The next day after breakfast, Huo Qingqing stayed at the inn with the children while Han Jianwu went to collect the photos.
As soon as the photos were brought out, Zhuangzhuang wanted to see them, and Niu Niu did too.
Huo Qingqing pointed at Han Jianwu in the photo and asked Niu Niu, "Baby, who is this?"
"Mama~"
Huo Qingqing said, "It's Daddy."
"Mama."
Han Jianwu said, "She might not be able to pronounce 'Daddy' clearly when she first starts talking. Don't worry, take it slow. As long as she's willing to open her mouth and speak, it's a good thing."
Huo Qingqing said, "You watch the children. I'm going to the post office to mail a letter. After that, we'll head home."
Han Jianwu said, "Alright, be careful on the way."
Huo Qingqing replied, "I know."
The family of four took the bus to the Commune. As soon as they got off, they saw their Fifth Brother, Han Jianhua.
"Jianhua, what are you doing here?" Han Jianwu asked in surprise.
Han Jianhua said, "I came to pick you up."
Han Jianwu retorted, "Nonsense. What happened at home?"
Han Jianhua helped them carry the sack and said, "Nothing gets past you. Third Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law had a quarrel. Third Brother smashed a bowl on Second Sister-in-law's head, and she needed over ten stitches. I'm here to fetch medicine for Second Sister-in-law and our mother—Mother Han fainted from anger."
Huo Qingqing felt her scalp tingle upon hearing this.
Han Jianwu asked, "When did this happen?"
Han Jianhua replied, "During lunch yesterday."
Han Jianwu exclaimed, "Third Brother is such a fool! How are Second Sister-in-law and Mother now?"
Han Jianhua said, "They're fine, both lying on the Kang with IV drips. Father and Mother Han said they want to divide the family property this time—it's for real, not to scare anyone. You'd better prepare yourself. They'll probably call Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle over to talk tonight."
Splitting the family now would be most disadvantageous for Han Jianwu. The children of Oldest Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother were all grown up—each couple was a strong labor force, and their kids could help out and earn three work points. Fifth Brother, as the youngest son, would naturally stay with their parents. Although Fifth Brother's two children were still young—the eldest three years old and the second one year old—Mother Han could help them with childcare and cooking, so the couple could earn work points and live comfortably.
Previously, Huo Qingqing had worked as a substitute teacher at the elementary school and could at least earn some work points. But now, to return to the city, she had given up her job. Their children were still young, and since Han Jianwu wasn't their biological son, after the family split, Mother Han definitely wouldn't help them with childcare anymore.
Although Huo Qingqing in this life was highly skilled in medicine, who here would believe she could treat illnesses? Moreover, without medicine, supplies, or equipment, even the cleverest housewife couldn't cook a meal without rice.
Han Jianhua continued, "The new courtyard will definitely go to Oldest Brother's family, just you wait and see! Second Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law will surely fight over the east wing of the new courtyard, and then there'll be another quarrel."
Huo Qingqing racked her brains to recall the Han family's situation. Since she had been reborn just yesterday, she hadn't yet sorted out many things!
Did the Han family have a new courtyard?
Yes, that was right. The house was built after last autumn. It was cold by the end of the year, and the adobe walls dried slowly, so they had to keep a fire going to dry them out. There was one main north-facing room and one east-facing wing, quite close to the old courtyard—just a few dozen meters away, roughly.
When they returned to Han Family Village, the entire village felt eerie because of the Han family's bloody incident the day before.
No wonder—the Han family had recently become the hottest topic in the village.
The day before yesterday, Han Lao Si's wife had caused a scene, demanding a divorce to run off with another man. The villagers waiting to watch the drama were as thrilled as if it were New Year. But then, the plot took a sudden turn: Huo Qingqing abruptly decided not to leave and even drove away her lover.
Yesterday, Han Lao Er's wife and Han Lao San's wife got into a shouting match, and Han Lao San broke Han Lao Er's wife's bowl – it was quite the spectacle.
So far, Han Family Village had no entertainment options. The villagers' greatest amusement was gossiping about this family's affairs and that family's troubles – watching which man beat his wife, which mother-in-law scolded her daughter-in-law, or which sisters-in-law were fighting again.
This time, the Han family had truly provided plenty of topics for the villagers, enough to keep everyone entertained for quite a while.
The Han family courtyard was unusually tense. Several young children didn't dare play as loudly and recklessly as usual, all kept indoors by their mothers and not allowed to go out.
Huo Qingqing didn't know what to do. Han Jianwu escorted her and their two children into the room, adding firewood to heat the Kang.
"Stay inside and watch the children. I'll go see what's happening," Han Jianwu said.
Huo Qingqing asked, "Do you need me to do anything?"
Han Jianwu replied, "You don't need to do anything. Just make sure the children are safe. If you're hungry, go to the kitchen and heat up some food to bring back to the room."
Huo Qingqing responded with an "Oh," then said, "Don't argue with them."
Han Jianwu stared into Huo Qingqing's eyes for a few seconds. "Are you sure you're not leaving?"
Huo Qingqing was taken aback. "Do I not seem sincere enough?"
Han Jianwu said, "If we divide the family property, we definitely won't get a good house. Life will only become harder from now on. Someone has already taken over your teaching position."
Huo Qingqing had already resigned from her teaching job with the school principal in her eagerness to return to the city.
Huo Qingqing said, "It doesn't matter. I'll accept whatever outcome."
Han Jianwu pressed his lips together, gave Huo Qingqing a slight nod, then turned and went to the north room.
The two children, accustomed to running wild, couldn't stay still indoors. The Son wanted to go play with his older siblings, and Niu'er was also whining to go out. When Huo Qingqing refused to let them leave, the children kept whining – wanting to eat, then drink, then use the bathroom. Huo Qingqing was overwhelmed.
Inside Huo Qingqing's body resided the weary soul of someone in their sixties who had long been bedridden. Combined with excessive physical activity over the past two days and having just gotten an IUD inserted, she felt completely exhausted, slightly feverish, and her eyelids were so heavy she just wanted to lie down on the warm Kang and sleep.
Huo Qingqing drank a mug of milk powder mixed with Malt Extract, ate some biscuits, and took medicine from the county hospital. She also gave the children milk powder and biscuits. Then the three of them lay down on the Kang to sleep.
After the children were fed and Huo Qingqing had coaxed them to sleep, she had just fallen asleep herself when she heard arguing start up again.