Humiao Town.
Evergreen Liquid's business car stopped at the village entrance, and Aunt Gu got out carrying large bags.
Xue Yuantong had a small bag slung over her back. Breathing in the long-missed air, she said nostalgically, "Xuexiao Village, I'm back!"
Xue Chuchu stood beside her, looking over the familiar land as a trace of nostalgia flickered in her eyes.
Ever since she had gone to high school in the city, she had returned less and less often. Especially after they bought a single-story house by the River Dam, the very concept of home seemed to have been replaced.
Aunt Gu led the two girls toward a tiled-roof house not far away.
Xue Yuantong looked around with some curiosity and said in her crisp voice, "Jiang Ning told me that once we start working, we'll become New Year Beasts. I'll come when the firecrackers start, and leave when they stop."
Aunt Gu glanced at her daughter. She had originally wanted to scoff at her, but since it was something Jiang Ning had said, she replied, "That makes sense."
"When I came back to the village a while ago, I saw Jiaxin's kid. He actually didn't recognize me," Aunt Gu said.
Xue Yuantong said, "When I was little, I even knew which family every dog belonged to!"
She was a little emotional. Could there really be children in this village who did not know Tongtong's great name?
Just then, they came across two children playing with Pokémon cards by the roadside, so Xue Yuantong asked, "Do you know who I am?"
One of the little boys cried, "You're Xue Yuantong! Why are you back?"
Xue Yuantong was puzzled. "You look unfamiliar to me. How do you know me?"
The little girl beside him shouted, "You're still as short as before! You