Yu Yin had arranged everything, and she and Lu Shurui were preparing to take the children to visit the places where they had lived.
Commander Yang helped find a ride-sharing service to transport supplies, which would be safer that way.
Yu Yin and her family of six, along with two colleagues from the security department and Lin Dong, boarded a transport vehicle bound for Menghai County, bringing with them some Shanghai specialties.
"Mom, the road doesn't seem to have changed. It's still so bumpy." Pingping sighed after being jolted up again. He still remembered it.
“Yes, I feel the same way.” An’an also remembered that when they left, they were also in a transport vehicle.
I have little recollection of Kuai Kuai and Man Man; my memories of Yunnan Province are almost entirely blank.
"There's nothing we can do. These are mostly mountain roads, and they're hard to repair. Our country isn't very wealthy yet, so we can't worry about these things. Just wait and see; there will be a smooth road here in the future, and then it won't be so bumpy."
Yu Yin recalled the Yunnan province where she spent her last years, a province that was truly developing well.
We chatted and laughed all the way, and time seemed to fly by. Before we knew it, we had arrived because the car had stopped.
"Thank you, we'll need your help again when we get back." Lu Shurui exchanged a few pleasantries with the soldier driving the car before joining Yu Yin and the others.
“Let’s go to the guesthouse first, settle in, and rest. We can go for a stroll tomorrow. My bones are about to fall apart from all this bumping and jostle.” Standing on the land of Menghai, Yu Yin could hardly believe that she had once been so fearless, traversing mountains and rivers.
Lu Shurui and Lin Dong went to the guesthouse first, booked rooms, and then ordered food from a nearby state-run restaurant. After Yu Yin and the others finished getting ready, they went to eat together.
At night, lying on the bed in the guesthouse, breathing in the fresh air that was different from that in Shanghai, I felt completely relaxed.
"Comrade Lu Shurui, don't you feel a sense of familiarity coming back here again? Fate is truly amazing. We've lived here together for over ten years, and even though we're thousands of miles apart, we met again. It must have been destiny!"
“We are destined to be together, it’s all arranged by God. We’ve been through so much together, though not too many hardships, but many memorable moments.” Lu Shurui hugged Yu Yin, the woman he was going to spend his life with.
Yu Yin rested her head on Lu Shurui's arm and fell asleep without realizing it.
The next day, Yu Yin visited her former colleagues with gifts, especially Sister Wang, who was in the same office as her.
"Yu Yin? It really is you! You haven't changed at all over the years, you even seem to have gotten younger."
Sister Wang rubbed her eyes, still a little incredulous.
"Sister Wang, it's been a long time!" Yu Yin handed over the gift and hugged Sister Wang.
"Why are you back? Is something wrong? Where are you working now? You graduated from university, your company must be good, right?" Sister Wang didn't expect Yu Yin to come back and was quite curious about many things, so she asked several questions in a row.
Yu Yin recounted her experiences over the past few years, giving a general overview. She was surprised to find that her life had been quite eventful.
"Wow, you're a boss now. You've got guts. You quit such a good job just like that. I really admire you." Sister Wang said sincerely. She had never been to any big places in her life except for coming from her hometown.
Yu Yin also learned that Sister Wang's children were all working, especially the two older ones, one of whom graduated from university in the provincial capital, and the other attended a junior college in their hometown. The remaining children were still in school and were doing well academically.
"I knew it! Sister Wang doesn't look old at all. She's almost retirement age, but you can't tell at all. It seems her children are doing well, so she doesn't have to worry about them!"
Yu Yin genuinely felt that Sister Wang was living a comfortable life, her whole demeanor radiating vitality and joy.
After talking with Sister Wang for a while, Yu Yin left. She didn't have any friends here, her only good friend was A Xiang.
Yu Yin took the children to A Xiang's village. The old uncle was still there and was still in good health.
"Uncle, do you still recognize me?" Yu Yin stood under the old man's stilted house, looking at the old man with a face full of wrinkles but full of energy.
"You look familiar, but I can't quite place you. You must have been here before, right? Let me think, I'll remember right away." The old man was quite humorous.
"I used to come here with Ah Xiang, remember?"
"Ah! I remember now, that girl you live in Menghai, she always comes to buy things and takes good care of me, right?" The old man said excitedly. He had heard from Ah Xiang that the girl had been admitted to university and gone to a big city.
"It's me, it's been a long time, Uncle."
Yu Yin was quite happy; the old man seemed to be doing well, as there was no sign of distress on his face.
"We'll eat here later, and I'll stew chicken for you." The old man was very happy and insisted that Yu Yin and the others stay for dinner.
"Uncle, Ah Xiang's uncle has already prepared the meal. I came to see you and brought you some good wine!" Yu Yin put down the things she brought, chatted for a while, and then went to Ah Xiang's parents' house.
Ah Xiang's mother prepared a table full of authentic Dai dishes, which Yu Yin found quite nostalgic. The others were also intrigued, having never tasted such authentic Dai food before. Although some dishes were not to their liking, most were acceptable and quite delicious, especially the bamboo rice.
Gradually, he became very interested in the Dai people's clothing and kept talking to A Xiang's niece. Because the older girl's Mandarin was not good, he couldn't understand her.
The children spent a short day playing in A Xiang's village, and they were the happiest. There are many mountains and rivers in this area, so there are many things to do and many unfamiliar plants.
It was late when they got back to Menghai County. The sky was full of stars, blinking their eyes. The children weren't tired at all and were looking at the stars outside the guesthouse. With Lin Dong and the other two with them, Yu Yin wasn't worried.
Lu Shurui would occasionally go outside to take a look, and would also look up at the starry sky and the bonfire lit by the children.
The next morning, Yu Yin and the others carried their baskets and went to the mountain that Yu Yin had always gone to before, as the children wanted to experience the fun of picking mushrooms.
The mountain forest was quiet in the early morning, and the sunlight filtered through the bamboo grove, casting a layer of starlight.
Yu Yin taught the children about edible mushrooms. Lin Dong and the others were also visiting Yunnan Province for the first time, and they listened attentively. There were so many mushrooms here, especially in the mountains early in the morning when the caps of the mushrooms were just beginning to peek out.
The mountain not only has mushrooms, but also all kinds of flowers. I slowly picked a big bunch of flowers and gave them to my mother. "If my great-grandmother were still here, she would definitely like this place and these flowers. They are so beautiful!"
“It’s okay if you miss Great-Grandma. We’ll visit her more often, as if we’re visiting her in her place.” Yu Yin patted Manman’s head. She had spent the most time with the two elderly people and their bond was deeper.
Yu Yin took the children to play on the mountain for a short day. They picked mushrooms and fruit, which were very sweet.
At noon, they had a picnic by the river. Lin Dong led An An and the others to catch several fish, and Yu Yin grilled the fish and mushrooms for them. The bamboo rice they bought in the morning was also cooked over the fire; it was the children's favorite food.
Although it wasn't an easy day, it was happy enough, really!
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