Daily Life in the 70s-Chapter 39 - New Year’s Visit

Breakfast was prepared by the new daughter-in-law Li Hong and the eldest sister-in-law.

The family had finished making dumplings, sugar-stuffed dough, and other New Year’s food the night before and had left them to freeze in the courtyard.

Today, all they had to do was steam those treats and cook a pot of mixed-grain porridge.

Yang PeiMin felt like it had been ages since she last ate dumplings.

The longing from afar was very strong.

Look, It was the New Year already.

On this reunion festival, she wondered if her grandparents missed her.

She missed them very, very much.

“These dumplings are delicious!

The ones with meat are just perfect!

How long has it been since I’ve tasted these!

I’ve even dreamt of this flavor!” Yang Peijun devoured his food with gusto.

However, Yang Dahai’s face was grim.

He shot a glance at his oblivious son, “Your mother and eldest brother haven’t had a chance to eat yet.

After breakfast, take some dumplings and go to the clinic to see what the situation is.”

Yang Peihua quickly agreed.

Everyone got up silently.

They also didn’t dare to make too much noise, fearing they might upset Yang Dahai.

The dumplings with cabbage and pork filling tasted good, but after five or six, Yang PeiMin felt full.

“What’s the matter?” Yang Peijun, unusually, turned his head from his feast to look at her, “Did you overeat last night?”

Yang PeiMin ignored him.

He was the one resembling someone who overate.

She was also thinking about Zhang Minghua.

With such hard work in recent times, she didn’t know if her body could hold up.

She could prepare her medicinal meals, but there were no herbs.

She had heard Yang Dahai’s words last night; the money for the doctor was borrowed from Uncle Yang, and they had no money left at home.

“Dad, I want to go see as well.”

Yang Dahai disagreed, “Your hand hasn’t healed yet, don’t roam around.”

“Exactly, don’t add to the chaos.

At a time like this, you’re still thinking about shopping,” Yang Peijun rolled his eyes at her.

Yang PeiMin knew she couldn’t help much, but the idea of doing nothing at home and just waiting for news was unbearable.

She thought it might be better to go with Yang Peijun to town to see the clinic and look for a pharmacy while they were there.

“Not only are you no help, but later you might also hold us back.

If we have to take another person to the hospital, nobody will be able to enjoy the New Year,” that venomous-tongued Yang Peijun!

Yang PeiMin glared at him.

Forget it; it seemed he might have a point.

Her body was indeed too weak.

When Shen Yiguang arrived, Yang PeiMin was in the courtyard, busying herself with the few medicinal herbs available, measuring and sorting with a serious and solemn expression.

The fan-like quick hair sitting on her face made her look both clever and naive.

She needed to find something to do, and this was right up her alley.

As soon as she got involved, she became very absorbed.

She decided to prepare simple medicinal meals for herself and Zhang Minghua.

If she didn’t have enough herbs, she planned to make do.

“Need any help?” Shen Yiguang crouched down to look at her fair, slender fingers in stark contrast with the dark herbs, asking with some interest.

Yang PeiMin hadn’t expected him to come over at this time.

She looked up, “Why are you here?” His face loomed large in front of her, making her uncomfortably shift back.

“Is your hand feeling better?”

Yang PeiMin lifted her hand for him to see—the gauze was off, and it was beginning to heal.

“Much better.”

“Don’t do too much until it’s fully healed.

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Why are you working on these?” Shen Yiguang began to move his hands as well, following her portions, quickly and accurately dividing up the few remaining herbs.

“Don’t get your hands dirty.”

Zhang Pei Min watched him, somewhat surprised.

Was his ability to observe really that strong?

There were eight different herbs making up one dose, each with a different amount.

She was estimating the portions by feel, from practice, but Shen Yiguang had managed to divide them nearly perfectly after just one look.

He even carefully cleaned up the small scraps of herbs that had fallen onto the table.

“Are Uncle Yang and the others home?

I would like to pay them a visit for the New Year.” Shen Yi stood up, looking as if he was going to support her.

“Let’s go inside together.”

Yang PeiMin, internally amused, thought, was she that frail?

She stood up on her own.

“No need to support me.

My dad is inside.

My nephew fell ill last night and went to the clinic; she accompanied him.

With this going on, nobody is really in the mood for New Year’s festivities.

I’ll take you inside.”

“Is there no news yet?”

Seeing Yang PeiMin nod her head, he continued, “Don’t worry.

I’ll greet Uncle, and then I’ll go take a look.

I can drive there faster.”

Shen Yiguang’s offer came so naturally he really did seem like he could be part of the Yang family.

Yang PeiMin watched his profile, blinking dazedly.

Yang Peijun had borrowed a bike and left over two hours ago; by now, he should have arrived.

If Zhang Minghua and the others were to return, a ride in a car would indeed be less bumpy.

But she hesitated to trouble someone repeatedly.

Should she accept the offer or not?

“My older brother is already there.

He will be back soon.” In the end, that’s what she said.

As they spoke, they arrived inside the house.

Yang Dahai, Grandma Yang, Yang Dajiang, and others were sitting on the kang bed, talking.

“Yiguang is here.” Yang Dahai’s face relaxed slightly when he saw him.

Shen Yiguang went around and greeted the elders, and surprisingly, he even received red envelopes with money.

Grandma Yang was the one to start it.

“So this is the young man from the Shen family?

I didn’t get a good look at him yesterday as we were too far, but now that I see him up close, indeed, he’s a lively and handsome young man!” Grandma Yang cheerfully said.

The grandmother usually lived with Uncle Yang and had a preference for the youngest child, which was common among parents.

She felt that her youngest son had the hardest life amongst her three sons, with many children who were also quite young.

She felt heartache for him and would help out by taking care of her grandchildren and supporting Yang Dahu, and whenever there were holidays or meat to be eaten, brothers Yang Dahai and Yang Dajiang would bring their mother to their homes to celebrate together.

She was here now partly because of the New Year and also because she had heard that her great-grandchild had been hospitalized; she was extremely worried.

Knowing that her precious granddaughter Yang PeiMin now had a significant other, she let go of a weight in her heart and was overjoyed, so she was particularly kind to Shen Yiguang.

She pulled him over and started chatting warmly with him.

Shen Yiguang, with respectful manners, answered each question.

Yang PeiMin felt as if she was becoming insignificant in this setting, enduring the ambiguous and teasing glances from Uncle Yang and the others.

After shifting in her seat a few times, she could no longer bear it and stood up, ready to find an excuse to leave.

“FATHER!” Yang Peijun ran in.

“There’s trouble—the hospital has run out of medicine again!”