"Auntie, I miss you too."
Chen Yang took the basket of eggs from his aunt's hand. His aunt was not even 1.6 meters tall, and her skin was tanned dark from years of labor.
But when she saw Chen Yang, she smiled happily.
They say an aunt is like a mother, and that was true in Chen Yang's family. When Chen Yang and his sister were young, their parents were busy with work, and they spent their winter and summer holidays at their aunt's house, playing with their cousins.
As for Chen Yu, she was even more so; she was breastfed by her aunt until she was a year and a half old.
In recent years, as their mother neared retirement, their cousins were frequent visitors to their home.
In Chen Yang's memory, anything good at his aunt's house was always thought of and brought to them, the three siblings.
In those days, people in the countryside struggled to get enough to eat. Although the situation in Jiangsu Province was better than in Anhui Province, the improvement was limited. Raising a few chickens secretly at home to lay eggs was the most they could manage.
These eggs laid by chickens, his aunt would often bring them to eat.
"Eldest sister, let's not reminisce here. Let Xiao Yu drive you to the banquet. I'll go with Yang Yang to pick up Big Brother and Little Brother. Why isn't your husband here today?"
It was getting late, and it would take time to ride back. Chen Liming quickly greeted Qin Liyun.
"Alright, we'll have plenty of time to chat after the banquet."
"You know old Zhang. If he doesn't send a decent gift, he'll be too embarrassed to attend the banquet. Don't worry about him. He's suffering because he's too concerned about appearances."
Qin Liyun waved her hand. She had nothing to hide from her brother-in-law's family.
"Brother-in-law is really something. Why would we, siblings, talk about this? Didn't Juan eat your food when she was little?"
"These three little rascals, who wasn't looked after by you?"
Chen Liming felt uneasy. His brother-in-law was a man with strong principles. He was good to everyone but was overly concerned about appearances.
But in those days, living in the countryside, it was difficult to be well-off. There was no need to compete in giving gifts. It was best to be able to attend the banquet and have a lively family gathering.
"Let's not talk about him. Xiao Yu and I will go ahead. Perhaps my sister will be overwhelmed with the big event, and I can lend a hand."
Qin Liyun didn't want to talk much about her husband. She could only blame them for being farmers, living off the land, and managing to raise a few children was already good enough. Where would they get the spare money to give gifts and save face?
"Xiao Yu, ride slowly. Auntie is still carrying eggs."
Chen Yang reminded the little girl. After seeing his aunt sit properly, he took the basket back to her.
"Don't worry about Auntie. Hurry up and go pick up your uncles. Xiao Yu and I will go ahead."
His aunt waved her hand, eager to help out as soon as possible.
Watching Chen Yu ride away with his aunt, Chen Yang and Chen Liming continued to cycle.
"Dad, is my uncle still the same?"
Chen Yang thought of his aunt's simple smile and remembered when he was little, at his aunt's house, she and his uncle would always give the best food to him and Chen Juan before their cousins.
Chen Yang felt a pang of sadness.
"A person's temper stays with them for a lifetime. If he changed, he wouldn't be called old stubborn Zhang."
Chen Liming sighed. His sister-in-law's husband had a good heart, no doubt about it, but he was too concerned about appearances.
Originally, the two families were very close. He and his wife earned salaries from the factory, which was more comfortable than them. Every time they wanted to give their children some New Year's money to help them out.
His brother-in-law would strictly order the children to return the money. Once, when their family couldn't even afford food, Liyun took money from the children to buy rice.
After finding out, the couple had a big argument. At the end of the year when work points were settled, he walked dozens of miles alone, and sent the money back to them overnight.
To be honest, their family wasn't lacking ten or eight yuan, but for his eldest sister's family, this money was really hard-earned.
"Dad, after Auntie finishes drinking, I'll take her back."
Chen Yang was silent for a moment. He couldn't forget how his aunt and uncle treated him when he was little.
At that time, his aunt's family was poor. Everyone ate wild vegetables boiled with congee, but only he and Chen Juan were given a bowl of rice each.
Chen Yang and Chen Juan were young then, and they ate like this every day at home, so they didn't pay much attention.
Later, Chen Yang found out that the amount of rice they ate in one meal was the amount of rice his uncle's family used to cook congee with wild vegetables for an entire day.
His aunt and uncle never told them about these things.
In his uncle's words, they were precious children from the city and should eat fine grains, not weeds and chaff like them.
The cousins were unhappy. Why could he and Chen Juan eat rice, while their bowls had only a few grains of rice mixed with wild vegetables?
The cousins were severely beaten by their uncle. Chen Yang still remembered it.
Later, Chen Yang went to the countryside for re-education, and he was able to understand the hardships of rural life even more, knowing how difficult it was for his uncle's family.
"You should. You three children must remember the kindness of your uncle and aunt."
"Your mother and I are still thinking about it. Your mother is about to retire, and your eldest sister has joined the Education Bureau. Xiao Yu can get into college on her own."
"We won't have anyone to take over when we retire. We want Hongmei and Zhugen to take over our jobs. What do you think?"
Chen Liming glanced at his son. In his opinion, his son would definitely not come back after getting married, and he couldn't give this job to Chen Yang.
If Chen Yang could come back, he would definitely give it to his son. He couldn't be blamed for being selfish. His eldest sister's family was good to them, but as a father, he had to prioritize his son.
He couldn't be like his eldest brother-in-law, who would rather his own children eat wild vegetables than let his sister's family's two children eat rice. Therefore, Chen Liming felt a bit ashamed. Sudan Novel Network
"I have no objections. Cousin and cousin are agile and resourceful. With you and Mom guiding them, they'll pick it up quickly, and it won't be difficult to reach a Level 4 worker in the future."
His parents were going to retire anyway, and he himself wasn't going to take over this job. It was better to give it to his two cousins than to let it go to waste.
Although Jinling Aviation Manufacturing Plant faced a difficult future, it was still a large state-owned enterprise and eventually survived, with good benefits and treatment.
At least it was better than his cousins earning work points in the countryside. Even with household contract responsibility, rural income at that time was definitely no match for factory workers.
Moreover, Chen Yang's business would also develop. If there were better opportunities in the future, he would help them.
He had caused his cousins a lot of trouble and made them go hungry when he was young. He was ignorant then, but now he felt he owed them.
"That's settled. Take your aunt back later and have a good talk with your uncle."
"We watched those two children grow up. They are filial and sensible. Your uncle is stubborn and looks down on this and that, which is why Hongmei is already 24 and hasn't found a partner."
"Now that they have a job, maybe your mother can help arrange a good match for her."
Chen Liming's heart was put at ease when he heard his son's agreement. He was very willing to help Qin Liyun's family. If for no other reason, his three children were all raised with her help.
He remembered this kindness.