Wang Lan smiled and poured water for her grandson. "Haha, you little rascal, now you know how powerful alcohol is. Let's see if you dare to think about drinking alcohol again."
Then she turned to Lu Yunxing and said, "Eryun, you must not get drunk when you're out in the future. Drinking will only cause trouble. Study hard and listen to your older brother and Xiaozhou. If you pass the imperial examination in the future, you must not forget the kindness of your older brother and Xiaozhou."
"Grandma, I know." Lu Yunxing leaned on Wang Lan's shoulder, the tall and thin boy hunched over, not minding the discomfort, and said in a spoiled tone, "Grandma is always watching me, keeping an eye on me. If I ever dare to disobey my older brother and sister-in-law, you can hit me. I listen to Grandma the most."
Qin Xiaozhou took a sip of wine. "Why are you being so sentimental, Grandma? Are you feeling sad because you can't see us often? Why don't you and your mother-in-law move to the county town with Xiao Si and Shi Tou?"
Wang Lan waved her hand, "I can't get used to living in a house in the county town. Wangjia Village is better. I can go to the orchard behind the mountain to see chickens, ducks and geese, and go to the nearby mountains to dig for wild vegetables. If I go to the county town, I can't do anything. I won't go."
Lu Yunfeng was seriously considering the matter. "Little Guo should be going to study under a teacher in two years. The orchard and chickens and ducks at home are being looked after by the two uncles from the Zhao family. I think Uncle Dahe has learned his lesson and will definitely work hard for us in the future. Let Uncle Dahe continue to work. You and Mother can go to the county town."
Zhao Fang didn't care anymore; in fact, she felt it was better to go to the county town, where she could feel at ease with her sons.
Wang Lan knew that Zhao Fang, a widow, was uneasy in the village without her son by her side, so she nodded in agreement, "Okay, then I'll go with you on the tenth."
Lu Yan was the happiest. She patted her little brother's head and hugged Xiao Shitou. "Oh my, Xiao Shitou has grown up so well. Sister-in-law, let's give her a name."
"Qin Jinrong," Qin Xiaozhou said with a smile, "that's the name. The little girl is growing up, she needs a nice name, we can't let others give her an unpleasant nickname."
The fire crackled in the stove, casting a warm glow on the faces of the family.
Qin Jinxiu held her little sister in her arms, her eyes filled with joy. It was wonderful that her little sister had survived and even had a beautiful name.
Lu Yunfeng looked at Xiao Si and said, "From now on, Xiao Si will be called Lu Yunzhi."
Lofty ambitions can always soar out of the mountains of Fenggu County.
Everyone is happy tonight. The moon is high in the sky, and people go back to their houses to sleep with a slight buzz from the wine.
The next morning, as dawn broke, Qin Xiaozhou hummed a little tune as she washed up outside the kitchen. "Why is Uncle up so early?"
Li Changpu scratched his head sheepishly, “My two nephews got up even earlier. My eldest nephew is the one who’s tending the fire in the stove, and my second nephew went to the back hill to let the chickens out.”
Zhao Fang took the two children to the toilet and then brought them over to wash their faces.
Lu Xiaosi was full of energy early in the morning. She ran into the kitchen, grabbed a piece of pastry and ate it, leaving crumbs all over her mouth.
Qin Jinrong burst into tears and also tried to eat.
Lu Yu gave the two children another piece and carefully came out of the kitchen, asking, "Is Mother still not up?"
Wang Lan is very diligent and never sleeps in. Besides, the sun is already up now. At this time of day, she would have already walked around the chicken coop and come back long ago.
Zhao Fang laughed and said, "Perhaps you slept in a little longer after drinking last night. Come on, Xiao Si, go see your grandma."
Lu Xiaosi took the food and ran off happily.
She ran back a moment later, saying, "Mom, Grandma is sleeping and won't get up."
Zhao Fang and Lu Yu were startled, a bad premonition creeping into their hearts.
Zhao Fang rushed to the backyard, pushed open Wang Lan's room, and found the room quiet. Wang Lan was lying peacefully on the bed, her face serene, without any pain.
She touched it with trembling hands, but Wang Lan's face was already cold.
Lu Yu, holding onto the door frame, slowly slid down to the floor, staring blankly at the person on the bed.
Qin Xiaozhou and Li Changpu followed closely behind. Li Changpu quickly picked up Lu Yu, saying, "Be careful of the child."
After placing her on a chair in the room, he quickly walked to the bedside, took Wang Lan's hand to check her pulse, and even though her hand was under the covers, it was already cold.
He shook his head, his eyes instantly reddening. "It's been almost two hours since I left. Fortunately, I didn't suffer. I went in a dream."
Zhao Fang fell to the ground. Qin Xiaozhou led Lu Yan and Qin Jinxiu out of the house. "You two stay in the yard and look after your younger siblings. Don't run around. I'm going to the chicken coop behind the mountain to find Dayun and Eryun."
Lu Yan was already in tears; the little girl, who was almost twelve years old, already understood the sadness of losing a loved one.
But she still nodded, "Sister-in-law, you go ahead, I'll watch over them."
Qin Jinxiu held Lu Yan in her arms, patting her back without saying a word.
Lu Yunfeng and his brother returned quickly. Lu Yunfeng went home to reassure his family, saying, "Mother, find a new set of Grandma's clothes. Aunt, you are pregnant, so you need to take good care of yourself."
Lu Yu refused to leave and lay by the bed crying. Helpless, Li Changpu turned around and went to the kitchen to boil water.
The family helped Wang Lan wash up, change into new clothes, and put her in the main hall. Lu Yu continued to cry, but was tidying up Wang Lan's clothes in her room.
Lu Yunxing then went to the village to inform Wang Gui and the village chief.
Soon Wang Gui arrived with his three sons. They discussed the list of relatives to be notified, and Wang Gui instructed his second son and Lu Yunxing to go to the county town to buy the necessary items.
Wang Li also came. "Let Xiaoman go with us. There are a lot of things to buy. It's still the New Year holiday, and we don't know if the shops in the county town are open. If they aren't, there are people in Tanshui Village who make paper figures and sell white paper. Xiaoman knows the place, so let him lead the way."
Lu Yunxing forced back his tears and went.
Li Fengxian came carrying a basket of things and started a fire in the Lu family's kitchen to cook for them. She cooked quietly, but the sound of her sniffling could be heard from time to time.
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