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墨書 Inktalez
Upon arriving at the bus station in Tonghe County, Tang Zhi and his companions got off the vehicle. This time, with Tang Zhi Hai's help, there was no need for Ye Fangfei to carry the bag.
Outside the bus station, the old man Tang had already arrived with his ox cart, waiting for them. As soon as Tang Zhi stepped out of the station, he spotted his father, bundled up in a thick cotton coat while sitting on the cart.
“Dad, we’re here,” Tang Zhi called out, one hand holding a canvas bag and the other guiding Ye Fangfei as they walked over.
The old man had come early that morning. Ever since he received his son's telegram informing him that they would be spending the New Year at home this year, he had been eagerly anticipating their arrival. The couple was overjoyed; their eldest son hadn’t visited in years, and now he was coming home for the holidays.
Moreover, there was Ye Fangfei, their daughter-in-law from Beijing. Since she married into their family, she had brought them great pride. Just her identity as a Beijing native was enough to make others envious. What’s more, Ye Fangfei was dutiful; in the past few months alone, they had received two packages from her.
This had made them quite the talk of the village. Knowing that their daughter-in-law would be joining them for the New Year celebrations prompted the old couple to rally the whole family into action. They started by tidying up the third son’s room thoroughly. They put up a layer of newspaper on the walls and replaced the window paper. The bedding was also taken apart and washed again.
Fearing that their city-bred daughter-in-law might look down on them, they even cleaned up the outhouse meticulously. Early that morning, his wife had shooed him out to welcome their guests. Of course, he was also worried about not being able to greet his son and was eager to come along.
“Dad,” Ye Fangfei called out quickly before retreating slightly.
“Oh dear, you must be freezing! Hurry up and get in the cart,” the old man replied as he took the canvas bag from his son’s hands.
“Uncle Lao Gen!” Tang Zhi Hai called from behind.
“It’s Hai Zi! Have you come to town?” The old man responded as they all climbed onto the ox cart together.
“Fei Fei, get in quickly! Your mother has laid down straw in the cart; it’ll be warm to sit on. I’ve also brought a quilt to keep you cozy,” Mrs. Tang had thoughtfully prepared everything.
Tang Zhi helped Ye Fangfei into the cart first, then wrapped her in the quilt before placing her bag inside as well. Finally, he climbed into the cart himself.
Tang Zhihai chose not to sit in the carriage but instead settled beside the old man Tang at the front of the cart.
"Alright, let's get going," the old man said as he climbed onto the cart and flicked the whip.
Yeh Fangfei, wrapped in a quilt, felt warm enough to observe the scenery around her. In the midst of winter, everything was blanketed in white, and the snow on the dirt road outside the city had been flattened by passing pedestrians.
One had to tread carefully on such paths, lest they slip and fall. Yeh Fangfei peered out for a moment before retreating back into her cocoon of warmth. It was simply too cold; the biting north wind howled around her. She thought that without this quilt, she would surely freeze to death.
Throughout the journey, no one spoke, primarily out of fear that even a single word would fill their mouths with frigid wind. They passed a few villages along the way, but none were Tang Zhi's home in Dalingou Village.
After an hour, old man Tang finally guided the ox cart into a village. The Tang family lived near the entrance, and he drove straight to their doorstep.
"Whoa," Tang Zhihai called as he pulled on the reins to stop the cart.
"Uncle Laogen, I’ll go ahead," he said as he jumped down from the cart, turning to speak to old man Tang.
"Brother Haizi, why not come inside for a drink?" Tang Zhi also leapt down from the cart.
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