With something weighing on her mind-and something that was a major matter for their family-Lin Xiuqing sat by the door all day, glancing into the distance from time to time, hoping Ye Yaodong would come home.
When the Old Lady realized it was already half past two, she picked a large bunch of sweet potato vines from the vegetable patch and brought them over.
"A-Dong likes these. Stir-fry some for him later. They should be back soon, shouldn't they? Let's get the rice cooking first. Once they're back, they might be in a rush to start buying dried fish. What if they don't have time to eat?"
"Right, you're right. I'll put the rice on now. Once he's back, we'll have them eat first and work afterward."
With that, Lin Xiuqing put away the sweater sleeve she had only just started, placing it in the basket before getting up to cook inside.
"Go on. I'll pick over these sweet potato vines, wash them, and bring them in for you."
Before Ye Yaodong even reached home, he saw white smoke rising from his chimney. He wondered why they were cooking so early today.
Thinking he had misremembered the time, he even checked his watch to make sure it was only three.
"Dongzi, you're back? Hurry inside and sit down for a rest. It's cold out. Sit by the stove and rub your hands together to warm up."
"You're cooking this early?" he asked as he walked inside.
"Go in and talk. A Qing got a phone call this morning. Let her tell you."
"What phone call... huh?"
He broke off halfway through, then suddenly caught on. His eyes widened in delighted surprise. "Was it from the military?"
The Old Lady smiled without answering.
Sitting in front of the stove with the