Xue Yue had heard from He Lang that He Nan was bringing a woman home.

"Did Big Brother really find someone?" Xue Yue asked.

He Lang chuckled softly. "Yeah. It’s good for him to start a new family. He’ll have someone to share the burden, and Mom and Dad can stop worrying. I just didn’t expect him to be so quiet about it and then suddenly drop such big news."

"Big Brother has been divorced for several years, so it’s not strange for him to remarry. I just wonder what kind of person she is... and how Ziqing and Xiao Nian will take it."

Xue Yue was thinking the same thing as Mrs. He. Her main worry was how He Ziqing and Xiao Nian would feel. They were in their teens and early twenties and had minds of their own. If they didn’t approve, given how much He Nan valued his two children, it was hard to say what would happen.

Xue Yue then remembered that He Lang had also worked at the transportation depot. "Have you ever met her? Didn’t they say she works in the depot cafeteria?"

He Lang shook his head. "I don’t recall. Maybe I just wasn’t paying attention, or perhaps she started working there after I left."

"That’s true. You did leave several years ago."

On the sixth day of the new year, He Nan arrived on his bicycle with Wang Hui Fang riding on the back.

The first time Xue Yue saw Wang Hui Fang, she thought she and He Nan made a good-looking couple.

Wang Hui Fang had a round face. She was supposedly thirty-nine, but she didn’t look it. When she smiled, two dimples appeared. She wasn’t very tall, but she was slender, so she didn’t seem particularly short either.

Mrs. He also seemed to think she was a good choice. She pulled Wang Hui Fang into the house and they began to chat.

Xue Yue followed them inside and listened as Mrs. He mostly asked about Wang Hui Fang’s past.

Wang Hui Fang was direct and not at all coy. She knew what Mrs. He wanted to ask, so she addressed it head-on.

"I married at twenty-five, which was considered quite late. It was because I have many sisters at home. After getting married, my ex-husband and I didn’t have a child for five years. My former mother-in-law found a lot of folk remedies for me, but none of them worked. Later, I went to a major hospital for a check-up, and they said my fallopian tubes were completely blocked. I don’t fully understand it, but it basically means I’ll probably never have the chance to be a mother in this life. We struggled with it for another two years before deciding to divorce so I wouldn’t hold him back. Auntie, to be honest, I only agreed to be with He Nan because I knew he had children. Since I can’t have any of my own, I don’t want this issue to cause any conflicts in the future."

In this era, having children was paramount. A woman who couldn’t conceive was bound to be treated unfairly in her marriage. It was no small feat for someone like Wang Hui Fang to not only get a divorce but also maintain such an optimistic outlook.

After hearing Wang Hui Fang’s explanation, Mrs. He felt that she was a good woman. Her heart warmed to her, and she spoke with even more enthusiasm.

He Ziqing stood to the side, holding He Ziniannian’s hand, as they quietly sized up Wang Hui Fang.

He Ziqing didn’t have any strong feelings about Wang Hui Fang. ’But Dad seems to be in a good mood,’ she thought, ’and that’s all that matters.’

As for He Ziniannian, he looked at Wang Hui Fang and thought, ’So this is what people call a stepmother. I’ve heard stepmothers hit children.’ The thought made him a little unhappy.

But his sister had told him that they weren’t little kids anymore. They couldn’t be too selfish and only think of themselves; they should also think about their father. So, he didn’t object, but he couldn’t help feeling a little downcast.

Suddenly, he heard his grandmother calling them.

"Ziqing, Xiao Nian, come over here."

He Ziqing led Xiao Nian over.

Mrs. He said to Wang Hui Fang, "This is Ziqing, and this is Xiao Nian."

Behaving very sensibly, He Ziqing called out to Wang Hui Fang, "Auntie."

Wang Hui Fang smiled at her. "I’ve heard your dad talk about you all the time. He says you’re very impressive—a university student."

He Ziqing glanced at her father and saw him watching them with a gentle expression.

He Ziqing nodded. "My dad is the impressive one. He worked so hard to raise us. We all want him to be happy. Auntie, I hope you do, too."

Wang Hui Fang was taken aback for a moment. She hadn’t expected He Ziqing to accept her so readily. Before coming, she had mentally prepared herself, fearing that He Nan’s two children would give her a hard time.

’It seems He Nan was right,’ she thought. ’The children are very sensible.’

This visit essentially served as a complete approval of Wang Hui Fang and He Nan’s relationship. The topic then turned to the wedding.

Wang Hui Fang said, "He Nan and I have already discussed it. Since this isn’t the first marriage for either of us, we won’t have a big celebration. We’ll just pick a good day to register our marriage. I don’t want a bride price or anything, and my parents feel the same way."

Mrs. He replied, "You two can make the decision on that. On the day you register, we’ll have a meal with the whole family here at home."

He Nan took Wang Hui Fang home on his bicycle, and just like that, the matter was settled.

On the seventh, Shitou and Yang Wenxiu also held a wedding celebration at their home.

They invited almost half the village.

The entire He family went.

Stone’s mother wore a deep red padded jacket, a grin plastered on her face. She kept holding Xue Yue’s hand, saying they were practically the matchmakers.

’Strictly speaking, I guess we were.’

After a full day of boisterous, festive celebration, the ceremony was considered complete.

Before Xue Yue and her family returned to Beijing, He Nan and Wang Hui Fang also registered their marriage.

The whole family was going to celebrate together, so Mrs. He went to get He Ze, thinking he ought to be told about his brother’s marriage.

Having not seen He Ze for two years, Xue Yue could no longer recognize him as the high-spirited man he once was.

He had become so thin he was practically skin and bones, with deeply sunken eye sockets. It was a little frightening.

When Ruanruan and Shiyi saw He Ze, they quickly ran to hide behind Xue Yue.

As soon as He Ze arrived, everyone fell silent.

Mr. He frowned at him. "Are you sick or something? How did you end up looking like this? If you’re sick, we need to get you treated right away."

He Ze’s expression stiffened at his words.

"I’m not sick," he said, his voice low and hoarse.

"Not sick? You’ve worn yourself down to this ghostly state. You’re a grown man, can’t you get your act together?" Mr. He’s words were harsh.

Mrs. He cut in. "Second Son, is there something wrong with your health? We shouldn’t hide an illness and avoid the doctor. If you’re sick, you should see one as soon as possible."

He Ze grew impatient. "I said I’m not sick. Are you ever going to stop? If you can’t stand the sight of me, I’ll just leave."

At his words, everyone frowned.

Gao Cuiyun had only glanced at He Ze when he first walked in. Seeing him in this state, she had felt a flicker of surprise. She hadn’t seen him in a long time. Although they lived in the same village, their houses were far apart, and she never ran into him during work.

But whether He Ze was doing well or not had nothing to do with her anymore.

Little Chen squinted at He Ze, curious about his current condition, but he also felt a sense of satisfaction.

He Nan stood up and said to He Ze, "Second Brother, what are you saying? Mom and Dad are just concerned about you. Since you’re not sick, just sit down. I registered my marriage today. I asked you to come so you could meet someone."

He Ze glanced at Wang Hui Fang, who was sitting next to He Nan. He didn’t speak, but he didn’t say he was leaving either.

He Nan and Wang Hui Fang both worked in town. They planned to buy a house there and have He Ziniannian attend school in town as well.

This way, once Mr. and Mrs. He eventually left, only the second son’s family would remain in the village.