Chapter 1667 - 1089: Homeland
First watch.
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The full moon banquet at the Zhao’s house was exceptionally lively. The Zhao family wasn’t what it used to be, so even some relatives who hadn’t been in touch for years came over with gifts.
Some of them weren’t even recognized by Zhao Yushan and Li Aiyuan until they introduced themselves for a while, recounting their family history up to three generations back before it was clear how they should be addressed.
When you’re poor, no one asks in a busy marketplace; when you’re rich, relatives show up even in a remote mountain.
Whether you like it or not, on such a joyful day, you can’t slight anyone. As a result, by the end of the full moon banquet, Zhao Yushan and Li Aiyuan were nearly exhausted.
The next day was Doudou’s baby’s full moon banquet, so Old Master Zhou, Old Madam Zhou and others decided to stay the night and return to City A with Chuxia and the others.
With so many people staying over, the Zhao’s house couldn’t accommodate them all, so the whole family went back to Dalin Village with Luo Gangshun and Fat Auntie. No matter what, Dalin Village was once the home of Lin Baohe and Zhao Yulan, and they couldn’t really not go back.
Lin Baohe had complex feelings towards Dalin Village. Growing up there, whether the memories were good or not, there was always a sense of familiarity. So, as the car reached the village entrance, his demeanor noticeably changed.
"Look, isn’t Grandpa’s neck stretched longer than a giraffe’s?" Chuxia teased her father, poking the little one’s chubby cheeks. The kids looked seriously at Lin Baohe for a moment and nodded in unison.
"Hehe..." Chuxia laughed helplessly, "Do you even know what a giraffe looks like? You’re just nodding blindly."
Zhao Yulan gave her daughter a disapproving look: "You can’t fool kids like that. They’re watching your expression when you ask them questions and answering based on that. Acting like this could really leave them a bit dazed."
"Hehe..." Chuxia laughed, "Mom, Dad can’t hear anything right now. I was joking about him, and he didn’t even react. Tell me, do you think Dad feels like the air in Dalin Village is familiar, and even breathing is particularly smooth?"
"That is for sure," Lin Baohe turned back with a bemused smile at his daughter, "You think Dad didn’t hear you teasing me? Ah..." he sighed and continued, "At your age, you wouldn’t understand this feeling. Dad lived here for half his life, and it’s impossible not to have feelings for Dalin Village, despite Grandpa and Grandma’s actions with your Uncle and Third Uncle.
No matter if the experiences here were good or bad, Dad could never forget this place in his lifetime. Besides, there’s Uncle Gangshun, Fat Auntie, and Grandpa Dagang. How could Dad cut ties with this place?"
"Dad, I never said you should cut ties with them. I’m just saying that whenever you come here, you seem like a completely different person. It seems like from now on, you should take more time every year to come back and see.
Otherwise, on your way back this time, you could fill a bag with soil and scatter it in the small vegetable garden at home. That way, when you go to pick vegetables, it feels like picking vegetables in the old garden at home."
Hearing his daughter say this, Lin Baohe was indeed tempted, but Zhao Yulan was angry enough to pat him on the head: "You actually take it seriously? Hauling around people is already enough, and you want to bring a bag of earth? How much gas would that consume? You think that’s not money?"
Lin Baohe sheepishly scratched his head, "Then let’s just bring a small amount, and casually dig up a few flowering choy vegetables and plant them in a pot when we get back. Would that work?"
"It won’t take much gas. If Dad wants to take a bag, just go ahead, no problem. As for mother-in-law and father-in-law, I’ll talk to them. They’re bound to be especially supportive."
With one vehicle not enough, they took a medium-sized van with many people, while the Zhou family took the seven-seat SUV at the back. Great Aunt and Lin Chuxia were also in the vehicle behind. The old lady wanted to go with them to City A, and then follow Chuxia’s family back to the Capital City for a look, so she sent her grandson and granddaughter-in-law back.
Regarding Loo Ping, who originally came with them, he was naturally sent back too. Despite his reluctance, without the host’s invitation, he couldn’t follow along.
However, as a few vehicles left, he stood behind staring eagerly at Lin Chuxia, which almost made Chuxia feel sick.
When Zhao Yulan found him and Wang Meifeng, they were having a warm chat sitting on the bridge next to the orchard. In the blink of an eye, he pretended to be infatuated with Lin Chuxia. Is it not disgusting?
Sitting in the car behind, Lin Chuxia remained listless throughout.