"You can sleep later."
"Mom, really, you don’t have to. My cousin is here."
"Alright. Fengzhen, is this all you have?"
"There’s still the bedding to pack tomorrow, just so clothes and essentials, how much could there be? Besides, it’s not like I’m never coming back.
Mom, it sounds like I can’t co back for the New Year."
"It’s alright, as long as you’re doing well, I’m fine."
"Hmm, if I can co back, I’ll buy you so pastries from the city and co back to see you."
"I still say the sa thing, as long as you’re doing well, that’s all that matters to ."
In the evening, Lu Fengzhen stead sugar buns. They could be eaten tonight, or conveniently in the morning, and even on the road.
She stead a big pot, but Aunt Wang only ate one, thinking it’s best to leave the good stuff for the daughter. This truly is the worry of a mother for a child traveling far, the tears of a mother wishing to see her child.
After nine o’clock, several Lu brothers moved all the family’s grain, as well as vegetables, sauerkraut, and dried vegetables. When they packed it all up, it turned out quite a lot.
"Fengzhen, these are left for you."
"Big brother, let the family eat them, to put it bluntly, even if I can’t manage over there, would you let starve?"
Lu Family’s eldest brother thought it over and nodded. He rembered this grain and vegetables, planning to return the sa amount to his sister when she cos back, even if she doesn’t return for a few years, he’ll rember, whenever she cos back, he’ll return them to her.
That night, only Lu Fengzhen lay on the kang, suddenly feeling the house was empty. She was really about to leave. Actually, she never wanted to live there, but just didn’t want to have conflicts with her sisters-in-law.
She dozed off, as she was preoccupied, but didn’t know what ti it was. Hearing the rooster crow, she imdiately got up, hurriedly lit the fire, heated the sugar buns, washed up, ate two, put the rest in an aluminum bowl, and wrapped it with a cloth.
Bedding was packed, then she changed into clean clothes, washed and hung the dirty ones outside.
Everything was placed on the kang; the cotton coat was also set aside, knowing the carriage ride would be cold, then she sat on the kang, waiting for her cousin to pick her up.
At this mont, Lu Fengzhen wasn’t thinking much, but was rather calm. She had only visited the city a few tis; this ti she would live there. She hoped to make so money.
Hearing so noise, she imdiately got off the kang, put on her coat, tied her headscarf, grabbed a bag, and went out to open the door.
"Fengzhen, more luggage?"
"Yes, I’ll get it."
"Alright, you can move it yourself. There’s no place to tie the horse by your door, and you can’t keep an eye on it."
"No worry, cousin, it’s not much."
Lu Fengzhen moved two more tis, then locked the door and got on the carriage.
"Here’s a cushion from your cousin-in-law. Sit on it, so you won’t catch a cold."
Lu Fengzhen was touched, realizing how well her family treated her.
"Cousin, have you eaten? The sugar buns are still warm, have a few."
"I’ve eaten, you keep them for yourself."
The carriage was faster than a cow cart, but really cold too.
The siblings didn’t speak further, fearing to gulp down a stomachful of cold air.
About forty minutes later, they arrived at Li Family Village and went directly to Li Yungui’s house.
By then, their family was up. Had it been idle farming days, they would lie around until eight or nine, eating just two als a day. But now the kids have to go to school, so every household has changed to three als a day.
Li Yungui heard the sound of a carriage outside and paused, wondering who was here?
Opening the door, seeing Wang Shulin and Lu Fengzhen, he quickly invited them inside.
The horse was tied to the big tree at the door, while Qu Xiaoli was cooking. Hearing the noise outside, seeing Wang Shulin and a woman enter, she knew it must be Lu Fengzhen.
Hastily, she added another ladle of water, planning to cut more sweet potatoes, preparing sweet potato porridge and cornbread, all from one pot.
Li Yungui invited them in and asked them onto the kang; it was really cold that early in the morning.
Wang Shulin didn’t stand on ceremony, calling Lu Fengzhen to get on the kang.
"Old Li, today I’ll trouble you to take my cousin to the city."
"Sure, no problem, we’ll set off after breakfast."
"I’ll take you to the township to catch the bus, saving you the trouble of harnessing the carriage."
"Alright. I’ll pour you so water to drink, breakfast will be ready soon."
Wang Shulin didn’t refuse, knowing if it were Li Yungui visiting his ho, it would be the sa.
The children had woken up and washed, and Li Yungui asked them to greet Wang Shulin.
"Are these your two boys?"
"Mm, these are my elder brother’s three kids.
Xue’er, Changjun, Changling, this is Auntie, she will take care of your sister-in-law and the kids."
By now, Lu Fengzhen had taken off her headscarf and smiled at the three children.
Li Xue smiled and sat on the edge of the kang. "Auntie, take good care of the house."
"Sure, as long as I stay, I’ll certainly care for the children and the ho."
Li Xue assessed Lu Fengzhen’s clean fingernails with satisfaction, seeing her as a tidy person.
"Auntie, my family is easy to get along with, not picky eaters, but I hope Auntie can cook deliciously."
"I’m pretty good at cooking. I’ll do my best."
Now Li Xue was satisfied. They’d all known a babysitter was coming from Jin Family Village to take care of the nephew, and upon eting her, the first impression was quite favorable.
"Auntie, keep warm, I’ll help my second aunt with cooking," Li Xue said, smiling, and then left.
Qu Xiaoli was frying eggs, salty fried vegetables, cabbage, and there was also last night’s stewed salty radish strips and soybeans.
Li Yungui let them stay put; he also went to wash up.
So twenty minutes later, Qu Xiaoli called Li Yungui to set the table, placing it on the kang so they could divide into two tables, otherwise, they wouldn’t fit.
While eating, Li Yunqiang ca in and was surprised to see Wang Shulin.
"Village Chief Wang."
"Yun Qiang."
"What’s up?"
"The fourth shipnt of raw materials has arrived. You oversee unloading it; I’m heading to my elder brother’s in the city today."
"Alright, got it, I’ll head over now."
"Yungui, what’s this about?"
"Pesticide factory, mainly herbicides, spray after planting, it almost eliminates weeding for a year, though wild greens still grow."
"Great stuff. You’re starting a pesticide factory to sell outside?"
"Yes."
"You’ve kept this under wraps quite strictly, haven’t you?"
"Just hasn’t been announced publicly, that’s all."
"Your village used it this year, right?"
"Yes, though it was risky, luckily, this year was a good harvest."
"Next year, we’ll use it too."
"No problem, rest assured, with large-scale production, there’ll definitely be so for you."
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