Xu Nianhua had returned to the night of 1979 and began the busy move.
Despite being physically weak, Xu Nianhu still helped with moving everything. It was tough, but she felt grounded knowing they were moving away from that family. From then on, their days would definitely get better, and eventually, they’d be the envy of everyone!
The family of four first carried the essential items to the old house. Along the way, they encountered many villagers who were surprised to learn they had split from the family.
The Xu family’s old house was located on the easternmost edge of the village, backed against a bamboo forest, with a large yard in front.
No, this yard should be called a lawn now.
The grass, taller than a person, grew lushly.
"Nianhua, you and your mom wait on the road," Xu Qinghe said as he took a stick, and together with Xu Nian’an, began to thrash the tall grass. The place had been uninhabited for a long time—they didn’t know whether there might be snakes. They thrashed the grass to drive any snakes away and then lit some dried mugwort to smoke the mosquitoes out.
"Nianhua, don’t be afraid, your mom is with you today," Ji Ying said, holding a torch and looking at the pitch-dark house standing alone, quite a distance from any other house. This made not only Xu Nianhua but also Ji Ying a bit nervous.
"Mom, I’m not afraid."
A smile appeared on Xu Nianhua’s face, and in the flickering light of the fire, her bright eyes seemed to shine.
The family of four together quickly tidied up the two rooms, laying mats and blankets on the beds so they could finally sit down.
"I feel sorry for you," Xu Qinghe said, looking around the drafty house. If it rained, the house would leak, and he felt remorse for his wife and children.
"Dad, it’s not a hardship, I like it here," Xu Nianhua said cheerfully, looking at her father and mother who cherished and pampered her, and her older brother. She felt extremely happy and was determined not to let the tragedies of her past life repeat in this one.
"Mom, our life will definitely get better and better in the future. I’m not afraid of the house being old. What’s important is that we are all together, happy, and never apart."
Xu Nianhua leaned on Ji Ying’s shoulder, feeling dazed from the heat and somewhat tired herself.
"Yes, we will get better and better," Ji Ying said, also feeling a sigh of relief. Although the house was old and they would have to live frugally for a long time, this was their home now.
"Little sister, don’t worry, your second brother will definitely make a lot of money in the future. Then, I’ll ensure that dad, mom, and you have a good life," Xu Nian’an declared with ambition, determined to earn a lot of money to ensure a good life for his parents and little sister.
"And with big brother, we will all surely have a good life."
"Good, I will also work hard to ensure you all have a good life," Xu Qinghe said, looking at the smiles on the faces of his children and wife. The sadness brought by the family split gradually dissipated.
The old yard door was knocked on. The family of four looked at each other.
"Dad, Mom, Nian’an, little sister,"
an anxious voice called from outside.
Xu Nianhua jumped up excitedly, slightly stirred, "It’s big brother, big brother has come back."
Youthful and robust, Xu Nian’an quickly ran from inside the house to the yard gate, opening the old yard gate to find indeed it was their big brother, Xu Nianji.
Xu Nian’an exclaimed excitedly hugging Xu Nianji; he had deeply wished that his big brother was with them during the family split.
Big brother had always been the most formidable, the most authoritative.