Chattering and laughing all the way, they quickly arrived at Wanglou Brigade. There weren’t many adults around, only children spreading joy everywhere.
Upon reaching home, they found that Lu’s father and Guan Cheng were not there. Lu Tianzhi, Guan Yu, Feng Qingyun, and Song Gang were playing at the entrance. Lu Tianzhi and Guan Yu were playing with willow flutes, while Feng Qingyun had made two flower crowns from willow branches, one for herself and one for Song Gang.
Song Gang grinned at her, "Auntie, you’re the best!"
"Silly boy, I am your aunt! If I don’t treat you well, then who will I treat well?"
After speaking, the mature-looking Feng Qingyun lifted her head to adjust the willow branch flower crown on Song Gang’s head. Suddenly, she saw her sister approaching and jumped up, "Sis, Sis, Xibao, Xibao! You guys are back!"
She waved her hands, running and jumping, and was by their side in an instant.
"Ah!" Xibao happily extended his half-naked upper body that had slipped out of his vest, reaching towards his aunt.
"Xibao! Xibao!" Feng Qingyun shouted joyfully.
Lu Tianjun lifted Xibao out from the chair and the little guy snatched the flower crown from Feng Qingyun’s head. Excitedly, he slid down and finally stood on the ground.
Seeing Xibao taking small steps towards her, Feng Qingyun exclaimed joyfully, "Xibao can walk now, how amazing!"
Lu Tianzhi and Guan Yu rushed over. After greeting Feng Qingxue and Lu Tianjun, they politely greeted Wang Cuilan and Chen Xueniang under Feng Qingxue’s introduction, then began clamouring around Xibao.
"Xibao, Xibao, do you remember me? I am Brother Tianzhi."
"I am Brother Guan Yu, Xibao."
"And me, don’t forget me!" Song Gang, who had shorter legs and walked slower, finally caught up and said with rivalry.
Xibao’s face beamed with joy, looking this way and that - there was no one busier than him in the world.
"Children like to play with other children," Feng Qingxue explained to Wang Cuilan and Chen Xueniang, "Let’s go home and have a drink. We’ve been walking for three to four hours, we’re exhausted. After lunch, we’ll go forage for wild vegetables."
Neither Wang Cuilan nor Chen Xueniang refused, they were indeed tired.
Feng Qingxue then said to Lu Tianjun, "Tianjun, take care of them and Xibao, don’t let them go to the riverside."
"Aunt, let me help you cook," offered Lu Tianjun.
Feng Qingxue patted his shoulder, "All of us mothers are here, you don’t need to. Go look after your brother. Xiaoyun, take it easy, where have all the adults from home gone? Are they coming back for lunch?"
With one hand holding Xibao and the other waving behind her, Feng Qingyun replied, "They’ve gone to the two-thousand-acre field to plant peanuts and sweet potatoes. Isn’t it time for spring farming? They won’t be back at noon, Uncle Lu, Guan Cheng, and Grandpa and Grandma Xu have all brought their dry food. Grandma Xu and Guan Cheng had steamed a big pot of wild vegetable wontons yesterday!"
Although Lu Tianjun wanted to earn work points by working in the field, he held back his guilt because he was afraid his brother wouldn’t take good care of Xibao. So, he followed his brother, watched Xibao frolicking, and saw him pulling off many willow leaves from the flower crown.
Lu Tianzhi blew his willow flute, the clear sound attracted Xibao who stretched out his hand towards him.
Chen Xueniang sighed, "This is so wonderful!"
Such a scene exists only in paintings or dreams.
"It’s because our Wanglou Brigade leads a better life, that the children can be carefree. I feel very fortunate to have married into Wanglou Brigade and to have these lovely and sensible children," Feng Qingxue said, pushing her bicycle and opening the half-open gate, "Auntie, Sister Chen, come on in."