Chapter 17: Daily Life Continues (Part 1)

After all the commotion in the morning, there wasn’t much time left before work and school.

Mu Mian hurried as much as she could, but by the time she sat in the classroom, she was still a little late.

Even so, there were still quite a few children who hadn’t arrived yet.

The ones who were there were scattered around, sitting in small groups and whispering to each other. It was just like a chicken coop with a new batch of chicks, chirping here and there.

Xu Lele rushed into the classroom, panting. She plopped down onto a seat and pouted. “Sister Mianmian, why didn’t you wait for me?”

Mu Mian told the truth. “I thought you left before me.”

When she left home with her backpack, the whistle signaling class had already blown three times. She really thought Xu Lele had gone ahead.

But when she arrived at the classroom, she found that the little girl hadn’t come yet.

Mu Mian added, “Next time, if you don’t come to call me, I’ll make sure to call you.”

Her house was closer to both the school and the mountains, so Xu Lele was usually the one to pick her up.

The seven-year-old girl was easy to cheer up. Xu Lele quickly started chattering about the Shi family’s affairs again.

It wasn’t just her. The entire classroom was buzzing with gossip. Unlike adults, children’s chatter was all over the place, completely illogical and full of wild imagination.

Mu Mian held back her laughter so hard that her stomach hurt.

It wasn’t until Shi Xiaozhu walked in that the noise finally died down a little.

Even though she was late, Shi Xiaozhu looked the same as usual and continued attending class as if nothing had happened.

Thinking about it, that made sense. Her family was never close with the second branch of the Shi family. In fact, they were practically enemies. There was no reason for her to feel sad, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to look happy either.

The elementary school in their commune had flexible class times. Since classes started late, they also ended later than usual.

When Mu Mian and Xu Lele were walking home with their backpacks, they happened to run into her mother, Comrade Liu Shuangcui, who was just getting off work. She was walking with a few familiar aunties.

Mu Mian called out, “Mom!”

Liu Shuangcui turned her head and immediately saw through the situation. “You got out of school late today?”

Mu Mian nodded.

Xu Lele looked around and asked, “Aunt, my mom isn’t back yet?”

Liu Guizhi, as the women’s director of the brigade, had gone along with the others to the Shi family’s second branch in the morning.

She couldn’t just ignore the situation. Li Guiyan had run away, and Shi Xinggui was acting like he had lost his soul. He probably didn’t even know which direction the hospital entrance faced.

Liu Shuangcui shook her head. “Not yet. Even if she comes back, it’ll be in the afternoon.”

Xu Lele sighed. “That means my big brother has to cook again.”

Her big brother’s cooking was horrible, scratchy on the throat.

No one paid attention to a little girl’s worries about lunch. Instead, the aunties started talking about the Shi family again.

One of them asked, “So, who was the first one to say that Shi Dabao isn’t actually Shi Xinggui’s son? How did people even find out? Li Guiyan wouldn’t have said it herself, right?”

As soon as she finished speaking, someone immediately responded, “Wasn’t it Chunfeng who said it first?”

Liu Shuangcui nodded. “I heard it from Chunfeng too.”

Cao Chunfeng scoffed. “What do you mean I said it first? Wasn’t it Hongxia who said it first?”

As soon as she said that, the aunt named Hongxia raised her voice to refute. “What nonsense are you talking about? It wasn’t me! I only heard it from you!”

Cao Chunfeng argued with confidence, “My Dazhuang told me. He said he overheard you talking to an older lady. I asked him who the older lady was, but he didn’t know. He only heard your voice.”

Aunti Hongxia shouted, “Nonsense! Your Dazhuang must have heard wrong! I only knew about it after hearing it from you. Before that, I hadn’t heard a single rumor!”

The aunties looked at each other, a little confused about the whole situation.

Mu Mian silently raised her imaginary hand. She knew who started it—it was Shi Xiaolian 1 and Shi Xiaolian 2.

So, she actually had this skill, huh? A must-have for spreading gossip. She had been wondering how Shi Xiaolian had managed to spread the news so quickly. Turns out, she had put on a little performance for the kids first.

Speaking of which… she could probably imitate that a little.

She had learned something new!

—

Two days later, the family at the center of all the gossip finally returned.

Shi Chuncao and his husband were carried back the same way they were carried out. They were completely paralyzed, lying there unable to move, needing constant care.

Shi Xinggui’s soul had returned, but he carried an air of complete defeat, like he had given up on everything.

Apparently, he had even gone to the Public Security Bureau to file a report. The officers went to Li Guiyan’s home brigade, the Hongqi Brigade, to investigate, but everyone there said they hadn’t seen her.

It was expected. How could Li Guiyan take her child back to her maiden home?

A couple more days passed, and there was still no sign of her. However, another piece of news came out. It was said that a man from a small farm near Hongqi Brigade had also disappeared for three days, and no one knew where he had gone.

Shi Xinggui put two and two together, got furious, and stormed over to the farm to smash the man’s little shack.

But aside from venting his anger, it accomplished nothing.

In these times, if someone was determined to run away, it was really hard to track them down.

By the time the Shi family’s scandal faded from people’s conversations, it was already the end of May. It was warm enough in the morning that a single layer of clothing was comfortable.

That Saturday, after lunch, the adults still had to go to work.

Mu Mian had no classes in the afternoon, so she planned to go collect firewood with her grandmother and take a walk in the mountains.

An hour later, the grandmother and granddaughter carried large bundles of firewood out of the mountains. As they passed by the Shi family’s second branch, they saw Shi Xinggui, who hadn’t gone to work. He stood there with his hands on his hips, cursing loudly.

Mu Mian grabbed an old woman who was coming back from gathering pig grass and asked, “Grandma Li~ what’s he yelling about this time?”

Aunt Li clicked her tongue. “You all don’t know, do you? He’s been scolding for almost half an hour, saying that two old hens from his house were stolen.”

Zhao Meihua asked, “Were they stolen this morning?”

In the brigade, there were only three people responsible for cutting pig grass and feeding the pigs—two elderly women and Shi Xiaolian’s mother, Tian Hongjuan. They were all people who couldn’t handle heavy labor but still needed work points.

Although this job didn’t offer many work points, it was easy and could be done for a long time.

One of the elderly women, surnamed Zhao, looked down on Shi Xinggui and scoffed, “He said they went missing this morning. A grown man like him can’t even look after his own house.”

Aunt Li glanced at Tian Hongjuan. “I remember one of them belonged to Hongjuan’s family, right? Shi Chuncao took it away. I even saw it at the time.”

Tian Hongjuan looked sickly and weak. In truth, she was indeed frail and unable to stand for long. Upon hearing this, she simply responded lightly without saying much.

Everyone had work to do, so after a few exchanges, they all went their separate ways—some carrying firewood, others feeding the pigs.

Besides, the commotion at the Shi family’s house had been going on for too long, and there wasn’t much left to talk about.

However, Zhao Meihua still reminded her granddaughter a few more times. When there were no adults at home, she must always lock the door before going out. With so many people in the brigade, there were bound to be a few who had sticky fingers.

Thinking about her little gold nuggests, Mu Mian nodded solemnly. She always locked the door properly!

That afternoon was a bit hot and stuffy. After making two or three trips, the grandmother and granddaughter didn’t go out again.

With nothing to do, Mu Mian decided to visit her little uncle’s house to see her twin baby cousins.

The sisters had already passed their full-month celebration, which Mu Xinglong hadn’t celebrated with a big banquet—just a simple meal with family.

When Mu Mian arrived, the two little ones were fussing. Xiao Chengzi stood by the bed, patting one and then the other, looking completely flustered. The little boy’s forehead was covered in sweat.

Seeing Mu Mian come in, Xiao Chengzi’s face lit up as if he had seen a savior. “Sister Mianmian! Help me hold one! Xiao Mai has been crying nonstop.”

Their names had been decided during the full-month celebration. The elder sister was named Mu Mai, and the younger one Mu Miao. Together, their names formed “Xiao Mai Miao,” which symbolized strong and healthy growth.

By now, Mu Mian no longer mixed up the twins. She picked up Xiao Mai and gently soothed her. “Are you home alone? Where’s Little Aunt?”

Xiao Chengzi pointed outside. “Mom has an upset stomach and went to the toilet.”

Mu Mian responded with an “Oh” and rocked Xiao Mai in her arms. “Are they hungry?”

Xiao Chengzi shook his head. “No, Mom said they’re just fussy before sleeping. They need to be held to fall asleep. But I’m a little scared to hold them.”

Mu Mian immediately understood. That made sense.

The babies were too small, and Xiao Chengzi wasn’t much older himself. It was true that he couldn’t hold them properly. At this age, infants were still fragile, and if they fell, it wouldn’t be a joke.

She had also been afraid to hold them at first. It was only after her little uncle placed them in her arms a few times that she got used to it. Now, she could hold them steadily.

Besides, Mu Mian had noticed that she seemed to have a way with babies. As soon as she picked Xiao Mai up, the little one stopped crying. Unfortunately, she only had two hands and couldn’t hold both at the same time, so Xiao Miao was still wailing.

About a minute later, Zheng Xialan rushed back inside, flustered. “These little ancestors! I can’t even go to the toilet in peace. Xiao Mian, don’t just stand there, or you’ll get tired soon. Sit on the kang.”

Mu Mian shook her head. “It’s fine, Little Aunt. I’m not tired. Xiao Mai is really light.”

So tiny, yet so light.

Now that their features were developing, they looked even cuter—plump and soft, really fun to hold.

Mu Mian glanced at the other little one. “Do you want to take them outside to get some sun?”

Zheng Xialan picked up Xiao Miao and walked out. “That’s a good idea.”

The Mu twins weren’t particularly easy babies. They were the kind that woke up as soon as they were put down. If they weren’t deeply asleep, the moment they touched the bed, they would start whimpering. They had to be completely asleep before being placed down.

Mu Mian stayed with her little aunt for over an hour. By the time she finally laid Xiao Mai down, the adults had already returned from work.

When Mu Xinglong came home, he was followed by Mu Wan.

Mu Mian blinked in surprise. “Sister Xiao Wan, why are you here too?”

Mu Wan replied, “I came to get my enamel mug. I left it at Little Uncle’s place last time.”

Mu Xinglong pointed at a wooden rack where pickled vegetables were drying. “It’s over there. Hurry up and take it away. Next time, why don’t you leave yourself here instead? Then I won’t return you to your dad.”

Mu Wan made a face. “Little Uncle, you’re teasing me again!”

It was getting late, so Mu Mian waved her hand. “Little Uncle, I’m heading back now~”

Mu Xinglong clicked his tongue. “What’s the rush? Eat before you go!”

Then he added, “Or do you think your Little Uncle’s cooking isn’t good enough?”

Mu Mian nodded seriously with a straight face. “Yes, the food you and Little Aunt make isn’t as good as Grandma’s.”

This time, it was Mu Xinglong’s turn to wave her off. “Go, go, go… Hurry up and leave.”

Mu Wan grabbed her slightly worn enamel mug and quickly caught up with Mu Mian. “My sister is cooking today, so I have nothing to do. I’m going to hang out with Grandma for a bit.”