Chapter 253
Xiao Yi and Mingli accompanied her on the journey from the town to the county seat. Since Lin Han didn't come home this time, Xiao Yi couldn't even pay a visit to their house.
Being busy with business was one reason, but mainly it was because Mingli had to stay in town to take care of his wife and had no time to accompany him. It wouldn't look good to outsiders if he brought Shitou to visit by himself.
Director Liu from the town had delayed notifying Nan Sheng due to his own selfish motives. He even tried to shift the blame onto his subordinate clerks. After learning the truth, the clerk reported him directly to the county, and now who knows where he was suffering the consequences.
Without Director Liu acting as the bad apple, not only did the air in the town government feel much fresher, but the black market business also returned to normal. Nan Sheng told Xiao Yi to make more money, as there would be plenty of uses for it in the future.
These words made Xiao Yi's heart surge with excitement. He had no grand ambitions; he only hoped Nan Sheng would point him in the right direction. Even though he had money in his hands now, his heart couldn't settle down.
After getting off the train, it was too late, so Nan Sheng took the children back to the county seat first. They stayed for one night before taking a car back to the family compound. When passing by the military district, Nan Sheng asked a young soldier to send a message to Lin Han, telling him to bring Sicheng home for dinner that evening.
Who would have thought that right after Nan Sheng and the kids arrived home, Lin Han followed closely behind. His voice was full of joy, Wife, why didn't you stay at home for a few more days?
Nan Sheng looked at this man who said one thing but meant another and felt amused. I came back to spend a couple of days with you. Is work not busy?
Nan Sheng was unpacking the things she brought back, and the two children were cleaning their own rooms. Lin Han quickly pressed his wife onto the sofa chair to rest and took over the rest of the work.
These two days are holidays. I had nothing to do alone at home, so I went to the military district to take a look. Is everyone at home doing well?
My parents are doing great, but Grandpa's health isn't very good. Mother-in-law looks the same as before with no changes, but Father-in-law's hair has turned quite white. Why don't you write a letter back to persuade him to do less heavy manual labor?
Lin Han said he would definitely write a letter, but Lin Guozheng was a stubborn man. His persuasion would be useless; his father wouldn't rest until the day he physically couldn't work anymore.
Nan Sheng's trip back to their hometown this time went quite smoothly without any annoying incidents. Chatting with Lin Han about the people back home, time slowly slipped away.
Let's have hot pot tonight. I made it once before and Xiaocheng really loved it. Sister-in-law also asked me to bring him some dried fruits. Don't forget to remind him to take them back after dinner.
Okay! As long as his wife and children were at home, Lin Han could taste sweetness even if he were drinking the cold northwest wind.
When evening came, it wasn't just Sicheng who arrived; Little Hou, Han Yongxiang, and Luo Hao all came along.
The three of them said in unison, Happy New Year, Sister-in-law! We're here to crash your dinner!
Sicheng greeted Nan Sheng with a pitiful look. When he was about to leave the military district, he had foolishly blurted out that there would be good food, and then it turned into this...
Nan Sheng hadn't seen Han Yongxiang and Luo Hao for quite a long time. She greeted them with a smile, Find a place to sit, the pot will be ready in a moment.
She then asked Sicheng to go to the kitchen to help slice the meat. With three more big young men, the amount of food had to be doubled to be enough. In Rongcheng, green vegetables were available even in winter, so the variety of hot pot ingredients Nan Sheng prepared was quite comprehensive.
The same went for the meat; beef, mutton, pork, and fish were all sliced up. She also bought braised meat and braised pig trotters. They cooked three whole basins of hot pot, and it smelled absolutely delicious.
Come eat while it's hot. It might be a little spicy, so choose your own dipping sauces.
Han Yongxiang had eaten hot pot before, but he had only ever had copper pot boiled beef and mutton. This kind of direct-boiled spicy flavor was a fresh experience for him. By the end, the young men were eating so much that they were sweating profusely, their bellies bulging.
As they were leaving, Luo Hao was already thinking about the next meal. Sister-in-law, you must call us next time you make hot pot. It was incredibly delicious!
Sure, come over whenever you're not busy.
Nan Sheng packed the dried fruits for Sicheng to take with him. At this moment, this little bit of food was not just a treat; it also carried his family's longing for him. Han Yongxiang couldn't keep his hands to himself and grabbed a handful to taste on the way.
Crispy and sweet, pretty tasty. Share some with me when we get back, will you?
Sicheng was already heartbroken enough letting the three of them grab a handful each. This was made by his mother's own hands, brought back from so far away by his second aunt. He wanted to save it and eat it for a long time!
Taking advantage of their inattention, he took to his heels and ran. But a green recruit is still a green recruit; how could he outrun two little devils? When he was caught, Han Yongxiang even mocked him.
No progress at all. Double training tomorrow!
That's right, Sicheng was a soldier under Han Yongxiang. From the very beginning, Lin Han hadn't hidden their relationship. Han Yongxiang took special care of him, but his demands during training were even stricter.
Every time Sicheng felt he couldn't hold on any longer, Han would say, Back in the day, Regiment Commander Lin was famously outstanding in the entire military district. Now everyone knows you are his nephew. If people find out you're a good-for-nothing, will that make Regiment Commander Lin look good?
Sicheng was spurred on by these words, becoming a standout among the new recruits. Only he knew the hardships and sweat he had put into it.
Over at the family compound, Nan Sheng wasn't idle either. During the day, she and Lin Han would visit various households to catch up and strengthen their relationships.
On their last night, Nan Sheng lay in bed and said to Lin Han, Do you think Director Gong was bluffing me? He said there would be people protecting me, but how come I didn't notice anyone along the way?
Even if it was relatively easy to hide in the county seat, it shouldn't have been that easy to stay hidden on the train and in our hometown, right?
Nan Sheng pondered over this whenever she had free time, but she hadn't seen a single shadow of anyone.
Hearing this, Lin Han confirmed Director Gong's words. There are indeed people protecting you, but they are professionals and very hard to spot. The day you returned to the family compound, someone in the military district reported it, and only after an investigation did they find out it was related to you.
Now, the higher-ups in the military district also knew that Nan Sheng's identity was unusual and helped keep it a secret, which was why the matter hadn't spread throughout the family compound.
Grandpa Nan ultimately didn't wait to see his great-grandson born. About a month after Nan Sheng returned to Rongcheng for work, a call came from home saying the old man had passed away.
Nan Jingyu's original intention was just to inform his daughter, not wanting her to travel all the way back for the funeral. The journey would delay her for two days, and even if she made it home, she would only catch the burial.
However, Nan Sheng and Lin Han unanimously decided they had to take leave and return to their hometown. They could skip joyous occasions, but they couldn't be absent for a funeral; this was the last chance for the younger generation to show their filial piety.
The two children were still in school and couldn't go back to the hometown with them. Fortunately, Sizhe was old enough to take good care of his younger sister.
Son, you and your sister must lock the doors and windows properly at home. Go to the restaurant for meals morning and evening. Make absolutely sure you don't cook at home, understand?
I know, Mom. I'll take good care of my sister.
Siqi was also particularly obedient and didn't clamor to go back to the hometown with their mother. They all knew that the great-grandfather who had eaten with them during the New Year would never be seen again...
After Lin Han and his wife left in the car, Qiqi suddenly thought of her biological mother. Although she could no longer remember her face, she felt a heaviness in her heart.
Why do people grow old and get sick?
Why couldn't Great-grandfather live forever? Would her parents die too? When that time came, where would she go to find her parents...