Chen Mu and Uncle Chen helped carry all of Chen Xiaolin’s luggage into her new home, then returned to the brigade office. Chen Mu drove the tractor back, while Uncle Chen had to handle some matters at the brigade office. As brigade chief, he had quite a few responsibilities. He had spent most of the day picking up the educated youth—he wondered if it had delayed anything else.
Chen Xiaolin took out the key and unlocked the door. This key had just been given to her by Uncle Chen.
The new house had two bedrooms, with a large living room in the middle.
On the side closest to Uncle Chen’s house, there were also two storage rooms. Across from the storage rooms was the kitchen, and next to the kitchen was a thatched shed. The shed was meant to store firewood in the future.
The toilet had been remodeled after urban-style toilets and could be flushed with water. It was cleaner and didn’t smell bad.
Next to the toilet was a shower room—something Cheng Xin had specifically requested. She always felt showering was inconvenient when she came back, so she asked Uncle Chen to build this shower room.
In the backyard, there was a well and a large vegetable patch. Right now, it was overgrown with weeds. Chen Xiaolin planned to take some time tomorrow to clear the weeds and plant more vegetables.
After inspecting the house, Chen Xiaolin began unpacking her belongings. The rooms were still empty, without any furniture. She planned to visit the carpenter later to buy some furniture.
Chen Xiaolin chose the right-hand room for herself. She took two enamel basins and an old towel from her belongings, went to the backyard to fetch a basin of water, and used the towel to wipe the kang (heated brick bed) clean.
She spread the mat she had brought from home on the kang and brought out a thin quilt for the night.
Since there were no cupboards yet, she didn’t take out the other items from her luggage.
Before she could finish unpacking, there was a knock at the door.
Opening it, Chen Xiaolin saw that Chen Mu had brought Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen along.
“Xiaolin, you finally came back! Grandpa and Grandma missed you so much,” Grandma Chen said. She had always worried about Chen Xiaolin living alone in the city. Previously, Chen Xiaolin had refused to come back, so all they could do was send her extra food.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I’m back, aren’t I?” Looking at them, Chen Xiaolin recalled her grandparents from her previous life, and tears began to fall.
“Xiaolin, did someone bully you in the city?” Grandpa Chen, seeing her so sad, thought she must have been mistreated.
“No, I just missed you,” Chen Xiaolin quickly wiped away her tears.
“Xiaolin, from now on you’ll stay in the village and let your eldest uncle take care of you,” Grandma Chen said, hugging her. This little girl was the only bloodline of her poor youngest son.
Grandma and Grandpa Chen had three children: two sons and a daughter. The eldest son was Uncle Chen, originally named Chen Daguo. Chen Daguo married He Xiaolian and had three sons. The eldest, Chen Mu, 23 years old, married Liu Hua and had two sons: Gou Dan, five, and Shi Tou, two.
The second son, Chen Lin, 20 years old, had just married Liu Xiaojuan this year and had no children yet.
The youngest, Chen Sen, 19, unmarried, had been recommended for the army two years ago by Chen Dazhu.
Chen Xiaolin had wanted to visit her grandparents earlier, but when she went, everyone had already left for work. She had thought she’d have to wait until evening to see them!
“Grandpa, Grandma, come in and sit. Don’t worry! I can take care of myself. I’ve grown up; there’s no need for Uncle Chen to support me.”
“You’re only sixteen. You’re not grown up yet. Besides, as long as you haven’t married, your eldest uncle is responsible for taking care of you. If he dares to complain, I’ll break his legs,” Grandpa Chen said. With only this little granddaughter and having lost her parents at sixteen, how could he not feel heartbroken?
“That’s right. From now on, just eat with us. Grandma will cook good food for you every day,” Grandma Chen added. She wasn’t afraid of anyone else’s opinion; she was in charge of the household.
“Grandpa, Grandma, I know you care about me, but I like quiet. I’ll eat by myself! Don’t worry, I can take care of myself,” Chen Xiaolin said. She preferred to secretly enjoy good food at home.
“Well! Fine, but you must eat with us tonight,” Grandma Chen said. She planned to kill the old hen that wasn’t laying eggs and make chicken soup for Chen Xiaolin.
“I’ll bring some grain over for you later,” Grandpa Chen said. He wanted to bring tens of kilograms of rice for Chen Xiaolin, unsure if she was accustomed to eating coarse grains after growing up in the city.
Chen Xiaolin didn’t know their thoughts; if she did, she wouldn’t have agreed. She wasn’t short of food or meat, so there was no need to stir up such a fuss.
Meanwhile, everything was lively around Chen Xiaolin. Liu Xiaojuan, working in the fields, was talking to Liu Hua about her.
“Sister-in-law, why is this little cousin coming back? Could it be that she can’t make it in the city?” Liu Xiaojuan had been unhappy when she heard from Chen Lin that his cousin was returning. She had planned to move next door with Chen Lin, but now that Chen Xiaolin was back, her plan was thwarted.
“Why do you care? Mind your own business,” Liu Hua said. She had never liked Liu Xiaojuan, thinking her petty and scheming, with all her calculations written plainly on her face, as if no one could see through them.
“A mere girl… I don’t understand why our grandparents, parents-in-law like her so much,” Liu Xiaojuan said, jealous. How could a ten-year-old orphan live in such a nice house?
“Second sister-in-law, watch your words. If Mother-in-law hears this, she’ll scold you,” Liu Hua said, not bothering with Liu Xiaojuan. Talking to her was a waste of breath.
Seeing Liu Hua ignore her, Liu Xiaojuan sulkily returned to her work.
Not far from Liu Hua, Uncle Chen’s wife and Aunt Zhao were also discussing Chen Xiaolin.
“Xiaolian, I heard your little uncle’s daughter is back?”
“Yes? How did you know?” Uncle Chen’s wife asked curiously. They hadn’t told anyone, so how did Aunt Zhao find out?