Chapter 388 - 387: Yue’er, I Miss My Mom

That evening, when it was just the two of them, Wang Chunlan asked Xiao Yang, "Is that what you really think?"

Xiao Yang lay down, one arm resting on his forehead. "Everyone knows Beijing City is great, of course I know that too," he sighed. "My third uncle is capable, but we can’t imagine the hardships he’s gone through. Besides, my big brother is already gone. This house we’re living in was built with the money he earned. Half of the good life we have now is thanks to him. But without our third uncle, my brother might have ended up just like us, still stuck in the countryside. A person can’t be too greedy or rely on others for everything. I know my own limits. I’m not as capable as my big brother was. I can only do what I’m good at, like farming. And now that I have you and our daughter, there’s even less reason for me to go."

He then turned to look at Wang Chunlan. "Do you think I lack ambition?"

Wang Chunlan chuckled softly. "No. You’re right, we’re country folk, and I don’t have any grand ambitions either. I’m very content with my life now. I have you, our daughter, Mom, and Grandpa. As long as our family is always together, that’s good enough for me."

Xiao Yang smiled. "That’s my wife, so understanding. But don’t worry, I’ll definitely take you to see Beijing City one day. I promise."

Wang Chunlan nodded. "I believe you."

At the end of the twelfth lunar month, He Nan and Wang Hui Fang returned. The two brothers went to the mountain to visit Mrs. He’s grave again.

Wang Hui Fang came over to talk with Xue Yue.

It was only then that Xue Yue learned Wang Hui Fang had resigned from the transport team.

"The wages kept getting cut, and I was earning too little each month. A while ago, the team laid off a few people for no good reason, which just gave us more work. Your big brother and I talked it over, and I decided to just quit."

Xue Yue asked, "So what do you plan to do next, Sister-in-law?"

Wang Hui Fang said with a smile, "I’m planning to sell food."

Xue Yue was surprised. "Open a restaurant?"

Wang Hui Fang shook her head. "How could we afford to open a restaurant? I don’t have any other skills, but I’m a decent cook. I’m thinking of setting up a stall to sell things like steamed buns and sweet pastries."

Xue Yue nodded. "That’s a good idea too, but it’ll be a lot of hard work."

Wang Hui Fang said, "I’m not afraid of hard work. Your big brother has already bought all the equipment I’ll need. I’ll set up my stall right after the New Year."

Meanwhile, He Nan was telling He Lang about the same thing. "The private transport teams are really squeezing us out."

He Lang frowned. "So you’re planning to stay with the team?"

He Nan nodded. "I’ll stick with it for now. Everyone’s worried, but no one’s talking about quitting. We all have families to support. If we quit, we’d have no income."

With the rise of private businesses, the "iron rice bowl" of the past was no longer so secure. These days, you couldn’t even sell your position for a good price.

"Your sister-in-law has already quit. She wants to set up a stall."

He Lang nodded. "If you run into any difficulties, just let us know."

He Nan managed a smile. "If things get really tough, I won’t be a stranger."

Times were changing. 1983 was a turning point, because this New Year’s Eve marked the first-ever Spring Festival Gala.

After dinner, everyone gathered to watch the Gala. It was a novel experience, and it made the children roar with laughter.

He Lang and Mr. He both drank too much.

He Lang was so unsteady he could barely stand. It was the first time Xue Yue had ever seen him drink so much. On the way back, he threw up.

Xue Yue patted his back and supported him, afraid he would fall.

"How are you feeling? Still sick?"

He Lang shook his head, wiped his mouth, and slowly stood up.

Xue Yue helped him walk home.

He Lang looked up at the sky. The New Year’s Eve moon was bright, and the sky was full of stars.

"Do you think they celebrate the New Year in heaven?"

"Huh?" Xue Yue didn’t hear him clearly.

Staring at the sky, He Lang mumbled, "Do you think my mom is celebrating the New Year in heaven today too?"

Xue Yue paused for a moment before replying, "I’m sure she is."

He Lang gave Xue Yue a bitter smile. "My mom isn’t here for the New Year this year. I’m still not used to it."

"I know."

Xue Yue had noticed during dinner that He Lang was in low spirits. That’s why she didn’t try to stop him when he and Mr. He kept drinking.

"I miss my mom."

"Mm."

"Yue’er, I miss my mom."

"I know." Xue Yue couldn’t bear to see He Lang like this, and tears welled up in her eyes.

He Lang kept muttering it until Xue Yue got him onto the kang and he slowly fell asleep.

Xue Yue sat beside him, just watching him, and reached out to wipe the moisture from the corners of his eyes.

In truth, Xue Yue wasn’t quite used to it either. It felt like something was missing.

In previous years, Mrs. He had always been there, bustling about. She worried about everyone and had to arrange every little detail herself.

Xue Yue sat there in a daze for a long time, until Daya returned with Ruanruan and Shiyi.

Xue Yue then got up to go outside.

"Is Uncle okay?" Daya asked.

"He’s fine. Is the Gala over?"

"Yeah."

Shiyi hugged Xue Yue’s leg. "Mom, how come you and Dad came back without us?"

Xue Yue patted his head. "Daddy got drunk and needed to sleep."

"Are we still going to stay up for the New Year’s vigil?"

Xue Yue looked at him. "Of course we are. Aren’t you sleepy?"

Shiyi shook his head. "I want to watch the fireworks."

"Okay, then Mom will go set off fireworks with you."

They stood at the main gate. The children covered their ears while Xue Yue lit the fuses and ran back.

"BOOM... BANG..."

"That one was pretty! I want to see more..."

Xue Yue tirelessly lit one after another. The children watched with delight, and a smile appeared on her face as well.

Happy New Year!!!

「On the second day of the New Year, Xue Yue’s family returned to Yangjia Gou.」

But as soon as she stepped inside, Xue Yue noticed something was wrong. The main room had changed. There was only one set of bedding on the kang, the kang cabinet was gone, and the room looked cold and empty.

Xue Changlin’s expression didn’t betray anything, and he even gave the two children their New Year’s money.

Xue Yue only learned the full story from Xue Xingjun. Ever since returning from Beijing City, Liu Hongxing had been sleeping in a separate room from her father.

Although they hadn’t divorced, they were like strangers. She wouldn’t even cook for him; they each made their own meals.

Xue Yue frowned. "Has it really gotten this bad?"

Xue Xingjun sighed. "It looks like Mom is dead set on this. She even said that if it weren’t for me, she would have divorced Dad long ago. But I know her too well. She’s probably just heartbroken, but she won’t actually get a divorce. If she did, she’d have nowhere to go. She can’t go back to our grandmother’s house. Now she tells me every day to make good money so I can take her to Beijing City. It’s giving me a huge headache."

Xue Yue figured it was probably because of what happened in Beijing City last time. She just hadn’t expected Liu Hongxing to be this resolute; it was rather unlike her.

When Liu Hongxing saw Xue Yue arrive, she didn’t hide away. She even cooked for them. Thinking that her son still needed to rely on Xue Yue and her husband, she didn’t want to offend Xue Yue under any circumstances.

But it was a different story with Xue Changlin. Liu Hongxing didn’t even spare him a glance.

After the meal, Xue Yue asked Xue Changlin what he planned to do.

"It’s fine. I’m already at this age. We’ll just muddle through like this."

Xue Yue disagreed with his passive attitude of just getting by, but there was nothing she could do.