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Hao Lianchun smiled and said, “As long as you don’t blame us, it’s fine. We were also worried about the cold weather up north. Zuo He has always been delicate, and we were afraid he would suffer there. But in any case, our Zuo He has been through a lot. Leaving his parents at such a young age… But now, you can accompany him for a long time.”
At the other end of the table, Wang Zhenhe also understood the purpose of Zuo Xiangcheng’s visit. He patted his chest and said, “Brother, you can entrust the children to us. I can’t guarantee delicious food, but as long as we have something to eat, I will make sure your children won’t go hungry. Besides, it’s good for the brothers to stay here with Zuo He. Speaking of Zuo He, I can’t help but feel sorry for him. Whenever I think of him, my heart aches. As a father myself, it’s hard for me to see him like this. If you have time, come and visit the children. Uncle and Aunt often mention you. As people get older, they hope their children will be by their side. Your family is finally reunited, and as your brother, I’m truly happy for you.”
Old Chen, enviously, said, “Yes, Old Zuo, I envy you at this point. You have your son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren with you. I don’t even have a letter from my side. Come, let’s have a drink.”
Everyone knew Old Chen’s situation, so Old man Wu accompanied him in drinking. “Old Chen, don’t envy others. I can see that the students you’ve taught are outstanding. In the future, you don’t need to rely on anything else. Just stick with Zhenhe and the others, and you’ll be fine.”
Wang Zhenhe nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Uncle, you are family to me. While others may not care, we do. Our home is your home. You can live with us, and we’ll take care of you in your old age.”
Wu Changyong patted Wang Zhenhe on the shoulder and said, “Nephew, I like hearing that. Come, have a drink.”
Once the men finished their meal, and as time was passing, the fact that they were drinking wine had little impact. The elderly gentleman still had to go train the militia in the afternoon.
Zuo Xiangcheng couldn’t help but laugh and cry when he heard that his father had taken on this task. “Dad, you never change. You couldn’t train regular troops, so now you’re training the militia. Impressive. I understand now. You and Uncle Wu never forget to touch that gun wherever you go.”
After the meal, Zhang Lan prepared hot water for the couple to take a hot bath. They rushed over as soon as they got off the car, finding that a bath could help relieve their fatigue.
When Peng Ziyun saw the little sweaters her son was wearing, she felt even more grateful and respectful towards Zhang Lan. She had bought the yarn for the couple, never expecting that they would use it to knit sweaters for the children.
After a hot bath, the family, exhausted from the journey, succumbed to a well-deserved nap in the afternoon, as arranged by Zhang Lan.
Zuo He wasn’t originally tired, but he cherished the rare opportunity to be with his parents. The little guy willingly joined them for a nap and even requested that Peng Ziyun personally hold him as he slept. It was a moment he had longed for.
When Zhang Weiguo came over, Zhang Lan didn’t want him to leave and insisted that he stay the night. Besides, his brother had brought along several questions regarding his studies, and it was an opportunity for him to learn.
“Big sister, I’ve already finished studying the junior high school curriculum. I’ve been reviewing the high school textbooks during this time, but since I haven’t studied them before, I encounter many difficult problems. Fortunately, your family has so many talented individuals; otherwise, I really wouldn’t know what to do.”
Sitting on the kang, Zhang Lan and her brother chatted. Upon hearing that her brother had finished reviewing the junior high school curriculum, she couldn’t help but feel happy for him. “Weiguo, I always feel that learning more is never in vain. Perhaps one day the college entrance examination will be reinstated. If that happens, we’ll be prepared, and we won’t panic. I may have no hope in this lifetime, but you do. Study hard, and one day our Zhang family will produce a talent for everyone to see.”
Zhang Lan had her reasons for saying this. When the family was divided, Geng Lianhua and the others didn’t receive much. They were already poor, and the Zhang family was even poorer. Zhang Weiguo’s determination today was also fueled by a sense of pride. He was determined to study hard for himself and for the family, just to prove himself.
Zuo Xiangcheng and his wife, who had spent a good night’s sleep at the Wangs’, left early in the morning to return to the military base. They promised to have their luggage and everything else sent over after they returned. The two children who stayed behind were taken to school by Wang Zhenhe.
With spring approaching, the production team also needed manpower, so Wang Zhenhe followed the arrangements and returned to the team to handle the fertilization work.
The mother and daughter found an excuse to go out and continue harvesting the crops in the field. Once again, Zhang Lan felt as if she had been injected with a dose of energy, and she worked with extra vigor. After digging out the last batch of roots, they began sowing seeds again, repeating the cycle.
Wang Qian sat on the edge of the field, feeling tired as she looked at the rows of crops that had been planted. She couldn’t help but sigh, wishing they had mechanical harvesters to save them from such exhaustion.
Looking at the vegetables that were ready for harvest, she said to Zhang Lan, who had come over to rest, “Mom, it’s time to sell this batch of vegetables. I’ll go into town tomorrow, so let’s make the most of today to work in the fields.”
Zhang Lan also knew that it was time to sell the vegetables. Even though they wanted to eat them at home, they couldn’t find a good reason to keep them. She nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll go with you tomorrow. It’s not time to start work yet, so we can take your grandmother’s materials over and save her the trip.”
Wang Qian thought about it and agreed. With her mother going, Hao Lianchun wouldn’t have to make the trip, and she could stay home to take care of her grandchildren. It was convenient for them to go out as well.
“Mom, let’s sell some of the things we’ve gathered this time. We have enough food for ourselves, and there’s always a harvest in the space. It’s important for us to have some cash on hand,” Wang Qian said.
Since the Chinese New Year, their family had not had any income. They couldn’t afford to sit around and do nothing, especially since they didn’t have much money.
After the mother and daughter finished their work, they returned home. During lunch, Wang Qian mentioned her plan to go into town to deliver materials to the elderly lady. Hao Lianchun knew that the mother and daughter were looking for an excuse to go into town to earn some extra money. She smiled and said, “That’s fine. Don’t worry about things at home. I’ll take care of everything. You can also help me tidy up the house when you go over. It’s been empty for so long, and the house is in disrepair. Your presence will liven things up. If you can’t make it back the same day, you can stay at my place for the night. By the way, bring over a few pieces of clothing. The weather is getting warmer, and it’s time to change into lighter clothes.”
Wang Zhenhe didn’t have any objections to his wife and daughter going into town, but he did caution, “Be careful when you go into town. It’s not like here. Things can be chaotic in the city at this time.”
After the recent commotion, Wang Zhenhe was well aware that the city was not as safe as the countryside. After all, everyone in the village was familiar with each other, and matters didn’t escalate as much. He had heard that there had been fatal incidents during gang conflicts in the city. Therefore, he gave some extra instructions to the mother and daughter before they went.
Today was Zuo Hao and Zuo Yu’s first day of school. They were just as popular at school as Zuo He. Mingyuan was particularly proud this time, feeling excited to have three beautiful bodyguards by his side.
During the meal, the adults listened with amusement as the children shared their school experiences. They had all grown up together, and the children’s matters were considered important in their own right, regardless of their age. It was a small society in its own right.
“Mom, you won’t believe it. When Liu Datou saw Zuo Hao and the others, he started to fawn over them. It’s so funny to think about,” Mingyuan said.
Mingyuan was feeling quite pleased that even Liu Datou was now trying to get on their good side. However this left Mingyuan puzzled.
Wang Qian, on the otherhand looking at the two boys dressed in little military uniforms, had a faint understanding. At this time, there was a fervent admiration for soldiers, and even girls preferred to marry someone in the military. This standard was completely opposite to modern preferences.
At this time, girls took pride in marrying a soldier. In other words, women had a special fondness and admiration for the military green uniform. Perhaps this was what modern people referred to as a uniform fetish. Moreover, military green was the most popular color at the time. Some people felt that wearing a military cap was the ultimate honor.
Wang Qian could imagine that the elderly gentlemen probably understood this as well. Everyone glanced at the boys in their little military uniforms, and a knowing smile appeared on their faces.
Early the next morning, a few soldiers arrived to deliver the luggage for Zuo Xiangcheng’s sons, as per his request. They also brought some rations for the two children. Zhang Lan wanted to invite them in for a rest, but they had to go to the brick factory to transport bricks, so they didn’t stay long at the Wangs’ house.
Seeing the two large bags of rations on the ground, Zhang Lan felt a bit embarrassed. “Auntie, you see, Brother and Sister-in-law are being too polite. The two children can’t possibly eat so much.”
Hao Lianchun estimated that the rations were probably specially allocated by the military leadership. The rest was likely purchased with national grain coupons by her son and daughter-in-law to accumulate so much.
“It’s okay. Your brother gave it to you, so keep it. There are so many people at home, it will be used by someone. You two hurry up and catch the bus. I’m still at home so no need to worry,” Hao Lianchun urged.
Under Hao Lianchun’s urging, the mother and daughter took the materials she had written and some prepared dried vegetables and left the house. They quickly boarded the bus to the city.
However, it seemed that there weren’t many people going into the city that day. The bus was only occupied by a few passengers, and it was unusually empty. They wondered if there was a special occasion that day, as the buses were usually crowded.
Upon arriving in the city, the mother and daughter noticed the same situation. There were very few people walking on the streets. “Mom, what’s going on? Why is no one out today?” Wang Qian asked.