Chen An and Xie Shilei's wedding was different from Li Weihao's.
The wedding reception was not canceled, but there was no need to travel to the northern province to pick up the bride. The bride's family would come to Ling County in advance to stay and visit the Li family. After all, their daughter was getting married, and they hadn't yet seen the groom's family's living conditions.
As soon as Chen An returned, he became busy, first arranging accommodation for the bride's family and then inviting them for a meal at his home.
On the twenty-second of the twelfth lunar month, the Xie family arrived in Kushan. Li Mu and Tian Jing were stunned. A large group of dozens of people had come, not only the paralyzed elderly woman but also uncles, aunts, and their entire families.
Chen An's Western-style house couldn't accommodate them all. They couldn't be arranged in the upstairs office of the village committee either, so they had to be accommodated in the courtyard house.
The reception room was cleared and set up with three tables, the dining room with two tables, and the living room with one table, just enough to accommodate the Xie family.
Li Zhengguo left work early at noon to accompany his in-laws.
Seeing the imposing Li County Magistrate, the Xie family became a little nervous. The highest-ranking official they had ever seen in their lives was the village head.
They had heard that the girl they were marrying was the nephew of a county magistrate from a southern county, which was why they had brought their whole families to share in the official's good fortune.
Li County Magistrate greeted his in-laws cordially, making the Xie family feel extremely honored. When they returned to the Ling County Hotel, they all praised Xie Shilei's parents for raising such a fortunate daughter.
The welcoming party naturally had a sending-off party.
The sending-off party was arranged in Chen An's Western-style house.
The banquet was still held upstairs in the village committee office. The chef, of course, was Yuan Feng and Xiao Yuan, with Aunt Niu and Sister Guilan helping out.
Aunt Niu and the others were very happy to be able to help Yuan Feng again.
Seeing Aunt Niu helping the Chen family, the villagers knew that they would reciprocate the favors according to the established relationships with the Chen family, especially since they had also reciprocated the favors when Li Liguo's family held their wedding.
The Xie family not only tasted the imperial chef's cooking but also witnessed the Li family's generous gift of changing names. They once again praised Xie Shilei's parents for raising such a fortunate daughter.
Xie Shilei's parents beamed with joy under the praise of their relatives and friends, and Grandma Xie even drooled with happiness.
Regardless of how the Xie family arrived, when they left, Li County Magistrate arranged for a large bus and gave them plenty of local specialties from Kushan.
Xie Shilei and Chen An also left with them for the return visit.
Li Min was so exhausted that she rested for a full day to recover: "Finally, the debt is repaid."
Li Mu glanced at her daughter but didn't say anything to dampen her spirits. Children were a lifelong debt; had it been repaid just after the wedding?
Ouyang Meihua was also tired: "When Xiao Yu gets married, I absolutely won't agree to such a fuss. The wedding reception alone was exhausting. And there's still Ranran left. Hurry up and tell him not to find someone too far away, it's too tiring."
Tian Jing smiled and shook her head. These two were exhausted. Once they recovered, they would be eager for these children to get married quickly.
...
A year passed in the blink of an eye.
Tian Jing could finally move around like a normal person.
After three years of being confined, she decided to leave Kushan.
Ling County had changed a lot in these three years, but she had only heard about it, not seen it.
Ouyang Meihua wanted to accompany her.
Tian Jing did not want her to accompany her, as Wan Zhen was pregnant again, and the farm was busy.
Ouyang Meihua was worried: "I still have time to go to the county town with you. Your eldest brother and Suozhu are helping on the farm."
Li Mu was also worried: "Ask your sister-in-law to accompany you."
Tian Jing had no choice but to agree.
Zhangshan Village and Zhonghe Village no longer existed, and large amusement facilities attracted more tourists.
The county town, thanks to the investment from Sheng Song Group, was completely renewed. Buildings and shopping malls were everywhere, and the original simple streets and markets were nowhere to be found.
The school and its surroundings had also changed. The Li family's former courtyard had been exchanged for two apartments. One was rented to Mrs. Xiao Shan and Mrs. Xiao Jiang, and the other was rented to parents of students.
This area was now a school district.
One day, Tian Jing toured the entire county town, finding it very unfamiliar.
After returning, she never went out again.
Life seemed to have calmed down, but the atmosphere in the Li family was different.
The reason, of course, was Tian Jing's reclusive lifestyle.
Li Mu couldn't help but secretly ask her eldest daughter-in-law. From her eldest daughter-in-law, she learned that the younger daughter-in-law had lost her martial arts ability. She remained silent for a long time, then told her eldest daughter-in-law not to tell anyone.
Ouyang Meihua nodded repeatedly: "Yan Yan said it's a secret. If you hadn't asked, I wouldn't have told you."
When her younger son came home from work, Li Mu asked him when he would retire.
Li Zhengguo looked at his now silent wife and said, "It's being processed. I've told Zeng Jingrong, and he will help me."
Li Mu breathed a sigh of relief. With Captain Zeng's help, her younger son would be able to retire smoothly this time.
...
In April 2012, Comrade Li Zhengguo gloriously retired.
After all the procedures were completed, Li Zhengguo planned to take his wife out for a walk. Tian Jing was worried about her mother-in-law.
Li Mu waved her hand: "I'll stay home and look after these children. You don't have to worry about anyone in this family. Go out and relax."
Returning to the room to pack, Li Zhengguo asked his wife where she wanted to go.
Tian Jing sighed: "I know you all are worried about me. It's not a psychological problem, it's a physical problem."
"For the past three years, my body seemed to have recovered, but I'm very tired and always feel heavy."
Li Zhengguo put down the clothes he was holding and sat down beside her: "Then we'll go live at the specialty team's accommodation, and let Ranran give you massages every day."
Tian Jing thought for a moment and agreed: "First, call Zeng Jingrong, then renovate a courtyard. I don't like the concrete and steel atmosphere of Ling County, nor do I like the amusement park in Zhonghe Village."
...
In September, when the children started school, Tian Jing officially moved to the specialty team.
The accommodation area of the specialty team was separated.
After Jiang Lin framed Li Wanting using Yulia, Zeng Jingrong began to prepare for separate accommodation areas.
Now, the accommodation area was completely isolated from the specialty team's camp.
The accommodation area occupied most of the hillside and expanded another area outside the main compound. This expanded part was the activity area for the accommodation area.
It included an outdoor stadium, a member free trading market, and a park.
All affiliated staff and specialty team members who had formed families had to live in the accommodation area. Of course, small courtyards were also built one after another in the accommodation area.
Access to the specialty team camp required fingerprint unlocking for members, with no limits on entry and exit times or frequency.
Affiliated staff had their gate access times restricted according to their working hours. They could enter the camp ten minutes late and leave ten minutes after their shift.
If they exceeded the specified time, they had to explain their whereabouts and have their movements monitored. After ensuring there was nothing suspicious, the member on duty at the gate separating the accommodation area and the camp would open it for them.
If this happened three times in a week, a thorough investigation would be conducted.
Li Zhengguo was able to apply to live in the accommodation area and choose a courtyard for renovation, not only because the accommodation area was separated but also because the accommodation area had a separate main gate in the expanded area, which was also manned by members.
The duty member at the entrance of the accommodation area respectfully saluted and let Tian Jing pass upon seeing her.
The seven-seater car slowly drove into the accommodation area. Tian Jing looked around and said, "The design here is quite good."
Seeing her like it, Li Zhengguo smiled: "Zeng Jingchu designed it, and he also donated funds for its construction."
Tian Jing smiled and nodded: "This will be his retirement place. If he doesn't build it, who will?"