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Old Wu furrowed his brow and grumbled discontentedly, “Damn it, I still have scars left by the little devils. I hate thinking about it. Where can I seek justice?” Both of them had come out of the battlefield, and although they were unhappy, there was nothing they could do.
“Dinner is ready. We’re having noodles at our place tonight, grandpas,” Mingcheng said as he brought the table to the kang.
Zhang Lan followed with a large basin of noodles, serving everyone. Then, she added a sea cucumber to each adult’s bowl. “Uncle, Aunt, these were caught by my mother from the sea. She said they are good for health. From now on, we’ll have one every day. The children won’t have to eat this until they’re older.”
Chen Minghai, having been a sailor, knew more about sea cucumbers than the others. He quickly started eating the sea cucumber. “Niece, you’re thoughtful. This is a highly nutritious food. Don’t be shy, everyone. You’re lucky to have this. With this, our health is guaranteed.”
The elderly men were initially skeptical because sea cucumbers didn’t have much flavor, and they couldn’t understand why it was considered a delicacy.
Old Chen glanced at everyone as if they didn’t know what they were talking about, then slowly explained the nutritional benefits of sea cucumbers.
Old Wu, upon learning about the nutritional benefits, slapped his thigh. “This is a great thing. Niece, thank you. With your thoughtfulness, we old folks can live a few more years. I want to see these kids grow up and provide them with guidance.”
The elderly men were surprised by the quality and the benefits of the sea cucumbers. Zhang Lan’s gesture deeply touched them, and they silently appreciated her kindness.
“Auntie, why is there an egg in my bowl?” Zuo He discovered a hidden egg at the bottom of his bowl as he finished his meal.
Zhang Lan smiled and said to the little boy, “Because today is Zuo He’s birthday.”
The elderly lady knew it was her grandson’s birthday, but she didn’t want to trouble Zhang Lan by mentioning it. She was surprised that her niece remembered. In the countryside, the best way to celebrate a child’s birthday is by having a meal of white noodles and cooking an egg. Zhang Lan had done just that, and she even remembered her nephew’s birthday.
With tears in her eyes, the elderly lady choked up and said, “Lan, how should Auntie express her gratitude?”
Everyone understood the unspoken words. Upon learning that it was Zuo He’s birthday, Old Wu patted the little boy’s head and said, “Zuo He, this is your aunt celebrating your birthday. Remember this when you grow up.”
Zuo He nodded earnestly. “Yes, I’ll remember. I won’t forget. I also like Auntie the most.”
Zuo He wanted to share the egg in his bowl with the other children, but all four of his siblings refused. One egg among five people wouldn’t be enough.
The warm and heartwarming meal brought comfort to everyone. The siblings went to class with the old grandpa Chen, while Wu Changyong and Zuo Zhanshan sat on the kang, peeling corn husks and listening to the children’s chatter in the next room. Although Zhang Lan couldn’t understand what the children were saying, she felt content. With the help of these people, the children’s wings would continue to grow.
“Auntie, tomorrow I’ll take you to visit my mother’s house and go clamming. You’ve been here for so long and haven’t seen the sea around here,” Zhang Lan said.
The elderly lady was interested in clamming. Although the two old men liked seafood and had seen the sea, they had never been clamming. “How about this? Let’s visit your parents together on Sunday. We’ve been here for so long, and we don’t even know what your parents look like. It’s a bit rude.”
Zuo Zhanshan agreed, and the plan was set.
When they rested, Zhang Lan took her family to her mother’s house. The elderly men realized how difficult it was for Zhang Weiguo to carry his load over the mountain path each time. This gave them a new appreciation for the young man.
This time, the elderly lady brought some pastries and white wine as a gift for Zhang Lan’s parents, feeling grateful for their daughter’s care and wanting to show their appreciation.
It was Zuo He’s first time walking such a long distance, and he was curious about the scenery along the mountain road. Despite it being winter and the leaves having fallen, his curiosity was piqued. “Auntie, why are there so many graves on this hill? It’s such a remote place. Why are they buried here?”
Feeling tired from the long walk, Zuo He found it hard to believe that people would be buried in such a remote location. However, Zhang Lan couldn’t explain this to him. These graves were mostly unmarked, and no one could say for sure when they were made.
“Zuo He, Auntie doesn’t know. They’ve probably been here for many years, even before Auntie was born,” Zhang Lan replied.
Zuo He didn’t dwell on the question and happily followed behind Mingcheng and Mingyuan.
Zhang Lan had brought some white Flour for her mother from the last time Zhang Weiguo had visited. This time, she also brought a small bag, carried by Old Wu. She and her mother had agreed to secretly switch it to a larger bag when they arrived, so her mother could have enough without drawing attention.
Suddenly, a wild chicken flew down from the mountain, startling everyone. Zuo He was amazed and pointed at the wild chicken, exclaiming, “Chicken, chicken!”
Mingcheng and Mingyuan put their small slingshots to use, taking aim with the stones they had in their pockets. They quickly shot and hit the target, one stone hitting the leg and the other hitting the wing. Old Wu and Zuo Zhanshan couldn’t help but cheer, “Good boys! You’ve got skills. You managed to bring it down like that.”
Zuo He quickly ran out and brought back the struggling wild chicken that had fallen into the grass. “Auntie, the wild chicken is for Grandma to eat.”
Zhang Lan took the wild chicken from him, patted Zuo He’s face, and said, “Yes, Zuo He, you’re very good. When we get to Grandma’s house, Auntie will tell them that this chicken was caught by Mingcheng, Mingyuan, and Zuo He together. Grandma and Grandpa will be very happy to hear that.”
Zuo He blushed and turned away, muttering softly, “Auntie, it wasn’t me who shot it.”
Wu Changyong and Zuo Zhanshan saw the excitement in Mingcheng and Mingyuan’s eyes. These two were promising. Even if they didn’t become soldiers in the future, at the very least, they would be able to defend themselves in a fight.
“Niece, let’s discuss something. I think these two boys of yours are quite good. We should train them well. Even if they don’t become soldiers, at least they’ll be able to protect themselves in a fight. Let us take charge of training these two boys. We’ll make sure they grow up to be fine young men,” Old Wu proposed.
Zhang Lan always agreed to anything that was good for her children. Zuo Zhanshan spoke to the two boys with a serious expression, “Mingyuan, Mingcheng, you must train well with us in the future. Your parents will grow old one day, and it will be your responsibility to protect them. So, you must never be lazy.”
When it came to protecting their family, the two brothers solemnly declared, “Grandpa, you can rest assured. We’re not afraid of any hardship as long as it means protecting our family. And Zuo He should join us too. The three of us will train together.”
Mingyuan made sure to include his little brother in the commitment. Old Wu and Zuo Zhanshan smiled at each other. “Of course, our Zuo family’s children must not fall behind. Zuo He will train with his brothers, and he mustn’t cry when the time comes,” Old Zuo said.
The children were eager to be the best fighters in the future, especially Mingyuan. Being the youngest, he had often been bullied when his older brother wasn’t around. So, the prospect of training and being able to handle fights in the future made him very happy.
The group finally arrived at Zhang Lan’s mother’s house before noon. Geng Lianhua had never expected visitors. Her son had mentioned that a group of people from her daughter’s family will surely come, but she hadn’t expected them to visit so soon. Seeing so many people, she felt a bit overwhelmed and didn’t know where to put them.
Hao Lianchun noticed Geng Lianhua’s expression and quickly went up to her, holding her hand. “Sister, we’ve come to visit today. Please don’t feel burdened. We just wanted to see the mother who raised such a wonderful daughter. We owe it to your daughter’s care for us.”
Hao Lianchun’s warm gesture helped ease Geng Lianhua’s nervousness, and a smile spread across her face. “Sister, you’re too kind. With you all taking care of her, I can rest assured knowing that she has such good company by her side.”
Geng Lianhua’s words carried a deeper meaning, and everyone understood. Seeing the demeanor of the elderly men, Geng Lianhua couldn’t help but feel impressed. She realized that her daughter had made the right choice this time. These people were not ones that ordinary folks like them could normally come into contact with, unless something had happened.
“Elder brother, elder sister, let’s go inside quickly. It’s cold outside,” Geng Lianhua hurriedly invited the guests inside to warm up.
Once inside, the group settled in and put away the things they had brought. After walking such a long distance, the older men were feeling a bit tired. Their physical stamina couldn’t compare to those two who had served in the military. The two of them were truly extraordinary.
Although it was their first visit, the elderly men didn’t show much restraint. They had a good relationship with Zhang Lan, so they naturally showed respect and closeness to her mother.
“Sister, don’t worry about anything. Let’s sit down and have a chat. I’ve heard about you from Zhang Lan, but we haven’t had the chance to meet. It’s a rare opportunity for us to finally meet and have a good chat,” Geng Lianhua said.