Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

After breakfast, Zhou Rui carried two large carp and a piece of pork belly, and went out with Zhou Ping, An'an, and Xiao Niangao, along with Mao Mao and Mao Mao's three children.

Mao Mao stood there, imposing and with glossy fur, almost back to its peak condition. This dog was so big that even three or five strong men wouldn't dare to move against it on a normal day.

Mao Mao's three children have grown quite a bit. They were so small when they first arrived, but now they're all chubby. As soon as they came out, they kept running around An An, and even tripped her up once.

"Maoqiu, you need to be good and not cause trouble. Maotuan and Maodou, hurry up and follow." An'an kept instructing the three dogs.

An'an named all of Mao Mao's puppies. According to her, their mother's surname is Mao, so the three puppies should also have the surname Mao.

Zhou Rui was in a good mood watching the three dogs having fun. He glanced back at the locked front door, a smile playing on his lips.

"Big cousin, the stage is all set up for you. You must perform well and not let down the stage I've worked so hard to build for you."

Zhou Rui turned his head away, and snowflakes began to fall again, landing behind the three of them.

"Uncle Changhai, I've come to mooch a meal!" Zhou Rui shouted outside Zhao Changhai's house.

The door opened, and Zhao Changhai walked out, his face beaming with joy.

"Ruiwa, you're back? I was saying yesterday that you might not be able to come back."

"I just came down the mountain yesterday, so I'm here now." Zhou Rui handed over the fish and meat he was holding.

Zhao Changhai took it, his hand sinking slightly: "Oh, it's so heavy? You're too kind."

"Don't mention it. I have a large family and a lot of food. If I don't bring enough, I'm afraid it won't be enough for me to eat."

"Hurry inside, don't let the little rice cake freeze."

Upon entering the house, Zhao Changhai's wife, son, daughter-in-law, and eldest grandson were all present; there were no outsiders, as it was still early before mealtime.

Zhou Rui arrived so early to give Zhou Chen ample time.

"Hello, Aunt Juan, Brother Xueqin, and Sister-in-law Gu Feng."

"Hello, Auntie! Hello, Brother! Hello, Sister-in-law!" An'an and Zhou Ping also greeted Zhou Rui.

"Ruiwa's here! Let me see Xiaoniangao. Xiaoniangao isn't much smaller than Doubao, is she? She'll be a year old soon, right?" Song Juan was especially enthusiastic. Having just given birth to her eldest grandson, she was also very fond of other people's baby girls.

"Yes, he was born in December, and he'll be one year old next month."

"Xiaofeng, go and pack up the fish and meat that Ruiwa brought. We'll have this for lunch," Zhao Changhai instructed his eldest daughter-in-law, handing her the food in his hands.

Gu Feng was a bit easily swayed and was initially reluctant. However, her expression immediately improved when she saw the fish and meat her father-in-law handed her.

"Okay, okay. You guys chat, I'll go tidy up in the kitchen first."

Zhou Rui's family sat down and chatted with the others, their conversation revolving around the two children. An'an sat for a while, then got restless and wanted to go to the yard to play with the dogs.

Zhou Ping also wanted to go out, but Zhou Rui pulled him back and whispered in his ear, "Go find Ping An and Shunli, then hide at the village entrance. If you see Zhou Chen and Da Biao heading towards our house, quickly come and quietly let me know."

Zhou Ping looked at Zhou Rui with a puzzled expression, wondering what his second brother meant.

"Don't ask, just do it. If you see it, don't tell anyone, just come and tell me."

Zhou Ping nodded. Although he still didn't understand, he trusted his second brother.

Then, people began to enter the room one after another. Zhao Youzhi, Zhou Shumin, and Liu Gu, the cart driver who raised the livestock.

As soon as Liu Gu entered the door, he shouted to Zhou Rui, "Ruiwa, your big mule is completely healed and very healthy. I even took it to grind grain these past two days."

"Really? Then I can ride it out?" Zhou Rui was overjoyed; this was quite a surprise.

"Sure. Why not? I fed it myself, it's very healthy."

"Then I'll have to toast you two more times today."

Zhao Youzhi chimed in, "Ruiwa, let me tell you something: the production team is going to requisition your big mule for spring plowing next year. Don't be upset about it!"

"Use it, use it as much as you can. Just don't break it."

"You brat, this animal is a treasure in the village, who would dare to mess it up for you?" Zhao Youzhi said with a laugh.

With more people around, the atmosphere in the house became increasingly lively. It was almost dinnertime, and Zhou Ping still hadn't returned to inform him. Zhou Rui couldn't help but stroke his chin. Could it be that Zhou Chen was too timid to come to his house?

The banquet began. Zhou Rui was considered an adult by Zhao Youzhi and the others, so he naturally sat at the main table with them and drank. An'an was taking care of Xiao Niangao. Zhou Rui was initially worried that An'an wouldn't be able to take good care of her, but she turned out to be doing a great job.

The door opened, and Zhou Ping came in. He shook his head at the look that Zhou Rui, who was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), was giving him, and then went to get a bowl of rice.

Zhou Rui nodded, his mind calm and undisturbed. It was like hunting: he laid the bait and waited for the prey to take the bait. As for when the prey would come, that was beyond his control.

Zhou Rui picked up his wine bowl again. This table was full of elders, and even Zhao Xueqin was his brother, so he had to toast them all.

Aunt Song Juan brought over another plate of spicy cabbage and warmly invited them, "Take your time drinking and eating, eat more, don't be idle."

Zhao Changhai chimed in, "Yes, eat your food. Wine should be sipped slowly to truly appreciate its flavor."

Zhao Youzhi didn't stand on ceremony and picked up a piece of meat and ate it.

"It's great, stewed until very tender, and incredibly soft and glutinous with every bite."

Zhou Rui didn't pick up any meat; he just ate the cabbage. After eating meat for so long, not only An'an but he also didn't really like it anymore; he preferred the sweetness of cabbage.

Zhou Ping hurriedly ate a bowl of rice and went out again. No one paid any attention, assuming that the child was just playing and not eating properly.

Everyone was toasting and making a lively scene, and the five-jin (2.5 kg) jar of sorghum liquor was almost empty.

Zhou Ping then slipped in again, walked to Zhou Rui's side, and said something in a voice that only Zhou Rui could hear.

"Zhou Chen brought Da Biao, Er Biao, and Qian Fu to our house."

"You take care of Xiaoniangao. That's all you need to do from now on; just pretend you didn't know anything."

Zhou Rui downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp. Then he stood up, picked up the wine jar, and began pouring wine for everyone. After pouring for two people, he finished pouring for Liu Gu.

"Uncle Changhai, are you out of wine?"

"It's my fault, it's my fault. I was too happy today and didn't think about how there wasn't enough wine. I'm so sorry." Zhao Changhai said apologetically, completely unaware that it was Zhou Rui, this heavy drinker, who was drinking so much.

"It's alright, I still have a few bottles of good wine at home. I'll go back and get them. We're going to drink to our hearts' content today." Zhou Rui got up, put on his clothes, and was about to leave.

"Don't go. I'll ask Xueqin to go next door and borrow some wine."

"No way. We're having a good time today, so we have to drink some good wine. You guys wait here." Zhou Rui walked briskly, and Zhao Changhai couldn't stop him at all.

Zhou Rui strode home normally, his long legs carrying him. It was dinnertime, and there was no one outside, only snowflakes dancing in the air.

Under the big tree at the village entrance, Zhou Rui saw Liu Ping'an and Liu Shunli, waved to them, and told them to hurry back.

Zhou Rui didn't take the normal route home; instead, he took a detour. Because his senses were activated, he had already spotted Qian Fulai crouching in a snowdrift about thirty meters away from his house, keeping watch.

Zhou Rui crept up behind Qian Fulai, and by the time Qian Fulai heard the noise and turned around, Zhou Rui had already kicked him, striking him directly in the face.