Chapter 225 Going to Grandma's House 1
Lin Baozhu whispered towards the window, "Haifeng!"
Before he finished speaking, Qin Haifeng's figure appeared silently at the door like a cheetah.
His gaze swept across the room with lightning speed, and when he saw Shen Chang'an sitting on the bed, he abruptly stopped! Then, he straightened his back, heels together, and snapped to attention with a crisp military salute, his voice steady and powerful: "General, greetings! Qin Haifeng, former reconnaissance battalion commander of the XX Military Region, reporting for duty!"
His tone conveyed the sincere respect a soldier could have for a decorated veteran.
A hint of surprise flashed in Shen Chang'an's eyes: "You know me?"
Qin Haifeng maintained his salute and answered clearly, "Yes! Two years ago, during the military region's grand competition and the reporting and exercise in Beijing, I had the honor of seeing your prowess from the reviewing stand!"
Shen Chang'an nodded slightly, his imposing aura naturally revealed: "Hmm, good eye."
His gaze swept over Lin Baozhu. "This time I'm traveling light and without anyone with me. There are some old cases to investigate, and I need someone reliable and efficient by my side. For the time being, my safety is in your hands."
"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"
Qin Haifeng's answer was resolute.
"Old man, it's almost dawn, we have to go." Lin Baozhu said, reaching out to take back the family photo that Shen Chang'an was clutching tightly in his hand.
Shen Chang'an subconsciously pulled the photo into his arms, with a hint of reluctance and pleading: "Hey, girl... this photo, just... just let this old man see it, okay?"
Lin Baozhu paused, her eyes clear: "Not now. For the safety of my family, you can't keep this photo until the 'time bomb' next to you is dealt with."
Shen Chang'an gave her a helpless, half-hearted nod, both amused and exasperated: "You... your vigilance is almost on par with when we were doing underground work! Isn't that a bit too much?"
“There’s no other way,” Lin Baozhu shrugged, her tone carrying a hint of seasoned composure. “I’m terrified of being attacked from both the open and the hidden, so I always have to be more careful in my actions. But don’t worry,”
She changed the subject, saying, "As long as you act quickly enough, the day you reunite with my father is just around the corner! Alright, we really have to go now, or the roosters will crow!"
Having said that, she said no more, waved to Chen Chang'an, and decisively turned and left with Qin Haifeng. The two figures, just as they had come, silently scaled the courtyard wall and disappeared into the hazy darkness of the approaching dawn.
When they hurried back to Da Ge Ba Village, covered in dust from their journey, the eastern sky was already beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn...
*
As the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn, the kitchen of the Lin family was already wafting smoke and the aroma of food.
Lin Baozhu dragged her somewhat tired body into the main room and saw her mother, Guo Cuihua, busy as a bee.
She carefully wrapped a piece of high-quality cured pork belly, weighing a good five pounds, in damp oil paper. Then she took out two cans of malted milk powder printed with red double happiness characters and wrapped them with red paper. Next to her was a brand-new piece of dark blue "Dacron" fabric, obviously for making clothes for her grandmother.
The most eye-catching item was a small bamboo basket covered with a red cloth, containing twenty hard-boiled eggs dyed bright red, symbolizing joy and fulfillment.
"Baozhu's back? Quickly wash your face and have breakfast!" Guo Cuihua looked up, the dark circles under her eyes showing she hadn't slept well either, but she was unusually excited: "We have to go to your maternal grandparents' house today! Your grandma is turning sixty-six the day after tomorrow! That's a big birthday!"
Lin Baozhu looked at the table piled high with "generous gifts" and raised an eyebrow: "Mom, are you... moving the supply and marketing cooperative to Grandma's house?" These days, a pound of cured meat and a can of malted milk powder are considered top-notch gifts, let alone so many!
Guo Cuihua's face shone with a triumphant glow as she quickly tidied up, saying, "Our family used to be poor. When your grandmother celebrated her birthday, we could only afford to bring a few eggs, and even buying a pound of meat was a struggle. I always felt indebted to her."
"Now that things are better at home, and you're so successful... I just want your grandparents to be at ease!" She paused, her voice lowering slightly, tinged with a barely perceptible unease. "Besides... we can't keep your aunt's situation a secret from them any longer. Your grandfather's stubborn temper... after all these years, his anger should have subsided by now, right? This is a good opportunity to call your aunt back, so the whole family can get together."
Lin Baozhu understood. Her mother wanted to use the joy of her maternal grandmother's birthday to resolve her maternal grandfather's lingering resentment over his youngest daughter's insistence on marrying Li Xiaoxian despite his opposition.
For more than a decade, my grandfather has never forgiven my aunt's family, and consequently he also dislikes my aunt's husband and two children.
Now, my aunt's husband is a hair accessory seller in their village, always traveling around. My aunt takes her two children and works with the women in the village to make hair accessories. Their lives are getting better and better, but my aunt always has a look of unease on her face.
If Grandpa could let go of his prejudices, Auntie wouldn't be so depressed.
“Didn’t we already talk to my uncle? My aunt’s husband heard that Grandpa loves to drink, so he used his connections to buy him two bottles of Moutai, each costing several yuan.”
Lin Baozhu nodded, picked up a red egg and weighed it in her hand, "No matter how stubborn Grandpa is, he has to soften his heart a little when he sees Da Ni and Er Ni."
"Hey! Hurry up and come back! Tell them all to come home for breakfast, and then we'll go together!" Guo Cuihua replied hastily, her eyes full of hope.
When Lin Baozhu arrived at the Li family's house, she saw Guo Rongrong sitting nervously in the courtyard. In front of her was a small basket, and her uncle was busy preparing things.
The basket was stuffed full.
“Baozhu is here? You need to help me persuade your aunt. We had agreed to go together for your grandma’s birthday, but she’s backing out now.”
Lin Baozhu naturally knew what Guo Rongrong was worried about.
“Auntie, during this time, Uncle and the others must have told Grandma a lot about you. I’m sure Grandma has also been talking about it to Grandpa a lot. Grandpa didn’t agree to you marrying Uncle because he was an unstable person and couldn’t give you happiness. But look at him now, Uncle helps our village sell hair clips and earns a lot of money every month.”
He's now capable of supporting your whole family, what more could Grandpa possibly want? At most, your aunt's husband will get a beating..."
Li Xiaoxian paused in packing her things.
"Baozhu, I just remembered, I still have a few deals to close. Maybe I shouldn't go. Can you carry these things for your aunt? Don't tire her out..."
Guo Rongrong, who was initially nervous, burst out laughing when she saw Li Xiaoxian acting so cowardly, which dispelled a lot of her unease.
Lin Baozhu led her aunt's family of four to the Lin family home, and then they walked together towards Guo Family Village...
The atmosphere on the mountain road leading to Guojia'ao was subtly lively, yet also tinged with tension.
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