Reborn in 1985, starting from the mountains of Northwest China

As Chen Jun chewed, he suddenly looked up, glanced at Chen Feng, then at Lin Xiu, his eyes a little red.

"Third brother," he put down his chopsticks, his voice a little hoarse, "I have to thank you."

Chen Feng was taken aback: "What are you thanking me for?"

Chen Jun said, "Thank you for taking me into the mountains."

"I also made a few dozen yuan on this trip. Your sister-in-law held the money, her hands trembling for a long time, and told me that she had never seen so much cash in her life."

He paused, then looked down at the shredded meat in the bowl.

In previous years, he would only buy a little bit of this during the Lunar New Year, but this year he was more willing to buy some for his family.

"Working in the mine for a month, you work yourself to the bone, and you only make about forty yuan. You also have to go down into the mine, and that place... you can't believe it, it's pitch black, you can't see anything, you can only hear creaking noises overhead, and you never know when it will collapse."

"The expenses at the mine are high, and even if we try to save every penny, we don't bring back much."

Chen Feng looked at his older brother.

Chen Jun looked up, a forced smile playing on his lips. "Why are you saying all this? Anyway, thank you, brother. That money can give your sister-in-law a good New Year, buy the kid some new clothes, and buy some firecrackers to set off."

Chen Feng said, "Brother, that's what you earned yourself. I'm just showing you the way."

Chen Jun shook his head: "You led the way, you hunted the roe deer. What did I do? I just helped carry it."

Lin Xiu said from the side, "Brother, we're family, so let's not be so formal."

Chen Jun nodded: "Yes, we're all family, so let's not be formal."

"But I still have to say thank you, I'll remember it!"

He picked up his bowl and shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth: "Second brother, you have no idea, your sister-in-law took that money and talked to me for a long time."

First she said she'd make a new cotton-padded jacket for the child, then she said she'd buy me a new pair of shoes, and later she said, "Why don't we save up and buy a piglet in the spring?"

Chen Feng asked, "Is this the last one?"

Chen Jun said, "I didn't buy anything. The money's still under the mat on the kang (heated brick bed). Your sister-in-law said we should save it; we'll go to the county again tomorrow and buy the kids a few more bowls of meat to try!"

Lin Xiu smiled: "My sister-in-law is a thrifty person."

Chen Jun nodded: "They know how to manage money; they'd rather stretch every penny in half."

Chen Feng felt a warm glow inside as he thought about the hundred-odd yuan he had hidden under the mat on his kang (heated brick bed).

He picked up a piece of food for Lin Xiu and added a bowl of soup for his elder brother.

Chen Jun took a sip of soup, then suddenly remembered something.

"And hey, San'er! Why don't you spend New Year's Eve at my yard this year?"

"I haven't been home every year, I always spend it with my parents. This year my brother is back, let's have a proper New Year together!"

Chen Feng nodded. In previous years, he and his two older brothers weren't home, leaving their mother and wives to rest. This year, however, they absolutely had to...

From the inner room, Xiaoyue's voice suddenly came: "Mother—Brother stole my blanket—"

Lin Xiu raised her voice and said, "Xiao Shan, don't bully your sister."

Xiaoshan's muffled voice came from behind: "I didn't snatch it, she kicked it away herself."

Xiaoyue shouted again, "You're the one who stole it!"

Lin Xiu stood up, shook her head with a smile, and said, "These two kids are always causing trouble."

He then walked towards the bedroom.

Watching Lin Xiu leave, Chen Jun lowered his voice and asked Chen Feng, "Third brother, does that Zhang the blacksmith make any money from his blacksmithing business?"

Chen Feng said, "It's alright, enough to get by."

Chen Jun nodded, thought for a moment, and then said, "Do you think it's possible for me to come back and learn blacksmithing from him instead of going down the mine?"

Chen Feng was stunned for a moment, looking at his older brother.

He didn't expect his older brother to say that; perhaps he was also eager to change his life.

Besides, isn't he still hiking with me in the mountains?

Why did you change your mind again?

Chen Feng couldn't figure it out.

Perhaps sensing Chen Feng's hesitation, Chen Jun felt embarrassed and looked down at the bowl without looking up: "I just had that thought, you... just listen."

Chen Jun didn't really want to talk about this, but his wife told him to ask her, and he didn't know how to bring it up.

Chen Feng thought for a moment and said, "Brother, if you really want to learn, I'll go talk to Master."

Chen Feng knew his older brother's personality, but since the question had been raised, he would help ask around.

Chen Jun looked up at him: "Can you do it?"

Chen Feng said, "My master is the kind of person who will teach you as long as you are willing to learn."

Chen Jun didn't speak, but a glint flashed in his eyes.

After a while, he shook his head: "Forget it, I'm too old, my bones are too stiff, I can't learn it. You study hard, and if you learn it, our family will depend on you in the future."

Chen Feng wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Chen Jun picked up the bowl, finished the last sip of soup, and stood up: "Alright, I really have to go. Your sister-in-law is waiting."

Chen Feng escorted him to the gate of the courtyard.

Chen Jun took a few steps, then suddenly turned back and said, "Second brother, pay attention to what that shopkeeper said about the leather. Getting a few pieces a year is better than anything else."

Chen Feng nodded: "I know."

Chen Jun waved his hand, turned around and left.

Chen Feng stood at the gate of the courtyard, watching his older brother's back.

He stood there for a long time.

Back in the house, Lin Xiu had already settled Xiao Shan and Xiao Yue in and was sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), sewing shoe soles by the light of the lamp.

Seeing Chen Feng enter, she looked up, smiled, and said, "Big brother's gone?"

Chen Feng nodded and sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed).

Lin Xiu looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

Chen Feng said, "My older brother just said he wants to come back and learn blacksmithing."

Lin Xiu paused, her needlework stopping. "Why did you suddenly think of that?"

Chen Feng said, "I don't know, maybe he's just afraid of hardship."

Lin Xiu remained silent for a while.

Lin Xiu could guess the reason: her sister-in-law was probably trying to reason with her, and her brother was easily swayed.

"It's bitter. My older brother may not say it, but he knows everything in his heart."

Chen Feng didn't speak.

Lin Xiu then asked, "So what did you say?"

Chen Feng said, "I have to go and talk to my master."

Lin Xiu nodded.

Chen Feng looked at her and suddenly said, "Xiuer, I want to make a few more hides."

Lin Xiu raised her head.

Chen Feng said, "I'll go to the mountains more often in the spring and try my luck. If I can get a few more tickets, I can sell them in the fall and renovate the house, and maybe even buy a bicycle!"

Xiaoshan will be starting school in a little over a year, but there's no primary school in the village, so he might have to go to town!

Lin Xiu looked at him, her eyes bright, but she didn't say anything.

Chen Feng added, "Brother is right. Getting a few a year is better than anything else."

Lin Xiu lowered her head and continued sewing the shoe soles. After two stitches, she suddenly said, "Fengzi, it's so good to have you!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fen smiled.

Lin Xiu's face suddenly turned red, and she lowered her head without saying a word.

Chen Feng looked at her, his heart softening.

The next morning, Chen Feng was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.

He went outside and saw that it was the Song family boy from the next courtyard. He couldn't wait until New Year's Eve, so he took apart a string of firecrackers he had been saving up early in the morning and set off half of them with a loud crackling sound.