Grandma let out another laugh, just like before. It was a crisp, hearty sound, full of life and even a little playful. If you couldn't see her, it would be hard to believe the laugh belonged to a woman nearly sixty years old.
Grandpa turned to look at Xiao Man, his expression a mixture of shock and delight. 'This child, Xiao Man,' he thought. 'Her origins are a mystery, and I worry someone might come looking for her one day. But she's a real treasure. The old lady hasn't laughed like this in years!'
'Ah, who cares! It's rare for the old lady to like someone this much. She dotes on Xiao Man so, and Xiao Man seems like a genuinely good and filial child. Even if her real parents find her someday, as long as she remembers the old lady's kindness, thinks of her from time to time, and comes back for a visit when she's free, it'll all be worth it!'
Lost in these thoughts, Grandpa chuckled and said to Xiao Man, "Get into university for Grandpa and Grandma—you said it yourself, and Grandpa's not going to forget! Our village still doesn't have a student who's gotten into university on their own, especially not a girl. If you can pull it off, Grandpa will work himself to the bone to throw a banquet for the whole village for three days and three nights, just like the feasts people have for weddings and the birth of a son!"
Grandma and Xiao Man both laughed. In her past life, after the 1980s, the number of young people from Gongdao Village who got into university had grown steadily. At first, people didn't think to hold celebratory banquets, but by the mid-eighties, some families really did send out invitations and host parties as grand as wedding receptions for a child's university acceptance. To think that Grandpa would bring up such a forward-thinking idea now!
Xiao Man teased, "Grandpa, you'd have to work yourself to the bone just to host a three-day banquet? Does it cost that much money?"
"Of course it does! We'd have to slaughter pigs and sheep! You think just one or two would be enough? Our village is so big, with so many people, that's nowhere near enough! If Grandpa's hosting, it's got to be a proper feast. I want everyone to eat their fill. Eighteen dishes on every table, and we'll keep bringing more when they're empty. We won't stop until everyone's stuffed. It doesn't count if there's any food or wine left over!"
Xiao Man clapped her hands and laughed. "Grandpa, showing off your wealth like that... doesn't it make you sound a bit like one of those old rich landlords?"
"My granddaughter is going to get into university! So what if I act like a rich landlord for once?"
Grandma chided playfully, "Rich landlords aren't as wasteful as you two. That sounds more like the way bandits behave!"
The three of them burst into laughter again. In those years, especially in rural China, "rich landlord" was still a derogatory term used as an insult. For Grandpa and Grandma to use it so casually about themselves without finding anything wrong with it was rather unusual.
Xiao Man rearranged some things in the cart that had been jostled out of place. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she said to Grandpa, "We spent all our money today, so there's nothing left for my tuition. Maybe I should just skip school this year?"
Grandpa smiled. "You don't need to worry about that. Grandpa still has a little money here, enough for your tuition. Besides, I've already prepared another batch of herbs. I'll take them to Wancheng to sell in a few days. That'll bring in some more money. We'll save it up, and it'll grow. By the time you get into university, we won't have to worry about tuition at all!"
Xiao Man's face scrunched up. 'Do I really have to go through elementary school again?!'
"Grandpa, can you take me with you next time you go gather herbs?"
"No! The places Grandpa goes to gather herbs aren't like the slopes where you kids cut firewood and grass. They're steep cliffs or deep ravines. The cliffs are dangerous, and the ravines are crawling with snakes and bugs. You can't go!"
"Then aren't you afraid of the danger, Grandpa?"
"Grandpa's used to it, and I'm always careful. It's fine!"
"Grandpa, from now on, you have to be extra, extra careful! Don't climb cliffs that are too high, and stay out of the deep ravines! Just gathering common herbs is fine. We have a nice house to live in now, and we can add more things to it slowly. We don't need a lot of money right away... I'll definitely study hard! I heard people say that after middle school, if you can get into the regional high school's ethnic minority class, the tuition is completely free! And after three years of high school, if you get into a university, you become a state-supported student. Not only is there no tuition, but the state even gives you a monthly food stipend! As long as you and Grandma stay healthy and live long lives, once I graduate and start working and earning a salary, you won't have to work so hard anymore. You can just relax and enjoy life!"
Grandma reached out and pulled Xiao Man into her arms. Her eyes misted over and her lips trembled as she called out to Grandpa, "Old man, I've told you so many times, but you never listen! Now, did you hear that? Did you hear what the child said? We don't need a lot of money, we just need you to stay alive! We can be poor, we can endure hardship, as long as our family is together! One day... when the child is grown, things will get better!"
"Okay! Okay! I know, I know!" Grandpa was most afraid of seeing Grandma cry, so he hastily agreed. "I'll listen to you both. I won't climb high cliffs or go into deep ravines anymore! I'll just look for common herbs. The price is lower, but if I gather enough, it'll still add up!"
Grandma's tears dripped onto Xiao Man's face. She let out a soft sob and said, "It doesn't matter if they're cheaper, as long as it's enough to get by. Don't trade your life for those expensive ones anymore! All I want is for our family to be safe and sound, living a simple, peaceful life. I can't bear it when you're gone for days and nights in the mountains... When you're not home, I can't rest easy. Do you know that?"
"I know, I know..." Grandpa looked at Grandma sadly, agreeing automatically.
"If you know, then why do you keep doing it?"
"I won't do it again, I promise! Ayue, please don't cry!"
As Grandpa spoke, he cast a pleading look at Xiao Man, who was held tightly in Grandma's embrace. Xiao Man's lively eyes darted around, and she feigned surprise, lowering her voice. "Grandma! My grandpa just called out someone else's name! Who's Ayue? Ayue, Ayue..."
With a snort, Granny Mo laughed through her tears and gently patted Xiao Man on the back. "You silly child. Your grandpa is an old man, who else would he dare to call out to? He was calling me!"
"Oh, so Grandma's name is Ayue? That's a pretty name! Hehe!"
"Hahaha..."
"Giggle, giggle..."
The laughter that had briefly vanished rang out once more. At the front, the old ox held its head high, plodding along at a steady pace, indifferent to the joyful sounds filling the cart behind it. In any case, it could pull the load just fine!