Chapter 55: The Liu Family Gathers (Part 2)

By the time the siblings arrived, the courtyard entrance was already crowded with people.

Liu Dongping’s family and Liu Tao had arrived long ago.

Liu Shuangcui called out, “What took you two so long? It’s not that far of a ride.”

Mu Mian, agile like a little monkey, swiftly jumped off the bicycle. “What else? Everyone was asking whether my brother had a girlfriend. Didn’t anyone ask you guys?”

Liu Shuangcui scoffed. “Of course they did. All the way here.”

As the mother and daughter chatted, Liu Dezheng clapped Mu Zhuo on the shoulder and said almost the same thing as Mu Fugui had earlier. “Good kid! You look a lot sturdier than your dad!”

Mu Fugui was not too happy about that. “Brother, what are you saying? He’s in his twenties, and I’m over forty! You can’t compare. I wasn’t bad when I was his age either.”

Liu Dezheng chuckled. “True, otherwise, how could you have kicked our old man so hard he ended up with a bruised leg?”

Mu Fugui: “…”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Liu Dongping waved them inside. “Stop standing at the door. Aren’t you tired after riding all that way?”

Liu Shuangcui smirked. “What’s so tiring about riding a bicycle?”

Liu Dongping raised an eyebrow. “Easy for you to say. You were just sitting.”

Whenever the two sisters were together, they couldn’t help but exchange a few bickering words. It was as if they felt itchy if they didn’t.

While they squabbled, Mu Mian and Liu Tao sat together peacefully—joined by Xiao Xuehua.

Six-year-old Xiao Xuehua was a bit confused. “Aunt, why have I never seen my uncle before? Where did he come from?”

Mu Mian laughed. “You haven’t seen him, but he’s seen you. He even held you when you were a baby.”

Back when Xiao Xuehua was just a few months old, her brother had indeed carried her.

Xiao Xuehua pouted. “Why don’t I remember that?”

Mu Mian teased, “Really? Try thinking harder.”

Xiao Xuehua immediately scrunched up her face, pretending to rack her brain.

Liu Tao found it hilarious. “She’s teasing you! How could you possibly remember something from when you were a baby?”

Xiao Xuehua wasn’t convinced. “Why not?”

Liu Tao: “…”

No wonder she always gets tricked.

Just then, nine-year-old Nidan joined in. “You’re so dumb. No one remembers things from when they were little.”

Xiao Xuehua stomped her foot in frustration. “You’re the dumb one! Dumb big brother!”

Nidan stuck out his tongue. “Nyaa-nyaa! Dumb little sister!”

And just like that, the two little troublemakers started chasing and bickering again.

Liu Tao had seen it so many times that she was used to it. She pulled Mu Mian aside and sat down. While watching the chaos, she casually asked, “So, what’s the deal with Xiao Zhuo’s girlfriend? How did they get together?”

The moment the topic came up, Mu Mian had plenty to say. She scooted closer to her cousin and eagerly started chatting away.

The courtyard was full of people, both adults and children, all talking over each other. The chatter was so lively that it was a bit noisy.

Liu Tao leaned in to listen, nodding along. “So they didn’t move that fast after all. They already knew each other before.”

Mu Mian straightened her back proudly. “Exactly! I played a huge role in it!”

Liu Tao grinned. “Indeed! A great contributor!”

At some point, Liu Dongping had joined them. “You should learn from Xiao Zhuo. You’re older than him by half a year. Where’s your boyfriend?”

Liu Tao answered seriously, “He must be somewhere, obviously. Where else could he be?”

Liu Dongping ignored her niece’s nonsense and offered a serious suggestion. “If you don’t like the young men at the commune, maybe one of Xiao Zhuo’s comrades would be a good match. He could introduce you to someone.”

“You’re all in the same system, after all. You’d definitely have things to talk about.”

Before Mu Zhuo could even respond, he had already been assigned a task.

Liu Tao shook her head like a rattling drum. “No way, no way. I want to find someone who can accommodate me. A man’s job is a job, and a woman’s job is also a job. I can’t just abandon my work here and move somewhere else.”

Mu Mian gave her cousin a thumbs-up. “We women can hold up half the sky!”

Her Sister Taozi had recently been promoted and was now leading several people under her. She was truly dedicated to her work, so it was no wonder her aunt was anxious about her marriage.

Liu Dongping snorted. “You two sisters are really on the same page. So I’m the bad guy here, huh?”

Mu Mian grinned and wrapped her arm around her aunt’s. “What bad guy? Auntie, you’re the best aunt ever! There’s no one in the world better than you!”

Liu Tao linked arms on the other side, mimicking Mu Mian’s tone. “That’s right, the best little aunt~”

Liu Dongping scoffed. “Stop imitating Mian, it’s disgusting.”

Liu Tao clicked her tongue. “Now that you have a little niece, you’re starting to dislike your older niece, huh?”

Mu Mian put on a knowing expression. “Clearly, the eldest niece is ranked first now.”

Liu Tao immediately chimed in, deliberately exaggerating her tone. “We women are just not favored anymore!”

Liu Dongping shook her head. “How old are you two? Still playing around like kids.”

Mu Mian grinned. “Not old at all! Sister Taozi is still young!”

Just then, Xiao Xuehua finally finished messing around with her brother. The tiny girl tilted her head and chimed in, “I’m young too!”

The way children talked was always amusing, making the adults burst into laughter.

With so many people around, the lively chatter made time fly by.

As usual, Liu Tao took charge of cooking lunch, and the meal was as grand as a New Year’s feast.

After all, it was rare for all three families to gather together. In the past, someone was always too busy or unavailable.

Even without Mu Zhuo, it was hard to get everyone together.

This was the first time in five or six years that the whole family was present.

Since they finally had the time, they enjoyed the meal with plenty of laughter and conversation, eating for nearly two hours until the dishes had gone cold.

After tidying up, Mu Zhuo went up the mountain again. Since he was back, he had to visit the two elders.

The adults didn’t follow, just Mu Mian and the other kids.

Passing by the ditch where she had found the bronze bowl before, Mu Mian couldn’t help but glance at it again.

Over the past three years, every time she visited her uncle’s house, she would take a little stroll around this area.

But she never found anything else—just that one bronze bowl.

Still, if they got back early, she could drop by the recycling station and dig up a couple more things to bring back. It would make a good cover story for the bowl.

After all, if she was going to stage something, she had to start laying the groundwork early so it wouldn’t seem too abrupt later.

She was truly a little genius!

Xiao Xuehua tilted her head and looked at her grinning cousin, confused. “Aunt, why are you smiling? Do you want to jump into that ditch and play?”

Mu Mian shook her head. “No way. Have you jumped in before?”

Xiao Xuehua nodded excitedly. “Yep! I jumped right across in one go! Am I amazing or what?!”

Nidan mercilessly exposed his sister. “She did jump across, but she didn’t land properly and face-planted. That’s how she lost her tooth.”

Xiao Xuehua was furious. “You’re so annoying, brother!”

Mu Zhuo turned to her. “Wait, so your tooth didn’t fall out naturally?”

Nidan replied, “It was loose, but she knocked it out when she fell.”

Seeing that he was still talking, Xiao Xuehua stomped her foot and ran off in a huff, saying she wasn’t going up the mountain with them anymore.

Nidan chased after her, making a teasing noise. “Nee-ner nee-ner, such a little crybaby!”

Mu Mian watched them, her eye twitching.

This little dark-skinned boy was truly an expert at annoying his sister.

Even though two kids dropped out halfway, they still had to visit the elders.

Just like when they had cleaned her grandfather’s grave, Mu Zhuo chatted away, talking for quite a while.

By the time they headed down the mountain, it was still early, but since he hadn’t been home in a long time, Liu Dezheng kept pulling him aside to talk. He went on and on, and by the time they finished, the sun was nearly setting.

Liu Shuangcui glanced at the sky. “If we don’t leave soon, it’ll get dark. You two can talk all you want when we hold the banquet.”

Liu Dezheng sighed. “By the time the banquet happens, his mind will be elsewhere, too busy to bother with an old man like me.”

His words sounded a little offbeat, and the other men—who had all been through this themselves—grinned knowingly.

Liu Shuangcui rolled her eyes at them and got straight to the point. “Xiao Zhuo can just stay here and sleep at your place.”

They needed to head back.

Monday was a workday, so staying over wasn’t an option.

Liu Dezheng agreed immediately. “Sounds good! We’ll have a long heart-to-heart chat!”

Liu Dongping teased, “Pulling out fancy phrases now, are we?”

Liu Dezheng: “…”

Liu Shuangcui ignored her bickering older brother and younger sister, turning to Mu Mian. “Are you and your brother staying or coming back with us?”

Before Mu Mian could answer, Liu Tao pulled her close. “Mianmian, sleep over at my place tonight.”

Mu Mian agreed without hesitation. “Sure!”

Her Sister Taozi was always busy, so it was rare to catch her during her free time.

Liu Shuangcui nodded. “Then your dad’s bicycle will stay with you.”

Mu Mian shook her head. “No need. Sister Taozi has one. We can just walk home from the commune.”

Her father needed the bike for work.

She and her brother had free time, so walking wasn’t an issue.

Liu Shuangcui thought about it and agreed. “Alright then.”

After giving them a few more instructions, she left with Liu Dongping and her family.

Once night fell—

Mu Mian finished washing up and lay down next to her cousin. The last time they slept together was during the New Year, so it had been half a year since the sisters had spent a night like this.

While Liu Dezheng and Mu Zhuo had a deep conversation, Mu Mian and her cousin, Liu Tao, also talked for a long time.

In the end, considering that Liu Tao had to get up early for work at the commune, the two reluctantly went to sleep.

—

The next day.

Mu Mian woke up early and followed along.

Liu Tao’s bicycle was bought last year, identical to the one Comrade Mu Fugui had. Both were of excellent quality.

Mu Zhuo was in charge of riding the bicycle. His younger sister sat in front, and his cousin sat in the back as he rode at a fast pace.

Mu Mian clung to the handlebars.

Fortunately, the Yangliu Brigade was not far from the commune, so she wouldn’t have to endure sitting on the hard seat for too long.

As they passed by the machinery factory, Mu Mian’s sharp eyes caught sight of someone putting up a notice.

Her eyes lit up. “Brother, brother! It looks like the recruitment results are out!”

Mu Zhuo immediately squeezed the brakes. “It really looks like it!”

Liu Tao, always in a hurry, said, “You guys go check it out, I’m off to work!”

With that, her bicycle whooshed away in an instant.

Mu Mian didn’t even have time to admire how her cousin was like a whirlwind of a woman. She quickly grabbed Mu Zhuo and rushed over.

Many people had participated in the recruitment, and even in just a short while, several elderly women had already gathered in front of the bulletin board.

They were likely there to check the results for their children.

Mu Mian bounced excitedly and ran up to take a look.

It was true—being early was better than being lucky.

The early bird catches the worm, and the early riser gets to see the recruitment results first!

“Brother, check if Brother Daqing is listed under the workshop section! I’ll look for Sister Xiao Wan and Sister Xiao Qiu!”

Mu Zhuo had sharp eyes. As soon as he got closer, he spotted a name. “Daqing is on the list.”

Mu Mian grinned. “I see Sister Xiao Qiu and Sister Xiao Wan too! Even Sister Xiaozhu is there!”

Today was truly a great day!