Yang Jia 007

  Lin Zhenhua would not let the two girls walk with him for five kilometers, so he rode Lin Fanghua's bicycle, tied his backpack to the front of the bike, and had Lin Fanghua sit on the back rack holding a box of porcelain. As for Yang Xin, she only needed to carry a cardboard box on the back rack. People on earth at that time all knew one thing: Chinese people, regardless of gender or age, were all skilled at riding bicycles. Yang Xin, who looked weak and delicate, had no problem riding the bike with a cardboard box.

  From the train station to the Hanhua Machinery Factory, Yang Xin was silent, while Lin Fanghua kept asking her brother about his experiences as a soldier and after being demobilized. After several days, Lin Zhenhua had basically digested the memories of his previous body and could speak fluently now. When he spoke of touching moments, Lin Fanghua couldn't help but shed tears, which made Lin Zhenhua deeply feel that in this seemingly carefree sister's heart, her feelings for her brother were very deep.

  Lin Zhenhua left Fenghua County for two years, and there were no big changes in the county town. The roads were still the same, and the conversations of pedestrians were still familiar with the local accent.

  As Lin Zhenhua entered the Hanhua factory, he began to see some familiar faces. Some were workers and masters in the factory, while others were fellow apprentices who had grown up with him. Everyone greeted Lin Zhenhua in various ways, some simply saying "welcome back" in a calm tone, while others warmly invited Lin Zhenhua to visit their homes when he was free.

  "Wei Auntie said you should go to her house for dinner as soon as you get back," Lin Fanghua reminded.

  "Oh." Lin Zhenhua responded with a single word, riding his bicycle towards Yang Chunshan's home. He knew that the Wei Ayi mentioned by Lin Fanghua was Yang Xin's mother, Wei Suping.

  As soon as they arrived at the Yang's house, Wei Suping was already standing at the door waiting for them. As soon as she saw Lin Zhenhua, she exclaimed with joy: "Xiao Hua is back!"

  Lin Zhenhua jumped off his bicycle, propped it up, and walked in front of Wei Suping. Wei Suping grabbed Lin Zhenhua's hand and looked him up and down, "Oh my, you've grown taller and more robust. I heard you went to the front line, and both I and Old Yang were worried sick. Xiaofang cried every day, fearing something would happen to you."

  "Auntie, I didn't..." Lin Fanghua said awkwardly from the side, but Lin Zhenhua could see that her eyes were indeed shining with a hint of tears, it seemed that this younger sister had indeed not been worrying less for herself.

  "Auntie, I'm sorry to have troubled you. Also, I heard that Xiaofang has been staying at your place all along, thank you so much." Lin Zhenhua said sincerely to Wei Suoping.

  Wei Suping was delighted: "Oh, Xiao Hua really understands things now and is more talkative than before."

  Lin Zhenhua felt a chill run down his spine. It seemed that his predecessor wasn't quite up to par, and even saying a simple "thank you" could make someone so happy.

  "Come on in, come on in, put down your things and have a drink of water." Wei Suping hastily invited.

  Lin Zhenhua and Lin Fanghua entered the house together, Yang Xin had already entered the house earlier. Seeing Lin Zhenhua come in, she didn't make a sound, just standing in the corner watching. Her gaze remained fixed on Lin Zhenhua's feet, only using the corner of her eye to secretly observe Lin Zhenhua's every move.

  "Yang Xin, pour some water for Xiao Hua." Wei Suping shouted.

  Yang Xin slowly poured a glass of water and handed it to Lin Zhenhua.

  "Xiao Hua, you rest for a while first, I'll heat up the dishes. Didn't you say in your letter that you'd be back home three days ago? Why did you delay for another three days, was it hard to buy train tickets?" Wei Suping muttered to herself as she quickly took out the dishes from the cupboard, with Yang Xin helping her out on the side. This Wei Suping had always been a straightforward and enthusiastic person, kind-hearted, direct, and easy to get along with.

  "My brother was heroic in Xiangping Province, single-handedly taking down three robbers who were hijacking a bus, and he even got hurt," said Lin Fanghua.

  "Really? Where are you hurt, is it serious?" Wei Suping asked with concern.

  "It's just a superficial wound, nothing serious." Lin Zhenhua said, "At the time, I saved an official from Tanzhou City, he was very enthusiastic and insisted on keeping me in Tanzhou for two days."

  At this time, Yang Chunshan also returned, and as soon as he entered the house, he shouted: "Xiaohua is back, when did she arrive?"

  Lin Zhenhua hastily stood up and went towards Yang Chunshan: "Uncle Yang, I just arrived."

  Yang Chunshan walked up to Lin Zhenhua, just like Wei Sufen had done earlier, and patted him all over for a while before slapping his arm a few times, saying with satisfaction: "Hmmm, really grown sturdy now, Old Lin can rest easy."

  "What's the point of saying that." Wei Suping glared at her husband, disapproving of him bringing up Lin Zhenhua's parents at this time.

  "That... Uncle Yang, I'm back from the army and didn't bring much with me. Here are two packs of cigarettes and two bottles of wine, keep them for yourself to use slowly." Lin Zhenhua opened a cardboard box, took out two packs of Red Tower Mountain cigarettes and two bottles of Wuliangye liquor, which were gifts given by the Hongxing Factory. The clever office director at Hongxing Factory had already specified who they should be given to when he bought these things.

  "What's this kid bringing again?" Wei Suping said politely, but Lin Zhenhua was able to think of bringing something for Yang Chunshan, which showed that the kid really understood things now, and this still made her very happy.

  Yang Chunshan took the cigarettes and liquor, looked at them for a moment, and his eyes lit up: "This is Hongtashan, and also Wuliangye, they're all good stuff, very expensive. No way, I can't accept it, Xiaohua, you keep it yourself." After saying that, he stuffed the cigarettes and liquor back into Lin Zhenhua's hands, but Lin Zhenhua could see a hint of reluctance in Yang Chunshan's eyes.

  Lin Zhenhua knew that this was good tobacco and wine, even in later generations, giving such tobacco and wine as gifts would be a very thick gift. However, since these things didn't cost him any money anyway, he felt that Yang Chunshan's family had been quite generous to his siblings, so it was only right to give them the best things.

  "Uncle Yang, this was given by a friend from Tanzhou. Look, I'm still young, and I've even quit smoking... what's the use of keeping it?" Lin Zhenhua said as he opened a pack of Hongtashan cigarettes, took out one and handed it to Yang Chunshan, saying "Uncle Yang, just have one, this is also my heartfelt intention."

  Yang Chunshan saw that Lin Zhenhua had already opened the pack of cigarettes, so he chuckled and took one out, lit it with a lighter, took a deep drag, and then praised: "Not bad, this is really good stuff. Ah, I've finally gotten to smoke some of the cigarettes Little Hua gave me."

  "Yang Shu, you keep them all." Lin Zhenhua put all the remaining cigarettes and liquor on the table.

  "No need, no need." Yang Chunshan waved the pack of cigarettes in his hand and said, "I'll just keep one pack to taste it." He then lowered his voice and said to Lin Zhenhua, "Xiao Hua, you keep these cigarettes and liquor. When you retire from the army and return to the factory, use them as gifts for the factory director and secretary, and try to get a good job assignment."

  "Never mind, never mind. Assign me any task and I'll do it." Lin Zhenhua said, as he directly opened the Yang's cabinet, put two packs of cigarettes and a bottle of wine inside, leaving one bottle on the table.

  "This bottle of wine will be left for today at noon, I'll have a drink with Uncle Yang." Lin Zhenhua said.

  "This child is so unreasonable," Yang Chunshan said with a feigned scolding tone, "Having such good wine at home and wasting it on drinking."

  Lin Zhenhua smiled slightly and said, "Uncle Yang, even if it's just to celebrate my triumphant return, our family reunion should have a few drinks. Don't worry, I'm back now, and from now on, I'll let you drink such good wine every day."

  "That's still not enough to get drunk." Yang Chunshan said with a smile, thinking that Lin Zhenhua was just joking. In those days, everyone was struggling to make ends meet, and few people could afford to drink cheap white wine every day, let alone good wine like this. However, seeing Lin Zhenhua's firm attitude, he no longer declined.

  Yang Chunshan remembered that Lin Zhenhua was a mischievous child before he joined the army, not only would he not give him cigarettes and wine to send, but from time to time he would secretly buy his own cigarettes to smoke. If it weren't for their couple helping to take care of them, the small consolation money given by the factory every month wouldn't be enough for Lin Zhenhua's siblings to live on. Now that Lin Zhenhua can suddenly give him two packs of cigarettes and two bottles of wine, and seems to have quit smoking himself, it's like a prodigal son returning home, not changing his ways even if given gold.

  "Brother, did you get me a gift too?" Lin Fanghua couldn't help but feel a little envious seeing Lin Zhenhua give something to Yang Chunshan, and despite knowing it was hopeless, she still couldn't resist asking.

  "Yes." Lin Zhenhua said, taking advantage of Wei Suping's busy serving hot dishes, he just happened to distribute some gifts.

  "Xiao Fang, take this piece of flowered fabric." Lin Zhenhua took out the flowered fabric that Director Zhang from Hongxing Factory had bought for him from the trunk and handed it to Lin Fanghua. "Go ask Wei Ayi if it's enough to make two shirts, one for you and one for Yang Xin."

  "Wow, it's really cool!" Lin Fanghua exclaimed with joy, she hastily shook open the flower cloth and compared it on her body. "Wei Auntie, come quick and see, my brother bought this cool thing for me and Yang Xin!"

  Wei Suping had gone out to cook, hearing Lin Fanghua's call, she ran into the house, touched the flower cloth again, and measured the length of the fabric, nodded: "Hmm, it's a good piece of cloth, enough to make two more, wash and change, can wear for several years."

  "My brother said so, Yang Xin and I each have one." Lin Fanghua corrected.

  "What's the point of giving it to Yang Xin, she has clothes to wear." Wei Suping said, turning her head to Lin Zhenhua: "You have a monthly allowance of over ten yuan, saving up to buy a piece of cloth is not easy, just leave it for Xiaofang."

  "Auntie, this is also my intention. You used to make clothes for me and Xiaofang in the past. What's the big deal about giving a dress to Yangxin? Yangxin is also my sister!" Lin Zhenhua's words were really sweet, and as soon as he said "sister", Yangxin's face turned red instantly.

  Wei Suping looked at Yang Chunshan with inquiring eyes, waiting for the host to speak. Yang Chunshan nodded and said to Yang Xin: "Yang Xin, don't you thank Xiaohua?"

  Yang Xin looked at the flower cloth, already a little envious. When she heard her father agree, she couldn't help but burst out laughing. However, when it came to thanking Lin Zhenhua directly, she couldn't say anything. She just smiled shyly at him and quickly ran away with a flick of her braid.

  "Hehe, this kid, knows how to be shy." Wei Suping said with a scolding tone.

  "Hmm... everyone has gifts, it's just that I didn't bring any for you, Auntie, sorry." Lin Zhenhua said to Wei Suping, and indeed there was nothing in his cardboard box that he could give to Wei Suping as a gift.

  "Wei Suping said, 'What's the point of saying these things? You're giving gifts to your Uncle Yang and Yang Xin, isn't that just like giving them to me?' Two packs of cigarettes, two bottles of wine, plus a piece of floral cloth from Yang Xin, was already a very thick gift. Wei Suping wouldn't even think about whether she had any gifts for herself. She was now thinking about how to take better care of Lin's siblings in the future to repay this gift. She didn't count what she had done for Lin's siblings in the past few years, as she thought that was something she should do."