Under the moonlight, when Tian Dazhuang, carrying a basket on his back and holding a rabbit, and Zhou Dahua, holding Eldest Girl, appeared at the Zhou Family's doorstep, Zhou Qingshan was directly stunned:
"You?"
Zhou Dahua opened her mouth, her voice hoarse from long disuse:
"Father..."
Zhou Qingshan stood stunned for a long while before finally turning around and shouting into the pitch-black room:
"Child's Mother, come out quickly, Dahua and her husband have brought Eldest Girl over."
After shouting, Zhou Qingshan wiped his face with his hand, then said to Tian Dazhuang:
"Come, come in. It's dark inside, be careful."
After Tian Dazhuang entered, Zhou Qingshan stretched out both hands towards Eldest Girl:
"Come, let Grandpa hold you."
Eldest Girl was a bit afraid, but she was very obedient. Feeling her mother pass her into her grandfather's hands, she obediently leaned over and softly called out, "Grandpa."
Something seemed to have been knocked over inside the room, making a sound. Zhou Dahua hurriedly walked in:
"Mother? Are you alright?"
The woman flusteredly responded, "It's nothing, it's nothing, mother is fine."
When the dim yellow Oil Lamp on the table was lit, Zhou Dahua's four younger sisters had also come over and were standing behind Zhou Qingshan.
Tian Dazhuang placed the basket on the table and took out the rice, Pumpkin, and other items he had brought one by one:
"Father-In-law, Mother-In-law, my mother asked me to bring these over. This Pumpkin can be boiled and eaten, it's quite sweet. These are Apples, which my mother picked in the mountains today. They're delicious."
Zhou Qingshan glanced at the items piled high on the table, then looked away:
"Your mother told you to bring so many things over. What does she want? I've already told her before, my daughter won't be given to someone else as a concubine."
A trace of embarrassment appeared on Tian Dazhuang's face. He hurriedly waved his hands to explain:
"No, Father-In-law, that's not what my mother meant. These things are just gifts my mother said to bring for you two elders since Dahua hasn't returned to her maiden home in years. My mother now..."
Tian Dazhuang was also an honest man and didn't know how to explain his mother's recent changes. Zhou Dahua, standing beside him, added:
"Father, Mother, my mother-In-law has changed now. She treats me very well. Look at the new clothes I'm wearing, and the ones on Eldest Girl and Da Zhuang, they're all made from cloth my mother-In-law bought and had me make."
Zhou Dahua also didn't know why her mother-In-law had changed so much. She said all this just to let her parents know as soon as possible that she and her husband had come, not with any designs on her younger sisters.
Zhou Qingshan squeezed Eldest Girl's little hand. Before, when he saw this child from afar, she was always skinny and looked like she would topple over in a gust of wind. But today, holding her in his arms, he found the girl was quite heavy, her cheeks had a bit of flesh, her face was clean, and her eyes were bright. Although a bit reserved, she wasn't as timid and cowering as she used to be when he saw her.
This girl had grown bolder.
Da Huas Mother also noticed the change in her daughter. Even though they didn't interact, living in the same village meant she could always catch a glimpse. Her daughter's complexion was much better, her eyes no longer held that lifeless gray look from before. Although still thin and frail, her spirit couldn't deceive anyone.
Zhou Qingshan spoke up:
"I have indeed heard about your mother-In-law's recent affairs. Last time, when they said Eldest Girl was missing, I secretly followed. Luckily, she was found. Then there was searching for her daughter. In the past, she wouldn't have cared so much. Later, she suddenly saved Tian Yougen's life..."
Zhou Qingshan had actually been keeping an eye on his daughter's situation. Before, he could always catch a distant glimpse, but recently, his daughter rarely went out. Even the recent grain harvest in the fields was contracted to outsiders, so he had no chance to ask.
Zhou Dahua then stepped forward, placed a cloth bundle she was carrying on the table, and opened it:
"Father, Mother, actually, the reason I came back tonight is to tell you that my mother-In-law is now collecting Medicinal Herbs. Some villagers have already traded herbs with my mother-In-law for rice today.
I asked my mother-In-law, and if you also go up the mountain to dig for herbs, she is willing to buy them."
Da Huas Mother was somewhat surprised:
"Really?"
This time, before Zhou Dahua could speak, Eldest Girl, being held by Zhou Qingshan, spoke up:
"It's true, Grandma. My Grandma is really good to me now. She gives me Eggs to eat and even lets me sleep with her. Grandma said she'll buy however many herbs you find. Grandma definitely won't lie."
Zhou Qingshan passed Eldest Girl to his wife. Da Huas Mother took her over, and only then did Zhou Qingshan lean in to look at those herbs:
"Are all these Medicinal Herbs?"
Zhou Dahua nodded and introduced them one by one:
"Yes, Father. This is mugwort. Mother-In-law said fifty catties can be exchanged for one catty of rice. This is isatis root, two catties for one catty of rice. This is Motherwort..."
Zhou Dahua talked with her parents for a long time. It wasn't until Eldest Girl couldn't help but yawn that she told her parents they were heading home.
Having received so many gifts from Tian Dazhuang, Zhou Qingshan and his wife insisted that his wife find some return gifts, afraid that letting their son-In-law return empty-handed would displease the In-law and lead to her mistreating their daughter again.
Da Huas Mother used a cloth to wrap twenty Eggs from the room. Zhou Qingshan then caught an Old Hen from the chicken coop, bound its wings and legs with cloth strips, and said to take it back for the family to eat.
How could Tian Dazhuang dare accept these? His father-In-law's family's situation in the village was only slightly better than Widow Xia's, relying entirely on these chickens' Eggs for money and nutrition. After much refusal, Zhou Qingshan forcefully placed them in the basket and helped carry the basket outside the courtyard:
"Compared to what you brought today, this is nothing. As long as your mother... never mind, never mind. Just live well together."
Zhou Dahua knew her parents were giving such a heavy return gift out of consideration for her. She spoke up:
"Da Zhuang, if Father and Mother are giving it, just accept it. Father, Mother, if you go up the mountain, be sure to pay attention to safety. We'll head back now."
"Ah, alright, we know. It's hard to see at night, be careful on the road."
Tian Dazhuang, carrying the basket on his back, holding his daughter, and walking with his wife towards home, arrived at their own courtyard at the village end after the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. Tian Dazhuang's footsteps suddenly stopped. He grabbed his wife with one hand and shouted towards the corner of the courtyard wall:
"Who's there? Trying to steal something?"
Zhou Dahua was frightened and hid behind her husband, then quickly reacted and took Eldest Girl from her husband's arms.
Tian Dazhuang cautiously did not step forward. He hadn't brought his wood-cutting knife when going to his father-In-law's house today. He wasn't even sure if there was a person in the darkness. Spreading his hands to protect his wife and daughter, his eyes fixed intently on the corner of the courtyard wall, his other hand pulled an Iron Whistle from around his neck and blew it hard.
The sharp whistle sound was particularly piercing in the night. This was something Qin Sang had exchanged from the Mall specifically when she saw they were going on patrol. Children's toys weren't expensive, so Da Zhuang and San Gui each got one. They usually wore them around their necks tucked inside their clothes.
There was noise from inside the courtyard. Tian Sangui wasn't asleep yet and came out when he heard the whistle:
"Big brother, is that you?"
Qin Sang also hadn't fallen asleep yet and was secretly selling the Medicinal Herbs in her room to the Mall. Hearing the commotion, she also rushed out and lit the Oil Lamp:
"Da Zhuang, what's going on?"
Tian Sangui had already come out holding the door-barring stick. Tian Dazhuang pointed towards the corner:
"There seems to be someone there."