Jiang Lin returned with the grass and eagerly listened as Yan Runzhi praised the food.

Yan Runzhi waved her over. “Bao’er’s mother, come see. Dongsheng bought so many delicious things for you. Look, is there anything else you want to eat?”

Jiang Lin hesitated.

It was fine when Cheng Rushan wasn’t home, but now with Yan Runzhi saying such things, she felt nervous all over.

Spotting the cured meat, she suggested, “How about we stir-fry the cured meat?”

She could eat it, but when it came to cooking, she wasn’t very skilled.

After Jiang Lin picked out the dishes, Yan Runzhi smiled. “Some big chili peppers, green onions, dried tofu, garlic chives, celery—they all taste good when stir-fried.”

Now that the garden had plenty of vegetables growing, along with the rare meat, anything they made would be delicious.

Yan Runzhi’s words made Jiang Lin’s mouth water silently as she wiped the corners of her mouth while starting the fire.

Yan Runzhi urged her son again. “Dongsheng, go to the village secretary’s house and get a bottle of wine.”

The village cadres’ families also sold various goods; for instance, their family sold wine, while others sold soy sauce.

This was an unspoken secret in the village, where eggs were usually exchanged.

She packed up some meat to have Cheng Rushan carry.

Cheng Rushan declined. “No need.”

Yan Runzhi persuaded him. “Dongsheng, you’ve come back from so far away. Give them something…”

Cheng Rushan interjected, “Mother, I’ve brought this back for you to eat. I’ll buy some sweets and snacks from the commune later.”

Yan Runzhi didn’t press further and asked softly, “When you were fetching water just now, did anyone see you?”

She feared that people in the village would tease her son.

She wasn’t afraid for herself, but she worried about her child being mistreated.

Cheng Rushan smiled. “Yes, they did. They greeted me warmly. Mother, don’t worry.”

He avoided mentioning how some people were scared off from a distance while others’ legs trembled with fear up close.

A few who weren’t afraid greeted him briefly and left.

They didn’t know his family was going to be reinstated, so they were naturally cautious.

“Then go ahead.”

Her family’s status wasn’t good, and villagers never visited her home as if stepping inside would dirty their feet.

Even after the policies changed in ’73, old habits persisted in rural areas like theirs, unaffected by current trends.

So Jiang Lin willingly agreed to marry into the family, making Yan Runzhi feel truly fortunate.

Now, watching Jiang Lin tending the fire, Yan Runzhi grew even fonder.

She believed that girls could be delicate, greedy, and have small tempers; there was nothing wrong with that.

Over time, everything would improve. After all, it had only been six years.

She was already looking forward to next year, imagining another addition to the family.

Her humming became more cheerful.

Jiang Lin frowned inwardly.

Something didn’t feel right.

Yan Runzhi whispered to Jiang Lin, “Bao’er’s mother, tonight I’ll sleep with Da Bao and Xiao Bao in the east room.”

Jiang Lin: “!!!”

“The east room’s kang has collapsed. Let him… the children’s father sleep there. We’ll manage in the west room for now and fix the kang later.”

“Then I’ll sleep in the east room,” Yan Runzhi said gleefully. “With Dongsheng back, those troublemakers should be scared now. Oh my, why am I feeling so vindictive? I should find time to visit the farm and bring them some food.”

Yan Runzhi was already planning how they would celebrate the New Year.

Since her son had been taken away, she had visited the farm less often due to her fear of being questioned by men and their poor financial situation.

Now that her son had returned, she planned to go see them on the farm.

Jiang Lin watched the little old lady dance with joy and felt genuinely happy for her.

The capable little old lady was full of hope for life, having endured hardships and now enjoying better days.

She heard Xiaobao humming inside the house and got up to check.

It was getting dark inside, so she lit an oil lamp.

Upon seeing them, she couldn’t help but laugh.

The two little boys were sleeping in an awkward position in the corner.

“What kind of posture is this?”

It seemed Cheng Xiaobao had developed a habit of playing with his father’s ears.

Even when he slept, he would chase after his older brother, Cheng Dabao, to pinch his ears.

If Dabao slept deeply and avoided Xiaobao’s pinches, Xiaobao would keep pursuing him.

Jiang Lin, gently shook them on the kang (a traditional Chinese bed). “Dabao, Xiaobao, wake up, it’s time to eat,” she said.

Cheng Dabao opened his eyes first, looking a bit dazed at first.

When he focused and saw Jiang Lin, his eyes lit up.

He immediately asked, “Mom, where’s Dad?”

Jiang Lin smiled and replied, “He hasn’t gone anywhere.”

Dabao visibly relaxed and sat up, rubbing his eyes still a bit sleepy.

Like Xiaobao, he wrapped his arms around Jiang Lin’s neck, his little face nestled against her neck, mumbling, “Mom, don’t go.”

That “mom” nearly melted Jiang Lin’s heart.

This child was so sensitive, he seemed to understand her thoughts.

She patted his back gently, “I won’t go.”

Dabao felt like he was dreaming.

If Dad was at home, Mom definitely wouldn’t leave, right?

Though young, he had heard Mom and someone named Meng Yiyi talk about returning to the city several times, mentioning a man waiting for her.

Now that Dad was home, Mom surely wouldn’t care about any other man.

Cheng Xiaobao woke up too and immediately jumped onto Jiang Lin’s other shoulder. “Mom, where’s Dad?”

Jiang Lin hesitated.

Yan Runzhi heard and instead of getting upset, giggled, “Dad went to buy wine. He’s only three but already good at it.”

Xiaobao laughed, “Didn’t he fall down?”

Just then, Cheng Rushan returned from Secretary’s house and laughed along.

It seemed that during his few years away from home, Jiang Lin had used Cheng Rushan adventures to tell the children many stories.

“Dad!” Xiaobao called out, “Come quick!”

Cheng Rushan walked into the room and saw the two kids hanging onto Jiang Lin.

He couldn’t resist joining in the warmth of the moment.

Cheng Xiaobao continued to coax him, “Dad, come here, give us a hug.”

Cheng Rushan walked over, noticing Jiang Lin’s nervousness as he approached.

He stretched his arms out and gathered all three of them into a hug from the children’s side.

He looked down at Jiang Lin and smiled, “Care to make a bet?”

Jiang Lin asked, “About what?”

Cheng Rushan replied, “Let’s see if I can lift all of you like this.”

Jiang Lin hesitated, but Cheng Dabao and Xiaobao eagerly agreed.

Cheng Rushan chuckled, slowly tightening his arms and securing them around Jiang Lin’s back.

His face was close to hers, his warm breath brushing against her cheek.

Jiang Lin’s heart raced, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

She quickly said, “It’s too hot, please let go.”

Cheng Rushan complied, releasing his embrace.

With one son in each arm, he said, “Let’s wash up and eat.”

Jiang Lin leaned against the kang, feeling a bit distracted.

This closeness was not acceptable; she couldn’t get too intimate with him.

Yan Runzhi had been smiling at them the whole time.

It was wonderful to see the family together.

She leaned in close to Jiang Lin and whispered, “Ba’er’s mother, don’t be shy. Why should your own man be shy? If you feel uncomfortable, I can move out.”

Jiang Lin was shocked.

Could she act like a mother-in-law and not want to take possession of her son?

“I, I said I was going back to the city on holiday. The child’s father is back…”

Yan Runzhi cut her off and said, “Right, you should go visit. Winter’s back is just the right time, and then let him accompany you.”

Jiang Lin:…That wasn’t what I meant. I want to go by myself, and I want to avoid him.

Cheng Rushan looked at the pan of noodles in the pot, helped them.

Jiang Lin: “… Alright.”

She couldn’t resist anymore.

If someone didn’t know better, they might think she was here for a blind date.

Cheng Xiaobao already treated his Dad like his little brother, cooking since he was six years old.

He and Dabao knew how as well! They were truly like real brothers!

During dinner, Yan Runzhi went to close the courtyard gate and returned, saying, “It’s our first family reunion dinner. Let’s eat peacefully and happily, without letting anyone disturb us.”

It was hard for their son and daughter-in-law to reunite.

How could they not be affectionate on the first night together? If he came to ruin it, who would still feel like it?

After closing the courtyard gate, the family ate in the yard.

There were no wine cups, so Cheng Rushan brought out two rough porcelain bowls.

Yan Runzhi was happy and wanted to drink a bit. “Bao’er’s wife, you should have some too.”

Jiang Lin politely declined!

She said, “It would be good if we could bring back Grandpa Bao’er and the others soon.” In a couple of years, they should be able to be exonerated.

Cheng Rushan said, “I was just thinking of telling you all. In a few days, I’ll go to the province and region to handle the paperwork. Once that’s done, I’ll go to the farm to bring back Dad and Big Brother Zhou.”

Yan Runzhi was shocked. “Release them, release them back?”

Cheng Rushan explained according to Captain Cen’s suggestion that he followed the transport team to the border and couldn’t communicate.

Finally, he said, “The higher-ups said they want to exonerate our family. In the future, we won’t be landlords or rich farmers, but a revolutionary family or wealthy peasant family.”

“Really, really?” Yan Runzhi’s voice trembled.

She took a big gulp from her wine bowl, swallowed it, and tears burned in her eyes, dripping down uncontrollably.

Dabao and Xiaobao came over to comfort her. “Grandma, why are you crying if Dad is coming back?”

Yan Runzhi hugged the two children.

She tried not to cry but couldn’t help it, sobbing, “Grandma is happy, so happy that Im crying.”

Hearing her words, Cheng Xiaobao burst into tears of joy, expressing his happiness loudly, which startled Cheng Dabao, who stared at his younger brother like a dumbfounded cat.

Yan Runzhi, hearing Xiaobao like that, started laughing again, a mix of laughter and tears, not sure how to feel.

Cheng Rushan silently finished the wine in his bowl.

Jiang Lin handed a handkerchief to Yan Runzhi to wipe her tears. “Policies are becoming more enlightened; everyone will come back.”

Yan Runzhi grabbed Jiang Lin’s hand, crying, “Bao’er’s wife, you are our lucky star. Since you came, our family gained two children, and now Dongsheng is back, and Dongsheng’s father will also be exonerated.”

She then held Cheng Rushan’s hand and Jiang Lin’s hand together.

“Dongsheng, you must treat your wife well. If you treat her even a little bit badly, I won’t recognize you as my son.”

Cheng Rushan held Jiang Lin’s hand tightly. “Mother, don’t worry. I will treat my wife well for the rest of my life.”

Jiang Lin tried to pull her hand away, but he held it even tighter.

Just then, there came a knock on the door. Cheng Rushan shouted, “Brother, brother!”