New ink fragrance in old times

Lin Mo quietly moved to the edge of the fire in the yard. He was cautious with every step and his eyes were a little alert, for fear that he would be implicated and become the object of everyone's ridicule again. It was too embarrassing.

Not far away, Shen Xin's voice was clear and loud: "The water in the pot has boiled, everyone come and wash your faces."

As she finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room instantly became lively, and everyone carried their wooden basins and moved towards the steaming iron pot.

Zhao Yue'e's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, yet gentle, as she scanned every person washing their face in the yard.

Suddenly, her eyes fixed on the Lin family's children, and a playful smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Hey, whose children are these? They are so naughty that they actually drew on the mattress? Tell me quickly, who did it? Let me, an old woman, have some fun too."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the yard laughed at the same time. The atmosphere suddenly became relaxed and happy, and even the air was filled with joy.

Zhao Yue'e began a unique "death roll call". She asked each person one by one, and her tone was a bit naughty and serious, which made people laugh.

Lin Siheng, as if acupuncture points had been triggered, hid tightly behind Shen Xin, revealing only a pair of large, watery eyes that flickered with shyness and uneasiness. His small hands tightly grasped the corner of his mother's clothes, as if that was his only support, the only sense of security he could find.

Seeing this, Shen Xin couldn't help but laugh out loud. She gently patted Lin Siheng's back to comfort him:

"Oh, our little Rokuro has also learned to be shy! It seems that he has really grown up."

The people around him even joked, "Look, our little Liulang feels embarrassed now. He must be more careful next time."

Lin Siheng's cheeks became even redder, like a burning cloud, making people want to pinch them. His innocence and shyness made everyone present feel pity for him.

At this time, Zhao Yue'e turned her gaze to Lin Mo, and her tone was a little concerned: "Sanlang, you got up so early today, did you sleep well last night?"

Lin Mo nodded gently: "I'm fine, grandma."

After hearing this, Zhao Yue'e nodded with satisfaction: "That's good. I thought you would not be able to sleep at night because you slept too much during the day."

Lin Xuejin smiled and added, "Mom, you're right. Last night, I got up to check on Sanlang and wanted to wake him up, but guess what? I couldn't wake him up. He was sleeping too soundly."

Zhao Yue'e's smile became even brighter. "This is good news, Sanlang. You are at the critical stage of growth now. You need to sleep more and eat more so that you can grow tall and strong. In the future, our Sanlang will definitely become the most handsome young man in the village, making everyone envy us."

Outside the house, the cold wind was as sharp as a knife, whistling through every corner, but the corner of the kitchen where Zhao Yue'e was seemed like a warm haven.

She sat on a slightly old wooden chair, beside a blazing fire. The dancing flames reflected on her kind face, adding a bit of warmth to this cold morning.

Zhao Yue'e added dry wood to the fire from time to time, each movement appearing so skillful and natural. The flames danced on her face, outlining the traces of time, but also reflecting the warmth and peace in her heart.

On the side, Lin Siheng sat quietly, with a thoughtful look on his little face that was inconsistent with his age. His bright eyes seemed to hide something on his mind, making him look a little worried.

Zhao Yue'e glanced at Lin Siheng, her eyes full of tenderness and concern, and her tone was filled with a bit of self-blame:

"This is my fault. I made these kids drink so much ginger soup before bed last night. I guess they were so sound asleep that they didn't even notice they wet the bed."

Shen Xin was busy on the side. The sound of pots and pans colliding with the sound of the wind outside intertwined to play a unique winter morning symphony.

When she heard what Zhao Yue'e said, she raised her head with a gentle smile on her face: "Mom, you are doing this for our own good. The weather is cold, and drinking some ginger soup can drive away the cold and prevent the children from getting sick. Besides, the ginger soup you make is so delicious, the children love it."

Zhao Yue'e curled up the corner of her mouth into a smile and said with a smile: "You are the only one who is good at talking. You always find reasons to make me happy."

There was a hint of sarcasm in Zhao Yue'e's tone, but more of it was love for Shen Xin.

At this moment, Tang Ming suddenly stood up, and his action broke the warm and peaceful atmosphere in the kitchen.

He said to everyone present, with a hint of reluctance in his voice: "Dad and Mom, I plan to take Yaya and the others home today."

Tang Ming's words were like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stunning everyone present.

Lin Mo's reaction was the most direct. He stood there in a daze, as if he was fixed by an invisible force and couldn't move.

The surprise and confusion on his face surged like a tide, his eyes were wide open, as if to fill the entire space, and he could not believe what he heard.

Gone now? Not staying for a few more days? What...what did I miss?

An indescribable sense of loss welled up in Lin Mo's heart. He secretly blamed himself, wondering why he always missed it at the most critical moment. It was like this in Zhaozhuang and also in Tang Qing's case. What was hidden here?

Lin Mo closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil. However, the feeling of loss was like a stubborn vine, tightly wrapped around his heart, making him unable to break free.

How come I always miss things at the most crucial moments? How did you resolve the issue with my aunt?

Lin Mo's thoughts drifted back to the present, and he secretly glanced at Tang Qing who was sitting next to him. Tang Qing's face was as calm as water, without any ripples, as if he was not surprised by Tang Ming's decision.

Lin Mo was even more puzzled: This matter didn't seem to be resolved. Could it be that he was just going to follow him back like this? Wouldn't Tang Qing have suffered in vain?

At this moment, Lin Mo looked down on Tang Ming. His wife and children suffered, but he still had to swallow his anger and keep the peace. He gave in on everything, which would only make Tang Qing and the others suffer more.

A hint of surprise flashed across Zhao Yue'e's face. She looked at Tang Ming and said, "Why so sudden? You've only just arrived, why are you leaving? Mother hasn't treated you properly yet."

Then, Zhao Yue'e turned to look at Lin Xiya, her tone filled with a bit of consolation and reluctance:

"Yaya, you finally get to come home, so stay a little longer. Don't be in a hurry to go back."

She then said to Tang Ming, "There's not much work to do in the fields right now. Why don't you stay here for a few more days? It's so hard for our family to get together."

Lin Wenhong also put down the work in his hands. He walked over to Tang Ming, his tone filled with concern:

"It's not going to be easy for you two to go back with the kids. It's cold and the roads are slippery, and it's not easy for Yaya to walk with the kids. Once we finish the work, I'll ask them to take you back so they can take care of you on the way."

Lin Xiya was somewhat moved by everyone's persuasion. She looked up at Tang Ming, a hint of hesitation flashing in her eyes. Her heart was full of contradictions and struggles.

To be honest, Lin Xiya didn't want to go back to the Tang family in such an unclear manner, but when she thought about her son's future, she became a little hesitant. She couldn't just care about her own feelings and ignore her son's future.

At this time, Shen Xin came over. She looked at Tang Ming with a sincere and enthusiastic tone:

"Brother-in-law, Yaya has barely seen her parents all year long. Now that you've finally come back, why don't you stay a few more days? Let's have a good family get-together and let Yaya spend more time with her parents."

After everyone's persuasion, Tang Ming finally nodded.

A smile appeared on his face, and he seemed moved by everyone's sincerity and enthusiasm.

He whispered to everyone, "Dad, Mom, let's stay a few more days."

Zhao Yue'e showed a satisfied smile on her face.

She greeted everyone: "Okay, okay, let's eat first. Everyone has been busy all morning, you must be hungry."

The cold wind was still howling outside, bringing a biting chill, but the small house was warm as spring.

Everyone sat around the fire, and the steaming hot breakfast dispelled the winter chill.

Although everyone had their own thoughts and worries in their hearts, in this warm atmosphere, everyone spontaneously forgot what had just happened.

They chatted about family matters and shared little things in life, with laughter and conversation intertwined together, creating a beautiful scene of joy, harmony and warmth.