Chapter 8: The Joy of Family Ties

  Lu Zhengdong decided to make the craft factory a breakthrough, so he didn't want to delay any longer. After handing over his current tasks, he obtained the border pass for the special zone and brought the products of the craft factory to the county town.

  Lu Zhengdong stored the goods from the craft factory in a small sales department at the county bus station, then went to check the departure time of the long-distance bus to the south. The bus wouldn't depart until early tomorrow morning, so he hurried home.

  Changsha City's urban area is like the Vatican, surrounded by Yanghe County on all sides. The county seat of Yanghe is only a few kilometers away from the city center. The pig hair factory is located in the suburbs. After taking a public bus from the county seat to the city center, Lu Zhengdong took another half-hour drive and finally arrived at the pig hair factory.

  The old house in the dormitory area of the Municipal Pig Whisker Factory was like a hollow bamboo tube, from the entrance to the stairs, you could see people inside the bamboo tube, and the rooms were surrounded by a narrow space. The walls of the corridor were full of patches, and there were some children's graffiti, Lu Zhengdong even saw his own "memorabilia" left on it when he was a child...

  Just walked upstairs, the corridor is filled with the aroma of various family dishes and the symphony of pots and pans from each household.

  Everything is still so familiar.

  Lu Zhengdong walked all the way, and there were people waving at him from their homes.

  Finally arrived at the door of his own home, the door was open, and a thin figure was busily engaged in front of the stove in the kitchen, with a somewhat haggard face, as if carved into his soul, familiar warmth, still familiar warmth.

  Lu Zhengdong was somewhat excited, his throat seemed to be blocked by something, his eyes were a bit blurry, and he just stared blankly.

  The mother seemed to have felt his gaze and raised her head:

  "What's wrong with you, staring at mom like that? Don't you recognize her? Hurry up and wash your hands to serve the dishes."

  Lu Zhengdong didn't say a word, he just rushed over and tightly hugged his mother.

  "Oh no, oh no, son what's wrong with you? You're so big now and still doing this with mom?"

  Yun Jiang Tong did not know that the son standing in front of her had actually been separated from her by life and death for more than twenty years!

  Lu Zhengdong was also afraid that his abnormal behavior would scare his mother, so he suppressed his excitement and let go of her hand. When he did, he quietly wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes, calmed himself down, and helped bring the dishes to the table.

  "It's really delicious..."

  It's been more than twenty years since Lu Zhengdong tasted his mother's cooking, and he wolfed it down.

  Being able to reunite in such an incredible way, Lu Zhengdong didn't want to be sad and sorrowful anymore, so he also opened up his heart and thoroughly enjoyed this warm moment.

  "Well then, have some more food. But it seemed like you were hiding something from me when you called last time?"

  Lu Zhengdong smiled wryly in his heart. He had reminded Lin Donghua, but was Lin Donghua a match for his mother? In no time at all, everything was dug out. However, seeing that his mother didn't look too worried, it seemed that Lin Donghua's previous embellishments about how he had uncovered the truth of Yang Yaqing's death had also pleased her. She smiled and said:

  "Don't you all know already? It's all over, I'm fine, just caught a cold. You don't have to worry about me anymore. On the contrary, it's you, since I'm not by your side, you should take good care of yourself..."

  Lu Zhengdong laughed and tried to gloss over it.

  "Zheng Dong, don't try to gloss over it with a smile, what's really going on? Tell me."

  Yun Jiangtong also sighed, her son's affairs in the countryside were all told by Lin Donghe, her son was only twenty years old and had to bear such a heavy workload, he must be overwhelmed too. Fortunately, at critical moments, he could find ways to turn danger into safety, but this was largely due to luck, and she was also very worried.

  Lu Zhengdong knew that his mother was not someone to be easily fooled, and if he didn't explain things clearly, it would only make her more worried. So, he told his mother in detail about the beginning and end of Yang Yaqing's situation, as well as some of his plans for the future, including how to do a good job at work and how to handle relationships with others in the village. Of course, she knew about Wang Liben's affairs, so Lu Zhengdong naturally wouldn't mention it.

  Yun Jiang Tong glanced at her son, and he seemed to have a clearer understanding of many things than before. He was also more organized and efficient in handling matters. Her son was doing better than she had imagined, which made her feel relieved and proud.

  After finishing speaking, Lu Zhengdong said tentatively:

  "If you're still worried, I'll transfer back to the city, that way you can keep an eye on me anytime and I can also eat your cooking every day..."

  His mother's health had always been a worry for Lu Zhengdong, and his mother would also feel lonely by herself. He also hoped to spend more time with her. However, he knew that his mother had always hoped he would soar like an eagle, not just flutter around the eaves of their own home like a sparrow. Otherwise, she wouldn't have encouraged him to go to the countryside in the first place. So, he needed to test the waters and see how his mother felt about it.

  Yun Jiang Tong glared at his son and said:

  "What do you want to eat, Mom's cooking? I'm not sure what's on your mind, but are you worried about my health? My body is just a little sick, and Mom will take care of herself. There are so many colleagues at the factory, don't worry about it. You just focus on doing well in your work and making me proud, that's more important than anything else..."

  Lu Zhengdong knew it was going to be this result, thought for a moment and said:

  "When we have time, let's go to the provincial capital or Beijing for a check-up. I won't be at ease until I know you're fine, otherwise I'll really come back..."

  Lu Zhengdong also wanted to make a name for himself, but his mother's health made him very worried. If he didn't settle his mother down properly, how could he put his mind at ease while struggling outside?

  The root of my mother's illness was the birth of him. At that time, my mother, as a child of a "big traitor", was sent to the countryside for re-education with poor and lower-middle-class peasants during the Black Five Classes period. It was like falling from heaven to hell. The endless criticism meetings made it impossible for anyone to get close to her. The mental and physical suffering she endured is unimaginable. According to my mother, countless people committed suicide during those years. However, "Miao Zheng Gen Hong", a several-generation poor peasant and the father of the militia squad leader who was in charge of watching her, completely lost his "revolutionary stance" and showed great sympathy towards her. For my mother, this gave her a glimmer of hope in the darkness of life, which was more powerful than anything else. In the end, the two young people came together.

  His father was beaten to death while protecting his mother before he was born.

  Unmarried and having a child, in that crazy era, was unimaginable. But his mother didn't care about others' gossip, bearing the identity of "big traitor" children and "black five categories", enduring the departure of her loved one, raising him up. Lu Zhengdong could imagine how difficult it was for his mother at that time, but he couldn't understand how she managed to bring him into this world in those dark years, so he must treat his mother well.

  Her mother in her previous life was rushed to the countryside due to the hot weather, suffered from heatstroke, and had a heart attack. Originally, she wasn't in good health, so she didn't pull through this time. Fortunately, Lin Donghe happened to be back home and missed this incident. However, Lu Zhengdong still didn't dare to take his mother's health lightly, thinking that he should still persuade her to actively seek treatment and recuperation.

  There was also a fierce conflict between her mother and paternal grandparents because she was born out of wedlock, which led to her mother cutting off ties with the paternal family. However, after all, they were her parents' siblings, and this blood relationship could never be severed.

  It's probably depressing for his mother to think about it, so he has to work in the middle and mediate the relationship between his mother and his paternal relatives...

  Lu Zhengdong said at this point:

  "Mom, I'll work hard at my job, but you also need to take good care of your health. With you being healthy, I can be at ease working outside. I think after a while, I'd like to accompany you to the provincial city or Beijing for a check-up and try to get rid of the illness once and for all. You have to promise me this, otherwise I'll really find a way to transfer back..."

  "Mom, this is an old problem, it's nothing serious."

  Yun Jiang Tong saw her son being so filial and concerned about her health, feeling quite relieved in her heart. Seeing Lu Zheng Dong's attitude was very resolute, as if he meant it, she smiled and said:

  "Mom promised you, Zhèng Dōng, also knows how to sympathize with others now. It seems like you've really grown up..."

  Lu Zhengdong smiled wryly, his smile a bit melancholic. He should be around forty years old by now, an old man with children of his own. If he still doesn't grow up, it would be a waste of all the hardships he had endured.

  Yun Jiang Tong looked at Lu Zheng Dong and said:

  "Since you're going to the south tomorrow, let's go to Guiyuan Temple this afternoon to burn incense and pray for her soul. Although it wasn't your fault, people are dead after all, and we should at least find some peace of mind."

  Lu Zhengdong didn't really want to go to the temple, he wanted to spend more time with his mother and chat with her, but seeing his mother's serious expression, not going was out of the question.

  But this is exactly when the autumn tiger is rampant, and in the late afternoon, even sitting at home is a sweat, Lu Zhengdong did not dare to let his mother toss about...