Chen Lan was dozing in the driver's seat when she suddenly felt movement in the back of the vehicle and was instantly awake. She opened her eyes to see that the sky outside the car windows had already brightened.
Chen Lan immediately opened the car door and got out, walking to the back. Grandpa Qian was peeking out from the vehicle.
Seeing Chen Lan approach, he asked, "Daughter, have we arrived?"
Chen Lan smiled and replied, "Yes, Grandpa Qian, we're almost there. Just two more mountains to climb and we'll be home. Come, Grandpa Qian, let me help you and Grandma off the car to rest for a bit. We'll have a quick bite to eat before we set off."
As soon as Grandpa Qian and Grandma Qian, the elderly couple, got out of the car, they went to find a place to relieve themselves.
Chen Lan also found a spot, then casually gathered a few dry branches, planning to roast the red sausages she bought at the department store yesterday for Grandpa and Grandma Qian's breakfast.
Chen Lan nimbly started a fire and took out three red sausages from the system warehouse. She threaded them onto branches and began roasting. She was very familiar with this task, and soon the aroma of roasted red sausages filled the air.
Indeed, these Russian-style red sausages, when roasted over the fire, had an even richer smoky flavor from the fruitwood. Perhaps it was due to hunger, but Chen Lan found the roasted Russian red sausages incredibly fragrant.
Worried that one red sausage might not be enough for Grandpa and Grandma Qian, Chen Lan ordered two cornmeal steamed buns from the system and also prepared a pot of boiled water for the elderly couple using a military water canteen.
After the three of them enjoyed a hearty breakfast, they prepared to depart. Chen Lan fashioned a walking stick for Grandpa and Grandma Qian out of branches. Then, carrying all their belongings and a wooden chest gifted by Grandpa Qian, she set off. The Su Dan Novel Network.
Chen Lan led the way, with Grandpa and Grandma Qian following closely behind. They walked and rested along the way, even eating lunch on the mountain. Climbing the two mountains was quite exhausting for the elderly couple. Seeing Chen Lan carrying so much without breaking a sweat, they couldn't help but feel admiration.
Chen Lan smiled and said, "Grandpa Qian, Grandma Qian, once you two have lived in this valley for three to five years, climbing mountains will be as easy for you as it is for me. Stepping outside in the valley means facing mountains; it all becomes second nature."
Around four in the afternoon, the three of them finally reached the mountain peak in the valley. Chen Lan stood on the summit and, opening her throat, shouted loudly, "I'm back! I'm back!"
Her voice echoed through the valley, and upon hearing the shouts, the valley erupted. The elderly men working in the fields looked up and, seeing Chen Lan standing on the mountain peak, called out, "It's Xiao Lan! It's really Xiao Lan who's back."
Then someone remarked, "Huh! Xiao Lan brought people back to the valley again. Jia Yao's four siblings haven't returned, though."
Chen Lan led Grandpa and Grandma Qian down into the valley and greeted the elders in charge of the fields one by one.
She then explained to everyone, "Grandpas, these two elders are university teachers I specially invited from Changchun Normal University for the children."
The elders readily chimed in, "So they're teachers! It must not have been easy for you two to travel such a long distance to teach in our little mountain village. Thank you! Thank you!"
Grandpa Qian and Grandma Qian then began to exchange pleasantries with the elders.
At this moment, Chen Lan saw a group of people running towards them from a distance. Leading the group were the triplet siblings. Brothers Jia Hui and Jia Jun were each holding one of Shi Mei's little hands as they ran forward.
Chen Lan immediately put down the wooden chest she was holding and went to meet them.
Chen Lan gave the three children a bear hug. The triplets hugged Chen Lan affectionately for a while before letting go. Jia Hui, the eldest of the triplets, who was the sturdiest, asked, "Mom, is Dad okay? Why haven't my three older brothers and fourth sister returned?"
As expected of triplets, Jia Jun and Shi Mei echoed the question, "Yeah! Yeah! Why haven't Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, and Fourth Sister come home with Mom?"
Chen Lan smiled and gently stroked the children's little heads, replying, "Your father is doing well. He's currently attending classes at the Provincial Party School in Harbin. Your eldest brother is at the Harbin Railway Central Hospital, learning clinical experience from his master. Your second and third brothers, along with your fourth sister, are preparing to stay in Changchun to attend high school. Come, children, we'll talk more at home. Your Grandpa Qian and Grandma Qian are very tired after climbing mountains all day and need to go home to rest."
At this point, Chen Lan realized something was amiss and asked, "Jia Hui, that's not right! Aren't you supposed to be in class right now? What's going on? Did you three sneak out? Be careful, your aunt will punish you if she finds out."
Shi Mei pouted unhappily and said, "Mom, what are you talking about! This class is art class. We all got permission from the teacher before coming out, so we didn't sneak out at all."
Chen Lan smiled and patted the children's little bottoms, saying, "Alright, now that you've seen Mom, what are you waiting for? Hurry back to class."
The arrival of Grandpa Qian and Grandma Qian was naturally met with a warm welcome from everyone in the valley!
Especially Ming Wei. During dinner in the main kitchen, after Chen Lan introduced Grandpa and Grandma Qian to everyone, Ming Wei excitedly stepped forward and began conversing with the elderly couple. Soon, the three of them were discussing the arrangements for establishing courses.
Chen Lan also gave everyone advance notice, mentioning that she would be taking the children out of the valley gradually over the next few years to attend high school and broaden their horizons.
This was naturally for the children's benefit, so no one voiced any objections. Besides, everyone had been living in this valley for decades and were accustomed to following Chen Lan's arrangements. After all, it was thanks to Chen Lan's plans that they had been able to live such a peaceful life in the valley all these years.
This only showed that habit could be a formidable thing. If used well, it was a good thing; if used poorly, it could be a disaster.
Moreover, they trusted Chen Lan's character and knew that she was doing this for the good of the valley's children, so they were completely at ease.
Chen Lan also confessed the true reason for taking the children to Harbin to her mother and mother-in-law at home.
At this point, Grandpa suddenly spoke up, "I knew it! Xiao Lan, you left so abruptly. I felt something was off back then, but I couldn't pinpoint what it was. Now the truth is out."
Grandma teasingly retorted, "I say, Old Tan, you're just a backseat driver."