A vein throbbed on Song Xinran's forehead, but she restrained herself and said, "No, I don't want to look for one either."
Fang Cuimei slapped her thigh emphatically. "How can that be? Having a man means having support, someone to make decisions for the family. My maternal family happens to have a suitable match—the fellow isn't even forty yet, his wife passed away leaving a child still in middle school. That family's conditions are much better than Chun Jun's; he has three older sisters, and they just built a new house—three whole floors, dear, with tiles on the outside! If you marry into that family, you'll live a life of ease!"
Song Xinran's fists, resting on her knees, tightened, but she maintained a slight smile. "Aunt, isn't Xiao Lan twenty already?"
This question left Fang Cuimei somewhat bewildered. Xiao Lan was her third daughter, and she was indeed twenty this year, but why bring that up now?
"Yes," Fang Cuimei replied.
Song Xinran smiled. "Xiao Lan works in another province, right? She only comes back for the New Year. Aunt, why don't you introduce such a fine man to Xiao Lan instead? If Xiao Lan marries into that family and lives comfortably, she won't have to work away from home anymore and can stay by your side to fulfill her filial duties. Wouldn't that be better than introducing him to me?"
Fang Cuimei was momentarily speechless. Staring at Song Xinran's cheerful expression, she felt a twinge of unease.
What was going on? Wasn't Song Xinran the type who wouldn't utter a word even if you beat her three times? Why was she so sharp-tongued today?
Fang Cuimei brushed it off vaguely and chided, "You… your aunt only has your best interests at heart."
Song Xinran stood up with a smile. "I know, Aunt means well, but I have things to do today."
Fang Cuimei quickly grabbed her. "Don't rush, dear. Your aunt has some heartfelt words for you. Xiao Yu is being raised at your sister's place, right? Do you know what kind of life Xiao Yu leads there?"
Song Xinran paused slightly.
Fang Cuimei continued, "That Cai Yang from your sister's family is quite notorious in our village. Every day, he rounds up a bunch of kids, causing chaos everywhere—climbing mountains and running to the sea. I've seen them chasing Xiao Yu several times. When Cai Yang buys snacks with money, Xiao Yu can only stand by and watch. Poor Xiao Yu, losing his father so young, with no one in the family to stand up for him."
As she spoke, Fang Cuimei glanced sideways at Song Xinran and was pleased to see her lower her head. Smirking inwardly, she went on, "In a family raising two children, it's hard to avoid favoritism. Dear, it'd be better for you to place Xiao Yu in a childless household."
After a pause, she added, "Look, it's just me and your uncle at home—no children at all. It gets so quiet and lonely in the evenings with no one to talk to. Xiao Yu is such a well-behaved child; I quite like him."
Song Xinran sneered inwardly, having long understood Fang Cuimei's intentions.
But outwardly, she kept her head bowed, twisting her fingers, her voice soft and weak. "Xiao Yu is doing just fine at my sister's place. She even prepared a separate room for him. Xiao Yang is around his age, so he has a companion."
Fang Cuimei refused to give up. "As the saying goes, 'Keep good men company, and you shall be of the number.' Xiao Yu is so well-behaved now; we mustn't let Cai Yang lead him astray."
Song Xinran quickly waved her hands. "That won't happen. Xiao Yang is just a bit rowdy by nature, but he's not a bad kid."
Not a trace of a smile remained on Fang Cuimei's face. She stared at Song Xinran for several seconds, and seeing that the young woman kept her head lowered, refusing to meet her gaze, she simply stood up. "Fine. Since you've made up your mind, I won't press further. Sit for a while—I'll go cook."
Fang Cuimei walked toward the pitch-black kitchen, her rubber shoes squelching against the ground. Each step landed squarely in a patch of chicken droppings, as if she were aiming for them with uncanny precision.
Song Xinran turned and took Song Yu's hand. "Xiao Yu, let's go back."
Song Yu nodded. He was eager to leave too. Although he hadn't fully understood his second grandmother's words, he knew she had been speaking ill of Little Yang and his aunt.
He felt upset. Although Little Yang sometimes snatched his belongings, his aunt was kind. When his uncle and Little Yang were away, she would give him biscuits and mend his torn clothes.
Before they could rise, Fang Cuimei returned from the kitchen and peered at them. "Oh, dear! I just noticed we're out of rice. It's getting late, so I won't keep you—best not to walk home in the dark. Next time you visit, you must stay for a meal."
Inwardly, Fang Cuimei cursed. This girl had rejected the match she proposed and refused to let her care for the child to earn those four hundred yuan. Did she really expect a free dinner? Such audacity!
Song Xinran suppressed a laugh and stood. "Alright then, Second Aunt, we'll be going."
After returning to the old house, Song Xinran spent some time sorting through belongings, deciding what to take to town later:
Ten porcelain bowls, five stainless steel basins, one pot, one spatula, one enamel basin, several enamel cups for drinking…
Lastly, a new six-catty cotton quilt—the original owner's dowry, cherished by both her and her husband, rarely used, saved for Song Yu when he grew older.
Having tallied these items, Song Xinran thought happily of the money she would save. She locked the door and left.
Before departing, she glanced at the scattered corn stalks but left them untouched.
Dusk was just settling when they arrived at Song Xinwen's house.
Song Xinwen waited at the doorway. "You were gone so long, I was about to fetch a flashlight and come looking for you."
"Thank you, Sister. I timed our return carefully—we wouldn't have been walking in the dark." Song Xinran continued, "I'd like to sleep with Xiao Yu tonight."
Song Xinwen nodded. "Of course. You rarely stay over—I already thought of that. I've just changed the quilt for a wider one; the old one was too narrow for Xiao Yu."
"Thank you, Sister."
Song Xinwen waved a hand. "You're too polite. There's no need for thanks between sisters."
She then gave Song Xinran a new towel and a new enamel cup for washing up. "There's hot water in the aluminum pot—you can use it for a bath. Your things are in the inner room; your brother-in-law carried them in and didn't touch anything. If you want them moved to Xiao Yu's room, just ask him for help."
Song Xinran agreed.
Song Xinwen offered more scattered reminders and was on the verge of bringing up the glass factory resignation again when Song Xinran quickly excused herself: "Sister, I'm going to wash up now. I'm exhausted from today and want to rest early."
"Go ahead," Song Xinwen said.
Song Xinran prepared to bathe, though there was no dedicated bathroom—everyone washed in the toilet.
In rural areas, toilets were often built alongside pigsties, with the pigsties on either side and the toilet in the middle. Sometimes, one had to be cautious while using the toilet, as the pigs might unexpectedly push their way out.
Song Xinran simply couldn't bear it. Eventually, she noticed there was another toilet on the second floor. Though it was quite basic, at least no livestock were kept there, making it much cleaner. So, she made the effort to carry water upstairs to wash up.
After washing, she intended to help Song Yu take a bath, only to find that he had already finished. Dressed in clean clothes, with slightly damp ends of his hair, dark eyes wide open, he sat obediently on the bed and said, "Auntie already gave me a bath."
His voice sounded tender, and his words were clear.
Song Xinran understood that he had bathed in the first-floor toilet. She asked, "Xiao Yu, aren't you afraid of the pigs?"
Song Yu's shoulders trembled slightly. He wanted to say he wasn't afraid, but in truth, he was a little scared.
He whispered, "Only a little bit."
Song Xinran said, "Then next time, Mom will take you to the city to wash up."
Song Yu lifted his small face to look at her. "Just you and me, Mom?"
Song Xinran smiled. "Yes, Mom will definitely be with Xiao Yu."
Song Yu blinked and remained silent for a few seconds before suddenly murmuring very softly, "I don't need new clothes or candy anymore."
His voice was so low that Song Xinran didn't catch it. "What did Xiao Yu say?"
But Song Yu refused to repeat it. He crawled onto the bed by himself, lifted the blanket, and lay down beside her, occupying a small space. Clutching the blanket with both hands, he gazed at her expectantly.
Song Xinran smiled. "Tonight, Xiao Yu will sleep with Mom."
The bed was 1.35 meters wide, more than enough for an adult and a child. The newly changed blanket was even wider, but the cotton inside had become stiff and flattened. Since the temperature wasn't low, they wouldn't feel cold.
Song Xinran didn't like to move much while sleeping, lying quietly on her back. Song Yu also slept obediently.
Song Xinran was a bit sleepless. Having arrived in an unfamiliar world and sleeping in an unfamiliar place, the bed board was hard, and beneath the bedsheet was a mattress made of dried straw, emitting the scent of sun-dried grass.
She was thinking about what to do the next day: first, go to the town to look for a rental place; then, visit the market to see what ingredients she could use to set up a stall and sell; finally, scout for suitable locations to set up a stall…
Just as she was lost in thought, the other side of the bed shifted slightly. A small body cautiously inched closer to her.
Song Xinran opened her eyes and saw in the darkness that Song Yu was trying hard to get closer to her without being noticed, even keeping his eyes shut.
Finally, he pressed against her side, his small hand quietly grabbing her arm, his head tilted slightly, and his breathing gradually calming down.
Song Xinran couldn't help but smile at the corner of her mouth. She didn't move, pretending to be asleep.
And just like that, she easily fell asleep.
Song Xinran was awakened by noise the next time she woke up. There were thumping footsteps downstairs, accompanied by a man and a woman arguing.
She opened her eyes and was about to get up when someone gently tugged her arm.
She turned on the light and saw Song Yu holding her hand, his eyes wide open, his expression somewhat frightened. "Auntie and Uncle are fighting."
Song Xinran patted his head and held his hand. "It's okay, let's go take a look."
Song Yu thought for a moment and finally obediently replied, "Mm," but as they were about to leave the room, he leaned close to Song Xinran and whispered, "Auntie and Uncle fight really fiercely. Let's not say anything."
Song Xinran was taken aback but then said gently, "Okay."
As soon as she reached the ground floor, Song Xinran saw the chubby Cai Yang—who had been bouncing with energy that afternoon—now lying on the cooling bed, wailing and moaning incessantly.
Song Xinwen and Cai Yongde were both frantic with worry. Song Xinwen had only half-draped his clothes and was rushing to fetch water, while Cai Yongde frowned deeply, urging, "Hurry up! Why is fetching water taking so long?"
Song Xinwen strode over quickly with an enamel cup, retorting, "Stop rushing me! Can’t you do it yourself?"
Standing at the stairwell, Song Xinran asked, "Sis, brother-in-law, what’s wrong with Xiao Yang?"
Upon hearing her voice, Cai Yang, who lay on the cooling bed, immediately opened his eyes. His eyes were red and swollen, his face streaked with tears and snot. Pointing a finger at her, he cried out, "It’s all Auntie’s fault! Auntie poisoned me!"
Author's note: