Chronicle of the 70s-Chapter 360 - 345: Return to the Capital (Double - )

The family car was reserved for Qin Xi’s use on the twenty-ninth, so the whole Qin family rode in a minibus sent by Xu Wu. Originally a seventeen-seater, the back was modified into a rack for storage, and the last row was a wide seat, spacious enough for sleeping. There were four middle seats, which could fit two more, and two front seats, thus accommodating the entire family.

This minibus, bought by Xu Wu from Hong Kong, had air conditioning but no heating. However, once the vehicle started, everyone covered themselves with blankets and didn’t feel the cold, all quite cheerful.

They set off at nine in the morning, because there was heavy snow the day before, and Qin Xi was worried about thick snow on the road making it challenging to drive, so they decided to leave later. As a result, the naughty kid Niannian just caught up.

Thus, the three kids were all crying fiercely. Zhu Hong knew Li Xianglu and her family were leaving today, so she cooked ten eggs and sent them over.

Especially Ba’er, this child had a strange quirk: he was fine with guests coming over to play, and sneaking away was okay, but if you said goodbye in front of him, it would be a disaster. He would cry for a long while, or cling to you and not let you leave, displaying a scene of life-and-death separation.

Ba Yi cried for a while and then insisted on leaving with Niannian, who also seemed ready to leave with them. Seeing this, Zhu Hong hurriedly said: "Niannian, we are also going to your grandfather’s place in a few days for New Year’s. Have you forgotten? If you dare not return, when you come back your grandfather might thrash your butt."

On hearing this, Niannian’s face showed a look of terror, urgently covering her ample buttocks, quickly shaking her head and saying: "Ba Yi, Ba’er, come back and we’ll play together, I need to go to my grandpa’s house, my grandpa hits people."

Ba Yi and Ba’er were both dazed and confused, not understanding why their grandfather would hit people. When Zhu Hong saw Li Xianglu and her family beginning to put on their coats, she swiftly picked up her son and headed outside, while saying with emotion: "Qin family, younger siblings, I’m leaving first, let’s gather again after the New Year."

As a result, Zhu Hong picked up Niannian and ran off before Ba Yi and Ba’er could react.

Seeing Ba’er pouting and on the verge of crying again, Li Xianglu, annoyed, slapped his thickly padded trousers a few times, then fiercely declared: "We are going to see Minmin!"

Ba’er, who was initially ready to cry, suddenly stopped his tears, blinked, and uttered: "Minmin is a sister."

Seeing this, Li Xianglu nodded and said: "Yes, sister Minmin is back too. Let’s go see her."

This now made the naughty kid happy, and even Ba Yi clapped his hands joyfully, saying: "Little aunt!"

Alright, they really do remember well. It’s been so long and yet they still remember Xiong Youxin, they still remember Minmin; it must have been half a year.

After getting on the bus, Su Yan sighed and mentioned, "The house seems short of children. If there were more kids, could these two behave like this? You haven’t seen the two guys every time they have to leave, if not assured of tomorrow’s visit, they would cry their eyes out."

Li Xianglu, alarmed, widened her eyes: "Two kids aren’t enough?"

Su Yan rubbed the skincare cream on her hands and glanced at Li Xianglu, saying: "Give them a little sister, they won’t be like this anymore!"

Li Xianglu rolled her eyes. Easy to say. Ten months of pregnancy, two months of postpartum confinement, then early mornings and late nights of raising children, all just for their amusement? No way.

However, thinking about it, would having a little warm jacket be more comforting? While thinking thus, she glanced at the two rough little boys, no longer fussing and giggling while watching the snow outside the car window, and sighed internally.

They hadn’t expected the snow to be so heavy. The road was covered thickly in snow, the wind was strong, swirling snowflakes everywhere, severely impairing visibility. After driving for four or five hours, they reached a small county town by the Beihai river. Li Xianglu felt it unsafe to proceed further as it might get dark and they might not find an inn, problematic with the old and young. They decided to stop and wait for the snow to stop.

Thus, the bus drove around the town and found a state-run inn. Unfortunately, it did not have heating, but it did have an iron stove, which meant they could start a fire after paying.

Thus, the whole family, including the driver, settled down.

The inn was a two-story building with a row of fourteen rooms. Li Xianglu wanted the family to stay together. Each room had two beds; the old man and Su Yan in one, she and the two children along with Leng Qing in another, Hu Zi and the driver in another, just right for three rooms, but there were only two rooms left on the first floor.