After May Day, Bonnie packed up her belongings and made trip after trip to the post office to mail them.
Bonnie sent mostly food items: dried sea cucumbers and abalone she brought back from the island, all of very good quality. She also sent dried vegetables and fruits, as well as dried fruit preserves, dried mushrooms, and dried bamboo shoots that she traded for...
The other part consists of books with sentimental value, which Bonnie found at a recycling center. She has read most of them, but there is still a small portion left to read.
There are quite a few clothes and bedding, all of which need to be sent away. Otherwise, it won't be easy to prepare them after arriving in Beijing. Even if you have money, it's not easy to buy them, especially since many of Bonnie's things were bought when she first arrived and are still quite new.
Everything that needed to be mailed had been sent. The remaining items were valuables and personal belongings, which Bonnie had packed in a large basket containing her old boxes, Professor Gao's documents, some clothes, and bedding.
Bonnie thought that placing it this way was safe and inconspicuous, and that thieves wouldn't notice it.
"Sisters, there are still some things at home that we can't take with us. Take a look and see if there's anything you can use. When we moved in, the furniture belonged to the military, and we bought everything else ourselves." Bao Ni said to Sister Zhang, Sister Chen, and Sister Qu Hong. These sisters had been helping with packing and moving things to the post office for the past two days, keeping them busy.
"Okay, I know. I won't be rude to you. Everything you make is good, and we'd love to have it." Aunt Zhang knew that the gadgets Bonnie made were all very useful.
"Yes, I've taken a liking to your storage shelves. They're sturdier and more aesthetically pleasing than the ones my husband makes."
Qu Hong's sister-in-law didn't stand on ceremony; if they didn't take it, it would benefit the next person who would check in.
"Sister Zhang, please take the bicycle with you later. We've already paid for it, so don't let someone else take it after we leave."
Bonnie sold her 26-inch bicycle to Aunt Zhang, who had always wanted to buy it but didn't have the necessary bicycle voucher. Since Bonnie left and couldn't take the bicycle with her, she sold it directly to Aunt Zhang.
"Okay, I'll push it back in a bit. You're leaving tomorrow, I'll really miss you!"
"There's nothing we can do. We're like migratory birds, moving with the men's movements. If you ever have the chance to visit Beijing, I'll take you sightseeing." Bonnie steered the conversation towards happy things, disliking the sadness of parting.
Gu Ye returned quite early, finished handing over his work, and they will set off tomorrow.
"Baoni, I'm going to talk to Wenze about something."
"knew."
Gu Ye went next door, and when he came back, he saw Wen Ze at home.
"Gu Ye, come in quickly. I've been working non-stop these past few days and haven't had a chance to talk to you."
Cao Wenze's eyes were bloodshot; he had been working on it for several days.
"Work is important, but you also need to rest. Brother Wenze, I'm going back to Beijing this time, and I probably won't be transferred again. Call me if you need anything. I'll also keep an eye on the Yang family's affairs. Even though you refused to go back, some people might not believe you."
Cao Wenze understood who Gu Ye was referring to; he knew Gu Ye was doing it for his own good.
"Okay, I won't stand on ceremony with you. We shouldn't be transferred anytime soon, let's keep in touch."
The two lost contact when they were young, reunited twenty years later, and now they have to part again, leaving them with mixed feelings.
When Bonnie and the others left the next day, Aunt Zhang and the Cao family all came out to see them off, and the children also said goodbye to each other.
Even though she was quite far away, Bonnie could still see people waving goodbye, and her heart ached.
Gu Ye bought sleeper tickets. The family of four boarded the train with their bags and luggage, ready to start a new life.
After a long journey, when Gu Ye and the others got off the bus, they felt like they had gone bad.
"Gu Ye, over here."
Han Ye stood at the arrival gate waving, just like every time before.
"Brother!" Gu Ye walked over, and the two hugged tightly.
"Hello, Uncle Han!" Liu Jiu and San Qi greeted him.
"Sister-in-law, welcome back. Your sister-in-law said she'd like to come visit you when you get here."
Han Ye greeted Bao Ni and relayed his wife's message.
"Okay, I'll go find my sister-in-law after I'm done packing."
Over the years, Bao Ni and Han Ye's wife, Zhou Weihong, have maintained contact.
"Get on the bus first, go home, you're all smelly."
Gu Ye loaded the things into the car, and Liu Jiu and San Qi helped as well.
"Gu Ye, you've been transferred back this time. Your rank hasn't been promoted, but your real power is much greater. That's impressive. A brigade-level officer under forty years old." Han Ye was happy for his brother. He entered military academy at fifteen, and more than twenty years have passed. It's time for him to come back.
"Work will be very busy, but all the effort is worthwhile. We are doing right by our country, and we also have to fight for our wives and children. If it were before, I wouldn't care." After getting married, Gu Ye will think more about his family in addition to his responsibilities and mission as a soldier.
"Of course, being a military wife isn't easy. Have you thought about what kind of work your sister-in-law can do? With Gu Ye's rank, his family can be helped to find a job."
Bonnie hadn't initially thought about finding a job; she was used to being free.
However, the family compound in Beijing only provided apartment buildings, without a yard for her to play around in, and she would get bored staying there all the time.
"I don't really have any specific plans. I've been enjoying reading lately. I'm not interested in jobs like working in a library or archives. I don't like complicated interpersonal relationships. I also don't want to be too busy. One person in our family who's busy is enough." Bonnie has been reading a lot these past two years and has also tried writing some things herself. She plans to continue this interest and maybe it will even become a career in the future.
"There are such positions available, we'll see when the time comes." Han Ye thought Gu Ye's wife was a decent person and was happy for his brother.
As they talked, they arrived at the military family compound.
Gu Ye, sister-in-law, the house you were allocated is in front of your eldest brother's house, on the third floor, with three bedrooms and one living room.
Han Ye parked the car, and Bao Ni saw Sister-in-law Gu.
"Sister-in-law!"
"Baby, welcome home." Aunt Gu was overjoyed, finally welcoming Baby back.
"Hello, Auntie!" Liu Jiu and San Qi greeted her as well. It wasn't the weekend, and all the children were at school, so none of Brother Gu's children were home.
"Sigh, Liu Jiu and San Qi have both grown taller!"
Sister-in-law Gu looked at the two children, especially Liu Jiu, and she really adored them.
"Come on, let's go upstairs. The things you mailed have all arrived. I don't know what they are, and I haven't opened them." With the things in hand, the group went up to the third floor. Sister-in-law Gu took out her key to open the door, and Bao Ni entered her new home.
The layout of the three bedrooms and one living room is very spacious, and the inclusion of an ensuite bathroom is a major plus.
The furniture was provided by the logistics department; it was just the basic setup: a bed, sofa, cabinets, etc.
Bonnie toured the new house accompanied by Sister-in-law Gu, while Gu Ye saw Han Ye off.
"Alright, you're back. We'll see each other often from now on. I'm going back to work. You can start packing; there's a lot to do moving." Han Ye drove away. Gu Ye looked around the familiar yet unfamiliar residential compound. From now on, this would be his base.
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