This was an utterly ordinary wooden house, even more dilapidated than Zhang Xiaohua's home in Guo Village. Lamps had already been lit inside; the village women must have known that Meng would be staying in the village tonight.
"We're back!" A man threw back his head and bellowed, startling several birds from the nearby trees into flight.
In mere moments, the village that had been quiet just now erupted into life. The children who had been outside earlier ran out from their little houses, calling "Father!" as they rushed eagerly toward the men.
Once they reached them, the men tossed their Weapons and prey onto the ground, scooped up their children, and lifted them high. Then they pressed their stubbly faces against the children's cheeks, making them giggle wildly... The village women also came over, picked up the weapons and prey the men had discarded, and stood beside their husbands and children, watching with smiles. From time to time, they reached out to brush grass blades and twigs from the men's clothes. Then the men, women, and children slowly returned to the village together, each heading back to their own little house.
Meng and Zhang Xiaohua walked at the very back. As they watched this warm scene of family joy, tenderness welled up in their hearts, along with a faint ache. Though the reasons for their pain were different, their hands quietly tightened around each other's. Zhang Xiaohua whispered into Meng's ear, "All this... we'll have it too..."
"Mhm..." Meng answered even more softly, her cheeks reddening. Though Zhang Xiaohua's following words had disappointed her somewhat, they still tasted sweet in her heart.
"My parents... are waiting for me too. My elder brother and sister-in-law's child has grown up as well. Come back with me, and you'll be as happy