Xiao Yang had just returned with the kids when he heard his big brother was back.

He was in such a hurry that he burst in without even knocking.

Besides, they were in their own home, and he wasn’t in the habit of knocking anyway.

"Big Brother, when did you get back? I missed you so much—"

After running inside, Xiao Yang saw his big brother sitting on the edge of the heated brick bed, with a girl sitting on it as well. The words instantly got stuck in his throat.

Wang Chunlan also hurried in after him with their two children.

’This guy,’ she thought. ’He’s a grown man, but I only got half a sentence out before he rushed in here in a panic.’

"Dad."

"Dad."

Xiao Yang’s son and daughter both ran over and hugged his legs.

Wang Chunlan found Xiao Yang’s frozen expression amusing. She explained to Yun Shu and the others, "He just got back. The moment he heard Big Brother was home, he took off running. I didn’t even get to finish what I was saying."

Yun Shu said to Wang Chunlan, "It’s alright. Please, sit down and talk."

Wang Chunlan nodded and took the opportunity to pull on the dazed Xiao Yang.

He Zichen ignored him, his attention fixed on the two children.

"Do you still remember your uncle?"

The older one, a girl named Little Yuan who was already eight, said, "I remember. You’re my uncle."

The younger one was a boy named Xiao Man. He was not quite four yet and was still hugging Xiao Yang’s leg, his round eyes looking at He Zichen with curiosity.

He Zichen stood up, walked to the table, opened a bag of milk candies, and grabbed a handful. He walked over to the two children and squatted down in front of them.

"Call me Uncle, and I’ll give you some candy."

Little Yuan walked up to He Zichen, her eyes fixed on the candy, and called out, "Uncle."

He Zichen offered his cheek. "Give me a kiss."

Little Yuan gave him a peck on the cheek, and He Zichen gave her a few pieces of candy.

Then, he looked at Xiao Man.

The little guy’s eyes were glued to the candy, and he was practically drooling, but he didn’t dare to come over and greet him.

It wasn’t the child’s fault he didn’t recognize him. The last time He Zichen came back, Xiao Man was only a few months old. Now, he could already run.

He Zichen held out his hand to him. "Come to Uncle. I have candy."

Xiao Man hesitated for a moment. Seeing how much his sister was enjoying her treat, he slowly shuffled over.

He Zichen coached him, "Say, ’Uncle.’"

"Uncle."

"Louder, I can’t hear you."

"Uncle!"

"Come here, give me a kiss."

Xiao Man went over and brushed his face against He Zichen’s, who then scooped him up in his arms.

Startled, Xiao Man quickly threw his arms around He Zichen’s neck, then turned his head and cried out to Xiao Yang, "Dad!"

Xiao Yang had snapped out of his daze by now.

He said to Xiao Man, "It’s okay, son. That’s your uncle. Your uncle has money. Stick with him, and you’ll get good things to eat."

He Zichen shot Xiao Yang an annoyed look, then unwrapped a candy and popped it into Xiao Man’s mouth.

"Is it sweet?"

"Sweet." Xiao Man nearly drooled as he spoke.

Amused, He Zichen kissed his cheek.

Xiao Yang pointed to the person on the brick bed. "Big Brother, who’s this?"

"My girlfriend," He Zichen said nonchalantly.

"Sister-in-law?"

"AHEM, AHEM, AHEM—" Yun Shu almost choked on her own saliva. ’They really are a family,’ she thought. ’They even talk the same. Both brothers call me that.’

He Zichen glanced at Yun Shu, then said to Xiao Yang, "Just use her name. She’s Yun Shu."

"Sister Yun Shu."

"She’s not older than you, why are you calling her ’sister’?"

Xiao Yang scratched his head awkwardly and said to Yun Shu, "Yun Shu, my name is Xiao Yang. This is my wife, Chunlan. My daughter is Little Yuan, and my son is Xiao Man. Together, their names mean ’complete and perfect’."

"That’s lovely," Yun Shu said with a smile.

"Heh heh." Xiao Yang gave a goofy laugh.

"Where were you?" He Zichen asked him.

Xiao Yang replied, "Great Uncle’s house. Great Grandma hasn’t been well this year. She just got back from the hospital last month. She loves Little Yuan and Xiao Man, so I took the kids over to see her."

He Zichen frowned. "What’s wrong with her?"

Xiao Yang shook his head. "They didn’t say, but I could tell Great Grandma didn’t look well."

He Zichen asked him, "By the way, has Grandpa come home?"

Xiao Yang said, "He was back for two days, then left again. I think he said Uncle and Auntie opened a restaurant and are really busy, so he went to help them out."

He Zichen nodded. "Okay. In a little while, come with me to Great Uncle’s house. I want to go see them too."

"Alright."

He Zichen grabbed a couple of gifts and left with Xiao Yang, telling his mother on the way out.

Gao Cuiyun said, "Go on. You haven’t been back in a long time. They’ll be happy to see you."

"Okay."

After He Zichen and Xiao Yang left, Wang Chunlan started chatting with Yun Shu.

"Yun Shu, you’re really beautiful."

Yun Shu smiled. "You’re beautiful, too."

Wang Chunlan touched her own face. "I’m tan."

"A tan is beautiful, too. It’s a healthy tan from the sun. If you avoid the sun, your skin will gradually lighten."

Wang Chunlan said, "Avoiding the sun is impossible. I still have to work in the fields. We just finished the harvest last month. It might get a little better in the winter, but I’ll be tan again by next spring."

Yun Shu asked, puzzled, "Don’t you wear hats?"

Wang Chunlan smiled. "Sometimes, when the sun is really strong. But most of the time we don’t. It gets in the way of work, and I just find it uncomfortable anyway."

Yun Shu nodded. "If you want to stay fair, it’s probably best to wear one as much as you can."

Little Yuan and Xiao Man lay on their stomachs at the edge of the brick bed, watching Yun Shu with candy in their mouths.

Watching them, Yun Shu’s heart melted. She had a real soft spot for little kids; they were so soft and cuddly.

Seeing this, Wang Chunlan said, "Big Brother isn’t getting any younger. When are you two planning on getting married?"

Yun Shu’s expression faltered for a second, then she smiled.

"We haven’t been together for very long. We don’t have any plans to get married at the moment."

Wang Chunlan knew that girls from the city valued falling in love freely and dating before marriage, so she understood Yun Shu’s point of view.

Meanwhile, after He Zichen and Xiao Yang left the house, Xiao Yang slung an arm around his big brother’s shoulders.

"Big Brother, just the other day I heard Mom nagging you to find a girlfriend. When did this happen?"

He Zichen shot him a sideways glance. "It happened when I wanted it to happen. You think a guy like me would have trouble finding a girlfriend?"

Only Xiao Yang ever got to see this conceited side of him.

Xiao Yang chuckled. "Big Brother, stop bragging. If you’re in such high demand, why have you been single all these years? I’m younger than you, but look at my daughter and son. Where are yours?"

He Zichen shoved him away. "I just didn’t want any. When I decide I’m ready, I’ll have a whole basketful for you to see."

"HAHAHA."

Xiao Yang’s laughter echoed through the village. When they arrived at Uncle He’s house, they saw He Zhen Guo chopping wood as they walked in.

"Uncle Zhen Guo."

"Well, if it isn’t Little Chen! When did you get back?"

"I just got home this afternoon. I heard from Xiao Yang that Great Grandma isn’t feeling well, so I came to see her."

He Zhen Guo sighed. "It’s an old ailment of my mother’s, but it’s gotten worse these past two years. Come on, let’s go inside and talk."