Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

"It's all snacks and desserts, wine, and four bear paws. Little Rice Cake will be one year old next month, and I'm planning to treat everyone to a drink. I'll save the bear paws for cooking that day."

"Let me see, let me see, what delicious food is available?" An'an's eyes lit up as she reached out to untie the ropes.

"Hehe... An'an, didn't you say you didn't want your second brother to buy anything, and that you just wanted him to come back?" Zhou Ping teased An'an from the side.

An'an wrinkled her nose at Zhou Ping: "Second brother is back now, so of course we can buy some delicious food."

An'an laid her backpack down and kept taking out food from it. Before long, the kang (a heated brick bed) was full of food.

"Bear paws, and this too, Second Brother, this is a badger." Zhou Ping said as he tidied up, picking up a skinned badger.

"Okay, cut off a piece of this badger, and bury the rest and the bear paw in the snow in the backyard to freeze. Eat it slowly."

That's the good thing about winter in Northeast China: the snowdrifts outdoors act as refrigerators, allowing you to freeze leftover meat and have fresh meat to eat every day.

"Okay, Second Brother."

Zhou Rui held the hot water, watched Zhou Ping's departing figure, and slowly took a sip.

"Hey, little rice cake, don't eat it, the outside is paper."

Zhou Rui turned his head and saw that Xiao Niangao had also grabbed an oil paper package while An'an was opening blind boxes. However, she didn't open it, but instead put it in her mouth.

An'an quickly reached out to grab it, but Xiao Niangao held on tightly with both hands, looking stubborn and refusing to let go.

"Come on, loosen your grip, Auntie will open it for you." An'an didn't dare to use force, so she just smiled and coaxed her closer.

But Little Rice Cake hugged back even harder: "Hey~ hey~, umm, oh no."

In Xiao Niangao's eyes, An'an is probably a big bad wolf who tricks Little Red Riding Hood and only wants to steal his things.

"Second brother, look, she won't let go. The paper outside is all soaked with drool." An'an was a little helpless and could only ask Zhou Rui for help.

Zhou Rui found it somewhat amusing. An'an was usually quite formidable when dealing with him, using both soft and hard tactics to leave him helpless. But now, she chickened out when faced with an even more formidable little rascal.

"Hehe, bring me one of those White Rabbit milk candies."

Zhou Rui pointed to an open paper package containing candies. This was something Zhou Rui always bought because An'an loved them.

A milk candy was handed over. Zhou Rui unwrapped it, picked one up, and put it to Xiao Niangao's mouth.

Little Rice Cake stuck out her tongue and licked it. Hmm, it had some flavor. Immediately, her two little hands, which were holding the paper package, let go and grabbed directly into Zhou Rui's hand.

Zhou Rui couldn't just give it to her directly; it was so big, what if she choked on it? So he picked her up, held the candy in his hand, and refused to give it to her.

Little Rice Cake wasn't annoyed. She just held Zhou Rui's fist and kept licking it, occasionally turning her head to give Zhou Rui a silly grin.

While Xiao Niangao had something to do, An'an quickly gathered up and hid everything on the kang (heated brick bed), making sure she couldn't take it anymore, otherwise she wouldn't be able to get it back.

"Second brother, I'm all done. Should we braise or stew the badger tonight?"

When Zhou Ping came in, he saw Xiao Niangao nestled in Zhou Rui's arms, quietly licking a milk candy.

"What would you like to eat? I'll make it."

As Zhou Rui was about to put Xiao Niangao down, Xiao Niangao clung to Zhou Rui's arm and wouldn't let go.

"Second brother, don't go, stay here and play with me." An'an also ran over and climbed onto Zhou Rui's back.

"Hehe, I'll go instead. Second Brother, you stay here with them."

Zhou Ping didn't waste any words and quickly turned to leave. He knew these two devils all too well; once they got on his heels, he couldn't get away.

If it weren't for the help of the educated youth sister next door and Sister-in-law Xinghua, I wouldn't have had any time to go out and play with Ping An and his brother. Now that my second brother is home, it's more comfortable for me to cook.

"Okay, I'll play with you. What does An'an want to play?"

Since Zhou Ping was willing to do housework, Zhou Rui didn't object and was happy to rest, lying comfortably on the kang (heated brick bed).

"Second brother, tell me the story of this monkey."

An'an pulled out a comic book and handed it to her. Although she enjoyed reading it herself, her second brother's storytelling was even more exciting.

"There used to be a place called Chen Tang Pass, and there lived a general named Li Jing..."

As Zhou Rui gently and patiently recounted the story, An'an listened with rapt attention, as if she were immersed in it. Even Xiao Niangao, who was eating candy, would sometimes stop and stare blankly at Zhou Rui, as if she understood what he was saying.

The wind howled outside, constantly battering the windows, but it did nothing to disturb the three people inside. The wind continued until Xiao Niangao stopped moving, and only half of the sugar remained on the kang table.

The winter morning was quite chilly. Zhou Rui stood in the yard, stretched, and moved his arms.

This body is really in good shape. After just one night's sleep, the bullet hole has already scabbed over, and I reckon it will be completely healed in a few more days.

Hearing the noise outside, Mao Mao nudged the door with its head and squeezed it open a crack. Several puppies eagerly darted out from under Mao Mao's legs.

Woof, woof.

Several puppies, including Maotuan, kept circling around Zhou Rui, their little tails wagging rapidly.

Mao Mao also slowly walked over, its huge head gently rubbing against Zhou Rui's thigh, expressing its affection for its owner.

It wouldn't dare do that to An'an. An'an would only grab its fur and try to climb onto it, determined to make it its mount.

Zhou Rui gave Mao Mao's head a hard pat, then squatted down and played with the puppies for a bit.

"Are you hungry? I'll get you something to eat."

The days after returning home were busy. The family dog, mule, and chicks all needed to be fed, and the children also needed to have breakfast prepared for them, but Zhou Rui enjoyed it all.

Slurp, slurp... The family sat around the kang table, drinking hot rice porridge and occasionally chewing on a piece of pickled vegetable.

"Second brother, are you going out today?"

Zhou Rui looked up at Zhou Ping: "Nothing to do today? Why would I go out?"

"Oh." Zhou Ping suddenly sped up, picked up the bowl and poured it into his mouth, his chopsticks quickly rummaging through the bottom of the bowl.

With a thud, Zhou Ping put the bowl and chopsticks on the table and casually grabbed his coat.

"Second brother, I'm going out to play now. Ping An and Shunli are still waiting for me."

By the time Zhou Rui realized what was happening, Zhou Ping had already left the inner room with the rest of his words, leaving only the still-swaying doorway behind.

Zhou Rui couldn't help but shake his head and smile. They'd been stuck at home for days due to the blizzard and were finally going outside for some fresh air.

Zhou Rui picked up a spoon and slowly fed Xiao Niangao egg custard. These eggs were from their own hens, which they had raised for several months, and it was finally time to reap the rewards.

"An'an, do you want to go out and play?"

An'an lifted her face from the bowl, her mouth covered in rice grains: "Wherever Second Brother is, that's where I'll be. I'll follow Second Brother."

Zhou Rui had just returned, and An An was still clingy, wanting only to stay by her second brother's side and not go anywhere else.