Lu Xiaotang noticed that Xu Ning’s face had turned red from the cold wind on the road. He said to her, “It’s too cold here, and the wind is strong. You should go back first; I’ll watch over Xiao An.”

Xu Ning didn’t want to stay there any longer and replied, “Why don’t you go back too? Xiao An has learned enough; let him practice on his own for a bit.”

Lu Xiaotang adjusted her hat and said, “It’s fine. I’ll keep an eye on him. You go back!”

When Xu Ning returned home, she poured herself a cup of hot water and sat down on the kang. Just as she was about to take out her sweater to knit, Xu Mo arrived. Xu Ning asked, “Xiao Mo, where did you go with Grandpa Qi yesterday? Why didn’t you come over to sleep at night?”

Xu Mo took off his shoes and climbed onto the kang, saying, “I went to the village to visit some of Grandpa Qi’s old friends. I slept there last night.”

Afterward, he pulled a few candies from his pocket and handed them to Xu Ning. “Sister, these are the candies from Grandpa Qi’s old friends. I saved some for you.”

Xu Ning happily accepted them and said, “Thank you, Little Mo! You’re so thoughtful. Did you remember to thank the grandpa who gave you the candies?”

Xu Mo proudly lifted his head and said, “I already thanked them. Those grandpas really like me; they even want me to come over to play with their grandsons whenever I want.”

After saying that, he looked a bit shyly at Xu Ning.

Xu Ning found it amusing. This kid usually had such thick skin; the last time he acted like this was when he wet the bed. She asked, “Xiao Mo, what’s wrong? Do you have something to tell me?”

Xu Mo glanced at Xu Ning again and said, “Sister, I’m grown up now. I won’t sleep with you anymore.”

Xu Ning thought to herself, What kind of grown-up are you? You’re just a little kid!

“Xiao Mo, you really won’t sleep with your sister anymore?”

Xu Mo nodded and said, “Brother Er Dan told me that boys can’t sleep with girls. Otherwise, when they grow up, they’ll be like women. That guy from the village, Er Laizi, always slept with his sister when he was little, and now he talks like a girl. He’s over twenty and still hasn’t found a wife! So, sister, I won’t sleep with you anymore. I want to find a wife when I grow up!”

Xu Ning burst out laughing at his words, leaving Xu Mo puzzled. He asked, “Sister, what are you laughing about?”

After laughing for a while longer, Xu Ning said, “Xiao Mo, you’re not sleeping with your sister anymore because you want to get married, right?”

Xu Mo blushed and replied, “Sister, what are you talking about? Who wants to get married?”

Xu Ning couldn’t help but laugh at him again. Xu Mo, feeling embarrassed and annoyed by his sister’s laughter, climbed down from the kang, intending to put on his shoes and head back to the cow shed.

Noticing that he was upset, Xu Ning held him close and said, “Little Mo, Little Mo, don’t be angry! I am just kidding.”

Only then did Xu Mo pout and climb back onto the kang. Xu Ning found his cute expression funny but held back her laughter since he was still angry.

She picked up the drawing book from the kang cabinet and began to tell him a story. Before long, she had him laughing again.

As the siblings were sitting on the kang chatting and laughing, they heard Lu Xiaotang and Xu An returning. Xu Mo quickly jumped off the kang, put on his shoes, and ran outside.

Xu Ning stayed behind and listened as Xu Mo chatted with Lu Xiaotang outside.

Xu An entered by himself and sat on the kang. “Sister, I ran into Aunt Si while practicing my riding earlier. She said they’re cutting cabbage today and will bring some over this afternoon. I also ran into Aunt Dashuan, and she mentioned that she’s going to buy pears later, so I wanted to let you know.”

Xu Ning glanced at him and said, “You just learned to ride a bicycle, and you’re already showing off in the village.”

Xu An felt a bit embarrassed by his sister’s comment and quickly tried to justify himself. “Sister, it’s just that the roads in the village are wider, so I went there to practice. It just so happened that when I passed by Jianmin’s house, I ran into Aunt Dashuan and Aunt Si talking outside.”

Xu Ning could tell from his guilty expression that he had gone to show off to Jianmin, but she didn’t call him out on it. After all, everyone had moments of wanting to boast.

She remembered when her aunt had given her a dress with her first paycheck, telling her to wait until it was warmer to wear it. But she insisted on putting it on right away, and her grandmother had to compromise by making her wear thermal underwear underneath the dress.

Thinking back on those times made Xu Ning’s eyes well up with tears. She couldn’t help but wonder how her aunt’s family was doing now. Her aunt had always taken such good care of her; it must have hurt her deeply.

Noticing his sister’s expression, Xu An thought she was upset with him and hurriedly said, “Sister, don’t be sad! I won’t do that anymore.”

Xu Ning snapped back to reality and smiled at him. “Xiao An, I’m not angry. I was just thinking about when we first came here, and I feel that our lives are so much better now.”

Xu An let out a relieved breath and said, “Sister, our lives will keep getting better! I’m growing up! Next year, I can earn six work points in a day!”

Seeing that his sister was no longer upset, he boasted, “Sister, I’m really good at riding the bicycle now. I can even ride with one hand on the handlebars!”

Xu Ning looked at him in disbelief, thinking, This kid really never learns. It seems that fall this morning didn’t teach him enough! No worries, riding a bicycle will teach him to be humble.

Lu Xiaotang came in, holding Xu Mo. He said to Xu Ning, “This afternoon, you should go buy pears with the village aunties. I’ll stay home and wait for Aunt Si to bring the cabbage; I’ll put it directly in the cellar.”

He then picked up his bag from the cabinet and took out a stack of money and tickets, saying, “Here’s three hundred yuan for you. Take it and buy whatever you need. I usually don’t send too much; it attracts too much attention.”

Xu Ning hurriedly refused, saying, “Brother Lu, please take the money back. You send twenty yuan every month, and I hardly use it. You should keep this for yourself.”

Lu Xiaotang firmly stuffed the money into her hands, saying, “I have plenty here. I don’t need to spend much in the army, and I’ll also get a stipend at the military academy in the capital.”

Xu Ning looked at the money in her hands, feeling a bit awkward. She said, “Brother Lu, then let’s keep it here for now. If you need it, you can come and get it anytime.”

Lu Xiaotang smiled at her and said, “Alright, if I need it, I’ll just ask you for it.”

Xu Ning thought to herself, What does he mean by asking for it when he needs it? It sounds right, but somehow it feels off.

Shaking her head to dismiss the thought, she asked Xu Mo, “Little Mo, I’m going to make lunch. What do you want to eat today? But choose something we have at home.”

Xu Mo asked, “Sister, what do we have at home?”

Xu Ning sighed, realizing she shouldn’t have asked. She replied, “We have sorghum flour.”

Xu Mo looked disappointed and said, “Then I guess I’ll just watch you cook. No matter what, sorghum flour can’t taste like meat.”

His comment made everyone laugh.

Xu Ning went to the kitchen and decided to make some potato pancakes and a pot of porridge, along with some pickled cucumbers. She figured she wouldn’t need to stir-fry anything.

Seeing Xu Ning heading to the kitchen, Xu An also intended to help, but Lu Xiaotang stopped him. “Why don’t you stay here and play with Little Mo? It’s warmer. I’ll go help your sister.”

Lu Xiaotang walked into the kitchen and saw Xu Ning washing potatoes. He reached over and pulled her hands out of the water, saying, “I’ll wash them; you go do something else.”

Xu Ning looked at her wet hands and dried them with a towel, preparing to start cooking the porridge. Just then, she heard Lu Xiaotang ask, “Xiao Ning, when should we tell our parents about us?”

Xu Ning was taken aback and looked up at him in shock. They had only been dating for a couple of days, and he already wanted to tell their parents! She was just 16; surely they could wait a couple more years.

Seeing the seriousness on Lu Xiaotang’s face, she gently replied, “Brother Lu, isn’t it a bit too early to say anything now? I’m still young; can’t we wait for another two years?”

Lu Xiaotang thought about it and realized she was right. He then asked, “How about when I come back from military school next year? We can tell our parents then. Does that sound good?”

Xu Ning considered it for a moment. Next year she would be 17, which wasn’t too young anymore. Besides, they weren’t getting married, so she nodded in agreement.

Lu Xiaotang let out a sigh of relief. He had intended to tell both sets of parents next year anyway, but he was worried that Xu Ning might keep postponing it, so he brought it up today.