The elderly woman took their hands with a look of concern and sat them down by the stove. Then, she took a few sweet potatoes from a basket by the door and tucked them into the stove’s chamber.
"Heh heh, Grandma knows exactly what I like to eat!"
Zhao Ke said happily, reaching over and grabbing the tote bag next to his backpack. He pulled out the gift they had prepared for their grandmother.
"What does an old woman like need new clothes for? You boys can wear them."
"Grandma, it’s just a small token from us."
Zhao Ke quickly got up and helped his grandmother put on the jacket.
"It’s a perfect fit. Grandma, this outfit makes you look years younger."
"Oh, you silly child, always spouting nonsense."
The wrinkles on the elderly woman’s face gathered with her smile, piling up like the growth rings of a tree, before slowly dissolving into the passage of ti.
Of course, Zhao Rui had also brought a gift: a pair of cotton-padded shoes.
In truth, Zhao Rui had paid for both the cotton-padded shoes and the jacket.
The ager living allowance in Zhao Ke’s pocket was hardly enough to buy a presentable gift.
It was a picture of a doting grandmother and her devoted grandsons, a scene that needed no further words.
Such are the tender monts of life!
After noon, Zhao Rui’s grandfather ca ho, a little tipsy from drinking.
He didn’t react much upon seeing Zhao Rui and his brother. After a sip of warm water, he climbed onto the kang bed and fell fast asleep, snoring loudly.
Zhao Rui and his brother were long used to this.
In the afternoon, the two of them accompanied their grandmother, visiting neighbors to the east and taking a stroll to see those to the west.
They returned to feed the chickens and help cook dinner.
The leisurely pace felt just like a return to their childhood.
This was the first ti the two brothers had returned to their ancestral ho by themselves.
For the past two years, Zhao Rui had been busy with his martial arts training, and Zhao Ke had been feeling resentful. Plus, they were both too young at the ti.
Even if they’d had the idea, they couldn’t have made the trip ho independently.
Normally, Zhao Jincheng would bring them over to stay for a few days during the sumr.
This ti, it was a sign that the brothers—or more accurately, Zhao Rui—had been acknowledged as an adult by his parents.
That evening, their grandfather sobered up. Seeing his two grandsons, his face remained impassive as he asked them a couple of simple questions.
Then he got up to eat and watch television.
He was neither enthusiastic nor annoyed.
The next day, their grandfather woke up early. He climbed onto the wall of the pigsty to fix the roof, which was leaking from years of disrepair.
Hearing the noise, Zhao Rui got out of bed and went over to lend his grandfather a hand.
The two worked in silence, exchanging very few words, but Zhao Rui could clearly see his grandfather’s gaze soften considerably.
Ti pays no mind to the aging of mortals, nor have the storms of life ever envied the young.
「In the blink of an eye, two days had passed.」
It was noon, and the warm sun was high in the sky.
In front of the kitchen stove, Zhao Ke sat on a wooden stool, his head bowed as he tended the fire, feeding it firewood. Beside him, Zhao Rui stir-fried vegetables in a wok.
In the steamy, humble kitchen, their grandmother was kneading dough on a board, preparing to make dumplings.
The smile on the elderly woman’s face never once faded.
For the elderly, having their children and grandchildren around is the greatest happiness.
"RING RING RING!"
Just then, a phone let out a clear, loud ring from the kang bed on one side of the kitchen.
Grandma wiped her hands and shuffled over to answer the phone.
"Everything’s fine at ho. Yes, Ruirui and his brother are here. You’re coming too? Oh, all right."
After just a few words, the call ended. Grandma walked over to the two brothers and said, "That was your Third Uncle. He said he’s coming over in a little while, too."
"In that case, we’ll make a couple more dishes!"
Zhao Rui said with a smile.
Among the three Zhao brothers, only the third, Zhao Jinze, had stayed in the county town, making him the closest to their parents.
Naturally, he was the one who took care of them the most.
About half an hour later, the third brother, Zhao Jinze, arrived at the ancestral ho by car with his wife and child.
The whole family looked exhausted, as if sothing was wrong.
"Third Uncle! Third Aunt!"
Zhao Rui and Zhao Ke greeted them.
"Oh, you’re here."
Zhao Jinze forced a smile. He didn’t say much to the two brothers, turning instead to his mother. With a worried frown, he said, "Mom, Zhao Xin will be staying with you for a few days."
"Of course he can stay. The three of them can stay together. The food’s getting cold, co and eat!"
"Don’t tell anyone that Zhao Xin is here. Just have him hide in the house and not go out."
Zhao Jinze’s words made Zhao Rui and the others freeze.
"Did sothing happen?"
Their grandmother asked at once, her voice tight with tension.
"It’s nothing, Mom. I’ll handle it. Just do as I arrange."
Zhao Jinze was unwilling to explain further.
Seeing that her third son didn’t want to say more, the grandmother knew she couldn’t be of any help, so she stopped asking questions.
"Whatever it is, don’t carry the burden alone. If things get really bad, call your first and second brothers. We can figure it out as a family."
The grandfather lit a cigarette, smacked his lips a couple of tis, and said with a frown.
"I know, Dad!"
Zhao Jinze replied with a bitter smile.
"No matter how serious things are, you still have to eat. Let’s eat first!"
After the grandfather spoke, everyone sat at the table and began to eat lunch.
"What are you looking at? You’re so annoying!"
As they were eating, Zhao Xin suddenly shot Zhao Ke a displeased glare, his tone full of irritation.
Zhao Ke shrugged and went back to eating his food without a word.
Seeing his son’s insolence, Zhao Jinze flew into a rage. With a SWISH, he threw the chopsticks in his hand at his son, Zhao Xin.
Zhao Xin dodged it, pouting with an aggrieved look on his face.
"You dare to dodge?!"
The sight only made Zhao Jinze angrier. He was just about to smash the bowl in his hands when his father roared, "That’s enough! If you’re not going to eat, then get the hell out!"
Zhao Jinze’s nostrils flared as he breathed heavily. He let out a frustrated sigh and strode out of the main room.
"Grandpa, I’m going to go check on him."
Seeing this, Zhao Rui quickly stood up and followed him out.
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