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Qi Shuliang looked behind Qi Dazhu. He and Qi Shuli were not close when they were young, and could only be described as nodding acquaintances, but he had a deep impression of Qi Shuming.
“This is my second brother, Shuli. I remember him,” Qi Shuliang said, then looked at Qi Shuming. “I never expected that mischievous boy Shuming would grow up to be such a handsome young man!”
"Brother Liangzi, don't say I'm naughty. You used to take me to raid bird nests all the time." Qi Shuming chuckled. "We can talk about it later, there are still many people behind us, let's hurry over."
"Yes, yes, Shuliang, let's take good care of the leaders first, then we can have a good chat with our family tonight," Qi Dazhu said, and continued walking forward.
"Sure!" Qi Shuliang agreed.
County Chief Niu, who was close to Qi Dazhu, introduced him to the other leaders.
Secretary Qi was very excited and said, "Thank you for your concern, leaders. You took care of my aunt's family along the way. Come on, let's not stand here, let's go to the village branch office and sit down."
There are so many people, there aren't enough seats anywhere else!
The village branch has more than a dozen long benches, which should be enough to accommodate everyone.
"Comrade Qi, you've worked hard," Secretary Ma said with a smile. "You must make sure to provide a good reception for the Qi Shuliang family, who are returning overseas Chinese."
"Yes, Secretary Ma, I guarantee I'll complete the mission." Qi Dazhu said righteously, greeting each leader one by one. When he reached the back, he asked his third grandmother, "Third Aunt, how was Tiantian's journey?"
"Very good!" Grandma Qi nodded. "The family is so fortunate to have you taking care of things!"
"Of course," Secretary Qi said. "Tian Tian, you've gone to work hard. Take your people home first, I'll take care of the leaders."
“Okay!” He Tiantian agreed.
There are too many people today, so Secretary Qi has to put his family aside and entertain the leaders first.
Qi Shuliang had no choice but to follow Secretary Qi to the village branch to entertain the leaders.
Zhao Dajiao was quite capable; she had already ordered water to be boiled and dishes to be washed. By the time Secretary Qi and his men arrived, she had already boiled water and served it with wild mountain tea picked from the mountains.
There were at least twenty or thirty bowls on the large octagonal table in front of the village branch office.
"Our place is remote, please forgive us, leaders. This is just some wild tea I picked in the mountains and made myself. It's nothing special, but please make do with it and quench your thirst," Qi Dazhu explained, personally serving Secretary Ma a bowl.
Secretary Ma didn't stand on ceremony, took a few sips, nodded, and said, "The taste is authentic!"
Seeing that Qi Dazhu was covered in sweat, and knowing that he still had to arrange lunch, County Chief Niu took the opportunity to quietly say to Qi Dazhu, "Brother Qi, didn't you tell me last time that the peaches were almost ripe? How are they now? If they taste good, bring them up quickly. If the leaders eat them, we can fix the road again."
"I'm planning to deliver them to the leaders in a couple of days," Qi Dazhu said. "Don't worry, I have two baskets of early-ripening ones at home that have softened, and there are still ripe ones on the trees. They can be stored for a long time."
"Alright, hurry up and have someone prepare." County Chief Niu said, "I'll take care of the leaders for you. Lunch is fine, just enough to fill you up, nothing too fancy, but not too bad either."
Qi Dazhu was very grateful to County Chief Niu and nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes! I understand."
County Chief Niu and Secretary Zhang helped greet the leaders.
Secretary Qi quickly instructed Qi Shuming to bring over the peaches stored in the wooden house in the peach orchard, and also to pick some ripe, firm peaches to bring over as well.
Qi Shuming took the carrying pole and went to the peach orchard.
Secretary Qi spoke to Zhao Dajiao again, asking her to prepare lunch properly.
Zhao Dajiao then sent someone to catch fish in the river to make a fish soup, which would serve as a meat dish. Secretary Qi also had two pickled wild rabbits at home, so they would stew a pot of potatoes, stir-fry some greens, and make a cold wild vegetable salad. With two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, everything would be ready.
Zhao Dajiao asked some familiar women to help wash the vegetables, which would save some time.
The arrival of so many important figures is a matter of concern for the entire village.
After all, only when the officials are happy can the common people live in peace!
Grandma Qi and He Tiantian took Anna, Qi Zhenghan, and Qi Zhengmin home.
Wang Shuping waited anxiously at home.
She originally wanted to wait at the village entrance, but she was afraid she wouldn't be able to control her emotions, so she waited at home instead.
As for He Jingyu, he had something to do in Taoyuan and didn't wait at home.
It has to be said, men are easygoing. Knowing that Tian Tian is alright, they aren't worried at all.
Someone knocked on the door, and Wang Shuping hurriedly got up and opened the door to find a lot of people standing there.
Wang Shuping pulled He Tiantian over, looked her up and down, and nodded, saying, "You're finally back safe and sound, you're back."
Grandma Qi smiled and said, "This trip was all thanks to Sweetie, otherwise my old bones wouldn't have been able to handle it!"
“You’re my grandmother, so it’s only right that I take care of you,” Wang Shuping said with a smile. “Godmother, please introduce me to your relatives. I can’t wait to meet them.”
Wang Shuping invited everyone in and told them to sit down inside.
Grandma Qi smiled and said, "This is my daughter-in-law Anna, this is my grandson Qi Zhenghan, and this is my granddaughter Qi Zhengmin. As for that Ms. Bai, she is..."
Seeing that Grandma Qi was somewhat embarrassed, He Tiantian stepped forward and said, "Mom, this is Grandma, Dad's biological mother!"
"Huh?" Wang Shuping stared in disbelief, thinking she had misheard. "Tian Tian, what did you just say? Say it again."
The daughter clearly accompanied her adoptive mother to find her son, so how did she end up finding herself a grandmother?
Husband's biological mother?
USA?
At this moment, Wang Shuping remembered that her husband had previously said that his biological mother had not died, but had returned to the United States.
Could it be... could it be that we just happened to find it?
“This is Grandma, Dad’s biological mother. This is Grandma Lan, a close relative of Grandma’s, like a sister,” He Tiantian explained. “Mom, is this true? You’ve seen that picture of Dad before, haven’t you?”
After hearing her daughter's words, Wang Shuping looked Bai Qiongyu up and down carefully before calming down slightly. She said, "I'm sorry, I... I lost my composure just now."
Wang Shuping didn't know what her husband's attitude was, so she couldn't bring herself to call him "mother-in-law" or "mother" for a moment.
"It's alright, you'll get used to it after a while," Bai Qiongyu said with a slight smile. "What about Jingyu?"
“He’s in the peach orchard behind here. I’ll go get him,” Wang Shuping said, and then she was about to go out to tell her husband the news.
He Tiantian smiled and said, "Mom, you stay home and help take care of everyone. I'll go call Dad."
Qi Zhengmin said with a grin, "Sister Tiantian, I'll go with you."
He Tiantian looked at Qi Zhengmin's little leather shoes, then at her own shoes, and said, "Your shoes aren't suitable for climbing mountains."
Qi Zhengmin felt disappointed and a little unhappy.
"Zhengmin, be a good girl, Grandma will make you shoes," Grandma Qi said with a smile. "You'll be able to wear them soon."
"Okay." Qi Zhengmin finally smiled.
He Tiantian went inside, changed into her old clothes and cloth shoes, and appeared in front of everyone.
Bai Qiongyu, Xianglan, Anna, Qi Zhenghan, and Qi Zhengmin were all dumbfounded.
(To be continued.)
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