Qiao Jiuru carried a homemade backpack on her back and wore thick cotton clothes.

In her arms, she held her little grandson, who was dressed equally warmly.

They followed behind her husband Su Huaiyuan and son Su Ze, who were carrying the family’s luggage.

Close behind her was her daughter-in-law, also holding their eldest grandson.

At this moment, the whole family was walking toward the bus station together with Director Fang from the Reassignment Committee, his brother-in-law, and two other committee members.

Up until now, Jiuru still hadn’t quite recovered from what had just happened.

From nearly being dragged out to be paraded through the streets, to suddenly being stopped, then having all their belongings returned to them, and immediately being taken to board a bus headed to the place of reassignment.

Everything had happened so fast that when the family was brought onto the bus going to Mentougou, they still felt somewhat incredulous.

But after all, for the Su family this was a good thing, not a bad one.

They didn’t have to endure cold and hunger while being paraded through the streets, nor suffer that kind of humiliation.

Especially the two little ones, Dabao and Xiaobao, who wouldn’t have to endure the cold or be frightened.

The bus ride from Huaxian County to Mentou Township took over two hours. Luckily, when they got on, there weren’t many people and there were enough seats.

Around one o’clock in the afternoon, they arrived at Mentou Township and naturally first went to the Reassignment Committee office there.

Director Fang had personally called ahead to Mentou Township before departure, so when they arrived, the people there were already waiting.

In addition to the Mentou Township Reassignment Committee team, the Baigou Village Production Team had also been notified to come pick them up.

Because Director Fang was personally involved, the paperwork was quickly stamped and completed.

Then Director Fang whispered a few words with the team leader of the Mentou Reassignment Committee, who kept nodding with a smile.

Afterward, Director Fang also exchanged a few words with the production team leader from Baigou Village, who also kept smiling and nodding.

At this moment, Chen Mingfeng—who had disappeared after they got off the bus—suddenly returned, carrying two large paper packages in his arms.

“Come, come, everyone’s worked hard. It’s past noon and you haven’t had a proper meal yet. Have some biscuits and snacks to fill your stomachs. Later I’ll treat everyone to a meal at the state-run restaurant.”

Chen Mingfeng opened the packages and handed out several pieces of biscuits and snacks to everyone, even the Baigou Village production team leader got some.

Unexpectedly, the remaining snacks were given to Qiao Jiuru.

“There isn’t much left—just enough for the two little kids to eat.”

There truly wasn’t much left.

Chen Mingfeng dared not openly show favoritism to the Su family; officially, he couldn’t help them, so he quietly gave them this small convenience.

Qiao Jiuru felt both surprised and grateful, but showed little expression, only quietly thanking Chen Mingfeng.

“Brother-in-law, is all the paperwork done? I’ve already ordered dishes at the state-run restaurant and am just waiting for the brothers to come eat.”

Chen Mingfeng knew that his brother-in-law had definitely made arrangements with the Reassignment Committee and the production team here, so at least no one would casually give the Su family trouble.

In this way, their Chen and Fang families had repaid the Qiao family’s lifesaving kindness.

The two Reassignment Committee men from Huaxian County were even happier to hear they could eat at the state-run restaurant, showing no dissatisfaction about escorting people here.

Not only were they not unhappy, they were actually willing to make the trip.

That morning the director gave each of them nearly thirty yuan in expenses, roughly equivalent to a junior worker’s monthly wage.

Who doesn’t like unexpected money?!

They also realized that this family newly sent down from the capital must have some connections here, and even had some relations with the director’s father and brother-in-law; otherwise, the director and his brother-in-law wouldn’t have come personally or given them benefits.

Anyway, as long as there were benefits and the people weren’t allowed to run away, everyone was willing to turn a blind eye and give the director some face. Why not?

“Let’s go, brother-in-law, me and the brothers will go first. You guys come after.”

Seeing the happy faces, Chen Mingfeng immediately understood their thoughts and quickly said goodbye, leading them away.

“Captain Bai, we leave the people in your hands. As long as they accept the reform quietly and follow instructions, no one will trouble them without reason. If there’s any problem, you can come to me in the county.”

Director Fang said this to the Baigou Village production team leader in front of the team leader from Mentou Township, then took the Mentou team leader and went to the state-run restaurant together.

Captain Bai and the Su family watched Director Fang and the others leave, and all silently exhaled in relief.

“Let’s go. There’s an ox cart over there.”

This was a people’s commune, not exactly a good place to speak freely.

Captain Bai spoke as he led the Su family toward an ox cart.

“Uncle Jiu, the people have arrived.”

An old farmer squatting beside an ox immediately stood up when he heard Captain Bai’s words, sizing up Qiao Jiuru and the others carefully.