Lin’s father and Lin Yue are also going to the training.

Although Lin’s father is older and can only be assigned to logistics, he learns things quickly, so the leaders let him join the training.

After breakfast, they first stopped by the Lu family village.

Lin’s father came to see his daughter and the grand children, and then thanked Fang Dihua and Old Man Lu.

Fang Dihua had already taken Lu Erge to the private field and would go straight to work afterwards.

Old Man Lu helped entertain Lin’s father.

Old Man Lu: “Congratulations on your son becoming a tractor driver. It must have been tough on you lately.”

He wasn’t a nosy person and never pried into others’ painful matters, so he didn’t ask about the divorce.

Lin’s father, though not admitting it was hard, showed his usual soft demeanor.

Despite being usually gentle, he could boast quite a bit, saying with a smile: “Not tough at all. I’m a few years younger than you. I feel like I’ve suddenly aged ten years younger with all this effort.”

He even showed off his biceps to Old Man Lu.

Old Man Lu: “…”

Lin’s father then asked Old Man Lu about being a doctor and bragged about how quickly he learned things.

If he had studied hard back then, he could have become a county doctor.

Old Man Lu: “You’re really impressive. How about continuing to learn from me? Maybe you could become a county doctor.”

Lin’s father immediately laughed and said, “No, no. I can’t compete with you for a living. I’ve just become a tractor driver. We’re not the kind of people who are easily discouraged. If we work hard, it’s definitely possible.”

He straightened up proudly.

Originally, he worried that his family would be ridiculed for his son’s divorce.

But now, both he and his son had become tractor drivers, and they brought back eight pounds of meat and ribs to treat the neighbors who had supported them during the divorce.

Not only did the villagers not mock them, but they also envied them greatly.

Aunt Lin and Zhou’s mother, as the main supporters, felt a sense of accomplishment for helping the distressed, and praised the situation, saying “It’s a good thing the divorce happened. Bad luck is gone, and good luck is coming,” and “You’ll see, your days will get better and better.”

Previously, Old Li’s family and Lin Aidi’s father had criticized him, asking if he should also have his son get a divorce to change their luck.

He was originally afraid that the Sun family would come and cause trouble, but these days they had been surprisingly calm and didn’t come to make trouble.

He believed it must be because he and his son had become tractor drivers!

Lin’s father felt very proud.

Old Man Lu still had to go to the clinic and didn’t chat with him for long.

Lin’s father exchanged a few more words with his daughter, mainly to remind Lin Shu to visit Lin’s mother often and keep her company since he and Lin Yue wouldn’t be around.

She felt scared being alone.

Lin Shu agreed, thinking of it as a way to exercise since it wasn’t far.

Pan Pan and Tian Tian looked at Lin Yue, with Tian Tian wondering, “Uncle, why do I think you look more handsome now?”

Pan Pan bluntly added, “Yes, you used to look a bit… now you look better.”

Lin Shu laughed.

Before the divorce, Lin Yue was controlled by Sun Xiaohong.

Although he was handsome, his demeanor was somewhat unsavory.

Now, he appeared more relaxed and cheerful, and even the kids noticed the change.

Lin Yue grinned.

At first, he wasn’t used to sleeping alone, but the intense focus required to pass the tractor driver exam and the joy of success, along with all the congratulations from neighbors and discussions with the village leaders, kept him busy.

He gradually got used to it.

Lin Shu asked them to check on his elder sister in the city, mention the family matters, and write a letter to the elder sister.

Pan Pan, who had been sitting on Grandpa’s lap, suddenly got up and ran to the grandparents’ room.

He carefully took down a small box from the window sill, which was his money box given by Grandpa.

He checked to make sure no one was watching and pulled out the key from under the bedding to unlock the box.

It was filled with money!

Big bills, small coins, and some old tickets.

After hesitating, he took out two yuan, feeling a bit of heartache.

He sighed, put the money on the bed, locked the box back up, and then went to find Grandpa and Lin Yue with the two yuan.

He gave one yuan to Grandpa and one to Lin Yue, saying sweetly, “Grandpa, Uncle, you passed the tractor driver exam. That’s great! This is a reward and allowance for you. Enjoy some good food in the city.”

Grandpa Lu and Lin Yue were moved to the point of tears.

This child was so thoughtful!

Lin Shu was also surprised.

Her child was usually quite stingy.

Besides giving money to Grandpa, Grandma, and his mother, he wouldn’t easily part with a penny.

He had kept all his baby clothes, shoes, and toys, refusing to let her throw away or give away even the worn-out items.

Sweet Tian Tian said, “Grandpa, Uncle, I don’t have money. Pan Pan took all my money, so I can only congratulate you with words.”

Lin Father hugged her tightly, saying, “My dear, just offering congratulations is enough.”

“Very good, Grandpa likes it!”

He and Lin’s mother had agreed that the money they got from Sun Xiaohong would be given to Lin Shu as private funds.

Lin Shu naturally refused. “I don’t spend money at home. You should save it and use it in the city. Don’t be frugal. Once you become a tractor driver, you’ll earn plenty of work points and money, so eat well.”

Lin’s father was excessively thin, always reluctant to eat enough.

After a few words, it was time for them to leave and go to the commune for their meeting.

Panpan and Tiantian, having seen off Grandpa and Uncle, went out to play with Huahua and Huzhi.

Tiantian would tell them stories from picture books.

Watching her father and brother walk away with light steps, and seeing the two cute kids playing on the street, Lin Shu felt greatly relieved.

After years of hardship and some sacrifices, Lin Yue had finally grown up. Her children would not have to suffer such painful consequences in their lifetime.

The disasters brought by Sun Xiaohong in the original storyline would no longer happen.

That’s really great.

She cheerfully went home, took down the small leek sickle hanging on the south window, and picked some assorted flowers and herbs to use for arranging.

Flower arranging emphasizes height and spacing, as well as color matching.

She put one arrangement in a glass jar on the dining table in the main room, another in a cracked upper half of a clay pot in her room, and a small bunch on the windowsill for her in-laws.

After arranging the flowers, the once smoky and fiery room looked much brighter.

“Little sister, are you cooking at home?” Lin Aidi came over with a small basket, containing a few cucumbers and tomatoes.

She had learned about Lin Yue’s divorce when she went back to her parents’ home.

Ah, Lin Shu had it so hard.

With her husband gone and her brother-in-law divorced, Lin Shu was definitely being ridiculed, and she must be feeling very upset.

Lin Aidi wanted to comfort her.

Hearing the noise, Lin Shu quickly invited her in.

Seeing the fresh tomatoes, Lin Shu washed them and put them in a woven basket to take to the street for the kids to eat.

Her own vegetable garden was planted late, so she had more leafy greens than she could eat, but tomatoes, which have a long growth cycle, were still a problem.

Though she had planted a few with fruit, none survived; only the small seedlings were more likely to thrive.

“Your father, brother, and sister-in-law have all become tractor drivers. Your family… is really lucky.” Lin Aidi felt a mix of happiness and other emotions.

Lin Shu was getting better and better, but she… wasn’t doing so well.

It felt a bit sour.

Lin Shu handed her a tomato. “This one is a pink variety with a mealy texture. The ones I grow at home are red.”

Lin Aidi thought to herself, “How come you only know about eating?”

Just then, the sound of the mail carrier’s bell rang outside, followed by Zhou Weimin’s loud voice: “Lin Shu, you have a letter!”

Lin Shu smiled at Lin Aidi, saying, “Aidi, you really are my good luck charm. Look, as soon as you arrived, I received good news.”

Pan Pan and Tian Tian, who were playing outside, immediately rushed over when they heard their mother had a letter.

The neighborhood kids gathered around, enviously watching.

In those days, receiving a letter from outside was quite a big deal.

The 93-year-old great-uncle, who was toothless, muttered, “Shaotang’s child is writing back again.”

His wife scolded him softly, “You’re confused. Shaotang is gone.”

Great-uncle replied, “I’m not deaf. I can hear. Who else would write to his wife if not Shaotang?”

Zhou Weimin, now a temporary mail carrier, was dressed in a green postal uniform and was beaming with joy when he saw Lin Shu. “Lin Shu, your letter. Is it from your elder sister in the city?”

Before Lin Shu could respond, Lin Aidi sharply said, “Zhou Weimin, can’t you see me here? Are your eyes failing?”

Zhou Wei Min quickly replied, “I see you. I just hadn’t had the chance to greet you yet.”

Lin Shu thought it was a letter from her elder sister, but when she looked, it was actually from… Chen Yanming?

Oh no, why would Chen Yan Ming be writing to her?

He’s sending money to a comrade’s family, so why is he writing a letter too?

Could it be that he has some feelings for her?

That would be awkward if she misunderstood and made a fool of herself.

Zhou Weimin wanted to chat with Lin Shu more, but with Lin Aidi watching closely and Lin Shu seeming busy, he felt hesitant to linger.

Lin Shu asked, “Weimin, are you busy? Would you like a glass of water?”

In the hot weather, mail carriers worked hard.

Zhou Weimin’s face lit up with a big smile as he eagerly said, “Yes, please.”

Lin Aifi said, “Wait, I’ll get it for you.”

She personally fetched a bowl of cool water for Zhou Weimin, took the bowl back once he finished, and urged him to leave.

Back in the house, she put the bowl on the table and asked, “Sister, why aren’t you reading the letter?”

Lin Shu replied, “My father-in-law usually reads our family’s letters. I don’t read them all.”

Of course, she couldn’t read it in front of Lin Aidi. What if there was something private in it?

Panpan and Tiantian were very sensible.

Although they were eager to read the letter immediately, they resisted and put it away, tucking it between the pages of a medical book in the grandparents’ room.

Seeing that Lin Aidi showed no intention of leaving around mealtime, Lin Shu took the initiative to invite her to stay for lunch.

Lin Aidi wasn’t the type to take advantage or mooch a meal; she probably had something to discuss.

Lin Shu asked Lin Aidi to help heat up the griddle.

Today, they would continue making pancakes.

Last night, they hadn’t had enough, and everyone wanted to eat them every day, saying they were a hundred times better than cornbread.