Chen Lan listened to the words of her sons Jiaxing and Jiahe, and her heart still couldn't help but ache. So many years had passed, yet the brothers still remembered the events of their childhood. Although they were very young back then, the pain of being abandoned by their mother had left a lifelong shadow on them.
Thinking of this, Chen Lan couldn't help but sigh in her heart. She then smiled and replied, "You two brothers think quite prettily. Do you know how difficult it was for your mother to raise you two from such a young age?"
As Chen Lan spoke, she pointed at Jiahe's forehead and said, "Especially you, Jiahe. You've been restless since you were little, always causing trouble for your mother. Now that I've finally raised you two brothers! Your mother is telling you two, I'm going to enjoy the fruits of your labor. You think you can abandon your mother? Hmph! You two brothers remember this, that's impossible! Do you understand?"
Jiahe, upon hearing Chen Lan's words, replied with a silly smile, "I understand, I understand! Mother, just rest assured. It's only right that Mother enjoys your blessings. Your son will work hard to give Mother a good life in the future."
Jiaxing, unusually sweet-tongued, chimed in, "Third brother is right. Your son will also work hard and become a high official in the future, making Mother an old lady of high rank."
Hearing her two sons' words, Chen Lan naturally beamed with joy. She then praised them happily, "Good sons, work hard! Mother will also try to live a few more years, waiting to enjoy the blessings of you two brothers!"
The mother and her two sons returned home, chatting and laughing. As soon as they pushed open the door to the living room, they saw their mother-in-law, Mama Liu, Mama Cui, Auntie Sanmei, and her current in-laws, Sister-in-law Tan, along with several other old friends, sitting in the living room chatting.
Upon seeing the mother and sons enter, they quickly got up to greet them. The mother and sons also smiled and greeted the elders one by one, then sat down intimately beside them.
At this moment, Mama Liu couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Lan, where is Miss? Is she alright? Why didn't she return with you mother and sons this time?"
Chen Lan replied with a smile, "Mama Liu, are you missing Mother? My mother was accidentally caught by a cold a while ago, and she just recovered not long ago. So, I didn't bring her back to the valley this time. Mother also misses Mama Liu and everyone very much!"
Upon hearing Chen Lan say that her mother had been ill and missed her, Mama Liu's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She wiped her eyes with her hand and said, "Xiao Lan, is Miss feeling better now? Without me by her side to take care of her, is Miss accustomed to life in Harbin? I miss Miss so much that I can't sleep soundly for many nights. I truly miss Miss. I've been with Miss since I can remember. My old friend and I grew up together. I've never been away from Miss for so long!"
Jiahe stepped forward and hugged Mama Liu's arm affectionately, saying, "Grandma Liu, anyway, Hutou and his siblings are all going to Harbin to study. Why don't you come with us to Harbin this time? That way, you can also see Grandma, and Grandma will have someone to chat with."
Chen Lan and Jiaxing also chimed in. Chen Lan said, "Exactly, Mama Liu. Since entering the valley, you and your mother-in-law have never left. Now that your body is still strong, you should go out and travel well."
Mama Liu was still hesitant. At this moment, her mother-in-law suddenly spoke, "Alas! People really can't defy old age! As the saying goes, it's hard to leave one's homeland. When people get used to staying in one place, they really don't want to go anywhere else. Unlike when they were young, always thinking of going out to explore. Now, I don't have that spirit anymore!"
Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Chen Lan immediately smiled and said, "Mother-in-law, I'm sending Tenth Sister and Jiahui back to the capital to attend university, so I plan to go back to our old home for a visit. I plan to go back and see our old ancestral house, and then quietly pay respects at the graves of my father-in-law, Brother Dahhu, and our ancestors."
Upon hearing Chen Lan's words, her mother-in-law immediately said, "Xiao Lan, it is indeed time to go back and see the old home. We've been away for almost thirty years. I wonder what the old house is like now, and if anyone is living there."
Hearing her mother-in-law's words, Chen Lan immediately asked, "Mother-in-law, when you left for the valley, did you entrust the house to the villagers to look after?"
Her mother-in-law replied, "Yes, I was worried that the house would deteriorate if no one lived in it for a long time. So, I lent the four rooms on either side of the entrance, as well as the kitchen and toilet in the courtyard, to two military families in the village. Xiao Lan, what's wrong?"
Chen Lan thought for a moment and replied, "Mother-in-law, before you left, did you hang the glorious plaques for military families outside the main gate?"
Her mother-in-law looked at Chen Lan with surprise and asked, "Xiao Lan, your father-in-law's and Dahhu's glorious plaques were hung up long ago, have you forgotten?"
Chen Lan rubbed her nose. To be honest, she really hadn't paid attention to these things when she was at home.
So, she replied with an embarrassed smile, "Mother-in-law, it's been a bit too long, I really don't remember! It's good that they were hung! This way, our house should be saved!"
Upon hearing Chen Lan's words, her mother-in-law immediately became agitated and anxiously asked, "What? Xiao Lan, could our house be seized by others? That's our old house where generations of our family have lived. If it's really seized by others, how can I have the face to see your father-in-law and your grandparents in the afterlife? Even more so, I'll have no face to see our ancestors."
After saying that, her mother-in-law thought for a moment and then suddenly said, "No, I'm still not at ease leaving you, a woman, to go back alone. I'll go back with you to the old home to have a look. I also need to visit our ancestral graves. A few days ago, I heard Professor Qian and his wife say that many ancestral graves were leveled during the movement a few years ago! What about your father-in-law and our ancestors? No wonder I haven't dreamt of your father-in-law for many years!"
The mother-in-law became more and more agitated. Chen Lan thought to herself, "Oh no! I've made things worse!" She quickly reminded her, "Mother-in-law, have you forgotten? Now that we're 'smashing the four olds,' superstition is not allowed."
Unexpectedly, the old lady immediately retorted, "What does superstition have to do with honoring ancestors and visiting graves? Are we supposed to abandon our ancestors?"
Chen Lan was immediately rendered speechless by the old lady, not knowing how to answer for a moment.
At this moment, Mama Cui also spoke, "Miss, I'll accompany you back to have a look. I haven't dreamt of that child Dahhu for many years! I don't know if he's doing well over there. I have to go back and burn more paper money for him so that he can live a good life there too."