Chapter 137: The Familiar Home

Chapter 137: The Familiar Home

After the troublemakers left, Li He nodded to the group, "There are many jobless folks on the streets recently. When you go out shopping, try to go in a group."

Aunt Shun said gratefully, "Li He, thank you so much. Otherwise, those troublemakers wouldn't have left so quickly."

Li He replied, "It's my duty, no need to thank me."

After saying that, he left without much conversation with Ye Xiaoxiao.

He probably felt a bit awkward.

Aunt Shun shook her head, "Li He is a good kid, but it's a pity he went through a divorce."

"Divorced?"

Ye Xiaoxiao didn't know about this.

Aunt Shun nodded, "Yes, his wife wasn't really someone to build a life with. It's better that they divorced."

Ye Xiaoxiao asked a few more questions, "Does Uncle Li He have anyone else at home?"

Aunt Shun: "He has a child at home, but the child is already over ten years old. His family is doing fine, and it wouldn't be hard for him to find another wife."

From Aunt Shun's words, it was clear that she liked Li He very much.

She even thought, "When I have time, I'll help him find a match, a woman who knows how to make a life together."

Ye Xiaoxiao carried her things back home, wondering if the previous incident had influenced Li He's divorce.

But she didn't like Li He's wife and didn't want to see her anymore.

Aunt Shun walked Ye Xiaoxiao home and then took her granddaughter back to her own house.

After returning home, Ye Xiaoxiao put away her things.

"Grandpa, when I went out shopping, I ran into some troublemakers."

Miao Fengshan, who had just fed the rabbits, asked anxiously, "Xiao Xiao, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I met Aunt Shun and Uncle Li He. They helped me."

Miao Fengshan: "We can't go out by ourselves anymore. At the end of the year, those jobless folks start causing trouble."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I don't need to buy anything else."

Just as they finished speaking, Ye Changning and Yu Gang came in with a sack.

"Third Brother, what did you get?"

Ye Changning opened the bag, and they revealed a pig's head.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Did you buy a whole pig?"

Ye Changning gestured, "Cut it up and give half to Yu Gang."

Yu Gang smiled warmly.

Ye Changning paid for the whole pig. He wanted to split the cost, but the other party refused.

After six months of hard work, they had just enough money to buy a pig.

Grandpa Miao took out a knife and butchered the pig, splitting it in two.

They had already made up their minds to head home the next day.

Grandpa Miao cleaned up the yard, sold some rabbits, and asked a neighbor to look after the rest for a few days.

...

Bai Shi Village.

While Ye Xiaoxiao and the others were on the hillside, they spotted Ye Changqing and Ye Changjun coming to meet them.

They didn’t know exactly when their siblings would return, but they’d been checking every day recently.

"Big bro! Jun!"

Ye Changning waved.

Ye Changqing and Ye Changjun stepped forward to help with the luggage.

Ye Changjun said, "You’re cutting it close—it’s almost New Year."

Ye Changqing looked at Ye Changning, "You’ve got the nerve to come back?"

Ye Changning said sheepishly, "Big bro, I know I left without a word, but I had to come back. Plus, I heard the forest farm shut down, so I guess leaving was the right call."

Ye Changqing teased him, "Well, you’ll have to explain that to Mom and Dad."

Ye Changning winced.

Once they reached the village, Yu Gang split off from the group, grinning as he carried his stuff home.

Ye Xiaoxiao and the rest headed home together.

Miao Cuifang and Zhang Xue were waiting at home.

Ye Xiaoxiao’s grandparents and aunt were out in the yard too.

"Mom, we’re home."

Ye Changning dashed into the yard and threw his arms around Miao Cuifang.

Miao Cuifang patted his shoulder, "So you finally decided to come back, huh? You didn’t even say goodbye."

Ye Changning said, "I was scared you and Dad wouldn’t let me leave."

Miao Cuifang replied, "You’ll have to deal with your dad when he gets back."

Ye Changning whined, "Mom, you’ve got to stick up for me."

Miao Cuifang pushed him away, "I’m staying out of it."

"Sheng Ge, Xiao Xiao, come on in. Mom made dumplings for dinner tonight."

Ye Xiaoxiao dropped her things in her room first. Her little room had been tidied up, and the windows had been replaced—they used to be paper, but now they were glass.

The kang was warm, and the thermos was full of hot water.

In the main room, the whole family was sitting inside.

Ye Changning had already mailed gifts earlier, so this time he didn’t buy much.

He shared the things with the children and elders in the family.

Ye Changning: "Why haven’t I seen eldest sister?"

Ye Lian had been staying with her parents since her divorce.

Li Guilan: "She’s at home with her two children."

Ye Changning: "Let’s invite them over. I bought some candy that the kids will love."

Li Guilan smiled: "We’ll invite them over when it’s time to eat. Ye Lian is embroidering insoles at home. You’ve already gotten them enough, don’t go wasting money."

Ye Changning: "No, it’s just a few treats for the kids."

Ye Baocheng ran over and hugged Ye Changning’s leg.

Ye Baocheng looked up: "Uncle, do you have any treats for me?"

Ye Changning picked him up: "You’re already so chubby, eat less."

Ye Baocheng squirmed: "No, no."

Ye Changning handed him a few pieces of chocolate: "Take these and go play somewhere else. Don’t share with your little brother, kids shouldn’t eat too much sugar."

Satisfied, Ye Baocheng climbed onto the kang to play.

Held by Zhang Xue, Ye Baoyuan watched his brother get the treats and drooled.

Ye Changning said to him: "There’s milk powder later; I’ll give you some."

Ye Xiaoxiao walked in: "I got some milk powder too. I’ll bring a can over to eldest sister’s kids later."

Those two kids were way too thin.

They were older than Ye Baocheng, but the younger one didn’t even weigh as much.

The kids were thrilled when Ye Xiaoxiao and the others came back.

It meant more tasty treats for them.

Ye Changsheng: "Mom, where’s dad?"

Miao Cuifang: "Your dad’s up at the back mountain training the militia. He won’t be back till evening. Our village just built a new militia training camp, and it might bring electricity and phones to the village."

Ye Changsheng: "Really? Electricity would make things so much easier."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Yeah, we could get a TV, and you wouldn’t be stuck bored at home."

Miao Cuifang quickly waved her hand: "Alright, we don’t even have electricity yet, and you’re already thinking about shopping."

Ye Xiaoxiao grinned sheepishly.

Well, it’s true.

The family sat on the kang in the warm room. They caught up on recent news until Ye Jianguo got back, and then the family got ready to eat.

Ye Jianguo glared at Ye Changning, but with so many people around, he held back from scolding him.

Ye Changjun went back to get the family for dinner.

Ye Jianye and Ye Lian brought the two children over.

Ye Lian's children, Yunduo and Yunshuang, said hello politely, but they still seemed pretty shy.

Ye Changning gave the kids some snacks.

Yunduo, holding her sister's hand, said, "Thank you, Uncle."

Ye Changning: "You’re so sweet."

Miao Cuifang: "No snacks now, let’s eat dinner first."