novelraw Chapter 208
Chapter 208
The day after the exams ended,
Shen Nanchu took Pei Anchen, Pei's Mother, and the twins back to Wangjia Village.
The train tickets were bought in advance through connections, soft sleeper berths, so the journey was quite comfortable.
Once they arrived at Daliao City, Pei Zhengnian had an old comrade-in-arms drive them directly to Wangjia Village.
Little Pei Anchen spent the entire journey either eating or sleeping, remarkably quiet and well-behaved.
The car pulled right up to the Pei family's front gate.
Grandpa Pei and Grandma Pei, having received the news early, had been eagerly waiting.
Hearing the car engine outside the courtyard, the two elders happily stood right up.
The courtyard gate opened, and Shen Nanchu walked in holding Pei Anchen, followed by Pei's Mother, Pei Yunxi, and Pei Yunzhou.
"Grandpa, Grandma, we're back."
"Good to have you back."
Grandpa Pei couldn't hide the joy on his face.
"Come here, let your great-grandma hold our Little Chenchen."
Grandma Pei was even more direct, taking Pei Anchen from Shen Nanchu's arms.
The little one had slept the whole car ride and was now full of energy. His big, grape-like eyes blinked as he looked at the kindly old woman before him.
Grandpa Pei also couldn't help but lean in,
"Old woman, you've held him enough, let me have a turn."
"In a bit."
Grandma Pei held the little fellow, unable to get enough of looking at him.
Grandpa Pei felt the same.
The two elders surrounded the little one, a picture of harmonious joy.
The winter in the south was indeed warmer than the north's, and with Wangjia Village surrounded by mountains that blocked the wind, a bit of sunshine made it feel quite cozy.
Shen Nanchu, originally bundled in a thick cotton-padded jacket, had a fine layer of sweat on her cheeks after just a few walks around.
The weather was really nice.
"Mom, I'm going to take a walk around the village."
Having been away for two or three months, the village, under the stewardship of Zheng Tongwei and Wang Jianguo, was thriving.
The news of Shen Nanchu's return spread through the entire village like a spring breeze.
She had just reached the rabbit hut when she ran into Wang Jianguo and Zheng Tongwei. Wang Jianguo's smile was so wide the wrinkles on his face deepened into canyons.
"Little Chu, finally waited for you to come back."
"Huh?"
A flicker of confusion crossed Shen Nanchu's face.
Had something troublesome happened while she was away?
But Wang Jianguo's expression didn't seem to suggest that!
"I figured you'd be back these last couple of days. Perfect timing, just in time for the New Year's pig slaughter."
"We'll set up dozens of tables right here in our own village, celebrate the year's end."
Wang Jianguo was in high spirits, buoyed by good fortune.
This year's grain yield was about the same as last year's, but with the income from rabbit fur and the Black Sister shampoo, Wangjia Village's total production had shot up from dead last to number one.
Slaughter feast?
Shen Nanchu narrowed her eyes slightly.
Hadn't tried it.
Wanted to.
Must be delicious.
"Sounds great!"
"Alright then, we'll do it tomorrow!"
Wang Jianguo hurried off excitedly to make arrangements.
Only Shen Nanchu and Zheng Tongwei were left. Zheng Tongwei looked at Shen Nanchu with a probing gaze,
"Did you get the news early?"
"What news?"
Shen Nanchu's eyes were full of puzzlement.
"The Pei family's rehabilitation, their return to the capital."
The more Zheng Tongwei thought about it, the more something felt off. That bet he made with Shen Nanchu back then—this woman must have gotten the news early and deliberately set a trap for him.
Shen Nanchu smiled,
"If I said I didn't know, would you believe me?"
"No."
Zheng Tongwei didn't believe it one bit.
"Then nothing I say will make you believe me. If you don't believe me, why even ask?"
Shen Nanchu's words successfully shut Zheng Tongwei up.
"And,"
Shen Nanchu glanced at Zheng Tongwei,
"Don't tell me you're unhappy with the current situation?"
Zheng Tongwei wanted to say something, but couldn't think of anything.
"Do a good job."
"Don't worry, you won't be treated poorly."
Shen Nanchu's words weren't false.
If Zheng Tongwei had really helped the Pei family a lot, and considering he was a useful assistant, Shen Nanchu didn't mind letting this shrewd fellow handle some tasks.
After all, she had to maintain her persona sometimes, right?
Zheng Tongwei admitted he was quite pleased with the current situation.
With the Pei family rising, his own status naturally rose with the tide.
"It's just..."
"Just my foot. Who told you to be so stupid yourself."
Shen Nanchu waved her hand, already growing a bit impatient.
"Get things in Wangjia Village properly sorted out, then it'll be about time to return to the capital!"
"Alright."
Zheng Tongwei nodded,
"So when I go back, which unit will you arrange for me?"
"Which unit?"
Shen Nanchu blinked,
"Go find your old superior!"
"I'm a double agent now, can I show my face?"
Zheng Tongwei, "..."
He felt it must be because he'd been doing too much farm work lately, not using his brain much, so he'd become stupid.
"I heard you took the college entrance exam."
"Which school are you planning to go to?"
Zheng Tongwei, returning to the capital, hadn't decided which unit to go to yet.
He couldn't possibly be a colleague of Pei Zhengnian.
Based on what that person higher up likely thought, he'd probably be transferred somewhere around the Pei family.
If that were the case, Zheng Tongwei needed to plan carefully.
"I'm going to the Archaeology Department at Peking University."
"What? You want to follow me there?"
Shen Nanchu looked Zheng Tongwei up and down, her expression practically saying, 'As if you could get in.'
The scorned Zheng Tongwei, "..."
"Although I'm not great at studying, I could do a decent job as an administrative staff member at Peking University."
"Don't waste time! Just go find a position at the Cultural Relics Bureau. I'll be going there later."
Shen Nanchu didn't beat around the bush, directly stating her plan.
"If you went to another unit, I might manage to get in, but the Cultural Relics Bureau..."
Zheng Tongwei felt it was a bit difficult.
Research stuff? How would he manage that?
Shen Nanchu shot Zheng Tongwei a sidelong glance,
"Go find your superior!"
"Even if I ask, it'll probably be hard."
A touch of bitterness tinged Zheng Tongwei's heart.
The corner of Shen Nanchu's mouth twitched,
"Fine, come up the mountain with me in a few days."
Originally, Shen Nanchu planned to bring Director Guo a gift herself. After all, working under the Cultural Relics Bureau's name, she ought to make some contribution before wrapping up, right?
Considering Zheng Tongwei had been quite helpful, Shen Nanchu decided to give him a leg up.
"Deal."
Zheng Tongwei excitedly rubbed his hands together.
"Then it's up to you."
"Oh, no need to get me a huge position, something like a department head will do."
Shen Nanchu: "..."
She wasn't even a department head yet, and he already wanted to be one?
How shameless.
...
"Comrade Shen, you're back!"
Along the way, villagers from Wangjia Village continuously greeted Shen Nanchu.
"Comrade Shen, just caught this fish from the river, fresh! Take it back to make soup."
"Comrade Shen, these cabbages left in the field are really sweet! Take one back!"
"Comrade Shen, these are home-dried peanuts, make the best fried peanuts."
...
Shen Nanchu walked around the village for a while, and Zheng Tongwei ended up with both hands full of stuff.
All of it was the villagers' heartfelt gifts for Shen Nanchu.
A thanks for her help to the village.
...