Reborn in 1966

Chapter 452 Going Home

In summer, looking out over the Nanling Mountains, they are lush and green. Zhou Qiang looked at the Nanling Mountains and said, "The scenery here is quite nice. You two grew up here."

Du Mingjun said, "Yes, it's best to come here in autumn. There are many fruits on the ridge, especially the jujube trees. The jujubes they bear are big and sweet, and they taste especially delicious. During the Spring Festival, we use these jujubes to steam jujube slabs, which are especially sweet."

Zhou Qiang said, "Peiyin steamed jujube cakes at your house during the Spring Festival. I tried them and they were really delicious. My hometown is in the south. I grew up in the countryside with my grandmother when I was a child. They usually make glutinous rice cakes for the Spring Festival there. When I have the chance, I will take you there to try some of the local snacks. They taste very good."

Pei Yin said, "Every place has its own unique snacks, and some places have very distinctive local foods to prepare for festivals. In the summer, we usually make and eat flatbread. Please try our homemade flatbread later."

Zhou Qiang's trip to Shenjia Village made him realize that a family that could raise a girl like Pei Yin could not be an ordinary family. Witnessing the fierceness of the villagers, Zhou Qiang realized that it was fortunate that Pei Yin hadn't mastered the martial arts, otherwise it wouldn't have been just a matter of him falling down twice. He had learned about the village since the War of Resistance against Japan, and that it had contributed to the war effort with its martial spirit. Even now, the teachers at Shenjia Village Elementary School are still teaching simple martial arts moves in their physical education classes. Pei Yin's second sister-in-law's daughter, who was spending her summer vacation at home, was even more formidable. Just looking at her nimble movements, it was estimated that several people wouldn't be able to get close to her.

After being warmly received for two days, Zhou Qiang drove home by himself, while Pei Yin and Du Mingjun resumed their unique rural life.

The east wing of the backyard was originally Pei Yin's boudoir. After the young couple returned, it became their living quarters. Because Du Mingjun was injured, Grandma was thinking all day about how to make something to nourish him. Hearing that he had injured his head, she even asked the village butcher to buy some pig brains. When Pei Yin saw the white pig brains, she swallowed hard and felt nauseous. When Grandma saw this, she quickly pulled her into the house and asked indirectly if she was pregnant.

Pei-yin hadn't paid any attention to this at first, and kept saying she didn't have it. After hearing this, her grandmother looked disappointed. When Pei-yin saw this, she took her grandmother's hand and said, "Grandma, are you unhappy?"

Grandma said, "Oh dear, you've been married for more than half a year now. Grandma thinks it's time to have a child. Look at Aiqin up ahead, every time she comes back she's holding her big, chubby little boy. Your Grandma Tian is so happy, she smiles so much her eyes can't be seen."

Pei-Yin said, "Grandma, do you really want us to have a child?"

Grandma patted Pei-yin's hand and said, "Pei-yin, once you get married, you should have a child soon. It can be a bit lonely for just the two of you to live together. Only when there is a child in the house can it be called a family of three. Otherwise, the family is not complete."

Upon hearing this, Pei-Yin rested her head on her grandmother's shoulder and said, "Grandma, you know, Ming-Jun is injured. If we have a child, we'll have to take care of the child wholeheartedly. I'm afraid that if Ming-Jun isn't fully recovered, I'll tire him out. Once Ming-Jun is fully recovered, we'll have a child right away. What do you think?"

Grandma sighed and said, "Well, I didn't expect Mingjun to get injured so soon after we got married. Although injuries are common, you two are newlyweds. I was worried that people would say bad things about you. You know, words can kill. Some people say whatever they want without caring whether others accept it or not. But since you two came back together this time, and Mingjun looks the same as before, I'm relieved."

Pei Yin felt a pang of sadness watching her grandmother's unsteady figure. Her grandparents were getting old, their health declining. Her grandfather, due to an injury years ago, had spent winters confined to his bed, unable to tolerate even the slightest cold draft. Sometimes, a minor cold required several days of IV drips at home. This spring, he even spent over half a month in the county hospital. After returning from Beijing, Shen's mother helped Shen's father care for her grandfather at the hospital. Fortunately, the old man recovered after his stay and returned home. The elders in the family were very happy to see Pei Yin and Du Mingjun return. My heart, especially my second grandfather. Back when Du Mingjun lived in the Shen family, my second grandfather often took Du Mingjun to do carving or something. Du Mingjun's later interest in jade carving was also influenced by my second grandfather. After Du Mingjun returned, my second grandfather took him to his tool shed. This tool shed was a small house that was added to the backyard later. It was made of red bricks and red tiles. Because of the need to make room, the house was not big. The walls inside were painted white. There was a window on the north and south sides. My second grandfather hung a screen on the door and made screens on both windows. When the doors and windows were open, the room was surprisingly cool because the air circulated.

The room had wooden shelves on three sides, displaying various sizes of wood carvings. Some were carved from wood, while others were carved from tree roots. All the carvings were coated with varnish, which gave the room a strong smell of varnish.

Second Grandfather still had a few pieces of hardwood. Du Mingjun carved simple patterns according to the wood grain. Second Grandfather could tell from Du Mingjun's skill that the boy hadn't lost any of his old skills. However, Pei Yin didn't allow Du Mingjun to sit in the room carving all the time. He could only do it for a maximum of one hour a day, and he had to go out for a walk twice in between. Everyone knew about Du Mingjun's physical condition. But Second Grandfather said that carving requires strength in the hands, and exercising the hands is equivalent to exercising the brain. Pei Yin was enlightened by Second Grandfather's words and found a way to get four marble spheres for him, two in each hand, so that Du Mingjun could spin them in his hands whenever he had free time.

Pei Jun didn't come back for summer vacation. It's said that he was taken by the school to a grassroots military unit for training. Shen Jinhua had nothing to do in Beijing during the summer vacation, so she brought Coco back. Coco is long-limbed, lively, and active. She learned some basic martial arts moves from her grandfather when she was little. Since there were various types of extracurricular classes at school, including a martial arts class, Coco signed up without hesitation. Originally, Shen Jinhua was thinking of having Coco sign up for a dance class, but Coco signed up for a martial arts class herself. After attending a few classes, Coco was very popular with the coach and was even regarded as his last disciple. Although the coach was a martial arts teacher at a primary school, he was considered a leading figure in the martial arts world in Beijing. Coco thrived under his guidance. This summer vacation, if it weren't for the coach having an academic exchange in Hong Kong, Coco would have had to go there for training. However, the coach said that he would be in Hong Kong for more than twenty days, and after he returned, Coco would continue to train with him. Shen Jinhua took advantage of this free time and took the child back to her hometown.

Shen Jinhua launched into a tirade upon seeing Pei Yin. Her daughter, so beautiful and slender, would have been perfect for dancing; girls who dance have such an elegant air. Who knew she'd chosen martial arts? She'd been raised to be a lady, but instead, she'd become a tomboy! Shen Jinhua grew increasingly upset. Finally, Aunt Shengquan couldn't take it anymore and patted Shen Jinhua on the shoulder, saying, "When you were little, didn't you train with your father through the coldest and hottest winters? Did I say anything? As long as it's your own choice, what do you want to do? Why are you complaining so much about your daughter? My granddaughter, she can do whatever she wants, who cares what others do? Becoming a lady? I think martial arts is great for girls. Anyone who dares to bully her outside will get a beating!"

Hearing Aunt Shengquan's fierce words, Peiyin stuck out her tongue at her second sister-in-law. Her second sister-in-law, Shen Jinhua, said helplessly after hearing her mother's words, "Mother, I didn't stop her. It's not as good as I originally thought. Coco didn't go in the direction I hoped. Mother, I feel so upset, can't I even say anything?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Shengquan glared at Shen Jinhua and said, "You can't even talk about it! Haven't you noticed how much less talkative Coco has become since she came back? I think it's because you keep talking about what she said. Don't say it anymore, you hear me!" After saying that, Aunt Shengquan went to the yard, where her old man was exchanging martial arts tips with Coco. The two of them talked and gestured, and because they were exchanging things they liked, the smiles on their faces had an indescribable radiance.

Summer vacation has started, and all the children in the family, including the teachers, are on holiday at home. Peihua felt that the children should take advantage of the summer vacation to go out and see the world. In this hot weather, going to the seaside to see the sea is the best choice. So, after discussing it with Shen's father, he asked Liu Yuqian and Shen Jinhua to take the children to the coastal city in the east for a few days. When his second uncle and aunt learned that his eldest brother's children were going out to play, they sent their eldest daughter and youngest son, who were on summer vacation at home, to their hometown. Peijing, the second uncle's daughter, is currently studying at a school in the provincial capital. The youngest son, Peishen, is only a little over 10 years old. Because of the age difference with his generation, he can play with Duoduo and Guoguo.

It turns out that Qian Xiuju and Zhou Qian, former educated youths from the city who were sent to the countryside, have always kept in touch with the Shen family. Qian Xiuju is now a teacher at a university there, and Zhou Qian is now a section chief in a bureau. The two of them have always been grateful for the help the Shen family had given them. They have never stopped sending things to the Shen family during the Spring Festival and holidays, all of which are seafood from the city. The Shen family also gives back gifts when they receive them. Over time, the two of them have developed a very good relationship.

Peihua called Qian Xiuju to tell her the number of people coming. Qian Xiuju was very happy to hear that Peiyin and Du Mingjun were coming. She had been in contact with these two children quite a bit back then. She never expected that her childhood sweetheart would eventually marry her childhood sweetheart. After Qian Xiuju told Zhou Qian, the two of them discussed renting an empty room by the sea. Nowadays, many families along the sea are renting out their houses to people who come to the city for fun. The house is fully furnished and equipped with appliances. After paying a deposit, the daily rent is a certain amount. You can stay for as many days as you want. Once you've settled in, you can wander around, buy the freshest seafood, cook it simply, and enjoy the most delicious seafood. You can also go to the nearby beach to go clamming with the locals and enjoy the joy of fishing.