Chapter 40: Returning Home

  It wasn't until the next day that Song Jie was woken up by a burst of "Know it, know it" shouts.

  She was kept awake by the noise and felt that the cries were right next to her ear. She got up, put on her clothes, and followed the sound out.

  The cry came from inside the house, and Song Jie was slightly startled.

  She walked to where Gai Zhi had gone yesterday, and the sound was coming from under the sieve. Song Jie was stunned, this...this is already transformed...

  She gently stretched out two fingers to lift up one side of the sieve, and suddenly a cicada ran out from the gap, flying around in the room with a buzzing sound. Song Jie hastily put down the sieve and covered it tightly.

  She quickly turned around to catch the cicada that had already transformed, but the cicada was very clever and flew wildly around the room. She couldn't catch it no matter what, and in a short while, she herself transformed into a small flower cat.

  At this time, Little Swallow opened the locked big door and walked in. She saw Song Jie busy here, and only then did she know that it was a cicada shell that had changed.

  Then the little swallow popularized scientific knowledge to her. Generally, a cicada will transform into an adult overnight after molting. Fried cicadas are also delicious. If you want to prevent them from flying, just pinch off their wings. If you find them too noisy, there is a vocal cord above the abdomen of the cicada, pinching it will make it stop calling.

  Song Jie listened to it with a puzzled and divine expression, but the child who didn't understand popular science was hurt by Ai.

  Next, under the siege of two little brats, the cicada finally fell. It was used as a specimen by Little Swallow to enlighten Song Jie.

  By noon, Aunt Li fried the cicadas in oil and then sprinkled a handful of salt on them, making a dish that was served at the table.

  Song Jie was initially too afraid to eat, and didn't know what to do, refusing to put anything in her mouth. But seeing the people at the table one by one eating voraciously, she couldn't sit still anymore, picked up a scallion pancake with her chopsticks, closed her eyes, and stuffed it into her mouth.

  A salty, fresh and crispy taste burst in the mouth, but after chewing carefully for a few times, it was found to be very chewy, the taste is really good, Song Jie also joined the ranks of eating vigorously.

  The sweltering summer was the best playground for kids, Song Jie felt countless joys here, and truly wished that time would forever stay in this wonderful moment, never moving forward.

  When she was alone, Song Jie would think of Zhao Juan, wondering how she was doing after returning home, whether her grandfather had forgiven her, and how her exams went.

  Sometimes when she thought about it, Song Jie felt a little ridiculous. It seemed like the situation had been reversed - as if she were the mother and Zhao Juan was the daughter, with endless worries to attend to every day.

  At this time, Zhao Juan was also thinking of her daughter. She had been away from home for so many days and didn't know how Nini was doing or if she had fallen ill, or if she was eating well.

  For the first time back to her home after a long absence, she was also nervous. Zhao Juan knew that her departure had caused great harm to her father at that time, and he never forgave her.

  Back home, the older brother had already gotten married and moved out, leaving only the younger brother and parents living in a small siheyuan. Although the father was cold towards her, she could still feel warmth from his eyes.

  At this time, Zhao Juan knew that her father had actually forgiven her long ago, but just couldn't save face. So she took the initiative a bit more, and indeed under her coquettish and spoiled behavior, her father was also unable to resist, and the two made up as before.

  The older brother has become more distant from her, and the sister-in-law he married is not easy to get along with. Sister-in-law Li Li's family conditions are good, she proposed buying a house outside and living separately with the older brother.

  Normally doesn't ask about parents, as if they had separated. Even Zhao Juan living at home was secretly given countless white eyes by her sister-in-law, as if looking at a burden.

  Zhao Juan is not a soft persimmon either, the pride and arrogance she had at first still remains. She really wants to just forget about taking the exam and come back home, where she will definitely be looked down upon by her sister-in-law. The two of them also don't get along well, and she has a young daughter to take care of, who will surely suffer as a result. It's better for her to bring up the child on her own in the village and live a comfortable life.

  She saw her parents' white hair and couldn't bear to say it, having been unfilial for so many years, and was about to leave again. Her parents must be worried, and the heart she left behind became even more determined.

  After finishing the exam at the end of June, Zhao Juan ignored her parents' persuasion and insisted on hurrying back to take care of her daughter. Her mother and others couldn't persuade her to stay, so they let their daughter return to Xiaozhang Village.

  When they were about to leave, Zhao Jie's family gave her a big package with new clothes and toys for Song Jie, as well as a lot of delicious food and gifts for the neighbors. The huge package was almost half as tall as a person, making Zhao Jie break out in cold sweat.

  Zhao Juan insisted on leaving half behind, and her mother was just as stubborn. The two of them argued over such a small thing and wouldn't let go, to the point where others might have thought Zhao Juan would never come back again.

  Zhao Juan had no choice but to state the facts and reason that she would be back in two months, so it was too much trouble to move all these things back and forth.

  Finally, Mr. Zhao made a decisive blow and cut off half of the luggage, and only then did Zhao Juan breathe a sigh of relief, but Mrs. Zhao was unhappy for a long time.

  Actually, Zhao Juan didn't have much confidence in this exam either, everything depends on luck now. She said that just to make her parents less worried. She knew how much her parents hoped she would come back home, so naturally she couldn't say anything discouraging.

  It was time to leave, and Zhao's mother and Zhao Tong escorted their daughter all the way to the train station, but Zhao's father did not show up.

  Before leaving, Zhao's mother said to her daughter: "Juan'er, don't blame your father. He can't bear the scene of parting and doesn't want to see you leave. You take care." After finishing speaking, she became teary-eyed.

  Zhao Juan listened and tears came down too. For a moment, she was so choked with sobs that she couldn't speak, only knowing to nod vigorously, even Zhao Tong's eyes were red beside her.

  Reluctant to part with her mother and brother, Zhao Juan boarded a train heading southeast.

  Zhao Juan returned at this time without greeting anyone, and even Li Shu and others didn't know the specific news, let alone Song Jie who was still young.

  On the way back, Song Jie was still catching loaches in the river. She rolled up her pants and chased after them with Xiao Yan'er, finally managing to catch one that was as thick as two fingers and a foot and a half long.

  Although the loach is big, it's also very agile and slippery. If you don't catch it, let it go. The two little ones were determined to catch it, swearing an oath that they would definitely catch it.

  Two people were splashed from head to toe, their clothes soaked through, and their faces smeared with mud, as if they had been rolling around in the mud.

  Zhao Juan put away the luggage and came out to find her daughter, only to see this scene.

  Seeing her dark-skinned daughter who looked like a green onion, she couldn't believe it. She hesitantly called out: "Nini?"

  Song Jie's ears were very useful, and she immediately heard it. She looked up and saw "Mom" and flew over to hug her.

  Zhao Juan hugged her tightly in her arms and even spun around twice. It was only then that she realized her daughter had gained weight.