Chapter 5

Li Muwu didn’t notice any change in Zhang Chunhua’s expression and greeted her warmly, “Sister-in-law, take the child and sit in the ox cart. It’s a long way, and you won’t be able to walk that far.”

Zhang Chunhua disdainfully glanced at the mud stains on the ox cart and forced a smile. “No need, I’ll walk.”

Four-year-old Li Mingxin looked curiously at the shabby ox cart, tugged at Zhang Chunhua’s hand, and whispered, “Mom, I want to ride the cart.”

Zhang Chunhua pinched her son’s hand, quickly glanced at Li Mulin, and then lowered her head, gently coaxing her son, “Let’s walk to stay warm.”

Li Muwu looked at the mother and sons, puzzled. Li Mulin quickly explained with a smile, “After sitting on the train for several days, my legs are stiff. It’s good to walk a bit.”

“Alright!” Li Muwu grinned and said bluntly, “If I knew my sister-in-law could walk this far, I wouldn’t have bothered borrowing the ox cart from Old Lin. He wouldn’t have had to follow us for nothing.”

Old Lin, driving the ox cart, turned around with a silly smile, “No problem, we’re not strangers. What’s there to be polite about? Besides, I haven’t come for nothing. I’m helping you carry the luggage!”

Li Mulin quickly smiled and said, “Thank you, Brother Lin,” while pulling out a cigarette and offering it to Old Lin.

Old Lin eagerly took off his gloves, wiped the sweat off his hands with his clothes, then took the cigarette. He sniffed it under his nose, took off his hat, and tucked the cigarette behind his ear, showing a slightly embarrassed smile, “I’ve never smoked such good cigarettes.”

Li Mulin smiled and looked around. It had been ten years since he left home, and now, returning to his hometown, the town seemed both familiar and strange. He couldn’t help but think of the past.

Li Mulin didn’t have much of an impression of his older brother, as he had known from a young age that his brother had gone off with the military to fight the Japanese. His second brother, Li Muwu, was honest and kind, very much like an older brother, always protective of him. Every year during the New Year, when there was something good to eat, Li Muwu would only have a little taste and leave the rest for the two younger brothers. Li Muwu and Li Mulin were only two years apart, and when they were young, they shared a bed, as close as twins. They went up the mountain to gather firewood, went to the river to catch fish, and were inseparable.

When Li Mulin left home, his second brother, Li Muwu, who was already in his twenties, cried like a child.

Looking at his aging second brother and the third brother, who had grown distant, Li Mulin thought of his old mother, now gray-haired, and felt some regret. After all these years, he should have found time to visit home.

After walking for about twenty minutes, Li Mingxin became tired and could no longer continue. He looked at Zhang Chunhua with a pout and tears welling up, “Mom, I don’t want to walk anymore. I’m tired.”

Zhang Chunhua looked at her younger son, seeing his exhausted expression, and immediately felt heartbroken. She looked at her older son, Ming Shu, who was eagerly staring at the ox cart ahead.

Zhang Chunhua bit her lip, a little annoyed, and unwillingly glanced at Li Mulin, but Li Mulin only lowered his head and kept walking, not looking back at them.

“Wait a minute.” Seeing her son’s tired face, Zhang Chunhua couldn’t think of anything else and could only call out.

But the four men ahead, chatting casually, didn’t hear her and kept walking, laughing and talking. Feeling ignored, Zhang Chunhua’s frustration grew, and she raised her voice again, “Mulin, Mingxin can’t walk anymore.”

Li Mulin stopped and turned around. Seeing the two sons squatting on the ground, unable to get up, he hurried over and picked up Mingxin. He glared at Zhang Chunhua, “You didn’t want him to ride the cart. If he gets sick from exhaustion, I’ll see how you handle it. It’s not like in Bingcheng, where hospitals are convenient.”

Zhang Chunhua was frightened and immediately said, “Alright, alright, I’ll let him sit. I’ll carry him, we won’t walk anymore.” Li Mulin didn’t say anything. Silently, he put the two sons on the cart and helped Zhang Chunhua up. There were three small wooden stools on the cart. Zhang Chunhua held her younger son in her arms, took out a tattered cotton coat from her bundle, and covered Mingxin with it. She also moved the two large bundles to her lap to block the wind.

The ox cart slowly began to move forward. Zhang Chunhua sat there, rubbing her calves, regretting it deeply. If she had known they would have to sit in this shabby cart, she wouldn’t have bothered to be so picky. She hadn’t said anything about being tired but had acted like a fool.

“Mom, we’re home!” The cart moved slowly for about an hour before it finally reached the house. Li Muwu shouted as he carried a bundle.

“Back already?” The wooden door opened, and the heavy curtain lifted. Li Laotai, leaning on a cane, trembled with excitement.

When Li Mulin turned around after placing his son down, he saw his old mother bent over with her cane. Tears instantly welled up in his eyes. He put his son aside and ran inside, shouting, “Mom!”

“You still know how to come back?” Li Laotai’s eyes were red, and she raised her cane, striking Li Mulin a few times. “You ungrateful thing, do you still remember your old mother?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Li Mulin took the blows and felt strangely relieved, “I’ve dreamed of you hitting me with the cane.”

“You deserve it,” Li Laotai said, laughing so hard her mouth nearly reached her ears.

While Li Mulin rubbed his shoulders, he turned and waved to his sons, “Mingshu, Mingxin, come over and greet Grandma.”

Mingshu and Mingxin stood a short distance away, terrified of Li Laotai’s cane. They looked at their father, who was being playfully beaten but grinning, and after a moment of silence, both of their fair faces broke into bright smiles. “Hello, Grandma!”

“Oh, my grandsons, come in!” Seeing her beloved grandsons, Li Laotai tossed the cane aside and grabbed one with each hand, pulling them inside. “Are you tired from the journey? Are you hungry?”

Mingxin looked down at the thin, dry hand that grabbed him, and smiled a bitter smile, even worse than crying. “Hungry!”

“Guihua, hurry up and cook a big bowl of noodles, crack two eggs, add a few drops of sesame oil, and give them to Mingshu and Mingxin,” Li Laotai instructed. Then, she looked at her son and the new daughter-in-law. “You two didn’t eat, did you? There are fresh flatbreads and corn porridge. Go eat a bowl first and talk later.”

Zhang Chunhua had imagined countless times what it would be like to face her mother-in-law, but she didn’t expect to be sent away with just a bowl of corn porridge.

Everything was ready-made, kept warm in the pot. Guihua quickly set up the table, put out a basket of corn buns, served several bowls of porridge, a dish of pickles, and a pot of pickled cabbage with vermicelli.

After a few days on the road, Li Mulin’s family had been making do with dry bread and hot water. Now, sitting at the table, smelling the steaming food, Zhang Chunhua had to put aside her thoughts and took a bite of the corn bun.

Guihua was quick with her work, boiling water to cook noodles, and even ladled some wild chicken soup she had made for Wang Sufen, adding a few pieces of chicken. Mingshu and Mingxin stood by the kitchen, staring with wide eyes at the food, their mouths watering. They didn’t forget to flatter Li Laotai, “Grandma, your house is really good. You have chicken to eat.”

“That’s wild chicken, not much meat, but good for your Aunt to nourish her body. Next time, I’ll take you and your brothers up the mountain. If we run into a silly roe deer, drag it back. That stew will be delicious.”

Mingxin swallowed, then turned to look at Zhang Chunhua, who was eating a mouthful of food. He couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, didn’t you say Grandma’s family was poor? It looks like they have more to eat than us!”

Zhang Chunhua was caught off guard by her own son’s comment. A piece of corn bun got stuck in her throat, and she immediately let out a loud coughing fit.