"The smell inside isn’t pleasant, you two wait for me under the eaves."
"Mom, we’ll help you with the work."
"No need, I’m not planning to clean up much, just checking if there are any places leaking. You just wait for me a bit."
Jiang Xinyu opened all the windows to let the air circulate, then carefully checked around and found out there were no leaks inside, which made her feel relieved.
She really feels it’s a pity to leave this house unused now, but she also can’t bear to give it to someone else. This is the home of Jiang Xinyu’s deceased family.
"Shi Jing, Feifei, you two head to the aunt’s house, Mom has to go burn some paper money for your grandparents."
The two children had also heard what the aunt said, so they weren’t curious to go and see.
Jiang Xinyu took out the last bag of burning paper from the wood shed, placed it in the basket, and carried it on her back. Holding a sickle, she took the two kids to the Wang Family’s house.
On the way, several small children watched her curiously.
Jiang Xinyu smiled at them but didn’t know them.
Upon reaching the Wang Family’s house, she saw Xiangting playing with her younger brother in the yard, holding two cucumbers.
"Shi Jing, Feifei, these are cucumbers picked for you, hurry and try them. My mom says they’re especially tasty now."
Wang Ailing heard the commotion and came out. She saw Jiang Xinyu outside the gate and didn’t come in. "Xinyu, make it quick. The kids are fine at home."
"Alright, Shi Jing, Feifei, you two play nicely with your sister."
It’s really been five years since she last returned, the village hasn’t changed much, looking at the old house and unchanged streets.
She slowly walked to the cemetery and found the graves of the Jiang Family couple, with their grandparents’ grave beside them.
Putting down the basket, she bent down to cut the grass, finishing cleaning up after an hour.
She squatted down, lit the burn paper, murmuring, "Sorry for not visiting all these years, giving you money, I wonder if you’ve received the money I sent in past years?" While living abroad, Jiang Xinyu would burn some paper money for them at the roadside every Qingming Festival, but that’s all she could do.
After burning a whole bag of paper money, she knelt and kowtowed.
She left carrying the basket, not going to the Wang Family, but directly returning home.
At home she pressed out some water and washed up. Once she was tidied up, she carried snacks to the Wang Family.
It was already past ten in the morning, but the villagers still hadn’t returned. They wouldn’t finish work until eleven-thirty.
"Mom, you’re back?" Jiang Shijing hurried over, holding Jiang Xinyu’s hand.
"Yes, how are you feeling?"
"Mom, brother has been naughty, he wants to go outside and play."
"Shi Jing, you’re still young now and can’t go out. It’s dangerous."
"Mom, I won’t do it next time. But I really want to go out and see."
Jiang Xinyu thought about how the kids are indeed curious about everything. "Wait for a while, I’ll help your aunt make lunch, then I’ll take you out to play."
Wang Ailing was weeding in the backyard garden and came over after hearing the voices.
"Xinyu, no need here, take the kids out for a walk, but don’t be late, I’m also making lunch."
"Alright, we five will go play for a bit."
The four kids giggled happily. They were really cheerful. Follow current novels on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹•𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖•𝗇𝗲𝘁
Truthfully, Jiang Xinyu had forgotten most of the people in the village. What she longed for was the mountains in the back.
However, she wasn’t planning on taking the kids up the mountain, time didn’t allow, and most importantly, it wasn’t safe with all the little kids, fearing accidents.
"We can’t go up the mountain, where else do you want to go?"
The four kids were already satisfied with getting to play outside, anywhere would be fine.
As soon as they came out, a group of children surrounded them.
Jiang Xinyu smiled and gave each one a piece of candy, including her own kids.
Now the kids had more playmates. Some suggested going to play by the river, which Jiang Xinyu refused as she had a fear of the river.
"Then should we play under the big tree over there?"
In the end, a bunch of them went under the big willow tree. Jiang Xinyu stood in the shade on the side, smiling and watching them play.
For the games the kids played here, Xiangting and Feifei didn’t know them, but no one laughed at them and patiently taught them instead.
Xiangting also taught them to play hopscotch, which seemed quite fun.
The little boys were more direct, running and fooling around, circling the big tree.
Hearing someone call her, she turned quickly and saw Tian Shulan behind her.
"Director? Haven’t seen you for years, you haven’t changed a bit."
"Only you would say that, how can I not change, getting old. Xinyu, didn’t you go to college?"
"Yes, graduated, and returned a week ago. I brought my kids back to see my grandparents, to burn paper for Mom and Dad, after so many years of not returning."
Jiang Xinyu just smiled, not answering, but turned to the kids, "Shi Jing, Feifei, come here for a moment."
The two kids ran over, "Mom?"
"You should call her Grandma, alright, Aunt?"
Tian Shulan looked at the two fair-skinned kids, with turmoil in her heart. Her second son had always planned to come back to marry the Jiang Family girl, but the other family’s kids were already so big.
"Yes, you should call her Grandma, these two kids really are lovable."
The two children greeted politely, then ran off again after getting their mom’s permission to continue playing.
"Xinyu, these two kids are really good."
Jiang Xinyu just smiled, "Aunt, is it time to finish work?"
"Then I’ll take the four kids home."
"Who else is with you?"
"Wang Ailing, we came back together."
"Oh, you three can have lunch at my place then?"
Jiang Xinyu smiled, "No, Aunt, we’re eating at my uncle’s place. I won’t delay your cooking."
"Wait, Xinyu, are you staying at home for a few days?"
Jiang Xinyu shook her head, "No, I start work tomorrow. I’ve been away for over four years, no time to stay at home."
"Oh, Xinyu, if you’re able, help Mengjie a bit, you grew up together."
Jiang Xinyu nodded with a smile, "I certainly will, within my capacity, I will definitely help."
Tian Shulan nodded smilingly, "That’s right, you all came from the same place, and now living in the county, you should interact more, and stay close. After all, it’s just you three girls who went out, along with my second son and Dehong, also living in the county."
"Congratulations indeed, Aunt. What about Meng Lin?"
"She’s also in the county."
"The director and village chief can truly relax now that all the kids have gone out."