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Homeward Bound
墨書 Inktalez
In a small village, after a recent rain, the muddy dirt road was a bit slippery, and a group of women gathered together to chat idly.
"Hey, why haven't we seen Li Xiumei lately? Isn't she the one who loves to hang out with us?"
"You don't know? Li Xiumei isn't the biological daughter of the Li Family. I heard she's the daughter of a Da Fu family from the city who went missing and was just found recently."
"No wonder! I always thought it was strange how much the Li Family spoiled her. She never had to do any heavy work, just some household chores. Turns out she's not even related."
"Yeah, but it's odd how suddenly she's not related anymore."
"I don't know; it seems Zhao Guangcai's sister, Zhao Xiaomei, let it slip."
"She really shouldn't have said something so important by accident."
"She's just a little girl, only seven or eight years old. What does she know about keeping secrets?"
"True..."
At the edge of the village, a woman carrying a basket of vegetables approached. She was slender with dark skin and had two unusual red patches on her cheeks; it was Zhao Xiaomei, Zhao Guangcai's sister.
Zhao Xiaomei walked over and smiled, "What are you talking about?"
"We're discussing the Li Family."
"Oh."
"Xiaomei, where's your brother?"
"I don't know. He left early this morning."
"Your brother is always out hunting. The family relies on you to hold things together. If it weren't for your efforts, he might never find a wife."
"My brother is quite impressive! My sister-in-law married him because she likes that about him."
Zhang Xiaoxiao looked at the gossiping women and really didn't want to engage with them. Every time they met, they talked about whose family had problems or who had quarreled; she disliked these gossipy women the most.
Zhang Xiaoxiao lifted her vegetable basket to leave, but Zhao Xiaomei called out to her, "Sister-in-law, what good things did you buy?"
Zhang Xiaoxiao waved her basket in front of her. When Zhao Xiaomei saw the brown sugar inside, her eyes lit up.
"Wow, sister-in-law, you bought brown sugar!"
The other women overheard and turned to look, their eyes nearly popping out when they saw the basket full of goods.
"Xiaoxiao, did you buy something again?"
"Yeah."
"You really are lazy! You do nothing all day but shop. Doesn't your mother-in-law mind?"
"What opinion could she possibly have?" Zhang Xiaoxiao looked disdainfully at the woman who spoke. "I earn quite a bit of money for Zhao Guangcai every day, so what's wrong with buying a few things?"
"Even if you earn a lot, you can't spend it like this. Plus, it's not good for you to be so idle every day. I advise you to find something to do; otherwise, my brother will eventually grow tired of you," Zhao Xiaomei said.
Zhang Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes. "He wouldn't dare!"
Zhao Xiaomei pouted. "My brother is really good to you. You buy so many things every day, and he doesn't say anything. If I dared to buy this much, he would have beaten me long ago."
"That's because you don't see who your brother is. He's the best man in the village, unlike your dad, who only knows how to hit your mom."
Zhao Xiaomei's expression changed. "How... how do you know?"
"Of course I know; the whole village knows your dad often hits your mom."
Zhao Xiaomei lowered her head and stopped talking.
The other women saw this and teased Zhang Xiaoxiao, "Xiaoxiao, you're really lucky; Zhao Guangcai treats you so well."
"Yeah, yeah, if only we could find such a good man too."
Zhang Xiaoxiao said proudly, "Of course, just look at who I am."
"You should just enjoy it quietly."
While Zhang Xiaoxiao was smiling proudly, she suddenly heard a cold voice call out, "Xiaoxiao."
Zhang Xiaoxiao turned to see Zhao Guangcai standing not far away looking at her. She immediately ran over and hugged him. "What are you doing here?"
Zhao Guangcai patted her head and smiled. "I came to take you home."
"Okay."
Zhao Guangcai took the vegetable basket from her hand and noticed the brown sugar inside. He asked, "Why did you buy sugar again to give away?"
"I didn't; I just bought it for a little kid."
"Well, don't give it away next time."
"Alright."
A group of women nearby saw how good Zhao Guangcai was to Zhang Xiaoxiao and felt extremely jealous. If only their husbands could be half as good as Zhao Guangcai, they would wake up smiling from their dreams.
At that moment, an abrupt voice interrupted, "Zhao Guangcai, how can you spoil her like this? Just look at what she's become!"
Zhao Guangcai turned to the woman who spoke and replied: "Aunt Wang, when did my family's matters become your business?"
Aunt Wang was taken aback. "I... I'm just looking out for you. If you keep spoiling her, she'll become lazier."
"What does her laziness have to do with you?"
"You... why can't you recognize someone's good intentions?"
"Aunt Wang, if you are really so free, why not take care of your husband? I heard he is out looking for women again," Zhao Guangcai said calmly, but each word struck at Aunt Wang's sore spot.
Aunt Wang's husband was a gambler, spending all day drinking, eating, and seeking pleasure, neglecting the family. She worked hard every day to earn money while he often went out with other women. Thinking of this made Aunt Wang's face turn extremely ugly.
"What... what nonsense are you talking about?"
"Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, you know it yourself."
"You... you..." Aunt Wang pointed at Zhao Guangcai, trembling with anger but unable to say a word.
"What about me? Aunt Wang, if you have time, you should manage your husband better."
Aunt Wang's face flushed red. "I... I have things to do, I’ll leave now." With that, she left in a huff.
Seeing this, the others quickly dispersed.
Zhang Xiaoxiao looked at Zhao Guangcai and sweetly said, "Guangcai, you're really nice."
Zhao Guangcai ruffled her hair. "If I don't treat you well, who else should I treat well?"
"Hehe."
"Let's go home."
"Okay."
On the way, Zhang Xiaoxiao linked her arm with Zhao Guangcai's and asked, "What are you cooking for lunch today?"
"Spare ribs, spicy meat, scrambled eggs with tomatoes—everything you love."
"Wow, you're amazing."
"Then why don’t you try some?"
"Definitely!"
"Then let’s hurry up."
"Mm-hmm." Zhang Xiaoxiao excitedly shouted, "Charge!"
Zhao Guangcai asked in confusion, "What does 'charge' mean?"
"It means to hurry up and go."
"Oh."
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