Xu Ning returned home and took the pears into the house. Thinking that Uncle Lu and Aunt Lu's son was coming today and there were not many vegetables over there, he planned to make some and send them over.
Xu Ning took out a local chicken from the space and planned to stew some chicken soup. The weather was too cold, so he would drink some soup to warm himself up. He chopped the chicken into pieces, put it in a casserole, added dried mushrooms and chestnuts, and stewed it on the stove. He also took out two pounds of meat, took out sauerkraut from the sauerkraut jar, and made a pork and sauerkraut stew with vermicelli, and put a pot of pancakes on the side.
The chicken soup stewing on the stove exudes a rich aroma. Xu An and Xu Mo are sitting in front of the stove, lighting a fire. Pork and cabbage are stewed in a big pot. Xu Ning is standing by the pot, making pancakes. The kitchen is filled with smoke, and is full of the flavor of life.
In the cowshed, Father and Mother Lu brought their son into the house and sat him on the kang.
Lu Xiaotang first looked around the room. It was not big, with a kang that could sleep two people. At one end of the kang was an old kang cabinet, on which were placed patched hats, cotton gloves and a few clothes. Next to it were two neatly folded quilts. The quilts were thick but full of patches. Next to the kang was a table with a teacup and a thermos on it.
Then I turned my attention to his parents. They looked to be dressed very warmly, with a long coat made of who knows how many pieces of cloth on the outside, and the same pants underneath. Their cotton shoes were also covered with patches.
Lu Xiaotang's eyes turned red as he watched.
Mother Lu took his hand and asked, "Xiaotang, how did you find this place?"
Lu Xiaotang looked at his parents and said, "I heard it when my uncle and my younger uncle were talking."
"How are you doing in the army? Have you contacted your sister? Is she still working as an educated youth in Xinshi?" asked Mother Lu.
"Mom, my sister and I are doing well. I went to Xinshi to see her last year. The place where she joined the production team has good conditions. She is now a teacher in the primary school of her production team."
"That's good, that's good. Now your father and I can rest assured," said Mother Lu, holding her son's hand and choking with sobs. Father Lu also turned sideways and wiped his eyes with the corner of his clothes. The few of them talked for a while.
Father Lu said, "Xiaotang, your mother and I are fine here. You should go back early tomorrow morning and don't come here anymore."
Mother Lu also nodded and said, "Xiaotang, go back! Listen to your uncle and don't tell your sister that we are here."
Lu Xiaotang was silent and didn't say anything. Lu's father and mother knew their son. He had been naughty since he was young, but he was very independent in doing things. He seemed much calmer this time, but it might not be easy to persuade him to go back.
Mother Lu advised her son again, "Xiaotang, your father and I are really happy here. Your seventh grandfather and the couple of Uncle Xu you saw just now live in this courtyard. They are all good people. Your seventh grandfather is an old widower. Since your father and I came here, he has taken good care of us. Your Uncle Xu came here this autumn. His daughter and son are educated youth here. They are the girl who brought you here today. Once she and her brother went up the mountain to pick wild vegetables and encountered a wild boar. Your father helped to kill it. Since then, this girl often comes to bring food and clothes. Did you see what we are wearing? The cotton coats, cotton pants, and cotton shoes are all new." The patches on it were all put on by her with scraps of cloth. The clothes your father and I are wearing outside are also work clothes she made for us. She deliberately tore up several old clothes and pieced them together. And this hat looks very torn from the outside, but it is all new and very warm. Her parents, Grandpa Qi, and your father and I each have one. The thermos and teacup on the table were all brought by her. This girl has acquaintances in the supply and marketing cooperative. These are defective products that can only be obtained from inside. She also has acquaintances in the slaughterhouse and often brings back meat. Yesterday she brought back a leg of lamb and stewed lamb soup for us. "
As Lu's mother spoke, she took the quilt from the bed and showed it to him, "Xiaotang, look at this big quilt, it's wide and thick, it's made of new cotton, and it weighs ten kilograms. It was also brought by Xiaoning, and these patches were also put on by her."
Lu Xiaotang looked at these and felt that they were indeed as his mother had said, the things were good, not ostentatious, made with great care, and the girl was very smart.
Mr. Lu and Mrs. Lu continued to talk about asking him to leave tomorrow, but no matter what the couple said? He just didn't speak.
The three of them were in a stalemate when Xu's father came in with ginger sugar water. He put a large bowl of ginger sugar water in Lu Xiaotang's hand and said with a smile, "Drink this bowl of ginger sugar water quickly. It's too cold today. You've walked all the way. You need to drink some to drive away the cold."
Lu Xiaotang quickly stood up and took the bowl with both hands, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Xu, please sit down."
Father Xu waved his hand and said, "You two can talk, I'll go to the cowshed to check it out."
Father Lu quickly pulled him aside and said, "Brother Xu, come and help me persuade this kid. I asked him to go back tomorrow, but he refused. You said it would not be a good influence on him if he stayed here."
Lu Xiaotang looked at his parents and said, "Mom and Dad, I'm grown up now and I know what I'm doing. If my future has to be cut off from you, even if there is a smooth road ahead, I don't want to go there."
Father Xu saw that this was not a solution for them, so he said, "Xiao Lu, you are a filial child, but we as parents have to consider our children. Look at me, I am in the same situation as your father. My daughter and son went to the countryside here, and I have not recognized them. Cutting off contact is just for others to hear. Isn't it enough for us to know what's going on in our hearts? If you are fine, your parents don't have to worry about you. If you stay here, what can you do? Your parents won't be at ease either!"
Father Xu thought for a moment and said, "Xiao Lu, you asked for leave to come here, right? How about this? Tell others that you are my daughter's cousin and that you are here to visit them and stay at her place for a few days. You stay there during the day and come to talk to your parents at night. Whenever you want to come in the future, you can come here in this capacity."
After hearing this, Dad and Mom's eyes lit up and they both looked at their son. Lu Xiaotang thought about it and realized that it made sense. If he stayed here, it would only make his parents sad. It would be better for him to come and see them occasionally. Thinking of this, he nodded.
He said to Xu's father, "Then I'll have to trouble Uncle Xu's brothers and sisters."
"It doesn't matter whether it's a trouble or not. We are all family. Drink the ginger soup quickly or it will get cold soon." After saying that, he went out.
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