"You've been cooking with less soy sauce recently. When you're healed, we'll go to the reeds and cut some to apply. I hope it won't leave too big a scar."
Chen Yang comforted his mother-in-law. Times were different from the future; medical conditions were still vastly dissimilar. Drugs to inhibit scar growth were probably impossible to find even in a hospital.
Furthermore, even if scar-inhibiting medicine existed, it couldn't completely eliminate scars, only alleviate them to some extent.
"It's okay. If I comb my hair down, no one will see it."
Shen Rong was very nonchalant. The young girl knew her parents and her brother-in-law were worried about her.
It was indeed false to say she wasn't worried or distressed about having a scar on her head as a young woman. Who wouldn't want to be beautiful?
However, since things had come to this, she didn't want everyone to remain sad.
"Auntie, this is my favorite candy. Have it, Auntie. It won't hurt anymore after you eat it."
The toddler's chubby little hand held out a White Rabbit candy. Shen Xue had hidden them well, afraid of her and Chen Hao developing cavities. She wouldn't give them more than one candy every two days, and the little one cherished them dearly.
"Auntie, and mine too! These are my favorite raisins. They're so delicious."
Chen Hao also grabbed a small handful of raisins. These were their usual favorite snacks, and now they were all for Shen Rong.
Chen Yang and Shen Xue looked at their two children, so thoughtful and sensible, and their hearts felt sweeter than honey.
As parents, the greatest hope in life was to see their children obedient and sensible, to achieve something in the future, and to be happy and joyful. Suzhou Novel Network.
The two little ones were still young and couldn't walk that far. For them to be so well-behaved and sensible at this age, they felt proud.
"It seems Auntie hasn't doted on you in vain."
"Can I really eat it then?"
Shen Rong hugged the two little ones, kissing each of them. Looking at the snacks the children offered, a cunning smile appeared on her face.
"Auntie, you eat it. I'll have more candy in a couple of days."
The toddler lowered her head, unable to bear looking at the White Rabbit candy in her hand. Chen Hao swallowed hard and quickly placed the raisins into Shen Rong's hand.
"Auntie, I'm a man. If I say I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you. Dad said that a true man's word, once spoken, cannot be caught even by four donkeys."
Chen Hao said with utter seriousness, and Chen Yang's face darkened.
"It's 'a word that flies faster than four horses,' not four donkeys."
"You child, I've told you several times, how can you not remember?"
"Dad, aren't horses just donkeys? I've never seen a horse, only donkeys."
Well, Chen Yang's words were as good as useless.
If it weren't for the fact that horses were indeed hard to find in the Anhui province, he would have immediately taken his son to see a horse. When did a true man's word become equivalent to racing against four donkeys?
Shen Rong had only intended to tease the two children, but now she was amused by Chen Hao's and Chen Yang's conversation.
The elderly couple, Shen Futang and his wife, watched their youngest daughter and the two little ones laughing so happily, and they joined in with傻笑.
Shen Xue looked at her family, who had regained their smiles, and her heart was filled with sweetness.
"Jingle bells."
"Jingle bells."
Just then, the sound of a bicycle bell came from the courtyard gate. A green bicycle, laden with two large bundles, stopped at Chen Yang's doorstep.
"Is this Chen Yang's house? There's a letter for you."
The postman's voice could be heard. Chen Yang heard it and quickly went out to meet him. The only people who would write to him were his family in Jinling. It had been over two months since he last returned from Jinling, and he missed home dearly.
"I am Chen Yang."
"Thank you, comrade postman."
Chen Yang took the letter from the postman, thanked him profusely, and couldn't stop smiling at the two letters in his hand.
"Is it a letter from Mom and Dad?"
Seeing Chen Yang enter the house with such a joyous expression, Shen Xue immediately came closer.
"Grandpa, Grandma."
The two little ones also hopped and skipped around Chen Yang. Although they had only been to Jinling once, the two elders had spoiled them terribly. The children remembered their grandparents well.
"You guessed right. Not only from Mom and Dad, but also from Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law."
Chen Yang held one letter in each hand and dangled them at Shen Xue.
"Hurry and open them to see."
Not to mention Chen Yang, Shen Xue was also a bit excited to receive letters from Jinling.
"Alright, let's open Mom and Dad's first."
Chen Yang opened his father's envelope as instructed.
"Yangyang, I am your father."
Chen Yang read it aloud. Although his father's phrasing was not wrong, Chen Yang found it a bit strange as he read it. Seeing Shen Xue trying hard not to laugh, this feeling intensified.
"The matter of your mother and I retiring was handled properly on October 27th."
"Zhugen and Hongmei have also become temporary workers at the factory. Everything is fine at home, no need to worry."
"Xiao Yu scored first place in the grade at Jinling Girls' Middle School. The school teachers said she can choose any university in Jiangsu province."
"Xiao Yu said she wants to be a lone goose, flying north to the capital. Your mother and I don't quite agree. As her elder brother, you should guide her more when filling out her application."
Reading this part, Chen Yang could imagine his younger sister vividly arguing with their parents.
"This young lady wants to be a lone goose, you can't control me anymore, I want to spread my wings and fly, I want to go to the capital, leave the gentle southern dialect, and be baptized by the cold northern wind."
His younger sister was probably the epitome of a young literary youth of that era: stubborn, a little rebellious, and with a hint of yearning for an idealistic future.
In his previous life, his younger sister had gone to the capital, studying at Renmin University. In that era, Renmin University was basically the top institution in China, no less prestigious than Tsinghua or Peking University in the future.
It was also at Renmin University that his younger sister met her future husband. Both of them became professors at Renmin University and lived a life of mutual respect.
In this life, his younger sister would probably still go to the capital. On this matter, Chen Yang could not listen to his father; he stood on his sister's side.
"Also, your mother misses her grandchildren dearly and wishes to visit Anhui province soon."
"After arranging household matters and instructing your Eldest Sister and Brother-in-law to look after Xiao Yu, your mother and I will obtain a letter of introduction and come to Anhui province."
"To see the place where your son lived and worked in the countryside for five years. Your mother and I are very much looking forward to meeting you, Xue'er, and the children again, and also looking forward to meeting our in-laws."
"Written by Father: Chen Liming."
"Dated November 3, 1978."
Unlike last time, his father's letter this time was noticeably more rambling and complex.
Although his father wrote that his mother missed her grandchildren dearly, it was hard to hide his own longing for the two little ones between the lines.
Stubborn old man, too shy to say it directly.
"Mom and Dad are coming to Anhui?"
Today was already November 18th. The letter had been sent from Jiangsu province, but his parents hadn't specified the exact arrival date.
However, both Shen Xue and Chen Yang were thrilled about their parents coming to Anhui!
"Yay! Yay!"
"Grandpa and Grandma are coming to see me and my brother."
The toddler was overjoyed, and Chen Hao was the same. Grandpa and Grandma, like Grandma and Grandpa, gave him delicious food, and he loved them very much.