Ma Mingchun arrived in his oxcart. Dongnan quickly opened the gate to let Ma Mingchun in. Ma Mingchun had taken very good care of the ox. To make things easier for the villagers and to take care of the two cowherds, the village chief had Tang Jianjun make two oxcarts.
When someone needed to go to town, they would hitch up an oxcart and pay two cents per person each time. This served as income for the cowherd driving the cart, a win-win situation that was extremely convenient.
Today is the day Uncle is coming home. Yan Xiaoqiang and Yan Dongnan asked Ma Mingchun to drive them to the train station. The station was very lively, with people coming and going. Most of them were there to pick up their relatives. It was almost Chinese New Year, and family members who had been away from home were returning.
The two entered the station and waited anxiously for the train to arrive. More than half an hour had passed since the time Uncle had mentioned, and the train still hadn't arrived. Dongnan looked at the heavy snowfall and said, "Dad, the snow is too heavy. I wonder if the train has been affected."
After waiting for more than an hour, Dongnan checked his watch and saw that it was already past eleven o'clock: "Dad, why don't you take Ma Mingchun to lunch? I'll wait."
Yan Xiaoqiang shook his head: "You go, I'll wait. Just bring me one copy."
Yan Dongnan nodded. He could endure the hunger, but Ma Mingchun couldn't. Ma Mingchun was even smaller than Bei Nan, and he couldn't let the child go hungry. When Ma Mingchun saw Dongnan, he was overjoyed. The person had arrived.
Southeast paid two cents to hand over the oxcart to the cattle management office, and took Ma Mingchun to the state-run canteen. They ordered two bowls of shredded pork noodles. It was Ma Mingchun's first time at a state-run canteen, and he was so happy he was almost disoriented.
Seeing Dongnan pay at the counter, he quickly reached into his pocket. He didn't have much money on him, just a few cents. A bowl of shredded pork noodles cost 15 cents. He had enough money, but no food coupons.
Southeast smiled and patted Ma Mingchun's head: "You've already called me big brother, how can a big brother spend his younger brother's money? Hurry up and find a seat to wait."
Ma Mingchun smiled. The Southeast Brother was just like his own brother, a good older brother. He chose a seat and sat down, touching and looking around. The state-run canteen was so impressive. He thought it would be great if he could work here in the future.
The waiter called the table number. Ma Mingchun was confused. Dongnan pointed to the wall corresponding to his table. The number on the wall was the same number the waiter had called. Ma Mingchun understood and followed Dongnan to the window to get noodles.
The shredded pork noodles were so delicious! Although there weren't many shredded pork pieces and it was mostly pickled vegetables, it tasted much better than my mom's cooking. I'll ask her to make it like this when I get back.
After finishing the noodles, Dongnan ordered four more bowls of shredded pork noodles, asked the comrades at the state-run canteen to put them in a pot, and also borrowed four bowls and four pairs of chopsticks. After paying a deposit, he took Ma Mingchun back to the train station.
The train still hadn't arrived. Dongnan told Yan Xiaoqiang to eat the noodles first. The noodles were already a bit cold, and Yan Xiaoqiang was really hungry. He slurped up the whole bowl of noodles in just a few minutes.
Just as they finished cleaning up the dishes, the roar of the train arriving at the station rang out. Dongnan handed the pot, which was wrapped tightly in a blanket, to Ma Mingchun, and then he and Yan Xiaoqiang went to the platform.
The train slowly pulled into the station. Looking at the sign next to the train, Dongnan excitedly shouted, "Dad, Dad, Uncle's train has arrived! Let's hurry and find the carriage number!"
When the train came to a smooth stop, Dongnan and Yan Xiaoqiang were already standing at their respective carriage doors. Yan Daqiang poked his head out, looked around, and immediately spotted Dongnan and Yan Xiaoqiang. He excitedly shouted, "Qiangzi, Qiangzi, I'm here!"
Hearing the calls, the two rushed over, their faces beaming with excitement: "Big Brother! Uncle!"
Yan Daqiang got out of the car, hugged Yan Xiaoqiang, and lightly punched Dongnan with his fist: "Good lad, you're a dad now."
Southeast nodded with a smile: "Uncle, the little guy will be three years old after the New Year."
Yan Daqiang was very happy. The more people in the family, the more prosperous they would be. However, his two sons were still unwilling to get married, which was a great worry for him.
A face that looked somewhat like Bei Nan peeked out of the window and greeted Yan Xiaoqiang and the others with a smile: "Third Uncle, Big Brother, hello."
Yan Xiaoqiang was a little awkward when he first met his elder brother's son, but Dongnan answered generously, "You must be Ai Dang's younger brother. I am Dongnan."
Ai Dang smiled again, a smile very similar to Bei Nan's. Yan Xiaoqiang couldn't help but narrow his eyes. They were both descendants of the Yan family, that was wonderful.
Ai Dang and the guard carried their packages out of the carriage. The three of them kept receiving them below. Looking at the packages all over the ground, Dongnan and Yan Xiaoqiang were a little stunned. The first time they came back, they brought fifteen packages. This time, there must be twenty.
The guard saluted Southeast and Yan Xiaoqiang: "Hello, I am Yan Jiang's guard, my name is Baoguo."
Yan Xiaoqiang nodded, then glanced at Dongnan and muttered that the child's name was too strange, why call him "Package"? Dongnan stumbled upon hearing this, thinking how adorable his father was.
Five men carrying twenty packages was no problem. When they arrived at the train station, Dongnan quickly put down the packages and asked Ma Mingchun to bring out the pot. The noodles were a little cold and mushy, but they were still edible.
Ma Mingchun scooped up the noodles with quick eyes and hands, one bowl after another. The group was really hungry, so they took the noodles and ate them. They finished them in no time, and it was clear that they were not full at all.
Southeast quickly tidied up and told them that he would go and return the pots and pans first, since they belonged to the state. Yan Daqiang waved his hand and told them to hurry back.
Southeast sprinted to return the pots and pans, got his deposit back, and when he ran back to the train station, his luggage and bags were already on the train, waiting for him to return.
When Ma Mingchun saw that Dongnan had returned, he raised his whip and lashed the ground. The ox began to walk forward. At first, Yan Daqiang and the others didn't even get on the oxcart. They had been sitting on the train for too long and needed to stretch their muscles.
When they reached a place with deep snow, where even the oxen were struggling to walk, Ai Dang was already incapacitated. His legs seemed to belong to someone else, and he couldn't take another step. Yan Xiaoqiang quickly helped Ai Dang onto the oxcart, as his legs would be ruined if they continued walking.
He and his elder brother, along with a few others, pushed the oxcart forward, two on each side. The ox, sensing the assistance, ran forward with all its might, and they finally returned safely to the Yan family's courtyard.
Grandma Yan was extremely anxious. She calculated that he should have arrived by noon, but it was getting late, and she was still not back. She paced back and forth in the main room, opening the door every now and then to look outside, her heart unable to settle down.
Yan Xiaonan was also anxious. Could it be that the train was delayed? She sent Zhongzi out to check and see if her father and older brother would come back to report.
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