"Alright, then let’s build it. After the New Year, everyone will be free. We’ll hire so more people to get it done early so it doesn’t delay the trip to Beijing City. Little Chen, you’re a grown-up now. In the next few days, follow your uncle to town and ask about the price of bricks and tiles. It’s best to get everything arranged before the New Year—have the sand, li, wood, and bricks and tiles all delivered."
Hearing his grandfather say this, Little Chen was instantly filled with confidence.
"I understand, Grandpa."
He Nan looked at Mr. He. "Dad, we need to ask the village chief to approve a plot of land first, right? There’s no room to build in our courtyard."
Mr. He nodded. "Little Chen, in a bit, you’ll co with to the village chief’s house. Bring a few things."
"Okay."
When Little Chen ca back and told her, Gao Cuiyun said, "We don’t need to hire too many people. I’ll go back to your grandma’s place and ask your grandpa, your uncles, and your cousins to co help. That should be enough hands."
Little Chen smiled, pursing his lips. He’d almost forgotten—he had a lot of uncles and cousins on his mother’s side.
"Okay. Let’s talk about it when we go back to Grandma’s on the second day of the New Year. Mom, our family did well this year. When you go back, bring so extra gifts for Grandma and the others."
Gao Cuiyun smiled and nodded. Before the family property was divided, it was always Mrs. He who prepared the gifts for her to take back to her parents’ ho. After the division, Gao Cuiyun rarely brought anything on her visits, more often arriving empty-handed. But her older brothers doted on her and knew she was having a hard ti, so they never said anything. Her sisters-in-law, however, were surely resentful, even if they kept quiet.
Gao Cuiyun said, "During the New Year, let’s buy several pounds of at to bring back for your grandpa and the others. It’ll be an extra dish for their table."
That afternoon, He Nan took the things his mother gave him and rode his bicycle to Yangjia Gou.
When he reached the Xue family’s ho, he went up and knocked. The one who opened the door was Liu Hongxing.
She squinted at He Nan, not recognizing him at first.
"Who are you looking for?"
He Nan knew this was Xue Yue’s stepmother. He had t her once before at He Lang’s wedding.
"Auntie, I’m He Lang’s older brother. My sister-in-law asked to bring so things for Uncle."
Liu Hongxing glanced at the package in He Nan’s hand, and her expression instantly beca much more enthusiastic.
"Oh, it’s you! I thought you looked a little familiar. Co in, your uncle is ho."
Then she shouted into the house, "Xingjun’s dad, a guest is here!"
Xue Xingjun was the first to run out. He was a little stunned to see He Nan.
Just then, Xue Changlin also walked out of the house. He was also surprised to see He Nan.
He Nan looked at Xue Changlin and quickly relayed the ssage his mother had asked him to deliver.
As he spoke, he handed over the package in his hand, which Xue Changlin accepted.
He asked, "Are Yue’er and the others doing alright in Beijing City?"
He Nan nodded. "They’re doing great. My brother opened a clothing store in Beijing City, and business is quite good. I visited once this year. They’re both fine, so please don’t worry."
Only then did Xue Changlin nod. He then said to He Nan, "Co in and sit for a while."
He Nan waved his hand. "Uncle, I have other things to do, so I won’t co in. Let’s chat another ti when we’re free."
Seeing that He Nan didn’t seem to be making an excuse, Xue Changlin said, "Alright then."
Xue Xingjun stared at He Nan for a long ti. He Nan glanced at him, smiled, and was about to leave.
Xue Xingjun suddenly spoke up, "Is my brother not coming back for the New Year either?"
He Nan turned to look at Xue Xingjun and nodded. "Yes. Your sister had a baby, and the child is still too young. It’s not convenient for them to travel back."
Hearing this, the light slowly faded from Xue Xingjun’s eyes, and his shoulders slumped.
「After He Nan left.」
Xue Xingjun’s tears instantly started to fall. Large, pea-sized teardrops soaked the front of his shirt.
Liu Hongxing said helplessly, "What are you crying for? It’s not like they’re never coming back."
Xue Xingjun cried and said, "My brother is never coming back! He must have forgotten about ! Now that he has a wife and a child, he’s forgotten all about his little brother."
"Then let him forget," Liu Hongxing added, fanning the flas.
"WAAAH—SOB SOB SOB—" Xue Xingjun burst into loud wails.
Xue Changlin shot a look at Liu Hongxing. Her eyes flickered, and she shrank back.
Xue Changlin pulled Xue Xingjun into the house.
"Alright, stop crying for now. Let’s go see what your sister brought for you."
Xue Changlin opened the package. Inside were two sets of clothes Xue Yue had bought, one for Xue Changlin and one for Xue Xingjun. Seeing his own clothes, Xue Xingjun’s crying finally stopped, though he was still sniffling.
He picked up the clothes and held them against his body, thinking, ’These clothes are so nice.’
Xue Xingjun would be a fifteen-year-old young man after the New Year. Xue Yue had bought him a blue, padded cotton jacket and blue pants. For Xue Changlin, there was a Zhongshan suit.
The father and son were holding the clothes up to themselves when Liu Hongxing followed them in. Seeing them both admiring the clothes, she sidled over, only to see that nothing was left in the package but so food.
’Hmph. Still nothing for .’
Liu Hongxing felt a flicker of anger. Seeing the father and son so completely oblivious, she snapped at them, "Those clothes are hideous. And they look even uglier on you two."
Xue Xingjun shook his head. "They’re ni—HIC—nice, Mom. What’s wrong with your eyes?"
Seeing Liu Hongxing’s angry expression, Xue Changlin put down the clothes in his hands.
He took the food out of the package.
"What’s this? It slls so good. A duck?"
"Are these so kind of flatbreads? Why are they so thin? It’s not even enough to get stuck in my teeth."
Xue Xingjun muttered.
Xue Yue probably never would have dread that she’d forgotten to include instructions on how to eat the roast duck. That very day, the Xue Family ate the pancakes as a al by themselves, saving the roast duck to be eaten during the New Year.
anwhile, back at the He Family’s, the land for the second branch of the family was approved.
After the New Year passed, as soon as the fifth day was over, the He Family began to break ground.
From the Gao Family, a total of fifteen able-bodied workers, both old and young, showed up. Gao Cuiyun’s mother ca too, saying she would help with the cooking.
Seeing this scene, the He family was more than just surprised. He Nan quietly whispered to his father, "Tsk tsk. To think that our second brother wasn’t beaten to death by the Gao Family back then... he really was lucky to be alive."
Mr. He shot him a glance, thinking to himself: ’I knew long ago that the Gao Family was large. Why else would I have been so determined to have the second son leave the family with nothing?’
It was the first ti He Nan had t Gao Cuiyun’s father, who had a constant, beaming smile.
"In-law," he began, "I heard from Xiao Yun that Little Chen is working with your second son in Beijing City. Your second son is a promising and righteous man. It seems He Ze was an anomaly; he really isn’t much like the rest of you He family mbers."
Mr. He’s expression stiffened, but he could only reply, "Sigh, it’s our fault as elders for not raising him well. We’ve made our second son’s wife suffer."
But Father Gao just laughed. "In-law, I didn’t an to bla you. We know that you treat Xiao Yun and the children well. Whoever did wrong is the one to bla. Besides, there’s no point in dwelling on it now. The good thing is that Little Chen is a promising boy. No matter how hard things were before, they’re better now."
Mr. He nodded. "Yes, they are all good children."
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