A Good Country Wife

Dalang’s uncle arrived at his brother-in-law’s home, and before he even saw Lin Yue, he was relieved to see Dalang and Erhu doing well. Dalang and Erhu looked spirited, having grown taller and sturdier, they were wearing neat and clean clothes, a far cry from how they used to look.

"Uncle!" Dalang and Erhu were very close to this uncle. Having not seen him for half a year, they were thrilled to see Zhao Fuquan, rushing over to warmly greet him.

"Ah, Dalang and Erhu, how have you been these days? You’ve grown taller and stronger. Your grandparents and I have missed you and specifically asked me to take you to stay with them for a few days," said Zhao Fuquan, who was just as sincere and straightforward as the parents of the Zhao Family. He was genuinely delighted to see his nephews, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time, lifting Erhu to weigh him.

In the past, Dalang and Erhu would have been overjoyed, but this year was different. They really didn’t want to leave home, especially since their parents had just had a quarrel a few days ago. They wanted to stay and keep their mother company, and they had also promised their younger brothers that they would go to the mountains with their mother to pick bayberries. So, when they heard their uncle wanted to take them to stay, they didn’t say a word.

Zhao Fuquan had a loud voice, and it was so sonorous that even Lin Yue, who was busy in the kitchen, heard the commotion outside and knew that Dalang and Erhu’s uncle had arrived. She hurriedly made some tea and brought out some tea snacks.

Zhao Fuquan was still imagining what Dalang and Erhu’s stepmother would be like when a delicately pretty woman with a beautiful complexion emerged from the kitchen, dressed in a jade-green skirt, carrying a teacup and a plate of tea snacks, smiling radiantly at him. She looked like a precious young lady from a wealthy household, dignified and beautiful, causing Zhao Fuquan to be stunned for a moment before he realized who she was. His face flushed with a mix of nervousness and embarrassment, not knowing where to place his hands and feet and afraid of being presumptuous.

"Dalang and Erhu’s mother, hello, you haven’t met me before. I, I am the children’s uncle. I’ve come to take the kids over to their maternal grandparents’ house for a few days," stammered Zhao Fuquan.

Meeting for the first time, Lin Yue struggled to hold back a chuckle at the sight of Dalang and Erhu’s uncle; from his manner and speech, he was clearly a simple and honest man.

Lin Yue had a good impression of Zhao Fuquan, and her tone became warmer and more familiar, "Uncle, please come in and have a seat. It’s very hot outside in the sun. Dalang, Erhu, hurry and invite your uncle inside."

"Ah, sure! I’ll first unload the things from the ox cart. Your grandmother asked me to bring some home-made salted duck eggs, biscuits, and fresh vegetables, all from our own production, for you to try. I’ll bring them into the kitchen for you."

Zhao Fuquan didn’t wait for Lin Yue’s response and quickly went to the ox cart, fetched the items, and carried them into the kitchen. Noticing that a few more cupboards had been added and that the kitchen was spotless and tidier than his own living room, he figured that Erhu’s new wife must be someone who loved cleanliness, which made him even more reserved.