Chapter 1: Returning Home

With little effort, Aunt Quan brought over a large bowl of fragrant, steaming noodles, saying, "From afar, come, eat quickly." She then turned around and shouted at Uncle Quan, "Yours is on the stove, go get it yourself."

"So many things..." Uncle Quan looked again at Lin Yuanfang's bicycle and said to him in a consultative tone: "How about we send the oil and rice to Yuanli? Her situation is quite tight."

Having said these words, the person no longer lingered and hurriedly walked out

The rice and oil will not be moved into the house, as I still need to deliver them to my elder sister in the afternoon. Lin Yuanfang propped up the cart, reached out to take down the four boxes of mooncakes from the handle, and said to Uncle Quan and Aunt Quan: "These are Cantonese mooncakes ordered from the Yangcheng Grand Hotel in Tianyang City, each box costs fifty yuan. You two should give them a try."

"Please come in," Uncle Quan said, inviting the person into the room. "Let's have a drink of water before we talk."

As villagers, how can we not work? Uncle Quan chuckled and shook his head, casting a glance at Yuanfang, his face reflecting the satisfaction in his heart: Yuanfang is not only the first college student from Linzhuang Village but also the first national official from the village. Although there are others in Linzhuang Village who work for the government in the county, they are merely factory workers, receiving a few walnuts and dates during the holidays, which is simply incomparable to Yuanfang.

"Old man, you think you can sell well!" Aunt Quan glared fiercely at Uncle Quan. Uncle Quan chuckled and said nothing

The villagers were even more amazed, their eyes filled with envy, exclaiming: "Is this all provided by the government? Goodness, this is incredible! Uncle Quan, you are so fortunate to have raised such a good son! You won't have to do anything in the future; just sit at home and enjoy the blessings from afar!"

A father and son were pushing their bicycles home when they encountered a group of villagers.

"If you can't bear to eat it, then just keep it. " Uncle Quan waved his hand and said, "What are you doing standing in the yard? Come inside to talk."

"This is provided by the unit, no need to spend money." Lin Yuanfang knew that his father was concerned about him, fearing that he would spend money recklessly, which made him explain to his family every time he received something.

Great! Lin Yuanfang made a greedy expression. He knew that in his father's eyes, the dough sheets rolled out by his mother were the most delicious food in the world. In his father's words, thin dough sheets, with a bit of vinegar, some chili, a sprinkle of chopped green onions, and a few drops of sesame oil, are truly something he wouldn't trade even for an emperor

Indeed, come in and have a drink of water.

Such a precious item, we cannot bear to consume it; you should keep it for gifting. Aunt Quan took the four boxes of mooncakes, carefully examined the exquisite packaging for a long time, and then handed them back to Lin Yuanfang

Mother, please let me know if there is anything you need to discuss," Lin Yuanfang said while holding a porcelain tea mug.

To the senior leadership of your organization

No, the time is tight, and I still have to relay messages for others. Yuan Li wants you to find a way to gather four hundred yuan and send it to her before noon. The person waved their hand, hurriedly dropped this sentence, and turned to leave

"You’re back?" Uncle Quan raised his head to look at Lin Yuanfang, a hint of surprise appearing on his wrinkled face. Then his gaze fell on Lin Yuanfang's bicycle, and he couldn't help but frown, complaining, "You never know how to save; why buy so many things?"

Lin Yuanfang smiled but did not speak, propping the bicycle under the eaves of the west wing. Uncle Quan interjected from the side, saying: "These are all items sent by Yuanfang for the festival. I asked him to deliver the rice and oil to Yuanli this afternoon"

Hello! The person with the * picture * book raised his wrist to check his watch, stamped his foot, and said: "It's still that damned tax! This year, the tax in the village has increased significantly, and many people have not paid. The village has established a debt collection team, stipulating that villagers who have not paid the tax must stay at home and cannot even step out of their doors. They also said that the tax must be paid by 11 a.m. today, otherwise the village's debt collection team will take compulsory collection measures. I happen to be going to the county seat to handle some business, passing by your village, and Yuanli asked me to bring you a message, so you should hurry up and go. If you are late, the debt collection team might have to seize pigs and cattle!"

Dad, you know that I eat at the cafeteria at work, so what's the use of keeping these things? Lin Yuanfang said with a smile, "It's fine if you haven't finished eating; just save it for later. These things won't spoil anytime soon."

Leaving the county town and heading north for about three to four kilometers, the wide and smooth cement road transforms into a bumpy asphalt road. Currently, it is the autumn harvest season, and corn is spread out everywhere along the road, reducing the already narrow asphalt path to a mere goat trail. Fortunately, there are not many vehicles on the road, so Lin Yuanfang rides cautiously, covering the twenty-plus kilometers in just about an hour.

"Gifting, who should I give a gift to?" Lin Yuanfang found it amusing; in today's world, even his mother knew about gifting.

Aunt Quan pointed to the mooncakes on the Eight Immortals table and said, "These mooncakes are so precious, it would be a waste for me and your dad to eat them. How about we take them to the small shop at the village entrance and sell them instead"

Early on Saturday, Lin Yuanfang, like a performer of acrobatics, had mooncakes and soybean oil hanging from the handlebars of his bicycle, while fifty kilograms of rice was strapped to the rear rack. He rode his Phoenix brand 28-inch heavy-duty bicycle, heading home from the unit's dormitory.

I don't care! Aunt Quan shot Uncle Quan a fierce glance, saying, "Anyway, I can't bear to eat such precious things!"

Ah, look at me! Aunt Quan patted her thigh and said with concern: "In the distance, wait for me, Mom is going to roll out the dough right now." Saying this, she picked up her apron and hurried off to the kitchen

Aunt Quan had been staring at the mooncakes on the table. After seeing Lin Yuanfang drink some water, she hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up: "Yuanfang, may I discuss something with you?"

Uncle Quan chuckled softly, tapped the ash from his pipe onto the sole of his shoe, and stood up, preparing to head to the kitchen. However, he heard someone outside calling: "Is Lin Quanzhi at home?"

Xiuqin, you! Uncle Quan beside her chuckled, "The distant place sent mooncakes, how could his leader not send some? Would they really cherish these things?"

Lin Yuanfang followed Uncle Quan into the main room, placed the mooncakes on the Eight Immortals table, and pulled over a small chair to sit at the door. Aunt Quan came in from behind and poured a jar of water for Lin Yuanfang, handing it over to him

Lin Yuanfang took the teacup and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls, wiping the water stains from the corner of his mouth with his hand. He thought to himself that the well water at home tasted much better, unlike the water in the county town, which had a strong smell of bleach.

Please wait a moment. Lin Yuanfang stepped forward to stop the person, asking, "What exactly happened on my sister's side?"

"Oh, Uncle Quan, has your distant relative returned?" The villagers greeted Uncle Quan, their eyes fixed on the items on Lin Yuan's bicycle, "Look at this child, truly filial, buying you so many things."

"Then you should keep it for yourself. You haven't finished the things you brought back last time." Uncle Quan continued to complain

Lin Yuanfang remained silent, pushing his bicycle forward. Ever since he started working at the county planning bureau, he would almost always encounter the same scene each time he returned from the county town. At first, he felt a bit embarrassed, but after experiencing it multiple times, he became accustomed to it and treated the remarks as if he couldn't hear them. In the eyes of the villagers, his demeanor became a symbol of the reserve expected of a government official

Lin Yuanfang is a resident of Linzhuang Village, Gucheng Town, Mangnan County. Two years ago, after graduating from university, he was assigned to the Planning Bureau of Mangnan County. He currently lives in the dormitory provided by his workplace and usually eats in the cafeteria. Whenever the unit distributes something, he always takes the time to send it back home.

Uncle Quan was squatting on the ground with a pipe in hand, smoking. Upon hearing Aunt Quan's words, he spoke up: "Xiuqin, what kind of wild dream are you having in broad daylight? The villagers are eating five-nut mooncakes that cost two or three yuan per pound. They have never even seen mooncakes that cost fifty yuan a box. Who would dare to buy them? Who would be willing to spend that much? Don't scare them to death!"

"My surname is Liu, and I am a relative of your son-in-law Liu Chengwen," the man said. "Your family Yuanli has entrusted me to deliver a message to you."

Ah, is Yuanfang back? A surprised voice came from inside the house, as Aunt Quan joyfully welcomed him. Upon seeing the items on Lin Yuanfang's bicycle, she playfully scolded, This child, he could have just come back without bringing so many things!

Yuan Li is Lin Yuanfang's elder sister, married to Fangzhuang Village, which is ten miles away. Due to her husband Liu Chengwen's poor health, he is unable to perform heavy labor, leaving the entire family reliant on Lin Yuanli alone, making their life quite difficult. Uncle Quan and Aunt Quan, feeling sorry for their daughter, occasionally provide some financial support, ensuring that Lin Yuanli's family does not face severe hardships.

"Alright, no more talking, let's head back!" Uncle Quan grinned, his face filled with laughter, the wrinkles on his face brimming with joy. He leaned the bamboo rake against a nearby tree, and while brushing off the dust from his clothes with his rough hands, he said, "After riding for more than 20 miles, you must be starving, right? When we get home, your mother will make you a bowl of noodles!"

"Dad, what do you mean by this?" Lin Yuanfang said with a hint of reproach

The welfare benefits provided by the Planning Bureau have always been commendable. This year, during the "Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day" double holiday, Lin Yuanfang not only received a bonus of 300 yuan but also received 5 kilograms of Cantonese mooncakes, 10 kilograms of soybean oil, and 50 kilograms of Yuanyang rice

Lin Yuanfang had actually prepared one hundred yuan, intending to take the time to send it to his elder sister. Upon hearing his father say this, he nodded and said, "That works. I will go to my sister's house this afternoon and deliver the items to her"

He waved his hand and said, "Alright, forget about the mooncakes. After riding more than twenty miles this early in the morning, I'm starving. Why don't you quickly prepare a bowl of noodles for the child?"

"Well then, well then, let's go in the afternoon." Uncle Quan had a hint of guilt on his face, "Sigh, from afar, this is not favoritism on my part; it is truly because Yuanli has it tough!"

Upon entering the village, Lin Yuanfang saw his father bending down by the roadside, drying corn. "Dad," he called out as he parked his bicycle beside his father and dismounted. Lin Yuanfang's family held a relatively high social status, so many villagers of similar age to his father, Lin Quanzhi, would address him as Uncle Quan, while his mother was naturally referred to as Aunt Quan.

"Who is it?" Uncle Quan lifted the door curtain and saw a farmer in his forties, whose face was unfamiliar, leaving no impression at all

I am Lin Quanzhi. Uncle Quan asked in confusion, "You are ... ... "

"They are not purchased. They are all provided by the government, so there is no need to spend money!" Uncle Quan stood tall, his eyes shining brightly.

The road from the village entrance to home is very short, taking only two or three minutes. As soon as I entered the courtyard, Uncle Quan shouted loudly towards the main house: "The child's mother has returned from afar!"