used to eat? And the movie theater where you used to watch movies?" Her little face was filled with curiosity and longing for the beautiful memories of her parents' past.
Xia Liang was touched by her daughter's innocence and enthusiasm. She smiled gently, touched Gu Yuanzhi's little face, and replied, "Of course you can! Mommy would also like to take you to experience it. Let Mommy ask your grandpa. If there aren't any building materials we need recently, Mommy will take you to play, okay?" Her tone was full of respect for her daughter's wish and her appreciation for family time.
Hearing her mother's words, Gu Yuanzhi's eyes shone even brighter. She jumped up excitedly, "Really? That's great, Mom! I really want to go!" Her voice revealed undisguised joy and anticipation for the upcoming adventure.
Looking at her daughter's happy face, Xia Liang's heart was filled with happiness and contentment. She knew that these small wishes and experiences would become a precious part of her daughter's childhood memories, and the gift she, as a mother, was most willing to give.
After receiving confirmation from Xia Dahe that there was no urgent need for building materials, Xia Liang took the children on a journey to revisit the past. They visited a state-run restaurant filled with nostalgic charm, savoring the dishes Xia Liang and Gu Yanxiao had once enjoyed together. Afterwards, they went to the cinema, experiencing the romance of Xia Liang's youth.
This trip was not only a reflection on the past, but also a deepening of the emotional connection between Xia Liang and the children. It allowed Gu Yuanzhi to feel the warmth of family and the weight of history, and it also allowed Xia Liang to once again experience the joy and responsibility of being a mother.
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