The second day of the Lunar New Year, the day for visiting the maternal home.
Damao and Xiaomai brought their husbands and children back to the Li family's home, and the number of people quickly exceeded 30.
It was even livelier than New Year's Eve.
Zhou Yulin stood by her mother's legs, looking at her sister in her mother's arms, and proudly showed off to Chen Jia Siji and Yuan Fang.
Chen Jia Siji, split into four directions, surrounded Xuanyuan, who was constantly pacing in the living room, and herded her towards second cousin's wife, indicating that their sister was more beautiful.
Xiaomai lightly chided Yuan Fang and Jixiang, who were leading the charge, "Xuanyuan and Feifei are the same to you five, they are all cousins."
Chen Jia Siji shook their heads, stating that only beautiful people were sisters.
Xiaomai couldn't help but burst out laughing; these little ones knew about judging by looks.
"Go, go."
Little friend Xuanyuan was unwilling to be surrounded by four little brothers.
Mother Li picked up the four Jixi and said, "Don't block your sister's way."
Chen Jia Siji pouted, wanting to cry, their great-grandmother didn't like them.
Li Weixin and Li Weiyu exchanged glances and took Chen Jia Siji away, because they were simultaneously fellow sufferers of misfortune...
On the third day, the young members of the special training team returned with Xiao Xiao Hei, and the Li family became much quieter.
On the fourth day, Tian Jing received a call from Xiao Shan's mother. They had arrived in Ling County on the second day. The Niu family didn't have a landline, only Da Niu and Er Niu had mobile phones.
They contacted Da Niu and Er Niu, but both brothers refused to let them see the children.
They wanted to speak to their former mother-in-law, but were also refused.
They resorted to pleading and threatening, but to no avail.
Tian Jing left the address of the hotel where they were staying and then asked Li Min to go to the Niu family to call Niu Da Sao for help.
Help?
Li Min looked bewildered.
Mother Li glared at her daughter, "Go and call your Niu Da Sao to help fry the glutinous rice balls."
Huh?
Are we eating fried glutinous rice balls today? Don't we know how to fry them?
Although Li Min didn't understand, she still went to the Niu family and soon called Niu Da Sao over.
Tian Jing gave Niu Da Sao the address and told her what Xiao Shan's mother had said:
"Discuss with your Niu Ge what should be done. Don't scold Da Niu and Er Niu when you go back, so as not to cause an argument."
Niu Da Sao nodded, put away the note, sat for a while, and then went home.
On the sixth day, those who had to work went back to work, and the Li family became quiet. Mother Li no longer felt lonely because she had two great-grandchildren by her side.
Yu Ziyu and her son were left in Kushan and would be sent back by the Li family after the fifteenth.
Seeing his sister always walking on the ground, Siji also didn't want to sit in adults' arms. He tried hard to slide down, wanting to be like his sister.
Yu Ziyu bent down to support her son as he walked. Mother Li looked tired. She took out a long scarf, tied it around Siji's armpits from behind, and had Yu Ziyu hold the scarf behind Siji to control him.
Yu Ziyu spun the child around with the scarf. After Li Min took over, although Siji couldn't walk steadily, his little legs knew how to move.
Yu Ziyu laughed, "I'm going to stay at home for a while. I'll go back when Siji can walk completely. With Siji like this, even my mother can't handle him."
"Okay!"
Mother Li agreed, "There are many people to take turns at home, and there are many children. Siji will watch and imitate, and he will learn quickly."
Indeed, in just a few days, the scarf behind Siji no longer needed to be pulled tight. He could stand steadily by holding onto a stool.
He also chased after his sister, shouting "ah ah ah." Mother Li smiled, saying that he would probably be able to call out names before long.
Shen Jianrong missed her grandson. Hearing that her daughter wouldn't be home until after the fifteenth, she came directly, not even waiting for the fifteenth.
As soon as she arrived, she saw her grandson walking unsteadily and affectionately picked him up and kissed him twice, saying that it was fortunate she came, so she could personally participate in everything her grandson learned.
"Ah ah ah."
Yu Siji tried hard to slide down. Shen Jianrong had no choice but to put down her grandson and then reached out towards Xuanyuan, who was walking all over the living room.
Xuanyuan waved her little hands, "No, walk."
Shen Jianrong was surprised, "Xuanyuan's pronunciation is very clear, and her meaning is also very clear."
Mother Li said proudly, "She could call out names before she was a year old. After she was a year old, she wanted to walk on her own. We didn't teach her much, and she could walk by holding a stool."
Shen Jianrong smiled and asked, "What's the reason? Is the gap between the siblings so large?"
"There are many children in the family."
Mother Li pointed to Chen Jia Siji, who were running wildly in the yard, "With the older ones leading, the younger ones like to follow behind them."
"During those few months in Kyoto, it was just Xuanyuan and me. Xuanyuan wasn't as clever as she is now."
Shen Jianrong made up her mind, "Then we'll stay in Kushan until Wan Zhen's wedding and then go to Kyoto together."
Yu Ziyu felt guilty, "What about my father?"
"Let him fend for himself!" Shen Jianrong said indifferently, "Does he, an adult, still compete for favor with Siji?"
Yu Jinghai, who was 'guarding an empty boudoir,' sighed...
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.
Niu Da Sao brought homemade glutinous rice flour with a relaxed smile on her face:
"Tiantian, I'll have to trouble you to help Xiao Shan's mother and Xiao Jiang's mother find jobs in the county. Xiao Shan and Xiao Jiang want to study in the county."
Tian Jing also felt happy for Niu Da Sao, "Da Niu and Er Niu have no objections?"
"They dare not."
Niu Da Sao put down the basket, "Your Niu Ge made the decision. On the fifth day, your Niu Ge and I took Xiao Shan, Xiao Shui, Xiao Jiang, and Xiao Hui to see their mother."
"We had an open and honest talk face to face about the future of the four children."
"We finally decided to let Xiao Shan and Xiao Jiang transfer to study in the county town, living with them. We will pay for the rent and tuition, and they will pay half of the food expenses."
"We didn't intend to ask them to pay for food, but they disagreed, saying they also wanted to contribute to the children's growth."
"Alas! Xiao Shan's mother and Xiao Jiang's mother have changed a lot. Now I actually like them, but it's too late."
"Wait a moment."
Tian Jing went into the study and found a set of keys, then came out and handed them to Niu Da Sao:
"This is our courtyard near the first primary school. You can lend it to Xiao Shan's mother and them to live in. The job problem is very simple."
Niu Da Sao took the keys, "Then I won't be polite."
Niu Da Sao was so straightforward because she saw the courtyard's location and knew that all of the Li family's children had studied from that courtyard.
Not long after she returned, she brought back a few sheets of paper: "Your Niu Ge said that even if we don't charge rent, we should state that the house is borrowed, so as to avoid any problems if they stay for too long."
The papers were house loan agreements, stating the date and the loan period, and noting that during the loan period, all repairs to the courtyard and houses would be borne by the borrower. There were three copies, and Niu Ge had already signed them.
Tian Jing smiled and shook her head. After Niu Ge became the village secretary, his outward simple-mindedness gradually disappeared.
She lowered her head and signed, "I'll go to the county town tomorrow. You can come with me."
Niu Da Sao nodded, "It's good, I won't have to ride my bicycle."
The bus also stopped running when the scenic area was closed. Niu Da Sao could only ride a bicycle.
Seeing Xiao Shan's mother and Xiao Jiang's mother, Tian Jing also sighed at the twists and turns of fate. Such calm and dignified women were indeed the daughters-in-law that Niu Da Sao had hoped for.
The two women bowed to Tian Jing and thanked her when they saw her.
Tian Jing accepted their bow and then asked them about their thoughts on work.
They said they just hoped the employer wouldn't mind their lack of education.
Finding such jobs was very easy: shelf stockers and promoters in supermarkets, waitresses in restaurants, and sales assistants in clothing stores.
They chose to be supermarket shelf stockers. The working hours were fixed three shifts. If they could stagger two shifts, they could take care of Xiao Shan and Xiao Jiang.
With Tian Jing's intervention, without assessment, the two women were hired by the largest supermarket in the county, Bugao.
They could start working tomorrow, so the two women busied themselves with organizing the courtyard.
Tian Jing followed them. It had been over five years since they had lived there, but the courtyard was well-maintained, with the help of the Ouyang family.
"Tian Daxia?"
Ouyang Lei was surprised, "Why are you here?"
Tian Jing pointed to Xiao Shan's mother and Xiao Jiang's mother, "I lent the courtyard to them. Where have you been? I couldn't reach you."
Ouyang Lei's eyes immediately fell on Niu Da Sao, "Niu Da Sao, it's been many years, you're still so spirited."
Niu Da Sao smiled, "Your temper and personality haven't changed either."
"They have," Ouyang Lei shook his head, "but I've changed back. It's more comfortable at home."
After speaking, he leaned closer to Tian Jing and whispered, "I went to look at a mine with my old buddies."
Tian Jing warned him, "If you plan to take over, you must investigate thoroughly. Don't take the blame for others."
Ouyang Lei shook his head, "I don't plan to do it. I just went to help out. I'm retired, so I won't find trouble for myself."
Then, Ouyang Lei said to Xiao Shan's mother and Xiao Jiang's mother, "Even though you two are no longer Niu Da Sao's daughters-in-law, out of consideration for Niu Da Sao's continued concern for you, on this street, in Ling County, if anyone dares to bully you, just mention my name, Ouyang Lei."
Xiao Shan's mother and Xiao Jiang's mother thanked Ouyang Lei, "Thank you, Uncle Ouyang."
Ouyang Lei waved his hand, telling them not to be polite. He said a few words to Tian Jing and was about to leave.
Tian Jing reminded him not to forget to attend Yan Yan's wedding.
Ouyang Lei slapped his forehead, "Oh! I really forgot. When is it? I'll ask my buddies to reschedule."
Tian Jing was speechless. With an uncle like this, Yan Yan might as well not have one.
"The one in Kyoto is on March 27th, and the one in Kushan is on April 1st."
Ouyang Lei nodded, "I remember. Tell my eldest sister that if I can't make it to the one in Kyoto, I'll definitely be able to make it to the one in Kushan."
He then left in a hurry.
Niu Da Sao inspected every room and warned Xiao Shan's mother and Xiao Jiang's mother not to change the beds and tables, as these were used by Lili, Xiaoyu, and An'an.
Xiao Shan's mother and Xiao Jiang's mother nodded vigorously. They really liked this courtyard and felt refreshed both physically and mentally.