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Upon receiving her brother’s reassuring letter, Zhang Lan’s anxious emotions began to ease slightly.
With autumn arriving, it was time to harvest the family’s vegetable garden and prepare the winter vegetables for pickling. Zhang Lan and Wang Zhenhe took advantage of their break to return home and attend to these tasks, as they had not been back since they left.
Wang Juan was also in the vegetable garden tidying up the autumn crops. Seeing Zhang Lan’s family in the field, she quickly joined them. It had been a while since the sisters-in-law had seen each other. “Sister-in-law, you’ve finally decided to come back. I’ve been thinking the fields needed tending, and here you are.”
Glancing back at the old house, Wang Juan whispered, “Let me tell you, after your family left, that man, came over with Wang Zhi. Honestly, for someone like Wang Zhi, managing to marry Li Changhai is already quite something. Look at his attitude; he’s far better than those hanging around with Wang Zhenguo.”
Zhang Lan was eager to know more, “Sister-in-law, did Li Changhai say anything? Did he just let them do as they pleased?”
Wang Juan looked disdainful, “Li Changhai is from the big city; he wouldn’t allow them to act recklessly. He made it clear that while Wang Zhi was not at fault for not having children, he would treat him well. If they want kids, they can, but they can’t adopt from our side. Li Changhai has plenty of relatives, so if Wang Zhi doesn’t want to adopt, they can foster a child, as long as it’s young. They don’t want older kids who are already attached to their biological parents and might be hard to support. Li Changhai’s conditions are reasonable, and the old lady couldn’t argue against him. So, you don’t need to worry about this matter.”
Zhang Lan wasn’t particularly worried. The child was theirs, and she wouldn’t allow anyone to take him away. Moreover, if Mingyuan returned home unwillingly, he might just cause trouble like a little troublemaker. Pointing to their son to care for them in their old age was nothing but wishful thinking.
However, Zhang Lan was disgusted by the way the Wang family handled things. She found their sudden interest in her son unsettling, especially considering their past behavior of resorting to violence. She felt it was better to interact with Liu Hui’s dog than deal with these people; at least the dog appreciates kindness.
“Sister-in-law, is that all there is to this matter? Isn’t Wang Zhi still insisting on a divorce?” Zhang Lan inquired, skeptical of the sudden change in attitude. Wasn’t there talk of divorce when they first returned? Now that adoption was off the table, was Wang Zhi going to accept it quietly?
Wang Juan chuckled as she spoke about her sister-in-law, “Sister-in-law, Wang Zhi is who she is. She’s not worth a second thought. As for divorce, who around here would dare marry her? She’s so greedy and lazy; who would bring her home to be the family matriarch? No one has the money to support her extravagant lifestyle. She’s no queen, yet she acts like she’s royalty. The Li family has means, but do you think they’ll tolerate her spending habits? She should be content. Our old lady probably considered all this and decided to let things slide quietly. Try replacing her with someone else, and the old lady would surely raise hell.”
Just as they were conversing, Zhu Qiyu came out to empty the dirty water and, upon seeing the two sisters-in-law in the garden, cursed the chickens on the street without even looking up. “Always chattering away. One day, I’ll slaughter you for meat, so you stop causing trouble.”
Zhang Lan simply smiled and gently guided the irritated Wang Juan away, saying, “Sister-in-law, she’s always like that. No need to let her get to you. Don’t stress yourself out. By the way, when is Mingshan’s wedding happening?”
As Wang Mingshan had reached an age where marriage was appropriate, Zhang Lan casually inquired about it, suggesting they should prepare if their nephew was getting married.
“Sister-in-law, I’ve already found a wife for him. I plan to build a house next year, and if all goes well, we’re thinking of arranging their wedding in the fall. Once they’re married, I can focus on other things. As the children grow older, they can manage their own lives. I’m not worried about Minglin for now. I’ve been earning well these past years, and even if I buy a house now, I can manage it,” Wang Juan explained confidently.
Over the past couple of years, Wang Juan had saved up some money, and with her young son contributing financially, she felt assured about her son’s wedding plans.
Meanwhile, Wang Zhenhe led his two children to gather the vegetables from the garden. The sound of popping popcorn filled the street, sparking excitement in Mingyuan, who rushed outside followed by Wang Qian. It had been years since they last had popcorn, and the taste was a distant memory.
An elderly man carrying two rubber buckets strolled through the street, calling out, “Hey, sir, wait a moment. We’re making popcorn to share.”
Setting down his burden, the elderly man waited as Wang Qian quickly fetched corn kernels and sugar from the house. She swiftly returned, finding Mingcheng eagerly waiting.
The old man had an old-fashioned popcorn maker with a small pressure gauge, slowly roasting it over a fire. He measured the corn using a large porcelain jar, adding sugar as requested. The charge for a jar of popcorn was five cents, an affordable treat that drew families out onto the street.
As the first in line, Wang Qian pulled out a cloth bag from her pocket, ready to fill it with popcorn.
Once the timing seemed right, the old man removed the small boiler from the fire, releasing a burst of gas with a loud pop. The popcorn cascaded into the waiting cloth bag held up by Wang Qian and Mingyuan, filling it with freshly made popcorn—a delightful aroma of corn wafted through the air.
Wang Qian took a whiff of the popcorn, reveling in its pure and primitive fragrance. She savored a still-warm piece, enjoying the rich aroma and sweetness lingering on her palate, leaving a delightful aftertaste.
“Mom, I want some popcorn,” Xiaoxia from the Zhang Chuanwu family couldn’t resist the temptation of the freshly made popcorn from Wang Qian.
Seeing the little girl’s eager expression, Wang Qian recalled her own past desires and behaviors, “Auntie, get Xiaoxia some to try.”
Wang Qian and Mingyuan then distributed handfuls of popcorn to the surrounding children, knowing that soon everyone’s popcorn would be ready.
The street buzzed with excitement as the popping of the popcorn resounded through the air, gradually quieting down after a lively time.
The siblings helped Zhang Lan pickle the pickled and salted vegetables, taking a break to enjoy the fragrant popcorn.
Thinking of her younger brother as she held the popcorn, Zhang Lan sighed, “If only your uncle could taste this. When he was young, your uncle craved popcorn so much. While other children went to enjoy it, we couldn’t afford it. Zhang Weiguo even got punished for wanting popcorn. Looking back, it’s heartbreaking. It was just a few cents, but back then, our family couldn’t even afford that. It was a time when we struggled to have one meal after another, let alone have snacks like popcorn.”
As Zhang Lan recounted these poignant memories, tears welled up in her eyes. Her brother was still on the frontlines, uncertain if he would witness the sunset after witnessing today’s sunrise.
Quick to console his wife, Wang Zhenhe reassured her, “Don’t worry too much, dear. Isn’t Weiguo doing fine now? Our family members are all blessed with good luck. Even bullets would shy away from him.”
Amused by her husband’s attempt to lighten the mood, Zhang Lan chuckled, “Zhenhe, I saw the cooperative store selling sugar made from popped rice. Although Weiguo might not necessarily want to eat it now that he’s grown up, as his elder sister, I should fulfill his childhood wish.”
Having tasted sugar made from popped rice in her past life, Wang Qian knew the taste was delightful. However, Mingyuan had never tried it and seemed eager to taste it.
“Mom, buy some extra for Uncle to enjoy. And let’s bring some for Brother too. If only Big Brother and Big Sister were here, we could all enjoy it together,” Mingyuan suggested, his expression indicating his desire to share this treat.
With a knowing smile, Mingyuan held his sister’s hand, hinting at their unspoken bond. As the family chatted, Wang Zhenhai hurriedly entered the room, his face filled with concern as he informed his younger brother, “Brother, come quickly with me. Mom fell off the stool, and her leg might be broken. Weiguo has already taken her to see the doctor.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhenhe sprang from the bed, “Brother, let’s hurry. How should I scold Mom for climbing up and down like this at her age? Why do people become more careless as they grow older?”
The brothers rushed out, leaving Zhang Lan watching her husband’s departure with a tinge of worry. Moments ago, the elderly lady was perfectly fine, and now this unexpected incident had unfolded.
The siblings exchanged a glance upon hearing the news, both pondering the same question: Why did this illness occur at such a critical time? Tomorrow, they had to return to their studies. If the elderly lady was truly unwell, Zhang Lan, as the daughter-in-law, would need to be present. Despite any past disagreements or conflicts, traditional filial piety in the countryside still held importance.
The siblings felt a sense of worry. “Mom, what should we do? We’re leaving today, and our family’s shop needs to be managed.”
It wasn’t that Mingyuan was overly concerned, but their grandmother was indeed a worrisome figure. Without his watchful eye, he couldn’t leave Zhang Lan alone in this situation.
Understanding her children’s concerns, Zhang Lan shook her head. “Mingyuan, I can’t leave at this moment. You two go back first. Once you’re home, inform Grandma Yang and ask her to help look after things for a few days. Once everything at home is settled, your father can come over. Don’t worry about me here. It’s just a matter of caring for someone. With four daughters-in-law around, it’s not just me. We’ll take turns. I won’t bear everything alone. After enduring years of hardship, I’m not foolish. I know when to ask for help. If I start feeling strange, then maybe I’ll consider a hospital visit for a check-up.”
Wang Qian sighed; her mother was kind-hearted but sometimes too trusting. Being kind-hearted often led to being taken advantage of, a timeless truth.
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