Fu Wenhan smiled. He didn't know when this kind of life would end, but he hoped that what Qin's father said could come true, so that he wouldn't have to waste his years in a place like the forest farm.
He wasn't afraid of hard labor, but he felt that it wouldn't allow him to realize his full potential. He wanted to use his skills to make a greater contribution to the country in a suitable position!
After chatting with Fu Wenhan for a while, Song Lan got up and went outside to cook with the ingredients she had brought. She and Qin Yanzheng had left early and had breakfast at home before leaving, but they arrived at the forest farm at only 8:15. Since Fu Wenhan had been resting recently, he naturally got up later and had not yet had breakfast.
When he saw her about to help cook for him, Fu Wenhan naturally tried to stop her, but Qin Yanzheng stopped him, saying, "Uncle Fu, please let Lanlan do it. Otherwise, she'll probably have something on her mind all day."
"It's freezing outside, what will we do if Lanlan gets cold?"
Fu Wenhan's eyes were full of reluctance: "Besides, I can just eat whatever I want by myself, but didn't you see just now that Lanlan took so many ingredients out? It will take a lot of time just to prepare them. By the time she finishes cooking, she'll be freezing outside!"
"You're overthinking it. Before we left, we cleaned all the ingredients we were going to bring you at home. Lanlan will just need to rinse them with water and they'll be ready to cook."
Moreover, some of the dishes are already prepared and can be eaten simply by heating them in a pot.
For example, braised chicken with shiitake mushrooms, braised pork ribs, and braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens.
Song Lan got up before five o'clock and went to the kitchen to prepare everything.
Before leaving, he not only packed one set for each of Fu Wenhan's families, but also packed two additional sets for the Xiao family and Elder Shen's family.
As for his wife's family, according to his wife, all they need to do is bring the ingredients, and then she will personally cook for her parents-in-law to enjoy her culinary skills.
Outside the room, Song Lan was secretly heating and stir-frying dishes in the makeshift kitchen. Inside the room, Qin Yanzheng and Fu Wenhan were chatting idly. After all the food was ready, Song Lan brought it inside, and the three of them sat around a square table, chatting and eating.
However, Song Lan and Qin Yanzheng didn't eat much; they were just there to keep them company.
Be careful going down the mountain, don't walk too fast!
After having lunch with Fu Wenhan, Song Lan and Qin Yanzheng cleaned up the dishes and leftover food. Seeing that it was already 10 a.m., they said goodbye to Fu Wenhan. At this moment, Fu Wenhan saw the couple to the door, and couldn't help but show concern in his eyes, and said some words of advice to prevent Song Lan and Qin Yanzheng from having any accidents on their way down the mountain.
"We're not in a hurry, and safety is our top priority. Uncle Fu, you don't need to worry about us too much."
Song Lan smiled and said, "It's colder in the mountains than down below, Uncle Fu, please make sure to keep warm. We'll come visit you again in a while. And don't skimp on food and drink; if you need anything, we've got you covered!"
"Thank you for your kindness. Uncle Fu will take care!"
With his nephew Fu Jinheng taking care of him daily, and a young maid bringing him things from time to time, he truly lacked nothing in this forest farm, except that life there was rather dull.
"That's fine then, Uncle Fu, we're leaving now, you go inside!"
Song Lan smiled and waved to Fu Wenhan.
Qin Yanzheng made the same gesture when saying goodbye to Fu Wenhan.
Watching the two figures gradually disappear into the distance, Fu Wenhan withdrew his gaze, turned around, and went back into the house.
Looking at the nutritional supplements on the table and the several main dishes that were not finished but neatly arranged, this man, who was over fifty years old and exuded a refined air, couldn't help but have tears well up in his eyes.
Without the care of his wife and children, and even being abandoned by them, he felt heartache and regret. But as time went by, he became indifferent to their distance. After all, although he was now in the forest farm, he had gained the affection of his nephew and made a good friend, Lao Qin. At the same time, he was genuinely respected and cared for by the younger generation of his friend's family.
This made him understand even more the saying, "A loss may turn out to be a blessing in disguise."
Life is a balance of gains and losses.
-
Song Lan and Qin Yanzheng descended the mountain safely. Without stopping, Qin Yanzheng drove Song Lan to Shisong Village. The two unloaded the things they had brought for Song Sanhe and his wife, chatted with them for a bit, and then carried the things for the Xiao family and Old Man Shen and the others out of the courtyard.
It was cold and the temperature was low. With snowflakes starting to fall from the sky, Song Lan and her companion hardly saw a single person as they walked along the village road.
Knock knock knock!
Song Lan knocked on the door of the Xiao family's house. To avoid making the people inside feel uneasy, Song Lan spoke directly: "Grandpa Xiao, it's me, Song Lan. I've come to wish you, Grandma Luo, and Uncle Xiao a Happy New Year!"
She was carrying large and small bags, while Qin Yanzheng was also carrying bags full in both hands beside her.
With a creak, the door was opened from the inside.
"It's cold outside, come in and sit down!"
It was Xiao Yu who opened the door. A faint smile played on his handsome features as he invited Song Lan inside. When he saw Song Lan standing to her side, his expression paused almost imperceptibly before he smiled and said, "Hello, please come in and have a seat."
In fact, Qin Yanzheng was momentarily stunned when he saw Xiao Yu, especially when he saw the look in Xiao Yu's eyes and the smile on his face as he looked at Song Lan. Qin Yanzheng's heart tightened suddenly, and a sour feeling welled up inside him.
"It's so cold outside, why did you go back to the village?!"
Grandma Luo's voice was full of tenderness.
"Yes, it's inconvenient and freezing to go out in this cold weather. You should stay home and rest well, and have a comfortable weekend."
That's Grandpa Xiao's voice.
"I came back to the village specifically to wish my parents, you all, and Grandpa Shen a Happy New Year!"
With a smile in her eyes, Song Lan offered her New Year's greetings and bowed to Grandpa Xiao and his wife, as well as Xiao's father. Then, she introduced Qin Yanzheng to them: "This is my husband, his name is Qin Yanzheng." She then introduced Grandpa Xiao and the others to Qin Yanzheng.
Qin Yanzheng greeted him politely and offered his New Year's greetings.
"Happy New Year, Auntie! Happy New Year, Uncle! Chenchen wishes Auntie and Uncle good health and happiness forever!"
The baby Xiao Chen tilted his head back and offered New Year's greetings to Song Lan and Qin Yanzheng.
"We have received Chenchen's New Year's wishes for Auntie and Uncle Qin. Here, Auntie wishes little Chenchen a happy and healthy new year filled with smiles every day; and also wishes little Chenchen a bright future and happiness!"
Kneeling down, Song Lan smiled broadly and offered the child her sincerest blessings.
"Chenchen understands, thank you Auntie!"
The baby Xiao Chen's eyes sparkled like stars as he wrapped his arms around Song Lan's neck and gave his favorite aunt a kiss.
Seeing the child's flushed face, clearly shy but still wanting a kiss, Song Lan's heart melted. She returned the kiss and gave the little one two thick red envelopes, saying softly with a smile, "Take these, these are New Year's red envelopes from Auntie and Uncle Qin for Chenchen."
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