Chapter 125

“Lu Weijun, the accountant, usually keeps track of the villagers’ work points. He really knows where each person is.

He glanced at Shi Tingyu and knew that second sister-in-law must be missing her parents, so he didn’t hide it, ‘They are on the piece of land by the Xihegou. Second Brother, you know that piece of land, right?’

‘Yes, I know.’ He knew about the Xihegou.

Lu Weijun continued, ‘For convenience in looking after them, my father is also in a field not far from there. If anyone asks along the way, just say you’re going to see my father.’

Lu Weiguo nodded in understanding.

Lu Weijun added quietly to the two after looking around and finding no one, ‘You can just observe from afar, don’t get too close. If you want to meet, do it at night.’

Although it had been a long time since anyone in their former West Brigade had been criticized, they still had to be careful.

‘Alright, I understand.’ Lu Weiguo was deeply gratified by his younger cousin’s thoughtfulness.

Shi Tingyu also thanked Lu Weijun.

Scratching his head, Lu Weijun chuckled, ‘second sister-in-law, there’s no need for that. We’re all family. Uncle and Aunt haven’t suffered much in everyday life, and we haven’t criticized anyone either, so just observe later. Make sure to control yourself.’

Shi Tingyu nodded, finally feeling relieved.

What Lu Weijun said made her feel more real than the vague reassurances in the letter.

After bidding farewell to Lu Weijun, Lu Weiguo took Shi Tingyu towards the direction of the Xihegou.

Sure enough, on the way to the field, there were often people working in the fields who greeted them from a distance.

People in the brigade were warm-hearted, and as fellow villagers, when they saw children who hadn’t come back in a long time, they always asked a few questions.

Hearing that Lu Weiguo was going to see Uncle Lu, everyone nodded.

‘It’s been a long time since you’ve been back. It’s good to take a look.’

A kind villager said, ‘Weiguo, do you know the place? Just head west, near the Xihegou.’

Lu Weiguo thanked the villagers and continued westward with Shi Tingyu.

As soon as their figures passed, villagers began to talk in small groups.

They chatted while working, not wasting any time.

‘Did you see clearly just now? Weiguo’s wife, that face of hers, so fair.’

‘I saw it. I dare say you won’t find anyone as handsome within ten miles.’

“Who said before that Weiguo had a hard time finding a wife?’

‘I didn’t say that. Weiguo definitely didn’t settle for anyone in the village. Now look, he’s brought back such a beautiful wife.’

When Lu Weiguo originally came to his hometown to meet his match, he hadn’t succeeded in town.

Coincidentally, there were a few high school students in the village, so the matchmaker introduced them.

The Lu family had good connections, and the girl’s parents agreed to the match. The girl had no choice but to come and see.

They were from the same village and had met when they were young, but they hadn’t seen each other for nearly a decade. People might have gotten better looking as they grew up, but when they met, they discovered that the other person had become more imposing, with a scar on their face, and immediately disagreed.”

“The Lu family had gotten used to such outcomes and didn’t push for more. To exaggerate a bit, their son Weiguo had a fierce look about him, and he far surpassed these other suitors in every aspect. Those who only judged by appearances didn’t catch their eye.

If it had just been a failed matchmaking attempt, that would have been fine. But unfortunately for them, above Mr. Lu was an elder brother who resembled Mr. Lu a lot. In the end, it was the grandson of Mr. Lu’s family, Lu Jianshe, who inherited some of these features. Though somewhat different from Lu Weiguo, he wasn’t considered good-looking either.

Most importantly, Lu Jianshe lacked the success of Mr. Lu’s other grandsons; he was just a farmer. Now at thirty-two and still unmarried.

With this example in mind, everyone said it was difficult for Lu Weiguo to find a wife. But it wasn’t as definitive as saying it was for Lu Jianshe. After all, Lu Weiguo was still an officer.

Lu Weiguo was unaware of the gossip about himself among the villagers. They soon saw Uncle Lu turning over the soil.

He called out to Lu Erming, ‘Uncle Erming!’

Lu Erming looked up, saw the two figures in the field, and set down his hoe to come over.

Seeing his eldest nephew and his nephew’s wife, his face was filled with contentment. Truth be told, when Lu Weiguo’s marriage was in question, it wasn’t just a worry for his older brother’s family; he had been anxious too.

Now, not only had he married, but he had also married someone so upright. He felt somewhat comforted.

Knowing that the two had probably come to see those two in the cowshed, he didn’t linger with them and discreetly pointed in the direction of his father and mother.

‘They’re over there.’

Shi Tingyu’s gaze followed his direction and saw an old couple in worn-out clothes, heads down and working diligently.

They were almost one with the land, not out of place at all, yet tears uncontrollably streamed down Shi Tingyu’s face.

Perhaps influenced by the original host’s memories, seeing her parents hunched over and toiling in the fields made Shi Tingyu deeply distressed.

Once, they earned astonishingly high salaries each month, conducting experiments and collecting data daily. Their current hard labor in the fields was a stark contrast.

Lu Weiguo quickly blocked Shi Tingyu’s view and quietly wiped away her tears.

Shi Tingyu tried to maintain a smile.

Uncle Lu Erming looked somewhat melancholy too and whispered, ‘Don’t worry, niece. Your parents are doing well, healthy. Many of the educated youth sent down here end up falling ill, but not your parents. Don’t worry.’

Shi Tingyu took a deep breath, eased her expression, and looked at the two working again.

If it were someone else sent down here, her father and mother would probably be digging ditches, the hardest part of the work.

Working in the fields now was considered light, even though the land near Xihegou was harder than usual.

Yet this was all thanks to the covert assistance of the Lu family.

Shi Tingyu’s earnest gaze might have been too intense. Her parents, who had been stooped over and working, suddenly looked up in her direction.

Seeing Lu Weiguo and Shi Tingyu’s figures, both couldn’t believe their eyes.

Her mother instinctively took a few steps forward, dropping her hoe.

Fortunately, her father reacted quickly, swiftly grabbing her mother’s hand.

His hand trembled slightly as he held hers. Despite the distance obscuring their features, they recognized their daughter at a glance.

The news from the in-laws that the young couple would be coming back for the New Year had made them eagerly anticipate this day, but they hadn’t expected it to come so suddenly.

Her mother’s formerly gentle face was now soaked with tears. Despite all the hardships since being sent here, she had never shed a tear until now. Seeing her daughter’s silhouette in the distance was overwhelming.

‘We’ll pretend not to recognize them now, so as not to cause any trouble for Shi Tingyu.’ Her father’s voice trembled.

Her mother quickly wiped her tears, picked up her hoe, and resumed working without glancing in Shi Tingyu’s direction again, only the drops of water disappearing into the soil revealing her inner turmoil.

Shi Tingyu just watched them like that. She had seen her mother’s reaction just now and knew they had recognized her.

But it was too risky to acknowledge them when relatives met.

Lu Weiguo couldn’t be much help either.

Uncle Lu Erming sighed, looked at the sky, and said, ‘We’ve been living like this for almost ten years now. I wonder when it will end.’