Zhaodi stayed outside until late at night, and nobody came out to look for her. Mosquitoes buzzed incessantly around her, leaving her body covered with large red welts.
After considering her options, she realized she had nowhere else to go. With resentment weighing heavily in her heart, she returned home. She quickly washed up with water from the well in the yard and then silently slipped back into her room to lie down on the bed.
Zhao Xiaojuan, who had been fighting off sleep, finally relaxed: It was good that she had come back.
*
"Lazy pig, get up and come eat," Su Wanyu called out, carrying steaming pork buns and porridge from the kitchen to Jiang Mianmian, who had just walked out of the room.
"Mom, where's dad?" Jiang Mianmian, who had just woken up, was still a bit drowsy.
"Don't you see what time it is? Your dad went to work a long time ago. Li Lan and Wang Li will be arriving soon if you don't hurry."