Lexing, a soldier carrying luggage and a backpack, walked up to Lin Lan's front door. He raised his hand and knocked. "Anyone home?"
"Yes!" Little Douzi pulled back the latch. "Uncle soldier?" A moment later, he turned his head and shouted, "Grandma, Uncle is back!"
Lin Guozhu set down his duffel bag, bent over, and slid his hands under the boy's armpits. Laughing, he lifted him high into the air. "You little smarty, so clever!"
Wu Shufen ran out from the kitchen. Seeing her tall, handsome son, her eyes welled with tears of joy. "Guozhu, you're back! Your father said you weren't arriving until tomorrow!"
Lin Guozhu put Little Douzi down and stepped forward to take Wu Shufen's hands, gazing at her with deep affection. "Mom, I'm back."
His mother had gotten old. Her once-straight back was now slightly stooped, her hair had turned gray, and the corners of her eyes were etched with a fine web of wrinkles.
