All the members are good people, only the host is a pervert

On the day Gu Jiye left, Lin Ruan even gave him a ride. When they were about to part, Gu Jiye smiled and saluted her, saying, "I wish you good luck in your work, take care."

Lin Ruan also gave him a less than standard military salute and said, "I wish you to realize your dreams. Stay safe and healthy. Take care."

Gu Jiye watched Lin Ruan's departing figure for a while before heading towards the bus station. They were like two straight lines that kept extending forward, intersecting only briefly before drifting further apart.

After Gu Jiye left, Lin Ruan's life became regular: going to work, attending night school, and returning to the village on Saturdays and Sundays.

I go to the post office once a month to pick up packages from my family and my brother.

She hasn't told her family about her marriage yet. Firstly, marriage seems to be a big deal for people in this era. Secondly, it's not easy to explain the details over the phone, so it's better to talk about it in person.

Newly educated youth were not allowed to visit their families after their three-year rural life, but Lin Ruan wasn't going back to visit her family; she was visiting her parents' home as a new bride in Guerbao Village. So, at the end of the year, she got the brigade to sign and stamp a certificate, packed her bags, and boarded the train to Beijing.

Soft sleeper tickets weren't hard to come by these days, and hard sleeper tickets were still available, as long as they were available. Lin Ruan used the system to buy herself a lower berth, placed her small bag on the shelf, and lay down to rest. It took two days and one night to get from Liao Province to Beijing. As Lin Ruan dozed off and on, the train slowly pulled into the capital, and she disembarked, carrying her luggage.

She came to the Lin family's house relying on her memory. The original owner had taken his key with him when he went to the countryside. He opened the door with a twist. The Lin family was not small. They lived on the third floor of a nearly 100-square-meter tube-shaped building with three bedrooms and two living rooms.

She didn't care about anything else and opened the door of her room. The room was clean and tidy. It was obvious that Lin's mother cleaned it regularly.

Lin Ruan took a shower in the space, took out sheets, pillows and quilts from the closet, changed into a set of cotton pajamas, lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep.

I felt as if I had returned to my own world. I saw that my parents seemed to have aged a lot. My little toys were not found by others. My brother packed them into a box and threw them into the trash can.

This is good, at least I won’t die in disgrace, Lin Ruan thought.

When Lin's mother came home from get off work, she saw several large packages in the living room. She seemed to realize something, pushed open the door of Lin Ruan's room, and saw her daughter sleeping soundly on the bed. Her eyes suddenly turned red, but her breathing subconsciously became much lighter.

She closed the door quietly, went back to her room, grabbed a handful of money, and hurried out of the house.

Lin's father was the director of a steel plant in Beijing, but Lin's mother didn't even have time to go to the steel plant. She just found a public telephone booth on the way to the vegetable market and called Lin's father's office.

"Hello, Steelworks."

Mother Lin didn't bother to talk nonsense with him and said directly: "Old Lin, you should come back early today. My daughter is back and she is at home! I'm going to buy vegetables and meat first. I won't say anything more."

Without waiting for Lin's father to answer, Lin's mother hung up the phone in a hurry, gave the stall owner two cents, and left in a hurry.

Although it is the end of the year, my son is in the army and my daughter is in the countryside. They really have no interest in celebrating the New Year, so the family has not prepared any New Year's goods. I don't know if I can buy them now.

Lin's father also thought of what his mother had thought of. He found a colleague he knew and said with a smile: "Lao Li, you should have some pork at home. My daughter is back. Let me know what your family needs. I'll trade some meat with you."

Director Li was a little surprised when he heard what Lin's father said. He said, "We have some at home, so why bother exchanging them? My son works at the meat processing factory, and they gave him a lot of money at the end of the year. Just come home with me after get off work and get it. Didn't your daughter go to the countryside? It's not even three years old yet, so why is she back?"

Father Lin shook his head and said, "The child came back suddenly. I don't know what happened. I hope he is not sick."

Lin Ruan couldn't possibly sneak back on her own. Taking the train required a certificate from the brigade. Lin's father could only hope that she'd behave exceptionally well and get special permission from the brigade to return home. But was that even possible? They sent their daughter ten yuan a month, plus various receipts, and her brother also sent Lin Ruan five yuan a month, plus some supplies. The little girl only worked in the village, picking grass for the pigs.

Or if they were seriously ill, the educated youth were allowed to go home.

Thinking of this, Lin's father became a little restless. Director Li quickly said, "Don't worry. If he's really seriously ill, the educated youth unit will definitely notify him in advance, and your wife will definitely get wind of it. How about this, before we get off work, my wife is at home. I'll ask her to bring two pounds of meat and three pounds of pork ribs to the office. You can take them and go home quickly."

Lin's father didn't refuse. It was difficult to say anything else at work. He just said, "Thank you very much. I'll invite you to my house for dinner during the Chinese New Year holiday. Don't refuse then."

Director Li waved his hand and said, "Go back to the office and write your leave note. I don't think you'll be willing to come tomorrow. I'll call you when my wife comes."

Lin's mother arrived at the market, where the crowds were thronging, the noise was resounding, and every stall was packed. She struggled to squeeze forward, shouting, "Stop pushing! I'm in a hurry to buy some groceries!" On any other day, Lin's mother would have waited patiently in line, but today was special. Her daughter was coming home, and her joy had made her abandon all her worries. Like those aunties she once despised, she started clamoring, worried that her daughter wouldn't be able to buy something and go without.

After much effort, Lin's mother finally bought some vegetables and a fish, but the meat was sold out. She sighed helplessly, carrying the heavy bag, and hurried home excitedly.

As soon as she got home, Lin's mother didn't even bother to rest. She started by washing the vegetables and cutting them into the appropriate sizes. Then, she turned on the stove and began to stir-fry. Soon, the kitchen was filled with tempting aromas.

Lin Ruan slowly woke up after smelling the fragrance. She didn't know what she had dreamed about, but she felt relieved. She walked out with sleepy eyes and saw her mother busy in the kitchen. She said sweetly, "Mom, you're back."

I don’t know why, even though they are not my real parents, Lin Ruan really wants to be close to them.

When Lin's mother heard the sound, she quickly turned around and said with a smile: "Ruanruan is awake. There is some cold rock sugar water on the coffee table. Go over and have some."

"Okay." Lin Ruan agreed obediently, sat on the sofa and slowly started drinking.

At this time, the sound of the door opening rang out. Lin Ruan looked up and saw that it was Lin's father who came back. She did not stand up, but just smiled and called out: "Dad."

This sound made Father Lin's eyes red. He reluctantly said "hmm" and quickly brought the pork and ribs to the kitchen.