"Grandpa, Dad, Second Uncle, are you back?"
"Huh... Is Liuya absorbing something?"
"Yes, Second Uncle!"
"Six-Ya is so sensible, unlike my 꾉Ya..."
"Second brother, when does Geya get her holiday?"
"It's been almost two days, and that brat is still not back, what has she been doing?"
"Grandpa, Auntie Niu Niu and the others are back!" Liu Ya handed a handkerchief to Chen's father and told him about Su Xia's return.
"Really?"
This is Chen's mother, who just returned carrying a basket of pig feed. She heard Liu Ya's voice and shouted happily.
Liu Ya happily exclaimed, "Really! Everyone except Uncle came back!"
"Then I have to go check it out. I'm not eating here for lunch, Liuya!" With that, she hurried off.
Chen Jiandang, Chen Jianjun....
Then, "Um...I'm going to check on Xiaobao and Xiaoniuniu, it's been a while since I've seen them!"
After saying that, Mr. Chen glanced at Liu Ya and said, "You don't need to prepare anything for me!"
Then she quickened her pace and left with a joyful air.
The two families were left looking at each other in bewilderment, but they quickly put it out of their minds, since they were used to it anyway.
After everyone sat down, Liu Ya brought out the food: cornbread buns, a pot of stew, and a large plate of scrambled eggs.
He grabbed two steamed buns and said, "Dad, I'm going to find Sister Niu Niu. Just put them down after you're done eating, I'll clean them up later!"
Chen Jianjun tried to call for help, but it was too late; he could only watch helplessly as Liu Ya left.
"Third sister-in-law, Liu Ya cares about her sister-in-law much more than you, her own mother!" Xia Laidi said gleefully.
Liu Chunxia's face darkened instantly, and she lowered her head to eat, but anyone with eyes could see how much force she had used.
"Say less, the third brother is still here!" Chen Jiandang was speechless at Xia Laidi's words.
Xia Laidi glanced at Chen Jianjun, a smirk playing on her lips. "Third brother won't be angry, will he?"
"What are you saying, Second Sister-in-law? We're so happy that Eldest Brother's family treats Liuya so well!" Chen Jianjun didn't care at all; on the contrary, he hoped Liuya would visit more often.
Xia Laidi glanced at her third sister-in-law, who was looking down, and said, "The third sister is so open-minded. The children only like to associate with those who are good to them!"
Chen Jiandang immediately grabbed his sleeve and whispered a reprimand, "Say it again, and you won't eat!"
"Hmph, can't I even talk about it?"
Gou Dan and Gou Wa, who were standing nearby, didn't say anything. Since starting school, Gou Wa has become more sensible than before. So when he saw his older sister going to his aunt's place, although he was disappointed, he wasn't angry or sad.
As for Liu Chunxia... who knows?
Su Xia was cooking when she saw Chen's parents come in without saying anything, and then she saw Liu Ya holding two steamed buns in her hand.
Helplessly, she said, "Does your aunt really think she'd be short of two steamed buns?"
Sixth Sister glanced at him and said, "This is my ration food, I have to take it!"
Su Xia was shocked... When did this child become so possessive of his food?
Lunch consisted of rice, stir-fried green beans with meat, stir-fried eggplant, and stir-fried bok choy...
Scallions, cilantro, tender cucumbers, fried eggs, and sauce—the whole kitchen smelled wonderful.
"It's still the eldest son's family that makes all the vegetables in the yard look so different!" This was a great compliment from Chen's father.
"What do you mean? Do you mean I'm a root, not a flower?" Chen's mother said sarcastically.
Mr. Chen didn't want to talk to them and chose to remain silent, sitting down next to his eldest grandson, Da Bao.
Chen's mother glared at him and sat down as well. "Is the eldest son doing well?"
Su Xia....
"What's wrong with you? You go to work every day, and your workplace even has a cafeteria. Do you think someone your age can starve to death?" Mr. Chen said irritably.
Bang....
Su Xia and the children were startled by the sound of Chen's mother slamming her chopsticks down.
"You old geezer, what's wrong with you? Why are you always going against me?" Chen Mu roared angrily.
"Who's going against you? I'm just telling the truth!" Chen's father retorted.
Su Xia's lips twitched. It had only been two months since they last met, and the old couple were already bickering about such trivial things.
"Auntie, you'll get used to it!" Liu Ya whispered, trying to explain.
Well, it seems this happens often. The three older girls aren't afraid at all, but the twins' eyes light up, as if they've discovered a new continent.
After lunch, Niu Niu washed the dishes, and Liu Ya helped.
Chen's father went back to sleep. How could he not be tired after working all morning?
"That old lady left?" Chen's mother was shocked.
Su Xia nodded, "I left yesterday!"
"Oh my god, this is so sudden! The old lady seemed so serious, and judging from how she raised Niu Niu and Er Bao, she was such a good person. How could she suddenly pass away...?"
Su Xia felt increasingly uneasy as she listened. The meaning behind Chen's mother's words seemed to imply that "the person didn't exist"!
"Mother, when I said I was leaving, it was because my family took me to Beijing to live out my retirement!" Su Xia explained, afraid that Chen's mother would suggest burning paper money the next second.
Chen's mother was taken aback, then smiled awkwardly, realizing that she had misunderstood.
"That's a good thing...a good thing...!"
Su Xia... Good thing, why are you running so fast?
Suddenly, Chen's mother ran away, touched her chest, and took a few deep breaths of fresh air.
Stealing a glance behind her, she exclaimed with relief, "I almost burned paper money for the living...!"
Life in the village was actually better than in the county town. Da Bao followed Chen's father around, earning work points.
Erbao occasionally tagged along, but half the time he kept a haughty air about him, either standing on the farm or near the crops...
Anyway, the villagers were surprised at first, but now they're used to it. The most shocking thing is that the village's father was an educated youth.
This group of educated youth, including the previous 13, would always stop and watch Erbao draw whenever they saw him.
To be honest, they didn't take it seriously at first, until Erbao was halfway through drawing and realized that what he was drawing was the crops in front of them—a field of corn, each stalk standing tall, lush and green...
Under a clear sky with white clouds, the most striking sight is the villagers at work, hoes in hand, weeding...
Carrying buckets of water, watering the plants, spreading fertilizer...
They even occasionally whisper to each other, chat, joke around, and wave their straw hats to fan themselves...
As the scenes unfolded one by one on the painting, the educated youth gradually realized just how amazing this ten-year-old boy was!
"Erbao, who did you learn this from?"
"I'll learn from my master!" Erbao said proudly.
"Is your master even more powerful?"
Erbao wanted to see his wife's drawing, "Wife, is this a poplar tree?"
"What kind of eyesight do you have? That's not bamboo!"
"Looks like the bamboo has gotten fat!" Erbao said confidently.
"Yes—my master is amazing!" Erbao affirmed again.
The educated youth were shocked. Their families were not ordinary people. Such paintings were at the level of masters. How could there be such people in this small county?
If Su Xia were here, she would definitely explain that although the old lady wasn't very good at drawing, she understood the principle behind it.
The painting has good proportions and color; how to begin brushstrokes, when to stop—I also have some experience...
The old lady taught Erbao all of this. As for why Erbao is so good at it, well, you can only say that he has natural talent.
The old lady, far away in Beijing, was unaware that her first apprentice had sold her out completely, and that most of those educated youth were from Beijing, with families holding positions in the government and military...
And they also know the Dou family. Someday in the future, when they see their apprentice's paintings, they'll learn that their master is a true master...
The old lady... really wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground!
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