Chapter 120 Arrival in Beijing
Beijing Railway Station.
The snow was falling heavier than when we arrived, and a thin layer of white had accumulated on the ground.
Huo Li'an, wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, stood on tiptoe and looked towards the exit, his little brows furrowed tightly.
Every now and then, she would tug at her father's sleeve and ask, "Dad, where are Uncle and Aunt? Did they get on the wrong train?"
Huo Feng smiled and ruffled his son's hair: "Don't worry, your uncle's train will arrive on time. They're probably packing their things inside."
Even so, he couldn't help but glance at the exit a few more times.
Ever since receiving the letter from his younger brother Huo Zheng that he would be bringing the whole family to Beijing for the Chinese New Year, the family had been eagerly anticipating this day.
Li An even started counting down the days three days in advance, and even packed marbles for his younger siblings in his pocket.
As they were talking, Huo Li'an's eyes suddenly lit up, and he pointed to a figure in the crowd and shouted, "Dad, look, it's an uncle!"
Huo Feng looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw Huo Zheng carrying large and small bags walking ahead.
Lu Mingyue led Leilei and Yaoyao behind her, their red cotton-padded jackets standing out against the snow.
Huo Li'an shook off his father's hand, ran through the snow towards the exit, calling out, "Uncle and Aunt, Leilei and Yaoyao."
As soon as Huo Li'an ran over, Huo Zheng picked him up and lifted him high in the air, saying, "An'an has grown taller again."
Huo Zheng smiled and ruffled his hair, then turned and handed the large package in his hand to Huo Feng, who came to greet him. "Big brother, thank you for coming all this way to pick me up."
Huo Feng took the package and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't bother me, we're all family. Come home quickly, your sister-in-law has made mutton soup and is waiting for you."
Huo Zheng smiled and pulled Lu Mingyue over, pointing to Huo Feng and introducing him: "Mingyue, this is my older brother Huo Feng, who has always worked in Beijing."
He then turned to Huo Feng and said, "Brother, this is Lu Mingyue, your sister-in-law."
Lu Mingyue quickly smiled and nodded, "Hello, big brother, thank you for thinking of me all the way."
Huo Feng waved his hand, his eyes full of gentleness: "We're family, don't talk like that. You're getting cold, let's go home first."
His gaze fell on the two children, and a smile instantly bloomed on his face: "Let your uncle take a look, Leilei and Yaoyao have grown so tall."
Leilei and Yaoyao looked at their uncle with bright eyes, and then called out in their clear voices, "Hello, Uncle."
Huo Li'an couldn't contain himself any longer. He ran over, grabbed Lei Lei's hand, and handed him the marble box he had been carrying in his pocket: "Lei Lei, Yao Yao, this is a gift for you."
Huo Feng, carrying a large package, turned to Lu Mingyue and said, "We made mutton soup at home. Your sister-in-law wanted to come, but this kid insisted on coming along just before we left. She was worried there wouldn't be enough room in the car, so she didn't come."
Pointing to Huo Li'an beside her, she said, "She insisted on coming to pick up her uncle, but the car is only so big, and she was worried that it would be too crowded for you three, so she stayed home to take care of things."
When Huo Li'an heard his father talking about him, he scratched his head a little embarrassedly, but still went up to Lei Lei and secretly slipped the marble box into his hand.
Lu Mingyue quickly replied with a smile, "Brother, there's nothing crowded here. It's more lively when Li'an comes. It's just that we're causing trouble for your wife at home. We're only adding to her burden as soon as we arrive."
Huo Zheng chimed in, "That's right. When we get home, I'll go help my sister-in-law out first."
Once in the car, Huo Li'an pulled Lei Lei and Yao Yao into the back seat, while Lu Mingyue sat beside them, protecting them.
As soon as he settled down, Huo Li'an leaned close to Lei Lei, his eyes sparkling, and asked, "Lei Lei, can you see the sea every day on the island? Is it fun?"
Leilei was the first to speak up: "Yes. There's lots of sand at the beach, I can build a big sandcastle, and in the summer I can swim in the sea, it's so refreshing."
Yao Yao nodded in agreement, gesturing with her little hands: "Mom can make seafood sauce, it smells so good when spread on steamed buns. She also makes dried fish, which my brother and I secretly put in our pockets to eat."
The two children chatted excitedly, describing their life on the island.
Hearing the chatter in the back seat, especially the children's excited voices when they mentioned "Mom made something delicious," Huo Feng in the front seat couldn't help but exchange a glance with Huo Zheng next to him, a smile appearing on their lips.
He thought to himself, it seems that his younger brother is living a stable and warm life after getting married, and the children are so lively.
Lu Mingyue must be taking good care of the family, so Mom and Dad don't need to worry about them anymore.
Family compound.
Zhong Yulan stood at the doorway, looking towards the intersection, pacing back and forth.
Aunt Wang, who was passing by, came over with a shopping basket and teased with a smile, "Comrade Zhong, you've been looking so long your neck is about to break, who are you waiting for?"
Zhong Yulan straightened up, a smile plastered on her face: "I'm waiting for my second son to come back from the island with his wife and two children for the New Year. He said he'll arrive today."
Aunt Wang responded with an "oh," her eyes filled with curiosity. "Huo Zheng's wife is back too?"
Everyone in the compound knows Huo Zheng. When he adopted those two children, many people said he was stupid behind his back.
A perfectly good military officer, with two children who aren't his own—what girl would want to marry him? Everyone thinks his future is going to be affected.
Zhong Yulan waved her hand, but her tone carried a hint of pride: "Yes."
Zhong Yulan could tell what she was thinking just by looking at her expression.
She was so worried she couldn't sleep, but guess what? She found a wife on her own.
Zhong Yulan was overjoyed and chatted with Aunt Wang for a few more minutes.
Just then, a car horn sounded in the distance. Zhong Yulan's eyes lit up, and she walked quickly toward the intersection: "They're here! They're here! I'm not going to say anything more, my second son and the others have arrived."
Aunt Wang stood there watching her retreating figure, thinking to herself: It seems that Huo Zheng's life is even more prosperous than others think.
As soon as Zhong Yulan reached the intersection, she saw Huo Feng's car slowly approaching, and she quickly walked over to greet it.
As soon as the car came to a stop, Huo Zheng got out first and called out "Mom" with a smile.
Zhong Yulan ignored him, her eyes fixed on the car. When Lu Mingyue led Yao Yao out, she rushed forward, pulled Yao Yao into her arms, and stroked the child's frostbitten face, her heart aching as she murmured:
"Oh my little darling, are you freezing? Let Grandma take a look. Your little face is so round. Mingyue, you really know how to take care of children."
Yao Yao smiled and leaned against her chest, whispering "Grandma".
Zhong Yulan smiled so hard her eyes narrowed into slits, then pulled Lei Lei over and gave him a piece of fruit candy.
"Leilei, be a good boy. Come home with Grandma. There are hot roasted sweet potatoes at home."
Turning around, he remembered Lu Mingyue and quickly took her hand, looking her up and down: "This must be Mingyue, right? What a beautiful girl. Are you tired from the journey? Come in and rest. Yuexian has made mutton soup and is waiting for you."
Lu Mingyue felt a warmth in her heart as she was pulled along, and replied with a smile, "Mom, don't bother, we're doing fine on the way."
Zhong Yulan waved her hand and gave Huo Zheng a reproachful look: "You child, why didn't you bring your wife and children back for me to see sooner?"
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