Lin’s mother had been standing at the village gate for quite a while.

It wasn’t until she saw the ox cart coming closer from afar that the anticipation on her face turned into a smile.

At the village gate, many villagers who had finished lunch were chatting and enjoying the cool breeze.

Seeing Lin’s mother’s expression, someone couldn’t help but ask, “Mrs.Lin, are you waiting for your daughter, Xiaojing?”

Speaking of Lin’s mother and father, who in the village didn’t envy them?

They had already separated from their family and didn’t have to worry about various household matters.

The eldest son’s family and the second son’s family were also very decent, honest, and earned full work points every day.

The third son and his wife were in the military.

The third son was an officer, and his wife had become a teacher.

The only daughter was a worker in the city.

Looking at how much black hair Lin’s mother and father had grown, everyone could tell that they were living well.

Hearing the villagers’ words, Lin’s mother couldn’t help but say, “I’m waiting for my third daughter-in-law. She’s coming today, and my eldest son has gone to pick her up. I see an ox cart coming from ahead; it should be them.”

“What? Ning Zhiqing is coming back today?”

“It’s been several years; I wonder how Ning Zhiqing is doing now.”

When it came to Ning Zhiqing, the villagers also felt emotional.

He used to be so unreliable, famously notorious in the village, but now he had become a teacher.

It just went to show, people can change.

“That’s right, our Haicai is eight years old this year and can go to elementary school in the village.

His third sister-in-law brought him over today. These years, while Haicai was in the military to take care of his health and receive treatment, his third sister-in-law also enrolled him in the military’s nursery for education.”

“Ning Zhiqing is generous, raising Haicai for nearly two years.”

“That’s right.”

To be able to raise her nephew like this, how could she not be generous?

Lin’s mother smiled.

“Has Zhuang Xiaopang still not been found?”

“Xiaopang’s mother has remarried. Even if Xiaopang is found, he won’t come to our village. Who knows if he’s been found.”

“Xiaopang’s family has also disbanded; it’s all fate.”

Listening to them seeming to regret it a lot, Lin’s mother couldn’t help but say, “I’m also worried about Xiaopang. That child has a bad character. I’m afraid that after Haicai comes back, he’ll silently come out and harm people again. Although Haicai’s health has improved over the past year, his foundation has been damaged, not as good as other children.”

That’s how people are.

When Haicai had an accident a year ago, they all said Zhuang Xiaopang was the rotten apple.

Now that Haicai is doing well and is about to come back, Zhuang Xiaopang’s family has disbanded, and they feel sorry for Zhuang Xiaopang’s family and subtly imply that Lin’s family is a bit excessive.

Lin’s mother didn’t accept this view.

So she had to walk Haicai around and tell them that Haicai still wasn’t fully recovered.

As soon as Lin’s mother mentioned that Haicai’s foundation had been damaged, everyone started gossiping again.

“If Haicai’s foundation is damaged, will it affect him finding a wife in the future?”

“That’s right. If a man’s foundation is damaged, it’s difficult for him to find a wife. Which girl would want to marry a useless man?”

“Lin Guofeng’s family has many sons. Even if Haicai has trouble finding a wife when he grows up, it won’t affect them having grandchildren in the future.”

“Haicai is pitiful.”

“Sigh…”

Listening to their various discussions, Lin’s mother couldn’t help but feel a little regretful.

With these rumors circulating, would it be said that Haicai would have difficulty having children in the future?

But she didn’t dwell on it too much because the ox cart had arrived.

“Mother…” Lin Guofeng shouted from the ox cart.

“Mother…” Ning Shu also shouted as she hurriedly got off the ox cart once it had steadied.

The journey on the cart had been quite bumpy, and her bottom was a bit sore.

“Grandma…” It had been over a year since Haicai had seen Lin’s mother, and he greeted her warmly.

“Oh… oh…” Lin’s mother hurried over, “You’ve finally arrived. Let’s go eat first. I made noodles for lunch, but they’ve already risen… Oh, look at me, I should have waited for you to arrive before making the noodles. If it’s not good, I’ll make another batch.”

Perhaps she was too happy; Lin’s mother’s words were a bit excessive.

“It’s hot now, it’s better to eat when it’s cooled down. Eating hot food will make you sweat all over,” Ning Shu said.

Lin’s mother understood her intentions. She smiled and said, “Then you go eat at the old house first.

The hot water at your house is already heated, so you can go back and take a bath to rest.

How many days are you planning to stay this time? The sugarcane we planted this year can be eaten now. You can take some back when you leave.”

“Just staying for two days. In case Guodong is suddenly assigned a task and has to leave, I’m also worried about leaving the three children in the military without anyone to take care of them,” Ningshu replied.

Lin’s mother nodded, “That’s true. Have the three kids grown taller?”

As she spoke, she looked at Haicai again.

He had grown taller, gained weight, and even become fairer.

It was evident that the third daughter-in-law had taken good care of him.

However, among all these nieces and nephews, the third daughter-in-law only liked Haicai.

Lin’s mother thought it was probably because Haicai had grown up with Yibao and Erbao, and their relationship was good, so she loved him too.

“Ning Zhiqing, you’re back.”

“Ning Zhiqing, you’re getting younger and younger.”

“Ning Zhiqing, I heard you’re a teacher in the military now?”

“Ning Zhiqing, you’re amazing.”

The villagers present also greeted Ningshu one after another.

Some of them couldn’t help but whisper, saying that Ning Zhiqing was indeed getting younger and younger.

Look at her fair and tender skin; even girls in their teens couldn’t compare.

It showed that she was living comfortably in the military.

Ah… the grass is always greener on the other side. Some people live well, some don’t. It’s all fate.

“Auntie, Uncle…”

Ning Shu didn’t say much either but greeted them with a smile and then went back to Lin’s old house with Lin’s mother to have lunch.

In Lin’s old house, everyone was there, including several children who were on vacation, so everyone was at home.

Seeing them come back, everyone called out, “Auntie… Haicai… The third daughter-in-law is back…”

Qian Aifen came out from inside the house; she was cooking.

At the moment, her eyes were only on Haicai.

“Haicai…” She called out his name, unable to say anything else, because her son had gained weight, grown taller, and become fairer… how could she express it?

Just then, someone interrupted her, “Haicai, why are you so fair now?” Lin Haiwen looked at his chubby little brother, finding it hard to imagine that he was the skinny Haicai from before.

“Big brother…” Haicai ran up to Lin Haiwen, his face shyly smiling.

His black eyes sparkled as he looked at him, then glanced at the other brothers and sisters behind Lin Haiwen, feeling very happy. “Second brother, third brother, big sister, second sister…”

“Haicai…”

“Haicai…”

The other brothers and sisters also called out one after another.

Over the past year and a half, they had missed Haicai too. Now that he was finally back, everyone was happy.

“Haicai, are you going back to the military?” Lin Haiwu asked.

Haicai shook his head and then nodded, “I’ll go back when I’m on vacation and holiday. I want to visit Yibao, Erbao and Sanbao. We’ve made a promise to each other.”

He remembered the words of his friends well; whenever he had vacation, he would go and play with them.

He would return after finishing his studies.

Taking the opportunity, Qian Aifen said, “As long as your Third Aunt doesn’t mind, when you’re on Vacation, let your father send you over.”

She couldn’t wait for that moment.

Then she turned to Ning Shu and said, “Third Sister, Mom made noodles for lunch. You eat over there. Take a rest in the afternoon, and come to our house for dinner in the evening.”

Ning Shu naturally had no objection to this, “Then I’ll go eat first.”

Ignoring everyone’s gaze, Zhang Qinfang was thinking that Haicai had lived in the military for a year and a half and had been taken care of so well.

When he went back to the military during his vacation, she would ask them to bring her son, Haiquan, along.

Then he could enjoy some good food too.

The others didn’t know Zhang Qinfang’s thoughts, nor did they guess her intentions.

If they knew, they would surely praise her, thinking her thoughts were so beautiful.

Lin’s mother had made sour cabbage and cured meat noodles.

Although they had risen, they were still in the pot, retaining some warmth.

In the hot summer, this warmth was just right.

Lin’s father and mother didn’t eat either. When Ning Shu ate, they ate together.

It was especially quiet during the meal.

The sour cabbage could stimulate the appetite, and Ning Shu was hungry now.

She ate a full bowl.

Ning Shu was probably very hungry; she ate faster than Lin’s father and mother.

Seeing that she was about to finish, Lin’s mother said, “There’s hot water at your house. I’ve cleaned the house and aired it out, and I’ve washed and aired the mats and thin quilts.”

Ning Shu said, “Thank you, Mom. I’ll go back in a while.” She finished the remaining noodles in three or two bites and then went back home.

Her body was sticky with sweat and very uncomfortable.

She couldn’t wait to take a bath.