Chapter 7: Aunt Sun Is Back

Day by day, time passed. After planting the radishes and curing the ducks, it was already the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Families began preparing for the New Year.

The village of Sunjia had no tradition of celebrating the Laba Festival, nor did they have the custom of cooking Laba porridge.

Early in the morning, Madam Su prepared a large pot of sweet potato rice porridge for the family’s breakfast.

Just after finishing breakfast, Aunt Li from next door hurried over, breathless, saying, “Mrs. Bo Min, your eldest daughter has returned.”

Madam Huang paused, then rose from her stool anxiously. “What? You say Chunlan is back?”

Wasn’t it said she wouldn’t be coming home this year? How sudden this was!

Aunt Li spoke with certainty, “It’s your Chunlan, I’m not mistaken. She came back by horse carriage.”

“This morning, when I went to the fields to fetch vegetables, I saw a carriage in the distance. Looking closer, the driver was your son-in-law.”

“And in the whole village, besides your Chunlan, who else could afford to ride a horse carriage?”

Aunt Li was warm-hearted; once she confirmed it was indeed Madam Huang’s eldest daughter, she immediately ran to the Sun family to deliver the news.

Madam Huang thanked Aunt Li, then turned to her eldest son: “Go quickly and see if it really is your eldest sister.”

After speaking, Madam Huang, along with Sun Bo Min and his wife, stepped out of their home and walked along the village path toward the entrance.

It was the slack season; few were working in the fields. After breakfast, villagers gathered chatting under the big banyan tree at the village entrance. Seeing Aunt Li rush back breathlessly, they were about to ask what was going on.

But soon, she disappeared without a trace.

Then they saw her emerge again, this time with the Huang family.

One curious villager asked, “Bo Min, what’s the matter? The whole family’s out—could it be something big?”

Before Sun Bo Min could answer, Aunt Li beat him to it: “Yes, Bo Min’s eldest sister is back. They’re going out to welcome her. The mother-in-law even came out to greet her son-in-law—quite the honor.”

Another villager’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Really? Chunlan’s come home? Yesterday, I asked Madam Huang if her eldest daughter was returning, and she said no, because of some grandson’s exam. Did I hear wrong?”

At that moment, the village chief appeared from somewhere, pulling Sun Bo Min aside. “Bo Min, is Chunlan truly back?”

Again, Aunt Li quickly replied, “More certain than pearls. I saw it with my own eyes. Chunlan’s husband was driving the carriage.”

The chief believed her. Aunt Li was known for her sharp eyes and nimble fingers despite her age. If she said she saw Chunlan, it must be true.

A grand procession formed, starting with the Sun family and swelling to include the entire village, all heading to the entrance to welcome the son-in-law of the He family.

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Sun Shan was young and walked slowly; his eldest sister Guyu carried him on her back.

Actually, Sun Shan had planned to stay home. But without hesitation, his eldest sister took him along.

Sun Shan sighed. He understood what his eldest sister meant to the Sun family. Because of her presence, those who only dared whisper behind their backs had no power to crush Sun Bo Min and his wife with the village gossip and mental torment that would have broken anyone else.

Madam Huang, leading a group of villagers, reached the village entrance. From afar, a horse carriage approached, and everyone stood still.

The village chief pointed at the carriage and said to Madam Huang, “Mrs. Bo Min, it really is Chunlan.”

Aunt Li’s eyes had not deceived them.

Madam Huang smiled. “Yes, it truly is Chunlan. Didn’t she say she wouldn’t come back this year? How come she returned?”

A daughter’s return always brought joy. Sometimes they saw her once a year, sometimes once every two years. As parents, their hearts were always tied to their children.

The villagers watched the carriage approach, then glanced at Madam Huang with envy and admiration.

It wasn’t just the gifts inside the carriage—it was the carriage itself that made others green with envy.

Within a hundred-mile radius, ox carts were rare, let alone horse carriages.

It was like the village having few bicycles, but you showing up in a car. Hard not to be jealous.

Soon the carriage arrived. The He family son, startled, hurried to rein the horses, stopped the carriage, jumped down, and nervously asked, “Mother, village chief, why are you all here?”

At first glance, the throng of people was intimidating. Strangers might not dare enter the village.

The carriage halted suddenly. Chunlan inside was puzzled, thinking something had happened outside. Pulling aside the curtain, she too was shocked to see so many villagers.

She quickly got down and asked, “Mother, village chief, what’s going on?” With so many aunts and uncles gathered, plus the fifth and sixth uncles, all crowded at the village entrance—was there some village event?

The village chief smiled at He’s son and Chunlan. “Nothing, we just heard you were back and came out to see you and your mother. By the way, I heard your mother say you weren’t coming back?”

In truth, every time Chunlan returned home, the village learned of it and came out to see her. This time, the crowd was just larger, which made her so surprised.

Chunlan smiled. “Village chief, I planned not to come, but I really missed my mother, so I came to visit.”

At home, everyone had been frantic over Jin Ge’er’s preparatory exam, especially her husband, who had neglected his business to focus solely on their son. Chunlan had rolled her eyes at this.

Finally, she insisted on doing things as usual, dragging her husband to visit her family, hoping to help Jin Ge’er relax.

Of course, she couldn’t say this openly; she could only say she missed her mother. Anyone who heard that would praise her filial piety.

The village chief was gratified. Stroking his beard, he praised, “Among daughters married out, Chunlan is the most filial.”

This remark offended no one with daughters, for it was the truth. Who wouldn’t be happy to have such a daughter?

Just then, a boy about fourteen or fifteen jumped out of the carriage and hurried to his maternal grandparents.

The carriage had stopped for a long time; with his parents still chatting, he had no choice but to get out.

He greeted the villagers politely: “Grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousins, village chief, hello.” Bowing slightly, his tone sincere and gentle.

In a crowd, no one minded such politeness. He had been well raised.

Madam Huang stepped forward, holding the boy’s hand lovingly. “Brother Yu is here too. Ah, you’ve grown so much.”

Children grew fast. Not seeing him for a year was like watching a sprouting seedling shoot up. It was heartwarming.

The village chief’s smile grew even broader as he looked at the finely dressed He family son.

Truly a wealthy family, well-mannered and affable towards us villagers, without a hint of impatience.

Patting He Shuyu’s hand tenderly, he asked, “Brother Yu, are you tired? Riding in a carriage for so long must be hard.”

He Shuyu smiled bashfully and honestly replied, “Village chief, yes, it’s tiring. We’ve been riding for several days; my backside has developed calluses. It’s quite uncomfortable.”

His words sent the villagers into laughter.

“Simpleton,” they joked—his words were refreshingly down-to-earth.

Sun Bo Min said to his brother-in-law, “Brother-in-law, let’s go back. I’ll help you drive the carriage.”

Having only seen horses a few times a year, getting to hold the reins made him happy.

He’s son handed the reins to his wife’s brother, advising, “Go slowly, and it will follow.”

He then walked over to Madam Huang to help her walk.

Sun Chunlan immediately spotted Sun Shan, picked him up, kissed him, and smiled, “This little guy has grown taller and heavier.”

She held him tightly, unwilling to let go.

Sun Shan was startled by the sudden affection. Seeing it was his eldest sister, he shyly called out, “Big sister, you’re back.”