Chapter 404 - 398: Consultation

She didn’t have to wait long. Early the next morning, Yun Jiao was pestering her dad to take her to the military base.

"Uncle Lin, I’m here~!"

Because she had previously predicted the typhoon, Yun Jiao was now highly regarded by the troops.

Even the guards at the gate knew about their unit’s little colleague.

Yun Jiao wanted the usage rights for the island, a fact she had already mentioned to Vice Commander Lin.

Although this matter wasn’t under the military’s jurisdiction, the personnel there had connections. Getting an introduction from them would make things much easier.

The government already had a policy allowing private individuals to contract land. Since Yun Jiao was looking to contract an entire island, had an introduction from the military, and even held a nominal position with them, the relevant departments would naturally process her request as quickly as possible.

However, the usage rights granted to Yun Jiao would be for a maximum of 50 years, but she would have priority if she wished to renew the contract later.

Once everything was confirmed, the relevant departments would go to the island to survey its area.

After getting all the details, Yun Jiao decided to have someone survey the island’s area after she returned from her maternal grandmother’s home during the National Day holiday.

By the time she said goodbye to Vice Commander Lin and got home, it was already time for lunch.

After lunch, they all headed to Shen Family Village together.

With so many people and so much to bring, they used both the motorcycle and the pedal-powered tricycle.

After all, they had a lot to carry.

Of course, the entire family didn’t go. The pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese at home still needed to be cared for.

Therefore, Grandpa Yun, Grandma, and the couple Yun Linhe and his wife didn’t go.

In other words, Yun Linhai and his wife were left to take a whole gaggle of children.

Yun Linhai’s head throbbed just thinking about his handful of mischievous kids. He wished he could just swap places with his younger brother.

But this was a visit to his own in-laws; it wouldn’t be right for his brother to go in his stead.

"Sit still! All of you, sit still! Don’t be jumping around in the back of this thing!"

They hadn’t even started moving yet, and Yun Linhai was already roaring at Yun Xiaowu and Yun Xiaoqi, who had started fighting in the tricycle’s cargo bed.

He could already imagine how exhausted he was going to be by the time they reached his in-laws’ place.

Yun Xiaowu: "He kicked me first."

Yun Xiaoqi: "Fifth Brother spit on me first."

"Bullshit, I did not!"

As they argued, they looked like they were about to start fighting again.

Yun Xiaojiu said, "Stop fighting! You’re crushing the fish."

Yun Jiao, sitting on the back of the motorcycle driven by her fourth brother, was completely used to her brothers’ brawling.

She was even feeling a little smug. ’Those two are about to get it.’

Sure enough, Yun Linhai finally got them to quiet down by giving each of them a good smack with the sole of his shoe.

Shen Yunlian was driving the other motorcycle. That’s right—both Shen Yunlian and Wang Mei had learned to ride.

On this trip back to her family’s home, she insisted on driving the motorcycle herself no matter what.

Well, they were just ordinary people. Even if they lived a low-key life, everyone has the urge to subtly show off now and then.

Shen Yunlian took Yun Xiaojiu with her, because she was afraid she wasn’t steady enough to ride on the mountain roads and would give Jiaojiao too bumpy a ride.

Yun Chenbei, being a boy, had excellent control over vehicles, even if he was introverted and a bit socially anxious.

That was why Yun Jiao and Yun Xiao Ba were riding with him.

The rest of the children sat in the cargo bed of Yun Linhai’s tricycle.

Oh, and the two dogs and one cat were coming along for the ride too.

"Let’s go!"

Yun Linhai’s pedal-powered tricycle was, of course, no match for the speed of the motorcycles.

But he was quite strong, and he pedaled strenuously, hauling a cart full of gifts along with Yun Xiaowu and Yun Xiaoqi.

When they reached a particularly steep slope, he simply kicked the two energetic boys out.

"Go on, push the cart."

Yun Xiaowu and Yun Xiaoqi grumbled as they pushed the cart.

"Mom’s motorcycle clearly has room for one more person. If I rode with her, it would lighten your load."

Yun Xiaoqi piped up, "Well, I want to ride on it, too!"

Yun Linhai retorted, "Enough of your whining. Your mom isn’t very steady on that thing. Not letting you ride with her is for your own good."

Yun Xiaowu muttered, "Yeah, right!"

Driving was so much faster and easier than walking, and you could carry a lot more stuff.

The two dogs trotted along behind the vehicles. They had been raised to be very strong and were bursting with energy. If they didn’t burn it all off outside, they’d just tear up the house when they got home.

So, having them run along was the perfect solution.

The roads back then were still bumpy and full of potholes. Even on the motorcycle, Yun Jiao’s rear was starting to feel a little sore.

"We’re here."

Their arrival attracted the attention of all the people still busy working in the fields.

It couldn’t be helped; the roar of the motorcycle engines was hard to ignore. Anyone who heard it would instinctively look over out of curiosity.

One glance was all it took for the people of Shen Family Village to know that Shen Yunlian and her family had arrived.

After all, no one else in their village could afford a motorcycle.

"Shen Daniu’s daughter and son-in-law are here again. I wonder what goodies they brought this time."

"That family’s really struck it rich. They even bought bicycles for Shen Nian and Shen Kuan."

"You can say that again. There’s really nothing bad you can say about Shen Daniu’s son-in-law."

What other son-in-law in their village had ever bought such expensive gifts for his wife’s family? And the crucial part was that his own parents hadn’t said a thing against it.

’Why couldn’t *we* have a son-in-law like that?’

They were envious and jealous, their eyes practically green.

"Come on, let’s go take a look. The work in the fields can wait. It’s not every day Shen Daniu’s son-in-law and his family come to visit."

The main reason was that every time they came, they were loaded down with gifts.

They were envious and jealous, but they still couldn’t resist watching.

A group of village children chased after the motorcycles, whooping and hollering.

"Shen Xiuyuan, your aunt and her family are here!"

Shen Xiuyuan, who had been sent out to gather pig feed, was playing with bamboo cannons with his friends, his basket only half-full. The moment he heard the news, he slung the basket onto his back and sprinted for home.

"I’m done playing! My aunt and uncle are here, hahaha..."

His friends also put away their things.

"Wait up, we’re coming too!"

Shen Xiuyuan’s aunt was really generous. If nothing else, they could at least score a few pieces of candy from her every time she visited.

When Shen Xiuyuan got home and saw the motorcycles parked in the courtyard, he started whooping like an excited monkey.

"Motorcycles! I finally get to see you again!"

"So cool."

’When will I ever have a motorcycle of my own?’

That was just a pipe dream. After all, even on that big 28-inch bicycle, he had to stand on the pedals just to reach, and it was still an uncomfortable fit. A motorcycle was completely out of the question for now.

"Aunt, I’m back! Did Jiaojiao come?"

"Whoa, where did these dogs come from?"

Before he could even step through the door, he found himself being stared down by two large dogs.

Yun Jiao’s voice rang out at just the right moment.

"Baozi, Tang Yuan, don’t block the door."

"Jiaojiao~!"

Hearing Yun Jiao’s voice, Shen Xiuyuan was instantly overjoyed.

Yun Jiao gave him a brilliant smile. "Second Cousin."

Then Shen Xiuyuan swept her up in a hug, pressing his cheek against hers.

"I missed you so much, Jiaojiao! Did you miss me?"

’He’s like a big, clingy dog,’ she thought.

Yun Jiao struggled to push his face away a little.

"I did, I did! Second Cousin, can you put me down first?"