NOVPUBChapter 262: Chapter 262: Going Home
Chapter 262 -262: Going Home
On the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, Bai Ju and He Wang, accompanying their three children, returned home as well, also laden with large and small packages. The couple rode on two bicycles, bringing their three children back home with them.
Before Bai Yue could comment on the plethora of packages, she remembered what Bai Xiao had said, indeed, as long as life was comfortable it was fine. Her sister was not one to squander needlessly, surely she had a sense of measure in her mind.
Bai Ju must have noticed the thoughts running through her older sister’s mind and quickly explained.
“These things weren’t bought by me. It was our factory manager who insisted I bring them over, saying that he knew Xiao was coming home and this was a gesture of goodwill and also a gift. I couldn’t refuse. It was kindly meant, and, after all, he is our factory manager. He wanted to come over to our house desperately, but then his father-in-law called, asking them to go back and spend the New Year with them. That was the only reason he left, but he made sure I knew these gifts had to be brought back.” Bai Ju was well aware that the factory manager was expressing gratitude to her sister.
Bai Yue frowned, “Owing such a huge favor to someone, how will we ever pay it back in the future?” She was concerned for her sister working in the factory; offending the factory manager was certainly not ideal, but if one day he came asking for a favor they couldn’t fulfill, it would surely bring trouble to Bai Ju.
Bai Xiao chuckled, “Elder sister, don’t worry. This is just a matter of giving and receiving favors. Since they’ve given, we shall accept. When the second sister comes back, you can also prepare a gift to send back with her. Besides, what the factory manager is interested in is my ability to heal and save lives. He’s anticipating that, having built a good relationship, should anyone encounter illness or disaster, they will have someone reliable to turn to for treatment. So he won’t make things difficult for the second sister.”
Bai Ju hugged Bai Xiao with a smile, “You don’t know how much I’ve benefitted from your reputation, Xiao. It’s strange, though. He Weng just hasn’t come back, and it’s already the twenty-ninth. Your brother-in-law is worried and was hoping you could go back and check on him if you have time and find that kid. Him not coming home for New Year’s really is worrying!”
Bai Xiao nodded, also finding it odd. He Weng didn’t seem like someone indifferent to family; after all, He Wang and his sister had taken care of him for so many years. It was hardly conceivable that he hadn’t sent even a letter, which didn’t make sense. People nowadays were enthusiastic about returning home for the New Year, and the desolation of spending it alone outside was imaginable.
“I understand! When I go back, I’ll ask your husband, and you should have your acquaintances who work outside inquire too, because it’s impossible for He Weng to be in a place where he knows no one at all. There must be fellow townspeople, right?” Bai Xiao was puzzled as well.
Bai Ju nodded, and Bai Yue brought out the basket. Today, being the twenty-ninth of the twelfth lunar month, according to old tradition, it was time to offer incense at their parents’ grave, as a form of ancestral worship. The four siblings had long prepared offerings and joss paper, and immediately went to their parents’ graves.
Most of the village graves were on the hill behind or in fields near the hill. Bai Xiao respectfully knelt in front of her parents’ graves and kowtowed. At this moment, her heart was filled with piety. Her foster parents had raised her, provided her with the utmost kindness and warmth, and treated her even better than their own children. This was her great fortune and such foster parents were Bai Xiao’s blessing.
She quietly lit the incense, laid prostrate on the grave, and kowtowed.
Dear parents, rest assured! Your sons and daughters are all doing well in this life and will keep on improving. You can go in peace.
If there’s a next life, I hope to still be your daughter, to joyfully sit by your knees and to respectfully tend to you in your old age.
The wisps of incense smoke slowly rose, as if conveying a blessing from the children.
………
………
At this time, An Zhiyuan, dressed in a green shirt and trousers, went downstairs. Today was a day for the family reunion, with his eldest brother, sister-in-law, and younger brother all present. He had come back late the previous night and hadn’t seen anyone, his heart filled with a bit of joy but also with significant unease. Since Wei Shufen had left home several months ago, his father hadn’t mentioned Bai Xiao to him at all, even when calling.
This is definitely not normal, unless the stepmother has some ulterior motive.
As soon as he descended the stairs for breakfast, the entire family was gathered around the dining table. Father An Cheng saw An Zhiyuan, his expression unchanged. This son had returned last night, but it was too late, and he had already gone to bed.
“Dad, I’m back,” An Zhiyuan said as he pulled out a chair to sit down.
He grabbed a stick of youtiao and took a big bite.
The aunt had already brought him a cup of soy milk, “Ayuang, there’s also red bean porridge. If you want some, I’ll serve it for you.” Aunt Niandi had worked in their house for a lifetime, having watched the three brothers grow up. She was like an elder to them.
“Aunt Niandi, of course I’ll have some. Your red bean porridge is the best,” An Zhiyuan’s response made Aunt Niandi beam with joy as she hurried to the kitchen to fetch the porridge.
“Big brother, sister-in-law! Little brother!” An Zhiyuan then greeted the two with a smile.
His eldest brother An Zhigao had started his own company, which was the so-called capitalism their father most despised, hence their relationship wasn’t good.
Probably, if it wasn’t for the chance to see him, An Zhigao wouldn’t have come home early in the morning to face their old man’s demeanor. After all, confrontation was inevitable whenever the eldest was with their father.
“Ayuang, it’s good you’re back. We probably only get to see you during the New Year, and that’s if you have a vacation this year; otherwise, we wouldn’t even get to see you. Let’s have a good sit-down this noon!” An Zhigao had the best relationship with An Zhiyuan. The two brothers were the closest.
An Zhiyuan nodded. An Zhixiang felt somewhat dissatisfied with An Zhiyuan’s continuous oversight of Wei Shufen, who sat next to their father, “Second brother, you haven’t greeted mom. You don’t know how much she worries about you.” He was brought up by Wei Shufen herself. After Wei Shufen married into the family and could no longer have children of her own, An Zhixuang was just one year old. To him, Wei Shufen gave all her maternal love, and in his eyes, she was indistinguishable from a real mother.
Wei Shufen said with a smile, “It’s alright, we are all family, no need for such formalities. Ayuan, how long can you stay this time?” She bore the absolute image of a compassionate mother.
An Zhiyuan took a sip of soy milk, “Auntie, I have a week off this time. I have to rejoin my team on the fourth day of the lunar month.”
His tone was so even that it hid the disharmony between them.
An Cheng watched his most cherished son by his side; even when he was stern, he couldn’t hide his pride and satisfaction, “Now that you’re back, rest well at home. Oh, and you’re not getting any younger. Your mom has found a few girls for you to meet. Make sure to see them and settle down soon. So I, your old man, don’t have to worry about you anymore.”
The most important matter of his son’s marriage should be on the agenda. After all, An Zhiyuan was already twenty-seven. At his age, there weren’t many who weren’t married yet. The old man knew An Zhiyuan’s personal affairs had been delayed due to his job. Of course, the primary issue was that An Zhiyuan hadn’t found a suitable girl.
But at this age, if he didn’t marry soon, the old man would worry. Once he was past thirty, it might not be easy to find a wife. People would suspect there was something wrong with An Zhiyuan’s health; after all, it would be odd for the son of a leader to be unmarried at such an age.
