Age: My Small World

When he left the county town, it was still quite bright on the horizon.

At this moment, a few people were slowly leaving the city gates and heading towards their respective villages.

Yang Jun knew that these people were all busy with the hustle and bustle of life, and even during the rare holidays, they were still not free.

He suddenly thought of Niu Xiaocao from Santou Mountain again, wondering how that girl was doing now.

The last time he visited her, she had already started looking for a husband. And now?

Even with his help, it wasn't enough to completely solve her life's problems, so Xiaocao is probably married by now.

Finally, he sighed and gave up on going to San Tou Mountain. He had already helped Xiao Cao enough. What her future would be like depended on her own efforts, not on Yang Jun taking care of her all the way. There were so many unfortunate people in the world that he couldn't take care of them all.

However, it's worth visiting Xiao Jinru from the neighboring Jinshui Village.

That little girl is now eleven or twelve years old; I wonder if she's in junior high school yet.

Since Grandpa Jin became the village blacksmith, their family's life has improved considerably, and Jinru's schooling issue has also been resolved.

This time, Yang Jun only took a peek near Grandpa Jin Shunwa's house from afar before returning home.

"Sure enough, even without my help, their lives are still fulfilling and happy, so it's not like I'm the only one who can save them."

the other side.

Jin Ru was completely unaware that the older brother she had been longing for had already appeared not far away.

At that moment, she was wiping the sweat from her forehead, working hard to pull the bellows for her grandfather.

The little girl inherited her fair and tender appearance from when she was a child. Even though she dealt with the stove every day, she remained fair and tender, looking just like a young lady from a noble family in the past, not like a country girl at all.

This is also because Grandpa Jin has raised his granddaughter very well.

Even for something as trivial as working the bellows, he would occasionally ask the little girl if she was tired.

"I'm not tired at all, Grandpa. What are we having for dinner tonight?"

The little girl is always thinking about food; she's at the age where she's growing.

Jin Shunwa has lived up to the name's "Shun" meaning smooth sailing, and his family has had a comfortable life with plenty of food.

"How about I stir-fry some sweet potato sprouts for you tonight?"

"Grandpa, didn't all the sweet potato seedlings die of old age?"

Even if it's the last season of sweet potato harvesting in winter, the harvest will be completely finished in November or December, and no sweet potato seedlings will be left behind. Those things will probably reappear in the spring.

"Hehe, I found it by the river, a patch of wild sweet potato vines. I specially picked the tenderest ones and brought them back."

Sweet potato seedlings are grown from sweet potato vines, not actually seedlings from seeds.

"Oh, is there any more? I'll take a hoe and dig up some sweet potatoes to eat later."

"That won't do. It's on the edge of someone else's land. If you take a hoe and dig there, you'll definitely get beaten up."

Jin Ru shook her head helplessly, giving up the temptation of being able to eat fresh sweet potatoes this month.

"Alright, stop looking so glum. I'll go to San'er's house later and get you two pounds of sesame candy."

The "San'er" he mentioned was a sales point run by the supply and marketing cooperative in Jinshui Village, managed by a man named Jin San'er. He was quite leisurely, just responsible for selling things.

Of course, if the brigade really needed him, then Jin San'er would have to go to the fields with them, otherwise he might not get his share of food.

"My grandpa is the best." Jinru beamed with joy at the prospect of candy.

"But I still like the white candies that the older brother brings the most. They're so sweet and fragrant."

Jinru seemed lost in her memories.

Upon hearing this, Jin Shunwa stopped forging. He naturally knew who Jin Ru was talking about. After all, that person had saved him and his granddaughter several times. During their difficult times, he had always helped them. Otherwise, they wouldn't be living the life they have now.
"I heard from the people in Fanjiazhuang that your older brother is a college student. He's already studying and working in Beijing, and I reckon he'll never come back here again." Although he didn't want to shatter his granddaughter's fantasies, Grandpa Jin couldn't help but say it, lest the little girl keep thinking about that young man.

Jin Ru was stunned for a moment: "Beijing University?"

She is now in sixth grade and has a vague sense of what university is like. She only knows that Beijing University is very prestigious and that many people dream of working in Beijing.

"Grandpa, I also want to go to Beijing University so I can go find my big brother later."

The little girl said innocently.

Jin Shunwa just smiled and said, "Okay, once my Xiaoru gets into university, I'll go to Beijing to enjoy a life of luxury too..."

……

Yang Jun was unaware of what had happened in the courtyard; he had already returned to his cold home.

To his surprise, a figure was lingering at the door.

"Yu Li?" Yang Jun called out.

The sky was already getting a little dark, and it would be completely dark in a little while. Unexpectedly, Yu Li came over at this time.

Or perhaps they had no idea how long she had been waiting there.

"Yang Jun, you're finally back." Yu Li stamped her feet to relieve the coldness in them.

"What are you doing here? Come inside and warm yourself by the fire."

Yang Jun led her into the house and then lit the stove.

It's very convenient; you just need to pour a little kerosene onto a piece of firewood and ignite it.

As the heat lingered in the room, Yu Li's flushed cheeks finally felt a little better.

Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and say, "I've been waiting for you for two hours, why are you so late?"

"Why are you waiting for me?" Yang Jun simply asked.

Yu Li paused for a moment, then took something out of her bosom and handed it to him.

"Here, it's for you."

Yang Jun took it and realized it was a small jade pendant, and it was in the shape of Guanyin.

As the saying goes, men wear Guanyin pendants and women wear Buddha pendants, this Guanyin jade pendant is clearly worn by a man.

“I remember you used to really like looking at this kind of jade, so I thought I'd buy you one and let you try it on.”

Yu Li looked expectant.

Yang Jun found it difficult to refuse, so he put it around his neck and tried it on.

I must say, it suits her quite well, and she looks pretty good too. I guess she spent quite a while choosing one.

"You must have just started working recently. Don't buy things like this anymore; it's troublesome and a waste of money. I'll keep this one, thank you."

Yang Jun didn't take it off immediately, but his words were quite hurtful, after all, the other person had given him a gift.

Fortunately, Yu Li didn't seem to care. She smiled and said, "It's not worth much. Do you really think I can afford something expensive?"

"Anyway, just don't mind it."

"No, how could that be?" Yang Jun shook his head.

"It's getting late, shall I take you home?" (End of Chapter)