Zhao Guangran had no idea that the Gong Ruini he longed for was already on her way back, continuing to huff and puff to endure the education from the twins.
It wasn’t until Gong Ruini got off the train that she finally felt alive again. Lying on a perpetually clanking train every day, no matter how much she adjusted or tried to adapt, Gong Ruini always felt she couldn’t get used to it.
It wasn’t just the noise that was loud; the rumbling sound when the train t the tracks also made it impossible for Gong Ruini to lie down and rest, unless she was utterly exhausted, which allowed her to fall asleep quickly.
Furthermore, because of the cold weather, the windows on the train were mostly shut, and no matter how few people were around, Gong Ruini felt the air inside the train had all sorts of unpleasant odors.
Luckily it was winter, and there wasn’t a single person with slly feet; otherwise, Gong Ruini really didn’t know how she would endure such a journey.
When Gong Tao got off the train, he saw his wife and daughter looking weary. "How about we stay a night before heading back to the Red Flag Brigade?"
No one was there to pick them up today, and with thick snow all along the way, trekking back to the Red Flag Brigade was no joke.
Having arrived at the county train station, Gong Ruini just wanted to get ho quickly and didn’t want to linger in the county any longer.
"Dad, how about we head back? No need to waste money." The trip back to the hotown had already cost quite a bit. If the conditions of the hotels here were good, Gong Ruini wouldn’t mind making an adjustnt and going back looking fresh, but the current conditions weren’t ideal, not as good as ho.
Especially the bathhouse at ho—Gong Ruini missed it so much. She just wanted to soak in a bath for an hour and then have a good three-day-long sleep.
"Going back?" Gong Tao looked at his exhausted daughter, feeling all sorts of worries, as if she might not be able to truly persist until they reached the Red Flag Brigade.
Her own father underestimated her too much, doubting her ability! Gong Ruini was quite dissatisfied. Although she hadn’t insisted on waking up early every day to practice boxing, she never skipped her morning jogging.
Not to ntion she’d trekked long distances to the mountains for herbs; Gong Ruini didn’t believe the road back to the Red Flag Brigade was tougher than her daily herb-collecting trips.
Seeing his stubborn little girl’s displeasure, Gong Tao knew he hit a hard nail this ti.
Alas, although his own daughter looked frail in various ways, why was she so determined? "It’s Dad’s fault."
Gong Tao couldn’t bear to see his daughter feel wronged, so he continuously apologized and even promised so conditions.
Cai ina watching this father-daughter scene couldn’t help but feel an impulse to make Gong Tao shut up.
Returning to her hotown this ti, she observed how several brothers treated their children. Although so couldn’t be called parents, it instead highlighted how Gong Tao was indulging his children in various ways.
Fortunately, with Zhao Xuran around, Aunt Hua educating from the side, and most importantly, having a sensible daughter, Cai ina really worried her daughter would be spoiled by Gong Tao, just like Gong Lili and the others.
Alas, thinking of those two spoiled girls, Cai ina didn’t have any good feelings. Although they’re all girls, these two looked down on her daughter. She really didn’t know where they got their confidence, thinking they were better than Gong Ruini.
And so, while the family quarreled and hustled towards the Red Flag Brigade, don’t just assu that Gong Ruini started off all confident, guaranteeing that she would reach the Red Flag Brigade.
However, the distance from the county to the Red Flag Brigade was substantial. If it hadn’t snowed, walking would be feasible, but with such thick snow, walking on the snowfield really consud a lot of effort.
This made the journey painful for Gong Ruini; alas, only now did she realize her grave mistake, forgetting the presence of snow.
"I’ll carry you," her father said. Seeing his daughter slowing down, Gong Tao knew she was probably tired, yet they were only halfway there.
Gong Tao thought about asking if anyone from nearby villages could help them get back to the Red Flag Brigade.
At this mont, "Are you from the Red Flag Brigade?"
Gong Tao heard sobody speaking, and more importantly, he heard the sound of cows, indicating an ox cart. "Oh, Wang Laosan, what are you doing here?"
Wang Laosan was delighted to see it was actually Gong Tao. "Heading back to the Red Flag Brigade, hop on quickly."
As he spoke, Wang Laosan jumped off the ox cart to help Gong Tao load their luggage onto it.
Though the ox cart had no canopy, sitting on it was chilly, but it was better than having to hike all the way back to the Red Flag Brigade.
Gong Ruini realized that if they continued walking, not only would she beco a burden, but even her elder brother probably couldn’t endure much longer, and Cai ina might not hold out much longer either.
In the Northeast winter, darkness fell early, and traveling at night was no joke. "Thank you, Uncle Wang."
Gong Ruini ntally awarded Wang Laosan a good person card, for being willing to send them back to the Red Flag Brigade amidst the cold, not a common act.
"Thank you, elder brother," said Cai ina, who only felt revived after sitting on the ox cart, her legs having been quite sore.
It seed she lacked exercise, Cai ina thought self-deprecatingly.
"Thank you, Uncle Wang," said Gong Ruwen, who pulled out a blanket from the luggage to cover both Gong Ruini and Cai ina, before rembering to thank Wang Laosan.
A considerate child, Wang Laosan had heard Gong Tao and Zhao Gang often praised their children’s education—good grades and polite behavior. Previously, he thought they said so just to win favor with Gong Tao and Zhao Gang.
But after experiencing it today, he had to admit city folks really knew how to educate their children.
Sitting on the swaying ox cart, Gong Ruini felt her eyelids growing heavy, despite constantly reminding herself not to fall asleep on it.
The topless ox cart allowed cold winds to sweep into one’s nose and mouth, and there was no small stove for warmth.
Despite Gong Ruini using willpower to stay awake, the lulling sway of the ox cart was incredibly sleep-inducing; even the strongest will couldn’t resist the sleep signals sent by her small, tired body.
Seeing Gong Ruini already asleep startled Cai ina; how could she sleep here? But seeing those shadows under her daughter’s eyes, she hesitated to wake Gong Ruini.
Throughout the journey, her daughter hadn’t slept well. From rushing back ho to the Northeast, Ni Zi hadn’t adjusted yet, been busy all along, then hurried back to the Northeast, truly worn out—perhaps letting her sleep was best?
Cai ina took out another blanket to shield Gong Ruini from the wind.
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