On the second day of the Lunar New Year, urged on by his two children's constant pestering, He Lang went to He Yun's home in town to pick up Daya.
The Liu Family probably didn't expect He Lang to come at this time. Aside from Liu Jian Country's younger brother and sister-in-law who had gone to visit her family today, everyone else was in the house, cracking melon seeds.
Seeing He Lang enter, He Yun stood up. "What are you doing here?"
He Lang entered the house but didn't see Daya. He scanned his surroundings. "Where's Daya?"
He Yun gave a light cough and called out twice, "Daya—! Daya."
Daya came out of the kitchen, her hands still stained with grime.
He Lang froze for a moment when he saw Daya. He hadn't seen her for just a few days, but she looked completely different. Her hair was a mess, and she was wearing a thin, blackened cotton jacket that looked like someone else's hand-me-down. The little girl's face was flushed, and she was trembling all over.
