The morning light of midsummer in 1983, like crumpled gold leaf, gently sprinkled on the dirt road of Hongqi Commune, gilding the poplar leaves along the roadside with a dazzling luster. Lin Wanqiu stood at the gate of the courtyard, carefully tidying up Shen Nian'an's canvas schoolbag. Inside, besides a water bottle and a few pieces of sesame brittle she had made herself, she had also specially placed a brand-new notebook—she had bought it from the county bookstore a few days ago, thinking that Nian'an might want to record the new things he saw when he went to the city.

"Tingzhou, is everything ready? Don't forget your train ticket." Lin Wanqiu turned to look into the house, her voice filled with anticipation. This trip to the city was something Shen Tingzhou had planned half a month ago. Firstly, to fulfill his promise to Nian'an, and secondly, to let Lin Wanqiu relax a bit—since the food workshop expanded, she had been busy there almost every day, with very little time to rest.

Shen Tingzhou came out of the house, carrying a black faux leather bag containing a change of clothes and some dry food for the family. He carefully put the train tickets into his jacket pocket and said with a smile, "Don't worry, everything's ready. Where's Nian'an? That child was so excited last night she couldn't sleep, why isn't she up yet?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Nian'an ran out of the house in a newly made blue tracksuit, his face beaming with uncontainable joy. "Dad, I'm up! I've been up for a while, just checking if I had all my math books." He waved the math dictionary in his hand, which Shen Tingzhou had bought for him at the bookstore in the county town. It had become his treasure, and he wanted to take it with him everywhere he went.

Lin Wanqiu couldn't help but smile at her son's excited expression. She reached out and straightened his collar. "Silly boy, we're going to the city to play, not to do math problems. You don't need to bring so many math books." Shen Nian'an said seriously, "Mom, I heard there are big bookstores in the city. Maybe I can buy more difficult math problems there. I brought a dictionary so I can look up any concepts I don't understand."

Shen Tingzhou walked over and ruffled Shen Nian'an's hair. "Alright, bring her along. It's a good thing that Nian'an loves to study." He turned to Lin Wanqiu and said, "It's getting late. We should head to the commune station now, or we'll miss the bus."

The family of three locked the courtyard gate and walked along the dirt road towards the commune station. The morning air was filled with the fresh scent of wheat straw and the damp aroma of earth. In the cornfields by the roadside, dewdrops still clung to the tender green leaves, swaying gently in the breeze like glistening pearls. Shen Nian'an would run to the roadside to pick a few wildflowers, then chase after a few butterflies, her clear laughter echoing across the fields.

"Run slowly, don't fall," Lin Wanqiu said with a smile, her eyes full of affection. She remembered when Nian'an first transmigrated, she was a thin and timid child who didn't even dare to speak loudly. Now she was so lively and cheerful, and her heart was filled with relief. Shen Tingzhou walked beside her, looking at her gentle profile, and gently took her hand. "Wanqiu, you've worked hard these past few days. Once we get to the city, let's have some fun and not worry about anything."

Lin Wanqiu felt the warmth from her palm and felt a warmth in her heart. "With you and Nian'an here, I don't feel tired. Besides, with Li Xiulian and the others helping out at the food shop, I don't have to worry about everything."

Before they knew it, they had arrived at the commune station. The station was small, with only a simple waiting shed, which was already quite full of people, mostly villagers going to the county or city for business. Shen Tingzhou found an empty seat for Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an to sit down, while he stood to the side, warily watching the crowd around him—his years in the military had instilled in him a cautious habit.

Not long after, a green long-distance bus slowly pulled into the station, with the words "Red Flag Commune - City Center" printed on its side. The doors opened, and people lined up in an orderly fashion to board. Shen Tingzhou, carrying the luggage, escorted Lin Wanqiu and Nian'an as they slowly boarded the bus. The carriage wasn't crowded, and they found three seats together. Shen Nian'an sat by the window, Lin Wanqiu sat in the middle, and Shen Tingzhou sat by the aisle.

The car started and slowly drove out of the commune station, heading towards the city along the dirt road. Shen Nian'an leaned against the car window, curiously watching the scenery outside. Sometimes she would point at the cattle and sheep by the roadside and exclaim excitedly, and sometimes she would ask Lin Wanqiu, "Mom, are there many tall buildings in the city? Are they taller than the department store in the county town?"

Lin Wanqiu nodded with a smile, "Yes, the skyscrapers in the city are much taller than the department stores in the county town, and there are wide roads with lots of cars and bicycles. By the way, there's also a large park in the city with artificial hills, a lake, and lots of fun rides. Shall we go to the park sometime?"

"Great!" Shen Nian'an clapped her hands excitedly. "I want to go to the bookstore and buy more math books." Shen Tingzhou smiled and said, "No problem. When we get to the city, we'll find a place to stay first, and then I'll take you to the bookstore and then to the park. I promise you'll have plenty of fun."

After about two hours of driving, the car finally entered the city. Looking out the window, Shen Nian'an saw the houses along the road getting taller and the roads getting wider. Cars and bicycles flowed endlessly, and stylishly dressed people walked along the roadside. His eyes widened in amazement. "Mom, look! That building is so tall! Taller than our commune's water tower!" he exclaimed excitedly, pointing to a ten-story building in the distance.

Lin Wanqiu looked in the direction he pointed, and there was a building with red brick walls that stood out in the sunlight. She smiled and said, "That's the department store in the city. It has all kinds of goods, much more than the department store in the county town. We can go and have a look tomorrow."

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