The next morning, Xing Zhaozhao packed her things, ready to be discharged from the hospital and go home.
Aunt Hao came to bring her a meal and, seeing this, asked in surprise, “Are you being discharged, Zhaozhao?”
During the days Xing Zhaozhao had been hospitalized to give birth, the Gao family had acted as if they were all dead—not a single person had shown up. It had been Aunt Hao who traveled a long distance every day to bring her meals.
The Hao family lived next door to the Gao family.
Both Uncle Hao and Aunt Hao were honest, sincere people.
Their two sons had grown up following Gao Mingcheng around since they were young, and their relationship was far from ordinary.
Later, Gao Mingcheng even helped their eldest son, Hao Jianguo, secure a permanent job at the town’s recycling station. Gao Old Lady had wanted to take that job for her own precious son, but Gao Mingcheng had refused, leading to a falling out.
Later, when their younger son, Hao Jianjun, came of age, Gao Mingcheng also brought him into the Troops.
The couple had always been immensely grateful to Gao Mingcheng, and loving him, they extended their care to Xing Zhaozhao as well.
Not to mention, when Gao Mingcheng had sent Xing Zhaozhao back to give birth, knowing his own family was unreliable and utterly selfish—willing to lift you up like a Bodhisattva when you were useful, but trample you into the mud and spit on you when you weren’t—he had specifically asked Aunt Hao to keep an eye on her.
Seeing Aunt Hao arrive, Xing Zhaozhao smiled and replied, “Ah, Auntie, you’re here. I’ve mostly recovered, so there’s no need to stay in the hospital and waste money.”
Aunt Hao shot her a reproachful look. “You should have told me first. It’s autumn, and the weather is cold. You’ve just given birth and are still in your confinement period. Walking back without any cover—how could your body handle it? You’re young now and don’t care, but when you’re older, you’ll suffer for it.”
As she spoke, Aunt Hao shoved the lunchbox she had been holding, wrapped in a cloth wrapper, into Xing Zhaozhao’s hands. “You eat your breakfast first. I’ll go find your Uncle Da Han. He came to town today on business—I actually hitched a ride on his Tractor earlier. On the way back, he can give us a lift.”
Without waiting for Xing Zhaozhao to respond, Aunt Hao turned and hurried off energetically.
Xing Zhaozhao unwrapped the cloth wrapper and took out the still-warm lunchbox, her nose tingling with emotion.
From the village to town, it took nearly an hour on foot. Taking the Tractor would be a bit faster this time. Aunt Hao had been bringing her three meals a day, always on time, and each time the food was still warm.
Opening the lunchbox, she found golden millet porridge inside—fine grains that were usually too precious to eat, all saved for her.
Xing Zhaozhao ate her breakfast slowly, bite by bite, her mind drifting back to her past life.
In her past life, she had stayed in the hospital for less than three days. Hearing that the elderly Gaos were arguing fiercely about dividing the family property and refusing to care for even her two sons—their own grandsons—she couldn’t bear it any longer. Dragging her battered body home, she had ended up compromising again and again.
Aunt Hao had tried to help her, over and over.
But you can never lift someone who refuses to stand up.
If she couldn’t stand on her own, no amount of help from others would make a difference.
Later, it seemed something had happened to the Hao family as well.
What was it again?
Xing Zhaozhao tried hard to remember but couldn’t recall.
Back then, having lost two children in succession, she was completely numb and had long ceased to care about others’ affairs.
But not in this lifetime.
Aunt Hao soon returned excitedly: “Alright, Zhaozhao, I’ve spoken with your Uncle Da Han. We’ll wait for him at the hospital entrance later—he’s coming to pick us up.”
As she spoke, Aunt Hao’s eyes sparkled, and she proudly held up an army coat for Xing Zhaozhao to see: “Look, Zhaozhao, guess what I brought back for you?”
“An army coat? Where did it come from?” Xing Zhaozhao asked in surprise.
“Your Uncle Da Han heard you were taking the baby back and was worried you’d get cold riding on the tractor. He specially borrowed this for you. Wrap yourself in it once you’re on the tractor, and you won’t catch a chill,” Aunt Hao explained.
Xing Zhaozhao glanced at the bright sun outside: “…Is that really necessary?”
Aunt Hao insisted: “Yes, it is. Don’t be fooled by the sunshine—the autumn wind is chilly. Even if you won’t think of yourself, you should consider the child.”
At the mention of the child, Xing Zhaozhao immediately relented: “…Alright.”
As it turned out, Aunt Hao’s insistence was justified.
The tractor’s trailer had no cover, and sitting in it, one could hear the wind whistling past their ears. Xing Zhaozhao herself felt a bit cold, let alone Xiao Hongling, who had just been born.
As they approached the village entrance, Xing Zhaozhao suddenly spotted a group of children fighting in the distance—a whole crowd surrounding… two?
Though they were some distance away, Xing Zhaozhao’s sharp eyes immediately recognized the two boys surrounded in the middle: her sons, the eldest Hongfei and the second Hongyu.
Hongfei was eight years old this year, and Hongyu only five. Though both were young, they had already trained with their father in the troops. Their moves were precise and disciplined, and even surrounded by so many children, they remained calm, standing back-to-back, attacking and defending with coordination.
Still, two fists were no match for four hands, and both boys had sustained some injuries.
However, the others fared worse. The slightly older Hongfei knocked them down one by one—some with black eyes, some with bloody noses, some thrown to the ground and biting their lips, wailing in pain.
As they drew closer, Aunt Hao also noticed something amiss: “What are these rascals fighting about again? They never seem to stop. Wait—aren’t those Hongfei and Hongyu in the middle? These brats are going too far, ganging up on just two! Da Han, stop right up ahead. I’m going to give those troublemakers a piece of my mind.”
Da Han quickly pulled the tractor over by the village entrance, right next to where the boys were fighting.
“Hey, what are you brats up to?” Aunt Hao shouted angrily, rolling up her sleeves as she prepared to jump down.
Xing Zhaozhao grabbed her arm: “It’s fine, Auntie.”
“How is it fine? Hongfei and Hongyu are getting beaten up! How can you, as their mother, not be worried?” Aunt Hao couldn’t help feeling anxious on her behalf.
Xing Zhaozhao smiled unconcernedly and said, “Really, it’s fine. It’ll be over soon.”
Before Aunt Hao could react, laughter came from the driver’s seat up front. Da Han chuckled: “Good lads, just like Mingcheng’s boys—tough as their old man.”
When Aunt Hao looked over again, she saw that all the boys who had just been surrounding Hongfei and Hongyu were now lying on the ground, each bearing various injuries. Although Hongfei and Hongyu were also wounded, the outcome was clearly in their favor by comparison.