country bumpkin

Chapter 368 Returning to Hometown

The last month of the year was fast approaching. As soon as December began, Sun Limei started clamoring to go home, saying she missed home so much that she couldn't sleep at night.

Yunya didn't miss home, but she was fed up with her job, so she wanted to quit and go home. Xuanmei, upon hearing this, also considered going home.

Liu Jing, knowing Xuan Mei's plan, naturally went back with her. However, once back home, it would be impossible for her to see Xuan Mei every day.

Sun Limei went to the office first to resign, followed by Yun Ya, and then Xuan Mei and Liu Jing.

The factory wouldn't approve of so many people resigning. They could only wait until the end of the month when they received their wages and then secretly leave.

My salary is deposited directly into my bank account, so it's perfect that I can collect it during the year-end holiday, go home for the Chinese New Year, and not come back.

But the month's salary that was held as collateral is gone for good.

During their last month of work, they tried their best to act as usual, and the workshop director and team leader couldn't tell at all that they didn't want to continue.

I worked from morning till night every day, and finally the day of my holiday arrived.

Sun Limei, Yun Ya, Xuan Mei, and Liu Jing had already packed their luggage.

They took everything they could carry, but left behind the washbasins and thermos flasks they couldn't take and gave them to their roommates.

Finally, carrying their luggage, they boarded the bus, where a fellow villager from the same area said goodbye to them.

These fellow villagers will come back to work after the holiday, but Yunya and the others will stay in their hometown to look for jobs.

The bus slowly started moving, and the factory outside the window gradually receded into the distance. Looking at the familiar buildings, Liu Jing's eyes reddened slightly, and she whispered, "I'm afraid I'll never come back again."

Xuanmei patted her on the shoulder, "Don't be sad, going home might offer a better future."

Liu Jing prayed silently that if she returned to her hometown, she would have the chance to work with Xuan Mei again and see her every day.

On another bus, sisters Zhang Haiyan and Zhang Haiying also planned to stay after returning home and never come back.

Lu Teng put his arm around Bai Yan's shoulder and gently stroked his girlfriend's belly with his other hand, as if she was about to give birth.

Bai Yan nestled her head in Lu Teng's arm, a picture of sweet affection. Lu Teng had already called home to explain the marriage plans.

They went straight home and held a wedding banquet. Lu Teng and Bai Yan had discussed it and decided to hold their engagement and wedding together during the year-end holiday.

When work resumes next year, Lu Teng will come back to work and earn money. After the wedding, Bai Yan will stay at her husband's house to take care of the baby and the elderly.

On the bus, the villagers chatted with Yunya and her friends, asking about their plans after returning home.

Sun Limei said wistfully, "I want to find a stable job in my hometown, and then get married in a few years."

An older woman who has been working away from home for many years nodded in agreement, "Yes, after wandering around for so long, I still want a stable life."

Yun Ya looked relaxed. "I plan to go home and rest for a few days, then have some fun for a month before looking for a job."

As the bus drove further and further away, they got closer and closer to their hometown, and their expectations for the future grew stronger and stronger.

When they saw the familiar streets and buildings of their hometown, they were all very excited, as if a new life was beckoning to them.

After getting off the bus, they said goodbye to each other and walked towards their respective homes.

Liu Jing looked at Xuan Mei with reluctance, opened her mouth many times, and finally only left her her phone number.

She told Xuanmei to remember to contact her when she got home, and she also suggested that everyone get together on the first day of the Lunar New Year to go shopping and have a meal in the city center.

Everyone left their contact numbers; those who didn't have a phone at home left their neighbors' phone numbers.

Yunya said to Xuanmei, "This year my dad is going to my aunt's house to deliver holiday gifts, and I'm going to visit your village. I'll come to find you then, so please be home waiting for me, and don't be away!"

Xuanmei smiled, nodded firmly, and said, "Don't worry! I'm not visiting any relatives, I'll definitely be waiting for you at home."

Listening to their conversation, Liu Jing felt a pang of envy. She wanted to suggest visiting Xuan Mei, but she didn't have any relatives in that village and couldn't bring herself to say it. In the end, she could only call Xuan Mei.

After agreeing on their plans, everyone went home.

Yun Ya carried a large bag, and Sun Limei carried a small bag. Just as the two were about to leave, the bus behind them stopped, and the sisters Zhang Haiyan and Zhang Haiying got off.

They called out to Yunya and walked with her. Bai Yan, carrying a small shoulder bag, also got off the bus and came over to talk to Yunya and the others.

Lu Teng walked over from behind, dragging a large bundle, but didn't greet anyone. He just stood aside and waited for Bai Yan.

After saying goodbye, Yunya and the others walked home. Because Bai Yan was pregnant, Lu Teng, worried about tiring her out, hailed a taxi and took the two of them home.

He hadn't prepared a gift yet, so how could he go directly to his future mother-in-law's house? Besides, the two weren't even engaged yet, and Bai Yan was already pregnant. He was afraid that if he went directly to his future mother-in-law's house, he would be beaten.

The taxi was very fast; if we hadn't been waiting at the red light, we would have been home long ago.

The village is still the same as I remember, with low-rise tiled houses scattered in an orderly fashion, and the occasional bark of a dog.

Lu Teng brought Bai Yan home. When his mother heard someone coming, she went out into the yard and saw her son and girlfriend returning. She smiled happily.

When she saw Bai Yan's belly, she was taken aback at first, then remembered her son's words. Her smile widened.

Lu Teng's father patted him on the shoulder and said, "Since things have come to this, let's hurry up and hold the wedding." Lu Teng nodded, feeling much more at ease.

After greeting Mr. and Mrs. Lu, Bai Yan looked around the small courtyard.

Lu's mother helped her future daughter-in-law into the house and poured her some water. She kept asking her if she was tired and if she needed to lie down on the bed for a while.

Bai Yan wasn't that delicate; after all, her baby was only three months along and her belly wasn't very big, just slightly protruding. Without a close look, you could just mistake it for a chubby belly and wouldn't guess she was pregnant.

Lu Teng put his luggage back in his room and came out carrying a fruit platter.

There were oranges, bananas, apples, and pickled fruits inside. These were all prepared in advance by Lu's mother, who had called ahead to let her know when he would be returning, hence the abundance of fruit at home.

Otherwise, given her mother's stinginess, she wouldn't be willing to buy such rare foods. They rarely buy these things except for holidays.

And most importantly, their daughter-in-law is pregnant. She's a great contributor to their family, and who knows, the baby in her belly might be a grandson!

Mr. and Mrs. Lu are old-fashioned people who prefer sons to daughters. They only have one child, Lu Teng, and all the family's hopes are pinned on their son.