Cheng Yunzhi has always been kind and amiable, and seldom speaks harshly to others, especially now that he is with his children and doesn't care about mundane matters. He doesn't get involved in the gossip and idle talk of the village.
This was the first time he had talked about his relationship so frankly and seriously. After he finished speaking, he felt a little uncomfortable and said to Yan Runzhi, "Okay, let's go home. Baoer's mother is still waiting."
He and Yan Runzhi supported each other and left.
Cheng Ruhai looked at their backs and felt inexplicably nervous.
I don’t know why, but I suddenly remembered some things that I thought I had forgotten.
He recalled all the kindness Cheng Yunzhi had shown him when he was a child. When his mother passed away, his father was very sad. He said that he had thought he would take him and his sister out of this sea of suffering, but they did not expect that they would still have to suffer in a labor camp with him. He also told them that they would have the opportunity to live a good life in the future and that they should not have to worry about him.
Later, when his father wanted to remarry, he and Xianglan insisted that they didn't want a stepmother, so his father wouldn't get married. But when they really got married, the stepmother didn't treat them badly. On the contrary, she treated them better. They had hot meals and intact clothes.
Dad really didn't blame him for currying favor with Cheng Fugui, nor did he blame him for drawing a clear line between the two. What he blamed was that he was unfilial to Yan Runzhi.
Yan Runzhi did not feel sorry for them, on the contrary, she treated them well.
Ten years ago, in order to earn money for him to marry a wife, Yan Runzhi had no lamp oil and secretly embroidered in the moonlight, or she would embroider until midnight using the lights from the brigade, with her eyes red from staying up all night.
A few years ago, when they were on the farm, whenever there was a sports event, his father would be taken away, and the few of them would stay at home. In order for him to have the strength to work, she gave him the only dry rice in the house, and the others ate sweet potatoes.
He remembered clearly that one day he heard Yan Runzhi quietly tell Dongsheng, "Your elder brother is working hard and is very tired. Let's leave the food for him and we can eat something porridge."
Dongsheng was very obedient and always took the initiative to leave dry food for him to eat. Dongsheng was so hungry that he couldn't sleep and ran out in the middle of the night to find something to eat, stealing fish, roasting frogs, roasting voles, roasting snakes...
One time, he got angry at Yan Runzhi because his dry food was stolen. In fact, he knew that it was Xianglan who stole the dry food, and he was just... playing tricks... maybe he was jealous or maybe he was unwilling to let his biological mother abandon them and let his stepmother suffer.
He threw things around and complained about Yan Runzhi, making sarcastic remarks, which annoyed Dongsheng. The two brothers had a fight, and he was defeated.
Dongsheng said, "Cheng Ruhai, I treat you well because you are my brother. If you don't treat me as your brother, I wouldn't care. I warn you, don't mess with me in the future."
The past seems very far away, yet very close, just yesterday in the blink of an eye.
Time flies by. I am almost forty years old, Dongsheng is almost thirty, and my parents are already... old.
All his past resentments, complaints against his parents, his birth, the times, the environment, and everyone, suddenly collapsed.
The stepmother did not wrong him, and Dongsheng did not wrong him either. Dongsheng just poked a hole in his own room and kicked it. If he really did not regard himself as his brother, his fate would be similar to that of Cheng Xinda who went crazy and Cheng Fugui who was sent to labor camp.
My younger brother showed me some mercy, but I just didn't want to admit it.
He felt a surge of regret in his heart, his blood boiling, and he could no longer control himself and shouted, "Dad, Mom, I was wrong!"
He knelt down in front of Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi, "I was really wrong."
I don't hate my stepmother, I hate my biological mother, but I dare not and will not admit it. I always blame everything on my stepmother, thinking that if there is a stepmother, there must be a stepfather. It seems that if there is someone to hate, it can cover up the truth that I don't want to face.
Cheng Yunzhi paused, and said, "It's good that you know you are wrong. Think about it carefully. If you can figure it out, you won't be named Cheng in vain."
He did not stay to have a touching scene of admitting his mistakes and apologizing to Cheng Ruhai, but instead walked away with the support of Yan Runzhi.
Cheng Ruhai knelt on the cold ground and said to Cheng Xianglan and Liu Honghua, "Stop making trouble."
Liu Honghua quickly helped him up, feeling aggrieved, "Why are you asking me to go through so much trouble? My sister is here, but she can't see daddy?"
Cheng Xianglan was first slapped in the face by Cheng Yunzhi's words, which was embarrassing and humiliating. Now Cheng Ruhai's kneeling made her even more angry, "What did we do wrong? Did we let him be born? I was implicated. I didn't do anything bad, why am I called the landlord's son of a bitch?"
She was right. If a person doesn't work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth! In order to avoid being implicated, her mother drew a clear line and ran away. As a daughter, she had no way to escape, so she could only be implicated.
She didn't want to listen to her stepmother. In order to get a dowry for her brother to marry someone he didn't like, what was wrong with her finding someone she was satisfied with?
She is right!
She came back to see her biological father. Since her biological father was soft-hearted and was influenced by her stepmother to disown his daughter, she had no choice. She would not serve him in the future, and he would not say that she had no family affection.
She was so angry that she was shaking all over. "Brother, whose fault is it that our family has come to this point today?"
Cheng Ruhai: "Of course it's that bastard Cheng Fugui's fault, if it weren't for him..."
"If it weren't for him, wouldn't our family have been defeated?" Cheng Xianglan wiped her tears, "What did I do wrong?"
Cheng Ruhai advised her: "Sister, you are right. Come over to eat, and then go and apologize to your father tomorrow."
"I did nothing wrong. Why should I admit my mistake? If there is a stepmother, there must be a stepfather. It's really true!" Cheng Xianglan said angrily.
Cheng Ruhai: "But the stepmother did nothing wrong. She did nothing wrong to us. She even took care of us."
"That's you. She married you a wife but didn't give me any dowry. I married her with nothing and without any support from my family!" Cheng Xianglan still felt aggrieved.
Cheng Ruhai: "She doesn't owe us anything."
Liu Honghua didn't have Cheng Ruhai's thoughts and past, so naturally she couldn't feel that kind of emotion. She only looked at the present. She looked at Cheng Xianglan's expression and said sarcastically, "Aunt, you too, you went back to your parents' home empty-handed? Who else has gone back to their parents' home empty-handed? People who know you are coming back to see your father, but people who don't know you think you are coming back to beg for food?"
The word "begging" was very strong and it immediately irritated Cheng Xianglan.
"If I had a good life and could bring back something, why would I not come back long ago? Isn't it because I have nothing to bring back that I don't come back? I'm trying to be nice to outsiders, but there are some things I would never say, for fear of embarrassment. What do I have to be afraid of with my own brother and sister-in-law? My mother-in-law asked me to come back and see if I could borrow some food to go back for the New Year. How could I not come? If I don't come, will I be able to have a good life in the future?"
Liu Honghua: "You...really listen to your mother-in-law."
Cheng Xianglan: "My parents-in-law are the boss of the family. If I don't obey them, I won't have food to eat and I'll be beaten. Who will take care of me if I don't obey? You guys take care of me?"
Liu Honghua: "This is the family you found yourself."
When Cheng Xianglan heard her bullying, she felt angry and aggrieved. She held a sweet potato in her hand and started crying.
Liu Honghua: "If you are not doing well, tell Dad. You are so good. Don't talk about your own problems instead of being arrogant and meddling in other people's affairs. Didn't I tell you that Jiang Lin is just like this at home?" She gave a thumbs up. "The whole family revolves around her and listens to her. If you don't try to please her and still put on airs with her, it would be strange if she would pay attention to you. I don't even dare to say a bad word about her now. No, not only me, but no one in our village dares to say anything bad about her!"
Brick kiln factory, Cheng Rushan, no one dared to mess with Jiang Lin again, no matter for the benefit or the deterrent effect, unless they thought her life was too comfortable.
When Cheng Rushan killed the dog, Liu Honghua was so scared that she trembled at home for several days, fearing that Cheng Rushan would come to settle accounts with her for what she had said to Ma Kaihua about Jiang Lin being afraid of dogs. Fortunately, Cheng Rushan did not come, and it was estimated that the matter was not serious, and Liu Honghua felt that she had escaped. When Cheng Xinda was sentenced, Cheng Fugui was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment, and Cheng Fuwan's captain was also fired, Liu Honghua suddenly realized that she would never dare to go against Jiang Lin again in her life!
If Cheng Ruhai suddenly came to his senses and understood the truth that many people only understand when they reach middle age, Liu Honghua was simply frightened by Cheng Rushan.
She wanted to live a few more years.
Cheng Xianglan couldn't stand it anymore when she saw her blaming herself, "You didn't explain it to me clearly."
The aunt and sister-in-law began to blame each other.
On the way home, Yan Runzhi said to Cheng Yunzhi, "If you feel uncomfortable, we don't have to be harsh on the children. People are kind-hearted. They are all our own sons and daughters. Their fingers are not all the same length. Naturally, their sons and daughters will have different personalities and personalities. There is no need to be angry."
Cheng Yunzhi held her hand and said, "I'm not angry."
Yan Runzhi added: "You don't have to worry about Bao'er's mother. Bao'er's mother is not that stingy."
Cheng Yunzhi: "It's not that I'm afraid of Bao'er's mother getting angry, I just feel that there are some things that I have to say once in this life." If you don't say it, the other party will think that you will never care and they are never wrong.
Yan Runzhi knew that he was thoughtful, delicate and sensitive, so she didn't say much and took his arm to go home for dinner.
Jiang Xinglei was holding a lantern.
Dabao and Xiaobao rushed into the house laughing. The two brothers said proudly, "Mom, I saved our family a meal. We are full now!"
Jiang Lin laughed, quickly put down the book, and started to clean up the food. "They didn't prepare anything at home, you won't be full. Come on, let's eat."
Yan Runzhi helped Cheng Yunzhi sit down, and she and Jiang Lin set the table together.
Dabao and Xiaobao said they were full, but when they saw their own stew and their own little rabbit, puppy and big dinosaur, they couldn't help but sit down and eat again. While eating, they said that their own food was still better.
Jiang Lin acted as if nothing had happened and didn't ask any questions to avoid embarrassing Cheng Yunzhi. The old lady would tell her if there was anything anyway.
After dinner, Cheng Yunzhi took Dabao and Xiaobao for a walk in the yard and told stories. Wensheng supervised Jiang Xinglei's studies, and Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi cleaned up the dishes.
Jiang Lin gave ten yuan to Yan Runzhi.
Yan Runzhi knew what she meant. She was afraid that Cheng Yunzhi wanted to help her daughter but had no money and would feel bad again. She said, "Bao'er's mother, you don't have to give me money. I have it. And you don't have to give it to your father. He doesn't even have the chance to spend it. Two dollars as a mortgage is enough."
The brigade gave them money every month, and Jiang Lin gave it to the old couple. Cheng Yunzhi didn't care, and Yan Runzhi didn't want it, so she asked Jiang Lin to take it. Besides, she also did embroidery work, and Jiang Lin also gave her money. Yan Runzhi had money in her hands, but she had no place to spend it, so she saved it and gave it back to the children later.
Jiang Lin stuffed it into her pocket and said, "When you have some free time, go to the commune and buy whatever you want."
Yan Runzhi laughed and said, "It's snowing heavily and the road is so slippery. I won't go if I fall again."
For Yan Runzhi, no one came to catch her or fight her. She could eat when she wanted and sleep when she wanted. She could embroider the flowers she liked and grow the flowers she liked. Is there anything more comfortable than this?
Now that the family is reunited, she wouldn't trade it for anything even a god would, so she doesn't care about the money.
There was a strong wind and it was very cold. Jiang Lin quickly called Cheng Yunzhi and the children into the house, and the family sat around the kang to listen to the radio.
Jiang Lin said to Jiang Xinglei, "Take a rest for two days and wait for your brother-in-law to come back before you go back to the city."
Jiang Xinglei looked at her in surprise, "Director Jiang, are you really letting me go?"
Jiang Lin: "You think you are so beautiful that I can't bear to see you go?"
Jiang Xinglei chuckled, "I'm a little reluctant to leave."
To be honest, he was really lazy before. He spent his days aimlessly in school, and after graduation, he had evil thoughts, just thinking about making a lot of money by speculating like someone else. After being brought here by his sister, he felt really miserable at first, and felt like he was dying of exhaustion. He even wanted to sneak away, even if he could only walk home.
Later, Shang Zonghui encouraged him with a smile all day long, Dabao and Xiaobao told jokes to amuse him at night, Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi took good care of him, and he felt... he couldn't run away, wouldn't that make people despise him?
He couldn't let his sister look down on him! He couldn't let her be laughed at!
Gradually, he persisted and now he was full of strength. If he didn't make 700 bricks every day, he would still feel itchy all over.
Jiang Lin: "You are a cheapskate. If you still want it, come back in February or March."
Jiang Xinglei: "Okay, then I'll wait for my brother-in-law to come back before I leave."
Jiang Lin took the account book, did some calculations, and gave 35 yuan to Jiang Xinglei. "After deducting your food and meat, this is the amount you earn."
Jiang Xinglei held the pile of money in disbelief, "Did I really make so much money?"
Although formal workers in the city can earn at least 30 yuan, that money has to cover all expenses, including food, drink, defecation and urination.
He actually got 35 yuan in cash. He was really impressed by himself for being so capable!
Seeing the happiness and gratitude emanating from his heart, Cheng Yunzhi told himself that he just wanted to see the brother and sister being grateful from the bottom of their hearts. Jiang Xinglei never made unreasonable demands when he lived here, and never pointed fingers at the people and things at home. Sometimes he acted like a spoiled child, but Jiang Lin didn't indulge him. And he was grateful to himself and Yan Runzhi from the bottom of his heart.
With this benchmark in place, Cheng Yunzhi felt that Cheng Ruhai and Cheng Xianglan could not be worse than a child.
Jiang Xinglei made some money, and he jumped for a while in front of the kang happily. Then he gave one dollar to Dabao, one dollar to Xiaobao, and one dollar to Xiaobao...
Jiang Lin's face darkened, "Are you showing off?"
Jiang Xinglei immediately retracted the hand he had handed to Wensheng, "I'm not distributing New Year's money in advance."
Dabao and Xiaobao immediately put the money away, pretending nothing happened, for fear that their mother would come back.
Jiang Xinglei put the money away in dismay. After being poor for a long time and suddenly becoming rich, he couldn't help showing off. His heart just started beating when Jiang Lin slapped him down and he behaved himself.
Jiang Lin: "I wanted to buy you a train ticket, but you should buy it yourself."
Jiang Xinglei quickly bowed and said, "Good sister, dear sister, please forgive me. I will never dare to do it again."
Only then did Jiang Lin let go.
After talking for a while, they each took a rest.
Cheng Rushan was not at home, so Dabao and Xiaobao accompanied their mother, soaked their feet and went to bed.
After listening to the radio, there is no need to tell stories at night. The little ones can fall asleep in seconds just by smelling the sweet scent of their mother.
At night the wind started to blow, getting stronger and stronger, until it was completely quiet in the middle of the night, and then a heavy snow fell. When daybreak came, the snow was still falling, covering the sky and the earth with a vast expanse of white.
When Dabao and Xiaobao heard Wensheng say it was snowing, they cried out and crawled out of the quilt, quickly put on their cotton jackets and trousers, fastened their suspenders, jumped out of the bed, put on their cotton shoes, and rushed out like the wind.
"What a beautiful scene of snow!" Dabao shouted.
Xiaobao: "It's raining sugar from the sky. It's raining sugar. It would be great if it was all sugar."
Vincent lifted the thick straw curtain covering the window and whispered into the dark room, "Mom, are we making a snowman?"
Jiang Lin: "Coming." She also got up, put on her clothes, and went out quickly.
As soon as you go out, a cool and refreshing breeze hits you in the face, refreshing your spirits.
The trees in the yard were all bare, their branches turned white from the snow. Birds looking for food flew around, stepping on small bamboo leaves on the snow.
Dabao and Xiaobao immediately launched a siege operation, trying to catch the bird, but they fell into the snow and started a snowball fight with each other.
Soon Jiang Xinglei and Wensheng joined in, having snowball fights and making snowmen. Cheng Yunzhi talked about using a sieve to catch sparrows, and Yan Runzhi went to catch millet. The whole family was not busy sweeping the snow early in the morning, but having fun in the yard.
At this time, Jiang Lin heard the roar of the engine outside, and she shouted, "Dad is back."
She started running outside, and Dabao and Xiaobao immediately crawled out from the snow to follow her. When they ran to the intersection, they saw a big truck turning into the village.
Xiaobao clasped his hands together with starry eyes: "My Dongsheng went out and brought back sugar beans."
Dabao said coolly, "I bet there will be no candy beans today. Last time, Director Jiang told you Dongsheng not to buy them, and you Dongsheng will definitely not buy them."
Xiao Bao's eyes widened. "How can my Linlin be so scary?"
Jiang Lin heard the two brothers whispering and couldn't help but bend down, grab a loose snowball and throw it at them, then ran to meet Cheng Rushan.
Dabao and Xiaobao immediately joined forces to attack, Jiang Xinglei helped to outflank, and Wensheng wanted to help Jiang Lin. As a result, the people who went to pick up Cheng Rushan started fighting in the street, and they all had a lot of fun finding cover.
Cheng Rushan sat in the passenger seat, Duan Changan drove, and Dai Guohua did not go this time.
Duan Changan was stunned, "Brother, you are not as interesting as playing snowball fights." Knowing that he was back, no one was in a hurry to greet him, so they just started playing here. Hahahaha.
Cheng Rushan's eyebrows were filled with tenderness, sweeping away the previous coldness and indifference. He curved the corners of his lips and said, "Drive the car to the intersection to move the things, and I will follow."
He opened the car door and jumped out, then pushed the door shut and strode towards Jiang Lin.
Jiang Lin was hiding from Jiang Xinglei. Seeing him coming, she wanted to tease him and threw a loose snowball at him. As a result, the road surface was a little slippery, and she got carried away and fell forward. Cheng Rushan rushed over, offered her his chest, and blocked her body in time, preventing her from falling directly at his feet.
Cheng Rushan smiled with curved eyebrows and eyes: "Wife, you are so enthusiastic."
Jiang Lin hurriedly hugged his chest. Her feet were still slipping, so she quickly climbed up, "Hurry up and give me a hand!"
Cheng Rushan smiled and picked her up. Now she became a bigger target. Dabao, Xiaobao and Jiang Xinglei all threw snowballs at them.
Cheng Rushan turned his back to them and took all the snowballs, saying with a smile, "Truce!"
Vincent waved his hand: "Truce!"
Jiang Xinglei quickly called a truce to avoid retaliation from his brother-in-law.
Dabao and Xiaobao ran over to hug their dad’s legs. In the past, dad would pick them up first when he came back, but why did he pick up mom first today?
Cheng Rushan: "Mom sprained her ankle."
Dabao laughed out loud, not believing it. Xiaobao touched Jiang Lin's ankle with concern: "Linlin, does it hurt?"
Jiang Lin quickly asked Cheng Rushan to put her down. It was broad daylight and people would definitely gossip about her.
Cheng Rushan held her in his arms and ran towards home. She was so scared that she quickly hooked her arms around his neck and said, "Put me down quickly, I'm very heavy!" Don't let me fall!
When he got to the truck, he put Jiang Lin down without blushing or breathing hard, and touched her cold face. "You can hold two of them without any problem."
Duan Changan came down to greet Jiang Xinglei and Wensheng, and took down the gifts for Dabao and Xiaobao, which were the candy beans he bought.
When Dabao and Xiaobao saw this, they immediately laughed happily, "Hahaha." They were very proud. Linlin had miscalculated.
What they brought back were some New Year's goods, packed in baskets, including bacon, smoked fish, cured chicken and duck, frozen fish, shrimp, as well as some vegetables and fruits that can be bought in this season, such as apples, pears, and oranges.
They bought a lot of New Year goods and shared them among the three of them. Duan Changan refused to take any because he had contributed less. So Cheng Rushan asked him to take some bacon and seafood back home as these things were rare.
Cheng Rushan asked Jiang Xinglei and Wensheng to move his share back home, and asked Duan Changan to deliver the rest to Dai Guohua's house, and the car had to be parked at Dai Guohua's house.
Jiang Lin: "Changan, come and have breakfast."
Although I didn't prepare any meals for the two of them, it would be quick to cook the noodles now.
The children ran home in pursuit, with Jiang Lin and Cheng Rushan falling behind.
Cheng Rushan held her hand, interlocking their fingers. Her hands were cold from playing in the snow, but his hands were always warm all year round.
At this time, Cheng Xianglan heard the noise and came out. She had been huddled in Cheng Ruhai's house all night, and could not stand Liu Honghua's sarcasm, so she planned to leave early in the morning and didn't even want to eat breakfast. Then she heard the sound of a truck, saying that Cheng Rushan was coming back, so she hurried out to see.
She felt particularly uncomfortable watching Jiang Lin and the others playing and fooling around on the street as if no one was around, and seeing Cheng Rushan being so indulgent towards his wife.
She wanted to leave immediately when she was angry, but she was unwilling to do so. She had no feelings for this brother before. After all, they were not born by the same mother. Moreover, he was stubborn and naughty when he was young. He was cold to everyone, as if everyone owed him money. But he was her brother after all. Now that he was successful, she felt like something that belonged to her was taken away by someone else.
These things, these concerns, should have been yours.
When he was poor, it was his sister who worked hard to support the family. Now that he is rich, shouldn't he repay her well?
She couldn't help but yell, "Dongsheng."
Cheng Rushan was holding Jiang Lin's hand and talking to her. There was a tenderness in his eyes and brows that could not be frozen by ice and snow. Especially her snow-white cheeks were flushed due to exercise, and her big watery eyes were full of affection. He said some ambiguous words to tease her, and she glared at him with a coquettish look, her eyes were indescribably seductive.
His heart was beating fast, and his body, which had been frozen when he went out, was like boiling water when he saw her, and he actually reacted.
He frowned slightly, feeling a little embarrassed.
It just so happened that Cheng Xianglan called him.
He looked back and saw Cheng Xianglan standing there with a fierce expression on her face.
Cheng Rushan: "Who are you?"
Who are you?
These words hurt more than anything else. Cheng Xianglan never thought that her own father would dislike her and her own brother would not recognize her!
Who are you?
Who else could she call him Dongsheng except her sister? He was really heartless. No wonder she called him a heartless little thing when they were young. When someone wrongly accused him of stealing a chicken, he insisted on killing the chicken to prove the crime. She stopped him from going, and he even asked her which group she was with.
Wasn't she doing this for his own good? She always felt that he would definitely do something like Brother Ruzhou, killing someone, and would either be shot or go crazy.
She can't let him get involved!
The reason why she got married immediately after Cheng Ruhai got married was that she was afraid that her brother would not be able to find a wife because of his poor background, cruel and bad temper, and Yan Runzhi would force her to find a new wife for her brother, and then she would have to marry a fool, a cripple, a mute or an old man.
She couldn't destroy herself and couldn't be implicated by him.
So, she left.
Jiang Lin whispered to Cheng Rushan: "That's your sister."
Cheng Rushan raised his eyebrows slightly, took a look, felt that the face was unfamiliar, narrowed his eyes, and asked, "Sister?"
Cheng Xianglan snorted, "Now that you've achieved something, you naturally don't care about me as your sister." She turned around and left in a huff.
After walking a few steps, she found that Cheng Rushan did not catch up with her, and she became more and more annoyed. As expected, unless the family is surnamed Cheng, the man has no say at all.
Cheng Rushan saw her turn around and leave angrily, feeling a little puzzled, and looked down at Jiang Lin: "What's wrong with her?"
Jiang Lin shrugged and said innocently, "I don't know either."
Cheng Rushan: "Never mind, let's go home."
Jiang Lin thought Cheng Xianglan was also very interesting. In fact, Cheng Rushan seemed to hold grudges and was actually quite generous. As long as you didn't cross his bottom line, he would not care. If Cheng Xianglan talked to him properly, they would often visit each other in the future, and they would be relatives.
After breakfast, Duan Changan took a rest and then left. Cheng Xianglan didn't come to apologize after all. Cheng Yunzhi was disappointed but didn't say anything. He was happier than anything else that Dongsheng was back, so he didn't think about anything else.
This time, Cheng Rushan brought back a table clock for the family to tell time. It was a table-style clock with a wooden case, half a foot high and half a foot wide. Because it made a loud clacking sound when ticking, everyone unanimously decided to put it on the dining cupboard in the north of the main room to avoid making too much noise in the bedroom at night.
Dabao and Xiaobao have no interest in this kind of clock that can only tell time but can't sing or run. They just want to study it.
Yan Runzhi and Cheng Yunzhi packed up the things their son brought back and put them in the east wing or somewhere else. Cheng Rushan took Wensheng and others to sweep the snow from the yard and the street to avoid icy snow.
Dabao and Xiaobao asked Sister Qinqin and the others why they didn't come. Cheng Rushan told them that he didn't go to the provincial capital this time, so he couldn't pick them up. They could meet again next summer vacation. Dabao and Xiaobao had no choice but to accept it.
Cheng Rushan also brought a gift for Jiang Lin, a silk nightgown, aqua red, soft and smooth, against her snow-white skin and black hair, which made him lose all self-control. In the end, she was so tired that she strongly demanded to revise the three-chapter agreement, prohibiting the use of sex toys without restraint!
Jiang Xinglei stayed for another two days. On the National Day, Cheng Rushan sent him to the county town to take a train back to the provincial capital.
Yan Runzhi packed a lot of New Year's goods for Xu Aimei, including ten kilograms of millet, four pieces of bacon, a bacon chicken, two large smoked fish, five kilograms of vermicelli made by the village, and three kilograms of cotton. Fortunately, Jiang Xinglei had exercised to be strong, otherwise he would not be able to carry it.
In the blink of an eye, it is the Little New Year.
Jiang Lin not only received letters from her parents, but also from Qianbo and Lu Hang, all in one envelope. Qianbo's letter was very short, wishing her and her children a happy New Year. Lu Hang's letter was more wordy, first greeting her in various ways and praising her beauty from all angles, and then expressing his admiration for Cheng Ge in a servile manner, which made Jiang Lin wonder if he had hired someone to write it for him.
Jiang Lin didn't understand anything after reading it, so she asked Cheng Rushan: "Is this letter from Lu Hang to you or to me?"
Cheng Rushan smiled and said, "Of course it's for you. Didn't you see that the envelope was addressed to Jiang Lin?"
Jiang Lin: "He wrote to me and told me how much he admired you. What did you do to him?"
Cheng Rushan looked innocent: "Just beat him up, buy him a drink, and we'll be even."
"What did you do these days?" Jiang Lin didn't believe it.
Cheng Rushan: "I really didn't do anything. I don't always have time to go to the provincial capital."
"Aren't you going to build a stove for someone else?"
"Yes, Lu Hang will help me and treat me to a meal and some drinks."
"How much did you drink for him to worship you like this?"
"If you tell me to drink less, I will drink two taels, no more."
Jiang Lin couldn't understand why Lu Hang admired her so much. It wasn't like he was in the middle school syndrome period, it was so inexplicable.
Starting from the 24th day of the lunar calendar, the village slaughtered pigs, ground tofu, and continued to make vermicelli. The pigs were raised by the members' families, and they were all task pigs. Most of them were handed over to the commune slaughter group, and a small number were left in the village brigade to be slaughtered and distributed. After the tofu and vermicelli were made, they were distributed according to work points. If there were any surplus, members could buy them. Some wealthy families could also make them. Now that the policy is becoming more and more relaxed, there are still those wealthy brigades that specialize in making tofu and vermicelli to sell. There are also more and more people selling food and daily necessities in the market.
Cheng Rushan and Jiang Lin took Wensheng, Dabao and Xiaobao to the market to buy candied haws, sugar melons, candied dates and other snacks. They also participated in the brigade slaughtering pigs and distributing meat. Jiang Lin paid for her family's share. Tofu and vermicelli were also bought with money, because almost no one in their family worked to earn work points, so it was reasonable to spend money to buy them.
On the morning of the 26th, Cheng Rushan got up to make breakfast. His wife was exhausted from last night, and he got up so easily that she didn't even feel it. Because it was cold, he asked his parents not to get up too early, and to lie down for a while if they couldn't sleep.
Wensheng got up early to practice swordplay, and danced very well in the yard.
After practicing a set of Tai Chi sword, I felt warm all over. Someone came to knock on the door. It sounded like Cheng Ruhai.
Wensheng asked Cheng Rushan: "Dad, will you open the door for him?"
Cheng Rushan: "Open."
Wensheng went to open the door and looked at Cheng Ruhai outside, "Why are you here?"
Cheng Ruhai was carrying two pounds of meat and a small basket of flour. He said to Wensheng, "It's Chinese New Year now. I'm here to make dumplings for my parents."
Vincent made way to let him in.
Cheng Ruhai smiled as he entered the yard: "Dongsheng, are your parents awake? The brigade has distributed meat, and I'm here to bring some meat bread and dumplings to your parents." He smiled and looked very friendly.
Cheng Rushan looked at him for a moment and asked him to sit inside. Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi also stood up when they heard the noise.
Cheng Yunzhi came down first, and Cheng Ruhai immediately went forward to help him and let him sit down at the table.
"Dad, I've thought about this for a long time and I've figured it out. We were wrong. No matter what, Mom has never done us wrong, but we have never been filial to her. It's our fault as children. Dad, I won't talk big. Just watch me act. If you and Mom have anything to do and Dongsheng is not at home, just tell me and I will do it without hesitation."
He spoke sincerely.
He went to ask for advice from Old Lady Shang. He wanted her to help him make peace with Yan Runzhi. But Old Lady Shang told him not to think too much, "Except for those real bastards, there is no parent in this world who doesn't hope that their children will be successful and live in harmony. It doesn't matter if you make mistakes, just correct them. You don't have to be awkward and think too much about it, just follow the rules of our village for the elderly, and I guarantee you will be fine."
Cheng Ruhai thought about it and felt that the old couple had enough food to eat, so there was no need for him to support them in their old age, but it was reasonable to give them some gifts during the holidays.
When Yan Runzhi came out of the house, Cheng Ruhai hurried to help her and earnestly reminded her, "Mom, be careful."
Yan Runzhi glanced at him and said, "Boss, I'm a little scared when you do this."
Cheng Ruhai quickly said, "Mom, it was all my fault before. I was a jerk and did something wrong. Mom, you said you wanted to punish me, and I accepted it."
Yan Runzhi: "You don't have to do this. I won't beat you or punish you. Just live your life well."
She looked at Cheng Ruhai and then at Cheng Yunzhi, "Boss, since you have such a heart, let's be frank. If you do anything to let Baoer's mother down again, then your parents will never forgive you."
Cheng Ruhai immediately said, "Mom, you are so generous. You don't tell me that your son is sorry. Don't worry, if Honghua and I do something stupid again in the future, you and dad can just beat us up." He didn't see Jiang Lin, so he said, "I also apologize to my sister-in-law. I won't say anything nice about the many things I did wrong in the past. Mom, dad and sister-in-law will just watch what my brother and sister-in-law do."
Yan Runzhi motioned for him to lower his voice, "Okay, Baoer's mother agrees that you can have New Year's Eve dinner and worship your ancestors during the new year, and celebrate the new year together as a family." The ancestor worship is the responsibility of the first wife, and since Wensheng is there, it is naturally here and will not be handed over to Cheng Ruhai.
Cheng Ruhai and Liu Honghua were willing to compromise and make changes, and this attitude would make the old man happy. If they didn't ask for the family property, he could consider letting them live in the courtyard after the New Year. If they did, forget it.
This is what Jiang Lin discussed with Yan Runzhi.
Although Cheng Yunzhi didn't say it, Jiang Lin understood his wish. He didn't ask for wealth and fame, but just wanted to live a good life with his family after being rehabilitated.
Cheng Yunzhi had suffered so much, but she was always peaceful and calm after returning home, never complaining or crying, and was always positive and not depressed when she was with her children. She admired such an old man.
Moreover, Cheng Yunzhi was not the kind of person who was confused. He had never given orders to the family and always supported her in everything. She saw it and kept it in mind.
Cheng Rushan and Yan Runzhi treated her well and accommodated her in every way, so she naturally wanted to do something for them. Although they never asked her for anything, especially Cheng Rushan, who always responded to her requests and never refused, she didn't know how much she liked him.
She also wanted to make him happy, and if the old couple was happy, he would naturally be happy.
After she came here, she observed most of the families in Shuihuai Village. It is true that every family has its own problems, and it is normal for every family to have conflicts.
In such a big village, there is really no family that is like the model of a feudal family, with a loving father and filial sons, friendly brothers and respectful younger brothers, and harmonious relationship between mother-in-law, daughter-in-law and sisters-in-law.
They have lower requirements. Although everyone has their own calculations, they can get along generally. Even if there are conflicts, they can give in to each other and live in harmony. This is true.
There are many cases of conflicts between fathers and sons, and estrangement between brothers in the village. But they are just ordinary families, not like Cheng Rushan's family who have experienced great ups and downs.
Some fathers and sons and brothers can refuse to speak to each other for years over trivial matters, such as a fight between their children, who eats more, who does less work, or simply a disagreement.
In fact, most parents hope that their children live in harmony, but most parents either fail to do so themselves or are upset when their children are at odds with each other.
She doesn't need to be as close to Cheng Ruhai as a family. She just wants Cheng Ruhai and Liu Honghua to be sensible and maintain superficial harmony in the big family.
Since they don't make trouble, Jiang Lin will naturally give them a chance, and also give Cheng Yunzhi and Dongsheng a chance.
She also had another idea. She and Cheng Rushan would definitely move to the city in the future, and the old couple would naturally follow. However, there were ancestral tombs, ancestral halls and exhibition halls here, and the old couple would definitely live in their hometown for a few months every year, so they needed someone to help them. Cheng Ruhai was naturally the best candidate.
When Cheng Ruhai heard Yan Runzhi ask him to come to the New Year's Eve dinner, he rubbed his hands with joy, "I asked Honghua to come and apologize to my brother and sister-in-law. We were really too bad in the past."
Yan Runzhi: "Don't worry, time will tell. Just remember that this is the last chance that Baoer's mother is giving you for your father's sake."
She hinted to Cheng Ruhai that she and Cheng Rushan both acted according to Baoer's mother's wishes, and that Baoer's mother had the final say in this family. It was useless to please your father, and you should be nice to Baoer's mother in the future.
Cheng Ruhai didn't know whether he understood it or not, but he was very happy anyway.
He said to Cheng Yunzhi and Cheng Rushan, "Dad, Dongsheng, I was thinking, let's go to the farm and move uncle's grave back."
He had to do something for his family. Otherwise, if Dongsheng didn't let him enter the ancestral tomb a hundred years later, wouldn't that be like a leaf falling from the ground and not returning to its roots? This was the most important thing for the country people.
This was exactly what Cheng Rushan thought. He had already discussed it with Cheng Yunzhi and they would go tomorrow.
When Cheng Yunzhi heard him say this, he looked at Cheng Rushan.
Cheng Rushan said: "Then you come with me."
Cheng Ruhai was so happy, "Yes."
He said goodbye and left happily.
After he left, Cheng Yunzhi held Yan Runzhi's hand and squeezed it hard, expressing his gratitude for everything she had done for him.
Yan Runzhi smiled and pointed to the east room. It was Jiang Lin who did all this for him.
Cheng Yunzhi nodded and said with a smile, "It's our blessing." He thought of his elder brother and sister-in-law again. It would be great if they were still alive so they could enjoy a better life.
Before dawn the next day, Cheng Rushan and Cheng Ruhai set out to Yunye Lake to move their uncle's ashes back and bury them directly with their aunt.
At first, Cheng Yi and his aunt were not buried in the ancestral tomb. Cheng Fugui ordered them to be wrapped in rags and buried casually. Shang Weiye led people to bury them deeper because he was afraid that wild dogs would dig them out if they were buried too shallowly. Later, when Cheng Rushan grew up, he personally buried his grandfather and grandmother together, and buried his aunt in the ancestral tomb, waiting to be buried with his uncle later.
Cheng Rongzhi's grave was moved back, and the next day Cheng Yunzhi took Cheng Rushan and Cheng Ruhai's families to pay homage.
Cheng Rushan asked Wensheng to preside over the worship and taught him step by step.
Vincent was a little puzzled, "Dad, who is this?"
Cheng Rushan was silent for a moment, then said, "Your father."
Wensheng was confused, "My father?" He looked at Cheng Rushan, extremely puzzled.
Although Cheng Rushan was afraid of irritating him, he still wanted him to preside over the worship as his son, so he coaxed him, "You've heard the story of the phoenix's rebirth, right?"
Vincent turned to look at Jiang Lin. This was the story she told. Jiang Lin nodded at him.
Cheng Rushan said: "My parents died, and they are alive again."
A normal child would naturally not understand such words, but Vincent was not a normal person, so he accepted this statement immediately.
My parents must have pretended to be dead to fool the bad guys, and then they won’t be afraid anymore!
Vincent said readily, "I understand."
He followed Cheng Rushan's request and presided over the sacrifice seriously. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed devoutly, saying the words of a son worshipping his parents. But in his heart he kept repeating: God, please don't blame me. I am acting, not for real. My parents will live a long life and will never die.
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