Chapter 715 Five Years Later

Xiaoyu's breakdown was prolonged and difficult to alleviate. By the end of her crying, she was exhausted and would unconsciously sob.

He Yuxiang remained silent throughout, and after his sister fell asleep, he knocked on his aunt's door again in the middle of the night.

He Yuan opened the door.

He Yuxiang asked, "When are you coming back?"

He Yuan: "Five years from now."

If things go smoothly, it could take three or four years; but if things don't go smoothly, it could take eight or ten years.

His goal is five years, and He Yuan hopes he will not break his promise to his child.

He Yuxiang's throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton; his lips opened and closed, but he couldn't make a sound.

He Yuan gently patted his shoulder: "Grow up well."

He Yuxiang's tears burst forth in an instant. He turned his back and quickly wiped them away, but he couldn't dry them no matter what he did. He really didn't want his uncle to leave.

He wanted to cry and make a scene like Xiaoyu.

But rationally, I felt that what my aunt said was right.

My uncle has been fighting alone for too long; he deserves to achieve more.

But……

But he didn't want his uncle to leave.

He Yuxiang choked up and said, "Take good care of yourself too, don't get too thin, my aunt definitely won't like you if you get too thin!"

He Yuan: "..."

He was already feeling bitter and sad, and now he didn't know what to say.

He Yuxiang went back to his room and cried secretly.

Chen Qing sighed, "There's nothing we can do; they rely on you quite a bit."

From a child's perspective, He Yuan truly seemed like the father they had always dreamed of.

She doesn't talk much, but she's gentle and can repair all sorts of things in the house. She can cook a lot of delicious meals, care about their studies and hobbies, and also care about their health. She can even make all kinds of toys, making them happier than their peers from a young age.

He Yuan lowered his eyes: "I can't bear to part with them either."

Chen Qing slowly exhaled: "Let's go back inside, it's windy outside."

When the two lay back in bed, they no longer had the same romantic feelings as in the previous days; they simply stayed together quietly.

He Yuan's car was at seven o'clock.

Chen Qing stayed up until five o'clock in the morning, and then went to the kitchen.

He Yuan: "What are you going to do?"

As Chen Qing got out of bed and put on her shoes, she said, "I heard from others that Northeastern children eat dumplings when they go out to ensure their safety. You also have Northeastern blood, so I'll make dumplings for you."

He Yuan's heart skipped a beat, but he couldn't help asking, "Can you do it?"

Chen Qing: "I learned it."

He Yuan was taken aback, feeling surrounded by love and filled with reluctance. He got up and followed Chen Qing to the kitchen.

The kitchen lights were dim, and Chen Qing took out the flour and started kneading the dough.

He Yuan watched her from the side: "This is the first time I've seen you cook."

Chen Qing smiled and said, "Yes, so even if it doesn't taste good later, you still have to praise me."

He Yuan: "Yes, sir!"

Making dumplings isn't difficult, but Chen Qing rolled out the dumpling wrappers very slowly. She was afraid she wouldn't have enough time later, so she only made dumplings for He Yuan.

As the plump, round dumplings were dropped into the pot, Chen Qing stared at them, lost in thought.

He Yuan hugged her.

Chen Qing: "I'm not going to cry today, so don't mess with me."

He Yuan's voice was hoarse: "I can't bear to part with you."

Chen Qing: "Stop! No sentimentality allowed. I'm cooking dumplings right now. If they spoil, I'll hold you accountable!"

She broke free from He Yuan's embrace, stared intently at the dumplings, and only when she felt they were fully cooked did she pack them up and give them to He Yuan.

He Yuan ate directly in the kitchen.

Chen Qing asked, "Is it delicious?"

He Yuan: "Delicious. It's the best meal I've ever had in my life."

"Then you work hard, and when you come back, I'll make you noodles."

"……good."

The bowl of dumplings wasn't a lot, but He Yuan ate them all up and drank the soup as well.

Chef Chen Qing was very satisfied: "Alright, go change your clothes, their car will be here soon."

At six o'clock, Xiaoyu and He Yuxiang came to their uncle's side.

Pingping and Youyou seemed to sense something and clung tightly to their father.

But the car arrived on time, and He Yuan left with the suitcase Chen Qing had prepared.

Chen Qing watched him get into the car, then came up to him and said, "Take good care of yourself. Don't make me worry about you. I also packed a sketchbook and a photo album for you in your suitcase. You can look at them occasionally. Anyway... just focus on your work."

"Okay." He Yuan gazed at her intently, then couldn't resist leaning in and planting a kiss on her lips.

Tears streamed down Chen Qing's face. She glared at him fiercely, her chin trembling slightly, and said sternly, "It's all your fault."

He Yuan wiped away her tears: "It's all my fault."

The separation seemed to happen in an instant; the family watched the car drive further and further away until it disappeared without a trace.

Xiaoyu's eyes were swollen like walnuts from crying, but she still couldn't stop crying.

Chen Qing turned to face the children, her eyes now dry of tears. She wiped away Xiao Yu's tears and said to the children, "Let's go home."

He Yuxiang followed his aunt home, and was in a very bad mood the whole way.

He longed for the prosperity and strength of the nation!

Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. The country is indeed getting better and better, just as He Yuxiang had imagined. The college entrance examination was reinstated, educated youth returned to the cities, reform and opening up were implemented, and various major historical events occurred.

On June 1, 1979, fifteen-year-old He Yuxiang pulled his hat down low as he walked home from the train station. He had a snakeskin bag in his hand, which was full of money.

With the college entrance exam approaching, He Yuxiang had no interest in studying and was engrossed in buying and selling. He returned to his home near the clothing factory, unlocked the door with his key, and saw his six-year-old sons, Pingping and Youyou, looking at him excitedly.

"elder brother!"

He Yuxiang smiled and stepped forward to hug them, gently ruffling their hair: "Where's your mother?"

"Mom went to the factory, and Xiaoyu is studying in her room. Mom told us not to make noise."

Youyou clung tightly to her brother's leg, refusing to let go.

He Yuxiang then picked him up and said, "I'll take you to count the money, let's go."

The current house is located near the garment factory and occupies a larger area. The trees from before have also been transplanted. Apart from Chen Qing's master bedroom, all four siblings now have their own rooms.

There are also rooms for Aunt Feng and Sister Hou, as well as a study.

This place was moved to after He Yuxiang was in fifth grade; the previous house was rented out.

He Yuxiang attended the affiliated school of Shengxia Sports Apparel Factory for both junior and senior high school. He stopped being the class monitor in high school because he was already thinking about making money and often skipped classes.

Over the years, his aunt has used the money his uncle earns to buy houses every year.

One set per year.

Everyone in the family has one.

Except for him.

He used the money his aunt gave him to buy a house as leverage to invest in a business, and now it has multiplied several times over.

He Yuxiang and his younger siblings began counting money in the study.

A burlap sack full of money was opened, and it spilled onto the ground with a clatter. Pingping and Youyou stared wide-eyed.

He Yuxiang quickly pulled his younger siblings aside to stop them from eating: "I'll count Xiao Zhang's, and you guys count Da Zhang's. Let's have a competition, okay?"

"good!"

The siblings spoke in unison and began to sort out the money for their brother.

The goods that He Yuxiang was buying and selling were not anything else, but clothes.

(End of this chapter)