Chapter 259
Back at home, Lin Han talked to Nan Sheng about what had happened at the old house. "He really is an old fox in the political arena; he sees things so thoroughly."
Lin Han smiled without saying a word. The attitude of Lin Guozheng and his wife was obvious. Unless Wan Jiyong didn't plan on living with Lin Xue anymore, he would have to take the two children back sooner or later. Rather than leaving a knot in both their hearts, it was better to be straightforward about it.
In the evening, the family was about to make something simple to eat. Before they could start cooking, Wan Jiyong came over to invite them. "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Mom and Dad asked me to invite you over for dinner."
This was actually his idea. He had mentioned that Second Sister-in-law was never around when they came to pay New Year's greetings every year, so why not have dinner together tonight?
Fan Shuting didn't think much of it either. The family lacked nothing; it was just a matter of adding two more dishes.
"Then I'll go over and tell them not to cook tonight."
Wan Jiyong stopped his mother-in-law. "I'll go. Mom, please keep an eye on Xiaoxue. It's too slippery outside, don't let her go out."
Nan Sheng agreed with a smile, "Alright, we'll head over in a bit."
At the dinner table, Wan Jiyong opened drinks for Nan Sheng and poured wine for Lin Han, acting as if he were the host.
"I've always wanted to invite Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law to my house for a visit, but unfortunately, there hasn't been a chance. Today, I'll borrow my father-in-law's place to toast you both and thank you for taking care of Xiaoxue."
Nan Sheng thought: What's with the sudden sentimentality?
Wan Jiyong did indeed invite Nan Sheng and Lin Han to stay in the county town for a couple of days every year, but the couple always declined with the excuse that they were rarely home and wanted to spend more time with their respective parents.
Lin Han took over the conversation, "Xiaoxue is my sister too; it's only right for me to take care of her."
Lin Guozheng and Fan Shuting were busy taking care of the children, and so was Lin Xue. Nobody was interested in listening to them talk about the convoluted affairs of the government.
After dinner, Wan Jiyong invited the couple to the west room to talk, even specially brewing a pot of tea.
Nan Sheng, who wanted to go home early, was a bit displeased. She shot a glance at Lin Han, signaling him to suggest leaving soon after sitting for a bit. She was dead tired right now.
After taking a sip of tea, Nan Sheng felt a little more awake. Wan Jiyong probably noticed her fatigue and got straight to the point.
"Second Sister-in-law, could I trouble you with something?"
Nan Sheng kept her smile and asked Wan Jiyong to explain what it was first.
"Our county is quite backward compared to other provinces and cities, and the medical conditions are even more rudimentary. The harvest was good this year, and the government has some spare funds. I wanted to improve things by introducing some advanced medical equipment, but unfortunately, the application has been stuck with no news at all."
Wan Jiyong was thinking that Yu Feng had some connections in both the county and the city, and since Nan Sheng used to be his subordinate and was now related by marriage, he wanted to use her to pull some strings.
Hearing that he wanted to bring in medical equipment, Nan Sheng agreed without hesitation.
"That's a good thing. With better medical equipment, it will be easier for the common folks to get medical treatment. How about this: I'll ask someone to look into it for you, but I can't guarantee it will definitely work."
Hearing Nan Sheng's willingness to help, the smile on Wan Jiyong's face became more genuine. "Then thank you so much, Second Sister-in-law. Although I've worked in the county for many years, my connections are quite limited, otherwise I wouldn't have brought this up."
Nan Sheng pretended not to understand the underlying meaning of his words. Doing a small favor was fine, but trying to use her connections to climb the political ladder was another matter entirely.
Lin Han was very perceptive. He raised his left hand, and seeing that the time on his watch was past eight o'clock, he immediately took his leave.
"Wife, it's getting late. Let's go back and rest. Aren't we going to Xiaoling Village to see grandma and grandpa tomorrow?"
Nan Sheng immediately yawned, playing along, "It's so late already, we really should head home. Brother-in-law, we'll be leaving first."
After Nan Sheng's family of four left, Lin Xue also returned from the east room. The two children were sleeping in the same room as their grandparents; they weren't familiar with Wan Jiyong, so they definitely wouldn't be used to sleeping in the same room with him.
"How did it go, Lao Wan? Did Second Sister-in-law agree?"
Wan Jiyong smiled and said, "She agreed. As long as the county takes it seriously and brings it up a few more times, the equipment will definitely be approved. Marrying you has really been a huge help to me."
Lin Xue stuck out her pregnant belly with a proud look. "Then you better treat me well, otherwise I'll run away from home with the kids!"
While coaxing his sweet wife, Wan Jiyong didn't forget to rationalize things to himself. It didn't matter if she wasn't willing to pull him fully onto her boat; they were relatives after all. If something really happened, even if he didn't ask, Lin Xue and his parents-in-law would speak up for him.
After a brief reunion, Lin Han and Nan Sheng took their children back to Rongcheng. This time, Lin Jianshe and Zhou Wei went with them to visit their son.
Going on a long trip for the first time, Zhou Wei found everything novel. Although they bought sleeper tickets, she kept occupying the small seat in the aisle to look at the scenery outside.
When it was time to eat, Lin Han went to the dining car to buy food, and Lin Jianshe insisted on going with him. His younger brother had paid for the train tickets, so he couldn't just keep taking advantage.
Lin Han knew his older brother's personality. He would let him pay for a meal occasionally, but most of the time, Lin Han still spent more. Both he and Nan Sheng had high monthly salaries, so they didn't care about this small amount of money, and Nan Sheng wouldn't mind it either.
When they reached the southern region, Zhou Wei was even more surprised. It was clearly snowing back home, but here it still looked like summer, with the leaves an emerald green.
The outside world was indeed wonderful, completely different from home. Lin Jianshe complained that she was too noisy, but in reality, he was also astonished; he was just too embarrassed to ask what was going on.
When they arrived in Rongcheng, Little Hou came early to pick them up. After squeezing through the journey and finally reaching the county town, Lin Han had originally planned to stay there for a night. However, Little Hou told him to return to the military district, saying that the leaders wanted to speak with him tomorrow, and rushing back from the county would leave them too tight on time.
Because of this, Lin Han had no choice but to take his brother and sister-in-law along. Lin Jianshe actually breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't even dare to walk into a two-story building; it was better to stay in the family courtyard, as he heard there were single-story houses there.
The next day, as soon as Lin Han went to the military district, Division Commander Yao called him in for a talk. "Transfer me to Kyoto? When did this happen!"
The Division Commander looked displeased. "Word got out before the new year, and we rejected it. I didn't expect the Kyoto Military District to issue a direct transfer order. I asked the Commander to make a call to see what was going on, and the other side replied that it had to do with your wife's work, and they need you to transfer along with her to cooperate."
Lin Han, who was just about to declare to the Division Commander that he absolutely wouldn't go to Kyoto, immediately shut his mouth. They had agreed before that he would follow his wife wherever she went. Although reluctant to leave, he could only say goodbye to his dear Division Commander.
Lin Han stayed with Division Commander Yao for the whole morning, mainly analyzing suitable candidates to take over his work after he left.
Back when he was first promoted to Vice Regiment Commander, his subordinates were unconvinced. That was because Han Yongxiang and Luo Hao were particularly outstanding in all aspects, and the men only submitted to those with real ability.
Lin Han recommended Luo Hao. After two years of careful observation, he was indeed more prominent in all aspects, and his personality was steadier, which was exactly what Han Yongxiang lacked.
Division Commander Yao said he would look into it further. In fact, considering their backgrounds, promoting Han Yongxiang was what everyone expected. Luo Hao came from a humble background, just like Lin Han a few years ago. If no one gave him a helping hand, it would be too difficult for him to climb the ranks.
Lin Han went straight home at noon with packed meals, telling his brother and sister-in-law that he would bring Sicheng back in the evening.
"The military district has strict discipline. After dinner, he still has to go back to the base to sleep."
Zhou Wei was satisfied as long as she could just see her son. She quickly asked, "Can we only see him once? If it's inconvenient, we can go to the military district to visit him. Don't put yourself in a difficult position."
"It's no trouble," Lin Han said. "As long as there are no training missions at night, he can come out for a few hours."
When Lin Han went to the military district in the afternoon, he asked Little Hou to go to town to buy some vegetables and meat and deliver them to the house. He figured little Sicheng was probably missing his mother's cooking.
That evening, Lin Han brought Sicheng home. Unaware that his parents had arrived, Sicheng was still muttering as he walked to the door.
"Second Uncle, did my mother fry any sanzi for me? More than half of what she fried last year was given away, and I barely got to eat any myself."
When he pushed open the door and saw Lin Jianshe, Sicheng's eyes widened in confusion. He thought to himself, This is the military district. How did I suddenly dream I was back in my hometown?
"Second Uncle, the daytime training was too exhausting. There might be something wrong with my eyes. Why do I see my dad sitting on the sofa?"
Lin Han casually closed the door behind him. "I think it's not your eyes that have a problem, but your brain. Hurry up and wish your dad a happy New Year. He came from so far away to see you."
At this moment, Zhou Wei also came out of the kitchen, holding a plate of stir-fried mushrooms. Her eyes were red with excitement.
"You brat, your wings have gotten hard since you left home, haven't they? You don't even recognize your own parents anymore?"
Zhou Wei was answered by her son's explosive crying. Sicheng had never cried so miserably. Seeing his parents, all the grievances from his training in the military district suddenly welled up. Being a soldier was just too tiring!
"Dad, Mom, why didn't you tell me you were coming? I missed you so much!"
Zhou Wei and her son cried together. Lin Jianshe was very satisfied to see that his son had grown taller and stronger, though his eyes also grew moist.
"Alright, stop crying. The food is ready, so hurry up and serve it. My stomach is rumbling."
At the dinner table, Sicheng kept chattering away to his parents, his noisiness rivaling that of Qiqi. After talking to his heart's content, he suddenly remembered something.
"Second Uncle, why is there a rumor in the military district that you're being transferred?"
Lin Han's tone was calm and unruffled. "It's not a rumor. After arranging the follow-up work over the next few days, I will go to the Jingdu Military District to report for duty."
As soon as he said this, Zhou Wei's family of three was stunned. "Second Brother, you're being transferred? Then what will Sicheng do all alone in Rongcheng? And what about our sister-in-law and the children? How will they be arranged?"
Because Nan Sheng's work issues needed to be kept confidential, Lin Han could only explain that it was an order from above and he had no way to refuse.
"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, don't worry. Sicheng won't be bullied here. Although I'm being transferred, my connections are still here. Nan Sheng and the two children will also go to Jingdu with me."
Lin Han didn't hide his transfer from his subordinates. Several battalion commanders were guessing whether the higher-ups would parachute someone in to take over his position or promote someone from among the lower-ranking battalion commanders.
If they chose from his subordinates, then Battalion Commander Han and Battalion Commander Luo both had a great chance. Luo Hao was very reluctant to see Lin Han go, but when he heard about a potential promotion, he just smiled bitterly. He didn't even dare to dream of such a beautiful thing.
However, thinking about it from another angle, if Han Yongxiang could be promoted to vice-regimental commander and take over Regiment Commander Lin's work, it would also be a good thing for him. At least it was better than having a new person transferred over and having to adjust to them all over again.
What he didn't know was that Han Yongxiang's old man had long wanted to transfer his son back to Jingdu. The fact that Lin Han's transfer orders came down so quickly this time was his doing.
At the time, when the commander told him to leave a vacant regimental commander position open, he was still unhappy about it. But then he heard the names: Nan Sheng, Lin Han. Weren't they the couple who had helped him?
His son was still working under Lin Han. After Army Commander Han understood the whole story, he immediately took the matter into his own hands. "Please rest assured, Commander, leave this matter to me!"
You brat, you refuse to come back and want to hang out with Regiment Commander Lin in Rongcheng? I'll transfer his whole family over here, and we'll see if you come home then!
Isn't that why they say, older ginger is spicier?
Nan Sheng was obviously very surprised when she received her husband's call. Transferred? What was going on? She hadn't received any notice!
Lin Han had almost finished handing over his work and was preparing to treat people to a meal before Nan Sheng finally got some news. Don't misunderstand, it wasn't that her position was hard to arrange, but rather that she was too much in demand. They had been fighting over her until now to get a result.
The government directly issued a transfer order for her to serve as the deputy director of the Jingdu Research Institute. After hanging up the phone, Nan Sheng was full of despair.
Thinking back to her high school classes, she couldn't even balance a chemical equation. Although her physics could reach the passing mark, it wasn't much better, and her biology was a complete mess. That was why she had resolutely chosen the liberal arts.
Making a science dunce like her do this meant she could only go to work at noon, because sooner or later, her true colors would be exposed!
Her work here was easy to hand over. Among her subordinates, undoubtedly, the only one capable of taking over the position of Disciplinary Committee Director was Liu Song. He had grown very fast over the past few years, and Nan Sheng was willing to teach him step by step.
When Liu Song learned that Nan Sheng had recommended him, he was so moved that he almost knelt down to her. "Director Nan, you are my benefactor for this entire lifetime!"
Liu Song's words came completely from the bottom of his heart. He used to be just a dog under the Revolutionary Committee Director. After Nan Sheng took over as the Revolutionary Committee Director, she corrected their outlook on life and work.
Later, when Nan Sheng was promoted to the county, he didn't hesitate to leave with her. He never expected that in just a few short years, he would be able to rise to such a high position.
Director Nan would always be his role model in work and life!
"Alright, stop being so sentimental. From now on, you are the Disciplinary Committee Director of Qingjiang County. Give yourself a little more confidence. You are a very excellent comrade, and I hope that one day, we can meet again in the capital."
After handling the matters on the government side, Nan Sheng took the children back to the family courtyard to say a final goodbye to everyone.
Many things changed faster than they could be planned. She thought she would stay in Rongcheng for a long time, but unexpectedly, the moment of parting arrived in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Lin Jianshe and his wife had not left. Once Lin Han was transferred, they wouldn't have the chance to come over again, so they wanted to see their son as much as possible.
On the day of the farewell banquet, the Lin house was filled with people coming and going non-stop from noon onwards. It was incredibly noisy. His prestige was great enough that not only did the division commander and brigade commander come, but the commanding officer also sent someone to deliver a gift.
"The commander asked me to pass a message to Regiment Commander Lin: 'Work hard, and don't disgrace your brothers in Rongcheng!'"
"Yes, sir!"
Although Lin Han's transfer to Jingdu this time still kept him in the position of regimental commander, it was considered a major promotion. There was a huge difference between Jingdu and Rongcheng, and everyone knew this clearly in their hearts!