The next morning, Wang Yitong was woken by her mother. She rubbed her eyes and checked the time. It was just after eight o'clock. Remembering that she had to go back to her hometown to visit her grandparents, she quickly got up and washed up.

After washing up, Wang Yitong had breakfast with her mother. It was a rich breakfast with steamed buns, steamed bread, soy milk, fried dough sticks, etc. Wang Yitong ate a bun and drank a cup of soy milk, feeling full.

Only after breakfast did Wang Yitong finally have time to check her phone. Everyone in the company's management knew that Wang Yitong disliked overtime and wouldn't schedule work during her breaks. Partners, management, and other friends all sent her New Year's text messages.

Skipping over these messages, Wang Yitong read Xu Chengwei's reply: "Happy New Year. I hope I will have the opportunity to spend every New Year with you in the future. Good night."

Lin Mu's reply: "Happy New Year, Tongtong, may you and I be happy."

Zhou Yinuo replied: "Happy New Year! My parents asked me to give you their regards. Please contact us when you come to Yunnan later."

......

Wang Yitong returned to her bedroom, changed into a short down jacket and fleece-lined jeans, grabbed her messenger bag, and then put on her backpack, packing her belongings, her red envelope, and her phone and keys. Wang's father also changed into the new clothes Chen Yin had bought him, and, carrying his belongings, he prepared to leave.

"Dad, you should drive the Buick 7-seater back home. You can stay home longer. Mom and I bought some things for grandpa and grandma last night in the trunk of my car. I'll drive back too. Tomorrow I'll drive directly from my hometown to Rong City via the other side of the road. I won't go back to Rong City from Le City."

Wang Dawei thought for a moment and said, "That's fine. You can make your own arrangements. But in that case, you'll need to put the frozen items in the refrigerator in the car and take them back home. Then, you can put them in the refrigerator back home. It will be convenient for you to take them with you when you leave tomorrow."

After that, they returned to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and repacked. Luckily, there were still foam boxes at home. Wang's father had packed the frozen, slaughtered chickens in large, sealed food bags inside the foam boxes. Chen Yin had previously bought egg cartons online and placed the eggs she'd bought at the market inside the cartons and put them in the refrigerator. This time, she took those out and put them in the foam box, then packed the things her second uncle had brought.

"Mom and Dad, please stop pretending, otherwise it will be difficult for me to bring it with me on the plane."

Chen Yin continued, "Don't worry, we've packed it all for you. You can take some of it on the plane, and some of it can be checked in. It will be convenient for your uncle to pick you up at the airport. Also, your aunt just gave birth to her second child, and these free-range chickens and eggs are nutritious. Your grandparents will like them too."

After packing up their belongings, the three of them headed out and put their belongings in the car. Two of them drove back to their hometowns. Along the way, Wang Yitong gazed at the scenery outside the window, feeling delighted. Perhaps this is the essence of homesickness. Every festive season brings a yearning for family, especially during the New Year. Regardless of how much one earns, one yearns to return home and see their people.

After about half an hour, we arrived at the street. Usually, it was a place where people sewed clothes and went to market, but during the New Year holidays, there were people selling things on the street all morning.

After about an hour's drive, Wang Yitong and her mother finally arrived at their hometown. The family had a landline, and Wang's father had called the elderly family member before leaving. The elderly woman was already waiting for them on the slope outside the house, and soon she saw Wang Dawei driving over.

"Mom, why are you out? Go back to the yard. Your eyesight is not good." Father Wang said to his mother.

Wang's father parked the car in the yard, and Wang Yitong parked her car behind the hillside.

Wang Yitong's grandmother waited for Wang Yitong to park the car and said, "Tongtong, you're back!" She looked at Wang Yitong and took out the cigarettes, tea and liquor she bought for her grandparents from the trunk. The liquor she bought for the elderly was Luzhou Laojiao.

Wang Yitong's grandmother took the things from Wang Yitong and said with a smile: "You guys are back now. What do you want to buy? We have plenty at home."

Wang Yitong continued to walk into the yard with her grandmother, carrying the food, clothes and shoes she bought for her grandparents.

"I seldom come back, so when I do I buy more. As long as you like it, it's fine."

Grandpa was sitting in the yard. When he saw Wang Yitong come back, he said, "Tongtong, you're back. Come and eat some oranges. I picked them from the tree this morning. Your third uncle's Bingbing and his family, as well as your fourth uncle and his family, are back too."

"Grandpa, try these clothes. My mom bought them for you and grandma. Those cigarettes and alcohol are good, but you should drink less and smoke less."

The old man looked at the things Wang Yitong bought, and his eyes wrinkled with smile. "Good, good, good."

Wang Dawei and Chen Yin put everything they brought back in the refrigerator.

Wang Yitong took the opportunity to take a closer look at the renovated house in his hometown. After the 2008 earthquake, some damaged houses in the rural area were rebuilt, partly with government funding and partly with contributions from residents. Even the mountains now have natural gas. Wang's father hired a construction team to redesign the house, transforming it into a small villa.

On the side of the first floor, there's a separate wood-burning stove and a firewood storage room. Next to it is a modern kitchen with natural gas and water connections. Next to it is the dining room, and the middle room is the living room. All the appliances in the house were purchased from Zheng Feng, including a large double-door refrigerator.

Wang Dawei also found a new home next door to Wang Yitong's family and built a one-story house for them. He also built a pigpen and a shed for chickens and ducks. Wang Yitong's father also paid for air conditioning, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and other appliances. They had no problem living there. His father also built a two-story house on the other side. They usually lived and worked in town.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!