Chapter 91 

On New Year’s Eve, it’s the day of the year with the strongest festive atmosphere. On this day, every household starts to put up their spring couplets, and they bring out all the good things they’ve accumulated for who knows how long, trying to make the New Year’s celebration as bountiful as possible.

At this time, the children don’t have new clothes or shoes to wear during the Chinese New Year, but the children of the Su family have all received a pair of new gloves and cotton jackets sewn by Li Yufeng not long ago. Even though their pants and shoes are old, the children of this era are easily satisfied and are still very happy.

The men in the family are all busy putting up spring couplets. The production brigade office, chicken coop, cattle shed, pigsty, and other places cannot be missed either. In addition to putting up couplets on doors and windows, they also paste red paper on the rice bin, the stove, the wardrobe, and so on, to ensure that the coming year will be prosperous and safe.

The women were busy working in the kitchen. Although the New Year’s Eve dinner is simple, it’s a rare moment for the whole family to gather in the kitchen and work together. It’s a heartwarming time to chat and bond.

Liang Hongmei was envious when she learned that Zhang Chunying was pregnant: “I also want to have another child, but Zhenzhong says that raising our firstborn is already challenging enough.”

Actually, Liang Hongmei vaguely understood that it was because of the chaos caused by the many siblings in her family. Su Zhenzhong felt that since there’s Xiao Bao was Dabao’s cousin, and considering their current living conditions, it wouldn’t be practical to have another child.

Liang Hongmei really wanted a daughter to make up for the regret of not receiving much love from her own family as a daughter. The daughters in the Su family are all cherished by the entire family, just like her sister-in-law, Su Xiaoxiao.

But it’s just wishful thinking. Who can guarantee that having another child will definitely be a daughter?

…………

In this era, the spring couplets are made by mixing a bit of cassava flour paste and spreading it on the back of the couplet.

Han Cheng is the tallest person. If the children wanted to put up the couplets themselves, he had to carry them on his shoulder and reach out to paste them. Although they were a bit crooked, they had a great time playing.

Xiao Doubao sat on Han Cheng’s shoulder and touched a height he had never reached before, feeling especially happy. He said, “Dad, higher, even higher~~~”

Xiao Fantuan watched with envy and said, “Xiao Doubao, it’s my turn, it’s my turn!”

Xiao Doubao hugged his father’s head tightly and laughed heartily. He refused to come down, which made Little Fantuan stomp his feet in frustration.
Su Weimin handed a “Happy New Year” couplet to Han Cheng and said, “Han Cheng, since you’re so tall, please stick this one on the highest window at the back.”

Han Cheng put Xiao Doubao down and took the spring couplet, then headed to the backyard.
In front of the backyard gate stood a slender figure, busy pasting Spring Festival couplets on the door. Han Cheng had a strange feeling of familiarity, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen this person until that slightly graying head turned around. Han Cheng froze in place, then exclaimed in disbelief, “Father-in-law?”

Yang Nanhuai, with his slender frame, trembled imperceptibly, and his aged eyes widened in shock as he looked at Han Cheng. “Han Cheng? Is it really you?”

Han Cheng quickly stepped forward and said “Father-in-law, it’s me. How did you end up here? And what about Mother-in-law and Big Brother?”

Yang Nanhuai’s expression was complex. Seeing that no one was around, he quickly said to Han Cheng. “It’s not convenient to talk here. Let’s go inside first.”

Han Cheng hesitated for a moment and then said, “Wait a moment.”

Han Cheng quickly attached the spring couplet on his hand to the window and followed Yang Nanhuai into the dilapidated courtyard.

Inside the house, his mother-in-law, Dong Mingyue, and Big Brother Yang Lin were both there.

Seeing each other after so many years, both sides were overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

Han Cheng struggled to speak, “Are you all doing well?” It was a rhetorical question because, under the current circumstances, could anyone really be doing well?

Yang Nanhuai couldn’t help but nod and say, “We’re fine. It wasn’t good in the border area before, but now everything’s fine. The head of this production team and his family are all good people, taking good care of the three of us. We have also received the supplies you sent to the border area before, and now, we can eat and dress warmly. Life is not bad. By the way, why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be in the military region?”

Dong Mingyue reacted quickly and looked at Han Cheng in astonishment. She said, “You can’t be… You can’t be…”

Han Cheng had mixed feelings and guessed what she was going to say. He nodded and said, “Yes, I am the newlywed husband of Su Xiaoxiao, the daughter of the production team leader.”

Yang Nanhuai’s family of three couldn’t find words to express their shock. How could such a coincidental situation exist in the world?

The best aunt and uncle in the world that Xiao Bao mentioned is actually Han Cheng and his newly married wife?

Yang Nanhuai said “Does Captain Su’s family know about this, or did you arrange for us to be sent here?”

Han Cheng shook his head and said, “Of course, they don’t know. I didn’t do anything, and I don’t have that much authority. I simply reported your situation to my superiors. Originally, you hadn’t committed any major wrongdoings, and Yang Mei is a martyr, so there was no need for her to be sent to the border in the first place. I don’t know if there’s any mistake that occurred in the process of transferring you, but it’s too late now that you’ve been transferred here. It’s just unexpected.”

As they say, “There’s no such thing as a coincidence,” as if all the threads of fate were predetermined.

Dong Mingyue sighed. “The other day, the children you took out to see the fish pond were Fantuan and Doubao? So, why did Xiao Bao say that his uncle has three biological sons?”

Han Cheng replied, “Zhuzi is the grandson of one of my teachers. He’s currently staying with us, but it’s not even considered an adoption. Our whole family doesn’t want him to feel like he’s living as a guest. Aside from that, he’s very close to Fantuan and Doubao, and they call each other ‘brothers’ to outsiders. However, when the opportunity arises in the future, he will go back to the teacher’s house. It’s just not the right time now.”

The Yang Nanhuai family hadn’t expected this additional layer of complexity. Yang Nanhuai said, “If you hadn’t seen us when pasting the couplets at the back today, and we heard the nicknames Fantuan and Doubao, we wouldn’t have had any suspicions. Xiao Bao didn’t mention that his aunt is a stepmother; he said they were three biological brothers. We just assumed that Captain Su’s daughter wouldn’t marry someone with a prior marriage.”

Dong Mingyue, with hope in her eyes, asked, “Captain Su’s daughter seems to get along well with them. How are Fantuan and Doubao? Actually, I’m more concerned about whether Su Xiaoxiao treats Fantuan and Doubao kindly.”

Han Cheng nodded and said, “Xiaoxiao is a wonderful mother, they get along very well. She treats Fantuan and Doubao as if they were her own. They rely on her a lot. You can rest assured.”

The expected answer relieved the family’s worries.

Yang Nanhuai nodded and said, “In that case, we’ll put our minds at ease. You don’t need to worry about us here; just focus on living your life. As long as Fantuan and Doubao are well, that’s all that matters. You don’t need to contact us too often. Captain Su and his family are all good people, but life in the village is different from the city. People here may be simple, but they love gossip. It’s best to keep our relationship under wraps for now, and we can discuss it when the time is right.”

Han Cheng thought for a moment and nodded, saying, “I understand. Even if I don’t say anything, whether you are strangers or acquaintances, it’s all the same to them. Xiaoxiao’s family are all good people.”

Han Cheng had no intention of letting Yangmei’s parents disturb the peaceful life of Su Xiaoxiao’s family.

Dong Mingyue said, “Captain Su’s family is kind enough to take care of us without knowing our identity. If we reveal our true identities, it’s unnecessary. In case Xiao Bao or someone accidentally lets it slip, there’s no need for people to point fingers.”

Yang Lin also nodded and said, “Maybe in two years, the situation won’t be so tense, and we can return to the city. We won’t have much contact with them in the future. For now, let’s be discreet and avoid too much interaction with the people here. Their family is good, and if we get the opportunity to repay them in the future, we will definitely repay them.”

Yang Nanhuai also nodded. “That’s the best way to do it. Han Cheng, you are a kind person, and Captain Su’s family is too. It’s our good fortune to meet you all. Yang Mei left us too early, and it’s her misfortune. Anyway, let’s continue as we have before. Just treat it as if you’ve never seen us. It’s just that Xiao Bao is a rare talent, smart, and eager to learn. We want to teach him as much as we can but don’t worry, we won’t interact with the other members of the Su family.”

Dong Mingyue added, “By the way, Han Cheng, can you find a way to make Xiao Bao bring out a few children for us to take a look at? We will just take a look from a distance, and we won’t disturb them nor approach them.”

Yang Nanhuai’s family wanted to keep a low profile, and Han Cheng had already started a new family, so they preferred to live their own lives separately. Occasionally seeing their little grandson would be the best way to maintain their relationship.

Han Cheng also thought that simpler relationships were better, as too many complications could sour things.

Han Cheng said, “In the next few days, the children will probably go outside to set off fireworks and firecrackers at night. The youngest two are Fantuan and Doubao. When you hear the sound of fireworks from our side, you can walk to the front to see them.”

Han Cheng originally intended to leave them some money and food stamps, but they said that they didn’t use much of Yangmei’s pension and didn’t need it.

Before Han Cheng left, Yang Nanhuai repeatedly reminded him, “Don’t give us anything anymore. We should try to minimize our contact in these years. There’s a long road ahead, and I believe these times won’t last forever. We’ll catch up when the situation improves.”

This is also what they have been saying to Han Cheng all along. Han Cheng nodded and said “I understand. Take care.”

The two elders looked at Han Cheng’s back with a regretful expression. Dong Mingyue said, “Old Yang, what a great son-in-law! If only Yang Mei were still here.”

Yang Nanhuai replied, “Dying on the battlefield was our daughter’s best ending. She had no regrets.”

Dong Mingyue nodded and said, “Yes, I don’t know why, but when I found out that Han Cheng’s new wife was Captain Su’s daughter, I felt a huge weight lifted from my heart. I didn’t know who he would marry or whether he would treat our two grandsons well. Now I can relax. We couldn’t take care of them in the past, and we still can’t now, but we should be grateful to them.”

Yang Nanhuai said, “Don’t worry, good people will always be rewarded.”

Dong Mingyue said, “Let’s hope so.”