"How’s little sister doing now?" Xu Nianji jumped out of the car and instinctively looked for Xu Nianhua.
"Little sister is all better now, her head wound has healed, and her feet too. She can walk and jump around." Xu Nian’an cleared his throat, staring at the factory gate right in front of him, but he didn’t quite dare to go in.
Xu Nianhua dashed into the factory and threw herself into Ji Ying’s arms.
Ji Ying had just finished washing some glass bottles and was drying them when she saw her daughter. Her face lit up with surprise and joy. She knew her daughter and son would return today, but she didn’t know when.
"Let me take a look at you, you’ve lost weight." Ji Ying scrutinized her daughter and fondly touched her face, saying, "I’ve slaughtered a chicken today to nourish you both."
Could she not eat chicken?
Ever since she got injured, her second brother bought six chickens, and ducks and such, having her drink broth every day. She felt like she was being nourished into a ball.
She had clearly gained weight, how could she be thin?
"By the way, where’s your second brother? Didn’t your eldest brother go to the city yesterday? Did you guys meet?" Ji Ying looked back but couldn’t see Xu Nian’an behind Xu Nianhua.
"We met. Eldest brother picked us up at the train station. Second brother rode back in eldest brother’s car, and I came back in Yining’s car because it was faster."
Xu Nianhua said this, her eyes scanning the food factory she hadn’t seen in half a year. It seemed to have changed quite a bit.
"Is everything going well at the factory? How are the sales?" Xu Nianhua switched the topic and asked.
"Everything’s fine. It’s cold out, so you better go home and warm up by the fire. Your sister-in-law and Zhuangzhuang are at home." Ji Ying adjusted her clothes, worried she might catch a chill, and said, "Go now, I’ll come home in a bit and cook something nice for you."
"I’m not cold. What are you doing? I’ll help you." Xu Nianhua didn’t leave and instead insisted on helping Ji Ying get the glass bottles out to dry, all the while sharing amusing stories from school.
Ji Ying laughed happily. The trivial tales from her daughter’s school life were music to her ears, and she was especially happy when they talked about her roommates. "Next year, bring more cured sausages and bacon, and the crisp pork too. I believe your dorm mates will definitely love it."
"Oh, and there was your classmate you mentioned on the phone, the one who sent her family tea leaves. What was her name, Chang something?" Ji Ying struggled to remember the name.
"Chang Hui." Xu Nianhua reminded her.
Ji Ying nodded with certainty, "That’s the one. The tea leaves she sent are a favorite of your dad’s and your Uncle Yuchun too. Next year, buy more. If there’s extra, we can give them away and also help her out."
Ji Ying had faced hardships before. If it weren’t for the gradual improvement in their business and life from last year, how could Ji Ying enjoy such good days now?
Therefore, Ji Ying thought, if she could lend a hand to others, then she would. Buying a few more pounds of tea leaves to give away was very simple for them.
"Okay, I’ll remember that. Next year when I go back, I’ll ask Chang Hui to bring us a few more pounds." Xu Nianhua cheerfully agreed, holding Ji Ying’s hand, and said, "Mom, you’re really wonderful."
"We have to drink tea anyway, whose tea we buy doesn’t matter, right?" Ji Ying was over the moon with her daughter snuggled up to her so affectionately. She said, "Everyone needs help at some point. Our family, without the kind-hearted people in the village, how could we have these good days now?"