Reborn in 1982, the prodigal son returns

As dawn broke, a faint orange-red hue appeared on the eastern horizon.

Lin Nuo returned from the health center and switched shifts with Zhou Laoshuan.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, the aroma of porridge wafted from the kitchen. Zhao Xiuying was squatting in front of the stove, adding firewood, the flames licking the bottom of the pot, making a "whooshing" sound.

"You're back? How's the old foreman?"

Zhao Xiuying didn't even look up, and poked around in the stove with the fire tongs in her hand:

"I'm much better. The doctor said I can be discharged after two more days of observation."

Lin Nuo took off his clothes and hung them on a nail behind the door. He walked to the kitchen door, squatted down, and looked at the fire in the stove.

"Mother, I need to discuss something with you."

Zhao Xiuying looked up, wiped her hands on her apron, and sized him up:

"What's wrong? You don't look well. Didn't you sleep last night?"

"I'm going to sleep. Mother, I want to bring the old foreman to live with us."

Zhao Xiuying paused for a moment. She placed the fire tongs on the stove, stood up, turned to look at Lin Nuo, and frowned slightly.

"Bring us over? Where will we stay?"

"The third brother's little courtyard is just sitting empty anyway."

Zhao Xiuying didn't reply, as if she had thought of something.

Lin Weiguo came out of the main room and stood at the door without saying a word, but he had obviously heard.

Lin Nuo stood up and walked to Lin Weiguo:

"Father, what do you think?"

Lin Weiguo began by saying:

"The old foreman has been kind to our family. You learned his skills from him, and he taught you all his best tricks. Now that he's sick and there's no one to take care of him, we can't just stand by and do nothing."

"Your father is right."

Zhao Xiuying responded, but her tone was hesitant:

"But... what if the third brother comes back someday? Where will he stay? You can't expect him to squeeze into the east room with you, can you?"

Lin Nuo knew her mother's worries. The third son had just gone to the south. Although he was gone, the home was still there. What if he couldn't stay there and had nowhere to stay when he came back?

A mother always reserves a room in her heart for her son.

"Mother, I'll think of something when the third son comes back. If all else fails, I'll build him one. Let's take care of the immediate matter first. We can't wait any longer with the old foreman."

Zhao Xiuying looked at him, turned around, picked up the fire tongs, squatted down and continued adding firewood, her voice muffled:

"Since you've said that, how can I stop you? Go ahead and accept it."

Lin Weiguo added from the side:

"Let the old foreman live in the west wing. That room faces south, gets plenty of sunlight, and is good for the old man's health."

Zhao Xiuying hummed in agreement, stuffed a pine log into the stove, and flames leaped up, licking the bottom of the pot. She stood up, brushed the ash off her knees, and walked over to Lin Nuo:

"Your Uncle Zhang is stubborn. When you try to persuade him, speak to him gently and don't get angry with him. If he really doesn't want to, don't force him."

"Okay, Mother."

Lin Nuo felt a warmth in her heart. Although her mother spoke reluctantly, she understood better than anyone else.

Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open. Lin Jiang stood at the doorway, outside the threshold: "Second Brother."

Lin Nuo walked over:

"Brother, what's wrong? Come in and sit down."

Lin Jiang didn't move. He lowered his head, looking at the tips of his shoes, his voice muffled:

"Your sister-in-law... gave all the wedding gifts to Shan Jun."

Lin Nuo was stunned for a moment. He had expected it. A man like Shan Jun would do anything for money.

"Brother, it's fine, it's fine. Don't take it to heart."

Lin Jiang raised his head, his eyes a little red:

"But your sister-in-law felt bad about it. She said... she should return the money to you."

"My sister-in-law is a good person."

Lin Nuo reached out and patted Lin Jiang on the shoulder:

"Brother, tell your wife that we'll try our best not to get involved in Shan Jun's affairs in the future."

Lin Jiang's lips trembled several times, as if he wanted to say something, but something seemed to be stuck in his throat:

"……Why."

Lin Nuo pulled him into the courtyard and had Zhao Xiuying pour him a bowl of hot water. Lin Jiang took the bowl, but didn't drink it. He held it with both hands, the bowl was scalding hot, and he moved his fingers around on the bowl to find a cool spot.

"Brother, I need to tell you something."

Lin Nuo squatted down next to him.

"What's up?"

"You go with Da Wu to the mountains to gather medicinal herbs."

Lin Jiang paused for a moment, then looked up at Lin Nuo:

"Medicinal herbs? I don't know anything about them..."

"If you don't know something, you can learn. The old foreman taught me how to identify medicinal herbs, how to dig them up, and how to process them. You can work with me, and Da Wu too, we'll all be together."

Lin Nuo's voice was resolute:

"Cheng Youtian has connections; traders from the south come every two weeks, offering much higher prices than the supply and marketing cooperatives. Wouldn't it be better for you to work with him than farming?"

Lin Jiang was silent for a moment. He put the bowl down on the ground, the bottom of it hitting the floor with a dull thud. He looked up and met Lin Nuo's eyes:

"Second brother, your eldest brother is useless. He's been farming all his life and can't do anything else. I'll do whatever you ask me to do. I trust you."

"Okay. It's settled then."

Lin Nuo stood up and pulled Lin Jiang up from the ground as well:

"Old Foreman will be discharged from the hospital in a few days. I'll settle him in first. Then I'll take you to learn about medicinal herbs. You can work with Da Wu for a while, and you'll get used to it."

Lin Jiang nodded:

"Nuozi, take good care of the old man."

"Okay, bro."

Lin Jiang didn't say anything more, turned around and left the courtyard. His figure grew smaller and smaller in the morning light, finally turning into the end of the village road.

Lin Nuo stood in the courtyard, looking in the direction where her older brother had disappeared. She stood there for a long time. Zhao Xiuying:

"The porridge is ready, let's eat first."

"Why."

Lin Nuo turned and went into the kitchen, picked up the bowl of porridge, squatted down against the wall, and finished it in a few gulps. He put the bowl on the ground, stood up, took his clothes from behind the door and put them on, then took out the basket of eggs from the storeroom, lined it with straw, and covered it with an old cloth.

"Mom, I'll go to town to deliver the eggs first, then I'll go to the clinic."

Go ahead. Be careful on the road.

Lin Nuo carried the basket of eggs out of the courtyard. Under the old locust tree at the village entrance, several women were already gathered. Aunt Wang, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot him:

"Hey, Nuozi! Going to the county town again? How come your eggs are like they're free, you have them every day?"

"The chicken lays the egg, not me."

Lin Nuo smiled and didn't stop walking.

Aunt Liu craned her neck to look into the basket:

"I heard the old foreman is sick? Is it serious?"

"Much better. You can be discharged after a few more days of observation."

"That's good, that's good."

Aunt Liu patted her chest:

"Old Foreman is a capable man in this area; he can't be allowed to get into trouble."

Lin Nuo nodded and quickened his pace toward the town.

The news of the old foreman's illness spread really fast.

Upon arriving in the county town, they first delivered the eggs to Jianming Restaurant. As usual, Zhao Jianming was very hospitable, counting the eggs, calculating the cost, and then stopping him to ask about the wild game. Lin Nuo said he was busy lately and would try again later. Zhao Jianming didn't rush him, patting him on the shoulder and saying:

"Brother, you're busy. Come back when you have more stock."

After leaving the restaurant, Lin Nuo went to the supply and marketing cooperative, bought a bag of brown sugar, two cans of food, and a bag of milk powder, and then went to the post office to mail out Su Wanqing's newly written manuscript.

Then I took the shuttle bus to the health center.

When I pushed open the ward door, Old Man Zhou was leaning against the headboard with his eyes closed, I couldn't tell if he was asleep or just resting. Old Man Zhou was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands on his knees, dozing off, his head nodding.

Hearing footsteps, Zhou Laoshuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes red. Seeing that it was Lin Nuo, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nuozi? What are you doing here again? Didn't I tell you to keep busy with your own things?"

"Uncle Zhou, I'm done with my work."

Lin Nuo put the things on the bedside table, walked to the bedside, and reached out to touch the old man's forehead. It wasn't hot anymore; it felt cool, and the fever had finally broken.

The old foreman opened his eyes, glanced at Lin Nuo, said nothing, and then closed them again.

"Uncle Zhang, you look much better today."

Lin Nuo pulled the blanket up and tucked the corners in.

The old foreman didn't respond.

Old Zhou clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"This old man ate most of a bowl of porridge and an egg this morning. The doctor said he's recovering well and can be discharged in a couple of days."

Lin Nuo was overjoyed and quickly asked:

"Uncle Zhang, are you hungry? I bought some canned food, shall I open one for you?"

I'm not hungry.

The old foreman's voice was still hoarse, but it was much stronger than yesterday.

Lin Nuo ignored him, opened a can of yellow peaches, scooped out two pieces with a spoon, put them in a bowl, and held them to the old man's mouth.

The old man opened his eyes, looked at the yellow peach in the bowl, then at Lin Nuo, moved his lips, opened his mouth, and ate it.

Old Zhou watched from the side, a smile on his face:

"That old geezer deserves a good beating. Yesterday he was threatening to die, but today he's eating better than anyone else."

The old foreman ignored him, ate another piece of yellow peach, turned his face away, and refused to eat anymore.

Lin Nuo placed the bowl on the bedside table and sat down on the edge of the bed. He glanced at Zhou Laoshuan, then at the old foreman, and took a deep breath.

"Uncle Zhang, I have something to tell you."

The old foreman didn't open his eyes.

"I'd like to invite you to stay at my home."

A moment of silence fell over the ward. Zhou Laoshuan's hand froze in mid-air, the cigarette nearly falling. The old man opened his eyes, turned his head, and looked at Lin Nuo with surprise in his eyes.

"Need not."

The old foreman's voice wasn't loud:

"I'm used to living alone."

"Uncle Zhang, I'm worried about you living alone. You were sick this time, and if I hadn't arrived in time, you know what would have happened."

Lin Nuo's voice was unhurried:

"My family has a small courtyard, where my third son used to live. It's just sitting empty anyway. You can stay there; it'll be sunny, close to the kitchen, and convenient for meals."

"I said I don't need it."

The old foreman turned his face away, facing the wall, showing Lin Nuo only his thin, bony back.

Old Zhou was getting anxious:

"Old Zhang! Why are you so stubborn? Nuozi came to pick you up out of kindness, and why are you giving me that attitude? You live alone, what will you do if you get sick? Have you forgotten what happened this time?"

"I haven't forgotten."

The old foreman's voice was muffled:

"I just don't want to be a burden to others."

"Uncle Zhang, you are not a burden."

Lin Nuo stood up:

"You taught me hunting, you taught me to identify medicinal herbs, you gave me a flintlock pistol, and you gave me a deer whistle. You taught me all your best skills, and I haven't even repaid you yet. Can you let me take care of you for a few years?"

The old foreman didn't speak. His lips moved slightly, and he made a soft sound in his throat, but no sound came out.

Lin Nuo reached out and gently grasped the old foreman's exposed hand. The hand was so thin it was practically skin and bones, with prominent veins and dirt stuck in the nails. He held it very gently, as if afraid of breaking it.

"Uncle Zhang, if you don't come, I'll come to Song Village to see you every day. Even if you try to drive me away, I won't leave."

The ward was quiet for a while. Old Zhou stood to the side, his eyes red-rimmed, wiping them with the back of his hand, muttering:

"That old geezer just needs to be taught a lesson."

The old foreman slowly turned around and looked at Lin Nuo. His eyes were cloudy, but something was gleaming within them.

"...Do your parents agree?"

His voice was hoarse and trembling slightly.

"Agreed. My father said he'd let you live in the west wing; that room faces south and gets lots of sunshine. My mother said she'd make you a quilt, a new cotton-filled one, it'll be warm."

The old foreman's lips trembled several times. He lowered his head, looking at his hand being held by Lin Nuo, and remained silent for a long time.

"I'll go, I'll only be a bother to you."

"It's no trouble at all. Uncle Zhang, once you've gone, I'll have someone to guide me when I go into the mountains and someone to teach me how to identify medicinal herbs. I'll be more than happy to do so."

The old foreman fell silent again. After a long while, he raised his head, looked at Lin Nuo, and nodded slightly.

"……OK."

Old Zhou slapped his thigh loudly, the sound so loud it could be heard throughout the corridor:

"It should have been done a long time ago! You old fool, you've been stubborn your whole life, but you've finally come to your senses!"

The old foreman glared at him:

"Shut up."

Old Zhou chuckled, took a cigarette out of his pocket, put it in his mouth, but didn't light it. He walked to the window, looked at the sky outside, and wiped his face with the back of his hand.

Lin Nuo stood up, tucked the blanket around the old man's head, and said in a light voice:

"Uncle Zhang, I'll go back and get ready. I'll arrange a car to pick you up when you're discharged."

The old foreman grunted in agreement and closed his eyes.

Seeing Lin Nuo leave, Zhou Laoshuan said, "I never thought that you, an old man, would find a home at this age when you're practically on your deathbed."

The old leader didn't say a word.

Zhou Laoshuan didn't say anything.

It's a good thing that this old fellow has finally found a home.

As Lin Nuo emerged from the clinic, the sun was already setting. Standing at the doorway, he let out a long sigh.

He quickened his pace toward the station.

By the time he got home, it was already dusk. Su Wanqing was squatting at the entrance of the chicken coop, feeding the chickens. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and smiled at him.

"You're back? How's the old foreman?"

"Much better. I can be discharged the day after tomorrow."

Lin Nuo squatted down and stood next to her:

"I told him to stay at our house. He agreed."

Su Wanqing paused for a moment, then smiled:

"Really? That's great. The old man lives alone with no one to take care of him; I've been wanting to tell him for a while now."

"My mother said she'd make him a new quilt. My father said he should live in the west wing, where the sunlight is better."

Lin Nuo reached out and put his arm around her waist, lowering his voice:

"Teacher Su, do you think it will be difficult for them to get used to the old foreman's arrival?"

"It might be a little difficult at first, but it will get better gradually."

Su Wanqing leaned on his shoulder during her night shift.

"Spend more time with him, and I'll help take care of him too. The old foreman is stubborn but soft-hearted; he'll get used to it over time."

Lin Nuo: "Thank you, Teacher Su."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Su Wanqing's voice was very soft:

"He is your master, and he is also my master."

Su Wanqing was still grateful to the old man.

I'm going to buy some things tomorrow, and while I'm at it, I'll take Zhao Dazhuang and the others to dig up some turtles. After I bring the old foreman over, he plans to go on a long trip.

There are other things to do.