After spending a good part of the morning with the Liang siblings, Xiao Man heard her Grandpa calling for her from the front yard. She said to Liang Xiuzhen, "When you have some free time, come visit me at the courtyard by the Knowledge Youth House!"
"Okay," Liang Xiuzhen agreed. "You have to come play at my house, too!"
Liang Xiuzhu took Xiao Man's hand and led her toward the front yard. They passed the main hall and stopped at the door of the east room to say goodbye to Aunt Liang, who told her, "Come over and play whenever you have time."
It was unclear what method Grandpa used, but Uncle Man Cang readily accepted his thank-you gift. It included two pounds of pork, a whole chicken, a bottle of liquor, two packs of cigarettes, a two-pound package of noodles, a bag of sweet biscuits, and a flashlight. In a rural village, this was an exceptionally generous gift.
