Chapter 262: On the Twenty-ninth Day of the Final Month of the Old

On the twenty-ninth day of the final month of the old calendar, Grace Cooper and Henry Cooper returned home with their three children, weary from the journey but brimming with excitement. Their two vintage bicycles were laden with New Year's provisions, while the children squeezed onto the back seats, their cheeks flushed from the cold yet glowing with joy at being home.

Elena Ward nearly remarked on the excess of their belongings but bit back her words, remembering her younger sister's advice. As long as Grace was happy, what did it matter? She wasn’t the type to be wasteful.

"Big sis, I didn’t buy all this," Grace said, reading her sister’s thoughts. "Factory Manager Green insisted on giving them to me. When he heard Elena was back, he prepared these gifts. I couldn’t refuse—it was his kindness..."

Elena frowned slightly. "Such generous gifts—how will we repay them?" She worried her sister might feel indebted at work.

Elena smiled and linked arms with Grace. "Don’t worry, sis. The manager values my medical skills and wants to build goodwill. Later, we can send some of our homemade specialties back with Grace."

Grace’s expression darkened as she remembered something. "But it’s strange—William still hasn’t returned, and it’s already the twenty-ninth. Henry is frantic. Could you ask around when you go back?"

Elena found it odd too. William wasn’t the type to neglect his family—why hadn’t he even sent a letter? Everyone longed to return home for the New Year.

"I’ll look into it as soon as I’m back. You should also ask the folks from your factory—he must know someone there," Elena reassured her.

Elena brought out the prepared offering basket. According to their hometown tradition, the twenty-ninth was the day to visit their parents’ graves. The four siblings walked silently toward the back hill, their footprints marking the snow-covered path.

Kneeling before her adoptive parents’ graves, Elena bowed deeply three times. Their kindness had been as vast as the mountains and as deep as the sea. She lit incense, watching as the smoke curled upward.

Mom, Dad... we’re all doing well... she whispered in her heart. In the next life, I’d still want to be your daughter...

Meanwhile, at The Stone family villa.

Adrian Stone descended the stairs briskly, dressed in an olive-green military shirt. Today was the family reunion, but he had arrived too late the night before to see anyone.

"Dad, I’m back," he said, taking a seat at the dining table and biting into a fried dough stick.

Aunt Nancy hurried over with a bowl of soy milk. "Adrian, there’s also sweet bean porridge..."

"Your sweet bean porridge is the best," Adrian said, making the elderly woman beam with delight.

He greeted his eldest brother, Marcus Stone, his sister-in-law, and his younger brother, Owen Stone, pointedly ignoring his stepmother, Sylvia Stone, who sat beside their father.

"Second Brother, why aren’t you greeting Mom?" Owen Stone frowned. Raised by Sylvia, he couldn’t stand any disrespect toward her.

Sylvia waved a hand, her smile gentle. "No need for formalities among family. Adrian, how long can you stay this time?"

"Returning to base on the fourth," Adrian replied flatly, his expression unreadable.

Nathaniel Stone set down his newspaper and fixed his second son with a stern look. "You’re not getting any younger. Your mother has arranged meetings with a few young women—take these days to see them."

Adrian’s grip on his chopsticks tightened slightly. So, this was his stepmother’s scheme. He glanced at his father, then at Sylvia’s unchanging smile, a cold smirk forming in his heart.

Beneath the surface of this family gathering, undercurrents swirled.