The entire three-day journey, and when they finally arrived back in Qingshui County, it was already the evening of the third day.

When the jeep drove into the county, the kids all jumped up in excitement.

The jeep played “My Motherland.”

As the car traveled along the Yellow River, Song Qingshan started humming: “A big river with wide waves, the wind blows the rice flowers, and the fragrance spreads along the banks.”

Li Chengze also hummed along: “Our Zhi Zhi is as beautiful as a flower, and my father’s heart is vast.”

He pulled her close, but Zhi Zhi, still upset from the road, bared her teeth in anger and bit Li Chengze, only calming down after that.

The sunset was beautiful, and it was the harvest season for sorghum, millet, and corn.

Zhao Yinshuang looked at the sunset by the Yellow River and couldn’t help but cry loudly: “Fufu, this is our home, I never thought we’d finally be able to come back.”

Su Xiangwan remembered that in the original story, although Song Qingshan had divorced the original character, after hearing about Zhao Yinshuang’s death, he had specifically traveled to Haixi, brought her ashes back to Qingshui County, and buried them by the Yellow River.

For the original character, Song Qingshan might not have been a good husband, but in terms of his sense of righteousness, he was adequate.

It must be said that without going to Haixi, the children had not developed such strong affection for their hometown—a flat and fertile land beneath the mountains. It wasn’t until they had traveled that they truly realized how beautiful their homeland was.

Back home, of course, the whole family gathered for a meal.

Song Qingshan, for the first time, used his privileges and called over a service member, Xiao Wu, to help Su Xiangwan with cooking.

Also, Su Xianghong, now the only doctor with a private clinic in Qingshui County, was busy helping Su Xiangwan with the work, cooking.

Su Xiangwan had three sisters: the eldest, Su Xiangwan herself; the second, born on the 7th of July, named Su Qiao; the youngest, Su Xianghong, and then their brother, Su Fufu.

Originally, when Su Qiao’s class status was being assigned, she severed all ties with the family.

She worked at the Qingshui County subsidiary food factory, and her husband worked at the meat processing plant. Both were positions that were extremely hard to get.

In the past, when the original character was at a dead end, she had once asked Su Qiao for help, but Su Qiao was very evasive, not meeting with Xianghong or Xiangwan and claiming to be sick, never leaving her house.

Since last year, Su Xiangwan had joined the Women’s Federation, and Su Xianghong became a doctor. Both families had become prosperous, so Su Qiao wanted to reconnect with her sisters.

However, after so many years of no contact, it was difficult to approach them.

Until today, when Zhao Yinshuang returned, Su Qiao brought her two children and came to Su Xiangwan’s house.

Recently, the Women’s Federation had good welfare, distributing many welfare tickets, and Aunt Wang from Su Xianghong’s family was skilled at raising chickens and ducks.

Su Xiangwan had slaughtered a chicken and a large duck.

One side of the kitchen was frying the chicken, while the other was stewing the old duck in a clay pot, with Aunt Wang’s konjac added to the stew, making bubbling sounds.

“Da Fu, Xiao Fu, hurry and call your aunt,” Su Qiao pushed her two children to Su Xiangwan.

They were two spoiled little boys, eating well because of their parents’ good jobs.

“Auntie, hello,” Da Fu said, stretching his hand out.

Su Xiangwan pretended not to understand: “Qiao Qiao, what’s this kid doing? Is he hungry or is he struggling to survive, looking like a beggar?”

Su Qiao chuckled: “Sister, you’re a cadre now, and back when you met, you always gave the kids pocket money. This time, you surely won’t forget to give them some, right?”

Back when the original character had money, she was generous.

And the ones who took the most advantage were Su Qiao’s Da Fu and Xiao Fu. Every time they met, they always got fifty cents or a dollar.

However, the current Su Xiangwan was not going to give money to someone like Su Qiao.

She simply called in Gou Dan and Lu Dan: “Dong Hai, Xi Ling, do you remember your second aunt? When you were young, she always came to our house to take advantage of us, and when she left, she would always take some money. But she’s never given you any pocket money. Stretch out your hands and ask her for some!”

Gou Dan and Lu Dan exchanged glances and smiled. Both kids were embarrassed to extend their hands, but Li Chengze squeezed in from behind, making the kitchen even more crowded: “Second Aunt, give me money.”

This loud call made Su Qiao furrow her brows.

“Where did this wild brat come from, calling me second aunt? Who are you?” Su Qiao’s voice was sharp.

Su Xiangwan calmly replied: “Song Qingshan’s godson. I treat him like my own son. He helps me sweep the yard, fetch water, and cook every day. What, is it a problem that he calls you second aunt?”

“Enough, big sister. People always say the richer they get, the more petty they become. I didn’t believe it before, but now I see it, I believe it,” Su Qiao quickly changed the subject and never brought up giving money again.

At dinner, the large table was full of Zhao Yinshuang’s children. She was pleased with everyone, occasionally serving dishes to Su Xiangwan and then to Su Qiao. Looking at the round face of Su Xianghong, who was so beautiful, she couldn’t be more satisfied.

They only had one stone table at home, and since the kids couldn’t sit at the table, they had their own table set up in the kitchen.

After dinner, Su Qiao went into the bedroom, rummaging through things. She would comment on how nice Su Xiangwan’s dress was, then praise her shirt.

Su Xiangwan had long figured it out. Su Qiao was clearly after her clothes.

As for her second sister, Su Xiangwan had never considered getting along with her. So, she straightforwardly said, “Second sister, don’t even look at it. This shirt is too tight for you. You’re too fat to wear it.”

Su Qiao was the shortest among the three sisters, and she had a hearty appetite, so she was really quite overweight—broad-shouldered and heavy-set.

She pushed aside Su Xiangwan’s white shirt and said, “It’s just one shirt. Don’t act like I don’t have one. Fine, I’ll call the kids, and we’ll leave.”

Zhao Yinshuang and Su Fufu followed Su Xianghong.

Su Xianghong had already rented a place for them. Now that the clinic was short of hands, they could go there to do some chores and temporarily solve their livelihood issues, so Su Xiangwan didn’t need to worry too much about it.

As for Song Qingshan, he was in the kitchen, washing the dishes with his assistant, Xiao Wu.

When Su Xiangwan had finally sent off all her relatives and felt utterly exhausted, she saw Song Qingshan walk in wearing her apron.

“A man wearing an apron is really handsome and sexy. Seriously, you look so good,” Su Xiangwan quickly complimented.

If it weren’t for him washing the dishes today, Su Xiangwan would have been completely worn out.

“Su Xiangwan, let’s be honest. I’ll entertain your relatives this one time, but I won’t do it again. It’s just too much trouble.” After taking off the apron and hanging it behind the door, Song Qingshan lay down on the bed, spreading his body out like a star.

Originally, he thought Su Xiangwan would at least say a few words in defense of her family, but unexpectedly, Su Xiangwan just rolled over and said, “Good things are distant, bad things are close. If they’re doing well, I’m happy for them, but I can’t handle them coming over all the time. In the future, it’s better if they come less.”

“You’re okay with it, but I’m not.” Suddenly, there was a loud shout from outside, heart-wrenching and painful.

Li Chengze came in without a shirt, sobbing and describing the situation. After a while, it was still unclear until Lu Dan ran in and explained everything.

It turned out that Li Chengze had a little suit, made from scraps of fabric.

He treasured that suit so much that, fearing it would wrinkle, he couldn’t bear to put it in the wardrobe and hung it on the wall instead.

To avoid dust, he even covered it with plastic. However, after sending off the guests today, Li Chengze discovered that his little suit was gone.

“It must be Second Aunt who took it. She’s the only one who went into our room,” Lu Dan said with certainty.

Li Chengze didn’t cry but bit his lips, just waiting to see what Su Xiangwan would do about it.

If it were up to him, he planned to go to Su Qiao’s house and take his suit back.

“You all go to sleep. As for the suit, we’ll think about it tomorrow. I’ll make one for each of you,” Su Xiangwan said.

“Then we don’t need the one Second Aunt took, right?” Li Chengze continued, still focused on his own suit. “I still want to wait until I grow a bit more to give it to Song Donghai to wear. Why should I give it to Second Aunt’s kid?”

“Of course, we’ll keep it,” Su Xiangwan replied. “Don’t worry. Tomorrow, she’ll specifically bring it back to us.”

The kids looked at Su Xiangwan for a while, then realized she wasn’t joking and quickly ran back to their rooms to sleep.

The next day, everyone went about their business, with those working going to work and those at home staying home.

Su Xiangwan specifically went next door to talk to Ma He about Su Xiaonan’s situation.

She didn’t say too much, only that Su Xiaonan had caused some trouble but had handled it and returned to the relatively stable Team Seven.

In the afternoon, Su Xiangwan went to the Women’s Federation office. After finishing her work there, she went to the secondary products factory.

She didn’t ask for anyone but went straight to the gate and told the guard, “Comrade, please call Su Qiao.”

Soon, Su Qiao came out.

“Give it to me,” Su Xiangwan said directly.

Su Qiao, wearing a big white hat and protective sleeves, folded her arms and asked, “What’s going on, sister? You’re a Women’s Federation director, someone with status in the county. Why are you stretching your hand out like this? Are you trying to ask me for something?”

“You know exactly what you took from our house,” Su Xiangwan replied.

“What did I take, big sister? Come on, don’t falsely accuse me of stealing,” Su Qiao said, pretending to be innocent.

Su Xiangwan glared at her and said, “Chengze has a skin condition. His clothes aren’t suitable for most people. If you really don’t admit it, just throw it away. It’s harmful to the child to wear it. Do you understand?”

Su Qiao immediately hugged herself, standing there for a while before saying, “Alright, alright. This is really unlucky. It was because Da Fu was jealous that he took it. It hasn’t even been worn yet. Who knew your child had a skin condition?”

She turned to leave but then came back. “Tonight, Da Fu will bring it back to you.”

So, when Su Xiangwan came home that evening, Su Qiao’s Da Fu had already returned Li Chengze’s little suit, now wrinkled and crumpled into a small plastic bag.

For Li Chengze, even if Su Xiangwan made him a brand new suit, it wouldn’t mean as much as this one. After all, when he first arrived in Xiao Song Village, he was always anxious and fearful. It was this suit that gave him confidence and dignity.

“How did you get it back?” Li Chengze asked with curiosity, holding Zhi Zhi on his neck.

Su Xiangwan smiled. “Guess.”

Li Chengze thought to himself, there was probably no way anyone could guess how Su Xiangwan did it—at least, he couldn’t.

He took a step back and asked, “Do you think Second Aunt will be like Aunt Xiao, coming over often?”

“She will,” Su Xiangwan replied. “But don’t worry, she won’t get anything from me.”

Not even a cheap piece of clothing.

Soon, it was time for the kids to start school.

With the new school year, Lu Dan and Gou Dan were now in second grade.

Su Xiangwan had already chosen the location for the kindergarten; once they had the money, construction could begin immediately.

Life was going smoothly, and of course, it passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, another year had passed, and little Zhi Zhi, fully grown, was already four years old.

One day, after work, as Su Xiangwan was walking to her front door, someone suddenly shouted “Attention!” and it gave her quite a fright.

A young man, with dark skin and a thin frame, wearing a military green vest, a pair of canvas shoes, and a military green bundle on his back, which looked like a tightly folded tofu block, was standing there with one arm raised high, not lowering it.

His skin was so dark, and he was so thin, that neither Su Xiangwan nor Li Chengze recognized him at first.

It wasn’t until he spoke that Su Xiangwan was truly startled.

“Big sister-in-law, I’m the third one, I’ve come back.”

Song Laosan?

Su Xiangwan calculated quickly and hesitated before saying, “Weren’t you sentenced to three years? How did you get out so quickly?”

Rubbing his buzz cut, Song Lao San chuckled: “Because I behaved well, my sentence was reduced by six months.”

When they got home, Su Xiangwan was cooking in the kitchen, and Gou Dan and Lu Dan were diligently doing their homework.

Song Lao San stood at the door, still as a statue, standing in military posture, not moving.

Zhi Zhi, who had been running between the neighboring houses, recently became friends with Deng Erhua from the county party committee.

They learned to play the Chinese game of “jianzi” (a game with a small feathered object) together.

Zhi Zhi praised six-year-old Deng Erhua endlessly—praising her looks, her beauty, and her good grades—until Deng Erhua, delighted, gave Zhi Zhi a small jianzi.

Zhi Zhi ran in, holding the jianzi, and saw a man in military uniform.

As she was still a young child, she only saw his legs and called out “Dad.”

When Song Laosan looked down, though Zhi Zhi was very young when he left, her memories were still hazy.

However, she vividly remembered how Song Laosan had once been fierce and loud, yelling and arguing over small benefits.

All of this remained in her mind.

She screamed in fear, and Li Chengze rushed out from the bedroom.

Su Xiangwan finished cooking and placed the food on the table.

Seeing Song Laosan still standing at the door, she called out, “Come and eat, why are you standing there?”

Song Laosan had already smelled the delicious aroma.

“Jianzi noodles, on a cold winter night, there’s nothing better,” he said as he sat down, still maintaining a military posture. “Isn’t my big brother coming home to eat?”

“They’re busy at work, staying late,” Su Xiangwan replied.

Song Laosan quickly finished a bowl of noodles, then slid his bowl toward the kitchen, and spontaneously began washing the dishes.

Gou Dan and Lu Dan were a little confused by this sudden transformation in their third uncle.

But after all, he was an elder, and he had just been released from prison, carrying an unexplainable air of menace.

The two kids exchanged a look, moved their little stools to the kitchen door, and started to do their homework while keeping an eye on him.

Recently, Su Xiangwan had been busy teaching Zhi Zhi how to read.

At four years old, Zhi Zhi was at the age to start learning.

Just like the books said, Zhi Zhi wasn’t overly gifted, but she was simple, kind-hearted, and a bit mischievous and bossy.

Su Xiangwan thought that for a girl, learning a few more words was enough.

“Unsolicited kindness is either deceitful or a thief. Su Aunty, I think something’s off about Song Lao San,” Li Chengze whispered as he sneaked in.

Su Xiangwan didn’t think there was anything strange about Song Lao San.

How could there be? After all, he had been in prison for the last two years, and both Song Qingshan and Su Xiangwan knew about his every move there.

At first, Song Lao San refused to eat, refused to work, and even refused military training. When he heard that his wife, Fang Baoyu, had left him, he once tried to escape from prison.

Fang Baoyu had already found a new partner in town, and before the new year, she secretly took Song Fu with her.

And the man she found was the brother of the director of the Qingshui County subsidiary food factory, and it was said that his family was just as well-off as Su Qiao’s.

Song Old Lady cried and begged, but neither Song Qingshan nor Ting Xiu would help, so she eventually gave up.

Inside the prison, Song Lao San was the most fond of his son. After hearing this news, according to Song Tingxiu, he only muttered four words: “Recognizing the thief as father.”

After all, the prison wasn’t run by the Song family, and the warden wasn’t Song Old Lady. No one coddled him, and after about a year of hard labor, Song Lao San seemed to have completely changed into a different person.

He had always been good at reading the room and flattering others. No one could match his ability to win favor, and he knew how to perform well.

Since the beginning of this year, due to his good behavior and hard work, he had earned several sentence reductions.

So, after only serving two and a half years, he was released.

When Song Qingshan came home after work, the first thing he heard was the sharp sound of “Attention!”

He turned around and saw Song Laosan standing there.

Of course, the kids were also watching from the window, always seeing their dad in military uniform, covered in dust after work, with an air of discipline and authority.

As Song Qingshan stood at attention and slowly saluted his third brother, Gou Dan couldn’t help but say, “Dad is so handsome, even when he salutes!”

Song Qingshan stood for a moment by the door with his hat in hand, then lifted the curtain and entered the house. Su Xiangwan could guess with her toes that Song Lao San was likely there to ask her for something.