Ever since moving into the farmhouse courtyard, Zhou Jiao felt truly relaxed. Every morning after a hearty breakfast, she and Zhang Guoqing return to school under Aunt Qian’s watchful eyes.

At noon, they rest at school, and after the last afternoon class, they walk back to the courtyard at sunset. Occasionally, there’s a late-night study session or an ideology class, and in their free time, they chat casually with classmates.

What makes her happiest is the simplicity of the people in this village. Today, Zhou Jiao gives a crying little child a candy, and tomorrow a basket of vegetables appears in the yard.

In less than a month, the elderly and children in the neighborhood greet her and her husband with smiles. Especially one day, when a mischievous child fell under the big tree at the village entrance, Zhou Jiao cleaned and bandaged the child’s wound, and since then, the villagers look at her with warmth. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The weekend arrived, and Ping’an came over, unlike when staying at school, he was eager to return to the Big Courtyard. Several times, he stayed two or three days at Aunt Chen’s house, playing happily with the village kids before returning to the city.

Even Aunt Qian jokingly suggested that they buy an abandoned courtyard if such a place were for sale, as a future retreat. If it weren’t for having too many courtyards already, Zhou Jiao would readily agree.

In the courtyard, Zhou Jiao is cleaning a bunch of fragrant spring onion, when several seven or eight-year-old children run over, calling for Fifth Aunt.

"Come in. What’s going on?"

A sturdy little boy pushes the wooden gate open: "Fifth Uncle caught a lot of loaches..."

"And lots of little shrimps..."

"And wild vegetables; my grandma says Fifth Uncle is capable."

Zhou Jiao takes out a few hard candies from her pocket and hands them to the leading boy: "Erwa, share these for Auntie."

Qian Erwa quickly shakes his head: "Grandma said we can’t keep eating Fifth Aunt’s treats, we’re grown up now, Auntie, save them for Ping’an."

Zhou Jiao smiles and sneaks them into the child’s hand, "Don’t listen to your grandma. Ping’an has eaten quite a lot of your wild fruits; be good, take them."

Qian Erwa is the second son of Aunt Qian’s eldest son. Seeing how sturdy he is, it’s clear he’s favored at home, but he hasn’t skipped out on manners.

This kid is perceptive; seeing Zhou Jiao sincerely offering, he doesn’t eat first, but distributes the candies to his little friends one by one, keeping one for himself and placing the remaining three on Zhou Jiao’s stool.

Every time Zhou Jiao sees this, she can’t help but ruffle his hair. Everyone loves such a child, no wonder he’s the most favored among his brothers.

Zhou Jiao takes advantage of the other children’s distraction to slip more candies into his pocket, purposely winking at him, making the seven-year-old burst into laughter.

"Will Ping’an be back in a few days?"

"He certainly will come."

After hearing this, Qian Erwa turns to tell his friends, "See, I wasn’t lying to you guys? Ping’an will definitely come. Last time, he promised to bring his slingshot and treat us to some meat."

After saying that, the little boy suddenly realizes his slip of the tongue. This was supposed to be a secret among them, so he quickly glances at the smiling Zhou Jiao and promptly calls out, "Thanks for the candy, Auntie, we’re going to play."

Watching them run out, Zhou Jiao shook her head, telling them to slow down.

Remembering how Ping’an knew not to show off stones recklessly outdoors but used a little slingshot for cover, Zhou Jiao couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.

There were no activities at school that day, and a group of classmates, free from dormitory confinement, followed the couple to the courtyard.

Unlike previous years, this spring season is warm and vibrant, and after more than two years of rest, the fields, hillsides, and canal sides are abundant with wild vegetables and small fish and shrimp.

Excluded from the dropouts, there were several dozen classmates. This time they came over to feast before the busy farming season, as they put it, to reward themselves first.

Shortly after Qian Erwa and his friends left, male and female classmates came in laughing, carrying and hugging lots of things.

"Jiao Jiao, we even traded for eggs."

"We have plenty at home, why waste money? I’ve prepared some things in the kitchen, feel free to help yourselves; I won’t interfere."

"We wouldn’t dare come if you were pregnant and had to help. You rest easy; today our group gathering is about to start."

During this, Aunt Qian sent over a basket of vegetables through her eldest son’s wife, delighting the group, who howled with joy. These students were less refined than the village kids.

By the time dinner was organized, it was nearly dark, and Zhang Guoqing set up two torches in the courtyard.

In the courtyard, though eating dishes like fried loach and fried snails, drinking wild vegetable egg soup paired with cornmeal dumpling soup, it felt like tasting delicious gourmet and drinking nectar.

As the gathering ended and classmates were seen off, it was getting late. As Zhou Jiao passed by the outer room to their bedroom, she saw the cornmeal and miscellaneous grains she specially prepared for everyone were hardly touched and she smiled.

——It seems everyone is quite considerate.

"Worn out, aren’t you? These folks really know how to make a scene; if not for your pregnancy, I would suspect they planned to play all night."

"It’s nice; it’s lively. I’m just sitting, how tired could I get?"

Zhang Guoqing chuckled and shook his head: "These guys plan to help with the nearby farming teams during this busy season; the farm is too far, guess they got scared."

Zhou Jiao observed him with doubt: "But you were hinting at it on the side, weren’t you?"

"How could I?"

Zhou Jiao glanced at him amusedly. If she guessed correctly, Zhang Guoqing had planned these details internally at the beginning of the semester; otherwise, how could they have coincidentally gathered today?

The twice-a-year busy farming season arrived again; this time, just as Zhang Guoqing expected, their class along with two other classes were assigned to nearby production teams.

The only surprise was that their class wasn’t in Captain Qian’s production team. Fortunately, Counselor Wu and the classmates were considerate, and Zhou Jiao was assigned to help in the team’s canteen.

Upon learning that his daughter had joined the farming effort, Zhou Xiaozheng, who was worried sick at home, finally came up with any ordinary method, asking Ping’an to keep an eye on his mom.

Ping’an saluted him, keeping a straight face and solemnly declared, "Rest assured, Commander, little soldier Zhou Ping’an will complete the mission."

With that, his eyes wandered around his grandpa’s arm.

Zhou Xiaozheng smiled at him, quickly saluting back. Seeing the child beam with joy, he patted his head; indeed, he brings happiness.

As Zhou Xiaozheng took care of arrangements here, Doctor Hu also carried his medicine box to the countryside.

The next day, both parties met at Qian’s rented farmhouse courtyard.

Doctor Hu brought an elderly couple with disabilities and barely opened the fence gate when a military vehicle arrived, carrying Ping’an and accompanied by Aunt Chen.

"Master, why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I could have asked Uncle Wang to detour and pick you up." Ping’an’s eyes lit up as he raced over.

Doctor Hu patted his little head: "Why are you here? You need your parents to look after you."

"Who says so? I’m here to take care of my mom and siblings." Ping’an took his hand, "Master, why didn’t you wait for me last time before leaving?"

Doctor Hu gestured toward the kitchen area, waiting for the elderly couple carrying items to go inside, then told Aunt Chen, "You should return with the vehicle; I’m here, tell my nephew I’ll watch the kids, he’ll understand."

Aunt Chen naturally knew who he was; the Zhou family never hid these things from her. Seeing him come with two helpers, she didn’t have much to worry about, especially since there were only three rooms; staying wouldn’t be convenient.

After saying goodbye to the old man, reminding Ping’an again and again, and agreeing on the pick-up time, she reluctantly left.