Chapter 118: Grandma’s Heartwarming Home

While Zhang Liansheng and Zhao Jinbao were talking with their grandmother at home, Du Yun had already returned to her own house, carrying a basket that swayed with each step. She took the meat out of the basket, tied it with twine, and hung it on the kitchen window hook. Then she turned to go inside and count the money. This time, Du Yun had earned a fair sum; after deducting the cost of the meat and setting aside her own capital, she still had about five yuan left.

“Should I give this money to Grandma, or save it to add to my sister’s dowry?” Du Yun hesitated briefly but decided to hand the money to Grandma to help prepare the wedding feast for their maternal family. After all, her sister’s wedding was still a month away, plenty of time for her to earn more money for the celebration.

In rural villages, weddings and funerals were momentous events, rare and significant throughout one’s lifetime. Thus, Du Zhi’s marriage was not only a big deal for Du Yun’s immediate family but also deeply important to the entire household.

Even their usually lazy and opportunistic third aunt, despite coveting Du Zhi’s dowry and the household gifts, only hoped to enjoy a little extra at the banquet. She had no intention of skimming off any part of the dowry, which earned Du Yun’s newfound respect.

With a month left until the wedding, Du Zhi was fully devoted to embroidering the trousseau, while Du Yun and Du Song worked hard to earn money. Meanwhile, the whole Du family, young and old, busied themselves with preparations.

“Is anyone home?” While Du Yun sat in the courtyard helping her sister sort embroidery threads, she suddenly heard a greeting at the gate. Before she could respond, a tall man with a ruddy face came in carrying a large basket on his back.

Du Yun stared at the tall man, finding him very familiar—someone she knew from her memories—but she couldn’t immediately recall who he was.

“Uncle, what are you doing here?” Before Du Yun could figure it out, Du Zhi suddenly stood up with a delighted smile, greeting the visitor warmly while motioning for Du Yun to pour some water.

“Uncle!” Du Yun’s eyes widened as she looked at the middle-aged man. His broad smile and honest demeanor reminded her strikingly of her own older brother. The resemblance was uncanny—so much so that anyone seeing them together might believe they were father and son. Indeed, the saying that nephews resemble their uncles held true here.

“How could I not come?” her uncle laughed heartily. “The eldest girl is getting married, of course, I have to show my support!” He stepped under the eaves and slowly crouched down to set his heavy basket on the ground.

“Slow down, let me help you!” Du Zhi noticed how heavy the basket must be and hurried to assist. Du Yun, though not yet close to her uncle, also stepped forward to lend a hand.

The basket was truly weighty; even holding it briefly made Du Yun’s arms ache, let alone carrying it on one’s back.

Du Yun recalled that her maternal family lived across the wide Lotus Flower River. The two villages on the east and west banks were only about two or three miles apart by water, but to travel by land required a long detour of over ten miles. Consequently, exchanges between the two villages were infrequent, and even relatives seldom visited each other. This was the case with Du Yun’s mother and her brother’s family.

After putting down the basket, Du Yun’s uncle wiped the sweat from his brow, accepted a bowl of water from Du Yun, and drank it eagerly. Without resting, he began unpacking the basket.

The first items were five plump hens tied tightly with grass twine, placed firmly on top so they couldn’t move.

“Look, these are chickens caught and raised last year. Since the eldest girl is getting married, Grandma asked me to bring five. If you’re hosting five tables at the feast, cook all of them; if fewer, keep two—soon they’ll lay eggs,” he explained.

Seeing nothing in the courtyard that might harm the chickens, he untied the ropes and let them roam freely.

Watching the hens pecking around without trouble, he nodded in satisfaction and continued unpacking. Next, he pulled out a basket brimming with eggs.

“One hundred eggs—always good to have plenty at a feast rather than scrambling at the last minute,” he said cheerfully, smiling at Du Yun and the others.

“This is white flour milled at home. When the eldest girl leaves home, she’ll need noodles. We don’t eat cornmeal here, so I brought five pounds of white flour—eat as much as you like!”

“Here are mushrooms and wood ear fungus gathered from the mountains; they make good dishes for guests, saving a bit on expenses,” he continued, unpacking more and more items until the ground beneath the eaves was covered.

Most of these were edible provisions for the wedding banquet, while some were dowry items. Clearly, Du Yun’s grandmother worried that her granddaughter’s wedding feast might lack in appearance or that Du Zhi might be looked down upon by her new family. This thoughtful and practical gesture showed deep care.

“Uncle, you brought so many things,” Du Zhi said, her eyes swelling and nose tingling with emotion. She was moved to tears by such considerate and generous arrangements for her wedding.

“Silly girl, why cry? You’re my niece—if I don’t care for you, who will?” Her uncle awkwardly wiped his sleeve, then clasped his hands, trying to comfort her.

Du Zhi couldn’t stop crying. Life had been hard, and visiting her grandmother’s house always felt like a celebration. Grandma had always taken great care of her and her mother, making nourishing meals despite their many siblings.

“Yun, help me persuade your sister. You’re both my nieces—I won’t show favoritism!” her uncle pleaded, seeing Du Zhi’s tears.

“Sis, look at Uncle who traveled so far and must be hungry. Why cry here? Go make him some food!” Du Yun said with a bright smile. Upon hearing this, Du Zhi hurried to wipe her tears and went to the kitchen.

“No need to eat; there are cucumbers in the garden. Just pick a couple for me to quench my thirst. I must be on my way soon!” Her uncle waved his hand as if chased by something, ready to leave. Du Yun quickly stopped him, brought him some water, and gathered plenty of cucumbers and tomatoes from the garden to take along before seeing him off.