In the afternoon, with the sun still hanging halfway in the sky, the sound of boisterous drums and gongs echoed under the old maple tree.

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Then came the sharp crackling of firecrackers.

After these sounds had subsided, the orchestra played and the actors in their costumes made their appearance.

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On stage, the singers’ voices soared, while offstage, the audience erupted in cheers.

On stage, singing, reciting, acting, and beating drums; in the audience, heads jostled together.

After the villagers had their lunch, they carried long stools over to grab the best spots. A few daughters-in-law surrounded the old lady who sat in the middle watching the show. The children couldn't sit still, running and chasing all over the place.

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Changping Village's opera performance was not only lively, but also attracted people from surrounding villages to come and watch.

The street vendors in the nearby towns also heard the news and came bustling over.

Along the edge of the stage, there were vendors selling sugarcane and fried dough sticks, one after another.

Children like to eat sugarcane, and the elderly like to eat youtiao.

A single coin for a fritter? For most farm families in this era, at this economic level, it was quite a rare treat.

The only time I go to the town all year is when it's market day.

These days, adults are putting in a lot of effort to buy a ten-cash oil stick and satisfy the cravings of their children and elders.

If relatives' children come over to watch the play, I'll also buy two.

When I told my relatives, they were all happy.

Sun Shi and Da Sun Shi also helped Old Madam Sun come over to watch the play.

Cao Baimei held Mima, Xiao Yaxue held Luobabao, both following closely behind.

What is Yang Ruoheng doing?

Selling fried dough sticks, buying sugarcane.

Five years ago, I couldn't afford to buy these things.

As for today's wealth, well, to put it in the vernacular of a peasant, it's so much that you could just lie in it and eat your fill!

"Grandma, come here, eat youtiao, it's just out of the pot!"

Yang Ruqing bought some fried dough sticks and offered them to Grandma Sun.

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Grandma Sun smiled and said, "Let's feed Mianmian and Baby first. I'm not in a hurry."

"Oh, I bought a big bunch, there's enough for everyone." Yang Ruqing said, giving Sun Laotai and the others one each.

Seeing that there were still some left, Mrs. Sun took charge and gave them to the few children from their village who were sitting nearby.

“Qing’er, with such a beautiful play, why didn't your grandmother come to watch?” asked Old Madam Sun.

Yang Ruqing laughed and said, "When I brought her lunch, I told her, 'Look at the beautiful scenery!' She said she was blind as a bat and couldn't see anything, that she might as well just take a nap at home."

Several elderly members of the Sun family all laughed.

Sun said, "Although your mother said she didn't come to watch the play, she also likes eating fried dough sticks. I'll buy some and wait for them to be hot before sending them to her."

As the woman spoke, she was about to get up.

Yang Ruqing hurriedly held her back: "Youtiao, I'll buy it right away and send it over. Mom, you just stay here with Gaga and watch the show!"

When I was buying youtiao, I happened to meet Yang Huamei and Wang Shuanzi, a young couple, coming over with their big white dog and black dog to watch the play.

Yang Ruqing bought two more, one for Dàbái and one for Xiǎohēi.

"I'll go buy some fried dough sticks for my mom. They taste best when they're hot. You guys should go watch the play first, and I'll come find you later." Yang Ruohua said.

Yang Huamei smiled and nodded. "Qinger, you are really thoughtful. As your bridesmaid, I didn't even buy you some fried dough sticks to bring to your mother..."

Yang Ruqing patted Yang Huamei on the shoulder: "You buy it, I buy it, it's all the same, don't be so particular, okay, you guys hurry and go."

Away from the bustle under the old maple tree, Yang Ruqing came to the front door of Lao Yang's old house at the north end of the village.

All the neighbors went to see a show, so here it seems rather deserted.

Especially when entering through the main gate of the big house, the locked doors of the rooms in the second wing, and the skylight that Chen Jinhong had knocked down the railing and hadn't had time to repair...

A sudden feeling of loneliness and rapid decay surged into Yang Ruoqing's heart.

In a daze, she remembered the past.

At that time, my uncle, second uncle, and second aunt were all still there.

Every time I pass by here, I can see my uncle putting on his air of sophistication.

He was the village's "Friend of Women", although he was quite worldly and in the family, he preferred to be a peacemaker. He even cohabited with his aunt...

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>Being alive is quite unpleasant.

But it really was gone. Over time, his annoying things gradually faded from memory.

>

There was still a trace of longing, a tinge of regret.

If everyone was here, this room would be lively! People, no matter how tough they seem, deep down, are afraid of loneliness. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Thus, lost in thought, Yang Ruqing arrived at the backyard.

The west house door was also locked, I guess everyone went to see the play.

Then sounds came from the east wing, Hong'er's crying and Tan's muttering to herself.

Yang Ruqing knew that the old woman was cursing Chen Jinhong.

Entering the east room, I saw Mrs. Tan sitting by the bed, a cradle beside her.

Hong'er was lying inside, crying.

On the side, Jin was busily scooping rice gruel into a bowl.

"Milk!"

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Yang Ruqing called out to Tan shi and hurried to the cradle.

Tan heard Yang Ruqing's voice and said, "Ruqing, come over and take a look. Hong'er woke up and has been crying non-stop. I checked his diaper, but there's no pee or poop. Maybe he's hungry or something. Can you help me take a look?"

"Okay!" Yang Ruqing replied, quickly putting down the fritters in her hand and came over to pick up Hong'er who was wrapped in a small blanket. She paced back and forth in the room, soothingly.

Jin finally finished the rice porridge and brought it over. "Let me feed you," she said.

Yang Ruqing said, holding Hong'er in one hand and a spoon in the other, she began to feed her.

Hong'er took two bites, then shook her head vigorously and cried out, refusing to eat anymore.

"Come on, Hong'er, have one more bite. You won't be hungry after this," Yang Ruoqing coaxed softly.

But the rice porridge that had just been fed to Hong'er was quickly spit out by her.

Hong'er shook her head vigorously, struggling in Yang Ruqing's arms, crying incessantly.

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"What's going on? You were eating so well the other day, what's different today?" Tan asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Could it be that the rice porridge made by Auntie has a problem?"

Yáng Ruòqíng muttered to herself, taking a sip of the rice porridge.

It's the normal taste of rice porridge, nothing unusual.

After some thought, Yang Ruqing put down her spoon and gently opened Hong'er's small mouth. She leaned in to take a closer look.

"I know where the problem lies." Yang Ruqing said.

"What's going on?" Tan asked immediately.

Yang Ruqing said: "Hong'er has blisters in her mouth, and it hurts when she eats, especially hot things hurt even more, so she resists eating."

"So that's all it is? Don't worry, I got this!"

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As she spoke, Tan turned to fumble toward the foot of the bed. In a moment, she pulled out a sewing box.

Then, she held a needle for embroidery in her hand.

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"Milk, what are you doing?" Yang Ruohua looked at the embroidery needle and asked.

"Make fire bubbles," said Tan.

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