Reborn in 1985, starting from the mountains of Northwest China

Lin Xiu cut the rolled-out dough into wide strips, shook them out, and put them into the pot.

The noodles were simmered in boiling water for a few seconds, then scooped out and placed into three large bowls and one shallower small bowl.

Sprinkle chopped green onions on top, and the lard melts, creating an aroma so enticing it can steal your soul.

Lin Xiu brought out two bowls and placed them on the table.

"Xiaoshan, take your sister to wash her hands."

Xiaoshan pulled Xiaoyue outside. The sound of water, Xiaoyue's humming, and Xiaoshan's urging could be heard from the courtyard.

When they came back in, both of their little hands were wet, and Xiaoyue's sleeve was half wet.

Lin Xiu glanced at her, said nothing, picked up Xiaoyue and put her on the stool, then put the chopsticks in her hand.

"Eat it yourself."

Xiaoyue gripped her chopsticks and looked down at the noodles in her bowl.

Xiaoyue learned to use chopsticks at a very young age, but she doesn't use them much.

She picked up a piece, pursed her lips, blew on it, put it in her mouth, slurped it up, puffed out her cheeks, and chewed it.

Xiaoshan had already buried his head and eaten half a bowl.

Chen Feng picked up the bowl, stirred it with his chopsticks, and then picked up a piece of food.

The dough is rolled out with a chewy texture, the lard is fragrant, and the scallions are also fragrant, making one's appetite whetted just by smelling it.

He took a bite.

Lin Xiu sat opposite him, holding her own bowl, not in a hurry to eat, but watching him.

Chen Feng took another bite.

"Is it delicious?" Lin Xiu asked.

"Um."

Lin Xiu lowered her head, a smile playing on her lips, picked up a mouthful of noodles, and ate them slowly.

Xiaoyue buried her face in the bowl, eating until her face was covered in soup.

Lin Xiu reached out to wipe her hand, but as soon as she pulled her hand back, it rubbed against her again.

Xiaoshan scraped the bottom of the bowl clean, put down his chopsticks, burped, and immediately covered his mouth.

Xiaoyue tried to imitate him, but couldn't burp. She choked and coughed twice, her eyes red as she looked up at people.

Xiaoshan looked at his younger sister and burst into laughter.

Lin Xiu gave him a light glare, then picked up Xiaoyue and patted her back.

"As the older brother, shouldn't you teach him properly!"

Chen Feng finished the last sip of soup and put the bowl down.

It was completely dark outside the window.

Xiaoyue leaned on Lin Xiu's shoulder, her eyes squinting again.

"I'm sleepy." Lin Xiu stood up, picked her up, and carried her into the inner room. "Xiaoshan, wash your feet yourself."

"Why."

Xiaoshan went to the kitchen to fetch hot water, carried it to the yard, took off his shoes, and soaked his feet in the basin, splashing water all over the ground.

He turned to look at Chen Feng.

"Dad, are you going to wash or not?"

Chen Feng sat on the threshold, looking at him.

"You go first."

Xiaoshan rubbed his feet clean, poured out the water, put the basin back in its place, and ran into the inner room.

A moment later, the lights went out.

Only the chirping of insects and Chen Feng remained in the courtyard.

He sat there for a long time.

There was no sound from the inner room; everyone was asleep.

The light in the kitchen was still on; Lin Xiu had left it on for him.

He got up, went inside and blew out the lamp, then walked in the dark to the door of the inner room. He stood there for a while and heard Lin Xiu's breathing, even and long. Xiao Yue was beside her, occasionally humming a soft groan.

Xiaoshan slept in the innermost part, without making a sound.

Chen Feng did not go in.

He returned to the main room, moved the pillow on the bamboo mat, and lay down.

The night breeze blew in, rustling the leaves of the jujube tree.

He closed his eyes.

The next morning, Chen Feng was woken up by Xiao Yue.

Before dawn, a dim, gray light shone through the doorway.

Xiaoyue rode on his stomach, patting his belly with both hands.

"Father! Get up!"

Chen Feng opened his eyes and saw his daughter's face close to his, her eyes sparkling, with drool on the corner of her mouth.

"Father, get up."

He sat up, and Xiaoyue slid down, pulling his fingers outwards.

"Going to the market! Going to the market!"

Chen Feng paused for a moment and looked towards the kitchen.

Lin Xiu was already busy, the firelight from the stove reflecting off her face in alternating bright and dim light.

Today is market day.

Xiao Shan ran in from outside, clutching the small knife wrapped in blue cloth. When he saw Chen Feng was awake, he slowed down, hid the knife behind his back, then, realizing something was wrong, took it out and stuffed it into his pocket.

"Dad, Uncle Liu said there are lanterns at the market today. It's New Year's, I want one too!"

Chen Feng glanced at him.

Xiaoshan stopped talking and went to the kitchen to help his mother light the fire.

Chen Feng rolled up the bamboo mat, leaned it against the corner of the wall, and went to the yard to wash his face.

The water tank was full; scooping a ladleful and pouring it on your face sent a shiver down your spine.

He wiped his face and looked up at the sky.

The sky in the first month of the lunar calendar is like a monkey's face, changing in an instant.

Inside the kitchen, Lin Xiu had already set breakfast on the table.

Corn porridge, pickled vegetables, and two boiled eggs.

Xiaoshan and Xiaoyue each have one.

Xiaoyue sat on a stool, peeling the eggshells herself, leaving the table covered in broken shells. The eggs were pitted and uneven, and she held them up to show Chen Feng.

"Look, Dad!"

"I saw it."

Xiaoyue stuffed the egg into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out like balls.

After finishing his meal, Xiaoshan took the knife out of his pocket, placed it on the table, looked at his mother, then at his father, and whispered, "I want to buy two rabbit skins."

Lin Xiu didn't say anything and drank the porridge.

Chen Feng remained silent.

Xiaoshan put away the knife and lowered his head to eat.

After finishing the meal, Lin Xiu cleared away the dishes and chopsticks, took a cloth bag from the inner room, and handed it to Chen Feng.

"These are the eggs I collected last month, thirty-seven in total, which I sold. And that bundle of hemp, six jin (approximately 3 catties), Old Zhang said he wanted some more last time."

Chen Feng took it and weighed it in his hand.

Are you going or not?

Lin Xiu shook her head: "The New Year is almost here, we need to start preparing. You three go, come back soon."

Xiaoyue was chasing a sparrow in the yard when she heard this, so she ran in and hugged Linxiu's leg.

"Mother's going too!"

"Mother won't go."

"Go, Mother!"

Lin Xiu picked her up and kissed her: "Mom will stew meat for you at home, come back and eat."

Xiaoyue thought for a moment, and decided that stewing meat seemed more important than going to the market. She nodded, slid off Lin Xiu, and went to pull Chen Feng's pants.

"Father, let's go!"

Chen Feng slung the cloth bag over his shoulder and glanced at Xiaoshan.

Xiaoshan had already tucked the blue cloth bag into his clothes and was standing at the door, waiting.

Chen Feng walked over and patted him on the back of the head.

"Let's go."

The market is located in the town, about seven or eight miles away.

As I left the village, I ran into a few acquaintances, and we all stopped to say hello.

"Brother Feng is back?"

"Um."

"Going to the market?"

"Um."

"These two little ones are so big now. Xiaoshan, call him Uncle."

Xiaoshan called out.

Xiaoyue nestled on Chen Feng's shoulder, refusing to make a sound and hiding her face.

The man laughed: "The little girl is still shy around strangers."

Xiao Shan walked beside Chen Feng, touching his chest every few steps.

Chen Feng remained silent.

Xiaoyue looked around from his shoulder and saw a sparrow fly past the roadside. She shouted, and the sparrow ran away.

"Dad, buy some candy."

"Um."

"Buy two."

"Um."

Xiaoyue was satisfied. She rested her head on his shoulder and began humming a tuneless song.

The market wasn't in the county seat, but in a nearby town.

After walking for half an hour, we could see the town.

More and more pedestrians appeared on the road, some carrying loads, some with baskets on their backs, and some driving carts, all heading in the same direction.

Chen Feng put Xiaoyue down and took her hand.

Xiaoshan followed beside him, his eyes already glancing at the market.