Two hours later, several people came down the mountain with two sacks of fresh winter bamboo shoots.
Seeing Li Chunhua shoveling one at a time, Lin Fan also tried to dig a few.
However, the technique was difficult to master and the strength was insufficient, so the good bamboo shoots were all rotten. In order not to waste food, I finally gave up.
Song Ren dug a few, one at a time, and it was obvious that he had done it before.
However, there were only three flat shovels, so he gave the tools to Gao Fei and Ji Yu, who had never experienced this kind of farming fun.
The two of them dug with great interest, and soon they had dug quite well.
After returning home, the Li family was preparing the food for lunch on the kang. Everyone got on the kang to help.
"Huazi, there is a New Year's market in the neighboring Shangtang Town today. You can take everyone there this afternoon to have some fun." Dad Li thought about it for a long time at home in the morning. After his daughter-in-law reminded him, he finally thought of a place where he could let the guests play.
"Is the New Year's market in Shangtang today?" Li Chunhua knew that the neighboring town would hold an open-air market every year before the New Year, but he hadn't been back for the New Year in so many years that he couldn't remember the exact date.
"Yes." Father Li said to Song Ren and the others with a smile, "We don't have much fun here, and the shopping malls in the county can't compare to your big cities. There are only open-air markets like this. Although the goods are not very good, it is also a traditional culture. It's good for everyone to go and have fun."
Li Chunhua thought about it and nodded, "Okay, let's go to the market this afternoon. What do you think?"
"Okay." Lin Fan nodded first.
Yesterday she suddenly remembered that it was really rude of her to visit someone else's house without bringing a gift. She was just thinking about how to make up for it when the market came, which was just what she wanted.
Lin Fan agreed, and the others had no objections. Gao Fei and Ji Yu had never been to a market before, so they were quite looking forward to it.
"I've talked to your uncle Zhuang next door. He's at home on his tricycle. He'll spread a layer of straw in the bed of his truck and put two quilts in there. You can sit inside and wrap yourself up. It won't be too cold." Dad Li made arrangements for them early in the morning.
"Huh? Where's our car?" Li Chunhua suddenly asked, "If you hadn't told me, I would have forgotten. The car I bought for Miaomiao isn't here."
Stimulated by the news of Miaomiao's pregnancy, Li Chunhua subconsciously ignored the matter. When Li's father mentioned the tricycle, he remembered that their family should have a car.
"I borrowed it for Miaomiao's cousin." Aunt Li smacked her lips as she spoke, and it was obvious that she was still unsatisfied.
"Brother Min?" Li Chunhua thought for a moment and asked Shi Miao, "Isn't Brother Min a big boss? He has a Mercedes-Benz at home, so why does he want to borrow our car?"
The car Li Chunhua bought for Shi Miao was not a luxury car, just a vehicle worth about 100,000 yuan, which was completely inconsistent with the identity of his cousin who ran a building materials company and was a big boss.
"His car broke down when he returned to the county two days ago and was repaired at a 4S shop. He and his sister-in-law were in a hurry to drive to the airport, and they had a lot of luggage, so it was inconvenient to go back and forth. They could only borrow my car first. Anyway, I'm on vacation now and don't need the car, so I lent it to him." Shi Miao said simply.
"Why is he going to the airport instead of staying home for the New Year?" Li Chunhua was puzzled. Aren't people heading home? He was traveling for the New Year, carrying so much luggage. "Is he traveling for the New Year?"
"Where?" Li Ma interrupted. "Do you remember their daughter?"
"I remember. I went to both the full-moon banquet and the one-year-old celebration." Li Chunhua hadn't joined the army yet. "I think her name was Xiaoyu? She was about ten years old, right?"
"Twelve." Shi Miao said, "I don't know what Brother Min was thinking. He transferred Xiaoyu to South Island to go to school alone."
"What? Why is she going so far?" Li Chunhua was shocked. "Isn't Min's wife a civil servant? Did she quit? To accompany the kids to school?"
Brother Min was in the building materials business, and it was quite big, making a lot of money. He not only opened a company in the provincial capital, but also bought a house.
He used his connections to get Min's wife an internal position, so she could receive a salary without having to work. The family of three lived in the provincial capital and only returned to their hometown to visit their parents during the annual salary period.
But two years ago, a document prohibited drawing a salary without working, so Min's wife had to return to the county town to clock in for work and live with her in-laws. She would go to the provincial capital on weekends to reunite with her family. Meanwhile, their daughter, Xiaoyu, stayed with Min's brother, attending school in the provincial capital, where conditions were better.
Why did he suddenly go to South Island? Li Chunhua didn't quite understand.
He knew that Brother Ming's business was doing well and he made a lot of money. But didn't most people go to Gaohe, Sijiu, and Shuichuan, which were recognized as developed cities in the country?
"No, he didn't quit. Mrs. Min is still working at home, and Brother Min is also making money in the provincial capital." Shi Miao also found this incomprehensible.
"Leaving your teenage daughter alone to go to school in a strange place?" Li Chunhua was shocked.
Not to mention South Island, even if it’s Gaohe, you can’t let the child stay there alone. What’s the point?
Everyone in the reserve team also felt that something was wrong.
"It's not just one person. Minsao's sister went with her child, so it's like my aunt is taking care of two children there." Shi Miao said helplessly, "They bought a house for Xiaoyu there, and the three of them live there."
"Is this about the house?" Li Chunhua was genuinely baffled. "Teenagers are at a stage where they need parental love and are forming their own values. They'll soon be rebellious again. What use is an aunt to them?"
"What on earth are they thinking?" Li Chunhua couldn't help but slam the table.
Shi Miao shook his head. "I don't know. You know Brother Min, after he got rich, he didn't interact with us much. He mentioned this when he borrowed the car, otherwise I wouldn't have known. It's been a few years. They always fly to see the kids during their holidays, but they can't stay with them for long."
Because both of them have jobs, they don't have much time to spend with their children except during the holidays. Instead, the child spends more time with his aunt.
But my aunt also has her own children. Can a woman in a strange city really take good care of two little girls?
It's not just about life, but also about children's mental health.
After Shi Miao knew about this, he immediately went to check Xiaoyu’s circle of friends.
Many years ago, Xiaoyu, who was in elementary school, added her as her aunt. She hadn't been in touch for so many years, so she hadn't been blocked by the child.
After seeing the post on WeChat Moments, she realized her child's mental state was worrying, but she couldn't tell Min Ge and the others.
After all, Brother Min has always been the big boss and doesn't care about his poor relatives at all. Although he didn't express it explicitly, everyone could feel the disdain hidden under his smile.
Not only will their words have no effect, but they will also push the already thin relationship between relatives further apart.
"Alas, it's hard for the child." Mother Li also sighed. Life without parents around is incomplete even if there is no shortage of food and clothing.
Li Chunhua also knew Min Ge's character and knew that they couldn't interfere in this matter. If they didn't do anything wrong, they might even get scolded. They could only hope that Xiaoyu wouldn't be negatively affected.
He touched Shi Miao's belly and said gently, "In the future, our child must not be allowed to grow up alone."
"Yeah. Although our family is not that rich, we will never leave our underage child alone so far away from home, no matter what the reason." Shi Miao also said.
Li's father and mother all agreed.
The four members of the reserve team remained silent, all of them feeling deeply moved by this story, especially Lin Fan.
She still remembers her rebelliousness in high school, which was caused by her parents' neglect.
At that time, Lin's mother felt neglected every day at home. So, what about the girl who was thousands of miles away? How did she feel?
Just when the atmosphere was getting a little depressed, Li Chunhua touched Shi Miao's belly and suddenly said, "I hope this baby is a girl."
"Ah? Why?" Shi Miao was stunned for a moment and asked softly.
"Girls are good, like you." Li Chunhua said with a smile, "And I can buy her a dress, a hair ornament, and other accessories."
Everyone felt warm when they heard the first sentence, but when they heard the second sentence, they remembered Li Chunhua's pink aesthetic and suddenly felt a chill all over their body.
Shi Miao's face froze for a moment. She had no idea of favoring boys over girls, but at this moment she had a strong desire for the first time.
God, please bless her to have a boy this time.
Many parents overlook the mental health of teenagers. It's not just about having good food and good clothes; children have their own challenges and need their parents' patient care. I hope children who live away from their parents can grow up worry-free and happy. Vote, everyone.
