There weren’t many things that Li Hongying referred to, which made Qi Tiande’s lips twitch and eyes redden, it was just a sack full.

"Nothing special really, many of them are dried vegetables, winter vegetables are scarce, and rehydrated dried vegetables can add a little more variety." Li Hongying rambled on, "Hey, can’t you stay for lunch?"

"No, although I’d really like to." Qi Tiande replied gratefully, "I’ve been eating Li’s cooking these days, and it’s truly delicious. I wanted my friend to try it too, but he didn’t get the chance. We’ve already bought tickets to return to the city, for the noon train at twelve, so we’ll be on our way soon."

"A twelve o’clock train, and you have to go to the county seat to catch it, you need to leave now." Li Hongying looked at her watch in surprise and began to urge them, "If you don’t go to the commune now, you’ll miss the bus to the county seat."

"No rush, Li, they drove here themselves. Driving to the county will save a lot of time, so I still have half an hour." Qi Tiande said with a chuckle.

"Half an hour, huh!" Li Hongying estimated, then headed to the kitchen, "Anmin, come and help me with the fire, Mr. Qi, just wait a bit, I’ll quickly make you some pancakes for the road."

Ding Anmin and Xia Xingchen all went to the kitchen to help, while Yi Roujing took out the national food coupons she had prepared earlier and handed them to Qi Tiande, "Mr. Qi, since you’re just going, things are still unclear, it’s better to be prepared so you won’t go hungry."

With a smile and a slightly sour nose, Qi Tiande accepted them, "Don’t worry, you’ve never refused in the past, and I won’t refuse anything you give me in the future. So please, stop mentioning that thumb ring, when you come to Jing City, accept my treat with peace of mind, that way I’ll be happy."

Yi Roujing laughed at his words, "When we go to Jing City, it’s sure to cost you some, and as for that thumb ring, it’s just that I don’t want Mr. Qi to lose a keepsake."

"Rest assured, it’s my keepsake in your hands." Qi Tiande said gently.

Li Hongying worked quickly, managing to make not only white flour pancakes but also fried egg pancakes and boiled eggs within half an hour. Fortunately, she had left a jar of the mushroom meat sauce she made in the county seat unopened, and she put it in as well. When she handed it to Mr. Qi, it was a bulging big bundle.

"Mr. Qi, if it gets cold, heat it with hot water on the train, wrap some meat sauce around it, and share it with your friend." Li Hongying said with a smile, "I didn’t make much meat sauce this time, and the schedule was tight. I’ll make some other flavors in a few days and send them to you, we have the address anyway."

"That’s great." Qi Tiande said happily. He felt that what he would miss the most when he returned, apart from the people, would probably be this warmth.

When Mr. Qi left, many people came to see him off. The Dingping Production Team would not bully those who came to the countryside, seeing so many people, Qi Tiande suddenly felt a bit emotional.

When he first arrived, life was tough, but after getting used to it, he found that the village people worked like this, and they took care of him. Considering his age and weaker body, he was given easier work. As Yi Roujing’s family became more capable, Mr. Qi knew he was also benefiting.

Even though he had encountered bad people in the first half of his life, he gained such good emotions during his hardships, like family, no, even more than family, it turned out he was a person with such good fortune.

Mr. Qi left, but there were more and more rumors about him in the Dingping Production Team. People boasted about how amazing and knowledgeable he was, that someone from Jing City came to invite him personally. Who would have thought that such a scholar was living in the cowshed...

As it was talked about more, as others heard more, many of their own production teams had cowsheds, where people from various industries who came to the countryside lived. At least in the Tongxian Commune and even in the teams under Huaixi County, many of those living in cowsheds were treated more kindly.

However, the Yi Roujing family weren’t focusing on these. As more and more red "happiness" paper cuts were pasted in the home, the celebratory atmosphere grew stronger. Ding Anmin was indeed going to get married.

"Sigh—" Yi Roujing sighed softly.

"Sister-in-law, are you sad that Anmin is getting married and will be part of someone else’s family?" Xia Xingchen asked with concern as he heard Yi Roujing’s voice and approached.

"My feelings are a bit complex." Yi Roujing rested her head on her hand and said.

"How complex?" Ding Anmin hurried over upon hearing the commotion.

"Both happy and reluctant." Yi Roujing honestly said.

"So am I." Ding Anmin deeply felt the same.

"What do you have to say?" Yi Roujing laughed, "You’re the bride-to-be, just focus on being happy, we’ll handle the other emotions."

"I’m close by anyway, I’ll come over often." Ding Anmin grinned.

"You better come often, even though you’re married, you’ll always have the surname Ding and be a part of the Ding Family." Yi Roujing said with a smile.

"Definitely." Ding Anmin snorted.

Xia Xingchen stood by, smiling with envy, "I’ve seen you go from not getting along to loving each other, it shows that people grow fond through interactions."

"I was blind to not recognize someone of great character before." Ding Anmin suddenly stood up and bowed to Yi Roujing, "Our family wouldn’t be where it is now without you, sister-in-law."

"Cough, cough—" Yi Roujing cleared her throat and straightened her back, "I’m glad you acknowledge that, remember to be filial to me in the future."

"Get out of here, we’re of the same generation, filial piety, you’re taking advantage of me." Ding Anmin playfully protested, "Make sure my nephews and nieces are filial to me, I can’t wait to be an aunt."

Ding Anmin touched Yi Roujing’s prominent belly, "It’s been over six months, though traditionally it’s ten months, in reality, it’s just over nine months, so it’ll be due around April. It will still be cool then, more comfortable for postpartum recovery."

"Postpartum recovery." The thought of a month without showering, washing her hair, or going out just seemed unbearable to Yi Roujing.

"Behave, and I’ll bring back good stuff from Jing City for you." Ding Anmin tempted.

"Our godfather and others really can’t come over, when we go to Jing City, we’ll probably have a few tables to treat people. You surely won’t be going to Jing City during the New Year, right?"

Yi Roujing nodded, "We just went in October, and I’m heavily pregnant now. Your brother definitely wouldn’t let me travel by train. When it’s the New Year next year, we’ll head to Jing City."

It’s January 22, 1976, and we’ll be able to take exams next year, after which our family will definitely go to Jing City.

"Not returning for the New Year this year, we’ll surely go next year. We must let our godfather see the grandchildren." Ding Anmin righteously said.

Yi Roujing just smiled without explaining, anyway, it’ll happen, "You haven’t fallen behind on your studies, right?"