"Grandma~"
"Grandma~"
The two soft, milky voices instantly melted Yang Yufen's heart.
She had been teaching the children to say "Mommy," but they'd surprised her by calling her "Grandma" first.
"Oh, my precious little grandchildren!"
Yang Yufen responded joyfully, so excited that she immediately slaughtered a chicken. Each child got a portion of the tender drumstick meat, their mouths watering uncontrollably as they savored the delicious flavor.
She saved the remaining drumsticks for the children and shared some with her two close friends and Professor Wen.
Soon, her basket was filled with gifts in return—steamed bean buns from Aunt Liu, fresh fruits from Aunt Wang, and a can of milk powder that Professor Wen insisted she take.
Though she couldn’t get any updates about Qin Nian from Professor Wen, no news was good news, and Yang Yufen gradually stopped worrying.
Fan Juan came again, settling the payment for the last batch of birdcages Yang Yufen had made and hauling them all away in one trip.
Now, Yang Yufen finally had some real free time.
"You love drumsticks so much? Grandma will cook more chickens for you. I’ll prepare and dry them now, so your mom can enjoy them when she comes back."
She had raised plenty this year—keeping just three or four roosters was enough—so she slaughtered over ten in one go. There was so much chicken blood that it could last for days of meals.
She rubbed the meat with liquor, seasoned it with salt and spices, then propped the chickens open with bamboo sticks to air-dry under the eaves.
The two toddlers crawled around Yang Yufen as she listened to the radio, constantly trying to snuggle up to their grandma.
Little Zhang, who had previously lost his savings selling roasted sweet potatoes, had now recovered his losses. Remembering how much Yang Yufen liked fish, he enlisted his cousin to catch a fresh batch—not for sale this time, but as a New Year’s gift for her.
"Aunt Yang, please take them. If it weren’t for you as my safety net, I might’ve…"
Recalling the close call, Little Zhang shuddered, vowing never to take such risks again.
Yang Yufen didn’t accept the fish for free—she handed him a basket of eggs in return, maintaining the tradition of mutual kindness.
Soon, more dried fish hung under the eaves, and heavy snow began to fall.
Winter had truly settled in. Aside from shoveling snow, Yang Yufen stayed indoors.
The children caught slight colds from the harsh weather, making her even more cautious about exposing them to the chill.
After days of careful nursing, their runny noses finally stopped, and Yang Yufen could relax.
The radio crackled to life with an announcement:
"December 22, 1983—China’s first supercomputer, 'Galaxy,' has been successfully developed. This marks a major milestone in our nation’s high-speed computing advancements..."
Yang Yufen was thrilled.
"How wonderful! With our country growing stronger, we won’t have to endure unfair treatment anymore."
"Today’s a special day, Dabao, Erbao. Grandma will make you something delicious—steamed apple pork!"
The children didn’t understand the significance of the broadcast, but they recognized the word "delicious" and clapped their hands excitedly.
"Grandma!"
"Grandma!"
"Yay!"
The steamed apples turned soft and sweet, easily mashed into a puree the children adored. Compared to vegetable mash, the fruity treat was an instant favorite.
Professor Wen and Dean Hu also heard the news, their faces beaming with joy.
"Wonderful! Qin Nian should be able to return soon."
"Her mother-in-law has worked so hard raising the children alone. Once Qin Nian is back, the family can finally reunite."
They had expected Qin Nian to return before the New Year, but it wasn’t until late March that she finally boarded the train home.
The closer she got, the more overwhelming her longing became, surging like a tidal wave.
"Slow down, or you’ll fall! Hand the ladle to Grandma."
Winter had quietly passed. Aside from that one bout of illness during the snowstorm, the twins had been healthy. Now, with the arrival of March, their heavy winter coats were shed.
Free from the bulky clothing, the nearly one-year-olds dashed around tirelessly the moment their feet touched the ground.
"Grandma! Grandma!"
Hearing her voice, they hurried over, still clutching the ladle as they called out to her.
Yang Yufen had just watered the newly planted vegetables in the backyard garden and now ushered the children out.
"Grandma, ladle! Want!"
Erbao stubbornly turned back, determined to retrieve it.
"That one’s too big. Grandma will make you smaller ones—we have gourds at home."
Unlike his more easygoing brother, Erbao was persistent. If not appeased, he’d sneak back to grab the ladle, which rested dangerously on the covered water vat.
"Okay."
After a moment’s thought, Erbao nodded in agreement.
Yang Yufen served their meals, giving each child a bamboo spoon as they obediently sat at their little table to eat.
She selected a dried gourd, sanded it smooth, and sawed it neatly in half.
The twins watched intently between bites, Dabao even speeding up his eating in anticipation.
After hollowing and sanding the edges to ensure safety, she coated the gourds with varnish and hung them to dry.
"You’ll have to wait till the varnish dries, or they’ll break easily. But it won’t take long—you can play with them tomorrow."
She patted their heads as they stared curiously at the gourds, then went to wash dishes and sweep up the rice grains they’d scattered—perfect for feeding the chickens.
With little outdoor activity during winter, Yang Yufen had crafted many toys for them. Realizing the ladle was off-limits, the twins soon turned to the bamboo-wheeled carts she’d made, pushing them around the yard.
"Grandma, go out!"
Dabao had grown restless indoors, eager to explore beyond the courtyard. Though Erbao didn’t voice it, he trailed after his brother, equally keen.
"Alright, let Grandma hang the laundry first, then we’ll go."
She worked swiftly, not keeping them waiting long, then grabbed a basket of unshelled peanuts and led them out.
"Out with the little ones again? Come sit here—let them play on their own."
Under the large banyan tree, early arrivals were already busy—some stitching shoe soles, others shelling peanuts.
Inspired by Yang Yufen’s devotion, Aunt Liu and Aunt Wang were now fully occupied tending to their pregnant daughters-in-law, preparing for the new arrivals and barely stepping out.
The twins’ arrival drew a crowd of curious children, fascinated by their bamboo-wheeled carts equipped with tiny wooden shovels for digging dirt.
What child could resist playing in the mud? Soon, they were all happily engrossed.
Yang Yufen occasionally glanced over as she shelled peanuts, chatting idly with the others.
"Professor Lin’s family from the apartment complex moved away—transferred to another location, they said."
"Really? But this place is so nice. Did they make some mistake to be reassigned?"
