Early the next day, Zhao Ce changed into his new large shirt and prepared to set off for Su Family in Xiahe Village. Since it was a long journey, Su Caier prepared water and dry rations for her husband. Zhao Ce put on his new short jacket and tried out some new movements. It was much more comfortable than wearing a long robe, but the sleeves couldn't hold their shape for long even when folded up. They would slide down when his arms hung down.
Seeing this, the little girl took some spare strips of cloth from her basket and twisted them into ropes with her hands. Then, she helped Zhao Ce tie his sleeves securely around his elbows. After finishing, the little girl looked up at him and smiled. "This way, they won't fall down anymore."
Zhao Ce waved his hand and found that the sleeves were indeed secure. He laughed and said, "You're clever." Su Caier, who had received her husband's praise, left the house with joy after having breakfast and packing her own belongings.
Zhao Ce was about to say goodbye to the little girl when he heard someone knocking on the door outside. It was Zhao Wenhao, who had come over early in the morning with a backpack on his back. Seeing Zhao Ce, he grinned. "Yesterday, my father heard that you were going to Su Family in Xiahe Village, so he asked me to accompany you there this morning." "Fortunately, I came early, or you would have already left."
Zhao Ce felt a bit embarrassed and said, "How can I waste your time like this?" Zhao Wenhao waved his hand and said, "You're a scholar and don't know anything. If you go there without someone familiar with the place, what if someone bullies you?" He patted his chest. "My mother has relatives there. With me leading the way, you can rest assured." Zhao Ce couldn't refuse, so he said, "Thank you, Wenhao."
Zhao Wenhao said, "Let's go, we should set off early." Zhao Ce nodded, turned around, and said to the little girl behind him, "I'm going out now, you be good and stay at home." Su Caier waved her small hand at him. If her husband had someone to accompany him, she would be more at ease. "Then, come back early after you finish your business," the little girl said softly. Zhao Ce agreed, turned around, walked out, and opened the gate.
Zhao Ce set off with Zhao Wenhao. Zhao Wenhao couldn't help but size up Zhao Ce, who was dressed in a large shirt. "You suddenly put on work clothes and look quite the part," he said. But even in a large shirt, Zhao Ce's demeanor didn't make him look like a typical farmer.
Zhao Ce felt proud when he heard Zhao Wenhao's words. He walked briskly and even showed off his new clothes. "My wife sewed this for me just yesterday," he said. "Look at the stitching and craftsmanship." Zhao Wenhao also looked down and compared it to his own clothes. "Her craftsmanship is indeed good," he said. "But my mother's clothes are top-notch too." After speaking, Zhao Ce showed him the sleeves. "Look at the way she tied them for me here," he said, pointing to his elbows. He then looked at how Zhao Wenhao had tied his own sleeves and couldn't help but smile.
Zhao Wenhao also looked at his own sleeves and said with a wry smile, "Indeed, I can't compare." He lost the comparison. When they reached the corner of the road, Zhao Wenhao turned around and said, "Your little wife is still standing at the door watching you." Zhao Ce also turned around and saw the familiar figure standing at the door, watching him leave. He smiled and said, "Every time I go out, my wife always watches me until I'm far away before going back home."
Zhao Wenhao looked at him, looking full of spirit, but when it came to his own wife, his eyes softened. He asked curiously in a low voice, "Is marriage really that good?" He remembered how Zhao Ce used to be and how he was now. Since getting married, he seemed like a completely different person. Zhao Wenhao couldn't help but envy him. Zhao Ce thought for a moment and said, "It really is quite good." "No matter where you go, you know there's someone at home thinking of you, waiting for you to come back." "When you return home, there's someone who knows your likes and dislikes." This feeling, for Zhao Ce who had spent almost 30 years protecting animals in his previous life and dedicated his whole life to his job, was undoubtedly enjoyable. Although he hadn't been with this little girl for a long time, her words and actions, every frown and smile, always reminded him of her unintentionally.
"To be cared for by someone, and to care for others, can truly make Zhao Ce feel that he is living in this world. When Zhao Wenhao listened to him, he also couldn't help but yearn for it. 'My mother said that next year after my younger brother goes to school, she will help me propose to Ah Hua's family. When I marry Ah Hua, I will definitely treat her well.'
Zhao Ce smiled. The two of them walked to the village entrance together. Many people greeted Zhao Wenhao, but when they looked at Zhao Ce, their expressions were not as friendly. Although they had received a promise from the village chief yesterday that they would not let their children miss out on education, seeing Zhao Ce, who used to have lofty ambitions, not going to school now, naturally made them feel unhappy.
Zhao Ce didn't pay attention to these gazes and walked forward naturally. Zhao Wenhao saw the attitude of the villagers and thought about the many villagers who came to his father yesterday to ask about Zhao Ce's dropping out of school. He hesitated and said, “You don't have to worry about being expelled from school. Although everyone in the village is a bit resentful now, don't worry. My father will handle it properly. Your family only has you left, and as the eldest uncle, he definitely won't abandon you.” Zhao Wenhao thought of what his father said yesterday, that Zhao Ce's family only had one child left. If he, as the eldest uncle and the other cousins didn't take care of him, would they have to watch his family become extinct? Zhao Wenhao couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. So now he looked at Zhao Ce with a bit of sympathy.
Zhao Ce looked at his sympathetic gaze and couldn't help but laugh. But he still said, 'Okay, then I thank Uncle and Brother Wenhao for your help.' In the meantime, Zhao Wenhao has been helping Zhao Ce's family with chores. The gratitude he received was probably more than what Zhao Ce had said to him in the past 20 years. Zhao Wenhao scratched his head in embarrassment. “You're being too polite. We're close relatives, so naturally we have to support each other.”
