From now on, she was Yang Peimin.
She silently encouraged herself.
Yang Peimin carefully dressed herself, although the style wasn't flattering, it was clean without any patches and still warm; she felt no dissatisfaction and was even relieved it wasn't the attire from the sixties.
Following her memory, she found the mirror in the makeup trunk, thinking of her sister Yang Peiying's appearance, she had little expectation for her own looks. She immediately felt dejected, though in her memory Yang Peimin was known in the village as a beautiful girl. However, each era had its own beauty standards and thinking of this, she became somewhat unwilling to look in the mirror.
Although the room was dimly lit since the windows were closed, she could still clearly see her sister's ordinary appearance—dark skin, small eyes, low nose, and thick lips. Strictly speaking, that should be considered ugly. Even if there's a gap, sisters born of the same mother couldn't be that different, right?
Finally, she still picked up the mirror, and when she saw the person inside, Yang Peimin took a deep breath of relief. This was a great beauty!
An oval face, large eyes like lacquer, a handsome nose, and lips like flower petals—it was still her appearance from her past life!
She suddenly felt tears welling up in her eyes.
How wonderful!
Feeling relieved, she combed her hair neatly and braided two hanging shoulder-length plaits.
Then she slowly walked out of the room.
"Hey, Minmin, why did you get up? Are you hungry?"
Outside the room in a large courtyard, Zhang Minghua was airing out some wet shoes and socks. She looked up and saw her elder daughter's frail figure, hurriedly straightened up and walked over, compassionately supporting her arm, "Go back and lie down, I'll bring your meal to you in a bit."
Yang Peimin's heart warmed, and she affectionately called out, "Mother."
Zhang Minghua smiled in response, "Seeing your spirits up like this, you must be feeling much better."
Yang Peimin's first sight in this world might have triggered a legendary kind of baby bird imprinting; she felt a deep kinship with Zhang Minghua from the bottom of her heart.
She hugged her mother's arm, "Where are you going, Mother? I've missed you so much! And I'm much better now, I can come out to eat."
This charming gesture of her younger daughter delighted Zhang Minghua, who replied with a smile, squinting her eyes, "Okay, okay, if you want to come out to eat, then come out." She then touched the ball-like back of her clothing, still worried, "Aren't you cold in that? Why haven't you tied your scarf? Where is your hat? Quickly go back in and dress warmly before coming out."
It was now the end of the year, the season of the twelfth lunar month. It had just snowed that very morning, and even though the midday sun was shining directly down, it was still very cold outside.
Zhang Minghua pulled Yang Peimin back into the room, fetched her scarf and hat, tenderly dressed her, and added an extra garment before nodding in approval.
At the dining table, aside from the second brother and his wife not being there, everyone else was present, including the two daughters from the eldest brother's family who were sitting properly on the long bench, quietly eating their meal.
"Is Minmin getting better?" the family head Yang Dahai carefully examined Yang Peimin's complexion. Apart from still being a bit pale, it was much better than the lifeless, pale mixture of yesterday. Still worried, he said, "If your body hasn't fully recovered, don't come out. Stay warm on the kang (heated bed), and have your sister bring your meal. Today's weather is still very cold; it would be trouble if you caught a cold again."
Yang PeiMin's father, Yang Dahai, was the team leader of the production brigade, an honest and upright man who wore a stern expression all year round. His children, to some extent, feared him for he was a true strict father. His sons had not been spared from beatings during their childhood, and only the younger daughters could occasionally see his gentler side, and even more so in the presence of his chronically weak eldest daughter, to whom he spoke more.
Yang PeiMin smiled at Yang Dahai and said, "Dad, I'm feeling much better. It's been a long time since I've had a meal with the family. I thought I wouldn't make it this time."
Yang Minghua's eyes reddened as she stroked her back and said, "Minmin has suffered a lot."
Her third brother, Yang Peijun, also sighed, "You were unconscious for three days, as if snatched back from the King of Hell. Let's see if you dare go to the riverbank again!"
"Right, what were you doing at the riverbank that day?"
"Enough, let's eat. Where are all these questions coming from? Minmin is starving." Zhang Minghua interrupted her youngest son, continually placing lumps of noodle soup in front of Yang PeiMin and also placing two boiled eggs beside her.
Yang PeiMin couldn't help but stealthily glance at Zhang Minghua's expression. Was her birth mother simply distressed that she was hungry, or did she know about her situation with Xu Min?
Everybody else was eating sweet potato rice, accompanied by pickles and a plate of potato stewed with vegetable strips on the table, devoid of any meat. As for Yang PeiMin's special treatment, Zhang Minghua casually explained, "Minmin is still not fully recovered, she needs to be taken good care of."
No one found it strange anymore. Even if this younger sister wasn't ill, she usually had an egg every three or five days. She was a premature baby and had been frail and ill since childhood. Zhang Minghua and her husband were particularly sympathetic towards her. Whenever there were good things in the house, they were saved for her first. The other children, though they craved what she had, understood. After all, most of the siblings were robust, only their prematurely born sister was frail, as if a gust of wind could knock her over.
However, Yang PeiMin felt somewhat embarrassed. Among those present were three younger than her, including Yang Peiguo's two daughters. The five-year-old called Da Niu was probably taught by adults, as she quietly ate her own meal without glancing towards her aunt's bowl. It was only Xiao Niu, who was just over two years old, who showed a child's typical longing and stared wide-eyed at Yang PeiMin's bowl but remained quiet, likely disciplined by her parents and very sensible.
Seeing this made Yang PeiMin's heart ache. She smiled at Zhang Minghua and said, "Mom, I can't eat this much. Let's share some of the noodle lumps with Da Niu and Xiao Niu."
Before Zhang Minghua could speak, Yang PeiMin's sister-in-law Jiang Erni hurriedly raised her head and said, "No need, no need. Minmin, you go ahead and eat. You're still not well."
"Sister, I really can't eat so much, maybe it's because I just woke up and don't have much of an appetite. Da Niu and Xiao Niu are at the age where they are growing. Let them have it."
Jiang Erni wiped her hands with a bit of uncertainty, reluctant to face her mother-in-law, "Mom, really, let Minmin eat."
"Our Minmin, always giving, take it from her then. Da Niu and Xiao Niu are also my grandchildren. How can I not care for them? But everyone knows our family circumstances. The second son's household is still at the health clinic. Your sister almost lost her life to this illness; if she doesn't recover well, she might suffer lifelong consequences."
"Mother, we all know and are content with what we have now compared to before," said the eldest brother Yang Peiguo, showing understanding.
Yang PeiMin took the bowls of Da Niu and Xiao Niu and poured half of her bowl into each of theirs. Her own bowl still held half, and she peeled the two eggs and split one between the two sisters.
Everyone was astonished; this generosity was unlike Yang PeiMin's usual demeanor—who before would not share even if she couldn't finish.
Yang Dahai nodded approvingly, "Minmin seems to have become sensible."
Yang Peijun chuckled twice and, under Zhang Minghua's glare, bowed his head and quietly continued eating.
Yang PeiMin turned to Zhang Minghua and said, "Mom, this is enough for me."
Zhang Minghua touched her hair and smiled too, "Indeed, you have become sensible."