The ox cart arrived at the train station, and the sky was gradually lightening up.

There were pedestrians on the way to the train station as well.

Lin’s mother and Ning Shu took Sanbao and others into the train station to wait.

Lin Guodong carried two bags of rice, while Lin’s father carried a half bag of luggage.

“Old Niu, you can take a rest outside,” Lin’s father greeted the cart driver, Lin Laoniu.

“It’s okay, take your time. No rush,” Lin Laoniu smiled.

They entered the train station, which was almost as quiet as outside, with few people inside.

This was the county town, and the train station here indeed had a low flow of people.

Or perhaps, in this era, the flow of people at the county town train station was low because people in this era didn’t move around much.

They found a place to sit.

Ning Shu asked the three boys, “Are you hungry? Do you want some more corn buns?”

Yibao shook his head. “Mom, I’m not hungry.”

Although he ate less for breakfast than usual, he didn’t seem hungry.

“Mom, I want one,” Erbao reached out his hand.

Ning Shu took out a cloth bag from her double-shoulder cloth bag, and then took out a steamed bun wrapped in oil paper from the cloth bag.

She had several packages in her bag.

She gave one to Erbao, then handed two to Lin’s mother and Lin’s father. “Mom, Dad, have some.”

She didn’t know if the old couple had eaten breakfast, but it was good to give them anyway.

Lin’s father and Lin’s mother didn’t refuse.

They had already eaten, having had a few sips of porridge, but smelling the scent of the corn buns, they felt like having some more.

They also didn’t hesitate with their son and daughter-in-law.

After giving them out, Ning Shu asked Sanbao, “Sanbao, are you hungry? Do you want some?”

Sanbao shook his head. “Mom, I’m not hungry.”

Finally, Ning Shu asked Lin Guodong, “Are you going to eat?”

Lin Guodong replied, “I’m not hungry.”

He had already eaten six buns in the morning and still wasn’t hungry.

Ning Shu’s corn buns were small and soft. Lin Guodong eating six was just a number that sounded like a lot but wasn’t actually much.

Since Lin Guodong wasn’t hungry, Ning Shu tied up the opening of her double-shoulder cloth bag and put it on her back.

Ning Shu then checked the time. It was already six o’clock.

At this time, Lin’s father asked Lin Guodong, “What time is your train?”

Lin Guodong replied, “7:20.”

“It’s only six o’clock now, still over an hour to go,” Lin’s father checked the time on the wall clock in the train station.

Lin Guodong said, “We’ll wait for the train to come, and then you and Mom can go back first.”

Lin’s father replied, “I’ll wait for the train to come, and then I’ll help you move the luggage.”

Lin Guodong: “No need, I can carry two bags of rice and lift this half bag of stuff.”

Father and son were straightforward, and Lin’s father didn’t want to directly say that he wanted to see his son and grandchildren off.

Lin Guodong felt that his father waiting here was unnecessary and tiring, so it was better for him to go home and rest first.

Lin’s mother said, “We’re here to see off your wife and the three childrens, not you. Why are you so talkative?”

After being scolded by his mother, Lin Guodong stopped talking.

Ning Shu smiled, “Mom, since you’re here, you can go visit Xiaojing later or stay for a few days.”

Hearing this, Lin’s mother thought it was a good idea. “When the time comes, let your father go back first, and I can stay in the county for a few days. I can also ask Xiaojing if their factory still has anyone renting rooms.”

It was difficult to rent houses now.

Ning Shu’s family had three courtyards, one of which was rented out, and the rest had been quiet. She kept the keys to the county courtyard and the keys to the village house for Lin’s mother.

She had given Lin’s father and mother the land to cultivate, and the backyard was used to grow sugarcane, which had not been planted yet.

She would ask Lin’s mother to help with that later.

Lin’s mother was happy to help the Lin family with work.

As elderly people, they were most afraid of their children thinking they were useless.

Ning Shu said, “It’s okay, if we can’t rent it out, we can just leave it. We’ll sell it later anyway. Buying a house in the capital or the provincial is more valuable in the future, whether for investment or for the children’s future development.”

The house in the county town was just a temporary place to invest the money they had on hand.

Buying a house would definitely make more money than putting it in the bank.

Ning Shu and Lin’s mother chatted casually, while the three children looked around with curious eyes.

Time passed by second by second, and in the blink of an eye, it was almost seven o’clock.

The announcement at the train station rang out, indicating that the 7:20 train was ready for boarding.

Ning Shu stood up with San Bao in her arms, while Yi Bao and Er Bao followed behind her.

Lin Guodong, carrying a bag of rice, walked behind them.

Lin Guodong was dressed in military uniform, which attracted some attention and served as a deterrent.

Seeing this, the staff at the ticket checkpoint enthusiastically asked, “Comrade, do you need any help?”

Lin Guodong replied, “No, thank you, comrade.”

Ning Shu got on the train, but instead of going in right away, she said to the two kids, “You two stand here. Let your dad carry you on.”

“Okay.”

The two kids always listened to their mother.

Although they could climb up themselves, they obeyed their mother’s words.

Lin Guodong put down the bag of rice, lifted them up onto the train, then went back to pick up the rice.

He also took the sack from Lin’s father’s hand and said, “Mom, Dad, we’re getting on the train now. Don’t worry, I’ll write to you when I get to the army.”

Lin’s mother’s eyes welled up with tears. “Alright… Your wife and son are following you to the army. When you’re on a mission, remember to take care of them.”

Lin Guodong replied solemnly, “I know.”

Lin’s father looked at his son without saying a word.

Ning Shu said to the three kids, “Yi Bao, Er Bao, San Bao, say goodbye to your grandparents.”

Yi Bao said, “Goodbye, Grandpa and Grandma. I’ll miss you and write to you.”

Er Bao added, “Grandpa and Grandma, I’ll miss you too. I’ll come back to see you.”

San Bao waved his little hand and called out loudly, “Grandpa, Grandma!”

The lump in Lin’s father’s and mother’s throats grew, but they resisted their emotions and waved back at them.

Since there were people queuing up behind them, Ning Shu’s family didn’t continue their goodbyes with Lin’s parents.

After saying goodbye, they went to find their seats.

Lin’s parents stayed behind and watched as they moved towards the train car.

Today was the sixteenth day of January, and those who had to work were already at work, so it wasn’t the peak time for train travel.

Therefore, the train was not crowded.

The sleeper car aisle was narrow, with beds on the left and windows on the right, underneath which were two stools and a rectangular table for dining.

The beds were also very narrow, about 80 centimeters wide, divided into upper and lower bunks, facing each other.

In between, there was a small rectangular table.

The sleeper car was mixed-gender, but fortunately, there were only two beds facing each other, which was better than an open compartment.

Ning Shu walked ahead.

Since it was still early, some people in the sleeper car were still sleeping, while others were having breakfast.

When someone entered the car, it naturally attracted the attention of those who were awake, but everyone just looked and didn’t speak.

Behind Ning Shu was a soldier carrying two large sacks and holding another in his hand, which made everyone curious.

But again, they just looked and didn’t speak.

As the car approached the end, Ning Shu saw their seats. “Guodong, over here.” There was no one in the two beds facing each other.

Ning Shu had only bought two sleeper tickets, and it was unclear if the other two beds were empty or unsold.

Ning Shu put San Bao down and said to Yi Bao and Er Bao, “Yi Bao, Er Bao, sit here with San Bao. Are you hungry? Mom will get you something to eat.”

Er Bao shook his head. “Mom, I’m not hungry. Can I go over there and take a look?” He pointed to the glass window opposite the beds, his eyes full of curiosity.

“You can, but you can’t go anywhere else. If a stranger talks to you, shout for Dad and Mom,” Ning Shu instructed.

“I know.” Er Bao ran to the window and shouted, “Dad, Mom, brother, San Bao, Grandpa and Grandma are outside!” His tone was excited.

“Grandpa… Grandma…” He waved his hands as he shouted.

Yi Bao and San Bao heard him and ran over.

Yi Bao also saw his grandparents and was very excited. “Grandpa, Grandma…” His voice was filled with excitement.

San Bao, being younger, couldn’t see outside.

He pulled at his brothers’ clothes, wanting them to lift him up.

Seeing this, Ning Shu walked over and lifted San Bao up.

His eyes lit up when he saw his grandparents. “Grandpa… Grandma…”

Lin’s father and mother were also outside, watching their three grandsons and daughter-in-law.

They had followed their son’s family down the platform to see them off, but they didn’t expect their grandsons to see them.

Although they couldn’t hear their grandsons’ voices, they knew they were calling for them.

“Old man, the three kids see us,” Lin’s mother said excitedly, grabbing Lin’s father’s hand.

Lin’s father also saw them.

He patted Lin’s mother’s hand and waved to the children.

Lin Guodong put the two sacks of rice at the back and the half sack next to the bed.

Then he walked to the window and looked at his parents outside.

As he looked, the train started moving. Lin’s father and mother’s figures gradually receded until they were out of sight.

Ning Shu then said to the two kids,