He Yanzhi and Guan Wenru took the triplets to the provincial capital for a day and stayed overnight.
They didn't head back until the next day.
The jeep drove along the slightly bumpy dirt road, with the vast fields and distant mountains of Northwest China visible through the windows in the summer.
The three children, who had played all day and stayed overnight, were still excited and kept talking.
He Yi clung to the car window, "Dad, the provincial capital is so big! The buildings are all taller than where we live!"
He Qi nodded, "The movie theater is so much fun! The screen is so big! When the White-Haired Girl came out, I was startled! Mom, can we come again next time?"
Guan Wenru smiled and said, "Okay, your parents will bring you when they have time, but the condition is... you have to study hard. Watching a movie is a reward for studying hard."
The triplets nodded quickly, indicating that they would study hard and get full marks on the next exam!
He Sheng suddenly remembered something, and he swallowed hard. "Mom, let's go to that state-run restaurant again next time! Their meat buns smell so good! I can eat three more!"
He Yanzhi and Guan Wenru exchanged a smile.
Guan Wenru glanced back at the children and reached out to remove the black spots from He Sheng's face. "Okay, as long as you behave when you're home, I'll buy you as many as you want to eat next time!"
"Alright!"
Guan Wenru quickly restrained the excited He Sheng, "Alright, alright, we'll bring you again when Dad has his next vacation. Sit still, don't sway around so much, or you'll get carsick."
He Sheng suddenly sat up straight, his eyes sparkling, "Mom! Dad! When I grow up, I'm going to get married!"
These words came abruptly. He Yanzhi was focused on the road when he heard them. His hand trembled, and the jeep veered slightly before immediately straightening itself.
Guan Wenru raised her eyebrows in surprise.
He Yanzhi glanced at his youngest son in the rearview mirror, utterly exasperated. "How old are you? And you're already thinking about getting married? Do you even know what a wife is?"
He Sheng, with a look that said, "You underestimate me," loudly announced, "Of course I know! She's just like my mother! I'm going to marry that girl I met yesterday at the state-run restaurant, the one with the two little braids and round eyes! She's beautiful!"
"!!" Guan Wenru couldn't help but burst out laughing, recalling that she had indeed met a family member with a little girl at the restaurant yesterday. The little girl was very pretty and shy.
Guan Wenru pinched his cheek. "Oh... you've already taken a liking to that young girl? Then tell your mother, what's the point of getting a wife?"
He Sheng puffed out his chest and said logically, "I want to be like my dad, letting my wife manage all the money and tickets! My wife can hit me all she wants, and I won't fight back! I'll also wash her clothes, cook for her! And..."
He paused, as if trying to recall the more important part.
After a while, his eyes lit up. "Oh right! And another thing! Just like Dad massages Mom's shoulders at night, I'll massage my wife's shoulders too! Dad says that's what a good comrade does!"
"Pfft! Hahaha!" He Yanzhi finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing, almost driving the car into the ditch by the roadside.
Guan Wenru also laughed so hard she almost fell over, her cheeks flushed red. She glared at He Yanzhi with a hint of annoyance, clearly indicating whose teachings the term "good comrade" came from.
"He Yanzhi! What nonsense are you spouting to the child?!"
He Yanzhi stopped laughing and said seriously, "I'm teaching by example and setting a good example, right, He Sheng?"
He Sheng nodded vigorously, "Yes! Dad is a role model!"
Guan Wenru laughed until tears almost came out. She turned around and patted her youngest son's chubby shoulder hard.
"Good job! Young man, you have ambition! You have a bright future! Mom is waiting to see how you become a 'good comrade'!"
After laughing enough, Guan Wenru looked at her other two sons.
"He Yi, He Qi, look, your younger brother is already thinking about finding a wife. What about you? Don't you want to find a beautiful wife in the future?"
He Yi and He Qi frowned simultaneously, their faces showing identical disdain.
He Yi shook his head violently, "No, no! I don't want to!"
He Qi looked on with obvious reluctance, "Girls are the most troublesome! They cry at the drop of a hat! Look at that girl outside the movie theater yesterday, she fell down and cried her eyes out, it was so noisy! I'd rather play marbles with her!"
"!" He Yanzhi and Guan Wenru exchanged another glance, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
He Yanzhi shook his head. "Well, these two kids haven't figured it out yet."
Guan Wenru said with a mix of helplessness and amusement, "Alright, alright, you guys can play with your glass beads for now. Don't regret what you said today when you finally figure it out."
The jeep, carrying the family's laughter, continued its journey home.
He Sheng was still happily planning his grand scheme to get married.
......
Back home, the family rested for another night.
The next day, those who were supposed to go to work went to work, and those who were supposed to go to school went to school.
The weather was sunny that day. Not long after Guan Wenru arrived at the factory, she had someone temporarily set up a few tables in the open space of the factory.
Then move the items from the warehouse upstairs.
Before long, the table was piled high with rice and flour packaged in sacks, as well as bottles of cooking oil. An accountant sat next to her, with a small, locked tin box in front of her.
A short while later, Lei Yongkang made an announcement, asking the workers to come out.
The workers' faces were filled with anticipation and joy. They chatted and laughed in hushed tones as they formed several lines that were not particularly neat but were well-ordered.
Guan Wenru and Lei Yongkang stood behind the table, each holding a list and a small notebook.
The accountant and cashier sat nearby, preparing to distribute wages.
Once everyone had arrived, Lei Yongkang cleared his throat and said in a loud voice, "Everyone, quiet down! We're going to start distributing this month's wages and bonuses now!"
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