Shen Que didn’t ask any probing questions.

It’s likely Shen Xing encountered something difficult to speak about.

Little boys care about their pride; Shen Que understands that.

So this topic was deliberately sidetracked by everyone.

Jiang Cheng took the opportunity to talk about the house.

"I want to open a back door in the room I’m currently living in, so I can connect the two houses together."

Shen Que listened and said, "Sure, I can handle that for you. While I’m at it, I’ll also fix the smoke vents for the adjacent room. Let’s set up a stove, and repair the tables, chairs, and benches inside. We can replace anything that’s unusable."

"That’s perfect. Factory Director Fang said he’d give me fabric for curtains and blankets."

"Director Lu even told me that the furniture factory will provide furniture, the ceramics factory will cover pots and pans, the paper mill will give me paper to line the walls, and the bamboo weaving factory is preparing boxes and some small sewing tools for me."

Upon hearing this, Shen Que asked with a strange expression, "Shouldn’t our mechanical factory also make a contribution?"

Jiang Cheng raised her brows and teased, "What else can your mechanical factory give me besides a director?"

Shen Que pondered for a moment and realized there was nothing.

"No worries, a director can do laundry and cook, taking charge inside and outside the home!"

Jiang Cheng smiled faintly and said, "That’s my favorite!"

Shen Que’s ears turned red from being teased, as he silently counted down the days until he could stand up.

Once he can stand up, can they get married?

Thinking of marriage, Shen Que’s eyes lit up.

"What are you thinking?"

Jiang Cheng asked, and Shen Que glanced around nervously and said, "Nothing!"

Jiang Cheng looked at him skeptically but didn’t expose him.

The couple continued their affectionate display, Shen Xing and Shen Yue were used to it, and Grandma Shen paid no attention. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Everyone worked together, and the dumplings were soon in the pot.

Once cooked, Jiang Cheng took advantage of their warmth and went to the hospital.

She took Shen Que’s car.

Truly, Shen Que timed it perfectly, managing to spend as much time with Jiang Cheng as possible.

*

Two days later, Teacher Lü could go home to recuperate.

Initially, Jiang Cheng wanted to invite Teacher Lü to stay with her, but Teacher Lü declined.

Later, Jiang Cheng thought it wouldn’t be appropriate because she wouldn’t be home all the time.

If she wasn’t home, Teacher Lü would become Grandma Shen’s burden, and that wouldn’t be good.

Jiang Cheng took Teacher Lü home and was relieved to learn that someone would take care of her.

Having settled Teacher Lü, an exhausted Jiang Cheng returned to the courtyard.

Everyone was home today.

Grandma Shen sent Jiang Cheng back to her room for a nap, which lasted until dinner.

During dinner, Shen Que told Jiang Cheng that Director Lu would be going to the countryside tomorrow.

"Before the end of the shift, Director Lu called to say he’d pick you up at 7:30 tomorrow and try to return the same day. But just in case, be prepared and bring some items."

"Alright!"

Jiang Cheng acknowledged understandingly and continued eating.

After dinner, Shen Que left and informed Grandma Shen that he probably wouldn’t be back for the next few days.

Grandma Shen didn’t even glance at Shen Que and said, "I guessed as much."

With Jiang Cheng not being around, why would someone come home?

Seeing this, Shen Que quickly explained, "It’s not because of that; there’s a technical competition at the factory."

Grandma Shen, with a look that said she didn’t want to hear any explanations, waved him off.

"With both of you gone, I can relax for a few days. Off you go!"

Feeling dismissed, Shen Que left with a smile, and Jiang Cheng walked him out for a short distance.

After a brief moment of intimacy, Jiang Cheng returned to her room and packed a simple travel bag.

Having napped during the day, she wasn’t very sleepy at night.

She decided to translate the materials and books she had brought back.

The next morning after breakfast, Jiang Cheng took the lunchbox filled with the sauerkraut pancakes Grandma Shen had made early in the morning, along with a few eggs.

"Here’s the juice you brought back, and some pumpkin seeds to nibble on during the trip."

"There’s also this thermos; hold it to keep warm!"

Grandma Shen gave her instructions and asked, "You wore cotton pants, right? It’s cold in the car for such a long time."

"I did!"

Jiang Cheng appeared visibly larger to Jiang Cheng, and Grandma Shen nodded in satisfaction.

At 7:30, Director Lu honked twice, and Jiang Cheng came out with her bag and got in the car.

As soon as she got in, she saw Director Lian.

"Sister Lian!"

"What, you don’t recognize me after a few days?"

Jiang Cheng shook her head quickly, as Sister Lian took Jiang Cheng’s bag and pulled her to sit down, saying, "Quickly sit down, it’s already warmed up here."

Jiang Cheng quickly moved down, and Sister Lian placed the blanket she brought over Jiang Cheng’s legs.

"Cover yourself; it gets colder the longer we sit."

Jiang Cheng nodded and curiously asked, "Sister Lian, are you accompanying me again?"

Sister Lian shook her head, "Sort of, I need to go to the countryside because my niece is getting married, and I’m visiting."

So that was it.

Jiang Cheng took out the thermos and cradled it in her arms, sharing the pancakes with everyone to eat.

"Eat while they’re hot; they don’t taste good when they cool down."

No one was reserved; everyone in the car knew each other.

The truck started up and headed toward the Red Flag Commune.

The vehicles nowadays don’t have air conditioning.

The inside temperature is the same as the outside; the only benefit is blocking the wind.

The vehicle really does get colder the longer you sit.

Fortunately, they brought two thermoses, so they could drink hot water to warm themselves up.

Despite this, Jiang Cheng’s feet felt as cold as if they weren’t even human temperature.

On this journey, they avoided stopping the vehicle unless necessary.

That’s because the chances of the car stalling in winter are high.

Especially after two hours of driving, there was a section of road covered in snow, so the car slowed down, and the temperature dropped even further.

What should have been a four-hour trip took them more than six hours.

When Jiang Cheng got off the car, her lips were stiff from the cold!

The team leader quickly invited everyone inside to warm up on the kang.

The team leader’s wife boiled ginger tea with brown sugar to warm everyone up.

With dual efforts, the penetrating cold gradually dissipated indoors.

Jiang Cheng’s ears and fingers turned bright red, and they started itching.

"Rub them to get the blood flowing!"

"It’s cold, don’t let yourself get frostbite! Many people here suffer from chilblains during winter; they’re painful."

The team leader’s wife helped Jiang Cheng rub her hands, while Jiang Cheng rubbed her own ears.

After over half an hour, it eased a little, and Jiang Cheng could finally open her mouth to speak.

By now, it was almost dark outside, and they definitely couldn’t return today, but fortunately, they were prepared for this.

The team leader’s family prepared dinner, featuring sauerkraut with pork belly, braised wild rabbit, and dried beans stewed with vermicelli.

Besides these three main dishes, there was tofu stewed with snow cabbage, cold mixed wild veggies, and unexpectedly, sautéed fresh mushrooms.

Jiang Cheng stared at the mushrooms, observing them closely.

"Sister-in-law, where did these mushrooms come from?"

The team leader’s wife looked at them, a bit embarrassed, and said, "I fiddle with them every year in the west room, just to add a dish for the New Year."

"You grew them yourself?"

Jiang Cheng picked up a mushroom, which was fresh and tender, very tasty.

"Yes, just messing around."

Jiang Cheng put down her chopsticks and praised, "This is not just messing around; this is skill!"

"Skills can make money!"

The team leader’s wife, who hadn’t cared much, suddenly looked at Jiang Cheng, "These things can make money?"