Chapter 130

One reason for going back to Xiangcheng to celebrate the New Year this year is that Lin Manman is getting married to Li Mingcheng and Lin Tao wants to attend. Another reason is that she has not had time to go back to Xiangcheng since she married Li Chengxi and came to the island. She also misses Aunt Fang and grandmother. This year is a good time to go back and see them.

"If I count carefully, I have been on the island for six or seven years, and I haven't been back to Xiangcheng for six or seven years." Lin Tao sat on the bed while Li Chengxi massaged her calves. "This time I go back to visit Aunt Fang and Grandma, so I have to prepare some more things to bring back."

Lin Tao paid attention to calcium supplementation during this pregnancy and started taking vitamins and calcium tablets early on, so she hasn’t had any leg cramps so far.

"Don't worry about these. Dad and I have prepared everything, including the dried goods from the island. I also asked someone in Shanghai to send me a few boxes of snacks and good wine. You can take them all back. But you are pregnant now, and you will be tired after sitting on the train for such a long time. So I went to get some sleeper tickets in advance this year, and we can take the sleeper back." Li Chengxi said.

Yueyue has never been to Xiangcheng. Knowing that they are going to Xiangcheng this year, she is both excited and curious: "Mom, is Xiangcheng fun? Is it as fun as Shanghai?"

Lin Tao smiled and glanced at Li Chengxi.

Li Chengxi said, "Xiangcheng is fun. Your grandmother and her friends all live in the Miao village, wear Miao clothes, and have hanging houses. Do you think it's fun?"

"Really? Then I really want to go to Xiangcheng and the Miao village as soon as possible." Yueyue was so eager to set off for Xiangcheng immediately after hearing this.

She was still young when she went to Shanghai, but she vaguely remembers some things. She remembers that they went to the zoo. Shanghai was already so fun, and Xiangcheng was even more fun than Shanghai. It must be very interesting.

Lin Tao said, "You are already an elementary school student now. You can't just think about playing. You'd better finish your winter vacation homework before going back. Otherwise, you have to take it to Xiangcheng. When my dad and I go out to play, you can only do your homework at home."

"Okay, then I won't go out to play with Brother Hongxing and the others. I need to finish my homework quickly." Yueyue said.

When she played outside with Zheng Hongxing and the others, she also liked to run around, but she was also easy to talk to and could sit still. If she really set her mind to something, she would do it.

The next day, when Zheng Hongxing came to ask Yueyue to go out and play, Yueyue refused to go, saying that she had to do her homework at home.

The questions the teacher gave in the homework book were not difficult. With Yueyue's current knowledge, she could do the questions for the second grade. She could do the questions for the first grade very quickly. She had finished a lot in just one morning.

It looks like she will be able to finish her winter vacation homework in a few days.

The days are short in winter and it gets dark quickly. Lin Tao feels that the time passes quickly. In the blink of an eye, it is already the twenty-third day of the lunar year.

They plan to leave on the 25th day of the lunar year. Lin Manman has already told the organization about this, and the organization has approved her transfer. After she and Li Mingcheng get their marriage certificate, she can go directly to work at the health center of the Hainan military team next year.

"Have you packed all your things?" Lin Tao asked Lin Manman.

Lin Manman nodded: "It's packed. Take what you can take. As for what you can't take, I'll leave it to Xiaofeng and the others because I thought you have everything here. I'm really reluctant to leave after living on the island for several years."

"You have to give to gain. After going to Hainan, Mingcheng and I will be fine." Lin Tao said.

"Sister, don't worry, I will." Lin Manman nodded.

It was a coincidence this year as Lin Tao, Xu Yuting and Chen Shuifen's families were all going back to their hometown to celebrate the New Year. Xu Yuting's mother-in-law was not in good health, so she took Wang Qingming back to see the old lady. Chen Shuifen's mother-in-law was also sick.

"She wrote to us saying she was sick for more than a month and was dying, so she asked us to go back quickly. I don't know if it was true or not. When Xiaojuan took the children back to her hometown, she said she looked fine and could even quarrel with others. How could she be dying now?" Chen Shuifen said while knitting a sweater.

Xu Yuting said: "Did he deliberately trick you into going back to ask for money?"

Chen Shuifen shook her head: "Who knows? But they said so in the letter, so we have no choice but to go back."

Lin Tao also said, "Yes, we should be prepared for the worst. What if the old man is really in trouble and wrote a letter asking you to go back? If you go, it's good. If you don't go, I don't know what the villagers will say. You should go back to check on him."

"It's pretty good actually. You guys go back every year. I feel quite bored on the island. Sometimes I want to find Teacher Lin to chat, but when I just walk to the door, I remember that Teacher Lin is not on the island. We will go back to celebrate the New Year this time. No matter how bad it is to go back, at least we will go back once," said Chen Shuifen.

On the 25th, the three families went on a boat together, all carrying large bags.

Lin Tao's family's luggage was carried by Lin Changhai and Li Chengxi. Lin Manman didn't have much luggage, just a small bag. She freed one hand to hold Yueyue. Lin Tao was pregnant now, so she just had to take care of herself.

"A Tao, slow down." Xu Yuting supported Lin Tao and turned to look at Wang Qingming. "Qingming, keep up."

Wang Qingming got on the boat by himself and sat with Yueyue. The four children sat in a row. Yueyue swung her little feet. The shoes she wore were cowhide boots made by Lin Tao. They were sewn with a layer of cashmere, which made them very warm. She also wore a woolen hat on her head, revealing her pink face.

Along the way, everyone was fine except Lin Tao who was a little seasick.

However, Lin Tao's dizziness was not serious, especially since Li Chengxi had brought her some oranges. He peeled one and gave it to Lin Tao to eat. The sweet and sour taste of the orange quickly suppressed the nausea in her stomach. Lin Tao burped and felt better.

We agreed on a date to return to the island and took the train back.

It took more than thirty hours. Fortunately, there was a berth, otherwise Lin Tao felt that her feet would be swollen if she sat all the time. While on the train, she did not lie down all the time, but got off and walked around from time to time. Li Chengxi would also massage her feet, so when she got off the train, everything was fine.

Li Mingcheng arrived a day earlier than them and borrowed a car to pick them up at the train station.

After seeing them, he called out, "Uncle Lin, Brother, Sister-in-law." Then he immediately came over and helped Lin Manman with her luggage. The two hadn't seen each other for a year and missed each other very much, but it was difficult for them to say anything in front of so many people. They just looked at each other and smiled.

"Are you tired?" Li Mingcheng asked in a low voice.

Lin Manman shook her head: "Not tired, my brother-in-law got some sleeper berth tickets, we slept all the way here, it's more comfortable than hard seats."

Li Mingcheng nodded, feeling relieved, then squatted down and asked Yueyue: "Yueyue, do you still remember your uncle?"

Yueyue glanced at Li Mingcheng, nodded, and said crisply: "I remember, I sleep with the doll my uncle bought for me every day."

"Uncle, hug me." Li Mingcheng loved Yueyue very much and would send things to Yueyue from time to time. Naturally, he loved Yueyue very much when he saw her at this moment.

Although Yueyue hasn't seen her uncle for a long time, she still remembers him and is very close to him.

He hugged Li Mingcheng's neck and was carried into the car.

The family got in the car, and Li Mingcheng drove. Li Mingcheng asked Lin Tao when she would give birth, saying that she would give him another nephew or niece. Lin Tao smiled and said, "You should hurry up."

After hearing this, Lin Manman blushed.

Li Chengxi said, "I heard you became a company commander."

Li Mingcheng said as he drove: "I got promoted in the first half of the year. I have made a contribution. But compared with you, I am still far behind."

"It's unlike you to be so humble." Li Chengxi said, "In the past, you would have boasted to the sky."

Li Mingcheng coughed and glanced at Lin Manman through the rearview mirror. Seeing that she was pursing her lips to hold back a smile, he quickly said, "Before, I was young and ignorant. Now that I'm getting married, I definitely can't be as unstable as before."

Lin Changhai smiled and said, "That's right. A man has to be more stable after getting married so that he can support the family. Uncle, let me tell you, I have watched Manman grow up since she was a child. In my heart, I regard her as my own daughter. Manman is marrying you, so you must treat her well. If you dare to bully her, I will not forgive you. Manman, if Mingcheng does something bad to you, you can tell Uncle Lin. Uncle Lin, your sister, and brother-in-law will all seek justice for you."

Lin Tao echoed: "Yes, Manman, we are here."

Li Chengxi said: "If this guy dares to treat you badly, Manman, just tell me and I will break his legs."

Yueyue listened to the adults' conversation and said, "And me...Auntie, I'll help you too."

This made the adults laugh out loud. They said these words were just jokes, but Yueyue took it seriously.

Li Mingcheng also smiled and said, "With so many people supporting Manman, I dare not treat her badly."

The family chatted and laughed for about 40 minutes before they arrived at Taohua Village. In fact, if they drove faster, they could have arrived in half an hour, but because Lin Tao was pregnant, Li Mingcheng drove very steadily and slower.

"Aunt Fang asked everyone to come home for dinner today, and the food is probably ready now," said Li Mingcheng.

Let's send the luggage back home first. It's not convenient to carry so many large and small bags to Aunt Fang's house.

When Lin Changhai left, he left the key to the house with Aunt Fang. Aunt Fang knew that they would come back to celebrate the New Year this year, so she cleaned the house a few days ago. She mopped the floor twice and wiped the cabinets and other things. She also took out the quilts and other things in the house to dry them while the sun was shining a few days ago, and washed and dried the bedding.

In this way, they will be more comfortable and warmer when using it as a quilt. Otherwise, it will feel a little damp and the smell will not be very pleasant.

Put your luggage down and don’t pack it yet. You can pack it after you return from Aunt Fang’s house.

Lin Tao asked Li Chengxi to take the things they had prepared for Aunt Fang, and they went out together.

Their appearance attracted many enthusiastic inquiries from the villagers. After so many years, everyone seemed to have forgotten Lin Tao's identity as a "coffin man". After seeing Lin Tao, their first reaction was not to hide, but to take the initiative to greet her.

"Lin Tao, you're back. I haven't seen you for several years. Why do I feel like you haven't changed at all?"

"Yes, you seem to be getting younger and younger. Oh, you are so lucky. You are the luckiest in Taohua Village. Look, this is your daughter. She is so pretty and looks like you."

"This is your Captain Li, right?"

"What is Captain Li? Didn't Fang Min say last time that he has been promoted to brigade commander now? He was the commander of the regiment a few years ago."

When we first arrived at Taohua Village, when everyone saw Lin Tao, no matter what they said on the surface, they all secretly thought she was unlucky. After she washed clothes, others would wash that place several times again when they washed clothes at her place, as if there was something dirty where she had been.

Now, after being away for a few years and coming back, these people's attitudes have all changed.

However, Lin Tao is no longer the little girl who cares about other people's attitudes and opinions towards her. Facing everyone's enthusiasm, she just nodded and smiled politely without saying much.

As for why others treat her like this? Isn't it simple? At first everyone said that coffins were unlucky and that getting close to Lin Tao would bring bad luck, but what is the truth?

On the contrary, Mrs. Lin, who disliked Lin Tao, had a stroke and became crooked-mouthed, squinting, and lame. Lin Hui, who was once said to be blessed, has not been heard from since. Moreover, when Mrs. Lin went to the island, Lin Hui gave her a bag of dried salted fish. If Lin Hui really lives as well as the Lin family boasts, could she bring back a bag of dried salted fish for Mrs. Lin?

Look at what good things Lin Tao sends back to Fang Min every time!

And people who are good to Lin Tao, such as Fang Min, a widow in her forties, can still find a man who loves her deeply.

Although many people in the village gossip about Fang Min getting married at such an old age, who doesn't envy Fang Min for finding a good man like Shen Yongxing? Shen Yongxing has a job in the city and loves his wife. Since marrying Fang Min, he has been doing all the housework, which is better than many men in the village.

And this Lin Manman, if it weren't for Lin Tao, would she be able to join the army as a pharmacist? And could she marry an officer? They had also seen the man that Lin Manman was dating, he was tall and handsome, and his conditions were quite good.

After all these things, everyone finally understood that Lin Tao was not a disaster star at all, she was clearly a lucky star. What coffins are unlucky, that's all nonsense, it's clearly "seeing a coffin brings wealth", Lin Tao is a lucky star!

This is why the people in Taohua Village no longer avoid Lin Tao when they see her, but instead come up to her and talk to her. They also want to follow Lin Tao, the lucky star, and get some blessings.

When we arrived at Aunt Fang's house, Aunt Fang and Shen Yongxing had already prepared the meal.

Seeing them coming, she quickly invited them into the house. Aunt Fang said, "You must be tired after sitting on the train for such a long time. Is this Yueyue? Yueyue has grown so tall. Come and let me take a look."

Yueyue never met Aunt Fang again, but when she saw her, she called her very obediently, "Auntie——"

"You're so good. Take it. This is the New Year's gift your aunt gave you." Aunt Fang gave Yueyue some money.

Lin Tao refused to take it, but Aunt Fang insisted that Yueyue take it. The money was not much, just a little token of appreciation from the elders, so Lin Tao had no choice but to accept it.

Seeing that her mother agreed, Yueyue took the money and hid it in her own pocket. Since Lin Tao knew that Yueyue would hide her money, when she made clothes for her, she would make a deeper pocket inside the clothes, sew a button on it, and put the money in the pocket so that it would not fall out.

"There are a lot of pine mushrooms on the mountain this year. I found quite a few and boiled them into pine mushroom oil. It is very fragrant when used for cooking. Come and try it." Aunt Fang said.

There were seven or eight dishes on the table, all of which were Lin Tao's favorites, including spicy diced chicken, scallion and sauerkraut soup, sauerkraut slices, fried fish, stir-fried shiitake mushrooms with spicy sauce, poached eggs, and stir-fried bamboo shoots.

Yueyue can eat poached eggs. When Aunt Fang prepared spicy chicken, she even left out a bowl of chicken without chili, which Yueyue could eat too: "I know Yueyue likes chicken legs. Here."

Yueyue smiled at Aunt Fang and said, "Thank you, Auntie."

"This child looks really cute," said Shen Yongxing.

Lin Tao smiled and said, "When he's being nice, he's nice. When he's being naughty, he's quite noisy."

"All children are like this." Aunt Fang said, glancing at Lin Tao's belly. "Tao, look at your belly, you're going to give birth in a few months, right? Anyway, there's nothing to do at home, I'll come and take care of you during the confinement period."

Although Lin Changhai was on the island, he was a man after all, and it was not convenient for him to be here most of the time. In Aunt Fang's opinion, a woman must take good care of herself after giving birth, so she would feel more at ease if she went to take care of Lin Tao.

Lin Tao originally said that she had given birth to a child before, unlike when she gave birth to Yueyue, when she had no experience. She also planned to not bother with it this time, but she didn't expect Aunt Fang to be worried about her, and Lin Tao was touched.

Lin Changhai said, "That's good too. I'll feel more at ease if you come. I'm afraid that as a grown man, I might be careless and fail to take good care of Ah Tao."

Shen Yongxing also said, "Yes, let Amin go and take care of her. Otherwise, Amin will not be able to stay at home peacefully. These two days, when she knew you were coming back, she kept asking if Atao was okay sitting on the train for such a long time while carrying a child."

Aunt Fang glanced at Shen Yongxing and said, "Look at you, why are you saying these things?"

"Aunt Fang, we came here on a sleeper bed this time. I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me." Lin Tao said.

As they talked, they began to talk about the marriage of Lin Manman and Li Mingcheng.

Lin Tao: "Have you decided on a wedding date?"

Aunt Fang said, "It's settled. Mingcheng said he plans to take Manman to the army in Hainan to hold a wedding. They are both soldiers, and they think it's better to get married in the army. We can get the marriage certificate here first, and then we can have a meal as a family."

Li Mingcheng and Lin Manman had discussed this matter, and both decided to do this.

The family had a happy meal together. Aunt Fang suggested that this year, the two families should celebrate the New Year together and have a lively meal together.

Lin Tao and Li Chengxi had no objections, so it was agreed.

After dinner, Lin Tao and his family returned to their home. When Lin Changhai built a wall in the yard, their home became an independent house, completely separated from the main house of the Lin family.

Lin Changshan's family knew they were back this time, but they had already severed their relationship and had not been in touch for a long time. When Old Lady Lin was lying on the bed, she was still mumbling with a crooked mouth: "Why come back? It's better to die outside..."

Lin Tao didn't know about these things, and she didn't go to see Old Lady Lin and the others.

Old Mrs. Lin never liked her. If she went, she would only be asking for trouble. She was not that kind of person. It would be better for them to live their own lives behind closed doors and pretend that they were not related.

I haven't been back to Taohua Village for so many years. Now that I'm back, although time is tight and I haven't had time to visit other places in the village, the feeling in my heart is always different when I return to my hometown.

Yueyue was tired after a long day and went to bed early. Lying on the bed, Lin Tao leaned on Li Chengxi's arm and said, "After so many years, the village seems to have changed a little, but it also seems to have not changed. I used to think that I didn't miss this place, especially since my father followed us to the island, so I only missed Aunt Fang. I didn't expect that this time when I came back, I felt that I also missed this piece of hometown."

Li Chengxi put his arm around his wife's shoulders and said, "If you want to come back in the future, we can find time to come back and visit."