Shuangqiao Commune, Shuangshui Production Team, the Su family home at the edge of the village.
The dilapidated gate creaked open as Su Qianqian led Su Qingyue inside.
Before Su Qianqian could say a word, Su Qingwu set down his hoe and strode over to Su Qingyue to take her luggage. His voice trembled. “You… you’re the second sister.”
Su Qingyue’s eyes instantly reddened. “Big brother, it’s me.”
Su Mingqiang was shakily helped up by his youngest daughter. Su Qingyue hurried over, wiped her eyes, and greeted them, “Father, little sister.”
Su Mingqiang gazed at Su Qingyue for a long time before finally choking out, “You look like your mother. It’s good that you’re home.”
“Father, is your health any better? I’ll take you to the county hospital tomorrow.”
“It’s an old ailment. Why bother with all that fuss?”
Su Qingxi looked at this beautiful sister whose brows and eyes resembled their mother. With a sob in her voice, she said, “Sister, you’re really pretty.”
Su Qingyue examined her younger sister. The girl was only thirteen, her skin slightly tanned from the sun, her large eyes unusually bright and brimming with tears.
Su Qingyue’s heart ached for her. “Why are you crying? I brought you clothes and skincare products. From now on, you mustn’t work under the sun anymore.”
Perhaps because of blood ties, the two instantly grew close.
Su Qianqian rolled her eyes. Su Qingxi was always greedy and lazy when it came to work, and had never been close to her. Yet now, upon meeting Su Qingyue for the first time, she looked as if she’d found her dearest sister.
“Uncle Su, Su Qingyue is home now. You should enjoy your family reunion—I’ll be leaving first.”
That single “Uncle Su” suddenly created distance. Su Mingqiang felt a chill in his heart, and Su Qingwu looked awkward.
Eldest sister-in-law Li Zilan thought Su Qianqian was jealous and quickly went over to take her hand. “Qianqian, this is your home too. Hurry and stay for dinner—your big brother specially cut some meat.”
Su Qianqian pulled her hand away. “No need, sister-in-law. I’m a sent-down youth and live at the educated youth compound. I’ll be returning to the city next year.”
Li Zilan froze, unsure how to respond, as Su Qianqian had already walked out of the courtyard.
Thinking of Su Qianqian’s previous behavior, Su Qingwu waved his hand. “Qingyue is back—let’s eat.”
Su Qingyue smiled and greeted her sister-in-law, then helped carry the dishes.
Once the food was on the table, there were fermented black bean–fried potato slices, chili-fried pork, chive omelet, and finally a cold wild-vegetable salad that Su Qingyue didn’t recognize.
The staple was gleaming white rice. Su Qingxi stared at the spread—food normally only seen during the New Year—and swallowed hard.
A little bean-sized boy sniffed the aroma and ran in through the gate. With his round eyes fixed on Su Qingyue, he asked shyly, “Are you my real aunt?”
After speaking, he sniffed and blew a snot bubble.
“Pfft—”
Su Qingyue couldn’t hold back her laughter. Li Zilan’s face tightened as she grabbed her son, about to smack his bottom.
Su Qingyue hurriedly stopped her, tilting her head with a smile. “Sister-in-law, it just reminded me of myself as a child—I often played until my face was a mess too.”
“Zhuangzhuang, go wash your hands first, then come eat. Auntie has a reward for you later.”
Su Zhuangzhuang grinned, ran over on his short legs to wash his hands and face, then obediently sat at the table.
“Dad, Mom, is it New Year today?”
Su Qingwu glared at his silly son. “We’re welcoming your aunt home.”
Zhuangzhuang swallowed. “Then Auntie, don’t leave anymore. That way our family can eat white rice and meat every day.”
Su Qingxi spoke up, “Silly Zhuangzhuang, stop dreaming. After today, the leftover white rice can only be eaten at New Year.”
Su Qingyue felt a tight ache in her chest. So this was how hard their lives were.
She put meat into Zhuangzhuang’s and her sister’s bowls. “Father, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, now that I’m back, we’ll live like before—eat whatever we have.”
“Once I’ve settled in, I’ll also see what I can do to help share the burden.”
The family felt warm and touched hearing this. Su Qingyue looked pampered, yet she had no spoiled temper and was easy to get along with.
Li Zilan felt greatly relieved. It was good that her sister-in-law didn’t look down on poverty or chase wealth.
She busily served Su Qingyue more food. “Mother passed away at the beginning of the year, and Father’s waist isn’t well.
“When Qianqian left home, she took two hundred yuan. With everything that happened afterward, the family had no extra money to buy fine rice or flour…
“But it’s all right. As long as we work together, life will get better.”
Su Qingyue smiled sweetly, her gaze firm and optimistic. “Alright, I’ll listen to you, Sister-in-law.”
Su Mingqiang and Su Qingwu spoke little, but kept putting food into Su Qingyue’s bowl.
Su Qingyue felt warmth fill her heart. After the meal, she opened the two wooden trunks and took out piles of items.
“There are clothes for everyone. I asked Qianqian for the sizes—if anything doesn’t fit, Sister-in-law, I’ll trouble you to alter them.”
Li Zilan carefully touched the blue dress in her hands. “Sewing isn’t troublesome.”
Su Qingxi held up a yellow floral dress, her small face flushed with excitement. “I have a dress too! I heard one costs dozens of yuan—I’ll save it for when I get married!”
Su Qingyue laughed. “By the time you get married, you won’t fit into this dress anymore. Wear it when you want. I’ll buy you more later.”
Su Mingqiang and Su Qingwu each received a Zhongshan suit. Neither of them dared wear it, but joy shone uncontrollably in their eyes.
Zhuangzhuang was small, so Su Qingyue bought him two outfits. The little guy immediately changed into them.
Su Qingyue opened the other trunk and took out two tins of malted milk, one bag of fruit candy, three bags of White Rabbit milk candies, two packs of egg cakes, two packs of biscuits, three boxes of chocolate, and three bags of bread.
Zhuangzhuang’s eyes couldn’t keep up. He lunged forward and hugged Su Qingyue’s leg. “Wow! Auntie! Can I eat White Rabbit candies every day?!”
His voice cracked with excitement. “Auntie, you’re amazing! Don’t leave—stay and live with us!”
Li Zilan was mortified and smacked his bottom twice. “You little rascal—this is your aunt’s home to begin with!”
Su Qingyue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She pinched Zhuangzhuang’s cheek and popped a candy into his mouth. “Auntie’s not leaving!”
She then distributed the groceries. “Sister-in-law, put the rest away.”
Li Zilan nodded with a smile. “There’s a lot of food—we can’t use it all at once. Life has to be lived day by day.”
Su Qingxi sucked on a White Rabbit candy, the sweet taste seeming to melt right into her heart.
“Qingyue, you’ll stay in the same room as Qingxi. You’re tired from the trip—rest for a bit.”
The sheets and covers were clearly freshly washed, still carrying the scent of sunshine. “Sister-in-law, I’m not tired. I want to go see Mother.
“And then make a trip to the county to pick up my parcels.”
Su Mingqiang wiped his eyes. “Yue, no rush. After the fifteenth, we’ll go visit your mother’s grave together.”
Li Zilan nodded. “There’s a bus to the county every morning at six. Tractors can only be used when the commune has official business.
“The Pei family’s ox cart can be hired for money too—but that rough man has a bad temper.”
“Got it, Sister-in-law. I’ll go ask later.”
After reminding Zhuangzhuang to take his aunt around the village, the family headed out to work and earn work points.
Su Qingyue had Zhuangzhuang lead her to the Pei household. When they reached the thatched hut, Zhuangzhuang backed away. “Auntie, you knock. Pei Huaiye is scary—I’m afraid.”
Su Qingyue looked at the hut, even more rundown than the Su family’s earthen house. How could anyone live here?
After talking with Zhuangzhuang for a while, she learned that Pei Huaiye had a bad relationship with his family and lived alone in the hut.
She knocked for a long time, but no one answered.
Pei Huaimei passed by carrying pig fodder. When she saw Su Qingyue, her eyes went wide.
This was the first time a woman had come looking for her brother—and such a beautiful woman at that!