Because the road was easier to travel, they arrived at a small county town in Northeast China by daybreak, which was five or six hours faster than before.
“Love the Party, let’s go to the county town. The children need some exercise too. Let’s go have breakfast.”
"Okay, let's go into town."
All three children woke up. "Second Uncle, Second Aunt, where are we?"
"Soon, at this rate we should be at the textile factory this afternoon."
Children don't understand these things; they just know it's coming soon.
Once in town, they found a breakfast shop, and the three children were overjoyed to be able to get off the bus. They wandered around the restaurant several times.
Liu Xu asked for hot water so that the three children could wash up. They had developed a habit of not being able to eat anything if they didn't wash up in the morning.
"Second Aunt, these fried dough sticks are quite delicious, even better than my mom's."
"Okay, let's bring some, otherwise we'll miss lunch."
"No need, didn't my mom bring beef patties?"
"It's alright, we should be able to get to the textile factory this afternoon and have lunch there."
Liu Xu shook her head. "We probably won't get there until after 2 PM. Let's forget it. We're already buying fabric, so let's not stay here. What do you three think?"
"We also want to go home as soon as possible." Pengfei had been wanting to go back for a long time.
After the five finished their meal, they drove away. Liu Xu drove during the day, while Shi Tou sat beside her and quickly fell asleep. The three children talked quietly in the back, but even in such a small space, they found it annoying. Ping An coaxed Zhi Yuan, and the three children unknowingly began reciting classical Chinese texts.
Pengfei had little experience with these things, so in order to keep Zhiyuan from making a fuss, he was asked to be Zhiyuan's teacher and teach Pengfei.
And so, without stopping, they arrived directly at the textile factory. Song Zhiqiang was now in charge of that place.
The gatekeeper informed us that we saw willow catkins getting off the bus.
He knew this was one of the lady's close associates. But the lady herself did not come down.
"Comrade Song, we're passing through here. Could you please prepare two bolts of floral fabric and two bolts of cotton fabric for us?" Liu Xu recognized Song Zhiqiang. Although they had never trained together, they had met at home.
Shi Tou got out of the car, and the two shook hands. Song Zhiqiang had someone bring over four bolts of cloth, and they rearranged the trunk and stuffed them in.
Stone paid the bill, and the three children strolled around for half an hour before setting off again.
"Second Uncle, when will we arrive?" Pengfei had really had enough of sitting.
"I estimate we'll arrive in the city by noon tomorrow. We'll have lunch there and then go to your house to see your dad."
Pengfei was a little awkward. He had no memory of his father at all. He only talked to him on the phone two or three times a year and had never met him.
Liu Xu also woke up, and since she couldn't hear the reply that followed, she guessed what had happened.
“Pengfei, you’ll understand when you meet your father. You’re all grown up now. A lot has happened over the years, but those are all adult issues. And let me ask you, since you were old enough to understand things, have you ever felt unhappy?”
"Second Uncle, it's alright. I'm all grown up now, I'm sensible, you don't need to worry about me."
"Don't hold a grudge against your dad. He's had a tough time too, always alone all these years. I heard from your Aunt Hongmei that she introduced him to someone, but I don't know if it worked out. When you grow up, you'll understand him better."
Even if he remarries, you won't live with him; you'll still have to live with your grandparents.
"Second Uncle, I really understand. You don't need to persuade me. Just like you said, I want to live with my grandparents."
I also wish my dad had company. My grandma sometimes secretly sheds tears, saying that my dad is suffering too much all by himself, and I can understand him.
"I'm about to see him, but I don't know what he'll be like. I don't mean anything else." Pengfei felt a little scared and a little expectant. He did have some resentment towards his father, but it was only that his father hadn't come to see him.
After Shi Tou's words of encouragement, he came to terms with it. He was already twelve years old, about to enter junior high school, and a big kid now. He no longer longed for his father's love as much as he had when he was a child.
Once he calmed down, it was nothing. Ping An breathed a sigh of relief. He felt sorry for his cousin, as he had never met his uncle.
The three children started reciting classical poems again. Zhiyuan has a particularly good memory; he reacts to them much faster than Ping'an. While not photographic, he can memorize them after hearing them only twice. He can also understand them quickly, which is something all the children envy.
There was nothing Brother Shitou could do. This guy wouldn't even come to see his own son; there was no one else like him.
At noon, I parked my car on the side of the road and ate a few bites by myself. Luckily, I had brought a thermos.
Zhiyuan said listlessly, "Second Uncle, when I went home, I took the train with my parents."
"Me too!" Christmas Eve said, feeling utterly exhausted from the journey in the car.
"Hehe, I also take the train. I only took it once when I was a child. I don't remember anything from that time. My grandma told me all about it."
"Now you know, right? Regret it?"
All three children shook their heads. "Second Uncle, how could we regret it? We've wanted to go back and play for a long time. Third Brother said that Liujiatun is really fun."
"Okay, I'll take you fishing in the mountains. But you all have to follow my instructions."
The three children were now excited and their earlier listlessness vanished.
They finally arrived in the city at noon on the second day and drove directly to the cotton mill.
Liu Jianguo was quite puzzled when he heard the announcement that someone was looking for him outside. When he went out, he saw Shi Tou and the other four, and he was especially excited when he saw Pengfei.
Pengfei had thought it through. Looking at his father, whose eyes were a little red, he said without any reluctance, "Dad, I am Pengfei."
Liu Jianguo excitedly grabbed Pengfei's hand, his fingers trembling. "Good, good, good, you're almost taller than Dad!" His voice was trembling.
Shi Tou sighed inwardly, "Brother, this is my wife, Liu Xu. We're coming back to get married. Mom and Dad should arrive in four or five days."
Liu Xu had just met Liu Jianguo a while ago, but this time she was his brother-in-law.
"Big brother!"
"Uncle!"
"Hehe, I know. You are Ping An and you are Zhi Yuan. Wait for me for a moment. I will go ask for leave right away. Peng Fei, Dad will take you to eat."
Liu Jianguo has hardly taken a vacation in the past ten years. He had originally planned to go to the capital for the Spring Festival this year. Unexpectedly, Shi Tou came back and got married.
His superiors readily granted him leave. Liu Jianguo was so busy that he didn't even have time to change his clothes.
He pushed his bicycle out. "Let's go to a restaurant. We don't have much at home. After we eat, we'll go home."
"Big brother, okay, will you come back with us?"
“Go back. I took a month’s leave. Pengfei is back. I’ll take the three of them out for a good time. Besides, you have a lot to take care of at home for your wedding. Let’s go eat first.”
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