Chapter 89 A new beginning!

Everyone saw Secretary Tang's face change, the corners of his mouth suddenly shrunk, his lips were tightly pursed, and he looked a little unnaturally stiff.

"Ahem, that." Secretary Tang was embarrassed, but he still tried to remain calm. Fortunately, his face was dark, so it was not a big problem. He just raised his hand to touch his nose and laughed twice, "Oh, this is Xiaolin's admission letter. He did well in the exam. He was admitted to the University of Peking!"

Onlookers: "..."

Isn't it your son's?

You just gave a speech for quite some time!

Wait a minute! Director Lin was admitted to Peking University!

Oh my god, everyone gasped again! This is too amazing!

After handing over the envelope, Secretary Tang thought about what he had said before. He wanted to pick out the brat at home and scold him, and then take his son to find a hole to crawl into. However, he was an old man in his sixties and the secretary of a factory, so he had to calm down!

Secretary Tang frowned and turned to take another envelope from the postman.

The recipient was clearly written on it: Tang Jiye.

Admission to university was Tang Jiye's third choice as a backup, an ordinary university in the capital.

Secretary Tang didn't know whether to laugh or cry for a moment. He passed the exam, but why wasn't he admitted to Peking University?

No matter what, he left quickly. It was so embarrassing just now!

The workers glanced at Secretary Tang's back from the corner of their eyes. There seemed to be nothing unusual about him, except that his steps were a little clumsy and unusually strong, which did not belong to his age.

The property was returned to its original owner, and Lin Xiang received her admission letter. The words "Peking University" were prominently displayed, seeming to radiate the golden glory of this one of the best universities in the country.

Kong Zhenzhen came over to see the excitement, and looked inside with other workers. She saw Jingda and Lin Xiang both on the same envelope, and she almost jumped up in excitement: "He passed the exam. Our factory worker Lin was admitted to Jingda! Oh my God, Director, Director Zhao, please put up the banner! Can you please beat the gongs and drums to liven things up a bit?"

Generally, getting admitted to a prestigious university is a source of pride for the family, and they want to tell the whole world about it.

However, this time, it was not Lin Xiang's family that received the honor, but the second factory of 119 Food Factory became bustling.

Zhao Jianjun specifically asked Secretary Tang what size and color the banner was, and what words were written on it: "We will make one for Xiaolin, just like what you prepared before, and it will save us a lot of trouble."

Secretary Tang cursed inwardly, but smiled unnaturally: "You are good at asking questions."

Zhao Jianjun: "You have experience, so you have prepared everything in advance."

Secretary Tang gritted his teeth: "..."

Finally, a large red banner was opened at the gate of the second plant of the 119 Food Factory, fluttering in the wind, with the words "Warm congratulations to Comrade Lin Xiang, Director of the Purchasing Department of our factory, for being admitted to Peking University" inscribed on it.

There are a series of banners, from the factory entrance to the office building, like parents who are anxious to show off their children's success. They are so proud.

When Lin Xiang got off work in the evening and returned to her family compound with the admission letter, she passed by Aunt Feng's house and was stopped by her.

"Xiangxiang, you got admitted to Beijing University! I heard about it in the hospital."

How could news be kept secret in a crowded place? It was like a wildfire, and everyone knew about it in an instant.

Lin Xiang smiled and said, "Aunt Feng, I passed the exam. I just received the acceptance letter today."

Lin Xiang handed the envelope over, and Feng Li admired it excitedly: "You are really promising! I don't know how happy your mother-in-law and Hongyuan will be."

On the way home, Lin Xiang was greeted and congratulated by many neighbors. Everyone looked at her with envy and even admiration in their eyes.

No matter how well you do your job, you will get some compliments, but after all, it has nothing to do with you and you will forget about it soon. But it is different if you get into such a great university. You can even give compliments to your own little kids.

"Look at your Aunt Lin Xiang, she was admitted to the most powerful university in the capital, Peking University. Now that the college entrance examination has been resumed, you should also work hard and get into a university in the future to make your parents happy."

The elementary school kids nodded in a daze.

"Xiangxiang, you passed the exam!" He Guifang had heard the news from the food factory in the courtyard long ago. She was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. She quickly went to the non-staple food station to buy a pound of pork and made a plate of stir-fried pork with chili peppers.

The red peppers are large, sweet, and not spicy at all, while the green peppers are crisp, tender, and slightly spicy. They are stir-fried with thinly sliced ​​tenderloin until crispy and fragrant. The meat is salty, tender, and extremely spicy.

"I passed the exam, Mom. I'll register for school in March next year, and then we'll go there together." Lin Xiang was indeed yearning for the capital.

Little comrade He Lin was sitting on a stool, stretching out her little hand to eat something, when she heard her mother's voice.

When Lin Xiang and her mother-in-law entered the room, they immediately saw the little girl with greasy hands and greasy mouth pretending that nothing had happened.

"Mommy~" Little Coconut jumped off the stool, shaking his head, and ran towards his mother, opening his arms to hug her, "Grandma said you're going to college!"

Lin Xiang took a half step back and reached out her hand to stop the lady from hugging him: "Look at your hands, they are so greasy, did you have sex secretly? Go wash your hands."

Little Coconut pouted and said, "Hmph!"

If you don’t want to hug me, then don’t hug me!

He Hongyuan came back a little late today as it was almost time for him to leave for the capital for further studies. He would leave after the Chinese New Year. He was busy handing over work with the regiment and reporting situations to the troops, which often delayed him.

But as soon as he entered the family compound, he heard the enthusiastic good news from his neighbors.

When we got home, my girlfriend rushed over excitedly to complain: "Baba, Mommy won't hug me anymore since I'm going to college~"

Lin Xiang heard from afar: "..."

This little girl is really good at confusing right and wrong!

He Hongyuan's face was filled with joy, and his usually serious expression relaxed: "Let's go and carry your mother. She has no choice but to carry her."

Lin Xiang, who was looking for something in the house, put the little girl, who weighed more than 20 kilograms, on her back. Little Yezi put her hands around her mother's neck and babbled, "Mom, Baba is back~"

Lin Xiang was sorting out all the notebooks she had made this time, preparing to give them to her co-workers in the factory who were preparing to take the college entrance examination again next year, when she suddenly felt some weight on her shoulders. She turned around and saw her husband looking at her with a smile on his face.

Lin Xiang, who was carrying her daughter on her back, patted her little butt, and put the child on the bed in an instant, said to the man behind her: "So, did I keep my word?"

He Hongyuan's eyes sparkled. He just hoped that his wife could be admitted to a university in the capital, but he didn't expect that she would be admitted to Beijing University: "Yes, Director Lin is really amazing!"

Little Coconut was lying on the bed, kicking his legs, mumbling, "So what? I'll keep my word. Director Lin, you're awesome!"

Lin Xiang turned around and pinched the little girl's feet, then gave her a couple of slaps. She was so amused by the child that she couldn't hide her smile: "Why do you love to imitate your parents' speech so much?"

Little Yezi pinched her own chubby, white and tender little feet and continued to imitate: "Why do you like to imitate Comrade He Lin's speech so much?"

He Hongyuan & Lin Xiang: "..."

It's really hard to deal with this child.

Lin Xiang successfully received the admission letter from Peking University. The Second Factory was honored and families with children were looking forward to sharing in the good news. A few days later, Ma Defa also received an admission letter from the provincial capital university of Haining Province. Along with a dozen other workers from the Second Factory who were admitted to university, Zhao Jianjun also arranged for them to hold a congratulatory banner that fluttered in the wind.

One factory was not stingy and put the names of more than a dozen people in the factory who were admitted to university, as well as their children or relatives who were admitted to university, on a banner to express congratulations.

The banner that Secretary Tang prepared was of no use, and in the end his name and that of his son Tang Jiye were blown up in the wind along with the names of others.

Tang Jiye knew that his father had always been strong and overbearing, and had a bad temper. This time, he was only admitted as the third choice, and did not get into the best university he had always dreamed of, Peking University. He was sure that he would be scolded.

Even though I am almost thirty years old, I still can't escape.

But this time, my father just sighed a few times, and looked as if he wanted to scold me but didn't say it.

Tang Jiye knew his own abilities very well. Being able to be admitted to the capital was already a good performance. As for Peking University, that was his father's wish, so he was looking forward to it.

"Dad, if you want to scold me, just say it." Tang Jiye was worried that his father would get sick from holding back his words. "I didn't get into Beijing University, and this is really the only way I can do it."

"You..." Secretary Tang had a lot to say. If it were before, he would definitely throw it at his son, but, "Well, forget it. Comrade Lin Xiang from the second factory was admitted to Peking University. It's normal that you didn't pass her. This little comrade is not an ordinary person!"

Otherwise, how could she have accomplished so many things in the past few years? She was the one who helped to build up the Second Factory and even uncovered a deeply hidden undercover agent in the First Factory. She is truly not an ordinary person!

Tang Jiye: "..."

Is this still my dad?

I'm really not used to it!

+++++

As the college entrance examination acceptance letters poured in from all over the country, another happy event happened in the family courtyard.

A week before the Spring Festival, Yan Min gave birth to a daughter in the military hospital. Both mother and daughter are safe.

Lin Xiang and her family went to see the baby on the night of the birth, and visited again the next day, bringing a few eggs, a bag of brown sugar, and boiled brown sugar and egg water in a lunch box.

He Hongyuan saw that his good brother Zhang Huafeng's mouth was almost stretched to the back of his head, and he instructed him in a very mature and generous manner: "Do you want me to teach you how to hold a baby? Teach you how to wash diapers?"

Zhang Huafeng humbly asked for advice this time: "Captain He, you are experienced, I will definitely learn!"

On the other side, Lin Xiang took her daughter to the bedside and talked to Yan Min who had just woken up from a coma.

Yan Min drank a bowl of brown sugar and egg water, and gradually recovered his strength. He was in good spirits now. But the first thing he said when he saw Lin Xiang and Xiao Helin was aggrieved: "Xiangxiang, did your daughter look like a monkey when she was born? Now she is so pretty and lovely. Tell me why I have such a miserable life. I am a pretty girl, and Huafeng is not bad either. Why is our daughter as ugly as a monkey?"

She can't accept it!!!

Lin Xiang couldn't help laughing out loud, Yan Min was just too funny. When the baby was just born, he was wrinkled and red all over, which did look a bit ugly.

"Don't worry. With the looks of you and Political Commissar Zhang, how can a young lady not be pretty? All babies are like this when they are born. Our Linlin was also a little monkey when she was born."

He Lin, who was being held by her grandmother and staring at her little sister with wide eyes, said: "...?"

The little girl is really ugly and wrinkled. How could she look like this?

On the way back, little He Lin clung to her father's shoulder, looking very sad. Her little mouth was pouting so high that an oil bottle could be hung on it. Her beautiful big eyes were filled with sparkling tears, and she was crying so hard: "I'm not a monkey, hum...hum..."

He Hongyuan was almost amused by the lady, and he suppressed the arc of his lips and comforted the lady: "Yes, yes, we are not monkeys."

Little Coconut continued to complain: "But, wuwu, but Mama said, said I am, a monkey."

Lin Xiang and her mother-in-law laughed silently in the dark. The look of this little girl crying and complaining was so funny.

He Hongyuan really didn't understand what was going on in the child's mind: "Your mother said that you looked like a monkey when you were born, but later you were no longer a monkey. You look so cute now."

Little Coconut turned his head away, thinking that his father and mother were in cahoots.

Lin Xiang walked over to her husband with a chuckle and whispered to the aggrieved girl lying on her husband's shoulder: "Monkeys are very powerful. Didn't mom tell you about the story of Journey to the West? Sun Wukong is a monkey! He can transform into 72 different forms and fly to the sky on clouds."

Little He Lin stopped sobbing for a moment, her eyes and nose red as she thought seriously, "Sun Wukong, that's the bedtime story her mother told her, that's the Monkey King."

She finally sniffed and decided not to cry anymore, accepting it in a baby voice: "Well, that's pretty impressive."

++++

At the end of January, the Spring Festival arrived as scheduled.

This year's Chinese New Year is destined to be different.

On the third day after the Chinese New Year, He Hongyuan was about to leave for the capital for further studies. He had already had a few days off and took advantage of this time to spend time with his family.

Yan Min came back from the hospital and went home to recuperate after giving birth. Her mother came from her parents' home to take care of her.

Song Qingya also received an admission letter from the only university in Phnom Penh, and will be able to attend a university close to her home in the future.

After the Chinese New Year this year, we were destined to go our separate ways, so we decided to spend the New Year together, have some fun and eat hot pot.

Two tables were set up in the yard of Lin Xiang and He Hongyuan's house, closely adjacent to each other. Fourteen sets of bowls and chopsticks were placed on the table, as well as various seafood bowls and plates. The wooden platters were filled with crystal clear shrimps, plump crabs, open-mouthed clams, clawed squids, thinly sliced ​​sea bass... oysters, scallops, conchs, as well as shrimp paste and fish balls made specially for children.

In addition, cut the beef and mutton sent by Shen Jianming's hometown into thin slices, slice the pork belly, and cut the purchased liver into flower patterns...Put a bottle of sweet coconut juice on each seat.

Two large tables were prepared with plenty of ingredients.

In the kitchen, Lin Xiang was frying hot pot base. The smoke mixed with the spicy and fresh aroma filled the air. Various peppers gave off a fresh, spicy and overbearing aroma in the oil temperature. They were put into an iron pot and slowly burned on the kerosene stove.

On one side is a spicy hot pot, and on the other side is a seafood hot pot prepared by Yan Min to cater to children who cannot eat spicy food and women in confinement. One is red and the other is white, the red is bright and attractive, and the white is clear and delicious.

All kinds of ingredients are put into the pot and cooked with bubbling sounds.

Lin Xiang hadn't eaten spicy hot pot for a long time. The delicious beef slices were bright red and slightly curled after being boiled in the red pot. They were then dipped in a saucepan made by her, which was a mixture of sesame oil, chili peppers, minced garlic and green onions. The spicy and fresh flavor was stimulated as soon as she took a sip. The beef was so tender that it seemed as if you were about to swallow your tongue, and the fragrant aroma of the saucepan was the icing on the cake.

Just one bite is enough to satisfy.

"Try this." Lin Xiang put a piece of beef on the dipping dish for her husband. "It's delicious."

Good food is meant to be shared, and seeing the other person enjoying the food makes you feel even more satisfied.

Little Coconut on the side was eating the shrimp paste in the seafood pot with gusto. He even picked up a shrimp paste and put it in grandma's bowl. Seeing grandma eating the spicy hot pot, he became particularly worried: "Grandma, grandma! Don't eat spicy food, your mouth hurts, eat this!"

She pointed with her little hand at the light, fresh and sweet seafood clear soup base.

He Guifang, who eats spicy food all year round, could only pretend: "...Okay, okay, grandma, I'll eat this non-spicy one."

My little granddaughter is such a worrier.

After taking care of her grandmother, little He Lin even competed with little Jiang Sheng to see whose shrimp noodles were bigger. She was so childish and cute.

When the firecrackers were set off at midnight, little Helin, yawning and with drooping eyelids, insisted on watching the firecrackers before going to sleep.

She lay on her mother's shoulder, watching her father light the firecrackers, and then the crackling sounds exploded in her ears.

"Ah!" The sound was so loud and scary. Little He Lin covered her ears with one hand and her mother's ears with the other, "Mom, don't be afraid."

I turned around and saw my grandma. I wanted to help her cover her ears, but I only had two hands. What should I do?

Seeing her anxious face, Lin Xiang covered her ears and chuckled, "Mom isn't afraid, grandma isn't afraid, and our Linlin isn't afraid either."

After lighting the firecrackers, He Hongyuan came back and listened to the last burst of firecrackers to welcome the new year of 1978 with his family.

After New Year's Eve, He Hongyuan's departure was on the agenda. Lin Xiang packed the man's luggage and talked about his life after his death, but the man didn't seem to listen much and remained silent.

Lin Xiang was about to turn around and scold him, but was hugged by the man from behind.

He Hongyuan held her tightly in his broad arms, his warm chest locking her in his embrace.

"You and mom should bring Linlin here as soon as possible."

Lin Xiang felt warm in her heart, but also reluctant to leave: "Well, you can get a dormitory, and we will come over after we pack it up."

Little Coconut got tired from playing and ran back home. He climbed up to the second-floor bedroom and when he opened the open door, he saw his father holding his mother.

Covering his eyes with his hands, Little Coconut muttered, "Shame on you!"

Lin Xiang was delighted in He Hongyuan's arms: "..."

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, He Hongyuan was ready to set off for the capital.

Knowing that his family would be coming to the capital in half a month, He Hongyuan's reluctance to leave faded a lot.

The family took him to the city train station and gave him some instructions on the platform.

"Hongyuan, please tell us when you get there." He Guifang still couldn't bear to leave her son, and fortunately, she and her daughter-in-law would soon be there to meet up.

"Mom, I know, don't worry." He Hongyuan looked at his mother and wife, "I'll go and apply for a dormitory and take care of it. You can move in at the end of the month."

Lin Xiang looked at the man reluctantly: "I know, you go over there and settle down well, and wait for us."

Little Helin was in her father's arms, watching the adults say goodbye, confused and clueless.

He Hongyuan touched the girl's head and said, "Linlin, just listen to your mother and grandmother."

Xiao Helin nodded: "Baba, you have to be obedient too."

Old father: "..."

I am so obedient.

The rumbling green train carried the passengers away. Lin Xiang held her daughter in her arms and waved goodbye to He Hongyuan together with her mother-in-law until the man's figure could no longer be seen in her sight, and until the huge green train finally turned into a small dot.

It was at this moment that a loud cry was heard.

Little Helin found that her father was missing and was being taken away by that tall bad guy. She burst into tears.

"Mom, where is Baba? Why is Baba gone?" The crying became louder and louder. It was so sad. Little Helin had only seen her father off at the doorstep before when he left for a mission. This was the first time she had seen such a green train.

I never expected that the adults' words of farewell were genuine.

Lin Xiang was surprised by the girl's reaction time. She was really slow: "Dad has gone to the capital to study. We will go there in a while. Then we can see him."

Little He Lin sobbed, still confused: "How long is a while?"

"It's a little longer than Dad's previous mission, but not very long." Lin Xiang held her daughter in her arms and looked at her mother-in-law. They both looked at the little girl lovingly and explained slowly.

Xiao Helin was like asking a million questions: "How long does it take to grow a little longer?"

After crying, her voice was a little hoarse, revealing a little pitiful.

"It's about the time it takes Dad to go on a mission, plus half a mission, a total of one and a half."

"Oh~" Little Helin was gradually attracted by the addition described by her mother. She raised her two little hands and danced her white and tender fingers casually, trying to figure out how long one and a half tasks would take.

......

He Hongyuan arrived in the capital five days later. After getting off the train, he reported to the military academy for rest. He immediately applied for a place to accompany the army and a dormitory, waiting for room allocation.

All the officers who came to the military academy for further studies were senior and had made great military achievements. He Hongyuan was the youngest among them. They all came with their families, so they could probably be allocated a two-bedroom, one-living-room house in the building.

After calling her family to let them know she was safe, Lin Xiang reminded He Hongyuan about the housing allocation while on the phone at the post office. After all, it was a house they would live in for several years. In the end, little He Lin anxiously grabbed the receiver to talk to her father.

He Guifang also said a few words to her son, then passed the receiver to her granddaughter's ear: "Come on, your dad is on the other end of the line."

Little Helin had never made a phone call like this before. When she heard what sounded like her father's voice coming from the long "brick", she covered her mouth with her hands in surprise and widened her beautiful almond eyes.

"Linlin, do you miss your dad?"

"Yes!" Little Helin replied in a baby voice, "Dad, we will be here soon, just be good and listen to me."

He Hongyuan raised his lips slightly on the other end of the phone: "Okay, Dad will wait for you, Mom and Grandma to come over."

He Hongyuan settled down in the capital, and Lin Xiang was busy preparing to go to college.

The second factory is now developing steadily and has established a firm foothold in more than ten provinces and more than sixty cities in the south. It is the undisputed number one soda brand.

Lin Xiang left with peace of mind.

"The supply chain process has been opened up and stabilized, and there are basically no problems." Lin Xiang reported to Director Zhao and pointed out the future development points of the second factory. "Seasonal new products should still be put into production to maintain freshness, and the quality of old products should continue to be stable. As for greater development, it depends on when we can open up supply and sales channels in the north and truly go nationwide."

"Okay, there's nothing to worry about in this area of ​​work." Zhao Jianjun was filled with emotion. Of his two favorite generals, Ma Defa was studying in the university in the provincial capital of Haining Province, which was close by, but Lin Xiang was going to the capital, which was thousands of miles away.

He was happy for the two of them, but also reluctant to let them go.

"Anyway, we will always keep a place for you in our factory. We fought together in the past, and that is a revolutionary friendship that we will never forget! Don't worry, you can go out and see more. Going to college is a good thing for your personal development. If you want to come back, 119 will always be your home!"

Lin Xiang didn't have a proper home before she traveled through time. Later, she got married and had a daughter here and started a family. Unexpectedly, she had a second home at Factory 119 No. 2.

Director Zhao's words made her nose sore: "Director... Director, I will call you Director again. You and the Second Factory have taken good care of me over the years, and I have always remembered it. This time I am going to college and live a different life. I will work hard with everyone in the future."

Zhao Jianjun has two sons. He looked at Lin Xiang like a daughter of a noble family. He understood the feelings of other fathers who sent their daughters of a noble family to marry. "If you are in the capital and have a better career after graduation, I don't have to force you to come back. You can think about it yourself."

By the time Lin Xiang handed over her work, it was already late February.

Ma Defa is studying in this province and plans to leave after finishing his studies in February and report in March.

Lin Xiang left early, packed up everything and left from Factory 119 No. 2. Before leaving, Zhao Jianjun, Kong Zhenzhen, Ma Defa, Qiu Hongxia, Yang Tian and a group of workers came to see her off.

Kong Zhenzhen watched this revolutionary comrade leave, her eyes still red, and she stuffed a bottle of milky coconut juice into her hand: "Come back soon! There will be no one to eat lunch with me in the future."

Lin Xiang smiled softly: "Hurry up and find another dinner partner."

"Eat some more melon seeds on the way, Xiaolin!"

The melon seed elder sister Qiu Hongxia grabbed another handful of melon seeds for Lin Xiang, especially since Lin Xiang had helped her daughter with tutoring before. Although the daughter Zhang Yafen did not get into college, it was because she did not lay a good foundation when she was studying. However, she has made a lot of progress. Qiu Hongxia is going to urge the daughter to take the college entrance examination again in the middle of the year.

"Director Lin, don't forget us when you go to study."

“I must come back to see more.”

"Wait until we sell coconut juice to the capital! You can drink it every day!"

Everyone escorted her all the way to the gate of the second factory. Lin Xiang saw that many people had come out of the neighboring factory, including Director Huang and Secretary Tang, as well as Director Qin and He Zhigang from the shrimp sauce workshop.

The workers in Factory 1 were very restrained and sincerely wished Lin Xiang to go to college: "Come back more often during the winter and summer vacations. If you want to eat canned shrimp paste or canned fish, let me know and we will send it to you separately."

Lin Xiang smiled and said, "Thank you to Factory 1. I am the exclusive supplier."

Lin Xiang had coconut juice and melon seeds in her hands. She turned around to look at her fellow workers who had fought side by side with her for a long time. Her heart ached and she waved to them.

After leaving the second factory and returning home, Lin Xiang packed her luggage together with her mother-in-law and relatives and friends who came to help.

This time, they definitely didn't take any big things with them, just mostly clothes. He Hongyuan carried two big bags with him when he left, so Lin Xiang and He Guifang didn't feel much pressure.

Zhou Shenghuai and Feng Li said goodbye to He Guifang, feeling reluctant: "You should have worried less in the past. Your son is studying and your daughter-in-law is in college. It's great to have Linlin as your happy fruit."

He Guifang is content. She believes that home is wherever her family is.

"If you have time, come to the capital, or come back when we are free."

"good."

Zhou Shenghuai looked at his eldest nephew's family, which lived in harmony, and then thought of his second brother's current chaotic home.

Especially Zhou Hongfei, this incompetent guy was arrested by the Public Security Bureau, which caused his second brother Zhou Shengqiang to run around everywhere. He can't even enjoy his life at his old age. It's so depressing!

Seeing this comparison, Zhou Shenghuai was filled with emotion.

On the other hand, Zhou Yuezhu couldn't bear to leave her cousin's family, so she held her cousin's wife's hand and said reluctantly, "Cousin, when can we meet next time?"

Lin Xiang patted her cheek gently: "You make me sad, we will definitely meet!"

Turning around, Zhou Yuezhu hugged little He Lin and put her cheek close to hers affectionately: "Remember to think of your aunt."

Little He Lin nodded obediently: "Aunt, I will miss you."

Zhang Huafeng came with Yan Min, who had just finished her confinement. Jiang Weijun, Song Qingya, and their son Jiang Sheng were also there. They helped Lin Xiang and He Guifang get their baby and luggage on board and said goodbye to them one by one.

I took a green train and then a boat to the island, but now I have to take a boat and then another green train to the unknown capital.

On the boundless sea, the passenger ship was swaying gently. Lin Xiang was holding her daughter and sitting next to her mother-in-law, looking at the calm blue waves, which were rippling in the breeze.

The sun is rising high. Today is a rare sunny day. The golden sunlight shines down, and the waves sparkle. It is still the sea in Lin Xiang’s memory, grand and splendid.

......

After five days and four nights, the green train finally arrived in the capital. Lin Xiang and her mother-in-law carried their luggage and brought their baby to the capital.

The Beijing Railway Station is much larger than the Phnom Penh Railway Station, twice as large. It has a wide area, white walls painted green, and is flat and imposing.

People in black, blue and gray work clothes came and went. The platform was crowded with people and it was so lively that it seemed like they were rushing to get together.

Lin Xiang and He Guifang were carrying bags and looking around, searching for He Hongyuan on the crowded platform.