Chapter 353 The Orphanage's Lies: The Handsome Flower Boy 53
On the morning of the day of departure, just as dawn was breaking, the borrowed tractor was parked outside the Shen family's courtyard, with clean straw laid out in the truck bed.
The Shen family, a dozen or so members, carrying large and small bags, climbed one after another into the truck bed.
The commotion had already alerted the surrounding neighborhoods, and many villagers got up to see it off, mainly to see what was going on. They gathered around the tractor, their eyes filled with mixed emotions.
"Are you really leaving? That's quite a show of force!"
"Guodong, Guoliang, have fun! Watch Tiananmen Square for us!"
"Juxiang, you're so lucky!"
Of course, there was also the sour voice of Widow Zhao squeezed into the crowd.
"Hmph, what are you showing off for? We don't even know if you're really enjoying yourself..."
But it was quickly drowned out by the blessings from other villagers.
At this moment, the Shen family was so engrossed in the joy of their trip that they had no time to pay attention to anything else.
We're going to Beijing soon, who cares what you say? I'm so excited!
Party Secretary Li also came, showing great respect and reluctance to part with him.
"Comrade Shen Ci, don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things at the school and make sure it's handled perfectly for you!"
If I need anything, I'll contact you using the phone number you left!
He truly envied Shen Dashan and his wife for raising such an outstanding and filial daughter. He decided that he must raise his own daughter well!
It seems that the daughter is more successful than the son.
"Put-put-put—"
The tractor started, and from Shenjia Village to the town, and then to the train, there were more than a dozen people on the way, making a lively scene.
My cousins, both younger and older, had almost never left the county town before. They were excited about everything they saw along the way and kept asking Lu Jinnian questions.
Lu Jinnian didn't find it troublesome or noisy; on the contrary, he was infected by a bit of excitement.
The dark, unlit corner of my heart has been illuminated during this time.
Home, family, is such a powerful kind of warmth.
He thought he could be alone and didn't need any emotions.
But now, he finds this liveliness very comfortable, as if he doesn't have to worry about any danger. Home is a warm, reassuring, and safe place.
As the train roared into Beijing, the scenery outside the window was completely different from that of Shenjia Village.
The entire Shen family, young and old, were craning their necks to the window, their eyes wide with amazement. So this was the capital! It looked so big and prosperous.
The platform was teeming with people, ten times more crowded than during the busiest market day in their county town.
Shen Guodong held his two young children tightly, afraid that they would be separated by the crowd. There were so many people; he was worried that someone might steal the children.
The second sister-in-law held her youngest daughter in her arms, curiously observing the people on the platform dressed in all sorts of clothes, her eyes almost dazzled by the sight.
Some were wearing work clothes, some were wearing military uniforms, and some were wearing beautiful dresses that they had never seen before. The styles were nice and the colors were very bright.
"Stay close to each other, don't get separated!"
With a shout and a wave, Shen Ci, carrying a suitcase, led her family toward the exit.
Lu Jinnian walked a little behind to take care of the other members of the Shen family, so that they wouldn't fall behind.
As soon as I exited the station, I saw a young man wearing a white shirt and gray trousers holding a sign that read, "Pick up Mr. Shen and his family."
The man looked young, with a neatly parted hairstyle and black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, giving him a refined and scholarly appearance.
"Zhang Ming!" Shen Ci waved with a smile.
Zhang Ming's eyes lit up, and he immediately ran over. "Hey, the God of Wealth is finally back!"
"Boss, you must be tired from your journey! The car is waiting outside."
Boss? The Shen family members were still a little unaccustomed to this title, not yet used to Shen Ci's identity.
Mother Shen quietly tugged at Shen Ci's sleeve.
"Ni'er, who is this comrade...?"
"Mom, this is my assistant at the factory, Comrade Zhang Ming."
Shen Ci explained.
"Zhang Ming, these are my parents, my eldest brother and sister-in-law, my second brother and sister-in-law, and these little ones."
Zhang Ming quickly greeted the Shen family.
"Hello, Uncle and Aunt, hello, brothers and sisters-in-law."
The car is ready, let's go over now.
The group followed Zhang Ming out of the station square, where they saw three cars parked beside the square.
A black sedan and two green jeeps made for a rather conspicuous sight on the streets of Beijing in 1979.
"These...they're all here to pick us up?"
Shen Guoliang stammered, explaining that he had only ever seen the county party secretary ride in such a car in the county.
Suddenly arriving in a big city, it's like developing big city phobia; even speaking becomes difficult.
Zhang Ming nodded with a smile.
"The boss instructed that since there are many people, we need to prepare two more vehicles. These jeeps are spacious and can accommodate everyone."
The children, unable to contain their curiosity, circled the car, wanting to touch it but too afraid to.
The youngest son, Tiger, reached out to touch the shiny car door, but his mother grabbed him.
"Don't touch it! What if you break it!"
Mr. and Mrs. Shen were also stunned by the scene. Mrs. Shen lowered her voice and asked her daughter.
"Girl, how much...how much will this cost?"
Shen Ci helped open the car door and demonstrated for them, as they had never ridden in a car before.
It should be said that most people in this era have never ridden one.
"Mom, don't worry, the factory has vehicles for work."
Dad, Mom, Jinnian, let's ride in this car.
"Big brother, second brother, you two can ride in those two jeeps."
Zhang Ming personally opened the car door for Mr. and Mrs. Shen, and even thoughtfully placed his hand on the door frame. The Shen family found this gesture very considerate.
As the car started, the entire Shen family, more than a dozen people, held their breath.
My goodness, this Iron Bull can make such a loud noise and run so fast!
It wasn't until the car smoothly drove onto Chang'an Avenue and the children looked at the lights and buildings flashing past the window that they exclaimed in amazement. It was all so amazing.
Wow! The building is so tall!
"Look! The lanterns are changing color!"
"Auntie, auntie, is that Tiananmen Square? We've seen it in our textbooks!"
Shen Ci patiently answered all their questions, and Zhang Ming would occasionally turn around from the passenger seat to add a few words, helping them understand the city.
Mr. and Mrs. Shen kept scrutinizing Zhang Ming as he drove, their eyes filled with curiosity.
Finally, Mother Shen couldn't help but speak up.
"Comrade Zhang, are you married?"
Zhang Ming was taken aback, then understood and laughed.
"Auntie, I don't have a boyfriend yet. I'm busy with work at the factory and can't think about personal matters for the time being."
"How many people are in your family? What do your parents do?"
Shen Ci was both amused and exasperated. It seemed that many parents were like this: once they discovered that their child was in contact with someone of the opposite sex, they assumed that person was their child's boyfriend or someone they liked.
"Mom, are you checking the household registration?"
Zhang Ming, being good-natured, answered each question one by one.
"My parents are both alive, and I have a younger brother and a younger sister."
My father is a middle school teacher, and my mother works in the neighborhood committee.
Shen Mu's eyes shone even brighter.
"We're all cultured people! And you!"
You're a hot commodity! People in the village would fight tooth and nail for you!
Shen Ci grasped her mother's hand and lowered her voice.
"Mom, Zhang Ming is my subordinate, it's just a working relationship."
Please don't play matchmaker.
Mother Shen sighed regretfully, while Father Shen, having seen through the situation, patted his wife's hand, signaling her not to ask any more questions.
It's like Xiao Zhang is working for his own daughter, which is definitely not acceptable.
Which boss can truly judge their subordinates? Which subordinate would like their boss?
As I drove along, I stopped in front of an alley. By then, it was getting dark, and the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow.
Zhang Ming got out of the car first, took out his key from his pocket, unlocked the door, and pushed open the heavy wooden door with a creak.
"We're here, this is it."
The Shen family members got out of the car one after another and walked inside. Everyone was stunned.
This is the courtyard house that the system rewarded before. Shen Ci hadn't had time to come and see it until the Shen family came to stay, at which point she had it cleaned up.
The bricks and gray tiles are square and neat.
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