Yan Sisi heard a familiar voice and knew who it was even before the person entered. She asked Tang Mingze, “Brother, why did Hu Tao come to see you?”
Hu Tao pushed the door open and immediately saw Yan Sisi standing inside. His eyes lit up, and he smiled as he greeted her, “Sisi, when did you come back?”
Then he noticed Mother Yan was there and hurriedly added, “Aunt, you’re here too.”
Mother Yan, who had come all the way here and was busily tidying the room, put down the rag when she heard the voices and greeted him, “Xiao Tao, you’re here. Come, sit.”
She handed him the bamboo stool beside her.
Hu Tao quickly waved his hand, “No need, Aunt. I’ll just be here a little while.”
Tang Mingze, seeing Hu Tao who hadn’t been around for a few days, asked, “Why did you come?”
Hu Tao set down the wooden bucket in his hands, a faint, almost unnoticeable flush appearing on his dark face. “I caught a few fish today, so I thought I’d bring some for you and Teacher Tang.”
If he had known Sisi was here, he would’ve caught a bigger one to bring along.
“We can’t accept this. Take it back and use it to strengthen your mother’s health,” Tang Mingze said firmly. In these times, it was rare for any family to eat meat. A few fish like this would probably feed Hu Tao’s family for a month. Since they weren’t relatives, he couldn’t accept them.
The small river in the village didn’t allow people like them, those who had been assigned elsewhere, to fish there, so he could only occasionally catch fish in the mountain springs deep in the hills. Now that it was cold, he hadn’t gone for a while.
“My home still has some. It’s not just for you to eat,” Hu Tao said. He had long known Tang Mingze would refuse. They had known each other for so long; everyone knew each other’s character. He just didn’t want to be in debt to anyone.
Tang Mingze didn’t argue further. He simply picked up the bucket and handed it to him. Seeing this, Hu Tao took the bucket around him and placed it in Yan Sisi’s hands. “Mingze won’t take it, so you hold it. I can still afford to give these few fish. Besides, Teacher Tang gave me so many lessons before and didn’t even charge me tuition.”
Without waiting for Yan Sisi’s reaction, he handed the bucket directly to her. Instinctively, she took the splashing wooden bucket and looked at the lively little fish inside.
Her brother refused to accept them, so why was he giving them to her?
After delivering the fish, Hu Tao, fearing that Tang Mingze would refuse again, said, “Teacher Tang, Aunt, I still have things to do, so I’ll be going first.”
Tang Zhong didn’t interfere with the younger generation’s interactions. He just smiled and said, “Xiao Tao, stay and have a bite before you go!”
“No, Teacher Tang. My mom is waiting for me to have dinner at home, so I’ll head back now,” Hu Tao replied, walking briskly toward the door. Before leaving, he added, “Mingze, just leave the bucket here for now. I’ll come back to get it in a few days.”
“Alright,” Tang Mingze responded quietly at the door. Although he had faced many awkward situations in the countryside, he had also made a few genuinely close friends. He and his grandfather had managed to live fairly well, not only thanks to the care from his aunt’s family but also because of their quiet assistance behind the scenes. He had always kept this in mind.
Yan Sisi set down the wooden bucket and waved toward the door. “Take care. We won’t see you off.”
She then glanced at her grandfather’s frail frame. Even from his appearance, it was clear he was different from the other villagers. Years of being sent away had seriously damaged his health. For the first few years, her family hadn’t dared to publicly acknowledge him; they could only sneak up at night to bring him some food. Only in the last couple of years, as circumstances improved, had they been able to get closer.
However, the villagers had no idea about their relationship. They simply assumed that her family had grown close to her grandfather because he had saved her father.
When Tang Mingze returned after seeing Hu Tao off, he found his cousin chatting and laughing with their grandfather. Quietly, he closed the door, went to the kitchen, and found his aunt busy cooking. He silently took over tending the fire at the stove.
Yan Sisi went to the kitchen midway and, out of sight of her mother and cousin, added some spiritual spring water to the sweet potato porridge, fish soup, and water jar, hoping it would help her grandfather and cousin’s health.
Once the sweet potato porridge and fish soup were ready, lifting the lids released a rich, inviting aroma. Mother Yan sniffed the scent and noticed it smelled much better than usual.
She served the porridge and fish soup into aluminum pots and, using the remaining firewood, heated the meat patties that had been left in the lunchbox since the morning. She then quickly hid the lunchbox again.
The next moment, the kitchen door opened. Mother Yan was startled but relaxed when she saw it was Aunt Jiang, another person sent to the village, and greeted her with a smile, “Aunt, come to cook?”
Jiang Yi caught the aroma in the air but didn’t ask anything. She just smiled and nodded, “Mm.”
“Aunt, wait a moment. I’ll wash the pot and then we’re ready,” Mother Yan said, efficiently cleaning the iron pot. She and Tang Mingze, who had washed his hands, then carried the cooked fish soup, sweet potato porridge, and lunchbox back to the room.
Yan Sisi, who had been talking with her grandfather, hurried over when she saw her mother come in. She unfolded the small folding table in the corner so they could place the pots and lunchbox on it.
Her mother helped her father slowly down from the bed to eat. After a few bites, she remembered the food she had put in the parcel and reminded him, “Dad, I put some food in the parcel. You and Mingze make sure to eat it. Once it’s finished, I’ll bring some more.”
Tang Zhong sipped the light fish soup and disapproved. “Next time, don’t bring anything. We don’t lack anything here. Coming with all those packages looks bad if people see.”
“No worries, I know what I’m doing,” Mother Yan replied, nodding. She continued, “Next time, I’ll have Aiguo come in the evening. Make sure you hide everything.”
Mother Yan glanced at the sky outside, it was nearly noon, and tugged her daughter’s hand. “Dad, Aiguo is still at home waiting for us. Sisi and I will head back first. Don’t be reluctant to eat the things in the parcel; your health is the most important.”
Yan Sisi stood and followed, adding, “Grandpa, I’ll come visit you again tomorrow.”
Tang Zhong put down his chopsticks and looked at the mother and daughter preparing to leave. “If you don’t have to come, it’s better not to. It’s not good if people see you. I just need to know in my heart that you care about this old man. Mingze, go see your aunt off.”
Tang Mingze nodded and stood up. Mother Yan couldn’t help but sigh, knowing that being seen too often wasn’t good for her father. She gave him one last glance before saying “Mm” and turning to leave.
Yan Sisi looked at her mother, whose mood had suddenly darkened, then winked at her grandfather. “Grandpa, I’ll secretly come see you again tomorrow.”
“All right,” Tang Zhong, who wasn’t good with words, nodded. His eyes followed them as they left. He sat in his seat for a long while before finally looking away.
He knew his body couldn’t last much longer. His only hope was that when he passed, his grandson could leave this place safely.
Yan Sisi walked a little ways with her mother, then turned to her cousin. “Brother, it’s so cold. You’d better head back quickly, or the meat patties will get cold and taste bad.”
After saying this, she even nudged him gently up the mountain, while Mother Yan nodded. “Mingze, it’s fine to leave them here.”
“Aunt, I’ll see you down at the foot of the mountain before I return,” Tang Mingze insisted. The mountain had been unsafe recently; animal calls could be heard at times. He wanted to make sure they reached the village safely.
Seeing that her stubborn cousin wouldn’t be persuaded, Yan Sisi quickened her pace and started heading down the mountain.
Soon, the three of them reached the foot of the mountain. Tang Mingze followed at a distance, only feeling reassured when he saw them enter the village before turning back.
Back in the village, Yan Sisi saw smoke rising from the chimneys of every household. Her steps quickened, the appetite that had been stirred at her grandfather’s place was now pressing on her mind. She really wanted to eat.
As she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Third Aunt, He Shuqin, coming out of the kitchen. She glanced at them and said, “Ah, I thought it was that young miss who only comes home to eat at the right time. Turns out it’s you all.”
Mother Yan walked in silently. Yan Sisi, trailing behind, couldn’t resist a sharp remark: “If anyone in our family deserves the title of young miss, that should be you, Third Aunt. Back in the old days…”
Before she could finish, her mother spun around and shot her a glare, forcing her to swallow the rest of her words.
He Shuqin, her face suddenly pale, was flustered that a junior would openly mention the past. She snapped, “You’re a junior, yet you dare speak about your elders! Second Sister-in-law, Sisi is already so grown, and she still speaks without manners. Wait until she goes to her in-laws, she’ll have plenty of trouble.”
In the past, no matter what she said, her niece would remain silent. So why was it that this time, after just one sentence, she was already so sharp-tongued? Had she been given ammunition?
Every time she saw their family return, she felt the unfairness of fate. Born of the same mother, why could some people eat state-supplied rations in the county while her family had to stay in the countryside every day? She would never let her own daughter live a life like that, a life that stretched endlessly with nothing changing.
Mother Yan’s face turned cold as she heard this. “Third Aunt, I can discipline my own daughter just fine. You don’t need to trouble yourself. If you have that much time, you’d better keep your third brother in line.”
After saying this, she went into the kitchen to help with the cooking and told her daughter, who had followed her in, “Go check on your father and see how he’s doing.”
Yan Sisi pursed her lips and said, “Oh,” before leaving the kitchen and heading to their room. When she entered, she saw her father lying asleep on the bed. She quietly closed the door and stepped back out.
She then turned and saw Yan Li coming back from outside, and immediately called out, “Xiao Li!”
Hearing the voice, Yan Li lifted her head. Seeing that it was her cousin from Second Uncle’s family, she smiled and asked softly, “Sisi, what are you doing back here?”
“Just came back during the break to check in. Where have you been coming from?”
Hearing this, Yan Li couldn’t help but blush. She stammered, “N-nothing…”
Seeing her shy expression, Yan Sisi immediately knew something was up and curiously asked, “Nothing? Your face is so red.”
Thinking she had been caught, Yan Li instinctively touched her collar. Seeing the buttons were intact, she relaxed and replied calmly, “Nothing, Sisi, you must have seen wrong.”