Crossing Over to Yamada Love

Listening to her grandparents' breathing, she felt at ease. How many years had it been since she had slept beside them? She missed this feeling so much. She wholeheartedly agreed with Wang's suggestion that she not move and sleep with them! The thought of sleeping with her parents made Mo Lan feel awkward.

One kang (heated brick bed) is slept by her parents and their four children—it must be so cramped! And if her parents have any activities planned for the night, and she's a light sleeper, wouldn't she be incredibly embarrassed?

Mo Lan recalled a funny incident from another timeline. She was six years old then, in preschool. One day, she and several other children from the middle class were waiting for their parents to pick them up. She overheard the following conversation:

Xiaoming: Xiaolin, was there a strong wind at your house last night?

Kobayashi: I didn't shave. What's wrong?

Xiaoming: Last night, a strong wind blew through my house, so strong that I couldn't sleep.

Xiaolin: Aren't you sleeping in bed? How could the wind blow onto your bed?

Xiaoming: Yeah, that's right. I was sleeping when I heard a whooshing sound coming from under the covers. My parents can't sleep either, because of the noise.

Xiaolin: Then tell your dad and mom to close the door tightly.

Xiaoming: Yeah, I'll tell my mom when I get home. I'll ask her to close the door properly.

The teacher listened to their conversation with a strange expression, one she didn't understand at the time. Of course, little Mo Lan didn't understand what they were saying either. She remembers asking her mother later, and her mother, blushing, told her that children shouldn't listen to such nonsense. She remembered being puzzled for a long time afterward; how could a child saying that the wind was blowing at night be considered nonsense?

Of course, little Mo Lan understands everything now, so she doesn't want to hear the wind howling in her parents' bed at night.

Mo Lan's thoughts were a jumbled mess as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Mo Lan, still half asleep, was awakened by a few sighs. That's the downside of being a light sleeper—she wakes up at the slightest noise.

"Damn it, are you thinking about the past again? Sigh, I've made you suffer because of me." That was Mo Quan's voice.

Before? What happened before? Mo Lan wondered. She knew Wang Shi was definitely someone with a story; from her demeanor and behavior, it was easy to tell she was no ordinary old farm woman. What exactly was her story? Mo Lan was very curious. She decided to eavesdrop, so she calmed her breathing.

"Don't say that, my dear husband. I remember all the good you've done for me over the years. I've never regretted following you. It's just... sigh." Wang sighed as she said this.

“Hai’s mother, I know you’re suffering. There’s no one here now, so just say what’s on your mind.”

"Oh, my dear husband, I'm just a woman and shouldn't be so talkative, but what my sister-in-law and Changsheng's family did today really chilled my heart." Wang paused here.

Mo Quan didn't respond, waiting for her to continue. "The things those two children, Da Lang and Ju Hua, said were chilling from head to toe. If adults hadn't said them so often, how could those two children have said such things? More importantly, they actually pushed Lan Ya Tou. Luckily, Lan Ya Tou is alright. If something had happened to her... I... I..." Wang Shi's voice was choked with sobs.

Mo Lan sighed inwardly. How come nothing bad happened? The original Mo Lan was gone.

"Hai's mother, don't be sad. Lan'er is doing well, isn't she? She's even become sensible." Mo Quan comforted Wang Shi.

"Yes, Lan'er has become sensible and knows how to care for us. But the way you looked at the eldest son today, I, as his mother-in-law, couldn't bear to look. With all this noise here, how could the eldest son not hear it in his room? He must be feeling so bad. He didn't come over because he didn't want to make things difficult for us. I really feel sorry for the children." Wang's voice was heartbreaking.

“Hai’s mother, don’t think about it anymore, it’s making you feel worse. The children won’t blame you, it’s all fate. Let’s see how things go for now. If your sister-in-law and Changsheng’s family go too far, then we’ll separate. Even if we have to eat chaff and wild vegetables, we’ll make a living on our own.” Mo Quan was clearly also heartbroken by the second wife’s actions.

"Okay, go to sleep. You still have to work in the fields tomorrow." Wang's voice was very soft.

"Well, don't think about it anymore. Go to sleep. You've got enough to do at home," Mo Quan also advised Wang Shi.

After Wang gave a soft "hmm," the night returned to calm.

How exactly did Grandpa and Grandma get together? Judging from the situation, Grandma must have come from a wealthy family, but she married Grandpa. Could it be that they eloped? A young lady from a noble family fell in love with a poor boy, but her parents disapproved because they valued wealth and refused to accept it. So the two eloped in the middle of the night... Mo Lan imagined the love story of Grandpa and Grandma in her mind.

What exactly was wrong with her uncle? In the original owner's memories, it seemed her uncle had a problem with his gallbladder. But what that problem was, she didn't know. What could it be? Gallstones? Cholecystitis? Gallbladder swelling? These were the only three possibilities Mo Lan could think of; she didn't know any more than that, because she wasn't a doctor. What else could it be? Mo Lan pondered this as she drifted off to sleep.

Mo Lan slept soundly until dawn. Even when Mo Quan and Madam Wang got up, she was still groggy. When she finally opened her eyes, she was startled by the little guy in front of her. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Xiao San'er. Mo Lan smiled at him.

"Sis, you're awake. Did Xiao San disturb you? Does your head still hurt?" The little guy asked a little shyly.

"It wasn't that the little mistress disturbed me, it's just that I was thinking about her, and then I opened my eyes and saw her. I'm so happy." Mo Lan sat up and hugged the little guy.

"Really? Little San'er misses his sister too." The little guy was very happy to hear Mo Lan's words. His little face flushed with excitement. At this moment, Madam Wang brought in a bowl. She saw the two siblings being so affectionate and smiled kindly.

"Grandma, I didn't wake up my sister. She said she misses me," Xiao San'er said to Wang Shi, probably afraid that Wang Shi would scold her.

"Yes, our little San'er is the best-behaved and loves her older sister the most." Wang looked at her granddaughter and grandson and felt happy.

“Yes, Xiao San’er loves his sister the most.” He tilted his head and thought for a moment, then added, “He also loves Grandma.”

"Haha, Grandma loves you too. Our little San'er is just so lovable. Come on, have some steamed egg custard with your sister." It turned out that Madam Wang had made steamed egg custard again that morning to nourish Mo Lan.

"Sister, eat. Little San'er isn't hungry; he ate yesterday." Little San'er swallowed. The steamed egg custard smelled so good; he recalled the taste of yesterday's custard. But his sister was sick and had lost a lot of blood; the custard had to be for her. He thought to himself.

"Sister, eat quickly. When Xiao San grows up and earns money, he'll buy you eggs every day and protect you so no one can bully you." The little guy opened his big eyes, clenched his little fists, and spoke very seriously.

“Okay, I’ll wait for Little San’er to grow up, but you have to eat with me now. Otherwise, when you grow up, I won’t eat you anymore.” Mo Lan pulled the little guy to sit down in front of her.

"Well, Xiao San'er and your sister eat together. We'll buy some for your sister when you grow up. Will you buy some for Grandma?" Wang asked her grandson with a smile.

"I'll buy some for Grandma, and also for Dad and Mom, my brother and sister, and Grandpa. Everyone in our family will get some." The little girl's voice was very childlike, full of innocence, yet deeply touching.

*******

I recommend this book—"Rebirth of the Eldest Daughter." It's by author Meiyan Kongkong, and it's a very well-written book; Xuexue has been following it closely. Tomorrow is Kongkong's first pre-order day, so I hope those who can can give it a first pre-order. If that's inconvenient, please add it to your favorites, click on it, or recommend it. Thank you all!