Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 128 Return to the Village
The moment Qin Yishen and Jiang Man appeared at the village entrance, it was as if an electric current instantly spread throughout the entire village.

The villagers, who were lazily enjoying the winter afternoon, were drawn by the sudden excitement and put down their work to gather from all directions.

The two of them, leading Shi An and Shi Ning and pushing a stroller, looked out of place in the simple countryside.

A gasp of amazement rippled through the crowd, all eyes drawn to them, especially to their well-tailored, high-quality clothes, which shimmered with a unique luster in the sunlight, a stark contrast to the patched, dark-colored coarse cloth garments worn by the villagers.

"Look at this! This outfit must be so expensive. It probably wouldn't cost us a year's harvest."

An elderly woman with gray hair pointed at Qin Yishen's coat with her withered fingers and whispered to the person next to her.

"Exactly, exactly. They've made it big in the city. Look at this family, they're so impressive."

A young man, his eyes filled with envy, couldn't help but interject. Others, unable to contain their curiosity, moved closer to strike up a conversation.

A burly middle-aged man, with a broad smile revealing a set of uneven, yellow teeth, said, "Brother Qin, you've been gone for many years. You're finally back! Have you made a fortune in the city? Show some guidance to the men in our village, young and old."

Qin Yishen smiled politely and nodded slightly, but didn't know how to respond to the overly enthusiastic villagers.

Jiang Man leaned closer to Qin Yishen somewhat uncomfortably, a hint of nervousness in her eyes. She gently squeezed Qin Yishen's hand, as if seeking comfort.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from outside the crowd: "Jiang Man!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Wang Xiu carrying a basket of freshly bought vegetables, hurrying towards them.

Her face beamed with a delighted smile, and her steps were as light as a deer's.

"When did you guys get back? Why didn't you tell her and Lao San?"

Wang Xiu ran up to her, panting, and said, while affectionately taking Jiang Man's hand.

When Jiang Man saw Wang Xiu, her tense expression instantly relaxed, and a bright smile bloomed on her face: "Xiuer, we just arrived. We were thinking of going to the village to take a look first, and we haven't had time to tell you yet."

Wang Xiu glanced at the villagers watching around her, frowned, and said, "Don't just stand here, come on, let's go to my house."

Without saying another word, he pulled Jiang Man's family through the crowd and headed towards their home.

Along the way, the villagers' eyes followed them closely, and various discussions could be heard constantly.

Wang Xiu turned around and glared at those people, then shouted, "What are you all looking at? What's so interesting!"

The crowd then dispersed somewhat embarrassed.

Soon, they arrived at Wang Xiu's house.

This is a typical farmhouse courtyard with several fruit trees planted in the yard. Although it is winter now and the branches are bare, one can still imagine the lush foliage in the summer.

In one corner of the yard, there was a pile of firewood, and next to it was a simple chicken coop, where several hens were leisurely strolling around.

Wang Xiu warmly invited Qin Yishen's family to sit down, and then turned around and busied herself boiling water and getting snacks.

Jiang Man wanted to help, but Wang Xiu pressed her back into her chair: "Just sit down. I'm going to treat you all well today."

"Xiuer, don't bother, we just came to see you."

Jiang Man said.

Wang Xiu waved her hand and said with a smile, "No rush, no rush. It's rare for you to come back. I'll cook a nice meal tonight." As she spoke, she looked outside and added, "I need to go find Lao San and tell him to come back and have a couple of drinks with Brother Qin."

Qin Yishen quickly stood up and said, "It's been two years since I last saw you. I'll go find you. I also want to see how the village has changed."

Wang Xiu thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, the third brother should be working in the field at the entrance of the village. Just walk along this road and you'll see him when you get to the village entrance."

Qin Yishen stepped out of the courtyard, took a deep breath of the fresh winter air, and felt the familiar yet unfamiliar rural atmosphere.

Although the dirt road beneath his feet was somewhat rugged, it made him feel incredibly grounded.

As he walked, he looked around at everything, and the village in his memory gradually overlapped with the scene before him.

As Qin Yishen passed by a field, he saw several villagers working in the fields. When they saw him, they all stopped what they were doing and looked at him curiously.

Qin Yi greeted them with a smile, and they responded somewhat shyly.

A short while later, Qin Yishen arrived at the field at the edge of the village. From afar, he spotted Xu Laosan's figure.

The third brother was bending over, weeding in the field. He looked more robust, and his face showed more signs of age.

"The third one!"

Qin Yishen shouted loudly.

Xu Laosan looked up and saw Qin Yishen. He was taken aback at first, then a surprised smile appeared on his face: "Brother Qin! Why are you back!"

He dropped his hoe and ran over quickly. The two embraced tightly, a thousand words unspoken in that hug.

After a long while, Xu Laosan let go of Qin Yishen's hand, looked him up and down, and said, "Brother Qin, you're doing better and better in the city. Look at your energy and spirit, you're completely different from before."

Qin Yishen smiled and said, "Yes, I've experienced a lot in the city over the years. But I've always kept you and this village in my heart."

The two walked back while talking.

Qin Yishen recounted his experiences in the city to Xu Laosan, who listened with great interest, occasionally letting out exclamations of amazement. Back home, Wang Xiu was already bustling about in the kitchen. Jiang Man was helping out, and the two chatted and laughed.

Shi An and Shi Ning played with the baby in the yard, their laughter echoing throughout the small courtyard.

As evening fell, a sumptuous feast of farm-style dishes was laid out on the table. There was soup made from their own chicken, its aroma filling the air; freshly picked vegetables, tender and delicious; and homemade cured meat, its color enticing.

Everyone sat around the table, raising their glasses in celebration. Xu Laosan poured Qin Yishen a full glass of wine and said, "Brother Qin, we must have a good drink today."

Qin Yishen picked up his wine glass, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "Alright, we must drink until we're completely drunk today."

After a few rounds of drinks, everyone started talking.

Qin Yishen and Jiang Man recounted their struggles in the city, the hardships and difficulties, and the gains and joys.

Wang Xiu and Xu Laosan shared stories about everyday life in the village: whose child got into university, whose elderly person was in good health—every story was full of the warmth and vitality of daily life.

Shi An and Shi Ning listened to the adults' stories with wide, curious eyes.

They were filled with curiosity about this unfamiliar yet fascinating village, and would occasionally ask some naive questions that made everyone laugh.

"Sister-in-law Jiang Man, why don't you stay at my house tonight? There's plenty of room."