Xu Xiangrong, the logging team leader, quickly inquired about the train's arrival time and prepared to drive a large truck to pick up the people.
Xu Xiangrong was Xu Da's cousin. He used to farm in his hometown, where he often went hungry, and his children were all thin and weak.
Later, after receiving a letter from Xu Da, he went to the capital to sign up for a logging team, and his living conditions improved significantly.
He never knew he could earn so much money in a month; that amount was equivalent to a year's income back home.
While thanking Xu Da, they were even more grateful to their boss, Yan Xiaonan, who ensured that their whole family could have enough to eat.
Now Xu Xiangrong's wife has also arrived. Everyone calls her Sister-in-law Xu. Sister-in-law Xu is hardworking and down-to-earth. She cooks for the workers in the team every day.
When Yan Xiaonan found out, he also paid her a salary, so Xu Xiangrong and her husband made the venue their home even more.
Upon learning that their boss and his family were coming, the couple began making preparations.
Sister-in-law Xu ran up to the old bachelor and said, "Brother bachelor, I'll go clean the Yan family's house too."
The old bachelor nodded. He knew Xu Xiangrong and his wife; they were the cousins of Xu Da, the chief steward of the capital.
We can't afford to offend them, especially since Xu Xiangrong and his wife are honest and hardworking, always volunteering for the heavy and dirty work, without putting on any airs of being the team leader.
As soon as the train arrived at the station, Yan Xiaonan stuck her head out of the window and saw a familiar voice calling her:
"Nannan, Nannan, it's me, Ma Minghua, look here, look here."
Yan Xiaonan looked over and was startled. Had Ma Minghua eaten baking powder? How could she have gotten so fat?
“Ma Minghua, you, you, how did you get so fat?”
"Sigh, I don't know either. I just got so fat after having a baby. I'm too greedy," Ma Minghua said somewhat embarrassedly.
"You had a baby? Was it a boy or a girl? Where is the baby?" Yan Xiaonan was taken aback.
"I had a son, and my mother-in-law is taking care of him. She and my husband are with my dad. Nan Nan, I miss you so much."
Yan Xiaonan also hugged Ma Minghua. It had been a long time since they last met. This girl was still so innocent; she must be doing well.
When Ma Minghua saw Grandma Yan, she immediately let go of Yan Xiaonan and ran over to her: "Grandma, Grandma, you're back! My goodness, Grandma, you're getting younger and younger!"
Grandma Yan looked at Ma Minghua, who had grown a lot bigger, and felt happy. Living a good life was more important than anything else.
Xu Xiangrong, Ma Mingchun, the old bachelor, and Village Chief Ma helped Yan Xiaoqiang carry his luggage. Goodness, more than a dozen bags! Could it be that Grandma Yan is going to stay here permanently?
Whether it's a permanent residence or not, I can take care of things when I have time, and my wife can clean and cook when she's free.
Looking at the increasingly beautiful and ethereal Yan Xiaonan, Ma Mingchun gave a bitter smile. He was just a commoner, not even suitable to stand next to Nannan.
Yan Xiaonan had no idea what Ma Mingchun was thinking. Seeing that Ma Mingchun was avoiding her, she wondered if she had offended him somehow.
When the group returned home, they were surprised to find that the house was spotless and there was hot water boiling on the stove, making it convenient for them to take a bath and drink water.
Yan Xiaoqiang knew at a glance that it was the old bachelor who did it, since he had given the old bachelor a key to the house back then.
"Brother, thank you, you're so kind."
The old bachelor's eyes were moist. Without the Yan family's help, he definitely wouldn't be able to go home, and might even die out there.
Even after returning home, the house was no longer habitable, so he stayed at the Yan family's house for a while longer.
Yan Xiaonan also got himself a job on a logging team with very generous wages and benefits, and he saved enough money to buy a house in just a few months.
Grandma Yan looked at the familiar faces with a big smile and greeted them warmly.
Sister Xu and Sister Ma brought out steaming dumplings, and Yan Xiaoqiang, who was hungry, quickly took them over.
Grandma Yan also ate several dumplings, filled with pork and cabbage, and they tasted really good.
Yan Xiaonan entered Grandma Yan's main room. The kang (heated brick bed) was already heated, the quilts were washed clean, and there was a smell of sunshine.
After helping Grandma Yan to bed, we realized that sitting on the train for so many days, even in a soft sleeper, was tiring.
Grandma Yan lay down on the kang (heated brick bed) in her old home and closed her eyes contentedly.
The canopy bed in Beijing is much more comfortable than the kang (heated brick bed), but the kang is one's roots, and one should never forget one's origins.
"Qiangzi, let's have a welcome dinner at my house tonight," Village Chief Ma said, patting Yan Xiaoqiang on the shoulder.
"Okay, I brought some mutton from the capital, and some wine. Let's drink until we're drunk!" Yan Xiaoqiang was in a very good mood as he returned to his hometown.
Xuemei quickly pulled out the duffel bag containing mutton, pork, and beef: "Dad, is this it?"
Yan Xiaoqiang nodded quickly and handed the whole bag to Village Chief Ma. When Village Chief Ma took a look, he exclaimed, "Good heavens, this meat must weigh at least fifty pounds!"
"There's too much, how can we possibly finish it all?" Village Chief Ma said, perplexed.
"How can we not finish this? There are so many people. Let's make a hot pot with the lamb, braise the pork, and make a stew with the beef."
Yan Xiaonan smiled. Her father had learned her words perfectly. He was a promising student.
The night in Mushroom Village is very lively tonight, with everyone running around carrying small torches.
One child took a piece of beef, another child took a few White Rabbit milk candies, and laughter filled the air.
Xu Xiangrong and her husband were even more surprised that Grandma Yan had given them a can of malted milk powder.
The couple was overjoyed and decided to send the malted milk powder they bought back to their hometown the next day to supplement the nutrition of their parents and children.
Sister-in-law Xu nodded: "Honey, send it a few days later. Send some money back after you get paid. The child should be starting school soon."
Xu Xiangrong thought for a moment and said, "There are schools here too, why don't we let the child study here?"
Sister-in-law Xu shook her head: "When the child comes, the parents will come too. Where will they stay? We're staying in the dormitory."
Xu Xiangrong nodded in agreement, agreeing that his wife was right. He decided to send the money back home in a couple of days after receiving his salary.
There were many gifts; even without malted milk powder, there were White Rabbit milk candies and liqueur-filled chocolates, basically ensuring that every child in Mushroom Village had something to eat.
Even Pan Gaozhi's child was holding candy in his left hand and a piece of braised beef in his right, eating with great relish.
Looking at the villagers gathered here, Sister-in-law Ma couldn't stop smiling: "Sister-in-law Yan, are you leaving again this time?"
This question voiced everyone's thoughts. No one wanted Grandma Yan to leave. As long as Grandma Yan was here, the Yan family would come home from time to time.
Grandma Yan shook her head: "I came back with my Nan Nan. She wants to see that factory. She'll leave again after that."
Alas! A golden phoenix has flown out of the mountain valley, and wherever the golden phoenix is, Grandma Yan is there too.
"Sister-in-law Yan, I really admire you. You're the only one in the whole village who treats this girl like such a precious thing. You're really farsighted." Sister-in-law Ma raised her wine glass.
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