In rural areas nowadays, corn stalks are commonly used as firewood, typically stored under the eaves to keep them dry.
But when one's own home lacks space, they end up stuffed everywhere. Probably some neighbor, seeing their house empty, had piled them here—though it made no sense to completely block the main door.
Song Xinran said, "I'll move them."
Without hesitation, she picked up a bundle of corn stalks and tossed it into the nearby yard, then grabbed a second bundle and repeated the action.
In no time, she had cleared enough to reveal the door.
Watching his mother, Song Yu immediately realized that moving the stalks meant they wouldn't need to climb through the window—and he wouldn't break his leg.
The child touched his leg, then trotted alongside Song Xinran, diligently gathering scattered bits of firewood and mimicking her motions to toss the debris aside.
Soon, the area in front of the door was much cleaner.
"Xiao Yu, you don't need to pick those up anymore. Let's go inside." Song Xinran took the child's hand, pulled out a key, and unlocked the door.
As she pushed it open, a musty smell wafted out. The earthen floor was covered in a layer of white dust, and cobwebs hung everywhere in the main room. The window frames had warped from rain, and the locks were rusted.
She glanced around; the main room was sparsely furnished, containing only a wooden table with four long benches, a yellow daybed, and a washstand.
It was clear that the original owner had tidied the room neatly before leaving, keeping only the useless or bulky items—things Song Xinran couldn't possibly take with her.
Song Xinran switched on the main electrical breaker and turned on the light bulb, casting a dim, yellowish glow across the room.
She then checked the toilet and the bedrooms. Wherever she went, Song Yu trailed behind like a little shadow, eager to help.
She turned sideways, bent down slightly, and looked at the stout, enthusiastic child. Softly, she said, "Xiao Yu, Mom wants to take you to live in town."
Song Yu's eyes widened in disbelief. He stared at her, speechless.
Song Xinran continued, "Today, I brought you home to see if there's anything we can take to town. Can you help Mom look for things that we can bring and use in our daily life?"
Song Yu's eyes instantly lit up, and he nodded excitedly, "Mm-hmm!"
Then he dashed off toward the kitchen with a clatter.
Song Xinran smiled. She hadn't expected Song Yu to find much, but seeing the child following her around somewhat aimlessly, she wanted to give him a task.
She entered the bedroom, scanning the surroundings until her gaze settled on a large wardrobe in the corner.
Dust covered everything except that area, which seemed cleaner, as if the original owner had returned to check on it.
Song Xinran opened the wardrobe and was delighted to find a white cotton quilt inside. Reaching out to touch it, she found it relatively dry.
"Mom!" Song Yu's voice called from outside, accompanied by hurried footsteps. The child soon ran in, holding a bunch of chopsticks, and happily presented them to her. "I found chopsticks. Are these okay?"
Song Xinran saw that the bamboo chopsticks were fairly new and likely unused. She nodded, "Yes, these are great! You're amazing, Xiao Yu!"
Song Yu pursed his lips into a faint smile, placed the chopsticks in the room, and then scurried back to the kitchen to search for more.
Song Xinran was left speechless.
Before long, Song Yu came running over again, holding two enamel cups in his hands, his eyes sparkling with excitement: "Mom, can we take the cups?"
Song Xinran patted his head: "Of course we can, Xiao Yu is so amazing!"
Song Yu's smile widened, revealing his white teeth. After putting down the items, he ran out again.
Moments later, he rushed back in, this time carrying two stainless steel basins: "Mom, look! There are basins here!"
Song Xinran feigned surprise: "Is Xiao Yu a treasure hunting expert? How did you find so many treasures? You're incredibly capable!"
The child's face flushed red with excitement. He giggled and dashed out once more.
Song Xinran found cotton quilts, pillows, and some bedsheets in the room, while Song Yu discovered various bowls and kitchen utensils in the kitchen. Both were thoroughly engaged in their search.
Just then, a woman in her forties or fifties appeared from nearby.
She wore a navy blue long-sleeved shirt and dragged along a pair of worn-out rubber shoes that left muddy footprints with each step. Her skin was dark, her face deeply lined, and she was of short stature with a lean build.
Fang Cuimei's heart skipped a beat when she noticed the lights on at the house of the family whose man had died young. Had the young wife working in town returned?
Remembering something important, Fang Cuimei lightened her footsteps and crept closer. As she approached the courtyard, she immediately spotted the scattered corn stalks and her face fell. She cursed under her breath.
Carefully skirting the corn stalks, she moved near the window and could hear voices coming through the cracks, though she couldn't make out the words clearly. Her eyes darting, Fang Cuimei pressed closer.
But being short and the windows built high, she couldn't get her ear close enough to hear properly. Growing impatient, she quickly stood on her toes to listen. However, having worked in the fields all day, her feet soon ached from the strain.
Fang Cuimei cursed again and scanned her surroundings like a scanner. Finally, she brought over a stone block to stand on.
As she stepped onto the stone, it wobbled unsteadily, making her sway and nearly giving her a heart attack. Flustered, she scrambled down and accidentally bumped into the nearby corn stalks.
With a "thud," the corn stalks fell to the ground, creating a clattering noise.
A voice suddenly called out from inside: "Who's out there?!"
Song Xinran strode to the door, her hand on the lock but not opening it.
A middle-aged woman's voice came from outside: "It's me, dear. I saw your lights on and came to check."
The voice was familiar. Song Xinran immediately matched it with the image that had surfaced in her mind moments earlier. The visitor should be the wife of her late father-in-law's elder brother, the second in the family hierarchy, whom she should address as Second Aunt.
Song Xinran opened the door to see a face crinkled with a deep smile: "When did you get back, dear?"
Song Xinran glanced at Fang Cuimei and replied: "Second Aunt, I just returned."
Just then, Song Yu also came out. Timid around strangers, he stood by the kitchen door, not daring to approach. Song Xinran waved him over: "Xiao Yu, come here. This is Second Grandma."
Song Yu obediently walked over, stood beside Song Xinran, looked up and called out in his tender voice: "Second Grandma."
Fang Cuimei's smile instantly brightened: "Oh, this must be Xiao Yu! You've grown so big! So well-behaved. Do you remember Second Grandma? I held you when you were little."
Song Yu timidly tugged at Song Xinran's clothes and called out hesitantly once more, "Second Grandma."
He thought the grandma before him had a rather frightening smile, but his mother had said that when elders speak, one must respond and not be impolite.
Song Yu was trying his best to be a polite child.
Song Xinran squeezed his hand and asked, "What is it, Second Aunt?"
Fang Cuimei replied, "Nothing much. I just came to check on things. After all, our houses are close, and with no one at your place, I thought I'd keep an eye on it for you."
Song Xinran thanked her.
Fang Cuimei's eyes shifted, and she changed the subject. "It's rare for you to come back, and it's so late. Have you eaten yet? We've made food at my place. Come join us. Don't stay here—the house is covered in dust, and there's nowhere to sit."
Song Xinran politely declined.
But Fang Cuimei was extremely enthusiastic and even tugged at her hand, pulling her outside. Song Yu didn't quite understand their conversation and thought Second Grandma was trying to take his mother away. His eyes widened in alarm, and he nervously gripped his mother's hand, trying to pull her back inside.
Unable to refuse any further, Song Xinran reluctantly agreed to go and sit for a while.
As they crossed the yard, Fang Cuimei glanced at the scattered cornstalks and averted her eyes guiltily. She deliberately smiled and said, "These cornstalks are from my place. I thought since no one was home, I'd pile them in front of your door to block it, so no thieves would come around."
Song Xinran smiled faintly but said nothing.
Fang Cuimei glanced at her out of the corner of her eye several times. Seeing her expressionless, she felt too embarrassed to say anything more, only sensing that something about Song Xinran seemed different this time.
After just a few steps, they arrived at Fang Cuimei's house—a two-story red brick building with a dirt yard in front. The yard was filled with chickens, ducks, and geese. Chickens pecked around searching for food, ducks quacked noisily, and geese flapped their wings as they chased each other. The dirt yard was littered with animal droppings, creating a lively scene.
Song Xinran looked at the yard, her eyebrow twitching slightly. She carefully picked her way across, managing to avoid stepping on any droppings as she made it to the front door.
Fang Cuimei pushed the door open with great enthusiasm. "Make yourself at home!"
Song Xinran was already regretting coming, but leaving before even stepping inside would be too impolite.
The house was unlit and poorly lit, making it rather dark. As soon as Song Xinran stepped into the main room, she sensed something was off and froze.
Fang Cuimei turned on the light, and Song Xinran looked down to see a flattened pile of chicken droppings on the floor.
Song Xinran felt as though her foot no longer belonged to her. Under Fang Cuimei's enthusiastic urging, she reluctantly prepared to sit down, only to spot chicken droppings on the cool chair…
Fang Cuimei followed her gaze and noticed it too. She strode over, bent down, and with a sweep of her hand, brushed the chicken droppings off the chair and onto the floor.
Song Xinran felt as though her eyes were about to go blind.
Fang Cuimei remarked, "It's dry chicken droppings—not dirty. Sit anywhere. You've only been in town for a short while, and you've already turned into a city person, can't even stand the sight of chicken droppings."
Song Xinran had no desire to continue the small talk and immediately said, "Second Aunt, I haven't finished tidying up at home. I need to hurry back."
Fang Cuimei grabbed her arm. "Don't rush off. I have something serious to ask you. Girl, you've been in town for so long—have you found a suitable man? You're only in your twenties and have a child to raise. It'd be better for you to find a man."