Chapter 123

Seeing her interest, Lu Weiguo continued to explain, “Plowing the fields is just one task, but there are other chores too. Wheatgrass needs to be hoed, farm manure needs to be spread in the fields, irrigation ditches need to be cleared and weeded, roads need maintenance, and small water conservancy projects need reinforcement. Basically, farmers work until New Year’s Eve before they can rest.”

Shi Tingyu couldn’t help but admire the hard work of farmers. As a teacher, she had a day off each week and summer and winter vacations.

If she had been sent to the countryside with her parents or become an educated youth, she doubted she could have endured it.

Seeing her fearful expression, Lu Weiguo seemed to recall her situation before they got married.

Forget about a delicate girl like her—even male educated youths from the city struggled initially.

But to earn enough food, they had to work hard.

Over time, they got used to the fieldwork, but the process was tough.

That’s why whenever a teaching job or similar opportunity came up in the village, people would fight for it.

The jeep was an impressive sight in the Qianxi Brigade, where the most advanced vehicle was usually a tractor. It was like seeing a luxury car in an old neighborhood, attracting many curious glances.

Children playing on the road chased after the car, laughing and shouting.

One child ran alongside the car, making Shi Tingyu nervous.

Lu Weiguo shouted to the surrounding children, “Stay back, don’t get too close, or you might get hurt.”

Lu Weiguo’s stern face was intimidating to the children. When he leaned out of the car window, many of them scattered. Some older kids, who had seen him before, timidly called out, “Second Brother Lu” or “Uncle Lu.”

One clever child ran ahead to tell the old man and woman that their soldier grandson had returned.

The car slowed as they entered the brigade. By the time they reached the old man’s house, Lu Shijin and his wife were already outside.

Seeing the car at the door, the old man peered inside.

Shi Tingyu glanced at Lu Weiguo and finally understood where the Lu family’s stern looks came from when she saw the fierce-looking old man.

She smiled and greeted him, “Grandpa!”

The old man immediately noticed the fair and pretty girl in the car, realizing this must be his grandson’s wife.

He rarely smiled but now nodded repeatedly in approval.

Shi Tingyu then saw the old woman squeezing her way through the crowd and called out, “Grandma.”

Grandma smiled warmly, asking if she was cold and urging her to come inside and warm up.

Lu Weiguo got out of the car, greeted the elders, and brought in the gifts for them.

Shi Tingyu got out and brought their dog, Lijian, along.

Leading the dog, she startled the children who had gathered around.

Lijian bared its teeth at the kids who had retreated to a safe distance but were still watching, causing them to exclaim in surprise.

Shi Tingyu patted its head, “Don’t be naughty.”

Lijian whined softly, nuzzled her hand, and obediently stopped scaring the children.

The old man and woman were both amazed.

“This dog is so intelligent,” said the old man.

Lijian tilted its head at the old man, seeming to recognize the familiar brows and eyes that resembled Lu Weiguo’s. Sensing the owner’s affection for the elders, Lijian slowly approached them, wagging its tail in a friendly manner.

The old man, being brave, reached out to pat Lijian’s head, smiling happily.

Lu Weiguo carried the gifts inside, urging everyone to come in.

Grandpa and Grandma Lu quickly followed, taking Shi Tingyu inside.

Outside, the children circled the jeep but knew better than to touch such an expensive item.

Some older kids watched Shi Tingyu’s retreating figure in a daze.

The girl Second Brother/Uncle Lu brought back was beautiful, even prettier than the city’s female educated youths.

When these kids went home, word quickly spread that Lu Weiguo had returned with a beautiful girl.

When they had heard from Grandpa Lu that Lu Weiguo got married, many didn’t believe it. After all, when Lu Weiguo had just returned from the battlefield, he had met several prospective brides in the village, but none of those matches worked out.

Unexpectedly, this time he really brought his wife back, and she was exceptionally beautiful.

Some curious old ladies peeked into the Lu family courtyard.

However, the couple had already gone inside, so they didn’t even catch a glimpse of a single hair.

Inside Grandpa Lu’s house, Shi Tingyu and Lu Weiguo were already seated on the kang (a heated brick bed).

The countryside had the advantage of spacious houses and the warmth of a heated kang. Shi Tingyu felt warm all over as soon as she entered.

Grandma fumbled in an old redwood chest and took out a can of peaches.

“Here, Weiguo’s wife, have some sweet canned peaches.”

Shi Tingyu looked at the canned peaches, feeling a bit greedy. “Thank you, Grandma.”

Grandma was utterly charmed by this sweet address.

A pretty girl was always a delight, even if she did nothing, Grandma could watch her for a long time.

Lu Weiguo helped Shi Tingyu open the can and handed her a pair of chopsticks.

Shi Tingyu greeted everyone, and seeing them all smiling and refusing, she thickened her skin and enjoyed the peaches by herself.

The peaches were refreshing and sweet, full of flavor, and she couldn’t stop eating.

But she still remembered Lu Weiguo, sharing a few pieces with him.

Lu Weiguo initially said he didn’t want any, but when his wife fed him, he accepted it all.

Grandma kept giving Grandpa meaningful looks.

Look, old man, how affectionate this young couple is.

Grandpa was equally pleased, having been worried about his grandson’s marriage.

His grandson was so good, yet people in the village called him a fierce and ruthless person.

Now things were better. His grandson was not only married but had found such a wonderful wife. Seeing how the granddaughter-in-law treated his grandson, he knew their future would be bright.

He couldn’t help but reflect that he had been too conservative with his in-laws and should have taken even better care of them.

After indulging in the peaches, Shi Tingyu felt lazy and relaxed on the kang.

Lu Weiguo, however, didn’t forget the gifts he had brought for the elders. He took out the hats and cotton shoes for them to try on.

The elders were delighted, smiling from ear to ear, praising their granddaughter-in-law’s taste.

Shi Tingyu laughed, “It’s because Weiguo thought of you and told me the sizes.”

Grandpa and Grandma felt even more comforted.

“All good, all good,” they said repeatedly.

Seeing it was still early, and knowing it wasn’t time yet to visit Shi Tingyu’s parents, Lu Weiguo decided to clean up the old house.

When Lu Daming and Lu Erming got married, they each received a plot of land for their homes, adjacent to each other.

Both families were well-off and had built brick houses with tiled roofs.

Later, Lu Daming and his wife were hired as workers in the steel and textile factories. Initially, they commuted back and forth between the town and the village. Eventually, with enough years of service, they were allocated housing in town, leaving the village house vacant.