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After dinner, the two families enjoyed the cool evening air in the yard. Anna and Eva shared their snacks with the little girl, Katyusha, who was delighted by the sweet citrus flavor of Wang Wang Milk. Her eyes lit up as she exclaimed, "This is really good!"
Eva playfully rubbed Katyusha's cheek and said, "You are so cute!"
Katyusha replied, "Sister Eva, you are beautiful too."
Seeing his daughter fitting in so well, Andreev pondered for a moment before asking, "Katyusha, when autumn comes, will your dad send you to school?"
Katyusha's smile instantly faded as she lowered her head and slowly shook it while holding onto her can. "I don't want to go."
Andreev rubbed his face and grimaced, "If you don’t want to go, then you don’t have to."
The next morning, Ivan left for Irkutsk, taking Andreev's little girl with him. Since she was of age for preschool, she needed to stay in the city. Xu Li and Andrei would help Andreev renovate his house after finishing their farm chores and also assist in reclaiming farmland.
While they were busy, a phone call came in. Xu Li turned to Andrei with a grin. "Looks like we have more visitors coming."
Andrei tried the switch and thought for a moment. "Those workers?"
"Yes, three families are coming; they have a lot of people at home."
"Then let’s go pick them up together."
After saying that, Andrei continued working while Xu Li shrugged and handed a screw to Father-in-law. Four households didn’t sound like many, but they could certainly lend a hand. Even children as young as seven or eight knew how to help plant potatoes, not to mention those in their teens.
Aside from the elderly Ji Da and the children who needed preschool, the rest of the families came with Peter to this remote village. Along with them were three other households, each with several children.
Their arrival brought much liveliness to the quiet village. The older kids helped their elders repair houses while the younger ones followed Anna and Eva around because they had endless snacks and adorable teddy bears to play with.
With more children around, the twins were especially happy; finally, there were playmates instead of just spending all day at home with the chubby ball.
The night before the children headed to town, everyone in the village gathered at Andreev's yard for a feast. The sounds of laughter from the children made the old grandpas and grandmas smile widely. Andrei raised his glass and toasted, "To our future happiness! Cheers!"
Cheers echoed back.
The adults drank vodka while the children enjoyed juice. Everyone chatted and laughed over dinner. Peter and Andreev hit it off well since they were neighbors. The other three households lived elsewhere in the village where elderly couples or single seniors resided, providing mutual support.
The next morning, they sent the children off to Bratsk before taking a train to Irkutsk. Naturally, parents were there to greet them at the station. After dropping off the kids, Xu Li and Peter strolled through the local farmers' market, buying plenty of fruits and daily necessities.
By afternoon, three vehicles returned to the village where Andreev, Valery, and Kolechkin took care of the ranch. With strong laborers on hand, things were different; once they organized everything properly, they drove their tractor into the woods to cut timber in preparation for winter storage.
As dusk approached in the yard, Xu Li noticed two Misha dogs running over with their long tongues lolling out. Looking at them with amusement, she remarked, "You two are bears, not dogs!"
Xiong Er's voice was a bit childish. "But Brother Da Hei said we should be like this."
Da Hei and Xu Li were preparing for a confrontation, with Xu Li brandishing a tractor's axe, feeling quite proud. But Da Hei, upon seeing this, rolled his eyes and retreated to his doghouse. "Don't blame me for this!"
He kicked the doghouse in frustration and then patted the heads of the two Mishas. "Go!"
The two Little Guys, perhaps due to their poor diet, were already nearly the same size as Da Hei despite being under a year old. They followed Xu Li into the house, looking pitiful as they lay by the sofa, allowing the two women to come and go.
A warm home with a wife and children is every man's ultimate dream, while having both on his arms is the aspiration of many.
Time flows like a silent river, quietly passing by without pause. It takes away our youth and leaves traces of the years behind. It slips through our fingers and vanishes from our sight, yet it leaves deep imprints in our hearts.
Time is like a double-edged sword; it can bring us joy and happiness but also pain and sorrow. It allows us to experience the beauty of life while reminding us of its fragility. It can help us grow but also lead us to age.
Thirteen years can change so much. Now, only a little over ten elders remain in Lao Yi's generation; those who are left are either gone or have moved to the city to enjoy their twilight years. The village now has over twenty households, mostly newcomers who have come to know Andreev and Peter.
The ranch has undergone two renovations; now it is filled with herds of cattle and sheep, along with dozens of fine horses. Two large creatures leisurely walked across the grass as Anna and Eva rode on Xiong Da and Xiong Er, chatting and laughing on their way home.
Time has not left any marks on them; as mothers of three children, they have only gained a bit more fullness compared to their youthful days. Their skin remains tender, and their faces carry a mature charm.
By the small river on the west side of the ranch, Xu Li lay bare-chested on a sun lounger fishing. Next to him was a small table holding tea cups, cigarettes, and watermelon. Several Slavic men were nearby—some vacationers like Ivan and Vasily, along with some idle men from the village.
"Dad! Dad!" Old Liu cried out with a mournful face as he rushed over with his phone in hand. The Little Guy was already eleven years old, tall and thin with a big frame; his face had inherited Eva's features. Seeing his tearful expression, Xu Li frowned. "What’s wrong?"
"I... I..." The Little Guy's tears flowed freely. Ivan tossed his fishing rod onto the rack and pulled him over. "Who bullied you? Tell Uncle; I'll make sure he gets locked up."
"Sniff... I got dumped, Uncle."
Ivan's shoulders twitched as he quickly suppressed his laughter. "Why?"
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