"Alright, then let's go to Suzhou and Hangzhou after the New Year." Zhang Hongmei wasn't too disappointed by the news; she had only asked out of desperation. She already knew the answer.
"Honey, I'm sorry."
"I'm used to it, it's okay. Our country is so big, we'll explore it all."
"Okay, whatever you say."
"Shouyi, aren't you going back to help Zhenye?"
Zhang Shouyi shook his head, "No need. With Liu Jingze by his side, this matter won't be difficult. Don't worry, they don't have the guts."
Since Zhang Shouyi had made his decision, the other two had no objections whatsoever.
The three of them felt much better outside, but their son and daughter-in-law at home were not quite used to it.
Before, there would always be elderly people at home when I came back every day, but now it's empty.
Zhang Zhenye told Ruifeng and the others, "Dad said that if you want to stay, you can, but if you want to go home for the New Year, that's fine too."
None of the three of them, including Ruifeng, looked up, and Zhang Zhenye understood what they meant.
He was happy; these were still his brothers.
On New Year's Eve, the nine children called them; this was the first time the family hadn't spent the Lunar New Year together. The children felt particularly uncomfortable.
"Grandma, when are you coming home? I miss you all so much." Yu Chen held onto the phone tightly.
"Grandma is going on a trip with your great-grandfather and grandfather. When we get back, your grandfather and I will come to the mountains to see you."
Zhang Hongmei spoke with each of the children, while Zhang Shouyi listened with a smile. He would occasionally exchange a few words with his grandchildren.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhang Hongmei dialed the Liu family's phone number.
"Auntie, I'm doing fine out there. Would you and your uncle like to come and stay for a few days?"
“We’re not going. We’re not even going back to Liujiatun. The kids are all in the capital now. What would we two do if we went back? Let’s just stay here. You guys have fun.”
"Yes, we'll leave on the tenth of the month. We're going to Hangzhou to see West Lake."
"Have fun! You finally have some time. But how is your father-in-law's health?"
“No problem, I’m doing well now, and I’ve moved on from my grandfather’s passing.”
"That's good. We can rest assured now."
Zhang Hongmei called Li Cuihua. Both of them were in good health. The house was lively now, with three little children. Seeing them made her feel good.
"Hongmei, Ping'an is going to take the eldest brother to the mountain."
"That works too. There are other kids his age there, and he'll like it there."
“Peizhen was reluctant, but she agreed and will travel with Ruiyang and the others on the tenth of this month.”
The mother and daughter talked for a long time, and the rest of the conversation was about Tingting.
Liu Jianguo and his wife's retirement application was not approved, so they had no choice but to send Tingting over.
This little girl may seem quiet and reserved, but she is exceptionally intelligent, excels in her studies, and is remarkably sensible. Li Cuihua cherishes her dearly.
"Third Aunt, when will Pengfei's little girl be sent over?"
"Zijing was reluctant to send it over, but the child's photos have been sent. He's grown up and is quite good-looking, even better-looking than Pengfei and his wife. He's fair-skinned and clean-cut, and very pleasing to the eye."
"Yes, now that each family can only have one child, Pengfei definitely can't bear to part with him."
“Who says otherwise? Pengfei is a leader, so he can’t break the law. I’ve come to terms with it now. Zhenzhen is just fine.”
The mother and daughter chatted for over an hour before reluctantly hanging up the phone.
And so, the three of them flew to Hangzhou, where they stayed for two months. Then they went to Suzhou and stayed there for two months. It was June 1996, and the weather was getting hot. Finally, the three of them went home.
After arriving home, we visited the four elderly people the next day, and then went up the mountain. The children were naturally overjoyed to see their grandparents and great-grandfather, whom they hadn't seen for more than half a year.
Zhang Hongmei didn't want to come back that night; she wanted to stay on the mountain for a few more days.
“Brother Zhang, I can teach the children.”
Zhang Shouyi shook his head. "No, that would be too tiring. You should stay home with me."
"Why don't the three of us stay? Grandpa will be happy here with the kids."
Zhang Shouyi still disagreed. In the end, it was Zhang Xingguo who persuaded Zhang Hongmei, and the three of them finally went down the mountain and home.
The sons and daughters-in-law were genuinely happy to see their parents return. The children had been studying away from home, and the elderly had been traveling. After more than half a year, they still hadn't adjusted.
"Mom, are you, Grandpa, and Dad going on another trip?" Zou Haiyin asked her mother-in-law with a smile.
"Yes, we're planning to go back to our hometown for a few days. Your great-aunt and third great-aunt will be coming with us this time."
Yang Lijun placed a quail egg on her mother-in-law's plate and asked, "Mom, when are you coming back?"
"Come back when it gets cold; summers there are more comfortable than here."
All eight people were thinking at the same time, "We've been abandoned again."
"Mom, when are you leaving?"
"I'm leaving at the end of the month. I'll stay at home for a few more days and pick up Ruiyang and the other nine this Friday night."
"Yes, Mom and the other nine will definitely be envious." Qin Shuang was actually even more envious, as she hadn't been out since graduation.
Zhang Hongmei noticed this too, "Why don't the four of you come and stay with us for a month?"
Yang Lijun shook her head. "Mom, I'm not going. I'm worried about leaving Zhenye at home alone. Besides, there's too much to do at the company."
"Lijun, you don't need to do everything yourself at work. You should rely on them and become a qualified leader."
"Yes, Mom, I'll be careful."
Tang Feiyan also shook her head, "Mom, I'm not going either. I'm worried about Ruifeng."
Qin Shuang gave the same answer.
"Qin Shuang, didn't you really long for that?"
"Mom, Weiyu is more important than anything else."
Zhang Hongmei smiled as she listened to her third daughter-in-law's words.
"Mom, I can't live without Yaozu."
"Okay, then we'll go out and have some fun by ourselves."
That night, Zhang Hongmei lay in Zhang Shouyi's arms and said, "My daughters-in-law are all very good; they put my sons first."
"Yes, you are all like you. You sacrificed all your time for your husband and children."
That's because you are the people I love most.
Zhang Shouyi was overjoyed to hear his wife's words, feeling that he was the person his wife loved most.
It wasn't until the end of June that the plane carried the three of them, along with Liu Maocai and his wife, and Liu Aimin and his wife back to Liujiatun.
Having not returned for so many years, Zhang Hongmei felt a sense of familiarity upon setting foot on this land. It was a feeling of peace that came from the bottom of her heart.
This house is over thirty years old and looks old, but there are still new houses around it. Liujiatun now has more than two thousand people and is the largest village in the vicinity.
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