At the foot of the mountain, there was only one household. The earthen house had three rooms, surrounded by a one-meter-high mud wall. The wall was full of large cracks, looking worn and dilapidated.
This had been the Wei family’s residence in earlier years, and there was only their household living in this area.
Later, the Wei family built a new house at the village entrance and moved there, leaving only a deaf-mute old woman to guard this home.
When Su Qiu arrived carrying gifts, she saw a white-haired old mother-in-law, hunched over and sweeping the courtyard.
Although the outer wall was broken and the earthen house inside also looked old and shabby, the courtyard was neatly cleaned, suggesting the elderly woman was quite capable and tidy.
“Grandma, may I ask if Comrade Wei is here?”
Su Qiu knocked on the door and asked.
The old woman seemed slightly deaf and gave no response.
Su Qiu called again, but still received no answer. She felt a little helpless.
At that moment, a clear male voice came from behind her.
“Educated Youth Su? Why are you here?”
Su Qiu turned around and saw Wei Ye carrying large bundles of things.
Her eyes lit up. She shook the package in her hand and smiled. “Congratulations to Comrade Wei for escaping suffering. I came specially to visit. I wonder if I’m welcome?”
Wei Ye had never taken that family seriously to begin with, and after being separated from them, he felt no sadness at all.
Along the way, villagers pointed at him or whispered behind his back. He had already explained what needed to be explained; whether others believed him or not, there was nothing he could do.
But seeing the petite girl in front of him—those bright eyes and radiant smile—something warm unexpectedly passed through his otherwise calm heart.
Wei Ye walked over and casually took the cloth bundle from Su Qiu’s hands. “Thank you, Educated Youth Su. If you don’t mind, come in and sit.”
“Of course I don’t mind. Everyone here lives in similar conditions—what’s there to mind? You are my savior and also my first friend here. As long as I’m not disturbing you, that’s enough.”
Su Qiu smiled as she followed behind him, chattering lightly.
Listening to her voice from behind, Wei Ye’s lips curved slightly upward.
After entering the house, Wei Ye called out: “Grandma.”
The old Grandma Wei, who had been sweeping the yard, seemed to hear him. She turned around and, upon seeing her grandson Wei Ye, immediately smiled and walked over.
“Xiao Ye is here. Grandma made chicken soup. Come in and eat quickly.”
Seeing Su Qiu behind him, the old woman first rubbed her eyes, then stepped forward a little closer.
Su Qiu quickly greeted her politely. “Hello, Grandma Wei. My name is Su Qiu.”
Grandma Wei looked at her for a moment, first frowning, then seeming to hesitate as if she wanted to say something.
“Xiao Ye, your partner is a bit too small. She looks only fourteen or fifteen, right?”
Su Qiu looked confused. Wei Ye immediately coughed awkwardly, clearly not expecting his grandmother to say something like that.
He gave Su Qiu an apologetic glance and quickly explained to his grandmother: “Grandma, you misunderstood. She is an Educated Youth from the village.”
Grandma Wei let out an “oh” with disappointment, then looked at Su Qiu again and sighed. “These sent-down children really have it hard. Look how thin they’ve become. Xiao Ye, later make sure she eats more.”
Although Su Qiu felt a bit awkward, she still smiled generously. “Thank you for your kindness, Grandma, but it’s not necessary. I still have to go to work later and will leave soon.”
Grandma Wei could not hear clearly and leaned closer to Su Qiu. Fearing she might say something strange again, Wei Ye quickly supported her and led her into the house, raising his voice. “Grandma, it’s hot outside. Let’s talk inside.”
“Alright, alright…”
Grandma Wei lived in a three-room earthen house. The middle room was the main room, and she lived in this one.
Inside, the layout was simple: a worn wooden table, two long benches, and behind them were two old wooden chests.
The furniture looked aged, but everything was neatly arranged and the floor was clean.
Just as Su Qiu was observing, Grandma Wei took an egg from a bowl on the table and placed it into her hand.
“Eat it, girl. Look how thin you are. A girl should be stronger; otherwise, it’s easy to get sick in the countryside.”
Su Qiu could hear the sincerity in her voice. Eggs were quite precious in the village, so she felt a little embarrassed to accept it, yet refusing also felt improper.
Seeing this, Wei Ye knew the girl was likely feeling shy again. He smiled and said: “Just eat it. Didn’t you say I’m your friend? Besides, the fruits and biscuits you gave me last time were not cheap. It’s just an egg.”
Su Qiu gave him a slight glare out of embarrassment.
Wei Ye chuckled softly and shook his head as he went to prepare bowls and chopsticks.
Only then did Su Qiu turn to Grandma Wei and thank her. “Thank you, Grandma. This egg is really big.”
Grandma Wei smiled. Although her eyesight was a bit poor, she was not foolish. She had never seen her grandson talk so much with a female comrade before.
“It’s just an egg, no need to thank me, girl. Eat well.”
After saying that, she did not wait for Su Qiu’s reply and cheerfully hobbled into the kitchen to bring out the chicken soup.
Seeing her enthusiasm, Su Qiu smiled helplessly and did not think much of it.
At the doorway, Wei Ye ran into his grandmother and stopped her from carrying the soup. He went directly to the earthen stove in the yard to check on it himself.
Soon after, he brought in a blackened clay pot, the rich aroma of chicken soup filling the air.
Grandma Wei also found a clean set of bowls and chopsticks. Seeing her grandson bring in the soup, she immediately served Su Qiu a bowl first.
“Girl, this fresh chicken soup has been simmered for hours. Try it quickly.”
Being served soup by an elderly woman, Su Qiu stood up in panic. “Grandma, you don’t need to serve me. Please sit down, I can do it myself.”
Seeing this, Wei Ye took the slightly hot bowl of soup and placed it in front of Su Qiu.
Then he quickly served another bowl and placed it in front of his grandmother.
Grandma Wei laughed again and urged Su Qiu to eat more meat.
“Girl, eat more. You are the first comrade Xiao Ye has ever brought home. Don’t be shy. This old woman just speaks her mind—don’t mind me. Come again whenever you have time.”
Su Qiu felt overwhelmed by the hospitality and quickly replied: “Of course I won’t mind. I’ll come visit when I have time.”
Originally, Su Qiu had only planned to visit briefly and leave, but she unexpectedly ended up staying for a meal.
With the chicken soup already in front of her, it would have been impolite not to drink it. She scooped a spoonful and tasted it.
Her eyes immediately lit up—it was unexpectedly delicious.
Grandma Wei lived alone and kept only a few chickens. She took great care in raising them and fed them carefully, so the chickens were plump and healthy.
Although the seasoning was simple, the soup was extremely flavorful.
Under Grandma Wei’s warm hospitality, Su Qiu ended up drinking two bowls of chicken soup.
Grandma Wei’s eyesight was poor, but since they were sitting close, she could still clearly see Su Qiu’s face.
Although she was thin, the girl’s facial features were very delicate. If she gained some weight, she would definitely be a beauty.
Even though her grandson denied she was a “partner,” having lived most of her life, she could still tell that he treated this girl differently.
Although Wei Ye was not her biological grandson, ever since he arrived at the Wei family at the age of six, she had been the one raising him all along.