After picking up Chunhua, the three of them hurried ho. With an extra person in the car, Lan Tian didn’t sit in the front passenger seat but went to sit in the back row with Chunhua. Mo Junhua watched Lan Tian move to the back seat with forlorn puppy eyes, which creeped Lan Tian out so much that he couldn’t even be bothered to roll his eyes at him. Chunhua, oblivious to Mo Junhua’s mournfulness, kept talking about the knowledge and experiences she had at the Military District Hospital.
The once peaceful world for two was gone. Mo Junhua was so frustrated. Unfortunately, the person was his sister, and he could not voice his suffering. He floored the gas pedal, and the car shot out like a bullet. Lan Tian was alright, sitting steadily, but Chunhua scread in fright, her complexion paling. Imdiately, Lan Tian started lecturing Mo Junhua, who then slowed down, finally arriving at the entrance around one o’clock.
In the yard, Chunhua was eating waterlon with her three sons, their mouths all sared with the red juice. Hearing the sound of the car outside, she wiped her mouth and, while nibbling on the waterlon, got up to look out the door to see who had co.
Lan Tian and Chunhua got out of the car and saw her looking like this. Lan Tian didn’t mind; ever since Chunhua’s arrival, it had been like this every day. After the initial discomfort, she had now beco quite at ease with it. Chunhua was startled when she saw Chun i’s disheveled appearance for the first ti.
"Sister," Chunhua called out. It hadn’t been long since they last t, but it felt like Chun i had beco a completely different person. Hearing about it from Lan Tian was one thing, but seeing it with her own eyes was another.
"Wow, our esteed doctor has deigned to return," Chun i said sarcastically. She had been in the village for nearly a month, aimlessly wandering about. Before coming here, Chun i had all sorts of grand plans, but upon arriving, none had co to fruition. She didn’t even know where Lan Tian’s Grandpa lived, nor which hospital Chunhua was working at. Chun i felt left out in the cold, not benefiting from Lan Tian’s Grandpa because he wasn’t her real grandpa. She could get over that, but Chunhua was her own sister, who didn’t even tell her where she worked. This level of caution from her own sister upset Chun i deeply.
Having been sisters for over a decade, Chunhua could tell what Chun i was up to just from the tone of her voice. She ignored her and went to unload things from the back of the car. Chun i was about to say sothing else when she saw Mo Junhua get out of the car, causing her body to stiffen and the words to get stuck in her mouth.
Why is Third Brother back? Wasn’t he supposed to be on a mission?
Mo Junhua also heard what Chun i said and frowned imperceptibly, casting a cold glance her way. His sister was becoming more and more outrageous as she grew up, no longer the sweet and smart little girl she used to be, but increasingly resembling that nasty and sharp-tongued woman from his dreams.
He hoped that she had rely co to have fun in Shanghai and would not do sothing as painful as the one from his dreams, stirring up trouble like an enemy would.
Lan Tian’s gaze moved between the siblings and with a aningful smile, he stepped into the yard, "Grandma, Aunt, I’m back."
Grandma Sun and Zhao Li, who were cooking in the kitchen, heard her voice and laughed. Grandma Sun got up and looked out the window, "Did you hear that? She’s back and making a racket. I’ll go and have a look."
Carrying a basket of vegetables, Lan Tian t Grandma Sun, her eyes curved into smiles as she approached, "Grandma, did you miss ? I’ve missed you so much."
Grandma Sun pushed her away with one hand. She had just co out of the smoky kitchen, reeking of cooking fus, but still she laughed and teased with mock disgust, "It’s hot, don’t co close. Did Sanwa co back?"
Lan Tian pouted and stubbornly leaned in, hugging Grandma Sun’s arm coquettishly, "He’s back, he’s behind there. Chunhua ca back with us too. Grandma, you don’t love anymore; I’ve been back so long and you haven’t even asked about ."
Grandma Sun chuckled and tapped Lan Tian on the head, "You, how old are you still acting spoiled? You even got jealous of Sanwa, aren’t you ashad? Your uncle is still in the orchard, quickly go and call him back for al."
"Alright, I’m off." She dashed towards the orchard.
Grandma Sun was particularly happy, Sanwa had returned, and the family could finally reunite and have a family dinner together, joyfully carrying a basket to the backyard to pick so greens. Reaching the gate of the backyard, she then turned around toward the entrance of the courtyard, and upon seeing Mo Junhua outside, her heart finally settled.
"Grandma, how have you been?" Mo Junhua spotted Grandma Sun coming out and approached, carrying grain and oil.
"Good, good, good." Grandma Sun examined Mo Junhua carefully. He had lost a lot of weight and seed a bit paler, but the elder didn’t think too much of it, assuming he must’ve suffered outside. Her eyes were slightly wet as she nodded repeatedly, "It’s good that you’re back, good that you’re back. Co inside, I’ll go pick so vegetables in the back, Chunhua you go inside too."
Grandma Sun, unable to hide her smile, went to pick vegetables in the back, while Mo Junhua and Chunhua, carrying the grain and oil, entered the hall. Zhao Li had already poured so cool boiled water for them, holding a bowl for each, "Have so water first, I’ll go cook the al."
"Aunt, how have you been?" Mo Junhua stood up.
"It’s good that you’re back, good that you’re back." Zhao Li was excited to see Mo Junhua, "I’m very well, and so are your grandma and your uncle. Drink the water, drink it. Chunhua, you have so too."
"Aunt, don’t worry about us, it’s not our first ti here, let give you a hand." Chunhua got up too, wanting to help, but Zhao Li quickly waved her off, "No need, no need, there’s just a little bit to do on the stove, it doesn’t need two people. You and your brother haven’t seen each other in a long ti, have a good chat."
Zhao Li was insistent, so Chunhua had no choice but to give up.
Seeing the enthusiasm of Grandma Sun and Zhao Li, Chun i felt indignant again, but this ti, she didn’t dare to show it, just humming in her heart. She didn’t consider that Mo Junhua was Grandma Sun’s grandson-in-law, who hadn’t co back from his missions for years, and now seeing him safe and sound, it’s only natural to be excited!
After drinking so water, Chunhua saw Chun i with a long face, looked into the room and then pulled Chun i to the yard. They went to the grape trellis, which was far from the kitchen, and even farther from the back of the yard, so they could talk without worrying about being overheard.
"Sister, what brought you to think of coming from Shanghai, and even bringing the kids? Who’s looking after the shop back ho?" Once they sat down, Chunhua got straight to the point. What’s the deal with her sister-in-law’s aunt, constantly staying at her mother’s house?
Chunhua’s questioning tone kindled the wicked fire in Chun i’s heart. She shot Chunhua a cold glare, "Why can’t I co? Why can’t I? This is my third brother’s ho; as his sister, why can’t I visit my brother’s ho?"
"Third brother’s ho?" Chunhua looked at her as if she had seen a ghost, "What third brother’s ho? Look carefully, is this third brother’s ho? This is Grandma Sun’s house, Uncle’s and Fifth Aunt’s ho. You’ve played around for long enough; you should head back. In a few days, let third brother buy you a ticket to go back."
"I’m not going back." Chun i flatly refused, "Who are you trying to fool? Do you think I’m an idiot? Just with Uncle’s small earnings from treating people, supporting the family, paying for Lan Tian’s schooling, could there be money to buy such a large plot of land and have an orchard? All this money ca from third brother."
Chunhua was taken aback. She had never thought about these things, and now that Chun i ntioned them, they seed to make a lot of sense.
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