country bumpkin

The next day was a bright and sunny day. Mu Shuyun got up early and started her day's work.

First, I cooked pig feed, then let the chickens and sheep roam freely, and then I made breakfast. After breakfast was ready, I went to feed the pigs with the pig feed.

By the time Kong Xiujuan, Sun Limei, and Yun Ya got up to eat, Kong Tongming had already been at work for a long time.

Mu Shuyun cooked meat sauce noodles again, and the three of them sat together around the table to eat breakfast.

After dinner, the children had nothing to do, so Yunya led her older sister to Caixia's house to play. Mu Shuyun chatted with her eldest daughter while washing clothes.

Kong Xiujuan helped her mother twist the bed sheet, and the two of them worked while discussing Yunya's return to the city.

Mu Shuyun asked, "Juan, have you come up with any good ideas?"

Kong Xiujuan said, "Mother, I've come up with an idea. I don't know if it will work, but let's give it a try!"

Mu Shuyun said helplessly, "Tell me, what's the solution?"

Kong Xiujuan said, "Let's do it like this first... and then like this..."

Mu Shuyun nodded. "Okay, that's the only way. Let's try it first. It has to work, what else can we do?"

The mother and daughter discussed their options and decided that Kong Xiujuan would stay at her parents' home for a few days before returning. Since she had finally come back, she wanted to stay as long as possible.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have time to come when the child starts school. Luckily, she doesn't have much work right now, so her son is left at home with her husband. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to relax and stay for a few days like this with her son.

When Zhou Caiyun heard that her eldest sister-in-law had arrived, she happily brought her child to the old house. She knew that no matter which sister returned to her parents' home, she would never come back empty-handed, and as long as she came to the old house, she would definitely benefit from it.

When Zhou Caiyun came to the old house, she ate with them during meals. After the meal, she would pretend to look after the children, and the task of washing the dishes and cleaning the table would fall on Kong Xiujuan.

Granny Zhang came over for a visit and saw that their family was doing the same thing again. Granny Zhang reminded her, "Sister, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you can help watch the child for a while, even if I'm just visiting. Why can't you ask Caiyun to help wash the dishes and clear the table? If this leads to another Wang Chunhua, you'll be in big trouble. Weren't you a very diligent person before? How come you've changed after having a child?"

Mu Shuyun didn't take it seriously and said, "The child is young, so he'll definitely be looking for his mother. It's good that his mother is watching over him."

Seeing that she couldn't reason with her, Granny Zhang stopped talking about it and just glanced at Zhou Caiyun, who was chasing roosters all over the yard with her child in her arms.

She sighed silently and said, "People change." Then she turned around and chatted with Mu Shuyun as if nothing had happened.

When Zhou Caiyun returned, she took a bag of pastries and a piece of meat, both brought by her sister-in-law.

Mu Shuyun remembered something and asked her, "Older sister, did Qingjiao come back on the second day of the Lunar New Year this year?"

Granny Zhang's expression changed, and she hesitated before saying, "No, there's no sound at all. This girl probably hates me."

Mu Shuyun asked in confusion, "Didn't you go to see her last year? How is she doing? What did she say?"

With a look of shame and embarrassment, Granny Zhang said, "Oh! It's all my fault. I was so busy with things at home that I forgot about her and didn't even go to see her."

Mu Shuyun frowned as she looked at her and advised, "Older sister, I'm not trying to be mean, but your own daughter hasn't come back since that incident. Don't you miss her? Aren't you worried about her?"

Granny Zhang was filled with remorse and didn't speak. She looked down at Mu Shuyun, and after a while, she slowly raised her head and said, "I haven't heard any news about her from other villages. She has found a godmother in the family that saved her, and she has also gotten married and had a son."

By the end, Granny Zhang had already shed tears.

Mu Shuyun went to get a towel to wipe her tears. Granny Zhang took it, but it was no use. She raised her arm and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Mu Shuyun comforted her, "Don't be sad. She's still your own flesh and blood. Try to go see her when you have time! She's always been so obedient. She won't hold a grudge. After all, you're her mother."

Granny Zhang quietly wiped away her tears again. She said to Mu Shuyun, "You're right. I'll go and find out where Jiaojiao is staying tomorrow, and I'll go see her the day after tomorrow."

After sitting there for a while, Granny Zhang went home dejectedly. Once home, she woke up her son, Zhang Qingguo, who was sleeping in the house, and asked him to take her to other villages to inquire about her daughter.

Zhang Qingguo reluctantly rode his bicycle to Xingfu Village with his mother.

Since his last trip back from the city, he had been keeping track of news about his sister. He knew that one day his mother would definitely go looking for her, and now he knew that she was in Xingfu Village.

At Yunya's house, Kong Xiujuan and Mu Shuyun had agreed that they would return to the city together on the fifth day of the seventh lunar month (August 24th).

Mu Shuyun told Yunya to say goodbye to her friends one by one, as she would accompany her to the city for a few days.

Yunya had heard her aunt say that there were many delicious foods, fun activities, and beautiful lanterns in the city.

She really wanted to go to the city to broaden her horizons. She also wanted to see what movies were like at the city cinema.

Yunya was both happy and excited as she told Caixia about her itinerary. She also told her friends Xianghong, Xiangyang, Jianjun, and Jianguo, "When I come back, I'll bring you gifts..."

When her friends heard that she was going to stay in the city for a few days, they were all very envious. Yunya said, "Oh! When my aunt comes back, I'll know the way, and then I'll ask her to take us to the city. Okay?"

The little ones nodded happily, clapping their hands and shouting, "Great! Great! Great!"

At home, Mu Shuyun was packing Yunya's clothes and toys. As she packed, she wiped away tears and sighed, "Sigh! Children grow up and leave home..."

Kong Xiujuan comforted her mother, "Mom, don't worry, we will take good care of Yunya. We will send her to keep you company during summer and winter vacations."

Mu Shuyun wiped away her tears and forced a smile, saying, "Going to school is a big deal. I can't let my child's future be delayed because of me. I just can't bear to leave my child. She has been with me for six years... I'm not used to leaving her all of a sudden, and I can't bear to part with her."

After saying that, Mu Shuyun started to cry again.

Yunya was still at Caixia's house, excitedly talking with her friends about going to the city.

She had no idea how sad she would be to leave her grandmother, with whom she had spent every day.

As evening approached, Yunya came skipping and hopping back. Seeing her grandmother packing her things, she became excited and happily took her grandmother's hand, her eyes full of anticipation for going to the city to play.

At night, everyone was asleep, but Mu Shuyun lay awake, feeling empty inside as she thought about Yunya leaving her. She couldn't help but start crying again.

I don't know how much time passed before I finally drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Mu Shuyun and Kong Xiujuan, along with Sun Limei and Yunya, embarked on their journey back to the city.

Along the way, Yunya leaned against the car window, watching the villages recede into the distance. Her eyes were filled with anticipation and longing for the city.