In the late autumn of 1985, after a light drizzle, the air in Hongqi Commune was a bit chilly. Lin Wanqiu stood at the gate of her courtyard, looking at the packed belongings inside—neatly folded bedding, wooden crates full of clothes, and the little rabbit doll that Shen Nianxi couldn't bear to part with. She felt both reluctant to leave her old home and excited about her new life in the city. Today was the day her whole family was moving to the city. The workers from the food workshop had come to help. Wang Jianguo and Liu Chunyan were working together to load the last wooden crate onto the jeep, their faces beaming with genuine smiles.

"Director Lin, don't forget us when you get to the city. We'd love to try your sesame crisps when we deliver goods there!" Liu Chunyan wiped the sweat from her brow, her voice filled with reluctance. She had followed Lin Wanqiu for several years, growing from a rural woman who couldn't even read properly into a capable customer manager, and her heart was filled with gratitude towards Lin Wanqiu.

Lin Wanqiu patted her hand with a smile: "Silly girl, how could I forget? The food workshop will need your help in the future. When you go to the city, I will not only let you eat sesame brittle, but also take you to the department store." Her gaze swept over the workers present, and her tone was somewhat solemn, "Thank you all for your hard work during this time. While I am away from the commune, I will entrust the production and management of the food workshop to you. If there are any problems that you cannot solve, call me anytime."

"Don't worry, Director Lin, we'll definitely do our best and won't let you down!" Wang Jianguo said loudly, his eyes full of determination. He had been learning the technology from Lin Wanqiu and was now able to independently manage the workshop's production. He had long developed a deep affection for the food processing plant.

Shen Tingzhou loaded the last piece of luggage into the car, walked to Lin Wanqiu's side, and gently took her hand: "It's getting late, we should leave now, don't keep the children waiting." He glanced at his watch, his tone tinged with urgency—they needed to get to the city before dark, get the new house ready, and let the children adapt to the new environment tomorrow.

Lin Wanqiu nodded, taking one last look at the courtyard where she had lived for so many years. Although the morning glories on the wall had withered, she could still see Shen Nian'an running around in the courtyard as a child, and Shen Nianxi walking for the first time. This place held so many of her memories, from the embarrassment when she first arrived, to the hardships of starting the food shop, and now to her happiness and fulfillment. Every memory, like the old locust tree in the courtyard, was deeply rooted in her heart.

"Mom, let's go! I want to see our new home as soon as possible!" Shen Nian'an held Shen Nianxi's hand and stood in front of the jeep, his eyes full of anticipation. He couldn't wait to see their new home in the city and get used to the environment so he could prepare for transferring to the city's No. 1 Middle School next year.

Lin Wanqiu smiled and stepped forward, straightening Shen Nianxi's collar: "Xixi, you have to be a good girl in your new home, and not be naughty like you were in the commune."

Chen Nianxi nodded vigorously, her little face full of seriousness: "Mom, don't worry, Xixi will be good, and will even help brother pack his schoolbag!"

The family got into the jeep, and the car slowly drove out of Hongqi Commune. Chen Nianxi pressed her face against the car window, watching the familiar fields and villages gradually disappear into the distance, her little mouth constantly asking, "Daddy, do houses in the city have yards? Can we plant morning glories?"

Shen Tingzhou gripped the steering wheel and replied with a smile, "Although our house in the city doesn't have a big yard, it does have a small balcony. Next spring, Dad will help you plant morning glories on the balcony, and also your favorite sunflowers, okay?"

"Great!" Shen Nianxi clapped her hands excitedly, her little face full of joy. Shen Nian'an sat in the passenger seat, holding a math workbook in his hand, occasionally looking up at the scenery outside the window, his heart filled with longing for city life—he had heard that the city's No. 1 High School had a large library and a dedicated laboratory, and he had long wanted to see those advanced experimental equipment.

After driving for more than two hours, the jeep finally arrived in the city. Looking at the scene before her, Chen Nianxi couldn't help but exclaim, "Mom, look how tall that building is! And there are so many cars!" The city streets were much wider than those of the commune, with tall buildings standing tall and cars flowing endlessly. Brightly colored billboards hung in front of the department stores along the roadside, attracting the attention of pedestrians.

Following the route he remembered, Shen Tingzhou quickly found their new home—a bungalow near the city's No. 1 Middle School, with red brick walls and black tiles. Although not large, it was clean and tidy. An old sycamore tree stood in the yard, its golden leaves falling to the ground like a golden carpet.

"We're home!" Shen Tingzhou stopped the car and said to the children with a smile. Shen Nianxi was the first to jump out of the car and run into the yard, curiously looking around at her surroundings. She touched the ivy on the wall and picked up sycamore leaves from the ground, her little face full of excitement.

Lin Wanqiu stepped into the house, looking at the spacious and bright room, her heart filled with satisfaction. In the living room sat a wooden sofa and a coffee table, which she had specially bought from a furniture store in the county town; the bed in the bedroom was already made with new bedding, embroidered with floral patterns she had sewn herself; the stove in the kitchen was clean and tidy, with modern kitchen utensils she had taken from her spatial storage placed beside it—she had long wanted to cook a proper meal in the city so her family could taste her cooking.

Over the next few days, Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou were busy tidying up their new home. Shen Tingzhou used his time after work to clear the weeds from the yard and set up a flower rack on the balcony, preparing to plant morning glories, which Shen Nianxi liked, next spring. Lin Wanqiu, on the other hand, was busy purchasing household items, carefully selecting everything from pots and pans to bed sheets and blankets, hoping to make her family more comfortable.

Shen Nian'an and Shen Nianxi were also busy. Shen Nian'an helped organize books and study materials, neatly placing his textbooks and supplementary books on the bookshelf; Shen Nianxi helped wipe the table and sweep the floor, her movements clumsy but her work exceptionally diligent. Working together, the family quickly tidied up their new home, filling it with a sense of home.

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