Reborn in 1985, starting from the mountains of Northwest China

Chen Feng felt a surge of warmth in his heart, quickly took a few steps to meet them, bent down and hugged them both tightly.

"Why did you run out? It's so cold outside..."

Chen Feng rubbed his chin against Xiao Shan's head, then kissed Xiao Yue's soft cheek.

"Father, Uncle and Second Uncle are back! Mother told us that since we saw you were back, we should all go to Uncle's house for dinner!"

Before Chen Feng could finish asking, Xiao Shan blurted out everything he knew.

"Father, hurry! My uncle brought me some wooden toy guns, and each of my older brothers has one!"

The elder brother Xiaoshan mentioned was Chen Hong, the eldest son of Chen Feng's sister-in-law Wang Chunmei, whose nickname was Hong'er.

"Me too! My fourth sister, fifth sister, and I each have a doll! My second uncle even brought us candy!"

Xiaoyue also eagerly told Chen Feng what she had to say.

The Chen family is a branch that migrated from the coast to escape the war during the Anti-Japanese War.

The Chen family is small, and the cousins ​​address each other as brothers and sisters. The fourth and fifth sisters that Xiaoyue mentioned are Chen Xiaolu, the daughter of the second sister-in-law, and Chen Ling, the daughter of the eldest sister-in-law.

Looking at the pure joy in the children's eyes, Chen Feng felt a little less of the complex emotions he felt because of his brother's return.

Although his elder brothers had a hard life, they still remembered to bring little trinkets for the children. He appreciated their kindness.

"Okay, let's go now."

Chen Feng straightened up, picked up Xiaoyue with one hand and held Xiaoshan's hand with the other, and after a few steps they turned into their own yard.

The kitchen light was still on, but Lin Xiu was nowhere to be seen. Only the kneaded dough on the cutting board was covered with a damp cloth, and everything was in perfect order.

"Where is your mother?" Chen Feng asked.

"Mom's going to help out at Uncle's house first!"

Xiaoshan answered with his head tilted back.

"My uncle's family is large, and Mom said she'd go over early to lend a hand. She told us to wait at home for Dad to come along!"

The two houses are not far apart, just a few steps away.

Lin Xiu is always like this, diligent and thoughtful.

"Let's go over there too, so as not to keep Uncle and Second Uncle waiting."

As Chen Feng spoke, he lifted Xiao Yue in his arms higher and checked whether Xiao Shan's cotton-padded coat was fastened before leading the two children out the door.

The night sky was completely dark, with only a few cold stars twinkling.

Using the faint light coming from the neighbor's window and the small oil lamp they carried, the father and his two sons quickly arrived at the eldest brother Chen Jun's house along the familiar dirt road.

Before even entering, I could hear lively voices coming from inside.

The laughter of children, the busy movements and conversations of women, and the occasional low voices of the eldest and second eldest brothers, mixed with the aroma of food and the warmth of firewood, all spilled out from the crack in the door.

Liu Xia sat next to the head of the table, a relaxed smile on her face that was rarely seen these days.

The eldest brother, Chen Jun, was talking to the old lady, while the second brother, Chen Lin, sat on a stool a little further away, chatting with Chen Laogeng.

The kitchen was bustling with activity, with the eldest sister-in-law, the second sister-in-law, and Lin Xiuzheng working around the stove. One was cooking dumplings, and the other was preparing the dipping sauce, their teamwork seamless.

"Third brother is here!"

Wang Chunmei, the eldest sister-in-law, spotted Chen Feng and his son first. She wiped her hands on her apron and said, "We've been waiting for you to start eating! Come in quickly, it's cold outside!"

Xiaoshan and Xiaoyue had already run inside impatiently and soon started playing with their cousins.

"Fūko is back."

The eldest brother, Chen Jun, stood up and patted Chen Feng on the shoulder, while the second brother, Chen Lin, nodded with a smile.

"Big brother, second brother."

Chen Feng agreed, found a stool to sit down, and then rubbed his hands together. "I rushed here, but I still made you wait."

"What are you waiting for? We're family, no need for formalities."

The old lady spoke, her eyes filled with satisfaction, "Everyone's here! Good, good! Chunmei, Xiuer, are the dumplings ready? Let's eat!"

"Okay, okay!"

Wang Chunmei and Lin Xiu carried several large plates of steaming, plump, white dumplings out of the kitchen, and the rich aroma instantly filled the entire house.

An old square table was crammed full.

The adults sat around the table, while the children either squeezed next to them or happily ate their meals while holding their bowls.

Dumplings filled with pork and cabbage, and sauerkraut, steamed with enticing heat, and the simple vinegar and garlic dipping sauce made them especially appetizing.

After finishing her meal, the old lady, concerned about Chen Laogeng's health, went home early.

The children, though full of energy, were even more energetic, running and playing inside and outside the house with their new toys.

The women quickly cleared away the dishes, boiled water and brewed some coarse tea. They sat around the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) a little further away, chatting quietly about everyday matters, with occasional soft laughter.

Chen Feng followed his two older brothers to a bench and low table against the wall in the main room, where it was sheltered from the wind at the door and quieter.

The hot tea in the rough porcelain bowl was steaming with wisps of white vapor.

The eldest brother, Chen Jun, picked up the bowl, took a sip, exhaled a long breath, and the forced smile on his face faded.

His brow was furrowed with deep worry: "This trip back...sigh, the mine says it's undergoing restructuring, I wonder what things will be like after the New Year..."

He didn't finish speaking; he just shook his head.

Second Brother Chen Lin, holding a teacup to warm his hands, could not sit up straight and could only hunch slightly. Hearing this, he smiled bitterly and said, "It's the same where I am."

"My back injury has flared up again, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to find work before spring. This whole family has several mouths to feed every day..."

He glanced at his wife, Li Qiaoyun, who was carefully wiping his daughter Xiaolu's mouth not far away, his eyes filled with guilt.

The atmosphere became somewhat somber for a moment.

The laughter and chatter of Wang Chunmei, the eldest sister-in-law, and Li Qiaoyun, the second sister-in-law, subsided unconsciously, and a barely audible sigh could be heard.

Chen Feng listened quietly, and his thoughts drifted back to his past life.

The mine where my older brother works is facing financial difficulties. In order to make more money, the boss has reduced the work that could originally be done by two or three people to just one person.

To earn more money, the older brother worked tirelessly in the mines day and night, eventually dying there, leaving behind only a thousand yuan in "compensation" and two young children...

Chen Feng put down his teacup, breaking the silence: "Big brother, second brother, things at the mine and construction site can't be rushed. Winter is almost here, so it's better to stay home and take care of your health."

Chen Jun sighed, "Staying at home is certainly peaceful, but this kind of life..."

Life goes on.

Chen Feng picked up the conversation, leaning forward slightly and lowering his voice, "I don't plan on going out and making a ruckus again this time I'm back. I'm thinking of... picking up the mountain-driving skills that our father left us."

"Going to the mountains?"

Chen Jun and Chen Lin were both stunned for a moment.

They knew that the third son had gone into the mountains with his father when he was a child, but that was many years ago, and after his father was injured, that set of equipment had long been abandoned.

What could possibly be in the mountains in the dead of winter?

"Fengzi, this is no joke." Chen Lin frowned. "Winter mountains are difficult to traverse, and the wild animals are cunning. Your father was an old hand at this back in the day. You haven't been around for so many years, what if..."