Cheng Rushan always followed the rules and never did anything out of line.

The next morning, Jiang Lin got up to wash up and asked Cheng Rushan, “Are we going to Yunye Lake today?”

Yunye Lake Farm was the largest labor reform farm in the province, located thirty miles from Qingcheng, nestled between mountains and facing the lake.

It was rich in produce, including various fruits, vegetables, rice, and especially delicious freshwater fish like mandarin fish.

Cheng Rushan replied, “Our whole family is going.”

Jiang Lin asked, “Should I come too?”

Cheng Rushan smiled and looked at her, “Aren’t you part of our family?”

Jiang Lin clarified, “I meant you and your mom can go. It’s inconvenient with so many people.”

Cheng Rushan reassured her, “It’s fine, not a bother.”

Yan Runzhi chimed in, “Jiang’er, there’s so much good food at Yunye Lake—smoked duck eggs, mandarin fish, big juicy peaches…”

Jiang Lin interrupted, “Stop, I’m coming!”

Yan Runzhi smirked at Cheng Rushan.

Cheng Rushan nodded, “Got it.”

Breakfast was already on the table: Yan Runzhi’s millet porridge, pickled vegetables with eggs, egg custard, and steamed pork from yesterday, smelling fragrant with oil.

Jiang Lin sat down and said to her sons, “Mandarin fish and a poem, ‘Peach blossoms and flowing water, mandarin fish plump and fair.'”

Dabao asked, “What’s that mean?”

Jiang Lin smiled at his eager eyes, “The whole poem goes…”

What was it again?

Jiang Lin felt the name on the tip of her tongue.

Whose poem was it?

Xiaobao giggled, “Mom, I don’t like school either! Let’s not go.”

Cheng Rushan patted his head, “That’s a fisherman’s song by the Tang poet Zhang Zhihe, ‘White egrets fly before Xi Sai Mountain…'” and recited the whole poem.

Yan Runzhi told her son, “Your mom’s testing you, you really think she wouldn’t know? Teachers are like that.”

Jiang Lin muttered, “…Thanks for the save.”

She pretended nonchalance, as if testing them wasn’t forgotten. “Can we buy some mandarin fish to bring back? I really want to eat it.”

Cheng Rushan smiled knowingly and handed her a piece of steamed bun, “Eat your fill before we come back.”

Jiang Lin felt he was hinting at something with that look.

So what if she forgot? Hmph.

Maybe I don’t remember much… except what I learned as a child.

Perhaps it’s time to start studying seriously?

Can’t miss next year’s college entrance exam.

Jiang Lin went to inform Shang Zonghui.

If there were tiles delivered, she’d delegate him to distribute them, and Shang Baozhu would also help lay them.

Shang Zonghui asked, “Jiang Zhiqing, what about the chimney? I’m not sure.”

“This chimney looks good and is useful too. They say we should build one,” Jiang Lin remarked.

“You can do it, believe in yourself,” she encouraged Shang Zonghui.

She had already taught him the basics yesterday, so a little practice would suffice.

Feeling encouraged by her faith in him, Shang Zonghui replied, “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

Jiang Lin took her leave, and when she returned home, Yan Runzhi was already packed and ready.

Seeing Jiang Lin return, she led Da Bao and Xiao Bao out to wait on the South Road.

Cheng Rushan went to the commune to find Duan Chang’an, hitching a ride to the county first.

Jiang Lin gave Da Bao and Xiao Bao a few hawthorn slices each.

Eating these was much better than having sweets all day.

Da Bao was satisfied, but Xiao Bao was still a bit unsatisfied.

However, he knew better than to argue with his mother, so he obediently took them and ate.

After eating, Xiao Bao said he needed to use the bathroom, so Jiang Lin led them to the roadside ditch to pick wildflowers while they waited for the car.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao said they wanted to make flower garlands to give to their grandfather and uncle.

While they were waiting, they saw Cheng Ruhai running towards them.

When he arrived, Cheng Ruhai asked breathlessly, “Are you going to pick up my dad? I’m the eldest son, so of course I should go.”

Yan Runzhi replied, “Go by yourself.”

After so many years of not seeing you visit once, now you want to go.

Yesterday, Cheng Ruhai was shocked for a long time when he heard the news that Cheng Rushan had removed the family’s black hat.

He hurried to the brigade to confirm and learned that it was all true.

Cheng Rushan was no longer an anti-landlord but a revolutionary gentry.

Not only did he remove his hat, but he also had to return most of the family’s property!

This means that most of the houses in the village will have to be returned.

Cheng Ruhai couldn’t sit still.

As the eldest son, he should live with his father.

He wanted to go to the farm to bring his father back and take good care of him.

Last night, he wanted to talk to Cheng Rushan, but he was afraid Cheng Rushan would beat him and didn’t dare to approach.

He couldn’t sleep all night.

This morning, after much hesitation, he decided to catch up and try.

When his father comes back, can Cheng Rushan still beat him?

Their family values filial piety and respect.

Cheng Ruhai smiled, “Mother, why are you saying such things? Of course, we are all family and should be together.”

Yan Runzhi was disgusted by his affectionate tone, “Dongseng is coming back.” He won’t beat you to death.

Cheng Ruhai was embarrassed and stayed on the sidelines.

Suddenly, Yan Runzhi said, “Don’t think about taking advantage. I’m not afraid to tell you that in our family, Bao’er Mother is in charge. Your father and I rely on Dongseng and Bao’er Mother to support us. Stop thinking about things that won’t happen soon.”

Don’t think she doesn’t know what Cheng Ruhai is thinking.

Cheng Ruhai said firmly, “Mother, what are you talking about? Polite? I am not a father’s son, can you only let Dong Sheng raise him? As the eldest son, of course, I should be the main person responsible for supporting the elderly. “”

Yan Runzhi ignored him.

Looking far away, Yan Runzhi said in a hurry.

Jiang Lin hurriedly took Da Bao and Xiao Bao and ran over.

When she saw Cheng Ruhai, she coldly said, “Are you here to fight?”

Cheng Ruhai toughened up, “I’m going to bring Dad back. He’s my real father, and I’m the eldest son.”

Jiang Lin sneered, “He’s not really your father unless justice is served.”

Cheng Ruhai’s face turned purple with anger but he stayed put.

After a while, the car approached, and it was Duan Chang’an.

He stopped the car and greeted Jiang Lin.

Cheng Rushan jumped off the car, helped Yan Runzhi up, and lifted Da Bao and Xiao Bao onto the truck.

When Jiang Lin tried to climb up herself, he blocked her waist and lifted her up.

Jiang Lin: “…” Are you treating me like a child?

Cheng Rushan ignored Cheng Ruhai and said to Duan Chang’an, “Changan, let’s go.”

Cheng Ruhai hurried over, “Brother, I want to go and meet Dad too.”

Cheng Rushan ignored him and jumped into the car.

Duan Chang’an stepped on the gas, and the truck roared off, spraying Cheng Ruhai’s face with exhaust and dust.

Cheng Ruhai stomped with anger, muttering something, but no one in the car could hear.

When they arrived in the county, Jiang Lin thought they would take a train, but after Cheng Rushan and Duan Chang’an bid farewell, they headed to the County Revolutionary Committee compound.

“The county is building a bus station, so there will be more buses running to the countryside in the future,” he told Jiang Lin briefly about his transportation work with Yan Runzhi.

Although this job seemed prestigious to outsiders, he never flaunted it.

At the county committee compound, he went to find the logistics manager responsible for transportation and learned that there was a truck heading to the Qingcheng area, and they could hitch a ride.

They were about to depart around ten o’clock, so they waited.

Jiang Lin made a trip to the supply and marketing cooperative, giving Tao Zhen the embroidered goods they had agreed to sell on consignment.

If they sold well, they would supply regularly in the future.

They wrote down the details, including quantities and prices, and Jiang Lin returned to the compound after saying goodbye.

Cheng Rushan originally wanted to accompany her but was sternly refused.

He didn’t mind not going, as he would feel embarrassed remembering how she slapped him.

Around ten o’clock, the driver came over, and Cheng Rushan greeted him.

The family got on the truck to Qingcheng.

Unlike Duan Chang’an’s light truck, this one was a heavy-duty truck carrying this autumn’s sorghum harvest to a distillery in Qingcheng.

The sorghum was packed in sacks, stacked and tied tightly with coarse hemp ropes.

Jiang Lin asked Yan Runzhi to sit in front with the driver to minimize the bumps, but Da Bao and Xiao Bao insisted on sitting with their parents in the back, on top of the sacks.

Qingcheng’s terrain consists of plains, hills, and mountains, though none are particularly high, with the highest peak not exceeding 500 meters, and there are no exceptionally towering peaks.

They traveled on a road that wasn’t modern asphalt but rather uneven terrain, bumpy all along the way, though not dangerous.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao weren’t afraid at all, happily shouting and lifting their arms whenever the truck went over a slope, as if trying to fly.

Cheng Rushan helped hold their legs to keep them steady.

Jiang Lin gripped the truck’s front board with one hand and held onto Cheng Rushan’s arm with the other, keeping an eye on Da Bao and Xiao Bao.

After a few playful episodes, Jiang Lin couldn’t help but restrain them.

With the wind howling, she had to lean close to Cheng Rushan’s ear and say firmly, “Okay, no more playing dangerous games. Sit down properly.”

Better safe than sorry.

Cheng Rushan readily complied, securing Da Bao and Xiao Bao on his lap to listen to their mother.

Halfway through, the truck encountered some problems.

The driver couldn’t fix it alone, so Cheng Rushan went down to help with repairs, carrying Da Bao and Xiao Bao down and letting Jiang Lin join them to rest and stretch by the roadside.

Yan Runzhi brought them water to drink and brought boiled eggs for them to eat.

Jiang Lin stood on a small hill and looked down.

The sky was clear, and in the distance, farmers were busy with the autumn harvest, and children were herding sheep, everywhere bustling with a bountiful harvest scene.

Seeing scenes like this, she felt more and more connected to this era.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao were telling Yan Runzhi about how the big truck made them feel like they were flying.

Xiao Bao tugged at Jiang Lin’s clothes, “Mom, I was sitting nicely. It was the big truck that whooshed me up, whoosh whoosh! It’s not Dad’s fault.”

He glanced at Jiang Lin with an accusing look.

Da Bao nodded, “Yeah, not Dad’s fault, it’s the big truck!”

Jiang Lin glanced over at Cheng Rushan, who was helping with the repairs, and said, “It’s not your dad’s fault, it’s yours. Later, you two will sit in the front with Grandma and behave properly. Don’t disturb the driver.”

They wanted to play at the back, but Jiang Lin was firm.

They went to find Cheng Rushan.

Cheng Rushan was busy fixing the engine, glanced at Jiang Lin, and chuckled, “Your mom’s in charge.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao’s shoulders slumped, realizing that even Dad listened to Mom.

Yan Runzhi chuckled nearby and quietly told Da Bao and Xiao Bao, “You two think Dongseng’s return means you can do whatever you want? No way! Your mom has the final say in this family.”

Da Bao asked, “What about Grandpa when he comes back?”

Yan Runzhi replied, “Still your mom’s say.”

Xiao Bao asked, “What about little sister when she comes?”

“It’s still your mom. So, listen to your mom well.” Yan Runzhi smiled broadly, delighted by her sons’ return, unable to stop smiling.

After the repairs were done and they had rested enough, Da Bao and Xiao Bao climbed obediently into the small reclining seats behind the driver’s cabin as they set off again.

When their sons weren’t around, Cheng Rushan openly held Jiang Lin in his arms, preventing his wife from being jostled around.

Jiang Lin: “…”

Cheng Rushan pulled Jiang Lin close, unfolded the blanket he had brought, and covered her with it. “We still have an hour. Rest for a bit.”

Jiang Lin wanted to say it was strange to fall asleep in such a situation, but then she leaned against his chest.

Ahead was the rushing wind, beside her was his steady heartbeat, and against her back was his warm chest.

Despite the boat-like ups and downs of the journey, she actually fell asleep.

Cheng Rushan held her, watching her sleep peacefully and sweetly, feeling tender inside.

An hour later.

“Wife, we’ve arrived. Let’s get off.” Cheng Rushan leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

Jiang Lin immediately woke up. “Are we there?”

“Let’s get off and walk a bit.”

He slid down with one hand on the rope, stepping onto the running board below.

He supported Jiang Lin under her armpit as she descended.

Then, he let go and jumped down himself, catching Jiang Lin who was still clinging to the rope and helping her down.

They said goodbye to the driver.

Because Cheng Rushan would be transporting supplies for the military in the future, a much sought-after job compared to regular drivers, the driver treated him with extra courtesy.

After getting off the truck, it was just past noon.

Cheng Rushan carried their two sons while Jiang Lin assisted Yan Runzhi, ensuring she didn’t trip on the uneven road.

Yan Runzhi: “Bao’ers Mother, I’m still young. I’m not one of those old ladies who can’t walk steadily. You don’t need to assist me.”

Just as she finished speaking, she slipped and quickly grabbed Jiang Lin’s arm, taking the initiative to link arms with her. “Bao’ers Mother, let’s walk together. The road here is really slippery.”

Jiang Lin smiled, “This is a slope, and there are small stones on the road. It’s definitely slippery after rain.”

Yan Runzhi dared not boast anymore.

She walked cautiously, holding onto Jiang Lin’s arm all the way.

If she were to fall and embarrass herself before seeing her old man, it would be quite shameful.