Chapter 86

Chapter 86

For two days, He Yan took his sister to help Yang Yingxiong and the others. Jin Xiuzhu even visited their small shack where they currently lived. It was tiny and dilapidated, but the clothes were neatly folded and packed in several bags to protect them from rain.

Although the brothers sold clothes, they themselves had very few. The clean clothes hanging in the shack were worn and torn. There was also a desk with a missing leg, on which books and homework were placed, showing that despite being busy, they did not neglect their studies.

Jin Xiuzhu tidied up the shack and added some household items. By evening, she had already cooked four simple dishes on the stove outside and boiled rice in an iron pot.

Before the meal was ready, the boys returned, laughing and joking, then washed their hands and faces at the water bucket by the door.

In the evening, everyone gathered to eat together. Without chairs, they stood by the door to eat. Despite this, they were all very happy. People living in nearby shacks came out to greet Yang Yingxiong.

Yang Yingxiong said that those living here were from other provinces, earning money to save costs by renting these houses.

Jin Xiuzhu looked around and told Yang Yingxiong, "When you have the chance, buy yourself a house. You need to earn money, but you should also treat yourself well."

Yang Yingxiong was taken aback by these words but still nodded.

He had never thought about buying a house. His goal was to finish university and earn enough to send his brother to college. He had never considered anything beyond that.

But Auntie telling him to treat himself better and buy a house... looking at the broken shack he lived in, he suddenly felt that having a house would indeed be nice.

He couldn't let his brother keep following him without a stable home.

After dinner, He Yan and the others left. Before leaving, He Yan hugged Yang Yingxiong, "We'll leave early tomorrow. My mom is taking me to my hometown to visit my father's grave. I'll come back to play with you when school starts."

Yang Yingxiong smiled and hugged him back, then patted his chest, "Wei Ningqing will be here too. We can all get together."

He Yan smiled, "Sounds good."

This parting was different from before. They would all be in the same city for the next few years, so they could see each other whenever they wanted. Thus, there wasn't much sadness.

After a few more words, they waved goodbye.

That night, Yang Yingxiong found one hundred yuan and some meal tickets under his pillow. For a moment, he didn't understand, and Yang Chaoying was equally surprised, "Why would there be money under our pillows?"

After a long silence, Yang Yingxiong said, "It must be from Auntie."

Yang Chaoying bit his lip, moved, "Auntie is so kind, even better than Dad."

Their father hadn't given them a cent and asked them to write more letters home.

Write what letters!

Yang Yingxiong hummed in agreement. He had said he earned enough for both of them, but Auntie still secretly gave them money.

Growing up, Yang Yingxiong had never experienced family love, except from Jin Xiuzhu, who treated him like a mother, and He Yan, who cared for him like an older brother.

Because he had never been loved, he could feel genuine kindness when someone truly cared for him. Yang Yingxiong never complained about life's hardships. Whenever he felt like giving up, thinking of He Yan and Auntie's affection made him believe nothing was insurmountable. He silently vowed to repay Auntie's kindness when he grew up, not to fall before he could.

Looking back now, everything seemed almost bearable.

Thinking this, Yang Yingxiong lifted his blanket, dug a hole in the ground, and retrieved an iron box. Inside, wrapped in two layers of oil paper, were many small bills.

Though he knew the amount, he still counted it again. Yang Chaoying, seeing this, quietly joined in to help count.

Holding the money, both brothers felt incredibly happy.

Yang Chaoying whispered excitedly, "We should make eight hundred this month, right?"

Then he added happily, "With last month's earnings, we won't have to worry about living expenses for the next four years if we're careful."

Four years later, his brother would work, and things wouldn't be as hard.

Yang Yingxiong thought for a moment and said, "I think Auntie was right today. We can slowly earn living expenses, but the most important thing is to buy a house. With a house, we'll have a home."

Yang Chaoying looked surprised, "Buy a house?"

Like his brother, he had never thought about buying a house. In his mind, wherever his brother was, that was home. Hearing his brother talk about buying a house, he felt a slight excitement, wanting a place to call their own.

Yang Yingxiong, decisive by nature, immediately said, "Let's buy one. At the end of the month, we'll see how much we've earned. After deducting living expenses and tuition, if there's extra, we'll buy it. Houses here aren't very expensive. Then we can move our household registration here and stay permanently. During holidays, we can go out to earn more."

Money is endless, but a home is essential.

Moreover, he had a feeling that this area would become prosperous, and buying a house here wouldn't be regrettable.

Yang Chaoying always listened to his brother and agreed without hesitation, "Great! We'll have a home."

Lying down to sleep, both brothers couldn't fall asleep for a while, excited about having their own house soon.

Growing up, they had never truly had a home of their own.

Yang Chaoying whispered, "Brother, I want my own room."

Yang Yingxiong laughed and agreed, "Sure. I'll get you a big bed with lots of toys, pretty pictures on the walls, a new desk, cabinets, and windows that let in light..."

These were things he had seen in He Yan's room, and he would set them up for his brother.

Yang Chaoying was delighted, "Brother, you're the best. I love you the most, and I want to be with you forever."

"Even after getting married?"

"Even after getting married."

Yang Yingxiong teased him, "How old are you, thinking about marriage?"

Yang Chaoying pouted, "Brother, why are you like this?"

Yang Yingxiong chuckled, thinking to himself that having a younger brother was indeed wonderful.

He used to dislike Zhao Yun, but now whenever he thinks about it, he is grateful to her for giving him such a good younger brother. The younger brother sees himself as a support, but to him, the younger brother is also a support.

—

The next morning, Jin Xiuzhu took the three children to Province J, where He Yan's hometown is. It's not too far from here; it takes two days and one night by train with a transfer in between.

After arriving in the provincial capital of Province J, the mother and children transferred to a bus to go to the city below, and then they took a car from the city to the county.

He Yan had almost no memory of his hometown, and the surroundings felt very unfamiliar to him.

His hometown was still in the production team below, and it would take another hour's walk to get there.

He Yan felt somewhat guilty, thinking that his mother and sister had suffered.

But Jin Xiuzhu was quite open-minded and discussed with He Yan, "The development differences between places are quite significant."

He Yan said, "I heard that development abroad is better, but it's okay. We will definitely catch up in the future."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded, "Yes, your father said the same thing. Perhaps one day this place will have concrete roads like cities, with many cars. We should take a good look around now, or we won't see it again in the future."

He Yan knew his mother was comforting him. His mother always did this, keenly sensing their thoughts and then soothing them gently.

Liu Liu asked, "Will it be those small cars?"

Jin Xiuzhu replied, "Maybe."

Liu Liu exclaimed, "Wow—"

Fu Yanyan couldn't help but say, "Our country has only been established for a short time, and it's already quite impressive. Now with the opening up, development will only accelerate. You'll see, the changes in the future will be even greater than what you're saying."

He Yan always believed his sister's words, "How great can it be?"

Fu Yanyan tilted her head, "I guess every household will have televisions and cars, living in bright, clean houses, with shops lining the streets, offering everything you need."

"Really? That good?"

Fu Yanyan hummed, "It should be even better than I'm saying."

"How long will it take?"

"Not too long. You'll definitely see it in your lifetime."

He Yan said he didn't believe it, but secretly he started to look forward to it.

As they walked and chatted along the way, they encountered a donkey cart halfway through. The mother and children spent twenty cents to ride on it. When they arrived at He Yan's hometown production team, He Yan vaguely remembered something.

He suddenly pointed to an old house and said, "That used to be my grandmother's house."

Jin Xiuzhu and Fu Yanyan looked over. The house had collapsed halfway, clearly uninhabited for a long time.

He Yan added, "Our house is behind it. My uncle and aunt should still live there now."

Saying this, he looked at Jin Xiuzhu. Although he had grown up, he still relied on her to make decisions, just like when he was a child.

"Let's ask someone where your father's tombstone is."

He Yan nodded and went directly to the family at the entrance of the village. It was mid-morning, and everyone in the production team was working in the fields, leaving only an elderly man weaving baskets at the door.

Seeing them enter the yard, he looked at them curiously, "Who are you?"

The old man spoke in dialect, but He Yan understood immediately. He replied in Mandarin, "Hello, Grandpa. I am He Weiguo's son, He Yan. I want to ask if you know where my father's tombstone is. I want to pay my respects."

The old man was momentarily confused upon hearing He Weiguo's name, then reacted, "You're Shitou's son? Oh, you've grown so much!"

He dropped the basket and excitedly ran over to look at He Yan, stopping suddenly before him, looking him up and down, "You look really good, so tall, much taller than your father. He was skinny and short when young, only growing taller after joining the army. But you do look like him, especially the eyes and mouth, exactly the same."

He Yan stood there smiling foolishly, "Really?"

The old man's eyes turned red, "Child, how have you been all these years? When you were taken away by your father's comrade, we were all happy for you."

He Yan replied, "Very well, my parents treated me very well. This is my mother and sister."

Jin Xiuzhu stepped forward, "Hello, our He Yan has grown up, so we came to visit his father."

The old man wiped his eyes, "Good, very good. It's time to come back and visit."

Then he quickly added, "I'll take you there. It's a bit far."

He Yan glanced at the basket on the ground, "Thank you, Grandpa."

"No trouble, no trouble. Seeing you back makes me very happy. I used to carry you when you were little."

The old man led them out, locking the yard gate and continued, "Your uncle and aunt aren't human. You were so young, left outside in the winter. If someone hadn't found you, you might have frozen to death. Those two are heartless, cursing you openly. Your grandmother was also unreasonable, protecting them."

He Yan listened without speaking. He didn't remember much of what the grandfather said, only remembering that he had suffered before meeting his father. But now, his childhood memories were mostly happy, not feeling particularly pitiful.

"Your grandmother passed away a few years ago, bedridden and unable to move. Your uncle and aunt didn't give her food or water, letting her starve to death. It's a sin."

He Yan interrupted, "Grandpa, what was my real father like?"

"Your real father? Right, you have another father now. No wonder it sounded strange."

He Yan smiled.

"Your real father was a good person. He was sensible from a young age, helping with household chores, cooking, washing clothes—he could do it all. Later, he helped in the fields and became a model for other children in the production team."

"He was brave too. At just a teenager, he led other children to hunt in the mountains, and they actually caught something. My son even got two rabbits..."

He Yan listened quietly. The father his grandfather spoke of was a side he had never known, and the vague face in his memory gradually became vivid and clear through his grandfather's description.

He thought that his biological father used to be a real person, with childishness, impulsiveness, and a love for play.

The old man led them toward the back mountain, passing by He Yan's old home and asking if He Yan remembered it.

He Yan nodded. "I remember there used to be a peach tree in front of the door."

"Yes, your aunt got so angry when she saw other children stealing fruit that she cut down the tree."

He Yan didn't say anything, not quite understanding such behavior. How much could children eat?

The gate was closed. He Yan glanced at it and then looked away. This place was no longer his home, and there was no need to linger.

The old man led them further up the mountain. After walking for a while, they finally saw He Yan's father's tombstone on a hilltop, with signs that the surrounding weeds had been cleared.

The old man explained, "If we pass by here, we usually tidy it up. Yan is a great hero of our village; we all admire him."

He Yan looked at the words on the tombstone, his eyes gradually turning red. He originally thought he didn't have deep feelings for his biological father, but at this moment, he suddenly felt like crying.

He knelt before the tombstone, touching the name inscribed on it, and said sadly, "Dad, I've come to see you. Dad, do you still recognize me? I am your son, He Yan."

"I got into university this year. It's a military academy, so I'll be a soldier too."

"Dad, the current parents treat me very well. Many times, I wonder why I'm not their biological child. Am I being particularly unfilial? But don't be sad, I still love you very much, and you were also very good. I don't regret being your child at all..."

As He Yan spoke, Jin Xiuzhu took out some pastries and paper from her bag and whispered to He Yan, "Burn some money for your dad."

"Okay."

Jin Xiuzhu then made the two younger ones kneel down and bow three times to their uncle.

Fu Yanyan and Liu Liu followed suit.

The old man stood behind, watching with satisfaction. Hearing He Yan's words, he couldn't help but ask Jin Xiuzhu in surprise, "This child got into university?"

Jin Xiuzhu smiled. "Yes, he worked hard himself."

The old man nodded continuously. "That's great, really great. You must have worked hard."

"Not at all. He is our own child, and we are very fortunate to have him."

The old man was speechless. He looked at Jin Xiuzhu and then at He Yan nearby. If someone else had said this, he might not have believed it, but hearing it from this woman, he fully believed it.

After living for so many years, he could tell at a glance whether He Yan was doing well or not.

On the way back, He Yan seemed to have settled a long-standing concern. He happily chattered beside Jin Xiuzhu, telling her what he had said to his father and mentioning that he would bring Yang Yingxiong and Wei Ningqing next time, as he had already mentioned them to his father...

Jin Xiuzhu kept responding affirmatively, and Liu Liu interjected, "I want to come too."

"Sure, everyone can come."

Passing by He Yan's uncle's house, they saw people inside. A woman was squatting at the door picking vegetables, while a man, covered in mud, was rinsing his feet at the well.

Two children were also there; one was squatting at the door doing homework, and the other was feeding chickens.

They looked up at them, sizing them up.

The man even greeted them, "Old Liu, who are these people?"

Old Liu, walking beside He Yan, replied sharply, "These are your relatives!"

The man's face darkened. "Why are you cursing at me?"

Old Liu grunted and continued escorting Jin Xiuzhu and the others to the Production Team's entrance. Before leaving, he told He Yan, "If you want to visit your mother, go secretly. Don't let anyone find out. The man she married now isn't very nice."

He Yan nodded.

After seeing them off, Old Liu returned home. As he thought about it, he couldn't hold back and went to He Lao Er's house, loudly announcing that He Yan had come back and was now very successful, having gotten into a prestigious university.

Hearing the commotion, many curious neighbors came out to see. Some asked, "Did the child come back?"

"Indeed, I took him to visit his father's grave today. When we passed by He Lao Er's house, he even asked who they were. I told him they were his relatives, and he said I was cursing him. Isn't that funny?"

He Lao Er didn't find it funny, but his neighbors did. "He doesn't even recognize his own family."

"Well, it's not his fault. His nephew has grown tall and handsome, just like a city person. He definitely wouldn't recognize him..."

Outside, people laughed and talked, but inside the house, the family of four sat silently. He Lao Er had a grim face, and his wife looked upset. The two children, however, ate heartily. The older one, after hearing more, felt angry. "He Yan got into university?"

He Lao Er, already furious, snapped, "Why do you care if he got into university? You're destined to work in the fields your whole life."

The older child, hearing this, pursed his lips and threw down his chopsticks, walking away.

He Lao Er yelled angrily, "Stop right there!"

Only the younger child continued eating happily.

Seeing this, He Lao Er's wife couldn't help but scold, "Eat, eat, all you know is to eat. Are you a pig reincarnated?"

The younger child pouted, picked up his bowl, and walked outside, saying, "Having parents like you is truly unfortunate."

"You!"

With his son absent, He Lao Er vented his anger on his wife. "It's all your fault. If you hadn't bullied that child, he wouldn't have been taken away and lived a good life."

"Don't be shameless. Clearly, it was you, the uncle, who had a small heart. If you hadn't led the bullying, how could I have done those things? Now it's all my fault?"

...

Outside is bustling, and inside the house is bustling too.