Just as Fang Sandi was about to leave, Yu Jihong's voice followed, "Where are you going?"
"Nothing to do, let's go check out the fields."
"We're in the fields all year round, and we still have to go to the fields on the first day of the Lunar New Year. We need to rest for a day."
Fang San Di responded with an "Oh!" and turned to go back into the house.
"Let's go out and have some fun today!" Yu Jihong suggested.
Where to?
"Hmm~ Let's find a nearby place to play, like the stream."
"What's fun about the stream beach?" Fang Sandi frowned.
"The weather is nice today, I don't want to stay at home. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, no one washes their clothes. There are fewer people there today, and the scenery is beautiful."
"What scenery can you possibly have on a streambank?" Fang Sandi said as he walked away. "Are you coming or not?"
"Go, go now. Wait a minute, I'll bring some food."
"How long are you going to stay there? And bring something to eat." Fang San Di stopped at the door to wait for her.
Yu Jihong grabbed a handful of melon seeds and peanuts, and broke off some frozen rice candy to wrap them up. "Let's go!" Yu Jihong closed the door.
Fang Yu hopped and skipped along, her hands in the pockets of her new clothes.
Frost formed a thin layer on the withered grass, which slowly melted under the sun, leaving a damp, sweet scent in the air.
"Mom, Dongqiang is here too." As Fang Yu walked up the slope by the stream, she saw Fang Dongqiang on the rocky beach.
"Dong Qiang!" Fang Yu put her fingers together and placed them near her mouth, making a trumpet shape with her fingertips pointing upwards, and held them firmly in front of her mouth.
"Fang Yu, are you here to find Stone too?" Fang Dongqiang called out, putting his hand to his mouth.
"Mom, let's go to Dongqiang's place." Fang Yu tugged at Yu Jihong's sleeve.
"OK!"
Fang Meihao was there with Fang Dongqiang and Fang Meixiang, and Yu Jihong led Fang Yu over.
"Auntie, Fang Yu has come to pick up stones too."
"Oh!" Fang Mei had never met Yu Jihong before, only knowing that she was one of the three madwomen in the village, very fierce, and her words were very harsh when she argued.
Fang Mei watched them approach from afar, then glanced at Fang Meixiang, wondering what would happen when they met again, and began to worry.
"Dongqiang, what are you doing here?" Fang Yu asked as they approached.
Fang Dongqiang pulled Fang Yu to the stone he had picked up. "Look, doesn't this look like a little duck? My aunt drew eyes on it and it looks even more like one."
"Wow, it really is a little duck!" Fang Yu's eyes lit up.
"Anything else? I'm still looking."
"Mom, shall we look for stones here too?" Fang Yu shook Yu Jihong's hand.
"Okay!" Yu Jihong smiled and looked at Fang Meihao, who managed a smile through her stunned expression.
"Are you Dongqiang's aunt?" Yu Jihong asked.
"Um!"
“Dongqiang is so lucky. Both of your aunts treat him so well. When I go to your second sister’s place to buy things, she often asks me to bring some good food for Dongqiang.” Yu Jihong then looked at Fang Meixiang and softened her tone, “Meixiang is also lucky. Her two younger sisters treat her and her child so well.”
Fang Meixiang didn't react to the people who came over; she just watched her son play on the side.
"Hehe!" Fang Mei has read many good books, but she talks a lot about what others say.
However, she didn't sense any danger to Yu Jihong for the time being.
“Let’s look together.” Yu Jihong squatted down as well. “This one looks like a small fish, and this one is flat. If you put a few dots on it, it’ll look like a sesame biscuit.” Yu Jihong immediately joined in and handed the stone she found to Fang Meihao.
Fang Sandi stood there idly, feeling a little awkward. "I think I'll go check out the fields over there," he said.
“Okay, if you can’t stay still, go ahead, we’ll play here.” Yu Jihong was still focused on finding stones.
“Auntie, if you draw ears on this piece, it will become a little white rabbit.” Fang Dongqiang ran over holding up a stone.
“Mom, the flower in this painting looks like a hair clip,” Fang Yu exclaimed.
Fang Meixiang squatted down at some point, holding a stone with white veins in her hand. Suddenly, she handed it to Fang Dongqiang, and her eyes lit up with a bit of life.
"Auntie, my mom is here too!" Fang Dongqiang exclaimed in surprise.
"Big sister, whatever you find looks like, I'll draw it too." Fang Meihao held half a piece of chalk in her hand.
“This looks like pork.” Fang Dongqiang looked closely at the stone that Fang Meixiang had found. “Haha, Fang Yu, my mom found a piece of pork.”
Everyone burst into laughter, even Fang Meixiang showed her teeth, and the streambank suddenly became lively.
Three people passing by on the slope caught a glimpse of this scene and couldn't help but discuss, "College students hanging out with lunatics?"
"Meixiang is Meihao's older sister. If she doesn't play with her, who else will? She's such a busybody."
"Don't meddle, I was just saying."
Fang Shugen's mother and Hua Mei were returning from the Buddhist temple when they crossed the bridge over the stream and saw the children laughing and playing on the other side. They took a closer look.
He stretched his head forward again and looked carefully. "Let's go over there and take a look."
She walked ahead, and Hua Mei followed her across the bridge and around to the top of the slope for a closer look.
"How did those two end up together?" Fang Shugen's mother muttered.
He turned back to Hua Mei and said, "Look how capable other people's wives are. They must want their third brother to go out and work so he can be with them."
“That’s not right!” Fang Shugen’s mother looked at Fang Meixiang. “Meixiang can’t even say a few words. What kind of fun can you possibly have with her?”
Fang Yu and Fang Dongqiang lined up the drawings of "little fish", "little ducks", "biscuits", "pork", "little white rabbits" and so on.
"Dongqiang, Fangyu, this line is too long. Shall we split them into two lines?" Fang Meihao suggested.
"How do we divide it?" Fang Dongqiang asked.
"Hmm, I'd like to ask a clever child to think of how to divide it?"
"Big ones in one row, small ones in another." "Delicious ones in one row, not delicious ones in another!" Fang Yu and Fang Dongqiang said eagerly.
"Okay, let's divide it as you suggested and start dividing it."
"Dongqiang, don't put your hands on the painting, you're making the eyes disappear!" Fang Yu shouted.
"Wow! The little fish has no eyes. Auntie, draw them back." Fang Dongqiang took it and handed it to Fang Meihao.
"Okay, be careful when you hold it on both sides," Fang Meihao instructed as she drew.
"Oh, so you want Mei Hao, a college student, to help her daughter too. This Yu Jihong is the most resourceful of you crazy folks." Fang Shugen's mother turned to look at Hua Mei, "If only you had half her abilities."
"Hua Hua!" Hua Mei called out her daughter's name when she didn't hear her reply. Seeing the two children playing happily, she thought of her own daughter.
"Yes, bring Huahua along so she can play with Dongqiang. Ask Meihao to help her too, since Meihao is literate and cultured."
Fang Meihao looked up at Fang Shugen's mother and Hua Mei on the slope.
"Let's go home first." Fang Shugen's mother saw Fang Mei looking over.
“You people who read a lot have ideas and know how to teach children knowledge.” Yu Jihong watched Fang Dongqiang and Fang Yu discussing how to divide the stones into teams.
"Hehe." Fang Meihao just smiled again.
"Oh, I brought some snacks for them to play with." Yu Jihong spread out the wrapped sunflower seeds, peanuts, and frozen rice candy on a flat stone. "Aunt Dongqiang, what's your name?"
"My name is Mei Hao."
“You’re usually away from home when you’re studying. I only know the names Meixiang and Meili. As for you, I only know you’re in university. Come and eat, Meihao.” Yu Jihong then called to Fang Meixiang, who was sitting next to Fang Yu and Fang Dongqiang, “Meixiang, sit here and let’s eat something.”
Fang Meixiang slowly walked over and sat down.
"Meixiang, help yourself to whatever you want to eat."
Fang Meixiang looked around and saw that no one was reaching out their hand.
Yu Jihong handed her a few peanuts, saying, "Meihao, tell her she can eat them."
Mei Hao also reached out and cracked open a sunflower seed, saying, "Big sister, have some."
Fang Meixiang peels the flower and it blooms.
Yu Jihong watched Fang Meixiang eat, and smiled, "Meihao, last year, oh, I should say the year before last, I heard you got into university and went to study in the provincial capital. I'm so envious. I've never been to the provincial capital. It must be a lot of fun there."
"Yes, the provincial capital is lively. When we first arrived, we would go out and explore since we didn't have classes. There are many shops here that we don't have in our county town."
"That's great! I hope I'll have the chance to go someday." Yu Jihong leaned back, supporting herself with her hands behind her. The sun was a bit dazzling. Yu Jihong closed her eyes, seemingly imagining that she had already gone to the provincial capital.
"There will be an opportunity, there will be an opportunity to go."
The wispy hairs on Yu Jihong's forehead shimmered softly with gold in the sunlight.
"Auntie!"
"mom!"
Fang Dongqiang and Fang Yu ran over.
"Come on, you two come and eat too. Children should wash their hands before eating." Yu Jihong stood up and pulled Fang Dongqiang and Fang Yu to the water to wash their hands.
"Go wash your hands." Fang Dongqiang and Fang Yu broke free from each other's grasp and ran off happily.
"Wait a minute, pull your sleeves up, don't get them wet, they're cold," Yu Jihong called out as she chased after him.
Fang Mei watched as Yu Jihong rolled up Fang Dongqiang and Fang Yu's sleeves; her story was different from what the villagers had told her.
"Dongqiang," Fang Meixiang looked at Fang Meihao and pointed to Yu Jihong.
"It's okay, she can take good care of the child."
Fang Dongqiang and Fang Yu washed their hands and ran back happily, sitting down next to the snacks.
Yu Jihong broke some frozen rice candy for them.
"Auntie, we'll bring food next time too," Fang Dongqiang said while eating.
Do you like picnics?
"Huh? What's a picnic?" Fang Dongqiang asked curiously, raising his little head.
"Like this? Eating outdoors is called a picnic."
"Oh!" Fang Dongqiang nodded as if he understood, "Let's call it 'wild food'."
"Hahaha!" Fang Meihao and Yu Jihong both laughed.
Fang Yu playfully chimed in, "Hehehe, wild food."
Fang Meixiang saw them laughing and also showed her teeth.
"Do you two kids think 'picnic' sounds better, or 'eating on the go'?"
"Picnic sounds great!" Fang Yu exclaimed.
“Picnic, eating outdoors, picnic sounds great!” Fang Dongqiang chimed in.
"Yes, eating is just an action, putting food down. Fang Yu's mother has set the food out. We're not here to fill our stomachs, but to enjoy the scenery and the food. The scenery is beautiful, and the food is delicious. Let's put on some nice words too."
Fang Meihao looked at Fang Yu's clothes again. "Look, Fang Yu's clothes are so beautiful. Even a drab gray cotton coat can keep her warm. Fang Yu's clothes are both warm and beautiful. Isn't that better and more interesting?"
Fang Yu looked down at her clothes with a smile as bright as a flower, "These are new clothes my mom made for me for the New Year."
Yu Jihong looked at Fang Meihao with a slight gleam in her eyes, as if she had found a kindred spirit again.
Several swaying figures on the other side of the slope drew closer and closer.
It was Fang Shugen's mother who brought Hua Mei and Hua Hua over.
"Meihao, you're here sunbathing today since you're free?" Fang Shugen's mother greeted them.
"Mm." Fang Meihao nodded.
“We also brought Huahua to play.”
Yu Jihong picked up the last piece of frozen rice candy and handed it to Huahua.
"Oh, ha!" Fang Shugen's mother looked at Yu Jihong and Fang Meixiang, "You even brought some snacks."
Fang Huahua saw the two rows of small stones over there, and walked over to take a look with her frozen rice candy in hand.
"Huahua, don't take it. If you touch the painted area, it will be wiped off." Fang Yu immediately got up to protect the stone.
Fang Shugen's mother's face darkened. "She's just looking around. There are stones all over this streambank. She can't just pick them up whenever she wants."
Fang Shugen's mother, worried that her granddaughter would be taken advantage of, also went over. "Meihao, did you draw this?"
"Um."
"Scholars are indeed clever; their few strokes in the painting actually look quite convincing."
Fang Dongqiang got up and squatted down next to the stone. "Huahua, I just wiped the little fish's eye off like this. My aunt repainted it." Fang Dongqiang made a gesture of holding the stone between two fingers. "You should hold it like this." Fang Dongqiang then demonstrated to Huahua by holding the edge of the stone.
“Look, look, look, your aunt is educated, and her nephew speaks so politely.”
As Fang Dongqiang instructed, Fang Huahua picked up a stone with a rabbit drawn on it, held it up, and showed it to Fang Meigen's mother and Huamei.
“They’re having so much fun playing together. Hua Mei, you stay here and watch over them, I’m going home.” Fang Shugen’s mother turned to Fang Meihao and said, “Meihao, Hua Hua is playing with them here too.”
"Oh." Fang Mei smiled with a hint of helplessness.
"Fang Yu, Hua Hua is younger than you, let her play a little easier," Yu Jihong called out to Fang Yu.
"Okay! Got it."
Hua Mei stood firmly with her legs apart, as if she were used to standing on the edge of the field. She didn't sway or move. Her elbows were bent, one hand was on her waist, and the other hand hung loosely at her sides.
"Hua Mei, would you like to sit here?" Yu Jihong invited her.
Hua Mei looked at the three of them. Yu Jihong and Fang Meihao both moved to the side to make room for her.
Hua Mei's lips twitched slightly as she glanced at the empty space between Yu Jihong and Fang Meixiang. After glancing at it, she quickly looked away, biting her lower lip as she looked towards the child.
"Let them play, it's fine."
Hua Mei then moved her feet and sat down.
There were still a few uneaten peanuts and melon seeds in the middle. Yu Jihong picked them up and gave them to Hua Mei, saying, "Eat these, there are still a few left."
Hua Mei had one palm facing up, holding sunflower seeds and peanuts, and was awkwardly cracking them open with the other.
Yu Jihong smiled at her again.
Hua Mei gradually calmed down and returned her a smile.
Fang Meihao was getting restless; all three madmen that everyone in the village had been talking about had finally appeared.
Fang Meihao had never felt anything was wrong since she had been with her eldest sister since childhood, and Yu Jihong had seemed normal to her just now. But now that Hua Mei was sitting down, it seemed like the amount of food was excessive. Fang Meihao felt uneasy and restless.
Fang Shugen's mother walked up the slope and looked back.
She squinted as she watched Hua Mei sitting next to Yu Jihong, her expression filled with worry and uncertainty.
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