Wang Xiao said, “There hasn’t been any correspondence from her lately.”

Ye Jing immediately glared at Jin Lei. “Was it you?”

Jin Lei quickly dodged. “She’s not someone who doesn’t repay debts. What’s wrong with writing and receiving letters? It’s not illegal, is it?”

“That’s not the point. Why didn’t she let you study together for the job recruitment exam? She’s just using you. Do you really think you’re a knight rescuing a princess?” They were all so angry they ignored him.

Jiang Lin didn’t say much to them either. Cheng Rushan had already delivered the message to them, and when he left, he was happy to take them along, leaving the rest up to individual luck.

On the way home, Jiang Lin said to Cheng Rushan, “This Meng Yiyi is really strange.”

Cheng Rushan asked, “Did you grow up with her since childhood?”

Jiang Lin nodded, but in her heart she denied it.

Who grew up with her? If I had someone like that when I was a child, I would have cut ties long ago.

Cheng Rushan said, “She’s not a good person, Linlin. You shouldn’t bother with her in the future.”

Hearing him speak in such a comforting tone, Jiang Lin smiled. “How do you know?”

Cheng Rushan held her hand and looked down at her. “Of course I know.”

Jiang Lin felt there was more to his gaze than met the eye and quickly looked ahead. “Let’s hurry home for dinner.”

After dinner, they took a stroll to aid digestion, then returned home for showers.

The two boys voluntarily took their pillows and blankets to Grandma’s room.

When Dad wasn’t home, they stayed with Mom; when dad returned, they went to play with the radio and toy cars.

While their mom was showering, the two boys neatly arranged her bedding, took out Dad’s pillow and placed it beside theirs.

They even considerately fluffed up the pillow to make a comfortable hollow before happily going to bed listening to the radio.

When Jiang Lin returned, Cheng Rushan was already in bed with his hair half-dry.

She exclaimed, “When did you shower?”

Cheng Rushan had initially intended to shower with her, but she had firmly refused.

He hadn’t expected to finish before her.

Looking somewhat aggrieved, Cheng Rushan glanced at her. “Wife wouldn’t let me use the bathroom, so I had to go to the river.” He rubbed his arms. “It was really cold.”

Jiang Lin chuckled, drying her hair and climbing onto the kang.

She poked Cheng Rushan’s chest. “You’re practically steaming hot all over, and yet you say you’re cold.”

“It’s really cold. Don’t believe me? Feel it.” He took her hand and pressed it against his abdomen.

He had a good physique, with well-defined muscles that weren’t overly exaggerated.

His abdomen was particularly flat, with visible abs, and his V-line was faintly discernible beneath his vest.

Jiang Lin wanted to pinch him, but couldn’t find anything to pinch.

She bit her lip and nodded. “Quite strong, you’ve been training well.”

She tried to pull her hand away, but he caught her waist and she ended up lying on top of him.

Her nose bumped against his chest, causing a slight pain.

She opened her mouth and playfully bit him.

Though she couldn’t bite his muscles, she could find softer spots!

Cheng Rushan took a sharp breath, pulled her onto his lap, and when she tried to evade, he hooked her neck and pressed forward, kissing her lips.

After a moment, with his lips still touching hers, he laughed softly, “Hurry up, didn’t you eat? I had a big dinner, don’t worry, I won’t be slow.”

Jiang Lin rested her head on his chin, her face flushed but defiant, “Um… the quality of life isn’t determined by speed, you’re not a little motor, no need to force it.”

Hmph, show off again… if you show off again, I have no way to handle you.

Cheng Rushan lowered his head and nibbled on her earlobe, his breath hot on her neck, “Then… you decide?”

In the end, Jiang Lin proved with her actions that being a man is not easy.

If she had to be a man, she would probably choose to spend her life with her right hand…

Two days later, Jiang Lin explained the brick kiln business to Cheng Yulian and Shang Zonghui, entrusting them with full responsibility as she and Cheng Rushan planned to take the family to the provincial city.

Cheng Yunzhi felt that his legs weren’t good, that he was old and useless, and didn’t want to go to the city and embarrass his son.

Yan Runzhi quietly reassured him, “Old man, stop overthinking. Bao’er’s mother sincerely wants us to go, it’s not just politeness. Just talk less, eat more, read and tell stories to Wensheng, Dabao, and Xiaobao every day, and don’t worry about anything else.”

Cheng Yunzhi thought about it and decided to go.

Yan Runzhi was even happier than Jiang Lin, packing gifts for the in-laws, filling an entire bag.

Jiang Lin said, “Mom, you don’t need to bring so much, just a small token is enough. When we get to the provincial city, we can buy some canned food and malted milk, that should be enough.”

Yan Runzhi replied, “That’s from the provincial city, the in-laws can get that themselves. These are from our home, the sentiment is different. Oh, and those two little roosters, they’re fat now, let’s bring them and have them for meat.”

The next day, before dawn, they got up to pack.

Yan Runzhi tied the chickens’ legs together and hung them on a stick.

Seeing this, Dabao and Xiaobao immediately ran over, hoisting the stick onto their shoulders, carrying the two chickens.

Wensheng helped Yan Runzhi carry the heavy bag.

He wasn’t afraid at all, singing along with Dabao and Xiaobao as they walked: “I’ve got a chicken in my left hand, a duck in my right, and a chubby baby in my arms, going back to my hometown!”

Jiang Lin: “You all are too much.”

Sun Qinghui, Ye Jing, Wang Xiao, and six other educated youths took leave to go back and take exams, while those unsure about their preparations decided to wait.

Cheng Rushan brought Duan Changan along on this trip to get him familiar with the route and process.

During these days, Cheng Rushan was accompanying Jiang Lin to her family home, so Duan Changan was to go with Dai Guohua to pick up goods from other places.

From Shuihuai Village to the provincial city, some segments of the journey were dirt roads instead of highways, and the truck’s speed would be slower due to the heavy load.

Cheng Rushan and Dai Guohua took turns driving, taking about seven to eight hours to reach the provincial city.

They brought dry food, pickles, and water, stopping along the way to gather firewood and cook.

They roasted mantou and wowo heads over the fire, boiled water for vegetable soup, ate, and continued on without further stops until reaching the provincial city.

Jiang Lin gathered from Dai Guohua’s comments that they stopped to cook hot meals because they had women and children with them.

Otherwise, he and Cheng Rushan would have just managed with cold food.

She thought it would be okay in the summer, but in the winter, eating cold wowo heads and drinking cold water could make them sick.

She quietly advised Cheng Rushan, “In the future, bring a small charcoal stove like the ones on boats. Light it at noon to boil some hot water for vegetable soup and soak the dry food.”

Cheng Rushan smiled at her, “Okay, as you say.”

Jiang Lin: “I’m serious. You might feel fine now, but no one’s body is made of iron, and it won’t break down in just one day.”

Seeing her concern, Cheng Rushan felt warm inside, holding her hand, “I’ll do as you say.”

They arrived at the provincial city in the late afternoon.

Sun Qinghui and the others bade them farewell and went to catch buses or walk home.

Since the truck was loaded with goods, Cheng Rushan didn’t let Dai Guohua give them a ride.

He got off with his family, letting Dai Guohua and Duan Changan deliver the goods.

Dai Guohua said, “Rushan, go stay at the military district guesthouse. You know the place, right?”

In the past, they were reluctant to stay in hotels.

They mostly slept in the car. Now, with their family, they definitely need to find a place to settle down.

Cheng Rushan gestured and said to Duan Changan, “Don’t be nervous.”

Duan Changan was very excited all the way, “Brother Cheng, I’m not nervous. Just don’t let your in-laws get nervous.” He smiled and waved goodbye to Jiang Lin.

After Dai Guohua and the others drove away, Cheng Rushan carried the tired Da Bao and Xiao Bao, Wen Sheng carried the bags and luggage, and Yan Runzhi helped Cheng Yunzhi.

Jiang Lin was spinning around, observing the surroundings, stimulating memories.

Cheng Rushan said, “Wife, let’s go to Liberation Road first and stay at the hotel.”

Jiang Lin was about to say she didn’t know where the hotel was, but then realized she was a native of the provincial capital.

Her family used to be from the countryside, but her parents later brought the children to work in the city, and she was born in the city.

The memories she inherited were mostly about some memorable things, and she could barely remember the basics.

As for this environment, if nothing memorable happened, she wouldn’t remember it.

She smiled and said, “Despite being from the provincial capital, I haven’t really explored it much.”

That being said, no problem, hehe.

Cheng Rushan glanced at her and motioned for her to follow him.

Yan Runzhi helped Cheng Yunzhi, “It’s true. If someone hadn’t dragged me to the farm in my life, I might never have left home.”

Wen Sheng was curious about the surroundings.

There were neatly arranged houses along the road, all made of bricks and tiles.

In the distance, there were some houses higher by one or two floors than others, some even had pointed roofs, looking very grand.

The road was wide and flat, with many cyclists passing by, and even some riding on three wheels.

A horn honked, and following the sound, it turned out to be a white and blue large car.

This car was different from the trucks and tractors they saw in the countryside.

It was a long metal box, with a door at the front for people to get on and off.

“Wow, their house is so big,” he sighed.

Jiang Lin said, “This is the provincial capital, not my home. My home is with all of you.”

This unintentional statement revealed her inner stance.

She hadn’t paid attention to what she said, but the listeners were pleased.

They didn’t know which bus to take, nor were there carts or ox carts to hitch a ride on, so they had to walk and asked for directions twice along the way.

By the time it got dark, they still hadn’t arrived.

Streetlights on tall poles by the roadside lit up.

The light wasn’t particularly bright at this time, just old-fashioned street lamps with a round hood and a bulb emitting a yellowish glow.

Wen Sheng was amazed and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Look!”

Lights that weren’t afraid of wind or rain, illuminating the road for everyone—this was unheard of in the countryside, and everything seemed novel.

Yan Runzhi also found it fascinating and chatted with Cheng Yunzhi, finding everything entertaining.

Jiang Lin explained to them what this was and what that was.

“Bao’er’s Mother, how do these lights shine?” asked Yan Runzhi.

Jiang Lin replied, “Electric lights. They exist in the county town. The loudspeakers in our commune use generators. Look at those poles and wires…” She pointed to bundles of wires strung between poles along the wall by the road.

“It’s really amazing. Big cities are so great. At home, having a kerosene lamp would be nice,” Yan Runzhi said wistfully.

Jiang Lin laughed, “Mom, you like big cities, huh? Then in the future, let’s try to move to the city.”

As far as she knew, many elderly people in the countryside were deeply rooted and reluctant to move.

Even if others said cities were better, they didn’t care for it.

They preferred their own thatched cottages, chickens and ducks, and personal plots.

It wasn’t necessarily about attachment to things, but fear of change.

In the countryside, they knew and controlled everything around them.

Going to a strange place, who knew what life would be like? Maybe staying home was better.

Jiang Lin was pleased that Yan Runzhi enjoyed the idea of going to a big city, making their future move less of a concern.

Along the way, she chatted and laughed with Yan Runzhi and Wen Sheng, while Cheng Rushan and Cheng Yunzhi mostly listened to them.

They finally arrived at the military district’s guesthouse on Liberation Road, specifically for the service of unit employees and their families, hence offering discounted prices.

Cheng Rushan presented his work ID to request rooms, and the staff at the guesthouse were very courteous.

They showed the ID, paid the money, received the keys, and were even provided with a thermos of hot water in each room.

Cheng Rushan requested two small rooms across from each other.

Cheng Yunzhi and Yan Runzhi stayed with Wen Sheng in one room, while he and Jiang Lin stayed with Da Bao and Xiao Bao in another.

By the time dinner time came around, the guesthouse kitchen was already closed, and they couldn’t buy any food.

Yan Runzhi said, “We have hot water, let’s make some instant noodles.” She took out a jar of minced meat sauce she had brought, another jar of lard-fried pickled vegetables, and a can of peanut sesame candy sauce for Da Bao and Xiao Bao, all made by herself.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao were very tired and couldn’t be woken up, so Jiang Lin didn’t bother them.

After dinner, Cheng Rushan gestured for Jiang Lin to go out for a walk.

Jiang Lin nodded towards the sleeping children.

Yan Runzhi chuckled, “Bao’er mom, you go familiarize yourselves with the surroundings. We’re not sleeping now, just chatting here.”

Cheng Rushan happily held his wife’s hand and pulled her out, saying, “Let’s go.”

Outside the guesthouse, they looked around and Jiang Lin pointed to the right, “Let’s stroll over there.”

Cheng Rushan noticed, “There’s a movie theater on the left. Want to go watch a movie?” He had noticed it when they arrived.

Jiang Lin shook her head, “A movie would take at least an hour and a half, too late.”

She thought he was tired from driving and should rest early, plus movie tickets weren’t something you could just buy casually.

Cheng Rushan led her on a stroll.

They walked from Liberation Street to Victory Street, passing by People’s Park, where they decided to go in and have a look.

Around eight o’clock, there were still people walking and chatting in the park, mostly young couples.

As they passed a clump of flowering trees, they heard the sound of a young couple kissing inside.

Jiang Lin quickly pulled Cheng Rushan away.

Cheng Rushan teased, “You think I’m not serious.”

Jiang Lin replied, “You’re never serious.”

Cheng Rushan hugged her, “I can be even less serious.”

Just as they were playing around, a flashlight beam shone towards them from afar.

A militia patrol in uniform with red armbands rushed over, shouting, “Who are you? No hugging and kissing allowed!”