With the care of their second aunt, Lianshan and Shuzhen hardly need to worry at all about the house and the children.
The elderly lady not only takes care of the children, making them chubby and healthy, clean and polite beyond words. Even the one rooster, five hens, and the vegetable garden with eggplants, beans, cucumbers, and peppers are mostly self-sufficient.
Including the food and dried vegetables brought from home, and the occasional mushrooms, pine nuts, and hazelnuts sent by the brothers, sister-in-law, and younger brother. Plus, their own food supply and subsidies, the four of them live very comfortably.
With no worries, the couple became very driven and ambitious.
They were eager to turn themselves into spinning tops, constantly immersed in a sea of knowledge. Actively asking questions during classes and independently striving for self-improvement afterward, truly not willing to waste a single moment.
Being entirely different from those who just want to coat their future with a shiny layer to enhance their career prospects.
Dominating the B University agronomy department for the first two years, by the time they graduated, the pair had become the top students of the department.
Even the school authorities recognized their academic hours and abilities and showed interest in having them teach at the university.
But the reason Lianshan and Shuzhen attended this university was to provide the most appropriate cover for Shuzhen’s extraordinary abilities.
Now, with their goal achieved, how could they stay?
They politely declined under the guise of wanting to return home to participate in practical planting research, aiming to make progress in seed optimization to repay their country. Leaving a beautiful legend of refusing high-paying jobs for the sake of hometown construction at both B University and the Liu family village production team.
Of course, in many people’s eyes at the time, this couple was just considered a foolish duo, no explanation needed.
After all, compared to waking up early at the crack of dawn to work on the field and conduct research, standing elegantly on a podium, away from wind and rain, seemed far more favorable and esteemed, with greater growth potential.
And as for optimizing and improving seeds, who knows if misfortune might cause a lifetime of unfulfilled potential, only leaving behind material for future generations to sigh and lament! After all, cultivating a new seed can take years, decades, or even generations of effort. The amount of achievement is not proportional to the size of aspiration, otherwise, there wouldn’t be sayings like the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment, right?
When the couple gained fame and rose to international renown, their initial folly naturally transformed into foresight, eternally forsaking the luxurious temptations of the external world for their dream.
Although people couldn’t help feeling regret for these two kids’ choice, the second aunt was extremely happy about their return to their hometown.
Early on, when they decided to return home for development, busy with bidding farewell to teachers and classmates, the second aunt discreetly organized all relevant belongings. Just waiting for Shuzhen and Lianshan’s command, they could embark at any time.
In July 1970, after completing their two-year process at the Worker Peasant Soldier University, Lianshan and Shuzhen finally returned home laden with honors amidst the eager anticipation of their relatives.
When the chugging sounds of the train pulling into the station were heard, Liu Shouren and Lian Yue’s eyes were slightly red with excitement. Liu Shouyi and Lian Hai both stretched their necks waiting at the exit to catch sight of their sister and brother-in-law/big brother and sister-in-law as soon as they got off the train.
Thus, when Shuzhen got off the train with Lianshan’s support, she saw her second brother and younger brother jumping gleefully, waving vigorously at them, their faces beaming with sunny, radiant smiles. Shuzhen couldn’t help but laugh as she waved back at them.
"Oh my sister/Saozi, you’re finally back, we’ve been waiting here for almost two hours!" The synchronized words from the brothers made Shuzhen’s smile, which she hadn’t managed to stifle, bloom once again.
Before she could explain a couple of times that the train had encountered a minor failure en route, being delayed by nearly two hours, the brothers had already bypassed her, heading straight to help with the luggage.
The six bags initially packed had been reduced as much as possible, now only filling two bags completely. But still, Shuzhen bought so many gifts for everyone! Stuffing four large trunks completely was absolutely no problem. Both the quantity and weight were quite significant, requiring no small effort to board.
Luckily, Beijing was the departure station, and they took a direct train. Otherwise, dealing with all these things would have been extremely exhausting for everyone.
Picking up a suitcase, Liu Shouyi almost stumbled. Biting his teeth and lifting the case, he said with complete helplessness, "Oh my dear sister! What have you got here? No wonder brother-in-law sent a special telegram asking for more people to come meet you, looks like with everything here, having fewer people really won’t work!"
Shuzhen chuckled, "Hehe, it’s been a long time since we were home, always thinking of bringing you all some gifts! Otherwise, with such a long separation, what if you forget about me?"
"Nonsense, even if brother forgets himself, he’ll never forget his dear sister born from the same mother! Hearing you’re coming back, big brother and I started making arrangements. Visiting many families, and staying on the mountain with Jianshe and Lian Hai for two nights. Only then did we save enough meat tickets and game. Early in the morning, your sister-in-law and Lian Hai’s wife, along with Yinghong, started preparing to give you a reception. Saying this, little sister makes brother sad!" Liu Shouyi showed a feigned expression of heartbreak, waiting for his sister to soften her tone and console him.
But before his sister could approach him, she was intercepted by the eldest brother, filled with concern and longing.
Unable to be close with his sister and assigned to carry the luggage, Liu Shouyi felt resentful: Being the second sibling won’t ever be as authoritative as big brother!
Conversing with her big brother, Shuzhen walked toward the exit, from afar, seeing Lian Yue on the tractor back enthusiastically charge at her.
Lian Hai, carrying a bag beside her, hurriedly shouted: "Lian Xiaoyue, behave! If you hurt your sister-in-law and nephew or niece, believe it or not, I’ll smack you with a strip of wood!"
Wanting to show overwhelming joy at the long-awaited reunion with her sister-in-law, but facing strict reproach from her brother before acting, Lian Yue was utterly confused, angry, and embarrassed!
But upon understanding what her brother meant, all embarrassment, anger, and whatever else disappeared, leaving only pure joy. Her eyes were practically glued to Shuzhen’s still unnoticed abdomen, her hands uncontrollably itching to touch it, affirming the existence of her niece or nephew.
After establishing a family and career, big brother finally had his own flesh and blood.
Thinking of this, Lian Yue was filled with excitement. Desperate to rush home, kneel at her parents’ grave, and report this incredible news to them.