Chapter 1029: Returning to the Village to Pay Respects
“Mr. Chu said that this is the headquarters and the starting point of your project. The eyes of the whole country and even the world will be on this site. It cannot be shabby and would embarrass you and the country. Moreover, these buildings can also play a role in promoting our country’s intangible cultural heritage and traditional culture. You don’t need to worry.”
"So, the designer of this school is the same person?"
Wei Yue nodded: "Yes, the entire school's garden design incorporates architectural features from Taoist temples, martial arts academies, and mythological stories, with a focus on the cultivation of immortality."
There's no need to get so close.
"Comrade Zhou, you will be staying on the third floor. Our people will be staying on the first and fourth floors. You can choose whichever you like on the second floor."
Upon reaching the third floor, Wei Yue explained as he entered the password, "You can set this password yourself later. The house has a three-bedroom, one-living room layout. Please take a look and see if there's anything you need to change."
Gu Yin didn't have any particular requirements for the accommodation. After looking around, she nodded and said, "No problem, I'm very satisfied with what you've arranged."
After saying that, he looked at his grandparents and parents and asked, "Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, and Mom, do you want to live in the village or in the city?"
Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu shook their heads: "You're busy with work here, so we won't cause any trouble. We'll stay in the village and go back to Beijing in about a week!"
I've gotten used to life in Beijing and made some familiar friends there, so I'm not used to staying in my hometown anymore.
Zhou Wansheng and Wang Yanzhi also shook their heads: "We won't stay. After we go to offer incense to your grandmother and the others, we'll go back to Beijing. We have to go back to Dabai Mountain."
“We’ll stay in our hometown for a few days, then come up here for a few more days, and then go back to Beijing. Your brother only has about ten days of vacation,” Gu Qinglang and Li Mengxin said.
Gu Yin nodded upon hearing this: "In that case, let's make our own arrangements. Chief Wei, let's wash up first. Could you please arrange a place to eat? We'll get some rest early tonight and get up early the next morning."
"Okay! I'll have someone bring the food over. You guys wash up and rest for a while."
The next day, everyone got up early.
After breakfast, everyone boarded the military vehicle heading to Lijia Village.
Nine military vehicles made their way to Lijia Village.
It's still the annual holiday period, and the roads are still very congested. What should have been an hour's drive took until almost 10 o'clock when we arrived at Lijiacun due to traffic.
"Whose relatives are coming back for the New Year? They're so impressive!"
"I don't know, and I haven't heard of any relatives in the military. Wait, isn't Li Dalong in the military? Could it be that he's back?"
"What nonsense are you talking about! At Li Dalong's age, how could he possibly make such a fuss? If he did, it would be either a great joy or a great sorrow! You'd better shut up!"
It must be bad news that someone so young has to be brought back by so many military vehicles!
"Have you all forgotten the Gu family? Old Gu's granddaughter, Gu Yin, she's that kind of scientist, she even appeared on the news! In this village, who else has that ability besides her?!"
"You said it yourself, that's the Gu family! The Gu family hasn't been back for ages! How could that be!"
“I saw the village chief and the others clean up the Gu family’s house a couple of days ago. They washed all the tables and chairs, and even took out the cabinets and quilts to air them out in the sun. I asked if someone from the Gu family had come back, but they didn’t say. They just said that the Gu family had asked them to help look after the house, and since the weather was nice and it was the New Year, they were tidying it up. Judging from today’s situation, it’s very likely that someone from the Gu family has come back!”
"Look! The village chief and the others are coming!"
After receiving Gu Jianguo's call, Li Sen and the others originally intended to wait at Gu's house, but upon hearing that a military vehicle was bringing them back, they felt it would be impolite. So they changed into clean clothes and quickly headed towards the village entrance.
Upon arriving and seeing so many people gathered around, Li Sen immediately waved his hand: "Don't crowd here! Move around! Make room for cars to park! Move around!"
"Village chief, who is this?!"
"Is it the Gu family?!"
The villagers retreated to the base of the tree, asking questions with curiosity.
Li Sen nodded: "It's the Gu family. We'll ask them later if there's anything else! You guys move back a bit!"
"Wow, they're really family-oriented! Such a big fuss, they seem quite something."
Gu Yin wasn't surprised that such a large crowd would gather around.
After the crowd was dispersed, Gu Yin said, "Drive the cars upstairs. It's more spacious up there and can park five cars. The rest of the cars can park on the side here."
Upon hearing this, Wei Yue relayed the message, and the cars were parked orderly on the side of the road.
After Gu Yin and the others parked the car, she opened the door and got out.
He smiled and waved to the villagers: "Happy New Year, everyone! Have you all eaten yet?"
"It's Ayin! Ayin, what brings you back! You haven't eaten yet. Everyone is paying respects to our ancestors. You just got back. Come over for dinner later!"
"My family started cooking early and is already preparing to start the feast! Old Gu, come and eat with us! It's been so long! Let's have a chat!"
"My house is all ready too..."
Gu Yin looked at her grandfather.
Grandpa Gu smiled and waved his hand: "Don't rush! Let's go home and settle in first! Then we'll have a drink together! Anyone who's free, come on over!"
"Alright, alright! You guys go home and get busy first! We'll have a drink together tonight!"
After greeting the villagers, the old man saw Li Sen and the others.
"Let's go home first!"
Li Sen stepped forward without saying a word to help carry the things.
Li Xiaohua and Li Dashu also came over, but seeing so many people, only Li Xiaohua dared to step forward.
"Ayin! You've been back for a few days!"
"Let's go back and talk about it first!"
There are too many people here, it's not easy to talk to anyone.
Back at the Gu family home, since no one lived there anymore, the small vegetable garden in the yard was empty, and the chicken coop was quiet. Cotton quilts were hanging to dry on the persimmon tree and pomegranate tree.
"The sun is shining brightly today, so I'm taking it out to air it out. It'll make your bed warmer tonight!"
Seeing that everyone's attention was focused on the quilt, Li Sen's father, the old village chief, explained with a smile.
Grandma Gu stepped forward and touched the quilt: "This must be this year's new cotton! It's so fluffy and soft to the touch!"
"We grew our own cotton! We made a few extra batches! Please sit down, I've made some tea in the kitchen, I'll bring it over to warm you up!" The old village chief's wife arranged the stools in the yard, not daring to look at the other people in military uniforms, and got up to go into the Gu family's kitchen.
The old village chief could still hold on, but Li Sen remained silent the whole way, his hands and feet moving in sync as he placed the cups.
Seeing him like this, Gu Qinglang smiled and took off his coat: "Ah Sen, we're going to your sister-in-law's family home to pay our respects later. Come with me to the market to buy some things and some groceries. We'll have dinner here tonight!"
Li Sen breathed a sigh of relief: "Okay, okay! Alright! But you don't need to buy chickens or ducks, we raise plenty, we can't eat them all! Oh, by the way, knowing you were coming back, we bought two sheep from outside! We'll bring them over and slaughter them later!"
After that, Gu Yin sat in the courtyard with Wei Yue, chatting and basking in the sun.
Others either went out to play in the streets, strolled around the village, or helped boil water and kill chickens and ducks. Even the soldiers who came with them helped chop firewood.
Seeing that Wei Yue couldn't sit still, Gu Yin sighed helplessly, "You should just sit still. If you go over there to help, they won't know where to put their hands and feet! Come on, if you really can't sit still, we can talk about serious matters!"
Wei Yue, who had been a little restless, immediately quieted down.
"Please speak!"
Gu Yin: "...There's not much to say. Everything is basically arranged. After the start of the semester, we'll go to every school, from the city to the town, to promote the program. We'll emphasize the principle of voluntariness, similar to the recruitment model for vocational school students. Oh, and we'll also ask around at the sports center and sports school. We'll put up plenty of ads, in every street and alley, even in remote mountain villages. We'll use radio, newspapers, TV, magazines, and everything else we can."
Upon hearing this, Wei Yue replied earnestly, "All of these things have been prepared. The student handbook contains this promotional leaflet before the school holiday. As for the others, there are also arrangements made by the higher authorities. They said that once you officially start working, they will begin advertising throughout the entire province."
Gu Yin took a sip of tea: "You all need to be careful. People from other provinces will most likely come over, and there are quite a few people watching me. Foreign forces will definitely take action. Propaganda is a minor matter; the safety of the masses must be protected! Especially during the Spring Festival, when there will be a huge flow of people, you must be extremely careful!"
"All the armed forces and troops in the province are on standby. The pressure is indeed great, but we will definitely keep all dangers out of the people! We have that confidence."
Gu Yin nodded: "As long as you have arrangements."
After finishing their business, Gu Qinglang and his group returned with a large amount of New Year's goods!
"Mom! Take this bag of candy and these boxes of fruit and distribute them in the village. Also, check how the incense and candles are prepared. See if you're missing anything. If not, take the cooked food we need for the offerings. It's getting late, and it'll take a while to get there!"
Upon hearing this, Grandma Gu stepped forward and looked at the contents: "Alright, I'll go and deliver it in a bit. You have everything here, just bring the wine cups and chopsticks. Your father is cooking meat, it should be done by now. I'll go check and pack it up for you!"
After finishing her sentence, the old lady walked towards the kitchen: "How many of you are coming over later? Let's agree on that first! Be careful while driving! Those who aren't coming can stay home and help with the cooking!"
Only Gu Qinglang's family returned. The old man and woman are too old to go there anymore. They still need to take care of things at home, and they also need to perform ancestral rites here.
“Let’s all go together. This time, the whole family will go together, so our in-laws can see us and put their minds at ease,” Zhou Wansheng said, making the final decision.
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