Chapter 14

Xu Jiaojiao also stepped out of the room and stood in the main hall. Seeing Qin Jiashu hesitate and glance back, she smiled and asked, “Do you want to go see the sheep?”

“Mm.” He liked the big sheep.

“Go ahead, but the road is slippery. You’re not allowed to run.” Xu Jiaojiao walked over to remind him and even helped straighten his collar.

“I won’t run,” Qin Jiashu nodded obediently. With Xu Jiaojiao’s permission, he walked slowly outside.

San Gouzi was hiding near the courtyard gate, peeking at Xu Jiaojiao nervously. He didn’t relax until Qin Jiashu walked up to him.

He had been worried that Jiashu’s aunt would stop him from coming out.

“Gouzi-ge, did the big sheep give birth?” Qin Jiashu tugged on San Gouzi’s sleeve and asked with concern.

Qinjia Village was under the jurisdiction of the 7th Brigade of Huayang County. The brigade owned more than forty sheep, all of which were entrusted to San Gouzi’s older brother, Qin Liangcai, for feeding and care.

Raising sheeps wasn’t too difficult. Usually, they just had to be herded to a designated area and left to graze. Because of this, San Gouzi often helped out.

In the summer, Qin Jiashu frequently tagged along with San Gouzi to herd sheep by the river, and he especially took care of the pregnant ewes.

“Yes! It just gave birth, but the lamb is really small,” San Gouzi said excitedly, grabbing Qin Jiashu as he tried to run. “Let’s hurry!”

Qin Jiashu was eager but didn’t run. “Auntie said I can’t run.”

The ground was slippery, and falling would dirty his clothes.

San Gouzi slowed down and glanced at Qin Jiashu’s new clothes.

“Xiaoshu, you’ve got new clothes again?” He looked both envious and tired of being envious.

“Mm, Auntie had Grandpa make them.” Qin Jiashu pursed his lips and nodded, unable to hide his joy.

He had lots of new clothes now!

San Gouzi carefully reached out and touched the fabric. “Looks great.”

Dark blue and army green were very trendy, especially army green—it was popular among kids because it represented soldiers.

Hearing that, Qin Jiashu puffed out his little chest proudly. Grandpa’s clothes really did look great.

The 7th Brigade’s sheep pen was built not far from the Zhiqing Compound and only took seven or eight minutes to reach on foot.

The newborn lamb was still wet and knelt in a corner of the pen. It was cold, and the tiny lamb bleated helplessly, struggling to stand.

“It’s so small.” Qin Jiashu squatted outside the pen, watching with awe.

“Right?!” San Gouzi, who had seen the birth firsthand, responded proudly and began describing the birthing process to Qin Jiashu.

“When will it be able to walk?” Qin Jiashu frowned with worry.

The lamb kept trying to stand but just couldn’t manage it. Its four little legs flailed against the straw in the pen.

“My brother said it’s still too small. It’ll probably be able to walk by tonight.” San Gouzi didn’t really know either.

“Oh.” Qin Jiashu nodded.

The two boys squatted outside the pen for a long time, watching the lamb struggle and bleat. When it was finally time for lunch, Qin Jiashu reluctantly went home.

“Auntie!” Qin Jiashu ran happily to the kitchen when he returned home.

Xu Jiaojiao was cutting a large taro root in the kitchen. “Did you see the little lamb?”

“Mm! It’s so tiny.” Qin Jiashu used both hands to show how small it was.

“Is it cute?” Xu Jiaojiao smiled.

She knew that 99% of creatures were adorable when they were miniature.

“Mm-hmm. I’m going back to see it this afternoon.” Qin Jiashu sat in front of the stove, watching the fire.

“Alright.” Xu Jiaojiao didn’t stop him.

In the countryside, kids were always running around outside. Xu Jiaojiao didn’t want her arrival to keep him confined indoors.

Qin Jiashu really liked the little lamb. Even during lunch, all he could talk about was it. After eating, he ran off again to check on the lamb and didn’t leave until he saw it slowly manage to stand on its own.

“It stood up!”

Qin Jiashu clapped excitedly, and San Gouzi jumped in circles beside him. Both children were thrilled by the tenacity of new life.

Ding ding ding—

That afternoon, the sound of a small gong rang out from outside, along with a notice for the villagers to attend a general meeting at the threshing ground the next morning at 8 a.m.

The purpose of the meeting was to draw lots for land, livestock, and farming tools, and assign them to individual households.

While Qin Jiashu was off looking at the lamb, Xu Jiaojiao was home alone knitting a sweater. She heard the announcement clearly. To ensure no household missed it, several brigade members with gongs patrolled the 7th Brigade area multiple times.

Xu Jiaojiao wasn’t very familiar with such matters. She only knew that in the early 1980s, China began implementing the household responsibility system for land distribution.

Knowing they had to attend the meeting the next day, Xu Jiaojiao let Qin Jiashu have an early dinner when he got home, then cuddled with him in bed.

….

The next morning, Xu Jiaojiao yawned as she got up.

Qin Jiashu had started to get used to and trust her. Though he went to bed early, he was still sleeping soundly, as kids who are still growing often do.

Not wanting to wake him, Xu Jiaojiao tiptoed out to make breakfast. Once the food was ready, she returned to wake him.

“Xiaoshu, time to get up.” Xu Jiaojiao sat on the bed and pinched his cheek.

It was the first time Qin Jiashu had been woken from such a deep sleep. Still groggy, he cuddled into her arms.

“Still sleepy, huh?” Xu Jiaojiao teased.

Qin Jiashu let out a soft whine and acted spoiled.

“Come on, raise your arms and put on your sweater.” Xu Jiaojiao had finished knitting a blue sweater the day before and was now putting it on him.

Wrapped in the soft sweater, Qin Jiashu gradually woke up.

“Sweater?” He stood on the bed and ran his small hands over it, eyes shining.

“Do you like it?” Xu Jiaojiao smiled and tapped his little upturned nose.

Of course, Qin Jiashu nodded. He dressed obediently and let Xu Jiaojiao lead him to wash up and eat breakfast.

With the morning sun just rising, Xu Jiaojiao and Qin Jiashu headed to the village threshing ground after their meal.

Dressed in clean new clothes and wearing cute gloves, Qin Jiashu had lost all trace of his previously pitiful appearance after being cared for by Xu Jiaojiao for a few days.

“Zhengye’s wife!” Aunt Ju Hua and her large family came out of their house, also heading toward the threshing ground with cheerful chatter.

They lived in a three-generation household. Aunt Ju Hua’s parents-in-law were still alive and quite spry.

“Auntie…” Xu Jiaojiao greeted them while holding Qin Jiashu’s hand.

Qin Jiashu clung closely to her leg and greeted them politely. “Grandma.”

“This is your great-grandma,” Xu Jiaojiao said with a smile, teaching him how to address Aunt Ju Hua’s mother-in-law.

“Great-grandma.”

“Oh, what a sweet boy,” the elderly lady said gently. Her hair was tied in a traditional rural bun, and she wore a dark blue modified qipao top. Her expression was kind and peaceful.

She clearly had a very good temperament. Though she had bound feet and walked slowly, she seemed amiable.

“Xiaoshu looks so handsome today,” Aunt Ju Hua teased, looking down at him after exchanging greetings.

In just a few days, the boy had gained a bit of weight, his cheeks had plumped up, and he was bundled up warmly—completely different from how he had looked before.

Aunt Ju Hua glanced at Xu Jiaojiao with a changed expression.

Xu Jiaojiao was willing to care for this little nephew. Except for looking frail and sickly, she seemed decent—good-looking and kind-hearted too.

Qin Jiashu nodded proudly, took off his glove, unbuttoned his coat, and pointed at his clothes with pride. “Grandpa made it, Auntie knitted it.”

“Your dad’s tailoring is known in all the nearby villages! But you knitted this sweater?” Aunt Ju Hua smiled in praise, surprised by Xu Jiaojiao’s skill.

Most rural women could knit, but their sweaters were usually simple in style and color.

Xu Jiaojiao had mixed yellow yarn into the blue base of the sweater and had even knitted a small tree design over the chest—unique and eye-catching.

“Yes, I made it.”

“This design is really pretty.”

“My auntie is amazing!” Qin Jiashu, now much more outgoing, nodded vigorously and gave her a thumbs-up.

The look on his face made Xu Jiaojiao’s heart melt. She stroked his head. “Not cold, is it? Better button up.”

Qin Jiashu obediently fastened his coat.

“Mom.” A girl around ten walked beside Aunt Ju Hua, eyeing Qin Jiashu’s gloves hanging around his neck.

“I want gloves too.” She couldn’t help tugging at her mother’s sleeve.

The gloves were stylish, hanging from a string around the neck. Xu Jiaojiao had measured it just right so the gloves wouldn’t fall off but could still be worn comfortably. Warm and practical.

Aunt Ju Hua followed her daughter’s gaze and looked at the gloves.

“You child, yesterday you wanted new shoes, now it’s gloves. Do you want everything you see?” She tapped her daughter’s head.

Aunt Ju Hua had three children—two boys and one girl. Being the youngest and only girl, the daughter was pampered.

“Maa~” the girl dragged out her protest and turned to her great-grandmother, “Grandma, look at Mom!”

“Alright, alright. If Ah Xiang wants gloves, Grandma will knit a pair for you.” The elderly lady chuckled and patted her granddaughter’s hand.

“Grandma is the best!”

Aunt Ju Hua gave her daughter a helpless glare, then looked again at Qin Jiashu’s gloves.

“How did you knit those? Was it hard?” The gloves weren’t big and didn’t need much yarn.

She thought of the leftover yarn at home—maybe she could piece together enough colors to make a pair too.

“It’s very simple. If you look at them for a bit, I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Xu Jiaojiao replied with a smile.

“Xiaoshu, take off your gloves and show Grandma.”

“Okay!” Qin Jiashu obediently took them off.

Xu Jiaojiao handed the gloves to Aunt Ju Hua, who examined them front and back.

“You really are clever.” She smiled and returned the gloves.

Qin Jiashu happily took them and put them back on, then slipped his little hand into Xu Jiaojiao’s.

Hand in hand, the group chatted and laughed all the way to the threshing ground.