"What about the food at home?"

"That's easy. I'll send some back to Beijing little by little through the post office before I go back, and exchange some for grain coupons at the grain store. As for the rest, I'll see if any of the educated youth in the educated youth compound want any. They're all short of food, so it shouldn't be difficult to deal with the grain."

"That's good. If it weren't for the heavy training schedule lately, I would have taken leave to dispose of this food for you."

"It's okay, I can do it myself."

"That's all we can do; everything is on your shoulders now."

"What's the big deal?"

"Then decide when you're leaving so I can buy train tickets for you and your children."

"See if you have any train tickets for the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month! But it would be best if they were sleeper tickets. Putting aside everything else, we have a lot of kids, so it would be more convenient for them to stay in sleeper berths!"

"Okay, that shouldn't be a problem. I'll get it for you when the time comes."

During the two weeks or so before returning to Beijing, I rode my bicycle, carrying grain, to a secluded spot, stored the grain in my spatial storage, and then slowly made my way to the city. I would see what I needed and buy some things, or local specialties.

Putting everything else aside, I really had no intention of selling this grain. I don't know how I'll manage to feed the children after we return to Beijing, and besides, the children are getting older.

Even with the standard grain allowance for urban residents, it's not enough for the children. It's better to store it in the space. When there's a food shortage, you can just make up an excuse to take it home. It's much safer than buying it from the black market.

Putting everything else aside, this is the time of the most severe crackdown, so we can't take any risks.

As for the eggs and duck eggs that have accumulated in the space over the years, there's no rush to deal with them right away.

Two days before leaving, I gradually put all the food in my space, except for what I needed for the next week.

Not only that, except for some essential large items that were mailed back to Beijing in advance, everything else was also put into the space.

There are only a few bedding and a change of clothes left, so you can pack up and leave anytime you want.

As for the house where he had lived for nearly ten years, he disposed of it and sold it to the brigade leader.

The brigade leader has already divided the children among their families. Except for the youngest son who is not yet married, the others are all married and have several children.

Not only was their house too small to accommodate everyone, but with more people came more conflicts, which is why they recently separated.

Hearing that I had been admitted to Peking University, he came to ask about the house. I was also having trouble with the house at the time, so I immediately sold it after hearing this.

"Hurry up, are you guys all packed up? We have to go."

"Okay, okay"

"Mom, are we leaving now?"

"Yes! What's wrong, steamed bun?"

"I'm a little reluctant to part with it."

"Me too"

"We are too."

"Okay, okay, we'll come back to visit when we have time."

"Really?"

"real"

"Li Zhiqing, you must come back and visit us sometime!"

"Don't worry, I definitely will when I have time!"

Take care, everyone.

"Take care of yourself"

"I never imagined that in the blink of an eye, Li Zhiqing would be a mother of several children."

"Who can argue with that!"

"Let's go back!"

"What are you looking at? Do you think you have the same good fortune as Li Zhiqing?"

"Aunt Cuihua is at it again."

"Sigh! There's nothing we can do about it. Putting everything else aside, Liu, the educated youth, has been married to Yuanzi from Aunt Cuihua's family for so many years, and they have several children. He still wants to go back to the city through the exam. Isn't that just wishful thinking?"

"Too"

"I've heard that Cai Zhiqing is getting a divorce from Fangfang."

"I've heard about it too. You tell me, how come this guy surnamed Cai is such a scoundrel?"

Putting aside everything else, Fangfang had already fallen out with her father, brother, and sister-in-law to marry him. How could she be so damn heartless?

"Who knows? Fangfang's mother went blind from crying because of Fangfang. I wonder what Fangfang is thinking."

"Who knows? I heard that the woman surnamed Cai wants a divorce, but she absolutely refuses to agree."

"How could she agree to that? She's already had several children, and she's had such a falling out with her family. How could she possibly manage without this man surnamed Cai?"

"Too"

"Dad, aren't you coming with us?"

"My dear daughter! Daddy can't leave right now, I still have work to do. I'll come to Beijing to see you when I have time, okay?"

"But I want Dad to come with us."

"Alright, Dumpling, didn't we agree? Dad's busy with work, so let's go back to see Grandpa and Grandma first. We can come back to see Dad again after a while!"

"Really, Mom?"

"When can't Mom be fooled?"

"No"

"Mantou, you must help Mom take good care of your younger brother and sister on the train, okay?"

"Dad, don't worry! I promise I'll complete the mission."

"And me too."

"And me too."

"I"

...

"Alright, you're all good kids. Remember, never leave this sleeper berth. If anything happens, be sure to tell me, okay?"

"Don't worry! We will definitely complete the mission."

"good"

"The train has already departed, I have to get off. Take care of yourselves."

"Okay, you can go now!"

"Um"

Do you remember what I told you yesterday?

"I remember, Mom said there are a lot of people taking pictures of girls on the train, so I shouldn't trust any strangers. If I get separated from Mom, I should go find the train conductor."

"Now I'm going to tell you something else."

"Mom, we're all listening."

“It takes at least three days and two nights to get to Beijing from here. You can’t leave this bedroom unless you have to. Otherwise, Mom won’t have the energy to pay attention to each and every one of you, you know?”

"I know, but what if Mom needs to go to the bathroom?"

"yes!"

"Do you remember the spittoon your mother asked you to bring?"

"Brought it."

"Use that one."

"But this sleeper berth is so small, the food might not taste very good."

"It's alright, Mom will ask the train conductor to come and look after you. Mom is going to get the spittoon."

"Mom, I'll go then! You can stay here and take care of my younger brother and sister!"

"nothing"

"Mom, can you guarantee that the train conductor is definitely a good person?"

"Yes, Mom, my older brother is right. Otherwise, how could so many children have gotten lost on the train!"

"that is"

"Okay! Did you bring the woven spittoon lids I asked you to bring?"

"If you brought it, then find it!"

"Mantou, from now on, the two of us will take turns watching them, understand?"

"good"

I don't know if it was just a coincidence, but I was the only one with my child in this sleeper berth the whole way. Well, not to mention anything else, there were eight of us with my child alone, plus myself, that made nine people. You could say the entire sleeper berth was full. Why would they arrange for other people to stay here?