While Chen Yang was happily heading to Wan Province, back at Shenjiaba, Shen Futang, smoking a Zhonghua cigarette Chen Yang had brought him, felt a pang of unease.
Although he was now well-respected in Shenjiaba, no longer needing to smoke his pipe, and being offered cigarettes everywhere by his son-in-law, his heart felt restless.
It was said that money corrupted men. He had been a young master himself, witnessing the decadent deeds of the wealthy.
Back then, wealthy men often kept numerous concubines. His son-in-law was now far wealthier than those men of his era, and he worried that his son-in-law might be captivated by the alluring world outside.
"The New Year is almost here, and Yangzi hasn't returned. Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve. A family must have a lively reunion dinner. What's the point of it without him?"
Shen Futang took a deep drag from his cigarette, watching his foolish daughter dote on their three children.
"Old man, don't stand by the door smoking. Go outside the yard. The wind will blow it away. Don't choke our precious grandchildren."
Liu Chunmei paid no mind to Shen Futang's thoughts. Her son-in-law was capable, her daughter was raising three healthy children, so what else could she want?
Beyond the surrounding villages, she couldn't find anyone in the entire Liuhe County as capable as her son-in-law. As a mother-in-law, she was praised everywhere for her good fortune.
This brought Liu Chunmei great pride. So many people had once said she only gave birth to "money-losing goods," and that Shen Futang marrying her was a curse, that they couldn't even have a son, and that the Shen family line would end.
Now, who dared call her daughter a "money-losing good"? Whose son could compare to Liu Chunmei's son-in-law?
"You, a woman, understand nothing."
"Well, Xue'er, write a letter and send it south. It's the New Year. Even if he can't make it for the reunion dinner, he must come back after the New Year."
"A man can't always be drifting. The alluring world outside can blind him, and he won't come home anymore."
Shen Futang extinguished his cigarette. He couldn't keep these thoughts bottled up; it would make him sick.
"Dad, I thought it was something serious. It's too late to mail a letter now; the post office is closed. Besides, we're in Wan Province, far from Hong Kong. Who knows when a letter will arrive."
"Perhaps he'll be home before our letter even reaches him."
"Don't worry, if he can make it, he'll definitely come back for the New Year. I and the children are here. You don't need to worry. In Shanghai, he was such a high official, and he had such beautiful teachers, yet he remained upright. He won't fool around outside."
Compared to Shen Futang's worries, Shen Xue was completely unconcerned. She knew the kind of person her husband was.
Besides, with the children at home, he was like a kite in the sky. No matter how strong the wind blew or how far it flew, the string was always in her hands.
"Are you serious? Yangzi he?" Su Dan Novel Network
Hearing his daughter's words, Shen Futang became somewhat agitated. It wasn't that Chen Yang was lacking in any way, but as a man himself, he knew the nature of men.
It wasn't that there weren't good ones, but one or two out of ten was good, especially after gaining wealth. How many flirtatious women would flock to them? Few could remain true to their original intentions.
"Dad, you can rest a hundred percent assured. Yangzi's heart is with me."
"Old man, are you relieved now? Hurry and prepare the chickens. Er Ni wants roast chicken. We'll make soup with one and roast the other."
"And for our precious grandson, roast duck. Go to the market early tomorrow and buy it. If we go late, they'll have already taken it home for the New Year."
Liu Chunmei began to chatter incessantly. The New Year was approaching, and there was a lot of preparation to be done.
Tomorrow, they would have to paste couplets and paper-cuts on the windows. There were many dishes to prepare. A Chinese reunion dinner began preparation from early in the morning.
"Grandpa, I want Dongpo Pork."
"Grandpa, I want to eat shrimp, big shrimp."
Hearing the word "food," the toddlers and Chen Hao immediately perked up. Now it was Shen Futang's turn to have a headache.
Dongpo Pork and shrimp were things they ate in Shanghai. Wan Province had none of these. In this cold weather, where in Wan Province could he find shrimp? If it were summer, there might be some river shrimp in the river.
As for Dongpo Pork, what was that? Shen Futang didn't even know who Su Dongpo was, let alone Dongpo Pork.
And so, with a headache, Shen Futang went to the market the next day, not knowing what to buy to satisfy his two precious grandsons.
Having seen the world, he was no longer easily fooled. The old man worried.
While Shen Futang searched the market for Dongpo Pork and shrimp, he found neither.
At this time, Chen Yang had driven a large truck from Qinghe City's train station straight to Shenjiaba.
Yes, this was a large truck purchased for the Jiuzao Fish Factory. It was the first batch, and currently, not many people at the Jiuzao Fish Factory knew how to drive. Chen Yang drove it back himself.
Lei Baoguo could drive; they had all learned in the army. However, this was Chen Yang's first time driving a vehicle since his rebirth, and he was eager to drive. Coupled with his longing to return home, he decided to drive it back himself.
Chen Yang had specifically asked the automobile factory to spray the truck green, the same color as the Jiefang trucks, so it wouldn't stand out on the road.
Moreover, since they were in Qinghe City, Chen Yang wasn't afraid of anyone ambushing them. Everyone in Qinghe City knew Chen Yang. With the Jiuzao Fish Factory expanding production soon, many people would depend on him for their livelihood. Besides, Lei Baoguo was also in the vehicle.
When the large truck drove into Shenjiaba, a crowd of villagers, young and old, came out to watch the spectacle.
At that time, bringing home a large truck had a shock factor comparable to bringing home a fighter jet in later generations.
"Chen Yang, I knew it was your truck. Besides you, no one else in our village could drive a large truck home."
"Get lost, get lost. Kid, don't touch it with your hands. This brand-new car, what if your hands dirty it?"
A man kicked a curious young boy who had reached out to touch the truck. In this era, a car was more precious than a person. Moreover, Chen Yang's looked brand new. It would be unaffordable to damage it.
"It's okay, it's okay. As long as no one goes into the cab and touches things, and doesn't knock on the glass, you can climb up and take a look."
Chen Yang could understand the curiosity of people from this era towards large trucks. He immediately turned off the engine and parked the vehicle. There was only one dirt road in the village, and no other vehicles, so there was no issue of blocking anyone's path.
Upon hearing his words, a group of burly men immediately climbed onto the truck bed.
"Wow, this thing, the truck bed is really big. It feels like our whole village could fit."
"What nonsense are you talking about, kid? Our village has six or seven hundred people. We definitely can't fit everyone, but we can squeeze a hundred or so people in the truck bed."
Listening to the villagers' words, Chen Yang could only smile wryly. If someone in later generations squeezed over a hundred people into the truck bed of a large truck, they would be stopped by traffic police and made to recite traffic rules a hundred times.
However, in this era, there was nothing wrong with it. As long as they could fit, it was fine to carry as many people as possible.