After Wen Yuanfang fled Jiyang, Zhu Yuliang never heard from him again. As the saying goes: no news is the best news. At least it proves that he is safe and sound at the moment.

In the blink of an eye, the Lunar New Year is approaching. Cai Fuguo asked Zhu Yuliang where he was for the New Year this year, and Zhu Yuliang said that it was not clear at the moment, and it seemed that he was going to spend it alone in Tongxin Pavilion. Cai said that we are not going anywhere this year, you and our husband and wife will have Chinese New Year's Eve dinner together. Zhu Yuliang said: "Okay!"

Unexpectedly, on the morning of Chinese New Year's Eve, Wen Wuwei appeared in Tongxin Pavilion. He said that his uncle, grandmother and mother wanted him to pick up his aunt and go back to Tangfeng Village for the New Year.

Zhu Yuliang hurriedly welcomed him into the house and asked eagerly, "Where is your uncle now?" ”

Wen Wuwei took out a letter and handed it to her, saying: "The address on the envelope is not written, but the postmark is stamped by a post and telecommunications office in Changzhou, Jiangsu. ”

Zhu Yuliang saw that the letter was indeed sent from Changzhou. The letter was addressed to Zhou Jiahong, to the effect that:

First, he was on a business trip in Changzhou because of the business of Meichi Supply and Marketing Cooperative, and he couldn't go back for the Chinese New Year, and it is estimated that he won't be able to return to Jiyang until March or April.

The second is to ask Wu Wei to take his aunt to Tangfeng Village for the New Year, and then send her back to Tongxin Pavilion safely after the New Year.

The third is to tell Yuliang that in view of the fact that Liu Yuelan is no longer on duty in the People's Hospital, she will go to Meichi Hospital when she gives birth, at least Meichi's housing is more spacious and her residence is closer to the hospital, so that it is convenient for Cuiying to serve her confinement.

Fourth, Cuiying should go to Tongxin Pavilion half a month before the expected date of delivery or earlier, and take Yuliang to Meichi to wait for delivery.

The fifth is to ask sister-in-law Zhang Luo to prepare all the tonic needed by the mother, all the clothes and supplies needed by the baby, and let Yuliang take it away after the New Year, or let Cuiying bring it with him at that time.

……

"What a!" Zhu Yuliang muttered, and returned the letter to Wu Wei.

They began to pack their things and get ready to go. Before leaving, Zhu Yuliang went to Cai's house to say goodbye, but Cai Fuguo was not there, only Chen Meijuan was at home.

"Your belly is so big, can you withstand the bumps of more than 20 miles of mountain roads?" Chen Meijuan asked worriedly.

"I put a thick quilt in my two-wheeler. I would be very careful when pulling the cart and try not to bump my aunt. Wen Wuwei hurriedly replied.

"Xiao Zhu, when will you come back? Come back early! I'll miss you. Chen Meijuan said sadly.

"Okay, I'll try to come back as soon as possible! You and Cai Ju have to make something delicious during the New Year, don't be lazy! It's the New Year, you must be happy! When Zhu Yuliang said this, tears welled up at once.

Chen Meijuan sent them all the way to the street, and then said goodbye with tears.

……

Zhu Yuliang bought some cakes at the 100 stores and prepared them to eat for lunch on the road. She bought a branch of direct ginseng for her mother-in-law, a piece of fabric for her sister-in-law, a pair of sneakers for Wen Wuwei, and a few pastries and candy bags. She also went to the credit union to redeem some brand-new corner tickets, which she was going to pay as New Year's money to relatives and children who came to pay New Year's greetings.

When the purchase stopped, they walked briskly to the bus station, and then got into the car with the license plate.

In the car, Zhu Yuliang remembered the content of Wen Yuanfang's letter again, and secretly thought to himself: "Sure enough, as I expected, he didn't go to Xiaoyizhuang. He was actually in Changzhou! must have settled in Sun Lei's place, which shows that their old relationship is not over. However, he promised me that he would fulfill his obligation to be loyal and dedicated to me, and would no longer break the connection and have an ambiguous relationship with Sun Lei. I choose to believe him! Since he is still in the mood to write to his sister-in-law to arrange my affairs, he must be well now, and at the same time he is concerned about me. I can finally have a safe year! ”

Zhu Yuliang felt relieved to know Wen Yuanfang's whereabouts, and he also felt sweet for him to worry about everything. But when she thought that he was living under the same roof with Sun Lei at this time, and would celebrate the Spring Festival with her old lover, she felt uncomfortable like knocking over a vinegar bottle.

Fortunately, she was naturally open-minded and quickly digested this discomfort to herself: "My top priority now is to give birth to Jingjing smoothly." Who does he love to follow, what does it matter to him! If he is unfaithful to me, I will divorce him in minutes, and then find a better one to him off! ”

"Wu Wei, let's eat cake!" Zhu Yuliang said.

……

In the afternoon, when he arrived at the paitou, Wen Wuwei took the hand-pulled two-wheeled bicycle sent to his distant relatives, and then helped Zhu Yuliang to lie on the lathe padded with a thick quilt, and after placing the luggage, he immediately went on the road.

On the way, Wen Wuwei bypassed the potholes and pulled the car carefully, and sure enough, he didn't bump Zhu Yuliang much. The journey was long, and the aunt and nephew chatted.

"Wu Wei, you belong to the rat, and you have passed the nineteenth year of the year. Right? ”

"Yes. Aunt! ”

"I heard that you had good grades when you were studying. What now? ”

"It's useless to get good grades! What else can you do? Farming at home! In his spare time, he does accounting and settling accounts for the brigade. ”

"Does your dad usually write to you?"

"Sometimes he would write it to my mother. But every time it's a few words, we just know that he's alive. ”

"How many years does he have before he comes home?"

"There should be seven years left. But I heard that it would be released in advance. ”

"Do you miss him?"

"Huh! I don't really want to, I can't remember what he looks like. ”

"Have you ever complained about your origins?"

"Grievances. But it's useless to complain, it's fate! ”

"Have you thought about what you're going to do in the future?"

"I want to be a teacher the most, to be a teacher in the army like my uncle...... And then let my mom live a good life. But I don't know if these two wishes can be fulfilled in this life. ”

"It can be done! As long as you live, you can achieve it! ”

……

In the evening, the aunt and nephew finally arrived at Tangfeng Village. At this time, Zhou Jiahong had been looking at the entrance of the village for a long time, and the sound of firecrackers in the village also sounded one after another.

Since Zhu Yuliang became pregnant, she has not returned to Tangfeng Village. During this period, her mother-in-law sent Wuwei to give her a basket of eggs, a duck and two pairs of cloth shoes.

When Mrs. Lou Xiangfu saw "Xiao Nan" go home for the New Year, she was naturally overjoyed: "Ah! The belly is so big. I look forward to hugging my little grandchild every day! Seeing that her youngest son hadn't come back, she complained, "Why is Fang so busy? Are you still on a business trip for the Chinese New Year? Aren't people too old? ”

Zhu Yuliang had to prevaricate with a smile: "The business over there has not been negotiated yet, and the other party unit left him there for the New Year, preparing to talk after the New Year." ”

After the four grandchildren had a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, Wen Wuwei put a few artillery battles in the patio and then entered the New Year's Eve procedure.

Zhu Yuliang chatted with his mother-in-law and sister-in-law in the living room.

Zhou Jiahong: "I have prepared all the eggs, brown sugar, longan and hens to be eaten during confinement." When you go back this time, why don't you take them all with you? Anyway, Wuwei will send you home. ”

Lou Xiangfu: "That's not possible!" Live chickens are taken away, and she still has to raise them, how troublesome! Besides, do you want Yuan Fang to carry these things to Meichi again? At that time, Wuwei will still take a train from Paitou to Meichi! ”

Zhou Jiahong: "Oh! It's still Mom's thoughtfulness. I sewed a lot of diapers with soft cloth, and several small clothes worn by hairy guys, and I also had to bring them with Wu Wei when the time came. Yuliang, don't think my stitches are not fine enough! ”

Zhu Yuliang: "How can I be disgusted? It's too late for me to be grateful. Sister-in-law is so hard! ”

Lou Xiangfu saw that the little daughter-in-law began to yawn, so he said: "Wait for Cuiying to come to pay New Year's greetings tomorrow, and we will discuss the arrangements for Xiao Nan's childbirth, let's wash and go to bed early today!" After all, lying on a two-wheeled bike with a big belly for an afternoon is also very hard. The old lady coughed violently.

Zhu Yuliang learned from Zhou Jiahong that the old lady's physical condition in the past year was much worse than before.

The next day, Lou Cuiying really came to Tangfeng Village with a boy who was seven or eight years old to pay New Year's greetings. Zhu Yuliang hurriedly took out the New Year's money and stuffed it into the boy's pocket. I saw that the boy had a tiger head and a tiger brain, dark skin, and looked very strong and naïve. Lou Cuiying said that her milk was sufficient, and her son usually couldn't eat it, so she had to squeeze it out and waste it.

Talking about serving Zhu Yuliang for confinement, Zhou Jiahong asked her: "You are holding a son, can you take care of it when the time comes?" ”

"No problem! My family Fengfeng is very well-behaved, I put him on the bed when I do things, and he rarely cries. Lou Cuiying replied with an oath.

"You have to go and serve your little aunt early! Don't go ahead of your due date! Lou Xiangfu instructed.

"The due date is after Qingming, can't I go to Chengguan half a month in advance? Grandmother! Lou Cuiying asked.

"Let's be safe! You go to Chengguan twenty days in advance and take your little aunt to Meichi to wait for the birth. All right? Lou Xiangfu bargained with her.

"Okay! Then I will go to Chengguan twenty days in advance. Lou Cuiying replied.

The Spring Festival was over in a blink of an eye, and the New Year's money prepared by Zhu Yuliang was almost shared, so Wen Wuwei sent her back to Tongxin Pavilion.

Before leaving, Lou Xiangfu took Zhu Yuliang's hand and ordered: "When you give birth to a villain, you must wear that Maitreya Buddha!" It's best to keep chanting 'Nam Mu Avalokiteshvara' so that mother and child will be blessed!" Don't be afraid! Do you remember? ”

"I remember!" Zhu Yuliang nodded in agreement.

……

In an alley in Changzhou, Wen Yuanfang also spent a different year at Sun Lei's house.

Sun Lei's grandmother is a kind old man with silver hair, her mother is a kind and demure intellectual woman, and her son Lei Lei is a cute boy who is both naughty and polite. Previously, the two elders were no strangers to this uninvited guest, so they didn't interrogate too much, but just accepted Wen Yuanfang with a posture of seeing the vicissitudes of the world.

Wenyuan likes children in the direction, and this time I finally have time to play with Lei Lei. He folded airplanes, pasted kites, and made wooden pistols for Lei Lei, and then took him to fly kites and play marbles...... Once, Lei Lei mistakenly called him "Dad", which made Wen Yuanfang and Sun Lei stunned at first, and then embarrassed.

The sixth day of the first lunar month is Wen Yuanfang's birthday. Sun Lei's mother went to the street to buy some beef and made him a bowl of shredded beef longevity noodles. However, Sun Lei said: "Mom! Those who don't eat beef from afar. ”

"Huh? Why not beef? Grandmother asked

"When he was a child, he once ate beef, but he couldn't chew it, and he never ate beef again. Narrow empiricism. Ha ha! Sun Lei said with a smile.

"Who says I don't eat beef?" Wen Yuanfang picked up the longevity noodles and ate no soup left.