Mrs. Zhao learned quite a few things from Grandma Fang.
"Shitou’s mother, you don’t know, when I first came to Capital City, I was completely stunned. As soon as I got off the train, there was snow everywhere, it was too cold outside, so I just slept on the heated brick bed."
Capital City is also in the north.
The north is colder than the south.
"After the Beginning of Spring in February, it starts to warm up where we’re from, but here it doesn’t get warm until April."
Sleeping on the heated brick bed?
Mrs. Zhao, though she had heard quite a bit from others,
Had never seen one herself.
"You don’t say, after coming to Capital City, I found it to be much cooler than our hometown."
Now the house is somewhat stuffy and hot, but in Capital City, there is still a hint of coolness.
"I heard about the agricultural reform of dividing land among individual households, Shitou’s mother, what’s that all about?"
Mrs. Zhao discussed the matter with Grandma Fang.
"Your family of three was assigned land that Da Shuan is farming for you, and when you come back before New Year’s, he will give you a share of the grain."
Each person received about one mu of land, and for a family of three, that adds up to three mus.
Grandma Fang still trusts Captain Zhao. He is fair and strict.
The allocated land must include both good and poor quality plots.
"Shitou’s mother, Da Bao’s mother has made up a bed for you, let me show you."
Mrs. Zhao looked around the room—it was spacious, with a bed, a wardrobe, and a stool.
"Shitou’s mother, you should rest a while, and I will grind some corn."
Mrs. Zhao was a bit tired too, after all, she was getting on in years.
"Auntie, I will go with you."
Grandma Fang knew where the stone mill was.
She took Mrs. Zhao, carrying the corn, to a house.
"Auntie, we’re here to grind the corn..."
"Auntie, where did you buy this tender corn?"
These days it’s rare to eat fresh corn,
And in Capital City, one would have to wait at least another month to eat fresh corn.
"It’s from home, auntie, I’ll leave you some."
"Then I won’t be shy."
This old auntie even helped out, and after they finished grinding, Grandma Fang filled a small basin for her before taking the corn dough back home.
"Shitou’s mother, go sleep for a bit, Shitou and the others will be back at night for dinner."
Really, after turning the millstone for half a day, she was quite tired.
"Okay, I’ll rest for a bit."
Da Bao and Xiao Bao returned first.
"Da Bao, Xiao Bao, your grandma is back, she’s in the room. Are you hungry? Your great-grandma steamed some cornbread for you, do you want some?"
"We’re hungry, hungry..."
Grandma Fang gave each of the brothers a piece of cornbread to eat.
"But remember to do your homework."
"Great-grandma, we remember."
After eating a cornbread, the two brothers went back to their room to do their homework.
Da Bao scored two hundred percents, and the school still assigned him homework over the winter break.
As for Xiao Bao, he didn’t have homework over the break, but Elder Wu had given him assignments.
When Mrs. Zhao woke up, the first thing she learned was that Da Bao and Xiao Bao had returned, and when she went to see, she saw the two young boys sitting properly and doing their homework.
They had grown taller again.
No wonder she adored these two little grandsons so much: with their fair skin, they were also good-looking.
They had become even more refined and polite.
Elder Wu taught them not only calligraphy but also manners and etiquette.
"Good, good, do your homework. Grandma will check the kitchen," Mrs. Zhao said with a smile that brought out wrinkles on her face as she looked at her two adorable grandsons.
Mrs. Zhao then turned to the kitchen.
Zhao Tianhe also woke up, and through the window, he saw the two youngsters doing their homework.
"Da Bao, how did you do on your exam?"