When the pears are green

Song Li followed Jiang Huan and Zhang across the river and walked into the yard with the wood ash scattered by Qingzhou. Jiang Yao stepped forward and rushed towards Song Li.

Zhang first touched Jiang Yao's little head, then held Su Mian's hand and started a conversation: "You must be Mian Mian, right? Xiaoli kept telling me on the way back that Mian Mian is a gentle, kind, generous, and beautiful girl. Now I see that Xiaoli didn't tell the whole story. Our Mian Mian is still a good girl who is a good match for Qingye. With Mian Mian and Xiaoli as sisters-in-law in the future, I can worry less."

Su Mian and Jiang Qingye blushed after hearing this. They secretly glanced at each other and turned their heads to look elsewhere.

"Mom, stop talking. Mianmian and Qingye are already embarrassed by what you said." Song Li hurriedly interrupted Zhang who was about to continue speaking.

Zhang let go of Su Mian with a smile, picked up Jiang Yao and said to Song Li, "Okay, I won't say anything. Your father is not here, go and boil some hot water."

"Mom, I'll go and let Xiaoli talk to you." Jiang Qingzhou hurriedly stopped Song Li and asked Zhang with a smile.

In her heart, Zhang treated Jiang Qingzhou as half her own son, so naturally she was not polite to him and nodded in agreement with a smile.

Jiang Qingzhou led Jiang Huan to the kitchen.

Jiang Qingye pulled Su Mian's sleeve, and they both shyly called out to Zhang at the same time, "Auntie."

Zhang smiled and nodded in response, and asked Song Li to take Su Mian and Jiang Qingye around the house.

The Song family's house was demolished and rebuilt into a brick and tile house two years ago. There is no backyard. The three houses and the east and west wing rooms are side by side facing north and south. The old locust tree in the yard was cut down when the house was built and a sycamore tree was planted in its place.

Song Li led Su Mian and Jiang Yao to stand in front of the rabbit nest and look at the rabbits resting on the ground.

"Sister-in-law, why don't the rabbits eat grass?" Su Mian asked Jiang Yao, who was standing on the wall of the rabbit nest and throwing grass into the nest.

Song Li handed the grass to Jiang Yao and explained: "Mianmian, the rabbit will stop eating when it is full."

Su Mian murmured when she heard this: "I thought rabbits just kept eating!"

"How could that be? Eating too much will make you sick." Song Li said with a smile, then turned to look at Zhang and Jiang Qingye who were talking.

Zhang looked at Jiang Qingye, who was a head taller than her, and couldn't help nagging: "Qingye, I remember when I first saw you, you were only as tall as my shoulders. Now you are going to get married, and your parents in heaven will be pleased. You must study hard and not disappoint Xiaoli and Qingzhou's expectations of you. Alas, I don't know when Xiaoxing will get married? Is your house tidy? Are the wedding couplets ready? Are the red cloth to hang on the door, the red candles to light, and the peanuts and red dates to sprinkle on the new bed ready?"

"Don't worry, Auntie. My sister-in-law and brother are ready." Jiang Qingye's eyes turned red before he finished speaking.

Zhang hurriedly comforted Jiang Qingye when she saw this: "Good boy, I know it hasn't been easy for you these years. It's not easy for Xiaoli and Qingzhou to make money, and it's not easy for you to study. Let the past be the past, and we must look forward after all."

"Well, Auntie, let me go see if my brother has boiled the water?" Jiang Qingye said, and went to the kitchen while sniffing.

Zhang sighed heavily and turned to open the gate that was knocked.

Wu Yuanlang, who had three high-hanging buns, put his arms around Zhang's neck and asked for a hug.

Zhang quickly took Wu Yuanlang from Song Yue's arms, patted Wu Yuanlang's arm and said, "Someone is here to play with you today. Your brother and sister are here."

Wu Yuanlang lay on Zhang's shoulder to look at Jiang Yao who was walking towards him, held hands by Song Li and Su Mian.

Jiang Yao came over and grabbed Zhang's sleeve, pouting her lips and calling sweetly, "Grandma, Yaoyao wants to be hugged too."

Zhang looked at the children's competition for favor with a bit of a smile and tears in her eyes. Finally, she sat on the stool and hugged Jiang Yao with one hand and Wu Yuanlang with the other before she gave up.

Jiang Huan ran out of the kitchen and lay on Zhang's back to join in the fun.

"Mom, you play with the three of them. Yueyue, Mianmian and I will go cook." After Song Li finished speaking, she asked Su Mian to go to the carriage and bring the things into the kitchen, and then pulled Song Yue into the kitchen.

Wu Mingde quickly handed the chicken and wine he brought to Song Yue, and then went aside with Jiang Qingye to discuss matters concerning next year's provincial examination.

Song Li walked into the kitchen and asked Jiang Qingzhou who was lighting the fire: "Qingzhou, are you going to light the fire for us, or go talk to Mingde Qingye?"

"Let me light a fire for you. I can't get a say in what Mingde and Qingye are talking about, so it's better to just light a fire here and enjoy the atmosphere." Jiang Qingzhou said as he stood up and poured the boiling water into a ceramic pot.

Song Li nodded and took the basket and bag from Su Mian.

The laughter of the children in the yard spread into the kitchen. Song Li stood at the kitchen door and watched the three children chasing and playing with each other in the yard.

Song Li and Song Yue chatted while cooking, and Su Mian, who was helping, would occasionally interject.

The simple meal was quickly prepared, and Su Mian and Song Yue became familiar with each other.

During the dinner, Zhang mentioned the marriage of Jiang Qingye and Su Mian.

Song Yue took out a red envelope and handed it to Su Mian, saying, "This is for you and Qingye in advance. Mingde has to go to Uncle Changrong's house to help tomorrow, so we can't go over. Mianmian, don't refuse, take it quickly."

"Thank you, Sister Yueyue." Su Mian thanked her quickly and put the red envelope into her bag with a smile.

In the afternoon, Song Li first took out the dove cart that she had brought to Wu Yuanlang, pointed at Su Mian and told Wu Yuanlang: "Yuanlang, Aunt Mianmian brought it to you from Bianzhou. What do you want to say to Aunt Mianmian?"

Wu Yuanlang quickly ran to Su Mian's side, raised his little face and said with a smile: "Aunt, you should say thank you to aunt."

Su Mian rubbed Wu Yuanlang's little head and said with a smile: "Yuanlang is so good."

A group of people started laughing, and Wu Yuanlang pulled the cart and hid behind Wu Mingde.

Song Li then handed the snacks in the bag to Zhang. Zhang first blamed Song Li for spending money indiscriminately, then smiled and stuffed a red envelope into Su Mian's pocket.

Su Mian quickly declined, and Zhang told Su Mian with a stern face: "Mian Mian, don't be polite to me. Qingzhou and Qingye are both half sons in my heart. Your marriage is a happy event, and it is my responsibility as your aunt to pay for it. Of course, Mingde is also half son of mine, and I never show favoritism."

Wu Mingde covered his mouth and laughed when he heard it, and turned his head to whisper to Song Yue: "I originally thought that I was not as good as my brother-in-law in the eyes of my parents."

Song Yue turned around and smiled at Wu Mingde.

Wu Mingde then whispered, "Xiaoyue, let's have a daughter too. Look at Yaoyao, she's so cute."

Song Yue glared at Wu Mingde with a slightly red face, then looked at Jiang Yao who was playing cartwheels with Wu Yuanlang. Well, she was indeed cute.

As there were other things going on at home, Song Li and the others hurriedly said goodbye to Zhang, Song Yue, Wu Mingde, and Wu Yuanlang who was lying in Wu Mingde's arms and was in a bad mood.

Wu Yuanlang wiped his tears and said to Wu Mingde: "Dad, I don't want my sister and brother to leave."

"Yuanlang, when we are done with these busy days, your mother and I will take you to see them, okay?" Wu Mingde coaxed softly.

Wu Yuanlang burst into laughter and asked Wu Mingde to make a deal.

Song Yue smiled and told Wu Yuanlang: "Yuanlang, when has your father ever lied to you? Why don't you trust him so much?"

Wu Mingde turned around and said softly to Song Yue: "Xiaoyue, if I still fail the exam next year, I won't take it anymore. I want to learn from my brother-in-law and be a country teacher to stay with you and Yuanlang."

Song Yue hugged Wu Mingde's arm and responded softly: "Let's wait until next year. What if I pass the exam? Everything is possible."

Zhang looked at her daughter and son-in-law who were snuggling together, and pretended to have something to do and went to the main room, leaving the spacious yard to the family of three who were whispering.