Li Manjiang rode his bike to find Wang nglin, while the Tao Family Brothers and Sisters had already gone to work. Jin Erlin and his companion, each with a bicycle, were waiting at the door.
The three of them set off on their bikes. To be honest, the sun was blazing hot, but the two young n didn’t mind at all, and Jin Erlin certainly had no complaints.
By the ti they reached the county, it was already 3:30 in the afternoon. They went directly to the transportation team.
After pouring water for the two, "Which one of you wants to make the call first?"
"Uncle Jin, I’ll go first."
Mr. Tao received another call from his granddaughter.
"Grandpa, it’s all settled. Li Manjiang is here to make a call to his boss."
"Let him take the call."
Wang nglin handed the receiver to Li Manjiang.
While Wang nglin stepped aside to drink water, she knew her grandpa would ask so questions. She could even guess what kind of questions he’d ask.
It’s actually quite nice. She had soone to back her up, even if she didn’t necessarily need it.
Li Manjiang took the phone nervously, as the stern voice on the other end asked many questions, to which he answered formally one by one.
Finally, Mr. Tao seed quite satisfied. "Wait a mont before making your call again. I’ll go first. Since you have such a long vacation, you can handle things at ho."
"Thank you, sir."
"I have only one request for you, and that is to treat nglin well."
"Rest assured, sir, I certainly will. I swear."
After hanging up, Jin Erlin brought in a big waterlon, a gift from Li Family Village.
"Let’s eat waterlon. It’s from Li Family Village."
A quarter of an hour later, Li Manjiang dialed his boss’s number.
The person on the other end was already stamping a blank piece of stationery and felt that Li Manjiang was truly fortunate.
To have the boss co to grant special approval, and then to beco the grandson-in-law of a leader; it was surprising that he had such charm.
The phone rang, and he guessed it must be Li Manjiang.
"Alright. I know. I can’t sign your application. I’ll go to the post office later and send you a stamped blank piece of stationery for you to fill out yourself."
"Thank you, boss."
"No need. Hurry up and get married already; it’s been long enough. Finally, a girl is saving you."
Li Manjiang felt exasperated. How could they say that about him? Although young, he was just 25, and hearing his boss say this, he felt like there was no way to carry on.
"I’ll send it by express registered mail. Be sure to check for it."
"Okay, a forr comrade of mine works at the county post office. I’ll tell him to deliver it to directly when it arrives."
After the call, the matter was settled. It was four o’clock already.
"I won’t keep you two. Otherwise, it’ll be too late to head back." Jin Erlin knew the old chief would surely call later, so it was better to let them leave promptly.
The two left the transportation team. "Wang Zhiqing, shall we go to the supply and marketing cooperative?"
Wang nglin checked the ti, "I already went this morning. Do you need anything?"
"I just wanted to look around and bring so snacks for my younger siblings back ho."
"Alright, let’s go take a look."
Because Li Manjiang was wearing ordinary clothes, he didn’t receive any special attention.
He ended up buying three types of pastries, two pounds each, and two pounds of rice candy for Wang nglin.
Although Wang nglin didn’t like these pastries, she didn’t decline since he bought them for her.
Salt, sugar, candles, matches. Li Manjiang bought quite a few odds and ends, and by the ti they left the supply and marketing cooperative, it was already 4:40.
The hour was running late, but they still needed to make a stop at the post office.
While Li Manjiang went inside to find soone, Wang nglin bought so envelopes, stationery, and stamps.
On the road, it was mostly Li Manjiang who talked, and Wang nglin would ask about the Li household.
"I’ve been away from ho for six years. When I left, Cheng Lin was still quite small.
Now my brothers have changed a lot, especially the second one. My parents don’t have to worry about him anymore."
Wang nglin had t Chaoyang, but they weren’t familiar. She only knew he was Wei Kaiyun’s apprentice.
The young people in the village all called him Master Wei, but it seed that only Chaoyang was truly acknowledged by him.
"Wang Zhiqing, after we get married, you’ll have to stay in my hotown; I haven’t earned the qualifications to follow the army."
"I know. Don’t worry, I’ll treat your parents well."
"I’ll check on my vacation, and if I have a long break, I’ll accompany you to visit your grandpa."
"That would be wonderful. I’d love to go back and see them, too.
Before I ca, soone wrote a complaint letter, directly accusing that man, but I don’t know how it’s going now?
He did my mother wrong, but that’s their marital affair. He shouldn’t have targeted my grandpa and uncle.
Though I’m sure there’s been a result, my cousin won’t tell , so I pretend I don’t know."
"Sure, but any vacation would probably be next year."
Li Manjiang felt a bit embarrassed, knowing that he couldn’t take leave whenever he wanted.
"Alright, I understand. Hearing my grandpa’s voice, I know he’s in good health.
From a young age, he’s always favored more than my cousin.
I disappointed him. He wanted to nurture , but I refused."
Having been away for many years, Li Manjiang understood Wang nglin might worry about her uncle’s family feeling unbalanced.
"I’ll treat you well in the future."
Wang nglin chuckled. She didn’t feel upset or unbalanced at all. But in this man’s eyes, she was just a delicate, sensitive person.
If that’s how he sees it, then so be it.
Talking with soone made ti fly by.
By the ti they reached the village, it was almost seven o’clock, and people were out harvesting peanuts that afternoon, which was more exhausting than picking corn because of the constant bending over.
At this ti, everyone was ho eating, so they didn’t run into anyone on the street.
Li Manjiang walked Wang ng back to her doorstep and only left after she went inside.
On the way ho, he thought about how he was going to be a family man now.
His family hadn’t eaten yet, waiting, it seed, for him.
His younger siblings already heard that their elder brother and Wang Zhiqing might beco a family.
So when Li Manjiang ca in, they curiously watched him.
"Go wash up; we’ll eat soon."
Xiao Li took the things her son brought back and hurriedly instructed.
Cheng Lin ca over, "Mom, big brother bought pastries."
"Yes, after the al, everyone gets a piece."
Cheng Lin was delighted; he loved sweets.
Dinner was sorghum rice gruel and cornbread. Eggplant and potatoes stewed in bean paste, scrambled eggs with pickled vegetables, and a bowl of bean paste with so scallions.
It was a staple at every al; if it were missing, they’d feel sothing was off. Most people loved this flavor.
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