Yang Yufen also wanted to take the two children back with her, but she was afraid that the children might not acclimatize. If that happened, it would probably take a long time before they could return.
Shen Xianjun also specifically explained to Yang Yufen the reason for not taking the children back. Because Qin Nian's identity was special, if they took the children, not only would it take even longer, but if an accident occurred, the whole family would really be in trouble.
"Be good. It'll be at most a week, and grandma will be back. You guys go stay at your grandma's place for this period."
"Grandma, I don't want you to go."
Li Wu and Li Wen each hugged one of Yang Yufen's arms. Knowing that they couldn't go with her, their hearts were filled with reluctance.
Yang Yufen's heart softened when she heard that. She almost wanted to take the children with her. But then, thinking about the children's safety, she continued to comfort them.
"Grandma is just going out for a few days. You have to help grandma take care of the chickens in the coop. Pick up the eggs when they're laid. And also water the vegetables. Otherwise, the vegetables will dry up by the time grandma comes back, and we won't have any vegetables to eat."
"Don't worry, grandma. We'll definitely take good care of the chickens! Waiting for you to come back!"
Li Wu immediately promised.
"I can mix the chicken feed."
Li Wen said.
"Grandma Yang, don't worry. I'll take good care of the little brothers!"
Hu Zhenghao also puffed out his chest and said.
"Good, good. Grandma knew you guys were the best."
Yang Yufen praised the children, and the feeling of parting gradually faded.
Liao Yuanjie and Shen Xianjun took turns driving. Along the way, except for stops to eat, use the toilet, and refuel, the car didn't stop at all. They drove all the way to the commune. It was just getting dimly light after a day and a night.
Yang Yufen had prepared ginger slices and sour plums in advance, fearing motion sickness. There were many places where the roads were not good, and the bumps made it feel like one's bones were aching.
Shen Xianjun and Liao Yuanjie tried their best to drive steadily, but the roads were so bad that there was really nothing they could do.
"Mom, I'll go buy you guys breakfast."
Seeing a place selling breakfast, Shen Xianjun said.
"Let's all get out of the car and eat. It's really uncomfortable sitting in the car for so long. What do you think, Niannian?"
Yang Yufen looked at Qin Nian.
"Okay. I also feel so uncomfortable all over after sitting in the car for so long. Taking a walk outside will make me feel better."
Qin Nian got out of the car with Yang Yufen. The group sat down at a small table, having millet porridge and steamed buns.
Yang Yufen took out a few eggs and put them on the table.
"These were boiled yesterday. There are still a few left. Eat them all. Otherwise, they'll go bad in this hot weather."
There were two eggs in front of each of Shen Xianjun and Liao Yuanjie, and one for each of Yang Yufen and Qin Nian. They finished the eggs just right.
"The supply and marketing cooperative is open. I'll go buy some things."
Yang Yufen said and asked them to wait for her. She left quickly and came back quickly too.
"We'll pass by your grandpa's graves later. I'll go burn some paper."
When Yang Yufen came back, she was holding some items for the memorial ceremony.
Hearing this, Shen Xianjun didn't say anything and just obediently followed the instructions.
Since the road had been repaired, it wasn't difficult to walk. The car stopped by the roadside not long after.
Even though she hadn't been back for a few years, Yang Yufen still remembered the way clearly.
"You rest in the car."
Shen Xianjun said to Liao Yuanjie, then quickly picked up a military shovel and followed up.
"Mom, you show me the way, and I'll clear the path."
Yang Yufen didn't say anything and just pointed the way.
"Niannian, be careful. Take a stick and tap the grass so that you don't run into snakes in the grass."
Yang Yufen got a stick and handed it to Qin Nian.
"Thank you, mom."
Qin Nian took the stick and tapped the grass by the roadside. They didn't walk very far, but the road was not easy to walk on.
"In the past, we didn't take this road to visit the graves. After the new road was built, it's much closer."
Yang Yufen started to pull out the weeds. Since she hadn't been back for a few years, there were still traces of previous memorial ceremonies, but the weeds had grown wildly.
Several hillocks were connected together, and there were words engraved on the red bricks.
Qin Nian didn't say a word and helped on the side.
"That year, it snowed heavily. Xianjun was just over one year old. My father, that is, Xianjun's grandpa, loved drinking. He and my elder brother got drunk and didn't notice that the snow outside was too heavy. The whole family slept soundly at night, and the roof beam was crushed by the heavy snow. That year, the same thing happened to quite a few families in the neighboring villages. It was just fate."
After the weeds were almost cleared, Yang Yufen lit the incense and candles and told Qin Nian some old stories.
Decades had passed, and Yang Yufen had long since let it go. She didn't feel sad when talking about it. It was a natural disaster, and who could resist it?
"Okay, let's go. We still have to go to Xianjun's father's grave. After we've visited all of them, we'll go back to the village."
"Mom, there's no need to rush like this. Don't wear yourself out."
Shen Xianjun said.
"The sooner it's done, the better. The kids are still waiting at home."
Yang Yufen waved her hand.
Qin Nian stepped forward to support Yang Yufen.
"Mom can walk. Don't worry."
Yang Yufen patted Qin Nian's hand.
It really wasn't far to drive from the commune to the brigade. The car drove for ten minutes, and this time, without Yang Yufen telling him to stop, Shen Xianjun knew where the place was.
They silently cleared the weeds and then lit the incense and candles again.
"Xianjun's father, Xianjun has brought his wife to see you. Niannian is a good daughter - in - law. She gave birth to a pair of twin grandsons for your Shen family. The elder one is Shen Li Wu, and the younger one is Li Wen. They are all good kids. You just bless them to be healthy and safe down there."
After watching the incense and candles burn out and making sure that there would be no fire, the family left.
"We'll stay in the village for one night and go back early tomorrow morning."
After getting back in the car, Yang Yufen said.
"Mom, don't you want to stay for a few more days?"
Qin Nian was confused.
"Stay for what? Our house was flooded by the big water. Although the villagers helped to repair it, it's still troublesome to live in. We'll just stay at the brigade leader's place for one night. I've come back to see and pay respects. I'm satisfied now."
They called the brigade leader in advance and were going to stay at his place.
"Mom, will you be too tired like this?"
Qin Nian couldn't help but worry.
"Not tired. I can rest in the car."
Yang Yufen had noticed all along the way that no matter how rough the road was and how bumpy the car was, Qin Nian never stopped writing with her pen. At night when it was dark and there was little light, Yang Yufen didn't miss the sound of the pen tip scratching on the paper.
"Wow! A car!"
There were exclamations from a group of children. The adults also heard the sound of the car and all paid attention.
"Yufen?"
Someone recognized Yang Yufen when they saw her.
"Hey, it's me."
Yang Yufen replied with a smile and then pulled Qin Nian's hand and walked over.
"This is Great - grand - aunt San, and this is Niannian, Xianjun's wife."
"Hello, Great - grand - aunt San."
"You're so pretty. Why didn't you bring the kids back?"
"The kids are still young and have to go to school. Their grandma is helping to take care of them. They're also busy with work. They took special leave to come back this time. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to come together. Great - grand - aunt San, you're still in such good health. Have you had your meal?"
Yang Yufen introduced Qin Nian to the people. Everyone saw that Qin Nian was always with Yang Yufen, and Yang Yufen's attitude was very kind and friendly.
On Shen Xianjun's side, the car was surrounded by a group of children, and he couldn't get away at all.
