That night, Qiao Mingjin took her daughter and locked the door of her new home before returning to her in-laws' house.
Mrs. Wu sarcastically said that even though she had moved away, she came back to cook even more for the mother and daughter.
Yue Zhongyao was in a bad mood and yelled at his mother. Yue Xiaoman wanted to take out the rice and cook some again, but the rice vat was in Wu's room. She couldn't get the rice without Wu opening her mouth.
Fortunately, Sister Xiu next door heard it and took the mother and daughter to her house for a meal.
After returning from the meal, Qiao Mingjin took her daughter into the kitchen to heat hot water. Wu was still chattering, but Qiao Mingjin ignored her at all. She had collected most of the firewood in the woodshed these days. The water in the water tank was still there.
She picked it back this morning.
Xiao Wan'er obediently pulled up a small bench and sat at the mouth of the stove, stuffing loose hair into the stove while Qiao Mingjin poured water into the big iron pot again and again.
As soon as he carried two buckets, Yue Zhongyao took them.
Neither of them spoke.
After the water was filled, Yue Zhongyao did not leave the kitchen. He also pulled up a bench and sat in the kitchen watching the mother and daughter...
After the water boiled, Yue Zhongyao quickly grabbed it, scooped the hot water into a bucket and helped take it back to the room...
After the mother and daughter took a bath, they helped take out the dirty water and pour it out.
From beginning to end, the two of them didn't speak. Xiao Wan'er looked at her mother and then at her father, but she didn't dare to speak. She just pulled her mother's clothes and followed them step by step.
Yue Zhongyao looked at the tightly closed door, his eyes getting darker and darker. He wanted to say something, but found that he couldn't open his mouth... He lingered at the door of the mother and daughter's room for a long time before silently turning around and going to the warehouse.
I tossed and turned throughout the night, unable to fall asleep. I stood up again, stared at the closed door, and walked around in the yard scratching my head... until I fell asleep in a daze.
Early the next morning, Qiao Mingjin woke up, packed up the mother and daughter's belongings one by one, and packed several large bags. Before her family members got up, she started moving to their new home one by one.
When I was moving for the last time, I saw my daughter sitting on the bed looking in the direction of the door and crying.
Seeing Qiao Mingjin come in, Gulu stood up from the bed, walked quickly to the edge of the bed and stretched out his hand towards Qiao Mingjin.
Qiao Mingjin felt like needles pricking her heart.
He walked over quickly, picked it up and held it in his arms, coaxing: "Mom has moved things to her new home, Wan'er is still sleeping. Be good, isn't Mom coming back now? Mom, wipe Wan'er's face.
Then Wan'er can help mother get the things, okay?"
Wan'er nodded on Qiao Mingjin's shoulder, and Qiao Mingjin put on her shoes, carried her to the tripod, put her down, twisted the handkerchief and wiped her face.
After putting on her clothes again, tying her hair, and letting her hold a small bundle, the mother and daughter pushed open the fence gate of their in-law's house and walked out...
When Yue Zhongyao got up, he was at a loss and didn't know where he was. He looked around, then sat upright, pushed open the door of the warehouse and strode towards his house.
Mrs. Wu, Mrs. Sun, and Mrs. Yu were pointing around the house. Mrs. Wu directed her two daughters-in-law to see if there was anything missing in the house.
Fortunately, Qiao Mingjin only collected the mother and daughter's personal belongings, not even the wooden basin and handkerchief. Wu rummaged through it again and again, then stopped talking.
Yue Zhongyao held his hand on the door frame and stared blankly, his mouth tightly pursed, his face looking decadent and ugly.
Mrs. Wu looked down upon his dead look and scolded him: "Look what a ghost you are! Come back to the city for me this afternoon. I will find a matchmaker to go to Liu's house tomorrow to exchange for Geng Tie!"
Yue Zhongyao ignored him, went in, wiped his face, changed another piece of clothes and walked out without saying a word.
Mrs. Wu was still chanting after her, but the old Yue Tou stopped her: "Okay, I didn't see him feeling bad!"
On the other side of the new house, the mother and daughter put their things into the upper left room and squatted in the yard to pick up weeds. Little Wan'er followed behind them, moving back and forth, enjoying themselves endlessly.
Qiao Mingjin looked back at her from time to time, and Xiao Wan'er happily raised her head and smiled at her mother, who said, "So good" and kept moving.
When Yue Zhongyao arrived, he saw the mother and daughter squatting in the yard, working and laughing at the same time. He felt empty and uncomfortable.
He walked in, holding his chest, without saying a word, then picked up the hoe and started swinging it.
Qiao Mingjin looked at him steadily for a while, then turned around and continued working.
An hour later, the yard looked brand new.
Qiao Mingjin straightened up, punched her back with her fists and smiled happily. Xiao Wan'er also imitated her and punched her back with her fists, and Qiao Mingjin laughed loudly.
I heard a "hush" at the door, and a bullock cart stopped. Then I heard the voices of the fourth sister and the fifth brother: "Sister, sister!"
"Aunt, uncle!" Xiao Wan'er smiled at her mother and rushed out on her short legs.
Qiao Mingjin also stretched out her clothes and walked out.
Yue Zhongyao put his hoe on the wall and followed behind.
This time, Yun Jin came with Sister Xiu's ox cart, bringing a cart full of things, and also brought Ming Qi and Ming Heng.
Qiao Mingjin looked puzzled at Mingqi and Mingheng, each carrying a small baggage.
Over there, Mingheng had already held Xiao Wan'er in her arms, and Mingqi said to her: "Sister, grandma asked us to come here. She said that Mingheng and I couldn't help at home and were wasting food, so we left
We sent it to my sister."
Qiao Mingjin's eyes were wet and she touched Mingqi's head. Her grandmother had sent her two younger brothers and sisters to help her. She blinked away her tears and said, "Then let's help my cousin pack the things."
Let’s move in.”
Yun Jin only glanced at Yue Zhongyao, and instead of greeting him as usual, he turned to Qiao Mingjin and said, "Sister, this cart of things was collected from home, but they are all old. Don't dislike it."
Qiao Mingjin looked at the bullock cart, cotton quilts, wooden stools, pots and pans, kitchen knives and machetes, and a small wooden box... Although the things were all old, they were all complete, including rice, noodles and vegetables.
Once things are placed, you can start firing.
Qiao Mingjin's tears rolled down her face.
Yun Jin looked uncomfortable and said: "Sister, please don't dislike it. I brought these from many at home, and they are all used. There is just no bed. My uncle has packed a bed of wooden boards. You can use it first."
Wait, in a few days, we will find someone to type it up and send it to you."
Qiao Mingjin choked up and nodded, then helped to move the things. Mingheng and Mingqi also helped to move. They didn't call each other "brother-in-law" like before. They passed Yue Zhongyao while carrying the things without looking at him.
Yue Zhongyao just saw Qiao Mingjin crying, and he felt as if his heart was being grabbed by someone, and he couldn't breathe for a moment... He raised his head, took a deep breath, and started to move it.
There is a stove in this house, but it has been so long that not only the kitchen, but also all the rooms are empty. Now my parents have added some things. Although there is no bed, I can make do with a wooden board and sleep first.
. It’s not a big problem.
When they were putting it away, Sister Xiu also came with her two children and brought various things, which she said were old ones at home. There were wooden basins, wooden barrels, and benches.
It was brand new. Qiao Mingjin thanked her with red eyes.
Sister Xiu also picked a pair of baskets, with two jars placed on one end, which she said were pickled vegetables by herself, and a variety of fresh vegetables grown at home, with the morning dew on them, on the other end. A full load
Picked it over.
There were people in the village who got the news, and their little wives, who were usually close friends with Qiao Mingjin, also brought some things over. Although they were all old, they were all needed for the family. Qiao Mingjin took them to thank them one by one and said a few things.
God invites them to come to the greenhouse...
At noon, Qiao Mingjin left Sister Xiu, her mother and her son, as well as her maternal cousin and two younger siblings to make a fire and cook some food.
Sister Xiu brought a piece of bacon, plus pickles and a few side dishes grown by farmers, plus rice, flour, oil and salt sent by the Yun family and Qiao family, and set a table.
There was no table, so I put a board on the bench. Fortunately, there were many benches, so a few people gathered around the simple table and ate happily.
Seeing that no one was keeping him, Yue Zhongyao looked sad and turned back...
