Chapter 23: The Daughter's Return

On the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, an inexplicable cry came from outside the house.

Yue Jiannan held his chopsticks without daring to move, his arms covered with goosebumps.

Mom, the more he thought about it, the more unsettling it felt.

Lin Chunju glanced at Yue Qingqing, who was being held by Zhang Ying, making sure her granddaughter was fine before boldly speaking up.

"I'll go open the door and see what's going on."

Yue Jiandong stood up first, "Mom, I'll go."

The door opened, and the dry, cold wind from outside whooshed into the room, as a young woman with swollen eyes stood outside.

"Brother!"

Like finding her mainstay, the woman stumbled into the house.

Yue Jiandong hurried to catch her, "Xiaofang, you... why have you come home on New Year's Eve."

Lin Chunju abruptly stood up.

The visitor was none other than her daughter, who had already been married off.

Yue Jianxi quickly went to close the door; Yue Jiannan rushed over and used his sleeve to wipe away Yue Xiaofang's tears.

"Sister, what happened? Did you come back alone?"

As soon as this was said, Yue Xiaofang's tears threatened to fall again.

But she lifted her head, clumsily wiping her cheeks dry with the back of her hand.

"It's nothing, I just missed home too much."

She couldn't cry.

Today was New Year's Eve, and her returning to her parental home was already a concern for the family; she couldn't bring back anymore bad luck.

Everyone knew the reason for Yue Xiaofang's return couldn't possibly be as she stated, but after exchanging glances, they tacitly chose not to ask further.

Wang Xiaoni went to get a set of bowls and chopsticks from beside the stove, while Zhang Ying placed a stool next to Lin Chunju.

Yue Xiaofang sat down with her head lowered, her hands warmed by her mother's breath.

"You must be cold from the journey, child. Why didn't you wear more? Do you have your cotton pants on?"

The familiar gestures and words, just like when she was a child.

The tears Yue Xiaofang had just managed to stop once again threatened to flow freely.

She quickly changed the subject, "Mom, that's Qingqing, isn't it? She's grown so pretty, and Xiaohu has grown up a lot too, very different from when he was just born."

Although Yue Xiaofang had only married into the next village, the rules made it difficult for her to return home regularly.

The last time she came back was just after Wang Xiaoni had given birth, and though Yue Xiaofang had brought Hong Feng as a gift, her husband had urged her to leave after only a quarter of an hour.

After Yue Qingqing was officially adopted, Yue Jiandong had sent word through someone passing by, but it had been half a year since they had last seen each other.

Yue Qingqing looked up at Yue Xiaofang, resembling a little white sticky rice dumpling.

For some reason, Yue Xiaofang felt her heartache and humiliation starting to subside slowly.

Yue Qingqing saw clearly, the aura around Yue Xiaofang was grey, signaling extreme sadness, but above her, there floated a faint milky-white presence... this was...

"Alright, food is the most important thing during the New Year, and it's good that Xiaofang came back for it; let's all enjoy a good family gathering."

Lin Chunju ladled some dumplings into her daughter's bowl.

The Yue family tried to eat as merrily as if nothing had happened, with Yue Jiannan cracking jokes on the side and occasionally making everyone laugh.

Yue Jianxi gloomily offered food to his sister.

Yue Xiaofang remarked in surprise, "Home seems much more abundant this New Year than before."

Yue Jiandong laughed, "We were lucky to get paid for a digging job a few months back, organized by the village."

Yue Xiaofang gasped in alarm, "I heard that the digging collapsed halfway through, brother, you weren't hurt, were you?"

The family hastily reassured her, explaining everything that had happened.

Only then did Yue Xiaofang relax, repeatedly expressing relief, "Thank goodness, it's good that Qingqing is such a lucky star."

Seeing her daughter begin to relax, Lin Chunju gave her eldest son a look.

Yue Jiandong understood, "Sister, let me pour you a glass of water."

He picked up the bowl of water from the table and, as though accidentally, splashed some out onto his sleeve.

"Such a big person and still so clumsy."

Lin Chunju feigned scolding, rolling up her daughter's sleeve to wipe it.

Yue Xiaofang wanted to stop her but was too late. As the sleeve was pushed higher, it revealed a mass of densely packed bruises, some old and faded, others clearly new.

A single glance was enough to send shivers down one's spine.