Colorful years

"Father, Auntie isn't our biological aunt, she's just a cousin. What if she suddenly hides away and disappears like Godfather did?" Congcong asked his father with a worried expression, his little hands tightly clutching the hem of his clothes, his heart filled with unease and anxiety, his voice trembling slightly.

"No, my dear son, your aunt is definitely not that kind of person." Zhang Zhong comforted his son with these words, but in reality, he was also feeling very uneasy and uncertain.

You see, since he was discharged from the army and returned to his hometown in 1952, when he briefly met his cousin Li Yun in the county town, the two hadn't had any contact for more than ten years. Now, he really couldn't be sure if his cousin was still as kind-hearted and warm-hearted as she was when they first met.

After all, in this world, most people change as their surroundings change.

It is said that people maintain family ties through interaction. If they do not visit each other for a long time, and so many years have passed, will they still be as warm and friendly as when they first met? To be honest, even Zhang Zhong himself felt that this was quite unpredictable.

And so, Zhang Zhong kept thinking about these questions all the way, and before he knew it, the father and son had arrived at his aunt's house, which was located north of the South Gate Wharf.

This is a traditional courtyard house, standing quietly in a corner of the city. It is surrounded by high walls covered with lush green vines, as if draping the courtyard in a mysterious veil.

From a distance, the blue bricks, gray walls, and black tiles complement each other, creating a tranquil and elegant scene.

Stepping into the courtyard, you can see four households scattered in a neat and orderly fashion, each with three spacious and bright rooms. Although these houses are slightly old, they exude a rustic charm that comes with the passage of time.

In the early days after liberation, this courtyard house was requisitioned by the military control committee and used as the office space for the grain supply department and the temporary residence for its employees.

At that time, the place was bustling with people every day, full of vitality and energy.

Later, with social development and progress, the government successively built modern grain bureaus, large-scale grain depots, and grain stores that were scattered throughout the streets and alleys.

Thus, this courtyard house completed its historical mission and was transformed into a warm and comfortable dormitory for the grain store employees.

The father and son entered the courtyard house; it was already 10 p.m. Some families had already gone to bed.

Filled with anticipation, Zhang Zhong, relying on the memories deep in his mind, walked straight to the door of the east wing and gently knocked on the slightly mottled wooden door.

"Who is it?" A clear and melodious voice came from inside the house, followed by a slight noise. With a creak, the door slowly opened, revealing Zhang Zhong's cousin, Li Yun.

She was wearing a light blue floral dress, and her face was beaming with a warm and friendly smile.

"Yunmei, I am Zhang Zhong." Zhang Zhong looked at his cousin in front of him, his eyes revealing undisguised joy.

"Ah, it's Brother Zhong! Come in quickly, come in and sit down." Auntie quickly stepped aside and warmly invited Zhang Zhong and his son into the house.

"Yunmei, I'm so sorry, look at us, father and son, coming empty-handed." Zhang Zhong said, scratching his head, somewhat embarrassed. His dark face was slightly red with embarrassment, like a ripe apple.

Hearing Zhang Zhong say this, Li Yun quickly waved her hand and comforted him, "Oh, Brother Zhong, don't say that! I know everything. This year, your area first suffered from floods, and then there was a drought, resulting in a significant reduction in grain production. I heard that many families are eating radishes instead of rice. At a time like this, how can we possibly think about preparing any gifts!"

As she spoke, she gently bent down, tenderly patted Congcong's little head, and asked with affection, "Good child, tell Auntie, is your little tummy hungry? If you are hungry, Auntie will go and cook for you right away."

Congcong shook his head sensibly and replied obediently, "Thank you, Auntie, but we've already eaten, so you don't need to bother."

"Really? Children, you mustn't lie to your auntie. Your stomachs are your own; if you go hungry, don't blame your auntie for not being hospitable enough." The auntie deliberately put on a serious expression, but her eyes were full of laughter, making her seem very witty and humorous.

Seeing Congcong nod in confirmation, Zhang Zhong quickly chimed in to support his son, "He really has eaten, Xiaoyun, don't worry. By the way, where's your brother-in-law? And how are the children?"

Li Yun straightened up and replied with a smile, "Your brother-in-law is busy working in the village and won't be home until tomorrow. The two girls have already gone to bed and are probably having sweet dreams right now."

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Yun clapped her hands and said, "Alright, it's getting late. We can talk about it tomorrow. I'll go prepare some toiletries for you and your son, and make the beds so you can get some rest." Before she finished speaking, her aunt turned and went into the kitchen to get busy.

Soon, the sound of rushing water and the crackling of burning firewood in the stove could be heard from the kitchen.