Chapter 7: Homecoming

The first day, Lin Xiangnan went to the ditch with her little cousin to catch fish. The next day, they went up the mountain to find raspberries and catch birds…

A rural life without farm work was exactly what Lin Xiangnan had in mind.

She simply treated herself as a guest at Second Uncle’s house, enjoying the time and then returning to the city.

Second Uncle’s family didn’t have a bicycle, and the entire brigade was poor, so there was nowhere to borrow one. Therefore, Lin Xiangnan had to get up before dawn and walk to the commune with her big cousin. After the meeting, her big cousin sent her back to the city. By the time she arrived home, it was almost noon.

The entire journey had left Lin Xiangnan exhausted.

If it weren’t for the health supplements she had been taking lately, which had improved her physical condition, she would have wanted to give up halfway.

When her big cousin saw Hu Meili, he handed her a bag of flour, “Sister, this is flour made from the new wheat this year. There isn’t much, just a taste of something new.”

The bag of flour given to Hu Meili was only a small one. The brigade had to hand over grain taxes, and after a year of hard work, their family didn’t receive much.

“You came all this way, why bring anything? We’ve already caused you so much trouble these past few days, I wouldn’t feel right accepting your gift.” Hu Meili poured water for him while saying, “Have some water first. I’ll go make some food.”

“No need, I still need to go to my older brother’s place to deliver something.” The big cousin quickly declined.

Since he had come all this way, he couldn’t just visit Hu Meili. He also had to visit Hu Meili’s father, his older brother, a courtesy that junior family members should observe.

Seeing the two of them arguing, Lin Xiangnan poured herself a glass of water and then went to her room to find an iron box. She put a bag of dried apricots and a bag of persimmon cakes inside, and filled the remaining space with milk candies and fruit candies.

After packing it, she tore off a piece of paper, wrote “For my little cousin,” and stuck it on the opening of the iron box.

“Big cousin, this is for my little cousin. Please take it back to her for me.” Lin Xiangnan reminded him, “Don’t secretly open it on the way. I put a seal on it.”

Her little cousin had kept her company for so many days, and these candies were what she had promised her a few days ago. But she was afraid that her big cousin wouldn’t accept them, so she had to use this little trick.

Her big cousin took it, “Alright, I’ll take it back for you. This box is surprisingly heavy.”

After her big cousin left, Hu Meili finally had time to take a closer look at Lin Xiangnan.

“What happened to you? You’ve actually gained weight?”

Logically, Lin Xiangnan should have had a rough time these past few days, and it would be normal for her to be a bit darker and thinner. But unexpectedly, Lin Xiangnan’s complexion had become even fairer.

“Your big cousin just said you’ve changed your mind?”

“Yes.” Lin Xiangnan said seriously, “After this trip to the countryside, I finally understand myself. I’m really not cut out for hardship. Forget about volunteering to go to the countryside, even if you force me to go, I won’t.”

“Humph~ Good to know. I’m your own mother, how could I harm you?” Hu Meili smiled smugly, took out the flour her big cousin had sent, and started kneading dough.

The freshly ground wheat had an especially rich aroma.

Hu Meili fried a total of eight pancakes, five for lunch, one for each person, and the remaining three, she planned to secretly give to her son.

Lin Xiangnan watched her fry the extra three pancakes, but only got half, “Are you saving the rest for dinner?”

“Half for me, half for you. Xiao Xi gets two. He’s still young and growing.”

“Why are you so biased towards boys? I’m still growing too.”

Lin Xiangnan didn’t even care for the pancake, but after Hu Meili said that, she ate the half she had in three bites and then went to grab another half.

“Siblings fighting at home is usually because the elders are not virtuous. Comrade Hu, women can hold up half the sky, you can’t have such a biased attitude towards boys.”

“You little rascal, you’re actually mocking me. Am I lacking in anything for you to eat or wear?”

Lin Xiangnan chuckled and pointed outside, “Liu Hongying is back.”

They were just sneaking a bite, and hearing someone come back, Hu Meili immediately shut her mouth in frustration.

When Liu Hongying came in with firewood and went to the kitchen, Hu Meili blamed her, “I almost finished making food, and you’re just coming back. You’re so clever, you come home and don’t have to do anything, just eat, right?”

“Mom, you said yourself, you wouldn’t let me cook.” Liu Hongying neatly stacked the firewood.

The family always ran out of coal briquettes, and since they lived in a courtyard, they could build a stove and also go out to collect firewood. Before, it was Lin Xiangnan and the others who collected firewood after school and on holidays, but after Liu Hongying returned to the city, the task fell on her.

“You don’t cook, don’t you know how to lend a hand? I work my butt off every day, and I still have to cook for you after work. Do you think I’m made of iron?” Hu Meili continued to pick on her.

Ever since Liu Hongying returned to the city due to illness, Hu Meili had disliked her, and she could find fault with anything.

Liu Hongying was used to it and calmly changed the subject, “Little South is back? You look alright, so the countryside life shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

“It’s okay, pretty relaxed.”

She had just been playing around these past few days, how could she be tired?

Liu Hongying said reassuringly, “I told you, the situation in the countryside now is better than when we were there.”

“Better? Better your head!” Hu Meili immediately threw the iron basin onto the stove and scolded”I knew you had bad intentions and wanted to persuade my Xiaonan to go to the countryside. You’ve suffered, and you can’t bear to see my Xiaonan live comfortably!”

Liu Hongying had this idea in the first place, and she was not embarrassed when it was revealed. “Xiao Nan should have gone to the countryside anyway, what good does it do to scold me? Are you going to scold the factory leaders and the people from the neighborhood committee when they come over?”

After saying that, she quickly left the kitchen, afraid of getting beaten.