Zhao Lianmai returned home.
Her home was nestled in a corner of the village, an old tile-roofed house with a perimeter wall made of bricks and yellow mud piled up haphazardly.
The wooden gate, which had seen many years, creaked at the slightest gust of wind and hardly served any protective purpose.
"Woof woof!"
A small yellow dog poking its head out of a hole it had dug beneath the clay door, barked twice upon hearing footsteps.
Once it saw who it was, it immediately began wagging its head and tails, squeezing through the door seam and bouncing around excitedly at Zhao Lianmai's feet.
Zhao Lianmai patted the dog's head and opened the house door.
The yard contained three simple rooms, all quite old; firewood was piled up in the yard, which also housed a few chickens and ducks.
Although rustic, it was very tidy.
"Sister's back!"
Zhao Lianmai's sister, hearing the noise, crawled out from the cellar and ran over joyfully.
