The five of them rode a tricycle to their aunt’s house.
Her place was a small courtyard—barely half the size of their home back in the village. The yard, especially, felt cramped, with a kitchen and a shed taking up most of the space.
The living quarters were divided into three small rooms. The middle served as the main hall, just over ten square meters. On the west side, a straw curtain separated the aunt and uncle’s bedroom, while the east side was where Ye Shangdong and Ye Shangxi slept.
By the time they arrived, it was almost noon, and no one was home. Lin Hongying told them to rest while she went to the kitchen to cook.
Lin Erxia couldn’t sit still, so she followed to help tend the fire. Lin Zhuer trailed behind, and when she saw Lin Hongying take out a few cucumbers, she quickly grabbed them to wash.
Lin Hongying laughed, neither stopping her nor taking them back, and instead turned to add water and scrub the pot.
Meanwhile, Lin Yongfeng and Lin Yongshun noticed that under the shed, aside from a bicycle, there was also a pile of unchopped firewood. The two brothers found an axe and started splitting wood.
When Lin Erxia came out to carry firewood, she was shocked to see her father, Comrade Lin Yongshun, working so diligently—his back soaked with sweat, yet he didn’t seem to notice at all. She hadn’t known he could be this proactive about chores.
As she passed by, Lin Yongshun straightened his chest proudly, clearly pleased with himself.
Watching everyone busy, Lin Hongying couldn’t stop smiling. As she cooked, she chatted with Lin Erxia and Lin Zhuer about amusing things that had happened at her factory.
Lin Zhuer didn’t really understand and simply listened, but Lin Erxia played along perfectly—interjecting at just the right moments with “Oh?” “Really?” “There are people like that?” and nodding along. Lin Hongying’s cheerful mood never faded.
Halfway through cooking, Ye Shangdong and Ye Shangxi returned.
As soon as Ye Shangxi entered the kitchen, he called out, “Mom, Auntie has come. Grandma said we should go eat at her place. Dad won’t be coming home for lunch today.”
Lin Hongying used her spatula to stir the braised pork simmering in the pot, then covered it.
“You two go eat there. Take some braised pork with you later. Eat properly—Xiaodong, keep an eye on your younger brother.”
Ye Shangdong nodded. “Got it, Mom.”
“Alright, go sit outside and talk with your uncles.”
The two boys obediently went to the yard. Ye Shangdong even poured water for them.
Lin Yongfeng, as usual, was quiet—after asking a couple of questions, he didn’t know what else to say. But Lin Yongshun was a different story.
“Xiaodong, Xiaoxi, what have you been doing during your summer break?”
“My mom and grandma don’t let us go out to play. If we do, it has to be at home or at Grandma’s,” Ye Shangdong replied seriously.
Lin Yongshun looked regretful. “Ah, that’s tough—kids your age should have places to play.”
Ye Shangxi nodded vigorously in agreement.
“Your younger cousin Xiaobao spends all day catching grasshoppers, going into the river to catch fish and shrimp, even picking wild fruits. He’s got a whole group of playmates—so happy he forgets to go home.” Though slightly exaggerated, it wasn’t far from the truth.
Ye Shangxi nearly drooled with envy, already jealous of Xiaobao. Even the more composed Ye Shangdong couldn’t help feeling a little envious.
Lin Yongfeng watched silently as Lin Yongshun entertained the kids and said nothing.
“No worries—when you have a break, come find your Third Uncle. I’ll take you climbing trees, catching birds, hunting wild chickens. Xiaozé and Xiaobao are about your age, and they can bring you along to play with the village kids.”
Ye Shangxi clapped excitedly. “Third Uncle, when we catch wild chickens, we’ll roast them!”
Lin Yongshun nodded. “Of course—I’m great at roasting meat. It’ll be delicious.”
Ye Shangxi was completely won over, and even Ye Shangdong looked eager, though he still said, “Third Uncle, I’ll ask my mom first. If she agrees, we’ll go.”
“Of course—your mom grew up there. Why wouldn’t she agree?”
Ye Shangxi cheered, while Lin Yongshun thought to himself that the boy was just like Xiaobao—simple and carefree.
Lin Hongying came out carrying a bowl and heard the cheering, even noticing Ye Shangdong’s barely hidden excitement.
“What’s going on? Why are you two so happy? What did your Third Uncle say?”
Ye Shangdong shook his head. “Nothing. Mom, since you’re done cooking, we’ll head to Grandma’s.”
He took the bowl of braised pork and left, though Ye Shangxi looked a little reluctant.
Lin Hongying wiped her hands. “Big Brother, Third Brother, take a break and wash up—we’ll eat now. Since they’re not here, we can have a quiet meal ourselves.”
Lin Yongfeng agreed, and the two brothers set down the axe to wash their hands.
Lin Erxia and Lin Zhuer carried the dishes into the main room. The small table fit all five of them just right—not cramped at all.
They had rice porridge, mixed wheat-and-corn flatbreads, fragrant braised pork, and cucumber salad—a satisfying meal.
As they ate and chatted, Lin Hongying joked halfway through, “Third Brother, why aren’t you fighting for food today? Is my cooking not as good as Mom’s?”
Lin Yongshun leisurely picked up a piece of fatty-and-lean braised pork and chewed slowly.
“Little Sister, your cooking is just as good as Mom’s. But today, no one’s competing with me—so I can finally savor the taste.”
Lin Hongying burst into laughter. “Fine—if you can’t finish it, pack some to take home.”
Lin Yongfeng shot Lin Yongshun a look—if he dared agree, he’d get punched.
Reading the room, Lin Yongshun wisely didn’t take the offer. “Little Sister, if I don’t leave some for my brother-in-law, I won’t dare come back next time.”
Lin Hongying smiled lightly. “This is my home—what does it have to do with him whether you come or not? Come whenever you want. And Erxia, Zhuer, don’t be shy either.”
Lin Yongshun clapped along. “That’s my little sister—so generous.”
After eating and cleaning up, Lin Yongfeng and Lin Yongshun prepared to head back, and Lin Hongying didn’t try to stop them—everyone in the village was busy.
At that moment, Lin Erxia asked, “Aunt, where’s the county scrap collection station? I want to sell my hair—it’s too long and hard to manage at school.”
Lin Hongying looked at her dry, brittle hair and nodded. Selling it made sense.
“The scrap station is on the same street as the supply and marketing cooperative—just go straight in, it’s at the very end. It’s not too far from your school. I can take you there.”
Lin Erxia quickly refused. Her aunt had already taken time off recently to visit them and pick them up today—she didn’t want to trouble her again for something so small.
“I can go by myself, Aunt. I know the way to the supply cooperative.”
Lin Zhuer added, “Aunt, I’ll go with Fifth Sister. Don’t worry.”
Lin Yongshun also reassured her, “Don’t worry about Erxia—she’s not stupid. She won’t get lost.”
Lin Hongying smiled. She had only taken the morning off, and it wouldn’t be easy to take more time in the afternoon, so she agreed.
Lin Yongfeng and Lin Yongshun headed to the bus station, while Lin Erxia and Lin Zhuer went together to the scrap collection station.