Chapter 114: Chapter 113: Swift Victory, Visitors from Home

A month later, the lightning war ended, and after achieving the goals, the troops withdrew within their borders.

Everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although no one feared war, nobody wanted war.

By the end of March, after the participating troops had rested, the statistics for battle achievements and commendations were completed. The third platoon of the Automobile Company led by Ling Chengyan transported supplies continuously, overcoming extreme and harsh weather like rainstorms and snowstorms, and flawlessly and promptly delivered the supplies. As a result, all members of the third platoon were awarded third-class merits.

Just as Ling Chengyan was on stage to receive the award on behalf of the third platoon, Zhao Guangrong’s application for transfer was approved.

He stood at the entrance of the military district office, luggage in hand, looking back at the courtyard where he had worked and lived for over five years, feeling indescribably complex emotions.

The entire Automobile Company, especially the personnel and vehicles of the third platoon, underwent a thorough rest.

A dozen other people, all veteran soldiers enlisted for many years, were also being demobilized along with Zhao Guangrong. Simultaneously, eight old vehicles also gloriously retired, divided among transport teams in several counties.

Afterwards, personnel and vehicles underwent another major adjustment.

Ling Chengyan’s third platoon was reassigned five members, leaving thirty-three.

It happened to be a Sunday, and the whole family had some free time, so they planned a countryside outing.

With two bicycles, Ling Chengyan took little Rain, and Wang Liansheng took little Shi Tou and little Xing, and they strolled leisurely to Pu Lake on the east side of the city.

The trees had turned green, the grass was lush, and along the roadside, there were occasional flowering trees with humming bees and fluttering butterflies—a scene full of vitality.

Large Yellow followed beside the bicycles, all the way to the lakeside grass.

Since arriving in the city, Large Yellow had been mostly confined to the small courtyard, feeling quite pent-up, rare to have the chance to run freely, it was extremely happy, chasing a butterfly along the lakeside, and soon vanished from sight.

No one cared about it; after a short time, it trotted back again.

Ling Chengyan gave it a stuffed bun with meat, and Large Yellow was thrilled, taking it aside to eat heartily.

The children played exceptionally happily, staying out until two or three in the afternoon before reluctantly returning home.

Unexpectedly, the family returned to the courtyard entrance to find two completely unexpected visitors.

Wang Liansheng got off the bicycle, approached to greet them, “Uncle, Big Brother, how come you’re here?”

Ling Chengyan quickly got off the bicycle as well, greeting Hongjun who was behind the eldest cousin, “Hongjun, come quickly inside, let’s talk at home.”

The group entered the courtyard and proceeded all the way to Ling Chengyan’s small yard.

The weather was warm but not hot, so everyone stayed outside, sitting under the newly planted pomegranate tree in the courtyard.

Ling Chengyan, with little Rain, boiled water to brew tea, while little Xing ran inside to fetch boxes of sugar and snacks for the grand uncle, uncle, and elder brother to eat.

After some brief exchange, the conversation turned serious.

Uncle Wang Futang began, “Our commune has started enlisting soldiers. We came to discuss whether we could send Hongjun to enlist?”

Wang Liansheng glanced at his wife, who was busy serving Hongjun with candy and snacks, then said, “Uncle, you know the border is somewhat unstable… Regarding sending Hongjun to enlist, you should discuss carefully with Big Brother.”

Elder cousin Wang Lianqi asked, “Hasn’t the fighting already ended?”

Ling Chengyan instructed little Xing to take Big Brother for a walk around the courtyard; then she seated herself beside the low table holding the slightly drowsy Shi Tou and said, “Big Brother, to be honest, large-scale combat has temporarily ceased, but the border isn’t stable… Whether it lasts a year or two, or ten or eight years, it’s hard to say.”

Wang Futang and Wang Lianqi fell silent.

Clearly, they hadn’t anticipated the situation being like this. They believed the war had ended and enlisting would not involve much danger.

Little Shi Tou fell asleep, and Ling Chengyan took the child inside to sleep, and then headed with little Rain to the food company.

At the food company, it wasn’t merely about supplies anymore; many farmers from surrounding villages brought their homegrown vegetables and eggs into the city, spontaneously forming a small market in the alley near the food company.

The market was not fixed; when there was inspection, everyone would flee.

When there was no inspection, people slowly reappeared, carrying baskets and selling some agricultural products.

By chance, someone was selling a few fish in a bamboo basket, saying they caught them in the Yellow River.

Seeing the fish were fresh with substantial sizes, some weighing four or five pounds, she bought two. Little Rain went to the food company to buy half a pound of meat, and then they went to a restaurant to purchase some braised dishes before heading back home together.

Wang Futang’s group brought two chickens and some home-grown vegetables over.

Ling Chengyan placed the chickens under an apple basket for the time being, but didn’t slaughter them. She killed both large fish, cutting them into pieces before frying them until golden. Half of the fish pieces were stewed into a pot. Pork and vegetables were stir-fried into several dishes, and there were three or four braised goods like roast chicken, chicken giblets, and marinated rabbit, totaling six or seven dishes. The small table in the courtyard was filled to the brim.

Wang Liansheng took out his stored wine, opened a bottle, and the three brothers, who hadn’t met for a long time, warmed a pot of wine to catch up.

After a few cups, Wang Lianqi brought up the issue concerning the Wang family’s second branch.

Wang Lianxiang had mentioned to a suitor, the nephew of the team leader in Fuqiao, surnamed Zheng, who worked at the dock, promising to arrange a job for Wang Lianxiang in the county town if she married him.

Wang Lianqi, after drinking a few cups, began to talk more, “I’ve seen the young man twice; he doesn’t seem reliable. When I was at the commune, I helped inquire and learned he is indeed from the Zheng family, but their situation is bad… Further details are hard to get. I know some people at the commune, but in the county, I don’t have acquaintances and don’t know where to inquire.”

Wang Liansheng frowned deeply, saying, “Lianhua’s husband’s family is in Panjiaji, only three miles from Fuqiao, they should be able to find out some information, right?”

Wang Lianqi turned back to look at his father, hesitatingly saying, “Old Four, you’re not aware of Lianhua’s situation, are you?”

“What situation?” Wang Liansheng asked.

Ever since the hawthorn incident, Wang Liansheng had completely lost heart towards that family and its members. He didn’t even return for New Year, let alone deal with the mastermind behind the scheme to sell Shi Tou, Wang Lianhua; he wished he never knew the person.

“Her husband was first sent back home, and later was found to have committed a mistake and detained… From what I’ve heard, it seems no judgment or punishment has been yet issued.”

Wang Liansheng’s brow furrowed tight, asking, “Do you know what happened?”

Wang Lianqi shook his head blankly, “Only heard it was a mistake, specifics unknown.”

Neither was surprised, exhaling, saying, “Those two were truly evil, getting what they deserve now.”

Without turning, he knew his wife’s expression must be unpleasant.

To be fair, his wife probably hated Wang Lianhua and Wang Lianxiang sisters most, even more so than Zhou Xiuying.

Since the entire Ling Chengyan family wasn’t home for lunch, Wang Futang and his two grandsons couldn’t return the same day; after dinner, Wang Liansheng and Ling Chengyan took the three to stay at the courtyard guesthouse.

Upon returning after settling them, Ling Chengyan said casually, “Tomorrow, tell Big Brother, the family Wang Lianxiang mentioned is surnamed Zheng but separated from the Fuqiao team leader long ago by five generations, and this family is quite unsavory. The elder is an old rogue and drunkard, who beats his wife when drunk. His wife fled ten years ago, leaving only father and son fending for themselves. The younger is a small-time hoodlum and rascal, never working properly, constantly messing around all day…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep