After dismantling the Yang family, Jun Jiuli took the little cub and bought plane tickets for that afternoon back to Nanshi.
“Mom, the clouds in the sky are so beautiful.” This was the little cub’s first time on a plane, and everything seemed beautiful to him.
“Mm-hmm, very beautiful.”
“Mom, where are we going?”
“To your grandma’s house.”
“I like Grandma. Is Daddy not coming with us?”
Jun Jiuli, who was feeling drowsy, straightened her body and said, “From now on, you’ll live with Mom and Grandma. We won’t be with Dad anymore. Can you accept that, cub?”
After all, children need the role of a father. Jun Jiuli was afraid that the little cub wouldn't be able to accept it.
Seeing that she was speaking so seriously, Xu Nannan also put on a solemn expression and said word for word, “I want to be with Mom. Wherever Mom is, that’s where I’ll be.”
Jun Jiuli ruffled his fluffy head, looking at the cub’s serious and adorable appearance, which melted her old mother’s heart. “You’re such a good cub.”
After getting off the plane, Jun Jiuli held her luggage in one hand and the little cub in the other. She was the most dazzling person in the entire airport, though her arms were a bit sore.
After leaving the airport, the wealthy and willful Xiao Jiu directly took a taxi back to the village.
It was already 7 PM when they arrived home. Walking on the cement road in the village, the geese and chickens everywhere by the roadside made Xu Nannan curious, as he looked around with wide eyes.
Most people were having dinner at home now. Lights were on in every household, and everyone was watching the evening news. The scene was full of the warmth of home. Jun Jiuli felt a surge of emotion, which was the lingering sentiment of the original owner.
After marrying out, the original owner had never returned to her own home. In the first year of marriage, she had to stay at her in-laws’ house for the New Year and couldn't come back. In the second year, she was about to give birth and couldn't come back. After giving birth, she definitely couldn't come back.
Xu Nannan tightly held Jun Jiuli’s hand, and nervously looked up, saying, “Mom, will Grandma and the others like Nannan?”
“Of course, our Nannan is a treasure. Everyone likes you.”
Xu Nannan secretly cheered himself on. He knew his uncle’s family had two sons, both older than him. Grandma said he was a jinx and that everyone liked boys. So he was afraid Grandma wouldn’t like him, and he was afraid his elder brothers would dislike him.
Seeing Nannan’s somewhat self-conscious look, Jun Jiuli sighed inwardly. That old witch Chen was truly a troublemaker.
She hoped time would heal everything. No matter how much she told Nannan, it was better for him to truly feel the meticulous care from his relatives.
From the phone calls, it was evident that the entire Xu family was very kind and doted on the married-out daughter and granddaughter.
She hadn't told them she would be back today. She hoped they wouldn't be too surprised later.
Soon, they arrived at the house, hand in hand with the little cub. Villages usually had a large courtyard in front of the house. The lights outside the Xu family’s courtyard were brightly lit. Beside them, rows of verdant things were piled up.
“Mom, what is that?”
“It’s tobacco leaves.”
“Is it the kind of tobacco Daddy smokes?”
“Yes, these tobacco leaves are sent to the drying shed to be roasted and processed into the kind you smoke.”
“Did Grandma and the others grow this?”
“Yes, Grandma and the others relied on growing this to pay for Mom’s university.”
“Grandma is truly amazing.”
Inside the house, Xu Mu, who was holding chopsticks and eating, suddenly stopped.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Xu Da Sao asked.
“I heard your younger sister’s voice.”
“Mom, you must have misheard. Little sister is in the capital city,” Xu Da Ge said, looking up.
Xu Mu was sitting by the door. She opened the door and got up to look outside. She happened to see a large figure and a small one in the courtyard.
Xu Mu froze instantly, standing there blankly, unsure of what to say. Her throat felt as if something was blocking it, and tears streamed down her face.
Seeing that his wife went out without closing the door and wasn't speaking, just standing there blankly, Xu Fu walked over with concern.
“Old woman, what’s wrong?” After speaking, he also looked outside.
Little Nannan nervously rubbed his little hands and sweetly called out twice, “Grandma, Grandpa.”
This sound seemed to unblock Xu Mu’s meridians. She ran over, hugged Jun Jiuli, and cried uncontrollably.
She hadn’t seen her daughter in six years and had missed her dearly. Every time they video-called, she didn't want her daughter to worry, so she pretended not to be sad.
The farm work was heavy, and she had no opportunity to go to the capital city to see her. This heartless daughter never came back to see her. But after all, she was flesh and blood from her own body. How could she be at ease if she couldn’t see her?
As the saying goes, a mother worries when her child travels a thousand miles. Xu Mu cried loudly for a few seconds, then forced herself to stop, fearing she would scare the child and feeling a bit embarrassed, but the tears still couldn’t be stopped.
“It’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back,” she said repeatedly.
As soon as they heard her cry, everyone in the house came out with their bowls. Seeing this scene, everyone’s heart ached.
Xu Fu came over to carry his daughter’s luggage and led his little granddaughter into the house. Xu Fu looked at his timid granddaughter and started a conversation with her, asking, “I’m Grandpa. Are you tired, Xiao Zhixu?”
Nannan’s face turned red. He shyly said, “Thank you for your concern, Grandpa. Nannan is not tired. Grandpa, Mom said I’ll take her surname from now on. I’m Xu Nannan.”
Xu Fu’s steps paused. Then, as if nothing had happened, he said, “It’s good to have the surname Xu, it’s very good. Nannan, you must be hungry. Let’s go inside and eat.”
Xu Da Sao had already added two sets of bowls and chopsticks. The whole family sat together to eat hot pot.
It was just ordinary farmhouse clear broth hot pot, with tofu, cabbage, pork, and potato vermicelli. Once cooked, you could dip it in your own dipping sauce and eat it.
“Little sister, we didn’t know you were coming, so we’re just having a simple meal today. Tomorrow, Sister-in-law will catch a chicken and stew it for you.”
“Thank you, Sister-in-law. After so many years, Sister-in-law is still so virtuous. It’s my elder brother’s blessing to marry you.”
“Little Nannan is so beautiful. I wish I could have a daughter as beautiful as you.”
Nannan shyly buried his head almost into his bowl and quietly moved his stool closer to his mother. The atmosphere at Grandpa’s house was so good. Everyone seemed to really like him.
“Sister-in-law, don’t say that. The two nephews are also very handsome.”
“Hahaha.” The family finished their meal harmoniously.
The Xu family had a two-story house, with plenty of rooms. The room Jun Jiuli had lived in before she got married was kept empty and was meticulously cleaned. It was evident that Xu Mu went to her daughter’s room whenever she had time to reminisce.
After sending the three children upstairs to sleep, the family began to inquire about Jun Jiuli’s affairs.