This was a lively night for the Zhang family, one they hadn't experienced since the New Year.
The worries they had carried seemed to lift temporarily. At dinner, Zhang Cai even poured himself a few cups of wine, celebrating his son's recovery. Afterwards, they busily performed some farming duties under the oil lamp, enthusiastically discussing how to cultivate the crops after the spring, how to fertilize the newly opened field on the slope, and how to distribute the workload among the Zhang brothers - Zhang Xiaolong, Zhang Xiaohu, and Zhang Xiaolong. They seemed to be anticipating the spring plowing, their eyes full of hope.
In the flickering lamp light, no one seemed to notice Liu Qian's lonely expression.
Nor did they notice the thoughtful look in Zhang Xiaohua's eyes.
