"Oh, really? That's wonderful! Today is a double celebration for our family!" Gu's mother, Lin Hong, said with a smile.
Li Huimin, the daughter-in-law, smiled and replied, "What other good news is there in the family? Tell us so we can all be happy."
Gu Wen, the sister-in-law who always got along well with her sister-in-law, pouted and said, "Sister-in-law, my second brother sent a telegram saying that his wife in the countryside gave birth to a big, healthy grandson weighing eight pounds and two ounces. Our mother is talking to our father about bringing my second brother and his whole family back."
Li Huimin's smile froze for a moment before returning to normal: "This is wonderful news! Congratulations to Mom and Dad on the birth of your grandson!"
Gu Changlin glanced at his wife worriedly before saying, "Mom and Dad want to transfer Changzheng and the others back? I wonder where they want to assign Changzheng?"
Gu Wei, the patriarch of the Gu family, scratched his head and sighed: "I haven't thought about it yet. The military is in a special period now. He missed the opportunity last year, so he can't get in this year. I'll ask my old comrades to see if there are any suitable positions for him. If that doesn't work, I'll find him a factory job. Anyway, we can't let him stay at home idle."
Gu Changlin's expression softened a bit: "That's good. Changzheng is all grown up now, he's a father, he can't just think of himself like before."
Li Hong was a little unhappy. How could her son be a worker? He should at least be a clerk or something in a government department. She wanted to speak, but her husband gave her a sidelong glance, so she opened her mouth but didn't say anything.
Li Huimin lowered her head and smiled somewhat mockingly. Ha, she had never been able to give birth to a son, and her in-laws were dissatisfied with this, but they dared not give her a hard time because of her family background. She knew all of this.
As for her brother-in-law and the sister-in-law who seduced him and made him willingly stay away from the city, she didn't care at all. She didn't even care about her mother-in-law's occasional sarcastic remarks, let alone a sister-in-law with no family background. She had a child, was pregnant now, had a job, and a powerful family. She was not lacking in anything herself. No matter how much her mother-in-law wanted to favor her brother-in-law, as long as her father-in-law wasn't senile, she didn't care about some small favors.
Jiang Ruyi, far away in Heilongjiang Province, had no idea that the son she had risked her life to give birth to, whom she had thought would bring them great benefits, might not turn out as they had hoped.
Jiang Ruyu has been saving things up lately. She plans to take a 20-day vacation around May to visit her two younger brothers.
Jiang Lin has been gone for over a year, and Jiang Hui has been gone for almost a year. She plans to visit the place where they live to see what their lives are like, so she can feel more at ease. Moreover, after her trip to Heilongjiang Province last year, she has come to enjoy the opportunity to see different scenery and people, experience different languages, customs, and delicious food.
"How are you planning to go this time? Are you going by yourself or with Zheng Yang?" Grandma Jiang was packing things to bring to her two grandsons. There were clothes, handmade shoes, and sweaters and trousers that Jiang Ruyu had knitted while she was at work. These were for Jiang Lin, as Jiang Hui didn't need such thick clothes.
“I’m going with Zheng Yang. He was worried about me going alone, and besides, there’s so much stuff. He was afraid I wouldn’t be able to carry it all. He asked someone to buy me a sleeper berth by train.” Being able to go out with her boyfriend made her feel much more relaxed, and her grandmother would also be more at ease.
"That's good. I'm a little worried about you going out alone as a young woman. It'll be fine if Zheng Yang comes along. It's perfect. His job means you two only see each other a few times a month. This trip will allow you to get to know each other better." The old lady wasn't a traditional person. It's much better for the young couple to get along before marriage than to find out they're incompatible after marriage.
"Don't worry, Grandma. I'm a little scared to go to such a far place by myself."
Zheng Yang spent almost every day of April off driving long distances. He had discussed it with a colleague at work: he would drive more this month and take a day off next month. This way, both of them could have time to do their own things without delaying their earnings, a win-win situation.
Zheng Xiaoyue knew that her brother and Sister Ruyu were going to the south to see Jiang Lin and Jiang Hui, and she felt envious: "Ah, you can all go on long trips, I really want to go too."
"Next time, I'll take you out next time. But we're going to a lot of places this time, so I can bring you some things. What do you want?" Zheng Yang was a little guilty. He definitely wanted to go out with Ru Yu alone, so that no one would bother them and they could be free.
Zheng Xiaoyue pouted: "Okay, don't think I don't know. You complain that bringing me along will affect your relationship with Sister Ruyu. If you bring me a pretty dress, face cream, and floral water, I won't be angry anymore."
Zheng Yang touched his nose and smiled, saying, "Okay, no problem, I'll take care of it."
The sixth day of the fifth lunar month is auspicious for travel.
Jiang Ruyu and Zheng Yang didn't have anyone escort them. They entrusted their grandmother to their eldest uncle and left her some extra money and coupons, telling her not to be frugal. They said she would be angry if she found out that her grandmother had lost weight when she came back.
Grandma Jiang readily agreed and smiled as she saw her granddaughter off.
Zheng Yang carried two similarly sized packages, which were for Jiang Lin and Jiang Hui. Jiang Ruyu carried a backpack on her back and a small bag in her hand, which contained her and Zheng Yang's changes of clothes. With these bundles, she boarded the train heading south.
Jiang Ruyu had never ridden in a sleeper car before. Once she boarded the sleeper car, she looked around curiously. Zheng Yang put his things away and watched her look at this and that, and then he smiled.
"This is the first time I've ever seen you with such a childish expression."
"Hey, you're not that young, are you? Do I seem like an older sister to you?"
"No, no, it's just that I've always felt that you're very strong, like you're not afraid of anything and nothing can defeat you. I've never seen you like this before."
Jiang Ruyu looked out the window with a hint of melancholy and said, "I am also curious, and I also want to be like other girls, to act coquettishly and throw tantrums with my parents, but I don't."
Jiang Ruyu's lowered voice made Zheng Yang unconsciously clutch his heart, which ached a little. He sat down next to his girlfriend, put his arm around her shoulder, quickly kissed her on the head, and then lowered his hand.
"Ruyu, I'm here for you. No matter what happens, you don't have to force yourself. I'll always be there for you, just a turn of your head away."
Jiang Ruyu raised the corners of her lips: "Thank you, Zheng Yang." But I think I will never completely rely on others. Maybe you really love me and want to be good to me, but only I will always love myself. Rather than relying on others for everything and losing the ability to survive on my own, I would rather work hard myself. After all, people's hearts are fickle.
Jiang Lin, far away in the East China Sea Fleet, was unaware that his sister was already on her way to visit him. He was currently undergoing live-fire training, and during more than a year of training and combat, he had undergone tremendous changes.
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