Chapter 242
Over in Rongcheng, Nan Sheng hired a large number of veterans all at once. Old Wu and the others had great faith in the people Nan Sheng brought in, and the fertilizer plant's production was back on track.
However, due to limited raw materials, they couldn't produce compound fertilizer without restraint. Only if the trial results were good would the government strongly support its production.
The next thing to consider was which town or city in the country to test the compound fertilizer's efficacy.
Nan Sheng's parents also went to stay at the military family compound for a few days while she was resting, becoming familiar faces to the neighbors. After staying for nearly twenty days and seeing that their daughter still wasn't making arrangements to send them off, Zhong Yanyan couldn't sit still any longer.
"Nannan, your father and I should be heading back."
These past few days, the elderly couple finally understood what it meant to live a heavenly life. In Rongcheng, they ate well, lived well, and could go out for strolls when they had nothing else to do. Their biggest daily workload was simply cooking.
Nan Sheng had also noticed her parents' hesitation to speak over the past few days, but since they didn't say anything explicitly, she just pretended not to see it.
"Alright, I have the day off the day after tomorrow, so I'll take you to the station. Tomorrow, you two can go to the department store to look around and buy some things to take back."
Nan Sheng took out a hundred yuan and stuffed it into her mother's hand. "Don't be reluctant to spend it. Our family is living very comfortably."
Zhong Yanyan smiled. These days, whenever she went out to buy groceries, the two kids would follow along and absolutely wouldn't let her spend any money. Not only was she treated to good food and drink, but she was also given money to take home. Her daughter was simply too filial.
"Okay then, I'll buy some things to take back for your maternal grandparents and your grandfather, so they can be happy too."
When Lin Han learned that his parents-in-law were going home, he specifically took a day off to drive them himself. He had arrived at the county town the night before and even tried to persuade them to stay.
"Mom, Dad, you've only been here for a short while, why are you going back so soon? How about I take you to the city tomorrow to look around, and you stay for a while longer?"
Nan Jingyu quickly waved his hand. "If anyone's staying, let my wife stay here. I can't take it anymore."
It wasn't that he couldn't handle a life of leisure; mainly, he couldn't stand eating spicy food so often. The frequency of his trips to the outhouse had gone from once a day to three times a day. As soon as he ate something spicy, his stomach would start acting up.
Afraid that her son-in-law would be upset, Zhong Yanyan quickly explained, "We haven't traveled far from home before, and after staying out for a long time, we get homesick. If you don't mind, we'll come over again when we have time in the future."
Lin Han said, "Then it's settled. Come stay for a few days every year from now on. When the time comes, I'll have someone buy the tickets in advance."
The Nan parents were extremely gratified by their son-in-law's attitude, as it showed how much he valued their daughter. However, Zhong Yanyan still offered a reminder.
"Don't just focus on us. When you have time in the future, let your parents come over and enjoy some good fortune too."
Lin Han agreed. If his parents wanted to come, he would naturally welcome them and let them stay over at the family compound. However, based on his understanding of his parents, even if he wanted to fulfill his filial duties, they might not be willing to come.
When leaving home this time, Lin Han had originally planned to bring Sicheng along. But when the boy heard that the elderly Nan couple was coming to Rongcheng, he was afraid that too many people would cause trouble, so he said he would take the bus over himself after a while, since it wasn't time for him to enlist yet anyway.
The next day, the whole family got up quite early.
The two children had already started school. After saying goodbye to their grandparents, they obediently went to school, though their expressions showed deep reluctance to part.
After Lin Han drove them to the city, they first went to the train station to buy sleeper tickets. There was a little over an hour before the train's departure.
Nan Sheng accompanied her parents in the waiting room to wait for ticket inspection, while Lin Han went outside to buy some food for the elderly couple to take with them. When it was time to check tickets, it was too crowded, so Lin Han didn't let Nan Sheng follow them onto the train. He saw the elderly couple off himself and even gave the conductor some money, asking them to deliver boxed meals when it was time to eat.
Zhong Yanyan kept refusing, but she couldn't persuade Lin Han. After her son-in-law got off the train, she said, deeply moved, "This child is no different from my own son."
Nan Jingyu also nodded, saying that their elderly couple was blessed.
Thinking of their son at home, Zhong Yanyan couldn't help but say, "Luotong must have gone back to work in town. I wonder how the old man is doing at home, and if he can eat on time."
As soon as she sat on the train, her homesickness grew stronger. They say that a golden or silver nest is not as good as one's own doghouse, and Zhong Yanyan finally experienced this.
Speaking of Luotong, ever since she got married, her life had been extremely comfortable. When she was at her maiden home, although her mother didn't have to work, she had to do household chores every day, which was very exhausting.
She thought she would have to live that kind of life too, but unexpectedly, Mingli hadn't changed before or after marriage. He had always been very considerate of her. Not only did he share the household chores, but sometimes when she was hungry at night, he would even cook for her without a single word of complaint.
For instance, now Mingli would go to the school to pick up Luotong every day after work, and then the two of them would go home together. With such a good man, even if he didn't achieve great success in the future, she was willing to spend her whole life with him wholeheartedly.
After arriving home, Luotong first took the red bean cakes she had bought to the west room. "Grandpa, have a few bites to fill your stomach first. I'll go cook right away."
Grandpa Nan took them with a smile. "No rush, you young couple rest for a while first. I'm not hungry yet."
By the time Luotong came out, Mingli had already started the fire. "It's too cold today. Go get on the kang and cover yourself with a quilt to warm up. I'll just make some simple noodle soup to eat."
Luotong also felt bad for her husband and wanted to keep him company in the kitchen, but she was scooped up into his arms and placed on the kang in the east room. Mingli even pulled a quilt over her.
"Be good. If you dare to get off the bed, see how I deal with you!"
These words sounded incredibly comforting to Luotong. Lying on the kang, listening to the clattering sounds of cooking coming from the kitchen, she felt especially secure.
For dinner, Mingli made hot noodle soup. Afraid that his wife would find it too plain, he also soaked some wood ear mushrooms and stir-fried them with meat slices. He cut the noodles very thin so that Grandpa Nan would find them easier to digest.
Luotong placed the table on the kang in the west room, and the young couple ate together with the old man. After taking a few bites, Grandpa Nan said somewhat hesitantly, "Your youngest uncle came over today. He said there's no grain at home and wanted to borrow some from you."
Nan Jingdang was a loafer who never worked properly. He had come to the house to cause trouble several times before and only behaved after being taught a lesson. It had probably been over half a year since he last visited.
Mingli thought that they were family after all. Even if he didn't care about the adults, he had to consider the children.
"Alright, we still have some cornmeal at home. I'll deliver it after I finish eating."
He wouldn't give too much either, at most twenty catties. Nan Jingdang had always been like this, borrowing from one family or another, relying on handouts to survive all year round.
Grandpa Nan was extremely happy to hear his eldest grandson agree and ate all the noodles in his bowl. His youngest son had brought his child over today; the child was dark, thin, and wearing thin clothes, looking incredibly pitiful.
However, the old man knew exactly what kind of person Nan Jingdang was. Ever since moving into his eldest son's home, this was the first time he had opened his mouth to ask his grandson for help.
When Zhong Yanyan and Nan Jingyu returned home, they didn't let their daughter tell their son, afraid of delaying his work. After getting off the train, they headed straight to their in-laws' house. Madam Yu was both surprised and delighted to see them.
"I heard you went to Rongcheng? Why didn't you let us know you were coming back so I could pick you up at the train station?"
Zhong Yanyan had purposely avoided calling ahead simply because she did not want to inconvenience her in-laws. Taking out the gifts and local specialties she had bought, she spent the night in the county town and did not head back home until the following day.
Consequently, the moment the young couple, Mingli and his wife, arrived home, they discovered that his parents had already returned, with a meal already set out on the table waiting for them.