After the breakup, I joined the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection

On the emerald green water of Pingjiang, a shuttle boat, with the roar of its propeller, breaks through the white waves and moves forward.

This is the most common means of transportation in rural Pingjiang County. Since the Pingjiang River and its branches run through almost all the villages in Pingjiang, the boat ticket, which costs only one or two cents with luggage, is obviously more popular among farmers than the bus ticket, which costs fifty cents or one yuan and is calculated separately for luggage.

Moreover, although the boat ride is slow and takes a long time, it usually takes two or three hours to get back to the village from the county. However, due to the poor rural road conditions in that era, the long-distance buses that shake three times a step are actually not much faster, and it is even more uncomfortable if you get motion sickness.

Lu An stood at the bow of the boat, feeling the river breeze. He was wearing a very ordinary shirt and trousers, but he was neat and clean, which seemed out of place with the shabby shuttle boat, just like Lu An and this era.

In fact, people like Zhao Hu and Zhang Long were quite worried about Lu An returning home.

Because the inspection team came here with such a threatening attitude and even produced a work permit to show their power, it was obvious that they had bad intentions, so why would they run away at this time?

Moreover, even if Yan Ji'an has the upper hand now, Lu An and Ye Xianggao have both said that they cannot handle this case. If something goes wrong, they have to be here so that they can be the first to know the news and take countermeasures. If no one is here, they will not be able to seize the opportunity even if they have it. Isn't it a waste?

Lu An's idea was quite direct. Once there was a problem with Yan Ji'an, he would definitely find a way to cooperate with him.

If I stayed at that time, I would have no choice but to cooperate. On the contrary, if I was not there, people like Zhao Hu and Zhang Long could still make excuses by saying that they did not fully understand the situation.

After all, Wei Dezheng's case went so smoothly because of his 'former son-in-law' Lu An, and they didn't really have much credit.

Lu An also advised them not to be so tense, and that they could go back if they wanted, as long as Pingjiang left one person on duty...

"Young man, are you a college student in the city?" asked the ship's boss, who was sitting at the cabin door.

Lu An nodded. According to the age he was at when he was reborn, he had only graduated for two months, so it was not wrong to call him a college student.

Hearing that he had guessed correctly, the boss was so happy that his mouth opened wide, showing his big yellow teeth: "I guessed you are it! Look at us running around in Pingjiang, everyone is covered in dust and mud, and they all carry big bags, but you can get on the boat with a small bag, but you are a college student! Wow, that's amazing, I heard you can become a cadre when you graduate!"

Lu An smiled and said that it was no longer the case: "Nowadays, college students don't have a permanent job. They have to find a job by themselves after graduation. Maybe they will not be as good as you, boss."

"That's a life where you sit in an office, drink tea and read newspapers, unlike us who work on a boat every day, under the sun and in the rain..."

Lu An chatted with the boss in random moments and soon arrived at the Lugang Village Pier.

Although this is called a pier, it is actually just a river bend with a slow current. There is a row of bluestone steps extending down from the embankment.

The boss steered the boat slowly over, then put up a wooden board so Lu An could step on it to get ashore.

Because Pingjiang often flooded in the past, the embankments on both sides were built very high, especially on the side of Lugang Village, which was piled up high like a small hill. Lu An had to climb to the top to see the entire Lugang Village.

At that time, brick houses and thatched houses were scattered all the way along the embankment. There was no planning for rural houses in that era, so they were staggered left and right along the road.

"Quack quack!"

A group of ducks came out from the bushes and walked down the embankment in a swagger, quacking non-stop, as if they were laughing at Lu An's curiosity.

"Brother Lu An! Is Brother Lu An back?"

A crisp voice sounded not far away, and a pretty figure was seen standing on the embankment. She took off her straw hat and put down her hoe, and ran to me in surprise: "Brother Lu An, it's really you! Brother Lu An, don't you recognize me? I'm Xiaolian!"

Su Qinglian is my uncle's daughter and my cousin.

"Xiao Lian, she said she would go to college with me, wash my clothes, cook for me and be my maid. How could I forget her?" Lu An said with some emotion in his tone. He hadn't seen this cousin for a long time.

"It's been several years, why are you still bringing this up, Brother Lu An?"

Su Qinglian complained angrily, her face turning red with embarrassment.

But then Su Qinglian pulled Lu An and ran towards the village while shouting loudly: "Brother Lu An is back! Aunt and uncle, Brother Lu An is back! Erhu Sanyang, heroes, come and help shout! Your Brother Lu An is back! Shout louder!"

Communication basically relies on shouting, which is a true portrayal of Pingjiang's rural areas in that era.

It may look backward, but its efficiency is amazing.

Under Su Qinglian's instigation, the heroes or children at the entrance of the village all joined in shouting. Within two minutes, the news that Lu An had returned to the village spread throughout the entire Lugang Village.

Countless uncles and aunts poked their heads out from the yard.

Someone seemed to have forgotten: "Brother Lu An? Which Lu An?"

"Which Lu An could it be? There are several Lu Ans in our Lugang Village. Of course it's Lu Yuanchao's kid. He's the only college student in our village. The town sent out the admission notice with drums and gongs and set off firecrackers. The Lu family even set up more than a dozen tables. Have you forgotten?"

"It turned out to be him! The college student from our village is back! Lu An is back!"

"I saw him at the banquet. It's Lu An who's back!"

Remembering who Lu An was, the uncles and aunts in the village walked out of the yard one by one, vying to help and shouting, and the team following Lu An became larger and larger.

This was the Pingjiang countryside in that era. During the slack season, the villagers would form gangs to deal with any problems. Now that the only college student in the village had returned, everyone walked out of the yard. Soon, many people followed Lu An in front and behind him, and the team was huge.

The children walked in front with their heads held high, looking like they were clearing the way and guarding the way, looking very arrogant.

This is no wonder. Nowadays, few rural children even go to high school, let alone take the college entrance examination. That is almost a myth.

Therefore, Lu An is the only college student in Lugang Village over the years. Now that the college student has returned to the village, everyone from the old to the young is very happy.

"Everyone, make way! Brother Lu An is back! Everyone, make way for Wenquxing's big pot!" They all spoke loudly in groups of five or six, as if they were really making way for a high-ranking official.

Lu An was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Soon after passing the big fish pond in the village, Lu An finally saw his home from a distance. It was a quadrangle-style courtyard surrounded by a large brick house and several thatched houses.

Lu An also saw his parents waiting at the door, so he quickened his pace and ran over.

"Mom and Dad, I'm back." Lu An said, and couldn't help but his eyes became wet.

My parents, like everyone else in the village, wore coarse cloth clothes and rolled up their trouser legs, revealing dark skin on their hands and feet.

Now from a close distance, Lu An saw that his parents' faces were full of wrinkles, just like the thousands of gullies in the fields.

But my parents are only in their early forties this year!

There is no doubt that the heavy farm work makes my parents look much older than their actual age.

Lu An couldn't help kneeling down in front of his parents anymore and said, "Mom and Dad, I'm sorry. I should have come back earlier to honor you two!"

Lu An really hated himself. Why didn't he understand in his previous life that he was so focused on Wei Mengjiao that he even forgot to be filial to his parents who lived so close to him. He has lived in the county for twenty years, and even because Wei Mengjiao didn't like the countryside, he hardly ever went back to the village.

Thinking back to his previous life, Lu An really felt that he was blind.

But fortunately, I still have a chance to start over. I must cherish it and not let my parents down again!

Lu An's kneeling also shocked the villagers. Many of them secretly wiped away their tears, thinking that Lu An was a sensible child who was worthy of being educated.

"It's good to be back, it's good to be back!"

Father Lu Yuanchao and mother Qian Xiuzhi also came forward with tears in their eyes to help Lu An up, and then took Lu An into the yard.

Before Lu An had time to sit down in the yard, a child suddenly pushed through the crowd and rushed in.

"Brother, it's really Brother who is back!"

This is his younger brother Lu Ping. Although they are biological brothers, in his previous life, he basically devoted himself to his work in the county and to Wei Mengjiao's family, and did not pay much attention to his own family affairs.

Touching his brother's short hair, Lu An smiled and said, "Not bad, you've grown so tall."

Lu Ping puffed out his chest with pride: "Of course, I'm already in junior high school!"

Mother Qian Xiuzhi smiled and said, "Pingping is amazing. He wants to learn from you and go to high school and college."

Lu Ping said loudly: "Of course, if big brother can pass the exam, I can definitely pass it too!"

Lu An, his mother and his brother were talking and laughing in the yard, while other people in the village outside were watching with envy.

"It's really the Lu family kid who's back! Look at this college student, he's clean and fair, unlike us farmers who roll around in the mud all day. His temperament is like the God of Literature descended to earth!"

"Is that a suit he's wearing? I've seen town officials and the boss of a battlefield wearing one. It's really nice!"

"That's right. They become cadres right after graduating from university. How can they compare with the likes of us?"

"Mr. Lu is so blessed. The family has already produced a college student, and now Lu Ping is also going to take the college entrance examination. They have two twins in the family. Their ancestors are so lucky! Unlike the debt collector in my house, he even writes his own name crookedly!"

Listening to the comments from other villagers, Lu Ping raised his head even higher, feeling very proud.

"Lu An is back. I heard that the college student from the Lu family is back, right?"

A deep voice sounded, and then the crowd parted automatically, and several middle-aged men in dark Mao suits came in. They were the village party secretary, village chief, and accountant of Lugang Village. They had all come here after hearing the news...