Zhou Huanan boarded the train home, his heart pounding with excitement. After being away from home for more than half a year, he could finally go back to see his beloved family.

Thinking back to his initial ambitions when he first went to the countryside, Zhou Huanan felt that the past six months had really helped him grow a lot.

He was no longer so naive.

Driven by enthusiasm, they went to the countryside, never considering what they, as educated youth, could actually contribute to the rural production brigade.

If Lin Yu hadn't set up this workshop, they might still be working in the fields with the team members.

According to those elderly folks, they were all "useless".

After all, they couldn't work as well as half an old lady, and they still had to be given food every month.

Life in the countryside was already tough, so it was normal for the team members to look down on the educated youth.

Because he himself began to doubt what the point of his going to the countryside was.

It wasn't until he saw Lin Yu set up a fan workshop that Zhou Huanan suddenly realized what was going on.

It turns out that their insights and knowledge were not "practical" enough. They were like floating in the air, never thinking about how their insights could be integrated into local development.

Actually, the concept of fans wasn't invented by Lin Yu. Zhou Huanan was born in the South China region and had seen similar things there when he was a child.

But he never considered the relationship between the sweet potatoes in his hand and the fans he had met before.

This is why Lin Yu's thinking is "grounded" or "adapted to local conditions."

Zhou Huanan was not unaware of their true purpose in choosing him as a salesman and issuing him a letter of introduction to return home.

He didn't feel disgusted; on the contrary, he was very fortunate that he had such a background, which allowed him to be selected for the workshop.

He is also very grateful that his parents and relatives are people with a certain social standing, which made his path smoother.

Given such assistance, why doesn't he use it?

If it were the old him, he would probably have been very proud and thought that he should rely on himself and not on his parents and relatives.

But the six months he spent in the countryside helped him grow a lot.

He was no longer so naive. Even in the brigade, relatives of brigade cadres had priority in participating in workshop interviews. This didn't bother him, did it?

Ultimately, whether or not one can get into the workshop depends on their individual abilities.

Without ability, even with connections, you can't go very far.

So Zhou Huanan got this opportunity. He knew it was because of his background, but he wouldn't look down on himself, since his written test and interview scores were genuine.

Whether he can complete the tasks assigned to him by the team ultimately depends on himself.

After getting off the train, Zhou Huanan left in a hurry without informing his family in advance. So, after leaving the train station, he took a bus home by himself.

In the family compound, everything seemed unchanged.

Including the rust on the gate and Uncle Li, the security guard sitting in the gatehouse.

"South China?"

"Uncle Li," Zhou Huanan greeted him before walking into the courtyard.

Uncle Li was left behind muttering, "Didn't they say they were going to the countryside? How come they're back?"

It's no wonder Uncle Li was puzzled; which of those young people who went to the countryside didn't return for several years?

If there's an emergency at home, like attending a funeral, they all come back looking like completely different people, covered in dust and dirt, looking just like country folk.

Unlike Zhou Huanan, who was only gone for half a year before coming back?

Moreover, he looked taller and stronger, and although he was a bit tanned, he was full of vigor and didn't look like someone who had just returned from the countryside.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he went to join the army.

Everyone who encountered Zhou Huanan along the way felt the same way.

Many of the neighbors in the residential compound also had children who had gone to the countryside, so they were all very surprised to see Zhou Huanan.

However, Zhou Huanan simply said hello and left without lingering, so they didn't have a chance to ask him for clarification.

Zhou Huanan's home is a detached bungalow. His grandfather, a retired cadre, is sitting in the yard basking in the sun.

He pushed open the door and called out, "Grandpa!"

Grandpa Zhou stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "South China?"

As Zhou Huanan approached, his voice grew louder: "Huanan, why are you back?"

Grandma from the house also ran out, pulling him up and down, saying, "Hua Nan is back! Grandma, look at you, you've gotten so tanned!"

Zhou Huanan was overjoyed, holding his grandparents' hands. These were his family members whom he had missed for more than half a year!

As soon as he entered the house, Grandpa's face changed: "Zhou Huanan, tell me the truth, did you desert?"

Although Grandpa Zhou has retired, he is still very aware of many things. Zhou Huanan has just been sent to the countryside, so how could he possibly be able to go home now?

That child was too naive and innocent back then, which is why I supported him going to the countryside.

If he can't endure the hardship and runs back on his own, Grandpa Zhou won't protect him.

Grandma Zhou looked at her grandson with worry, afraid that he might have really done something wrong.

Zhou Huanan smiled and shook his head, then helped the old man and woman to sit down before taking out the letter of introduction and giving it to his grandfather: "Grandpa, I didn't run away. The brigade leader gave me a letter of introduction."

Grandpa Zhou put on his reading glasses and looked at the letter of introduction. It had the brigade headquarters' stamp and the signature of the brigade leader, Lin Aiguo. Only then did he feel relieved.

"It's good that you're not a deserter. So, why did you come back this time?"

Since the brigade was willing to issue a letter of introduction, there must be some task assigned to Zhou Huanan.

It must be said that Grandpa Zhou's sense of smell is really sharp; Zhou Huanan is ashamed of himself.

He then told his grandparents about the brigade's workshop.

Grandpa Zhou slapped his thigh happily: "Great, great, great! The country encourages brigades to do sideline businesses, and your brigade has actually managed to set up a workshop. That's wonderful!"

"South China, this is your time to make contributions, you educated youth! You must work hard!"

Grandma Zhou was interested in the vermicelli and dried fruit he mentioned and asked him to take them out to look at.

At noon, the three of them ate sweet potato vermicelli that Zhou Huanan had brought.

Zhou Huanan ate hot and sour noodles. His grandparents were too old to eat such spicy food, so they ate half a bundle of noodles with chicken broth.

Grandpa's teeth aren't very good, and the sweet potato noodles were very smooth and soaked up the delicious chicken soup, which made him very satisfied.

Grandma Zhou was the same; she even tried a bite of the hot and sour noodles and thought they were delicious.

However, Zhou Huanan also advised, "Don't eat too many sweet potatoes, as the elderly have poor digestion. Just eat a little."

Grandpa and Grandma Zhou nodded, indicating that they understood.

The three then shared some dried fruit, as it's difficult to buy fruit in their area.

Seeing dried fruit makes everything seem very fresh.

Grandma Zhou also called over her neighbor, who has several children, and shared some dried fruit with them.

Sweet and sour dried apples, soft and chewy dried dates, and dried pears that can be soaked in water instantly won everyone's hearts.

The neighbor next door even asked Zhou Huanan if he could sell her some.

Grandpa Zhou frowned, worried that Zhou Huanan might say something wrong.