"I'm not going back, I want to wait for Daddy."
"Daddy said he'd bring Yanyan delicious food."
"He wouldn't abandon me."
The little one's chubby little face, tear-streaked and quivering, had managed to hold back her tantrums for the first two days without seeing Chen Yang.
Shen Xue had coaxed her, and it was manageable. But after a week without seeing her father, the child finally couldn't bear it. No amount of coaxing worked, and she went to the village entrance every day to wait for Chen Yang.
Even the favorite treats of the little one no longer worked to comfort her.
It was clear how important Daddy was in the little one's heart.
"Daddy went out to earn money, and with money, he can buy Yanyan good food. When Daddy has earned enough, he'll come back. Yanyan needs to be good."
"Don't you remember what Daddy told you when he left? He said you should listen to Mommy. Do you remember?"
Shen Xue hugged her daughter, her heart aching as she looked at the pitiful little face with tears streaming down.
"I am good, but Daddy hasn't come back."
"I don't want good food, I just want Daddy."
The little one puffed out her cheeks. Children her age could be so stubborn; no amount of coaxing would change her mind.
"Okay, then you come home with Mommy, eat, and sleep. When you're asleep, Mommy will go look for Daddy, alright?"
Shen Xue was at a loss. It was almost dark, and she couldn't leave the child there indefinitely. She had to coax the little one home first.
As for how she would deal with the child if Chen Yang didn't return tomorrow, she dared not even think about it. It was truly a headache.
Next time, she would never let Chen Yang leave them again. She would go everywhere with him, or else she wouldn't be able to manage the child.
"Mommy, don't lie. As soon as Daddy comes back, I'll eat well and go to sleep immediately."
The little one sobbed, speaking between hiccups, her small body still trembling. She was truly heartbroken this time.
Seeing her daughter agree to go home, Shen Xue finally breathed a sigh of relief. They would get through today, and figure out how to coax her tomorrow.
It wasn't just the child; she missed Chen Yang too.
Since they got married, they had never been apart for such a long time.
She used to think Chen Yang was unreliable, but now, without him fussing around her, she felt unaccustomed.
It was the same with the children. Their daughter cried and clamored for her father every day, and although their son didn't cry or make a fuss, he would definitely ask when their father was coming home.
After more than half a month, even the donkeys used to carry stones on the dam would miss home. Why didn't this person miss home?
"Mom, please heat up the food. I'll bathe Yanyan first. She's been crying so much, her face is covered in snot and tears, and she's all sweaty."
With Chen Yang away, Shen Xue found it hard to manage two children alone. The elder couple had moved in to help. Fortunately, her parents lived close by; otherwise, Shen Xue truly didn't know what she would do.
"Grandma's little darling, you've cried so much you look like a little calico cat. Your Daddy, he's not thoughtful enough to think about our good grandchild. When he gets back, Grandma will scold him for you."
Liu Chunmei's heart ached as she looked at the little one whose eyes were swollen.
Her well-behaved little granddaughter, who was usually so obedient, was being so stubborn and crying so fiercely for the first time. How could she not feel sorry for her?
"Grandma, don't scold Daddy. Daddy is earning money to buy Yanyan good food, so it's not Daddy's fault."
The little one pouted, waving her hands at Liu Chunmei between sobs.
"Okay, okay, Grandma won't scold. Won't scold."
"Grandma's little darling, how did my son-in-law get such a caring daughter? He's so lucky."
Liu Chunmei listened, feeling a bit envious of her elder son-in-law. Where would he find such a well-behaved and sensible daughter?
Liu Chunmei was heating dishes in the kitchen, while Shen Xue carried a thermos to pour hot water for the little one's bath.
Chen Hao's maternal grandfather was looking after him. He was the more well-behaved one. Shen Futang was fanning him with a palm-leaf fan, and he had already lulled the boy to sleep in the rocking chair.
So Shen Xue was relieved to be back. She didn't want another child crying and causing the other one to cry as well, which would give her a terrible headache.
As she was bathing her, the little one fell asleep in her arms.
Looking at the little one's reddened eyes, Shen Xue gently dried the water off her body, preparing to carry her to bed.
After crying for so long, the little one was exhausted.
"Daddy, no, don't leave Yanyan."
But as soon as she put the little one down, before she woke up, she held onto her hand tightly, refusing to let go.
"Not leaving, not leaving, I'm here."
Hearing this, Shen Xue's nose twitched, and tears unbidden streamed down her face.
As a mother, her heart ached for her child.
At the same time, at the entrance of Shenjiaba Village, a dusty man carefully checked the two brown paper bags in his hand, as well as the full backpack behind him. Although he was covered in mud, at least nothing was lost.
It was dark, and there were no streetlights. If he wasn't careful, he could fall into a field. Fortunately, he didn't sprain his ankle.
"These candied haws are almost melted. Thankfully, it's not that hot because it's dark."
"Our little cotton-padded jacket loves candied haws!"
"Fresh grapes from Turpan, and dried grapes. They're both things our son and daughter love to eat."
"And this big roast chicken, it smells so good."
This man, who had rolled in the mud, was Chen Yang, returning from the provincial capital.
Zhang Weiyang and Lei Baoguo were still in Feishi handling the final matters. Chen Yang couldn't wait any longer. He hadn't seen his wife and children for over half a month.
He dreamt of his two little ones hugging him and calling him Daddy, especially the little one. In his dreams, he saw his daughter sitting alone in a corner, crying that she missed Daddy.
Chen Yang's heart as a father ached terribly.
He bought a large bag of goodies from the department store and hurried home. When he reached Liuhe County, he bought two roast chickens and candied haws that the little ones loved before returning.
He had traveled all day, and was exhausted. He didn't make it home before dark and ended up slipping and falling into a field at the village entrance.
Fortunately, he had protected the treats he bought for the children with all his might, so they didn't get covered in mud. Only the fresh Turpan grapes in his backpack, which Liao Youren had specially prepared as an apology, might have been crushed.
These were rare delicacies!
In those times, with inconvenient transportation, most people would never taste anything from another province in their lifetime.
These were specially obtained by Liao Youren, who heard that Chen Yang was going to buy food for his children, as an apology.
Chen Yang, ignoring the mud all over him, hurried towards home.
"Wife, Yanyan, Haohao, I'm back."
Chen Yang, carrying large bags and small packages, saw the light still on at the doorstep of his house and shouted excitedly.
He hadn't seen his wife and children for so long, and he missed home, he missed them.
"Daddy!"
The little one, who had been drowsy, sat up abruptly upon hearing Chen Yang's voice.
"Mommy, it's Daddy, Daddy's back."
The little one scrambled up, wanting to run out. Shen Xue quickly held her back; she had heard it too.
Hearing the familiar voice, her nose twitched, and tears poured down her face uncontrollably.