Chen Lan smiled and nodded, saying, "Aunt Song, you're still in good health! These are my eldest and youngest daughters, Jiahui and Jiayu. This is our neighbor, Grandma Song. Quick, say hello to Grandma Song."
Jiahui and Jiayu, with their sweet voices, called out, "Hello, Grandma Song! I'm Jiahui, and I'm the youngest, Jiayu. Here, Grandma Song, please take this. It's a small token from our family."
After greeting Aunt Song, the sisters handed over the gifts they were carrying.
Seeing Aunt Song waving her hands, Xiao Shuan stepped forward, took the items from Little Sister Shi's hand, and smiled, "Aunt Song, don't be so polite with us! They aren't valuable things, just a small token of our appreciation. If you don't accept them, it means you think our gifts are too meager, right?"
Aunt Song smiled and said, "I'll take them, I'll take them. With those words from you, I have to accept. You're as kind-hearted as you were when you were little."
Xiao Shuan continued, "Auntie, let me help you. The items are a bit heavy, I'll carry them in for you."
Aunt Song happily agreed, "Okay, okay. Come on, Xiao Lan, Erhu, bring the children to Auntie's house to sit and have some water. It's so early, you probably haven't eaten breakfast yet! Auntie will make you some white flour noodles."
With that, Xiao Shuan entered Aunt Song's yard next door, carrying the gifts in one hand and supporting Aunt Song with the other.
Chen Lan, hearing Aunt Song's words and looking at Aunt Song's patched-up back, fell into thought. She then turned to Jiahui and said, "Jiahui, you and Little Sister Shi carry the things and go in with them first. Mom has something to attend to."
Saying that, she turned to Erhu, who was about to enter the yard, and said, "Brother Erhu, we brought grains and food. We forgot to bring things to use. Please go back to the car and get two bolts of cloth and other daily necessities for the family."
Erhu happily grunted and turned towards the old Dongfeng truck to fetch the items from the car.
Chen Lan also turned and carried two bags of grain into Aunt Song's yard.
As Chen Lan entered the yard, she noticed that although it was a bit run-down, it was kept very clean and tidy. It was just a bit sparse, with no flowers or trees planted.
The house was still the low, adobe house from decades ago. However, with time, the mud-brick walls had cracked in places.
Chen Lan sighed and entered Aunt Song's main hall with the items. As soon as she entered, she saw Xiao Shuan pulling Aunt Song's arm and saying, "Aunt Song, we really ate breakfast before coming back. You don't need to cook for us. We haven't seen each other for almost thirty years. Just sit down and chat with us properly!"
Chen Lan placed the items she was carrying on their table and chimed in, "Auntie, we really did eat breakfast before coming back! Please don't bother yourself!"
Seeing Chen Lan put two large bags of things on the table, Aunt Song quickly waved her hands and said, "Xiao Lan, you're being too polite! It's not easy for you to come back. Why spend so much money? And bringing me so many things. You children! How can your hands be so generous? You really don't know the hardships of life!"
Upon hearing Aunt Song's words, Chen Lan, Xiao Shuan, and the Jiahui sisters exchanged glances. It was Jiahui who reacted the quickest.
She said, "Grandma Song, you've blamed the wrong person! These things were prepared by my Grandma and Grandma Cui for my mother. The two elders said they've been away from their hometown for nearly thirty years and miss their hometown folks dearly. So, this time, they specifically arranged for my mother, Uncle Erhu, and Uncle Xiao Shuan to bring us back to see our fellow villagers. My Grandma and Grandma Cui also asked us sisters to send their regards to everyone!"
Hearing Jiahui's words, Aunt Song's eyes lit up with a smile. She chuckled and said, "Dongjia's wife, you're still so kind-hearted, truly have a bodhisattva's heart, a good person!"
Chen Lan heard this and knew this was not the time to say anything. So, she changed the subject and asked, "By the way! Aunt Song, my family's courtyard gate was locked all morning, and no one was home. Where are the two families living in my house?"
Aunt Song smiled and said, "They've all gone to the fields. The production team is preparing for spring planting, so everyone is in the fields. The children are also taken to the fields. The older children who can work in the fields are working, and those who can't are going to school."
Xiao Shuan stood up and said, "Aunt Song, do you know which area they are working in today? I'll go find them."
Chen Lan quickly stopped him, "Xiao Shuan, there's no rush. If you call them back now, they'll have wasted their morning's work. Do you know that taking leave mid-way will deduct work points! In the production brigade, work points are money and grain."
Xiao Shuan gasped, stuttering "Uh, uh" for a long time. At this moment, Chen Lan saw Erhu walking in with items on his shoulder.
So, Chen Lan quickly cut off Xiao Shuan's words and asked, "Auntie, I have something to ask you."
Aunt Song's attention was also immediately diverted by Chen Lan. She smiled and asked, "Xiao Lan, just ask, as long as Auntie knows, I'll tell you."
So Chen Lan asked in a low voice, "Auntie, we heard people outside saying that many places are carrying out the 'pushing graves back to farmland' movement. My mother-in-law is worried and asked us to come home and check. I don't know if it's being implemented here, and if our family's ancestral graves have been pushed down?"
Aunt Song smiled and patted Chen Lan's hand, saying, "They haven't been pushed, they haven't been pushed, they're still there. You can rest assured. The old village chief said your family are military dependents and martyrs, heroes who fought for the liberation of the country. How could they possibly push them down?"
At this point, Aunt Song lowered her voice and continued, "The old village chief also said that the land where your family's ancestral graves are located is a place with good feng shui. In fifty-nine, when there was a famine everywhere, people in other villages went out to flee the famine, but no one in our village went. The village chief said this is all thanks to the ancestors protecting us, so everyone was told not to speak of it."
After a pause, Aunt Song continued, "So, every year when Qingming arrives, the old village chief leads the elders and young men of the village to weed the graveyard. Although they can't openly burn paper money, people have secretly burned a lot for them. Don't worry! They are all well over there!"
At this point, Erhu asked, "Auntie, my mother hasn't dreamed of my elder brother for many years. She's worried that my brother isn't doing well over there, and she asked me to come back and see him. If we go to see him now, will there be any problems?"
Aunt Song replied, "What problem could there be? Going to see your ancestors shows you haven't forgotten your roots. Going to see a martyr means you remember the revolutionary martyrs. Go! You haven't been back for over thirty years, it's time to have a good chat with them. Just don't burn paper money at this time, and everything will be fine!"
So, brothers Erhu and Xiao Shuan immediately stood up. Chen Lan also got up with the Jiahui sisters, intending to leave together. Su Dan Novel Network
After bidding farewell to Aunt Song, the group, led by Erhu, headed towards their family's ancestral graves.