Aunt Hao was extremely enthusiastic. Seeing that she seemed intent on taking them home as guests, Ma Sanye quickly spoke up to stop her: “Sister-in-law, please don’t put me in a difficult position. Although we don’t often have visitors here, we still have to follow the rules. I’ve already arranged a place for them. Please, don’t worry about it.”
Aunt Hao’s face darkened, ready to argue.
Old Master Fu hurriedly said, “Sister Hao, thank you for your kindness, but given our current status, it’s truly inconvenient. We cannot trouble you or the brigade leader.
Rest assured, our family can manage our lives well. If we ever need anything, we’ll come to you.”
Aunt Hao wasn’t truly insistent and didn’t press further: “Alright then. But it’s late today, and you’ll be busy settling in until midnight. Don’t bother making dinner—I’ll bring some over for you later.”
Old Master Fu replied, “Then we’ll gratefully accept.”
The Fu Family was assigned to a dilapidated shed at the end of the village, drafty on all sides and leaking from the roof.
Next to it was the collective livestock shed.
No one lived in this area, yet it was livelier than the residential quarters.
Ma Sanye said, “This is according to the regulations from above. Please understand. It’s not too cold yet. Before winter comes, gather plenty of thatch to enclose the sides and patch up the roof. You’ll make it through the winter.
The coldest it gets here in winter is around minus seven or eight degrees Celsius. In the mountains, nighttime temperatures drop a bit lower, possibly to around minus ten degrees. But with so many of you, three or five huddled under one quilt will keep you warm. Don’t worry.”
The Fu Family had mentally prepared themselves and found nothing unacceptable.
Aside from the strong smell from the livestock shed, everything else was quite tolerable.
“Thank you. We understand. We’ve also prepared thick quilts, so we won’t freeze. We appreciate your concern.”
Ma Sanye waved his hand, offered a few more instructions, and left.
The villagers had been told not to come over casually. After Ma Sanye left, there was no one else around.
Having walked all day, the Fu Family could no longer maintain their composure. They sat down on the ground one by one, letting out long sighs and vigorously rubbing their arms and legs.
There was a pile of dry grass nearby, and sitting on it felt soft and comfortable.
“Will we be living here from now on?” Fu Yu’an murmured softly. It wasn’t a question or a statement but carried a hint of bewildered uncertainty—the unease of arriving in an unfamiliar place.
Old Master Fu patted his eldest grandson’s head. This child was supposed to graduate from high school and start university this year.
But then…
The children in the family had always behaved obediently and sensibly, never crying or making a fuss, quietly staying by the adults’ side.
Yet, the more they acted this way, the more Old Master Fu felt heartache and guilt.
“Yes, we’ll be living here for a long time to come. Children, the Fu Family’s upheaval isn’t a disaster but a period of accumulation for a stronger comeback. Don’t worry—we will return.
In the meantime, let’s live well, never give up, never abandon each other. Everything will get better.”
Fu Yu’an smiled. “Grandpa, we understand. It’s just that we’re not used to the new place yet. We’ll adjust in a few days.”
Grandma Fu said, “Actually, this place is quite nice. Aside from the difficult roads, everything else is good—clear waters and green mountains. Can you hear that? There’s the sound of flowing water. Decades ago, when your grandfather and I went to teach in a remote area, there was a stream there too—so beautiful. Living in the capital for so long, I’d almost forgotten what the sound of flowing water was like.”
“Grandma, shall we go see the creek tomorrow?” The Fu Family’s little granddaughters nestled close to the old lady.
Pang Fu glanced left and right, then threw herself over as well, landing in Grandma Fu’s arms.
That solid little lump of hers bounced with a duang as she landed.
Grandma Fu was overjoyed, patting each granddaughter’s cheek in turn: “Alright, we’ll go take a look tomorrow.”
Old Master Fu also smiled: “Good, it’s getting late. There are only two sheds, one for men and one for women. Let’s unpack our luggage and settle in.”
The Fu Family members sprang into action.
Fang Xiong had prepared everything thoroughly—autumn and winter clothes, bedding, pots, bowls, and utensils. Though not brand new, they were clean and tidy. He had even stocked some food supplies; if the family rationed carefully, they could last over a month.
Pang Fu’s belongings were separate. Not only were there clothes, but also fabric, needles, and thread.
They had even bought her quite a few snacks, none of them cheap.
Several bulging bags—no wonder Wang Youwei wanted to skim a layer off them. Anyone could see the Fu Family still had a solid foundation.
However, Wang Youwei was cunning but lacked courage. Even in front of someone as minor as Brigade Leader Ma Sanye, he didn’t dare act recklessly, allowing Ma Sanye to take the people away without a fuss.
Just as the Fu Family finished organizing, Aunt Hao arrived with her grandson, bringing food.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, come quickly and have some noodles.”
Two tall, sturdy men, just like Aunt Hao’s son, each carried a large wooden bucket covered with cotton cloth.
Aunt Hao carried a basket on her back, filled with bowls and chopsticks.
The Fu Family hurried forward to take them: “Thank you so much, we’re truly grateful.”
Aunt Hao waved her hand: “It’s nothing. We’re just in the countryside, not much good stuff here. I made some hand-pulled noodles—hope you can make do.”
Old Master Fu: “No need to make do, no need at all. Noodles are perfect. We northerners love noodles. Thank you so much, Sister Hao.”
Aunt Hao laughed heartily: “That’s good then. Quick, quick, Yi Jin, Er Jin, don’t just stand there. Hurry up and serve the noodles. Truly, a timid father breeds timid sons—just like your clueless grandpa, no sense of awareness at all.
Brothers of the Fu Family, these are my eldest and second grandsons, Yi Jin and Er Jin. If you ever need anything, just give a shout. I have ten more grandsons at home, all at working age and very capable.”
“Twelve grandsons?” Old Master Fu couldn’t help exclaiming in surprise.
The rest of the Fu Family were equally shocked—that was far too many.
Aunt Hao shot a glance at her two grandsons. Shocking, wasn’t it? She was shocked too.
Whenever they went out to fight, with her twelve grandsons standing there, she didn’t know if others were scared, but she certainly was.
Not a single grandson had married yet. The envy she once heard had turned into ridicule.
She often woke up startled from dreams—dreams where her twelve grandsons stood in a row before her, and the family couldn’t scrape together a single grain of food. Truly, it was terrifying.
When the first two or three grandsons were born, she was quite happy. By the fourth or fifth, she started feeling something was off. By the seventh or eighth, she panicked. When the twelfth grandson was born, if she hadn’t declared that anyone who dared give her another grandson would see her dash her head against the wall outside the Lao Ma Jia ancestral hall, who knows how many more there would have been.
Heaven have mercy, was it easy for an old woman like her?
“Ahem, well, let’s eat, let’s eat.”
The Fu Family could see the bitterness in Aunt Hao’s heart and quickly smiled to change the subject, starting to eat the noodles.
Indeed, any family with twelve grandsons would have it hard, let alone a rural household with meager means.
“The noodles are delicious, Auntie, your cooking is wonderful.”
“Thank you, Grandma Hao.”
Seeing everyone enjoy the meal, Aunt Hao felt happy too: “As long as you don’t mind this old country woman being unclean.”
Old Master Fu hurriedly replied, “What are you saying? We are grateful enough that you don’t look down on our status.
This meal is the best we’ve had in a long time. Thank you so much.”
It truly was the best—not only were there noodles, but each bowl also had a fried egg, a rare delicacy in the countryside.
This single meal of theirs likely consumed more than half a month’s worth of provisions for the Ma Jia.
Knowing that her family still had twelve grandsons to feed made them feel even more uneasy.
Aunt Hao repeatedly waved her hands in dismissal. After the Fu Family finished eating, she didn’t linger, knowing they were all exhausted.