Chapter 32

After a rainstorm, Dongxi Village was damp. The air filled with the scent of fresh grass and earth.

Zhong Xing and Yu Hangyuan had moved back to the educated youth station from the Lin family home.

Originally, this place had been a landlord’s stone mill. After the landlord was overthrown, the mill had been smashed to pieces.

The walls bore several large cracks, and it had remained abandoned for a long time, with grass growing taller than people. Two years ago, the brigade leader, Zhou Youquan, had someone fix it up and transform it into a station for educated youths, providing a place for those who had received a high school education to settle down in the countryside.

When Zhong Xing returned from work, he was drenched in sweat.

He quickly took a shower, water dripping from his forehead into his eyes. He grabbed a towel nearby and wiped his face.

“Brother Xing, I just passed by the village elementary school and saw a letter addressed to you, so I brought it back,” Yu Hangyuan said as he came in, placing a letter on the table.

The residents of the production team did not have house numbers; usually, the postman delivered letters to the elementary school in Dongxi Village.

“A letter for me?”

Zhong Xing glanced at the envelope, which read “To Zhong Xing (Respectfully)” on the front. The sender’s address was the county party committee courtyard.

“Who wrote this to you?” Yu Hangyuan leaned in to look.

“It’s from Jiang Jiang. Her birthday is on the 28th of this month, and she’s asking if we are free that day.”

The letter was short.

Jiang Jiang mentioned her current situation; she was already in school, attending the first grade at the county elementary school.

She inquired about how he had been recently and whether he was adapting to life in Dongxi Village.

Finally, she mentioned her birthday at the end, inviting them to celebrate at her home.

Zhong Xing could tell that this letter was likely written by Jiang Jiang herself.

The handwriting showed that the writer was serious but quite young, lacking strength in her wrist.

Zhong Xing was somewhat surprised; he hadn’t expected Jiang Jiang to write him a letter.

“Speaking of which, since she followed Secretary Lin and his wife to the county town last time, we haven’t heard anything from her. I thought the little girl had forgotten us already.”

“We haven’t been home for over two months. Let’s ask for a family visit, leave, and go for a trip,” Yu Hangyuan suggested.

Zhong Xing had been considering the same thing. He put away Jiang Jiang’s letter and tossed the used towel aside. “I’ll go out for a bit.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find someone. I’ll write her back later.”

Fengzhen, who was nine years old this year, was in the third grade at the Dongxi Village Elementary School.

Her grades were somewhat poor, always hovering around the passing mark. She was the child in the family who resembled the late Grandpa Lin the most, possessing a hardworking and simple nature.

At a young age, she was already capable of feeding pigs, doing laundry, and tending the fire.

When Zhong Xing arrived at the Lin family home, he saw Fengzhen and Shuanzhu sitting under the jujube tree at the entrance, shelling black beans.

“Brother Zhong Xing?” Fengzhen said, surprised.

It had been a while since she had seen him after he and Yu Hangyuan moved back to the educated youth station.

Zhong Xing walked over to help them shell the black beans. “Jiang Jiang’s birthday is on the 28th. She wrote to invite me and you. Yu Hangyuan and I plan to ask for leave to go back to the county town and celebrate Jiang Jiang’s birthday. Do you want to come with us? You can stay at Secretary Lin’s house for a couple of days, and then we can all return to Dongxi Village together.”

Fengzhen was momentarily stunned after hearing Zhong Xing’s words.

In her life, the furthest she had ever traveled was to the commune. The county town was a term that felt extremely distant and unfamiliar to her.

“What’s wrong?”

“I want to go, but my parents, they probably won’t agree.” Fengzhen’s expression was troubled. Jiang Jiang remembered her, and she didn’t want to disappoint Jiang Jiang, but her parents had never liked Jiang Jiang, so it would likely be difficult to talk to them about it.

Zhong Xing helped them finish shelling the black beans. “It’s fine. If you want to go, that’s enough. I’ll help talk to your parents.”

It was Zhang Yueju’s turn to cook for the Lin family today. The main dishes were black bean porridge and cornmeal pancakes.

 The black bean porridge was thick and fragrant, accompanied by a stir-fried dish of homegrown vegetables and some old pumpkin left from last year. After boiling the pumpkin in water, she added a little oil and salt. In fact, the older the pumpkin, the better it tasted; older pumpkin was not only sweeter but also had a softer and more glutinous texture.

When it was time to eat, the Lin family had a rule that the first bowl of rice was always served to Grandma Lin before anyone else could start eating.

Zhang Yueju scooped the rice and served it to Grandma Lin, smiling as she said, “I received a letter from Third Sister-in-law, saying that this weekend, she wants Fengzhen to stay in the county for two days. Coincidentally, Zhong Xing is planning to take a leave to return to the county town at the end of the month, so she suggested that when he goes back, he can take Fengzhen with him. When he returns to Dongxi Village, they can come back together. This way, it won’t interfere with her schooling.”

“Why is the third daughter-in-law so willing to send Fengzhen to the county town for two days?” Grandma Lin’s expression darkened.

Neither of the couples had mentioned taking her to enjoy life in the city, yet they suggested sending Fengzhen instead. What did that mean?

“And how does the third wife know that Zhong Xing will be going back to the county at the end of the month?” Grandma Lin glanced suspiciously at his eldest daughter-in-law.

Zhang Yueju paused for a moment before managing a smile. “This is probably because last time during the avalanche, Zhong Xing saved the third brother, and the couple has been in touch with him ever since.”

“Second son, Hongmei, what do you think?”

“I have no objections.” Second Brother Lin lowered his head, slurping the black bean porridge from his bowl without looking up.

He would gladly see Fengzhen go to the city, hoping she could take advantage of the third couple’s hospitality.

Ideally, the couple would keep Fengzhen with them permanently.

“Then it’s settled,” Zhang Yueju sighed in relief.

“Aunt, I want to go to the county with my sister too.” Fengyin said, looking up at Zhang Yueju.

Last time, she had injured her foot and stayed in the commune hospital for two days.

When she returned, Lin Youqing’s family had already gone to the county.

Fengyin felt a resentment building inside her, wishing she could crush her silver teeth in frustration.

Unfortunately, she has not had a chance to meet Jiang Jiang again, and this opportunity couldn’t be missed.

“Uh…” Zhang Yueju’s expression grew troubled. During the New Year, she noticed that the third couple did not particularly like Fengyin.

She also found Fengyin to be too calculating and opportunistic, exhibiting a shrewdness that did not match her age.

Moreover, Fengyin had always targeted Jiang Jiang, so it was clear they wouldn’t want Fengyin as a guest.

“The third brother’s place isn’t very spacious; I’m afraid it might be crowded.”

“With Jiang Jiang included, that makes three kids. What’s the problem with that? Fengyin is also their niece. Why should only Fengzhen go? Wouldn’t that be unfair to Fengyin?”

“Exactly.” Li Hongmei chimed in from the side, thinking that if Fengyin went along, it would mean one more share of the benefits.

“Aunt, is it because Third Aunt doesn’t like me…” When Fengyin looked up again, her eyes were already brimming with tears.

“Fengyin, you’re overthinking it. Your Third Aunt doesn’t dislike you,” Zhang Yueju said, feeling exhausted.

She sighed and added: “Then you can go to the county with Fengzhen.”

—o—o—o—

T/N: Who are you to decide?