When they arrived at Grandpa Meng's grave, they placed offerings, lit incense, burned paper, and said a few words about the recent situation of their family and relatives and friends, as a report. Then the three of them stood in a row and saluted Grandpa Meng, and waited by the side. They had to wait until the incense sticks were burned out before they could leave. It hadn't rained in the past few days, and the wind was strong in spring, so they were afraid of causing a fire.

During the Spring Festival, Liu Yongsheng and others came to pay their respects. Captain Bao and Zhou Shi'an had renovated the cemetery, and the surroundings were flat and clean. The three of them didn't need to do anything, so they just sat there and chatted.

Zhao Ming told Meng Tao and Jin Niu: "You are going to the county town tomorrow. I will go with you."

Meng Tao asked: "Are you going to do something?"

Zhao Ming nodded: "Go to the county educated youth office and have a look. Maybe in one or two months, I will go back to the city and leave Linshui Village."

"That's great. I can be reunited with my family. Congratulations!"

Meng Tao smiled and said that she guessed it when Zhou Cuiling said Zhao Ming would not take the middle school teacher selection examination.

Jinniu was also happy for Zhao Ming, and followed Meng Tao's words and said, "It's good to be back in the city. Congratulations, Brother Zhao Ming!"

Zhao Ming smiled and patted Jinniu on the shoulder: "Don't forget me, I will come back one day."

"I won't forget you. We are good brothers. I will always remember you. No matter when you come back to Linshui Village, my door will be open to you."

"Thank you Jinniu and Taohua. I am lucky to have met you after training in the countryside for a few years."

"Teacher Zhao, you are so polite. We would also like to thank you for teaching us cultural knowledge." Meng Tao said with a smile.

Zhao Ming smiled bitterly: "I started but never finished. I didn't stick to it until the end. I'm not a good teacher... Jinniu is very hardworking. Continue to learn from Guoliang and Qianliang. Taohua must go to school. Your learning talent cannot be wasted."

"Okay, Mr. Zhao. Do Jiang Xiaodong and the others know that you are leaving?"

"They don't know yet. I'll tell them when it's confirmed."

Meng Tao nodded. This was Zhao Ming's cautiousness. He would not reveal anything that had not been decided in advance.

As she spoke, Xiao Wangcai, who was squatting next to Meng Tao, suddenly stood up, barked a few times towards the foot of the mountain, then jumped out and disappeared into the grass in the blink of an eye.

Taurus called out "Xiao Wangcai" twice. Zhao Ming guessed that it had found some prey. Meng Tao thought that it would not be the case because this was at the foot of the mountain and pheasants and rabbits would not come here. If there were any, they would be groundhogs or something like that. Xiao Wangcai ignored them.

Soon, Xiao Wangcai's voice and the voices of two men could be heard on the tree-lined mountain road. Jinniu smiled happily and said, "It's Brother Zhehan and Shen Yu. They're back!"

Meng Tao also stood up happily. She knew that Shen Yu had been very busy in the provincial capital recently. When they spoke on the phone two days ago, Shen Yu said that he might not be able to come back during the Qingming Festival. Unexpectedly, he came back today.

Shen Yu and Meng Zhehan brought Xiao Wangcai up. Meng Zhehan was holding a cloth bag with cigarettes, alcohol and other offerings in it. The two of them also lit incense for Grandpa Meng, poured wine, lit cigarettes, and bowed. Then everyone continued to sit down and wait for the incense to burn out before leaving.

It was getting late at this time, dusk was falling, and the wilderness felt a bit eerie. Meng Tao would not dare to stay here alone.

While Meng Zhehan was talking to Jinniu and Zhao Ming, Shen Yu gently hugged Meng Tao, and then held her hand tightly.

When their eyes met, they felt sweet in their hearts.

Jinniu asked Meng Zhehan how many days off he had. Meng Zhehan said, "I have to go back tomorrow."

"So urgent? I wish you could stay home for a few more days."

"I've been quite busy lately, and I can't spare a day on Sundays. I was able to come back today to pay respect to my grandfather, but I had to exchange places with someone else. I'll wait until July, when the summer vacation comes, and I'll definitely come back and stay longer."

"OK."

Meng Tao scratched Shen Yu's palm with her little finger twice, and Shen Yu knew what she was thinking. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear: "I have to go with him too. I'll take you to the county town tomorrow... and come back next weekend."

A few people returned home in the night. The educated youth were still waiting hungry. Meng Tao had prepared dinner before going up the mountain and told them to eat first, but they insisted on waiting.

Fortunately, I had books and radios as spiritual food, so I wasn't starving.

So they immediately set the table and prepared to eat. The three female educated youth heated up the dishes and brought them out one by one, including spicy dry-pot rabbit meat, braised and stir-fried chicken nuggets, chicken stewed with mushrooms, fried chicken mushrooms, cold-mixed shepherd's purse, and fresh mushroom soup. The staple food was steamed buns made from two-grain flour.

Meng Tao usually steams more buns, enough for Meng Zhehan and Shen Yu to eat in case they suddenly come. It is also convenient to stir-fry two dishes. Even if it is difficult to take out the meat in the space due to too many people, there is a row of smoked pheasants and rabbits hanging on the stove.

This was all thanks to Xiao Wangcai. Meng Tao secretly used pine needles and dew as bait to help it. It was also very ruthless, otherwise it would not have caught so many. There was meat at home for several days in a row, and everyone ate to their heart's content at every meal. Everyone really loved Xiao Wangcai.

After dinner, Meng Zhehan, Shen Yu, Jinniu and the educated youth sat and talked for a while. Meng Tao knew that they must be tired after driving all the way back, and they would have to rush back tomorrow, so they had to rest early.

I went to the kitchen to prepare the bath water, made the bed, and urged them to take a shower and go to bed.

After taking a shower, Shen Yu went upstairs to find Meng Tao: "Let's talk."

Meng Tao: "We'll go all the way to the county town tomorrow. We can talk in the car if you have anything to say."

"There are more than two of us in the car, and Meng Zhehan is always interrupting us. What can we say?"

"But I'm tired today and need to sleep."

"Then sleep together."

Meng Tao blushed and glared at him. Shen Yu smiled softly: "I can sleep on the floor."

"No, there are people all over the yard watching. You are not afraid of being laughed at, but I am embarrassed."

"Then if you promise me one thing, I'll leave."

"What?"

"You agree first."

"All right……"

“…”

After dawdling for a long time, when Shen Yu finally went to rest, Meng Tao looked at the time and couldn't help but laugh and get angry: How can this be considered going to bed early? It's already past eleven o'clock.

After breakfast the next day, the educated youth went to work. Shen Yu helped Meng Tao clean up the yard. Zhao Ming went to the brigade headquarters to ask for leave. Team leader Bao followed him back. Shen Yu, Meng Zhehan and Team leader Bao talked for a while, and then they got on the jeep and left Linshui Village for the county town.

It takes three hours to take the bus, but the modified jeep has good performance and runs fast, so it can get there in an hour.

Meng Tao took Jinniu to the county hospital for a follow-up visit and planned to stay for two days. She talked to Zhang Fu on the phone. Zhang Fu spent 180 yuan to buy a large yard, but he didn't dare to let his relatives and friends know for the time being, for fear of being asked where the money came from. After all, his family has always been poor, and he doesn't look like a rich man.

But he was so happy in his heart that he thought it would be a waste if he didn't show off his big yard. He had been looking forward to Meng Tao and Jinniu coming to the county town. He was so happy when he received a call from Meng Tao. She said that Meng Tao and Jinniu must stay in his new yard for a few days when they arrived in the county town and asked him to treat them well.

It's hard to refuse such a kind invitation, so I have to show my support.

Zhao Ming only got one day off, but it was enough. He went to visit the Youth League Office, then went to the department store to buy some things for other youth leagues, went to the Xinhua Bookstore, and took a bus back to the village at noon.

(End of this chapter)