C10 I Am Going to be a Human Again

Inside the house, Xia Churan stood at the stove's entrance, getting ready to light a fire for cooking. Winter brought early darkness, and the dim glow of the oil lamp did little to illuminate the space. To take advantage of the remaining daylight, they typically began preparing dinner around five o'clock.

Despite their efforts, the kitchen remained somewhat gloomy. Tang Jin glanced around before heading to the living room to install the light bulb he had purchased that morning. Although electricity had reached every home, the cost was high, so many in the village still relied on oil lamps. With the flick of a switch, the electric light bathed the room in a bright glow.

Xia Churan couldn't help but wince at the sight. "It's still bright outside. Let's turn it off; it's such a waste of electricity!"

"It's okay!" Tang Jin said with a smile. "Using a bit of electricity is nothing. It would be a real loss if you cut yourself chopping vegetables in poor lighting!"

The dough was ready, and Tang Jin found a spot next to her to help roll out the dough. Xia Churan was torn between laughter and tears at his comment. She wasn't clumsy enough to cut herself while chopping.

Together, they kneaded the dough, cut it into pieces, rolled out the skins, and filled them. Soon, they had a pile of plump, white dumplings. Their teamwork was seamless, and in just half an hour, they had prepared dozens!

They cooked half of the dumplings and planned to take the rest to their parents the next day. Just before serving the fragrant dumplings, they sprinkled them with green onions and a pinch of salt. Even without a wide array of spices, the flavor was unspeakably delicious.

The family of three devoured every last bite, savoring the meal until even the soup was gone. As they finished eating, they heard Ergou's voice from outside.

"Jin, Jin, are you home?"

Ergou was calling out as he came to return the small cart. Tang Jin hurried outside to greet him.

"I'm here. How did it go? Has your wife had the baby?"

He took the cart, setting it aside, and ushered Ergou inside for a well-deserved rest.

"She has! A big, healthy boy, born just after five this afternoon!" Ergou's face beamed with joy.

He was the same age as Tang Jin, just a few months his junior. With Tang Jin's child already five years old, and him only now cradling his newborn son, his excitement was understandable.

"The second day of the new year really is a lucky one!"

Tang Jin responded with a smile and refilled his glass with water.

That's when Ergou noticed how unusually bright Tang Jin's house was. Looking up, he was astonished to see an electric light. His surprise grew as he glanced to the side and spotted a plate of Eight Treasures Candy on the table. My goodness! Those candies were now costing two to three yuan per jin, pricier than meat!

The entire village was aware of the financial struggles at Tang Jin's house; they could barely afford meals, let alone sweets and light bulbs. Ergou's curiosity was piqued, but he knew it was a personal matter. Besides, Tang Jin had just lent him a small cart that afternoon, making it awkward to inquire further. He simply accepted the water and steered the conversation elsewhere.

"By the way, Jin, that small cart you have—how did you make it? Do you have any more? Could I buy one from you?"

"You're right, that cart is incredibly handy. It was a lifesaver today! Having one of my own would make transporting grain and fertilizer so much easier," Ergou remarked. His family was well-off, with both parents still around, and he was known to be reliable.

He was genuinely interested in purchasing one.

"I have one, but you'll need to wait a couple of days. I'll make a new one just for you!"

"Great! Just let me know when it's ready, and I'll come to pick it up."

Ergou finished the water from the ceramic jar and prepared to head home. As he was leaving, Xia Churan, busy tidying up the kitchen, overheard the news about Ergou's wife giving birth. She quickly sliced half a kilo of meat and grabbed a handful of Eight Treasures Candy, insisting Ergou take it with him.

"Sister Yu is still in confinement, so I won't visit just yet. Please take this as a gesture from Jin and me."

"Sister Yu has often brought us food over the years; I haven't forgotten a single kindness."

Yuh Hua, Ergou's wife, just like Xia Churan, had married into the family from elsewhere. Yuh Hua often brought food from her own home for Xia Churan, especially when Xia Churan was struggling to keep up with nutrition after giving birth to Tang Tang. She even secretly took several eggs from her own chicken coop to help out Xia Churan. Xia Churan hadn't forgotten these kindnesses.

Now that Yuh Hua had a child, and their family's situation had improved, Xia Churan felt it was time to reciprocate the generosity.

Ergou accepted the gifts somewhat bewilderedly. Xia Churan had made her point clear, and he knew his wife was close with Xia Churan, making it hard to refuse the gesture. He could only express his thanks and head back home with a bag full of items.

...

Ergou's parents had gone to visit relatives for the New Year, leaving just Ergou, his wife, and their newborn at home. As Ergou walked in with his arms full, Yuh Hua spotted him from the bed.

Surprised by the items he was carrying, Yuh Hua exclaimed, "Weren't you at Tang Jin's house to return the cart? Where did all this come from?" It wasn't possible for him to have gone to town to buy these things so quickly!

Ergou set everything on the table and handed a couple of candies to Yuh Hua. He then sat down at the foot of the bed, lit his pipe, and after taking a draw, he began to explain.

"You might find this hard to believe, but this meat and these candies were given to me by Jin's wife!"

"Churan!" Yuh Hua's eyes went wide, her voice rising dramatically, startling the sleeping baby beside them.

She hurried to soothe the child, gently patting his back while trying to keep her voice down, though her astonishment was evident. "How could that be possible? With their circumstances, how could they afford to..."

"That's why I thought you might not believe it, but it's true, they were from his wife!" Ergou took another puff of his pipe, snuffed it out, and continued. "And when I went to return the cart, I sat down in their house, and you wouldn't believe it—they've installed electric lights! There was even a plate of candies on the table!"

"Wow, I even doubted my own eyes back then, but today, when I heard Jin speak, something seemed off. It was as if he had changed. And his wife's attitude toward him has improved significantly!"

"Do you think Jin is ready to turn over a new leaf and start anew?"

Ergou asked, puzzled.

Yuh Hua slightly furrowed her brow upon hearing this.

She thought back to the hard times Xia Churan had endured over the last five years and let out a deep sigh.

"Well, let's hope he's truly changed for the better..."