The next day, Mr. Liu and Liu the Butcher finally took their leave. When Zhang Cai, Zhang Xiaohu, and Liu Qian saw them off at the village entrance, Zhang Cai repeatedly promised that he would find the Guo clan chief as soon as possible to discuss Mr. Liu's relocation. Mr. Liu, however, said it would not be too late to discuss it after the Zhang family's affairs had settled down.
Only then did everyone part ways.
The days that followed were quiet and lonely. No one could adapt to life without Grandmother. From time to time, they would think of her and gaze at her little cottage, tears streaming endlessly down their faces.
Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua moved into Grandmother's little cottage. Neither of them was afraid at night. Grandmother had left, but her presence still lingered in the room—a presence filled only with kindness and remembrance. How could it frighten anyone? Zhang Xiaolong lived beside the main hall with Liu Qian. That room had originally been prepared as the bridal chamber and had been renovated inside and out. Now that Zhang Xiaolong was injured again, he could only remain in bed and accept Liu Qian's care.
It was already early March. The spring plowing in the rest of Guo Village had long been nearing its end, but the Zhang family had been delayed by the funerals and celebrations, and had only just begun. With Zhang Xiaolong unable to work, the others could only labor even harder. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaohua had truly grown quite strong. Though he could not keep it up for long, he had more than enough strength for plowing and planting. After turning over his own small plot of land, he hurried to help Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohu. In the end, the three of them