Reborn in 1982, the prodigal son returns

"Lin Nuo! Are you trying to kidnap my brother?"

Lin Nuo came out of the kitchen unhurriedly. He knew that Qi Dayong had come because of those three yuan.

"Brother Dayong, what are you talking about?"

Qi Dayong was a notorious scoundrel in the village in his past life. He sold Da Wu to Zhao Lao Er for eighty yuan, like selling a piece of livestock. According to the villagers, when the signing and fingerprinting took place, Qi Da Wu stood by with his head down, and his older brother didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Where did you get three yuan for my brother?"

Qi Dayong's voice rose another notch.

Lin Nuo glanced at Qi Dawu.

Qi Dawu lowered his head, his ears were red from being pulled, and his lips trembled, unable to utter a single word. Ever since he could remember, his brother had always treated him this way, pulling his ears, slapping the back of his head, scolding, and beating him; he was used to it.

"Those three dollars were for hazel mushrooms."

Lin Nuo's voice remained calm:

"I bought dried hazel mushrooms to stew with chicken from Da Wu. He didn't want any money, but I insisted on giving it to him. If you don't believe me, ask him."

Qi Dayong turned to look at Qi Dawu: "Is that right?"

Qi Dawu nodded, and whispered:

"Yes...yes, I bought hazelnut mushrooms..."

Qi Dayong slapped him on the back of the head with a sharp "smack" that echoed crisply in the quiet courtyard. Qi Dawu's head jerked forward, and he stumbled a step, almost falling over.

"Can't you fucking explain yourself clearly?"

Qi Dayong roared.

He had just found three yuan in Qi Dawu's pocket at home. When asked where the money came from, Qi Dawu said Lin Nuo gave it to him. When asked why Lin Nuo gave it to him, Qi Dawu said, "Brother Nuo said that if I get bullied again, I should go to him."

Qi Dayong was furious. He wasn't thinking about "someone being willing to help his brother who was being bullied," but rather that "Lin Nuo was trying to ruin his plan to send Qi Dawu to marry into the family."

Zhao Lao Er has already made arrangements; the eighty yuan will be given away after the New Year. Eighty yuan can buy so many things. If Qi Da Wu doesn't listen and doesn't go, the eighty yuan will be gone.

So Qi Dayong dragged Qi Dawu along. Today, he wanted to show off his power in front of the whole village so that no one could interfere in his affairs from now on.

Lin Nuo's face darkened.

"Brother Dayong, your younger brother wears worn-out shoes and eats leftovers in the dead of winter. Don't you, as his older brother, feel sorry for him and won't let others help him?"

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Qi Dayong's face turned a deep shade of liver. Being exposed in front of so many people was incredibly embarrassing. But he couldn't find a word to refute it; everyone in the village knew that Da Wu was struggling financially.

However, with so many people around, he didn't dare to make a move. He might be reckless, but he wasn't stupid. On the Lin family's side, Lin Weiguo and Lin Jiang were both in a real fight, and he wouldn't come out on top.

The crowd had gathered without anyone noticing. That's how it is in the countryside; any little noise and a crowd forms, faster than a market day.

Qi Dayong was even more embarrassed. His gaze swept around the Lin family's courtyard. Lin Weiguo stood at the kitchen door, holding a cleaver with chicken blood still on the blade, looking at him expressionlessly; Lin Jiang stood against the wall, his hands in his sleeves, staring at him.

His voice rose, as if he were trying to embolden himself:

"Where did you get three dollars? We don't want stolen or robbed money!"

Lin Nuo slammed the fire poker in his hand to the ground with a "thud".

"I dug up and caught mice to sell. They were bought in town; I sold five wild sheep for quite a bit. You don't believe me—"

He turned to look at the courtyard gate, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on Wang Lao Er.

"Uncle Wang, didn't you see me carrying a sack down the mountain that day? You know, the town buys these 'earth sheep'."

All eyes turned to Wang Lao Er.

Wang Lao Er's face froze instantly.

Today, he took Li San and Zhao Dana up the mountain to dig for sheep. They dug for half a day, and they were so cold that they were like grandsons. Their fingers were stiff, and they didn't even dig up a single sheep's wool.

"……yes."

Wang Lao Er squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth, his voice muffled, as if he were swallowing a mouthful of bitter water.

Someone in the crowd whispered, "Nuozi earned her money through her own abilities."

At this moment, Uncle Lin Weidong walked over.

He was originally going to the village store to buy wine, but a guest came to his house, Old Liu from the commune, to discuss matters for the spring. He forgot to take the wine when he went out, and when he saw a group of people gathered here halfway, he came over.

Upon seeing Lin Weidong, Qi Dayong's arrogance immediately diminished.

Lin Weidong used to be the village accountant, working in the commune for almost twenty years. Everyone would come to him for any big or small matter. He also taught many children in the village to read. Qi Dayong studied under him for two years when he was a child. Although he didn't achieve much academic success, the name "Teacher Lin" still held weight in his heart.

Even if Qi Dayong was a scoundrel, he would naturally be even less likely to act recklessly after seeing Lin Weidong, who had been working for the government for over ten years.

Lin Nuo looked at Qi Dayong and said in a low voice:

"Brother Dayong, are you worried that Dawu will disobey you and Zhao Lao Er won't take him anymore?"

"You... what nonsense are you talking about!"

Qi Dayong's voice cracked, as if someone had grabbed his neck.

Lin Nuo didn't say anything more. But everyone around him understood.

Zhao Lao Er. From the neighboring village, he has a lame daughter who is in her mid-twenties and still unmarried. Last year, he started asking around, hoping to find a son-in-law to live with them, and he was willing to pay eighty yuan as a dowry.

Qi Dayong had met Zhao Lao Er more than once; villagers had long seen them drinking at a small restaurant in town. Now that Lin Nuo mentioned it, everyone connected the dots.

Why make a fuss over such a trivial matter?

Qi Dayong released Qi Dawu's ear, spat on the ground, and his face turned red and white in turns.

"Fine, you've got the guts."

Qi Dayong pointed at Lin Nuo, tapping his finger twice in the air as if he wanted to poke Lin Nuo's face, but he didn't dare to reach out.

Having uttered those harsh words, he turned to leave, but noticing Qi Dawu hadn't followed, he stopped, turned back, and shouted:

"Come on! What are you still standing there for? Waiting for them to feed you?"

Qi Dawu lowered his head, about to follow.

His foot was raised, but hadn't touched the ground yet.

"Da Wu".

Lin Nuo spoke.

"Come to town with me tomorrow."

Lin Nuo also needs a helper.

Qi Dawu stood there, stunned, his throat feeling as if it were blocked.

"Brother Nuozi..."

"Are you going or not?"

Qi Dawu glanced at Lin Nuo and nodded vigorously. He didn't want to marry into the family, but his opinion didn't count. Now that Brother Nuo wanted to help him, how could Qi Dawu disagree?

"Go," he said.

Qi Dayong's face darkened further. He let out a cold snort, the sound squeezed out from his nose, high-pitched and thin:

"Lin Nuo, I'll remember this."

Qi Dayong turned to leave, but unexpectedly tripped and fell forward, his knee hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Someone in the crowd laughed. Qi Dayong got up, his face flushed, and walked away without looking back.

Qi Dawu stood there, watching his brother's figure disappear.

Lin Nuo walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Go back now. Come find me first thing tomorrow morning."

Qi Dawu nodded.

Lin Nuo waved to him, signaling him to hurry up and leave.

Qi Dawu turned around and walked into the twilight.

The people at the courtyard gate gradually dispersed.

Wang Lao Er stood up, patted the dirt off his knees, and walked the fastest.

Several women walked along, whispering to each other, but Lin Nuo still overheard a few words.

"Nuozi has really changed."

"That's right, it never used to be like this. We used to hide as soon as we saw Qi Dayong."

"That Qi Dayong, really, he doesn't even care about his own brother. Look at what Da Wu is wearing, and then look at what he's wearing. He's wearing a new cotton-padded jacket, while Da Wu is wearing old clothes."

"That's right. Poor Da Wu."

Lin Weidong was still standing. He had his hands behind his back, and his expression was unclear due to the darkness.

"Grandpa, the chicken stew is almost ready. Let's eat at home."

Lin Nuo said.

Lin Weidong shook his head:

"Our guests are waiting at home."

He had come out to get some wine, but this incident delayed him halfway there. He turned to leave, and Lin Nuo took a step after him:

"Grandpa, take some chicken with you."

Lin Weidong waved his hand, but didn't stop walking and quickly walked away.

Zhao Xiuying poked her head out of the kitchen, her apron covered in flour, her face still glistening with sweat, and her cheeks flushed red from the heat of the stove.

"Gone?"

"Let's go," Lin Nuo said.

Zhao Xiuying snorted:

"It's the Lunar New Year, and they come to cause trouble. Don't they feel bad about bringing bad luck? It's already the 27th of the twelfth lunar month, and they're still making trouble."

She pulled her head back, and the sound of the spatula hitting the iron pot rang out again, much louder than before, as if she was venting her frustration.

Lin Weiguo glanced at Lin Nuo: "...Are you really taking that Qi family kid to town tomorrow?"

"Um."

Lin Weiguo remained silent for a moment, then turned and went into the kitchen. The curtain fell behind him and swayed twice.

Zhao Xiuying lifted the pot lid, and a cloud of white steam billowed up, covering her face. She squinted and poked the chicken leg in the pot with her chopsticks. The chopsticks sank in; the chicken was so tender that the meat didn't need much effort to separate from the bone, and the chopsticks fell off at the slightest touch.

"Alright, serve it."

Lin Nuo took a large white porcelain bowl, its rim chipped. He held it with the other hand, the chipped side facing outwards. He ladled out a bowlful and set it aside. The bowl was piled high with chicken, hazel mushrooms, and broth. This was for his sister-in-law.

Zhao Xiuying glanced at the bowl but didn't say anything. She divided the chicken pieces and hazel mushrooms from the pot into several bowls and then made cornbread.

The flatbread is golden brown on one side and soft on the other. The side that was touching the edge of the pan has formed a hard crust. When you bite into it, it's crunchy, while the cornmeal inside is soft and sweet.

Inside the main room, the family sat around the table.

On the table were several bowls of stewed chicken, a dish of pickled vegetables, a dish of peanuts, and a plate of cornbread. Steam rose from the bowls, writhing in the light, as if they were alive.

Lin Weiguo sat in the main seat, with a wine cup in front of him, into which he poured a glass of baijiu (Chinese white liquor). The liquor was bulk baijiu, obtained from the supply and marketing cooperative.

Lin An and Lin Ping sat on the bench, their four eyes fixed on the chicken on the table, their gazes unwavering. A little bit of something glistening was already on Lin An's lips; she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand, but it kept coming back.

Lin Ping was even more direct, his saliva already dripping onto the edge of the table.

Su Wanqing sat next to Lin Nuo, with a bowl of chicken soup in front of her.

Lin Nuo put the chicken leg into her bowl.

The chicken leg was stewed until it was very tender, almost falling off the bone. The skin was coated with a layer of oil that glistened under the light. When he picked it up with his chopsticks, the chicken leg trembled slightly. He quickly placed the chicken leg into Su Wanqing's bowl, and a drop of oil dripped onto the soup noodles, creating a small ripple.

"eat."

Su Wanqing glanced down at the chicken leg in the bowl. The chicken leg was large, thoroughly stewed, and glistening with oil. The meat was slightly split from the bone, revealing tender white chicken meat strands inside.

"You eat it yourself."

"I like to eat chicken soup dumplings."

Lin Nuo said.

She didn't push it away again.

She picked up a chicken leg and ate it in small bites. She ate very slowly, as if savoring something precious. She ate the skin first; it was stewed until tender and melted in her mouth. Then she tore off strips of meat, one by one, put them in her mouth, chewed them carefully, and only swallowed after a long time.

Lin Weiguo picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and smacked his lips.

"Second son."

He spoke, his voice not loud, but everyone at the table stopped eating.

"Qi Dayong is a tough guy. He'll definitely hold a grudge if you take his brother to town. Be careful."

Lin Nuo nodded: "I know."

"Hmm." Lin Weiguo poured himself another cup:

"Don't cause trouble when you go out."

Lin Nuo nodded again. He knew what his father meant by "don't cause trouble"—he was afraid he would suffer. He wouldn't dare to openly confront someone like Qi Dayong, and it was hard to say what he might do in secret. Lin Weiguo had lived in the village for over fifty years; he knew exactly what kind of people they were.

Zhao Xiuying brought in some flatbread from the kitchen and placed it on the table. The flatbread, stacked on a plate, was steaming hot, and the aroma of corn mixed with the smell of stewed chicken filled the main room.

"Eat up, eat up, it won't taste good when it gets cold."

Lin An couldn't wait any longer. He reached out with his chopsticks, picked up a piece of chicken, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Is it delicious?" Zhao Xiuying asked.

"Delicious!" Lin An mumbled, his mouth still chewing on meat, his voice escaping from his throat, carrying a meaty aroma.

Lin Ping had already started gnawing on the chicken wing, holding it in both hands as if it were a precious treasure, eating it little by little.

Zhao Xiuying looked at the two children and smiled.

Then she turned to look at Lin Nuo.

Lin Nuo didn't notice his mother's gaze. He lowered his head to drink the soup, which was a little hot, so he blew on it and sipped it slowly. The soup was very flavorful, with the freshness of pheasant and hazel mushrooms blending together, exploding on his tongue and warming him all the way down his throat to his stomach.

After finishing eating, I put down my bowl and prepared to go back to my room.

Su Wanqing's voice came from the side, very softly.

"Be careful on the road tomorrow."

Lin Nuo turned to look at her.

She had finished eating; the bowl was on the table, and the soup inside was completely gone.

"Um."

Lin Nuo responded with a slight smile.

After finishing his meal, Lin Jiang took the bowl of chicken he had saved and went home.

Tian Fang sat in the kitchen.

She sat on a small stool behind the stove, holding a dark-colored steamed bun in her hand.

Lin An and Lin Ping had already eaten and weren't hungry. Lin An lay on the bed in the inner room, rubbing his stomach, his lips still glistening with oil, humming contentedly.

Lin Ping was already asleep, his shoes still on, lying on the bed with his mouth slightly open, emitting soft snores.

Just at this time.

Lin Jiang brought in a bowl and placed it on the stove.

"Eat."

Tian Fang glanced at the chicken in the bowl but didn't touch it. The embers from the stove reflected in the bowl, making the color of the chicken indistinct in the dim red light, but the aroma was real, wafting from the bowl and filling her nostrils with a salty and fragrant scent.

"The second son asked me to keep it."

Tian Fang paused for a moment.

She was breaking a steamed bun, her fingers hovering in mid-air, holding a small piece but not putting it in her mouth. She looked down at the chicken in the bowl, her lips moving a few times.

"he……"

"The second son has changed," Lin Jiang said.

He spoke softly, but with conviction.

Tian Fang didn't say anything more.

……

In the evening, Lin Nuo went to the kitchen.

The kitchen has been cleaned up.

He walked up to the water vat and looked down at it.

The turtle is in the water tank. The water in the tank is clean; Zhao Xiuying has changed it.

I'll take the turtle to town to sell tomorrow. It weighs eight ounces and should fetch seven or eight yuan. Not much, but enough.

He wanted to find Liu Jun to inquire about the fake fertilizer in Xiahe Village, but why was there no news about it? Ma Shengli was arrested, and the fake fertilizer harmed so many farmers, killing all their crops, yet not a single farmer made a fuss? Even if Ma Shengli was arrested, the farmers should still seek redress from the fertilizer factory.

Not right.

Either someone paid him off to keep quiet, or the situation was bigger than he thought. Either way, he had to find out.

Because this matter is related to Lin Jian. Lin Jian is in a hurry to raise rabbits at home, and the money he needs is very likely to be used to cover up the hole caused by the fake fertilizer.

The embers in the stove flickered briefly before going dark again.