A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

Wang Tiezhu returned before noon.

Despite being covered in dust from the journey, he parked the car and immediately gave Jiangxia a bear hug.

"Xiao Jiang, your sprinkler is amazing! It stays perfectly steady on an 8-kilometer downhill stretch!"

That's definitely reliable; it's based on the experience of many generations to come.

"The water tank isn't big enough. By the time I got to the water plant, there was almost no water left."

There's nothing we can do about that. Haven't you seen all those water stations along the national highways in later generations?

While adding more water tanks might temporarily alleviate the problem, it's putting the cart before the horse. The load capacity is already limited; adding several large water tanks makes it seem like you're hauling cargo or delivering water.

At noon, everyone went to the second canteen for lunch. Old Wang, taking advantage of his privileges, even packed a whole steamer of large steamed buns to go.

Liu Shunlin also came over and handed a large bag of things to Jiang Xia.

Upon opening the package, I found several brand-new work uniforms and matching safety shoes. Most importantly, there were brand-new work badges.

The cover was blue, and when you opened it, you saw a large stamp on a photo of five pillars.

Well, this is truly a triumphant return home.

After loading all the supplies onto the vehicle, the group headed straight for Jiangjia Village.

We turned a corner on the road to pick up Sizhu and Wuzhu, who were making a large purchase, at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Inside the supply and marketing cooperative, Sizhu and his companions encountered trouble.

Everything else was fine; I even bought two packs of milk candy.

But regarding the fabric...

"No, you can't buy so many!"

Wu Zhu retorted, "Why? We have tickets too, and we've paid you just as much. Why can't we buy them?"

The sales clerk gave a wry smile: "It's not that we don't want to sell to you, it's just that you've ordered too many. These tickets have cleared out our inventory, and we still have some left over."

"You've bought them all, so what are we left to sell?"

Wu Zhu scratched his head and didn't press the matter further. He and Si Zhu carried the two large rolls of cotton cloth and walked outside.

The security officer hesitated for a moment, but still followed them out and stood not far from the two.

The security guards of the supply and marketing cooperative were relieved to see the trucks from the Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill arrive to pick them up.

With a wave, several shop assistants even helped throw the items into the truck.

After a bumpy journey, we finally arrived at the village.

The roar of the truck attracted the attention of the villagers, and some children ran after it, shouting something.

When familiar villagers saw Jiang Dazhu and his group sitting in the carriage, they couldn't help but start talking about it.

Jiang Wuzhu was naturally a free spirit, so he simply stood up and kept waving at the villagers.

"Jiang Wuzhu! Goodness, look at his clothes, they're brand new!"

"Look, there's Dazhu and the others too, they're all wearing new clothes!"

"What new clothes? Those are work clothes issued by the factory!" A villager who knew a little about the industry clicked his tongue.

Looking at myself, covered in patches upon patches, I really want to go to the city!

"It's better in the city; the factories give you everything!"

"Will you send out wives?"

"Ha, if you were a city person, you'd have plenty of men throwing themselves at you. Look at that one, isn't she just desperate to get married?"

A young woman with long, black braids stood at the village entrance. An old woman stood beside her, both of them sizing up the truck.

"Xiaoru, who's that person sitting in the front of the car? He looks kind of familiar."

"It seems to be that college student from Jiangjia Village, but I haven't seen him in a long time, so I don't know if it's him."

"The young man is really handsome! He must be quite capable to be able to sit in the car seat."

Qin Jingru only withdrew her eager gaze after the truck had driven far away.

"What's wrong, you've taken a fancy to someone?" Qin's mother teased.

"Yes, I've taken a liking to her! Mother, please help me find her a husband!" Qin Jingru said with a determined look.

"Oh, finally you've spoken." Qin's mother looked relieved.

My daughter has been on countless blind dates, and every single one of them ends in failure.

The village became famous; everyone knew that there was a beautiful girl in Qin Family Village who couldn't get married.

She was so anxious as a mother.

Now that I've finally asked, I have to go no matter what.

"Come on, we still have half a rabbit at home, let's take it and go for a walk around the Jiang family's place." Qin's mother pulled Qin Jingru and hurried home.

These days, there's no such thing as being reserved in the countryside. No matter what, it's always good to ask first.

After passing through Qinjiacun.

After walking for half a day on dirt roads, Jiang Xia and his group finally arrived at Jiangjia Village.

Even before we reached the village entrance, children were already shouting.

Soon, someone came out.

By the time Jiangxia directed Lao Wang to park the car in the village's threshing ground, a crowd had already gathered around it.

As Jiang Dazhu and the others jumped off the train, various greetings immediately rang out.

"Dazhuang! You're back!"

"The boss!"

"Little five?"

Five pillars also rushed into the crowd, letting their relatives stroke their new clothes. They would also occasionally take out fruit candies from their pockets and give them to the naked children around them.

Jiang Xia was at the front of the car and saw an old figure from afar, with two little ones beside him.

"Milk!"

He jumped out of the driver's seat and buried his head in the old woman's arms, tears streaming down his face.

"My dear grandson, you're finally back. Grandma missed you so much." Grandma gently patted Jiang Xia's back, her voice full of love.

"Grandma, I miss you too. How have you been these days?" Jiang Xia looked up at her grandmother's wrinkled face, her heart filled with heartache.

"Yes, I'm doing well. I've been looking forward to your return." Grandma smiled, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Grandma, brother is back." The two little ones tugged at Jiang Xia's clothes and said in their childish voices.

Jiang Xia squatted down and patted their heads. "Sweethearts, did you miss your brother?"

"Yes," the two children answered in unison.

"Hehehe, so good girls." Jiang Xia took out ABC milk candies from his pocket and stuffed them into the two little girls' hands.

"Your brother also bought you some floral fabric, so your aunt can make you some new clothes!"

"Oh, really? Is it floral fabric? The girl from the Ma family in the next village has a whole outfit like that, it's so pretty!"

"Yes! Red background with big flowers! You'll be the prettiest girl in the whole village if you wear this!"

Wang Tiezhu leaned against the car door, smiling as he watched Jiang Xia reveal a rare display of childlike innocence.

but!

It's getting late, he had to interrupt.

"Jiang Xia! It's getting late! Don't forget what Director Yang told you to do!"

Oh right! We can't forget the important business.

Move all the gifts from the truck to the production team's office and store them there. They can be distributed later when we have time.

Jiang Xia went home first and drank a lot of water from the old well. Then he put the Fenjiu and Huazi liquor he had gotten from Yang Youning into the cupboard.

These are all prepared for Grandma. There's a distinction between close and distant relatives; good things are naturally reserved for one's own family.

When they arrived at the production team office again, the truck had already been unloaded.

Young women and married women eyed the pile of floral fabrics and other daily necessities with covetous intent.

The men protected the pump well's fittings, afraid that the children running around would bump into them.

Villagers from the neighboring villages also came one after another to see the spectacle.