Chapter 117

The truck stopped near the dormitories of the steel mill.

If they drove closer, they would encounter familiar faces from the factory, which wouldn’t be ideal.

Usually, if someone had something to do, they’d bring items for Uncle Mao’s help, but that was always done privately.

Lu Weiguo and Shi Tingyu had quite a bit of stuff, so Uncle Mao didn’t bring the blanket down for them. He said, “Your parents knew you were coming back today and took leave from the factory. It’s not convenient for me to bring your things over right now, so I’ll take this blanket back to the factory for your eldest brother. He’ll bring it to you after work.”

Lu Weiguo nodded knowingly, then took out fried small yellow croakers from the canvas bag and handed them to Uncle Mao. “Uncle Mao, my wife fried these. We brought them on the train to eat. Don’t mind them; take them back for your grandson to try.”

Uncle Mao’s grandson was five years old, the perfect age for enjoying treats.

Uncle Mao politely declined several times. “I can’t accept this kindness. These deep-fried small yellow croakers are such a good thing; you should let your parents try them.”

After some insistence, Uncle Mao finally accepted the gifts. In times of scarcity, these deep-fried small yellow croakers were indeed precious, and seeing how clean Lu Weiguo and his wife were, he had no reservations.

Watching Uncle Mao drive away on the truck, Shi Tingyu breathed a sigh of relief. She was grateful to have Lu Weiguo there; she disliked such exchanges and refusals.

Lu Weiguo navigated by memory towards the steel mill dormitories.

At the entrance to the dormitory courtyard, they encountered some old neighbors, many of whom were retired from the steel mill.

Calling out to their grandfather and grandmother, Lu Weiguo introduced his wife, causing a wave of surprised exclamations among the neighbors.

“Weiguo, your wife is so beautiful! Look at her bright eyes; you’re lucky.”

“Why didn’t you like the previous introductions? It turns out you were waiting for such a beautiful wife.”

Lu Weiguo knew these people meant well; they just liked to chat, especially since he hadn’t been back for a long time. Seeing him made them even more enthusiastic.

Having basically watched him grow up, they were immune to his appearance, making jokes with him without hesitation.

Perhaps because the noise was too loud here, a woman in her fifties came out of the corridor. She was wearing a light blue-gray cotton padded jacket, black pants, and a gray-white apron tied around her waist. Her short hair was styled without being blown.

She looked very capable.

Seeing Lu Weiguo and Shi Tingyu, the middle-aged woman exclaimed and hurried over, her eyes filled with astonishment mixed with disbelief upon seeing Shi Tingyu. After a while, she reacted, patting Lu Weiguo’s arm, “Weiguo, is this your wife? Why didn’t you come in?”

The neighbors, seeing this, tactfully made way.

The younger Lu family son hadn’t been back for such a long time; he must miss home.

Lu’s mother wasn’t afraid of dogs. Seeing Shi Tingyu leading one, she quickly reached out, “Xiaoyu, you must be tired from the journey. Give the dog to Mom; I’ll take it.”

Seeing Lu’s mother so warm, Shi Tingyu glanced at Lu Weiguo. He nodded with a smile, and she handed the leash to Lu’s mother, saying, “Thank you, Mom.”

Shi Tingyu’s voice was clear and crisp, not cold but not overly warm either. Hearing “Mom” from her made Lu’s mother’s heart swell with joy. She smiled, her wrinkles opening up, “Thank you for what? We’re all family here.”

Seeing Shi Tingyu empty-handed while her husband carried so much, she reached out to help, even before Lu Weiguo could refuse. Lu’s mother spoke up, “It’s fine. Let him carry it. A big guy like him won’t be tired from carrying these few things.”

Lu Weiguo: …

She really was his mother.

The Lu family lived on the second floor, a two-bedroom apartment. At the entrance to the corridor, Lu’s mother called out loudly, “Old Lu! Old Lu! Open the door; our son and daughter-in-law are here!”

Listening, Shi Tingyu heard the sound of a door opening, and a man in his fifties came down the stairs.

The man was at least 1.8 meters tall, slightly bent in the back, but still very tall.

The newcomer was Lu’s father.

Lu Weiguo called out, “Dad.”

Lu’s father nodded in response, his gaze eagerly turning towards Shi Tingyu.

The corridor was dim, and Lu’s father didn’t immediately see Shi Tingyu’s face clearly, but he knew she was his daughter-in-law.

Shi Tingyu also called out, “Dad.”

Lu’s father sighed, his tone filled with pleasure, louder than when he responded to Lu Weiguo.

Once everyone was inside, Shi Tingyu took off her hat. Her lively face, unobscured, appeared before the two elders.

Lu’s father and mother had seen their son and daughter-in-law before, expecting their daughter-in-law to be beautiful, but they hadn’t expected her to be this beautiful.

They couldn’t find the right words; they just felt she was beautiful, like a fairy.

Shi Tingyu also got a clear look at Lu’s father’s appearance. He really did resemble Lu Weiguo, especially in his stern brows and eyes.

However, having spent a long time with Lu Weiguo, she was quite used to seeing his father’s face.

Lu’s father had obviously dressed up today, fearing that his face might scare his new daughter-in-law. Seeing his eldest daughter-in-law, he knew; having married his eldest son for nearly ten years, she was still a little scared to see him.

Lu’s mother laughed at him for overthinking it. According to her, if this daughter-in-law of hers wasn’t afraid of her younger son’s face, why would she be afraid of an old man’s face?

That was definitely out of the question.

Seeing Shi Tingyu looking calm, Lu’s mother couldn’t help but look smugly at Lu’s father.

“See, I told you our younger daughter-in-law wouldn’t be afraid.”

Lu’s father picked up the luggage Lu Weiguo had placed on the ground and started moving towards the southern room.

Lu Weiguo quickly interjected, “Dad, it’s fine to put the stuff in the northern room. Isn’t this room where you two always stay?”

Lu’s father replied, “Your wife is used to living in Jinling. It’s colder here, and there’s no kang bed in the building. It’s warmer to sleep in the southern room. Your mother and I will stay in the northern room.”

But in the end, Lu Weiguo stopped him, “There’s a stove in the main room, right? Put it in the northern room, and with a hot water bottle at night, it won’t be cold.”

Shi Tingyu added, “Yeah, Mom and Dad, I’m in good health and used to exercising regularly. I’m not afraid of the cold. You should stay in the southern room.”

They were only staying here for a few days; afterward, they would be going to the village where there were heated kang beds. She could endure these days.

In the end, Lu Weiguo, who couldn’t be turned around by his strong physique, switched the bedding.

The northern room had a bed, a wardrobe, and a table, all very simple but neatly arranged.

Shi Tingyu sat down on the bed, feeling the soft and smooth texture of the blanket, which looked new.

Lu Weiguo explained, “My parents had this blanket made when they knew we got married. They kept it for us to use when we come back for Chinese New Year.”

At this moment, Shi Tingyu finally relaxed. In fact, she had been a little nervous since getting on the tractor.

After all, it was her first time meeting her husband’s parents. Now seeing the attitude of Lu’s father and mother, whether this warmth was temporary or long-lasting, at least for now, she felt relaxed.

And from the looks of Lu’s father and mother, they seemed to genuinely like her.

Thinking about how they had also prepared cotton clothes for her parents who were still in the lower ranks, her heart warmed.

^[1]kang beda living and sleeping platform, a heated bed