Another young woman with braids came up to them.
"Yes, I heard she already has children of her own, so why did she adopt Zhenzhen? Have you asked her what kind of person she is? Is she from the city and looks down on us country folk?"
Inside the room, Su Qingzhi and Lu Jichuan listened to the discussions outside and exchanged a glance.
No one got up to open the door and argue; they just sat quietly.
The people in the family compound didn't know them well; they only knew that Battalion Commander Lu was injured and had gone home to recuperate, bringing his wife and child with him.
With the sudden appearance of a child named "Zhenzhen," various speculations were inevitable.
You can't just rush out and explain every single rumor you hear, can you?
That would only make you seem guilty.
Over time, you'll naturally see who is genuinely kind and who is just pretending to care.
They stayed in the courtyard for a while longer, waiting for the people outside to gradually disperse before slowly getting up, pushing open the door, and going out.
As soon as I stepped out of the gate, I saw several people standing in twos and threes under the shade of trees not far away, talking quietly.
Su Qingzhi simply nodded and smiled.
Then, together with Lu Jichuan, they locked the courtyard gate and left side by side.
As soon as they left, the crowd immediately huddled together again, whispering and discussing the matter intensely.
"Did you see that? That woman walks with such grace, she must be someone important."
"That's right, even the child was kept very clean. Although the clothes were old, they were washed until they were almost white, and the stitches were neat."
The topic that is mentioned most often is the adoption of Zhenzhen.
Su Qingzhi didn't say anything, and Lu Jichuan certainly wouldn't say anything more.
Everyone was anxious, standing there watching their backs with longing eyes, but no one dared to go up and ask them a question.
Lu Jichuan has almost fully recovered.
After being examined by military doctors and confirmed to be safe, he formally submitted a report to the factory and applied for two months of home leave.
Yang Wenbing will also go back together.
This is not only an organizational arrangement, but also based on practical considerations.
Lu Jichuan has just recovered from his injuries and still needs to rest, while Su Qingzhi is now pregnant and her mobility is becoming increasingly limited.
With two children at home, there's really no one in this family who can fully shoulder the burden.
Having Yang Wenbing accompany him means at least someone will be there to look after him.
Shen Zhiyu helped me book the train tickets and specially arranged for a sleeper berth.
On the day of their departure, just as dawn was breaking, the factory sent a car to take them to the station.
Shen Zhiyu and several soldiers volunteered to help carry the luggage, loading all the bags onto the vehicle and then escorting them to the platform.
“I’ve already called Song Ye. He’ll come to pick you up personally when you arrive at the station.”
Shen Zhiyu stood at the door of the carriage.
"It's cool there, so please make sure to dress warmly and don't let the children catch a cold."
"Thank you, factory manager!"
Lu Jichuan's eyes welled up slightly, and he gave a standard military salute.
"Don't worry, I will take good care of myself and come back as soon as I'm better."
"Um."
Shen Zhiyu nodded.
"If you encounter any difficulties at home, feel free to call. Don't try to tough it out."
Before leaving, he bent down and patted Zhenzhen's head.
"Little one, you have to be a good boy/girl, okay?"
Zhenzhen blinked and gripped Su Qingzhi's clothes tightly.
"Okay, Uncle."
“If you go back and you’ve lost weight, cried, or been wronged, I won’t let them off easily.”
When Zhenzhen heard that she was going back to Qingshan Village, she was extremely excited.
He had never ridden a train, never left the town, let alone gone to other places.
But as soon as she heard Shen Zhiyu's words, her little head drooped instantly.
Could it be... that they're planning to sell him?
The moment the thought crossed his mind, he couldn't help but shudder.
But then I thought about it again, and realized something was wrong.
Lu Jichuan is a soldier, and people in military uniform never lie.
He is disciplined and has a conscience; how could he do something like child trafficking?
After thinking it over, Zhenzhen felt much more at ease.
Now that I feel at ease, new ideas are popping up.
What does Qingshan Village actually look like?
Will his grandparents like him?
He had never met them, only heard Lu Jichuan mention them a few times.
My sister said that she also has a very, very good aunt who can make brown sugar glutinous rice cakes and sing folk songs.
Zhenzhen's heart pounded when she heard this.
I was happy, nervous, and a little scared.
He buried his head in Su Qingzhi's warm sleeve, not daring to look up, his mind in turmoil.
Shen Zhiyu saw them off on the train and made a point of arranging window seats for Zhenzhen and her little sister.
After arranging the seats, he gave Lu Jichuan a few more careful instructions before waving goodbye and leaving.
Trains back then were never as comfortable as they are now.
The hard-seat seats were so narrow that only half a person could fit in, and the sleeper berths were also cramped, making it difficult to even turn around.
Not to mention the noisy commotion.
If Shen Zhiyu hadn't intervened beforehand, who knows what kind of trouble they would have caused.
Zhenzhen and her little sister had never seen anything like this before.
Terrified, she turned pale and huddled in Su Qingzhi and Lu Jichuan's arms.
Su Qingzhi gently patted their backs.
"Don't worry, we'll be in Nan'an City soon."
Lu Jichuan sat upright to one side, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings.
Fortunately, the journey is not far; it only takes four hours to reach Nan'an City.
It's only 9 a.m. now. If the train is on time, we'll arrive at 1:30 p.m.
When they arrive at the station, Song Ye will come to pick them up and take them back to the village.
He had already called and said he was coming over by tricycle.
Once the train started moving, it made a constant clanging and clattering sound.
The two children took off their shoes, curled their little feet on the cotton mats of their bunks, and sat there properly.
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