Zhang Shuzhen prepared the meal and invited everyone to wash their hands and eat.

Sure enough, just as Zhang Shuzhen said, before they had even finished eating, Wang Jianshe, Chen Weiguo, Gao Haining, and the others all arrived.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Gao Haining shouted in her loud voice, "Xiping, Xiping, are you home?"

Previously, Gao Haining called Sheng Xiping "brother," but ever since they both got married, they've become like brothers.

Tang Fengying is older than Zhou Qinglan, so logically, Sheng Xiping should call Gao Haining his brother-in-law.

But both of them felt awkward. They were best buddies who grew up together, so why call each other "brother-in-law" and "sister-in-law"? They might as well just call each other by their names.

"I was at home, I haven't finished eating yet, why did you guys come over so quickly? Have you eaten? Why don't you eat something together?"

Sheng Xiping came out of the house with a piece of flatbread in one hand and spoke to everyone.

“I’m done eating, I’m done eating. I ate as soon as I got home. I heard you were back, so I ran over here right after I finished eating.”

Wang Jianshe smiled and walked into the house as he spoke.

The group went inside, greeted Sheng Liancheng and Zhang Shuzhen, and then sat on the north kang (heated brick bed).

Sheng Xiping quickly finished his meal and then came over to chat with everyone.

This group of people had rarely left home, except for a few trips back to their hometowns. They were all very curious about Shanghai and kept asking Sheng Xiping all sorts of questions.

Chen Weiguo was not only curious about what Shanghai was like, but he was most concerned about his younger brother's leg condition and when he could return.

"Before I left, I accompanied Minzi and Uncle to the prosthetics factory to try on the samples. They seemed okay and quite suitable."

The prosthetist said they would make it as soon as possible. If I include training, I estimate it will take about a month before I can be back.

Sheng Xiping roughly estimated that it would take about another month.

"It doesn't matter if it's one month or two months, as long as I can get a prosthetic leg."

"From now on, Minzi won't have to hop on one leg all the time. It'll be easier for him to walk, and he'll look better. That's a good thing. We can wait a little longer; it's worth it," Wang Jianshe and the others said.

As they were talking, the Sheng family members finished their meal and quickly went to clean up.

Before long, quite a few neighbors came to the Sheng family's house to listen to the radio. Sheng Xiping glanced around and noticed that there seemed to be fewer people than usual.

"Oh, by the way, Yongping's family also bought a radio."

He's engaged, isn't he? They're getting married in the fall, and the girl wanted a radio. Luckily, he'd saved up enough tickets a few days ago, so he quickly went and bought one.

Many people go to his house to listen to the radio, so fewer people come here.

Wang Jianshe glanced at Sheng Xiping, guessed what he was thinking, and then offered an explanation.

Sheng Xiping nodded. Radios weren't expensive; most families in the forest farm could afford them. The only problem was finding tickets.

Once the requirement for ration coupons is lifted, every household can buy a radio, and we won't have to go to other people's houses to listen to the radio all the time.

The people who came to the Sheng family today weren't just there to listen to the radio; their main purpose was to ask Sheng Xiping what Shanghai was like.

For these adults who work in the remote mountain villages, the outside world holds immense appeal.

Since they couldn't get a chance to go to Shanghai, they could only ask Sheng Xiping for information and learn about the outside world from him.

Early May is a critical period for afforestation and fire prevention in the forest farm, so Sheng Xiping went straight to work the day after he returned.

Sheng Xiping was still responsible for protecting the safety of the students planting trees. He happened to be patrolling the area with a gun on his back, so he could deal with any situation he encountered in a timely manner.

Incidentally, you can also hunt some game; there's no food to eat in the spring, so it's a good time to have a treat.

There are time constraints for afforestation; we're busy for about ten days each year. After that, the children go back to school.

After a few days of rest, the employees and their families will be heading back into the mountains to work hard again.

This year, Sheng Xi'an went away to study and was not at home, and Sheng Xikang had to prepare for the college entrance examination and could not afford to waste time, so only Sheng Xiping and Sheng Liancheng went into the mountains to gather cattle hair.

While Sheng Liancheng and his son went up the mountain to pick vegetables, Zhang Shuzhen stayed home to take care of the two children, rub cow hair, wash clothes, and cook.

There was no other way but to leave both children outside to be looked after.

The two girls, Sheng Yunfang and Sheng Yunfei, got up early to wash clothes by the river. During the morning exercise break, they came back to help rub the cowhide basket and coax the children. After school at noon, they rushed home to cook.

At least the whole family worked together, and this busy season of bustling activity has finally come to an end.

Once the dried vegetables were all dried, the forest farm store acted as the purchasing agent, and everyone sent their dried vegetables to sell.

Prices have risen a bit this year, but the Sheng family only sold theirs for a little over a thousand. After all, they lost two laborers, so it's normal for them to sell for less.

Just then, Chen Shiliang and his son Chen Weimin returned from Shanghai.

As the father and son walked home after getting off the miniature train, many people saw them, and everyone who looked at Chen Weimin exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh my, look at Weimin, he looks so handsome now that he's all dressed up."

You know what, once the prosthetic leg is on, it looks just like a normal person's; there's no difference.

"That's right, look at him, what a spirited young man! Wherever he goes, people will say he's got a good look."

"Of course! Look how nimble the child is now when he walks. You can't tell at all how he used to hop on one leg!"

Chen Weimin, who has been fitted with a prosthetic leg, has become the focus of attention at Qianchuan Forest Farm. Many people surround him and his father, discussing the matter animatedly.

After this experience of going out to get his prosthetic leg installed, Chen Weimin's mindset has undergone a significant change.

In the past, if so many people had surrounded him, talking and pointing at him, he would have definitely turned his back and left, feeling inferior and sensitive.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!