Chapter 42: Chapter 40: Letter with a Feather

Her hands were covered in the sticky white sap, making them feel grimy.

Lin Lan packed the back basket tight, then cut some more paper mulberry leaves and stuffed them in. Only when the basket couldn’t hold another leaf did she hoist it onto her back and head home.

As she neared her house, she saw Yang Dingbang riding toward her on his bicycle.

Little Douzi was sitting on the front bar, waving his little hand at her from a distance. “Mom, we’re back!”

Dahuang, shut inside the courtyard, heard Little Douzi’s shout and started barking, “WOOF! WOOF!”

Lin Lan waited for them to ride up and looked at her son with a smile. “Was the movie good?”

Little Douzi nodded with a wide grin. “It was good!”

Yang Dingbang glanced at her. ’She’s changed so much,’ he thought. ’It’s like she’s a completely different person.’

Without showing any reaction, he planted one foot on the ground and lifted Little Douzi off the bike with one arm. He smiled politely. “Cousin-in-law, what are you cutting paper mulberry leaves for?”

“To feed the pigs!” Lin Lan gave Yang Dingbang a polite smile in return. “Thanks for taking him.”

Yang Dingbang also smiled politely. “Don’t mention it.” With that, he pedaled off toward Shiqiao.

Lin Lan took out her key to open the door, asking with a smile, “Sweetie, was the movie good? Why didn’t Dandan come back with you?”

“It was good!” Little Douzi pouted. “Dandan’s aunt came to visit him. After the movie, Youngest Uncle took him to the state-run inn.”

Lin Lan looked at him and said, “Dandan’s aunt came from so far away to see him, so it’s right that he went back early. Think about it, if Grandma and Uncle came to visit, wouldn’t you want to come home early to be with them too?”

“Yes!” Little Douzi followed Lin Lan into the courtyard and crouched down to pet the tail-wagging Dahuang. “Mom, we watched *The Urgent Letter*. It was so good! Brother Haiwa is so smart and brave! When the devils came, he hid the letter from the Eight Route Army under a sheep’s tail…”

As Lin Lan spread the paper mulberry leaves out to dry in the courtyard, she watched in amazement as his little mouth chattered on and on. She smiled and gave him a kiss.

“Haiwa really is smart and brave! And my Little Douzi is smart too, for being able to tell Mom such a long story!”

Little Douzi’s eyes crinkled with a smile. He pulled a piece of candy from his pocket, unwrapped it, and popped it into Lin Lan’s mouth. “Mom, this candy is so yummy. Dandan said it’s called White Rabbit.”

Lin Lan beamed at him, a sweetness spreading through her heart that was even sweeter than the candy. “Mmm! It’s so sweet! And so fragrant! Thank you, sweetie!”

Little Douzi watched her happily. “If Mom likes it, Douzi will grow up and earn money to buy it for you!”

“Okay. Mom made some yummy cakes too. Let me wash my hands and I’ll get you some.”

“I don’t want any!” Little Douzi clambered onto Lin Lan’s back, saying cheerfully, “Youngest Uncle took us to eat delicious steamed pork with rice flour. Mom, it was so fragrant! When Douzi grows up, I’ll take you to eat it! Keep the yummy cakes so Mom can sell them for money to send Douzi to kindergarten.”

Lin Lan reached back to hold his little bottom, which had gotten a bit chubbier, and her heart melted. “Don’t worry, Mom made a lot. More than Little Douzi can eat.”

“I’m gonna eat a lot!” Little Douzi giggled, still on her back.

“Let’s go! Time to eat some yummy cakes!” Lin Lan carried him toward the kitchen.

Lin Lan washed her hands, retrieved the Yundou Cake from the well where it was keeping cool, and placed a few pieces on a plate.

“Wow!” Little Douzi’s eyes went wide as he stared at the Yundou Cake on the plate. “Mom, the cakes are so pretty!”

Lin Lan looked at him proudly and handed him a piece. “Pretty, right? Mom made them!”

“So pretty! Mom is so capable!” Little Douzi nodded nonstop while looking at the Yundou Cake. He took a big bite, his little cheeks puffing out. “It’s delicious! Sweet! Even better than sponge cake! Did you give some to Great-grandmother?”

“I did. Mom took some over as soon as they were ready.” Watching him, Lin Lan felt happier than if she’d found a gold ingot. “If you like it, have another one. After you eat, go run around a bit, then come back for a nap.”

Little Douzi nodded. “Mom, Dandan showed me a picture book. Picture books are so cool!”

Lin Lan watched him happily eating the Yundou Cake, his little short legs swinging back and forth. Dahuang’s head bobbed up and down, following his feet.

’I should finish work early tomorrow,’ she thought. ’I’ll go to the bookstore and buy him a few picture books and some storybooks.’

After eating two pieces, Little Douzi hopped down from the bamboo chair. “Mom, I’m going to see if the chicks are there!”

“Go ahead!” Lin Lan brought out the fava beans and started snipping the ends.

“Little Douzi! Auntie!” Little Yun’s voice called out from the courtyard gate.

Lin Lan walked to the kitchen doorway and saw Little Yun standing there with a small back basket. She waved her over. “Little Yun, come on in!”

Little Yun came closer and gave her a shy smile. “Auntie, my mom asked me to bring you some vegetables.”

“Thank you!” Lin Lan smiled as she took the basket. “What’s your mom up to?”

Little Yun said in a soft voice, “My mom and dad are sowing beans.”

Lin Lan looked at the well-behaved Little Yun. “Have a seat. Auntie will get you something to eat, and you can take some back for your little sister later.”

“No, Auntie, don’t. Save it for Douzi to eat.” Little Yun blushed as she took the vegetables out of the basket and placed them on the table.

Lin Lan went to the backyard, called out to Little Douzi who was watching the chicks, then washed her hands and brought out another plate of the Yundou Cake from the well.

“Big Sister Little Yun!” Little Douzi exclaimed happily when he came back and saw her, taking her hand.

Little Yun smiled and held Little Douzi’s hand. “Douzi, you’re wearing new clothes!”

Little Douzi touched his clothes happily. “I went to the movies today.”

Lin Lan carried the Yundou Cake back into the kitchen and noticed that the little rascal Dahuang still remembered Little Yun, wagging his tail at her nonstop.

“Little Yun, come try the Yundou Cake Auntie made!”

Little Yun looked at the Yundou Cake on the plate, amazed. “Auntie, you’re amazing. The cakes you made are so beautiful.”

Lin Lan placed a piece in her hand. “Don’t be shy at Auntie’s house.”

“Okay!” Little Yun took a shy bite. “How come Douzi isn’t eating any?”

Little Douzi patted his little tummy and smiled at her. “I already had two. My tummy is full.”

Lin Lan sat down and started snipping the fava beans. “Little Yun, what grade are you in?” She remembered Yang Liying saying that her daughter got good grades and was always in the top three of her class.

Little Yun looked at Lin Lan. “I’ll be starting fifth grade in the fall, so I’ll graduate next year.”

“So you’ll be starting middle school next year.”

Little Yun’s face turned red. “My grades are just average. I haven’t thought about trying to get into middle school.”

Lin Lan smiled. “I heard from your mom that your grades are quite good. Keep working hard and try to get into the city’s No. 1 Middle School.”

Little Yun looked at Lin Lan and said in a small voice, “My grandma says girls don’t need to become the top scholar. As long as we can read, that’s enough. What’s the point of so much schooling?”

Lin Lan looked at her and said gently, “Becoming the top scholar is something from the old society. Nowadays, as long as you study hard, you can become a teacher, a doctor, or even a police officer like your Uncle Ding Bang after you graduate.”

Little Douzi tugged on her sleeve. “Big Sister Little Yun, I’m going to study hard in the future, go to the police academy, and become a police officer like Youngest Uncle! I’ll earn a salary for Mom. I saw Youngest Uncle give Great-grandmother fifty yuan.”

Little Yun looked at his sparkling eyes and laughed. “Douzi, can you even count to three?”

Little Douzi nodded. “I can! I can count all the way to one hundred. Big Brother Dandan taught me. He even taught me Pinyin!”

The thought of getting a job and earning money made Little Yun’s eyes light up, but then her head drooped again. “But school costs a lot of money, and my parents don’t have any!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep