Chapter 1532: Return

Upon hearing the broadcast, the four brothers followed the crowd onto the bus.

They took a stroll in the afternoon, feeling much more comfortable.

Qu Xiaoli had been in a bad mood recently. Everyone envied her, with her sons being successful, but who knew of her own struggles?

But having two grandsons by her side was already great.

That day, she and her daughter were steaming bean buns when Li Manjiang came in, startling them.

Qu Xiaoli’s tears fell. Her eldest son had come back. This New Year wouldn’t be lonely.

"Meng Lin, Meng Lin. Manjiang is back."

They hadn’t received any news that Li Manjiang was coming back.

"Mom, I’m back." Li Manjiang also had tears in his eyes. He’s now in a special unit, returning from the front line. He came straight home.

Wang Menglin heard her mother-in-law’s voice and came out quickly. She was no longer that naive and simple girl. She wasn’t indifferent anymore. She often thought of her husband far away.

Li Manjiang held his mom’s hand and saw his wife come out. Although she was wearing old clothes, she was still beautiful.

"Meng Lin, I’m back."

The children doing their homework inside heard the voices outside and ran out. Their impression of their dad was only from photos. This was their first time seeing their father like this.

Li Manjiang looked at the two boys who ran out, their faces full of comfort.

Qu Xiaoli held onto Li Manjiang, "Come, quickly come inside."

Xiao Chen, Xiao Ning, you always talk about your dad. Now that he’s home, why are you standing there stunned?"

Li Manjiang came inside, greedily looking at his mom, wife, and two sons. Coming back alive from the brink of death, seeing family was wonderful.

"Manjiang, get on the kang quickly, I’ll make you something to eat."

"Mom, I’ll do it, I’ll cook." Wang Menglin also reacted.

The two children approached Li Manjiang, looking at him with longing. To them, Dad was a great hero.

Li Manjiang held both sons’ hands. "Xiao Chen, Xiao Ning."

"Dad."

Qu Xiaoli stood aside, shedding tears. Her son was home; she was happy.

"You enjoy your time with your sons; I’ll go fetch your dad back."

"What about Cheng Lin and the others?"

"They’ve all gone to the Capital for university. You two talk to your dad."

Qu Xiaoli hurried off to find Li Yungui. The old man worried about his eldest son every day. Now, with him back, he could finally relax.

"Dad, my Red Army Second Uncle, Hongling Third Uncle, Changhe Third Uncle, and Cheng Lin Fourth Uncle all got into university. They left on the sixteenth of the lunar month, and school starts on the twentieth of the first month."

Li Manjiang hadn’t known they could go to university and was genuinely happy hearing all four brothers had been admitted.

After being away for so many years, although he never forgot his roots, he also knew how vast the outside world was. It’s best for his brothers to venture out.

He never wanted his brothers to join the military. Call him selfish, if you will, but he didn’t want his parents to worry for anyone but him.

"Dad, my mom also got into university. The notification just arrived; she won’t start school until April."

Wang Menglin entered with noodles in broth, with slices of meat and two poached eggs.

"Meng Lin, congratulations."

Wang Menglin smiled. "I did okay, ranked fifth in the city. The first four were Red Army members. You eat first. I’ll chat with you."

Xiao Chen slipped off the kang, went outside, and brought in a kang table.

Xiao Ning went to the main room and brought the salted vegetable bowl inside.

With his wife and sons serving him, Li Manjiang felt indescribably content.

Eating his wife’s cooking, Li Manjiang’s eyes reddened again. He originally planned to take his wife and kids with him on assignments, but now that his wife had gotten into university, that plan was dashed.

Qu Xiaoli found Li Yungui at the distillery.

"What’s up? Why’ve you come here?"

Qu Xiaoli panted a couple of breaths, "Come home quickly. Manjiang is back.

Also, in-laws, have dinner at our place tonight."

Lv Beiguang nodded with a smile. Certainly, I’ll bring some good wine over.

Li Yungui’s face broke into a joyful grin upon hearing his eldest son was back.

The couple hurried home, seeing their son and his family of four sitting on the kang, feeling so warm.

Li Manjiang saw his dad come in and immediately put down his chopsticks. "Dad, I’m back."

Li Yungui was a bit emotional, "Good to have you home." He knew there was fighting, so he worried most about his eldest son’s safety. Now seeing him sitting on the kang, he was finally at ease.

Wang Menglin went out to cook. The sticky bean buns should be ready to come out of the pot.

This year, with just the five of them remaining, they hadn’t made many sticky bean buns.

They initially planned to eat bean buns at noon, but since Li Manjiang was home, steaming meat and rice seemed better.

Qu Xiaoli came out from inside after a while, "Meng Lin, I’ll go buy two chickens; later you prepare the meat since your Uncle Lv and Fourth Uncle are coming over for dinner."

"Got it. Mom, buy an extra chicken; there’s a lot of people, don’t let it be insufficient."

"Alright, I know."

Qu Xiaoli carried a basket, took a big sea bowl, and left, returning with quite a lot of eggs and a big bowl of chicken blood. Behind her was Da Guo’s aunt carrying three clean roosters.

At lunch, the two boys had gotten very close to Li Manjiang; this was the bond of family blood.

During the afternoon nap, Li Manjiang held his wife—so satisfied, with a deep sense of fulfillment.

Wang Menglin told him about the village happenings and family matters.

"It’s great; all the brothers have achieved success."

"Yes, maybe after I graduate, we might be together again."

"Mm, my wife is so capable; I’ll wait for you to come find me."

"By the way, keep the two children with Mom and Dad. Suddenly, if it’s just the old couple remaining, I wouldn’t feel at ease."

"Alright, whatever you say."

"Mom mentioned that when Xiao Chen and Xiao Ning start middle school, send them to the Capital."

"That’s fine; their uncles are all there, so it’s convenient to care for them."

Li Manjiang was full of longing but realized it was daytime. If people knew he had come back and came to visit, it would be awkward; better wait for nightfall.

"Oh, and Chaoyang’s father-in-law is still at the distillery; Mom said they, along with the Fourth Uncle’s family, will come for dinner tonight. Shuxin and Shu Wen have both married; you’ll see them this evening."

"Yeah, the Fourth Uncle’s kids have married. Not sure about Changhe and Cheng Lin, though?"

"They’re all in college; they should find classmates who share their interests and get along well."

"Wife. Is this how you advised Mom?"

"No, Mom is very open-minded, never pressuring the two young uncles."

Li Manjiang sighed, "Indeed, my parents are very open-minded. I’ve made them worry while being away."