That night, Lin Shu noticed that the kids were in low spirits.

She asked them what was wrong.

Tian Tian said, “Mom, I really miss Dad.”

Lin Xia added, “I can’t laugh, or my wound might open up.”

Pan Pan said, “Mom, we were thinking that maybe that uncle is actually our dad.”

Lin Shu had overheard the kids talking but hadn’t paid much attention.

She thought they were just waiting for their father like they did during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Now, listening to their description of the man’s build, appearance, height, and distinct features, she had to admit that he did resemble Lu Shaotang quite a bit.

Lin Shu knew that Lu Shaotang looked different from the photo.

The photo had a youthful look, and the black-and-white image distorted his features, making them less distinct.

In reality, Lu Shaotang had pronounced features, deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and intense dark eyes that had a strong, piercing presence.

He had an imposing aura that made it almost uncomfortable to look directly at him.

Photos couldn’t capture this effect, which often made people overlook his other features in person.

If it really was Lu Shaotang, then it was understandable why the kids were confused.

After all, Lu Shaotang himself hadn’t recognized his own children.

Everyone was a stranger to each other, so no one should laugh at anyone.

Lin Shu found it quite amusing and planned to tell Lin Xia once the kids were asleep.

Lin Xia said, “I can’t laugh anymore. Please understand that I’m a patient recovering from surgery.”

The next morning, Lin Shu got up early to stir the coal stove and make porridge.

For the past few days, because of her sister’s surgery, they had to keep hot water running.

The coal stove hadn’t gone out. At night, the air vent was closed, so it barely burned.

During the day, opening the vent and poking the coal balls made it burn well.

Lin Xia, who had never rested so long before, found it a bit unusual and had trouble sleeping deeply.

She woke up early.

The two sisters had been talking non-stop these days, and their bond had grown much closer.

Lin Xia said, “If that man the kids met really is their father, then he should come looking for us today.”

Lin Shu replied, “Not necessarily. He’s always so busy, and when we meet, he’s always in a hurry and barely says a few words.”

Lin Xia gave a teasing smile.

Tian Tian and Pan Pan woke up, rolling around and sighing on the bed.

They discussed for the 101st time whether the man they saw yesterday was their dad.

Pan Pan said, “I don’t think so. He seemed very stern and not as kind as Dad or Grandpa.”

Tian Tian added, “But last night I dreamed that Dad was hugging me and kissing my hand…”

The appearance was just like that.

In the past, when they dreamed of their father, he always looked like Grandpa.

But last night, their father looked like that uncle.

Ah, the two kids must be lovesick.

For breakfast, they could barely finish one tea egg each.

They took their picture books and went out to play.

Lin Shu reminded them, “Don’t go to the main gate anymore.”

Panpan replied, “Okay.”

Tiantian recited, “The young leave home, and the old return, with the accent unchanged and hair graying…”

Lin Shu interrupted, “…”

That’s not appropriate, kids. Stop it; your father might cry if he hears you.

Holding hands, Tiantian and Panpan went out to play, no longer interested in their picture books.

They went to the steel factory’s square, which had a basketball court, ping-pong tables, and badminton courts. It was very spacious.

Many elderly people came there to bring their grandchildren to play.

Tong Xiaojun ran over, rudely demanding, “Read to me!”

Tiantian ignored him, and Panpan rolled his eyes at him.

They had already blacklisted Tong Xiaojun and his gang and didn’t want to talk to them at all.

Last night, Tong Xiaojun overheard his uncle talking to his grandmother about how Lin Xia’s sister’s husband hadn’t been away for years but had actually died.

The government had even issued a pension, and it was reported in the newspapers.

It’s just that not everyone reads the People’s Liberation Army newspaper and doesn’t know about it.

He also said that Aunt Jiang was frequently visiting the Qian family because she wanted to arrange for Lin Xia’s sister to marry Director Jiang as a second wife.

This way, Director Jiang would definitely support Qian Lisheng as the workshop director.

Tong’s mother was very angry and scolded him several times, which Tong Xiaojun overheard.

He had demanded several times, but Tiantian and Panpan ignored him, making him extremely furious.

“You country bumpkins! Hillbillies!” he shouted, stamping his feet.

Tiantian retorted, “Like a crow, really noisy.”

Panpan added, “He eats food grown with manure; he must have grown up with manure.”

Tong Xiaojun didn’t know how manure was processed, and he found it disgusting.

He couldn’t accept that the food he ate was grown with manure.

He was extremely angry, “Nonsense, you must have grown up eating dung.”

Panpan replied, “Your mouth smells so bad; you must have grown up eating dung.”

Tong Xiaojun shouted, “Your father is already dead!”

Tiantian and Panpan’s expressions changed.

Panpan’s delicate face tightened.

The last time someone mentioned his father’s death, Chang Xiaogang and Zhang Xiaoliang received a lot of beatings.

Tiantian held Panpan’s hand, reassuring him not to argue with the dung-eating fool.

Their father was perfectly fine.

Pan Pan was trying hard to hold back his emotions.

These past few days, he had been missing his dad so much that he was on edge and had no mood for playing with Tong Xiaojun.

Tong Xiaojun deliberately provoked them, continuing to insult them, “Your mother is shameless, coming to the city to hook up with a new dad for you.”

Pan Pan couldn’t take it anymore!

Even though the steel mill wasn’t in Lu Jia Village and Pan Pan had no place to retaliate, and Tong Xiaojun had a group of followers, which made fighting risky, Pan Pan still decided to fight back for the sake of defending his family’s honor.

He charged at Tong Xiaojun with a right hook punch, landing a solid blow on Tong Xiaojun’s nose.

The Lu family had big, strong genes, and with Fang Dihua’s influence, Pan Pan and Tian Tian were well-nourished and stronger than their peers.

Pan Pan’s Grandpa also practiced fitness boxing, and Pan Pan and Tian Tian occasionally joined in.

Although it was mostly for show, Tong Xiaojun, being a child, couldn’t withstand the punch.

“Ahhh—”

Tong Xiaojun fell to the ground, crying and cursing, trying to get up and fight back.

Pan Pan thought, since he was already fighting, he might as well throw a few more punches.

So he jumped on Tong Xiaojun, pinning him down and throwing a few more punches, “Bang bang” with left and right hooks.

Tong Xiaojun resisted and struggled, but Tian Tian came over, pressing down on his legs and pinching his flesh.

Tong Xiaojun cried out in pain and, following Tong Xiaojun’s example, cursed loudly.

Soon, several onlookers, both old and young, ran over to see what was happening.

Someone shouted, “Tong Xiaojun is getting beaten to death by Pan Pan!”

“Didn’t they say those two kids’ father was gone? How pitiful.”

“Gone? Their mother looks so happy. You’d never guess a man was missing.”

“Of course, look at her, all flashy. She’s probably trying to hook up with a man in the city, just like her sister.”

Originally, people praised Lin Shu for her beauty, diligence, and cooking skills.

But once they heard her husband was gone, they quickly changed their tune, mixing sympathy with criticism.

It seemed like her husband’s absence made her fair game for public scrutiny.

Soon, Tong Xiaojun’s mother rushed over, “Who’s hitting my child?”

She pushed Pan Pan and Tian Tian aside and scolded, “You uncouth brats, how dare you hit my child? Country bumpkins like you are no good!”

Pan Pan was shoved aside, and Tong Xiaojun tried to use the opportunity to get up and hit Pan Pan back.

Tian Tian responded by using the tricks she had seen older women use on the streets, pinching Tong Xiaojun fiercely.

Tong Xiaojun’s thigh.

“Ah——” Tong Xiaojun howled in pain.

Tong’s mother wanted to hit Tiantian again.

At this moment, Elderly Jiang quickly came over, “What’s going on? Are you bullying the kids?”

Elderly Jiang slapped Tong’s mother’s hand away from Panpan and Tiantian, protecting the two children.

Tong Xiaojun jumped up and cursed, “Your father is dead, dead, dead! You’re a bad seed without a father! Your mother is finding you a stepfather!”

Panpan’s eyes turned red, and he wanted to rush at Tong Xiaojun to hit him.

Elderly Jiang, heartbroken, held the two kids, “Don’t argue with fools. It’s not worth it.”

…

Lu Shaotang entered the steel factory and first inquired at the gate about Lin Xia’s family’s location.

He had memorized the family information from his wife’s political review materials after just one look.

He hurried toward the back family quarters, and on the way, he heard the mix of children’s screams and Elderly Jiang’s reprimands.

Among them was a somewhat familiar yet unfamiliar child’s voice.