In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

On April 3, 1962, Wang Xingguo set foot on the soil of Beijing again after many months.

Although he really wanted to fly back to see his wife and son, Wang Xingguo still needed to go back to his workplace to submit a work report and then get his leave.

The entire month of April and May is the peak season for sandstorms. Thanks to Wang Xingguo's many months of work, Malan Town has stored up a lot of food, which is enough to get through this period safely.

Wang Xingguo submitted his work report, got a new work permit, and then couldn't wait to get a haircut and shave. After that, he retrieved his bicycle, went to a public bathhouse, and had a thorough scrubbing done by the bath attendant.

This time he wasn't with his colleagues, so they couldn't help each other scrub their backs, making the company bathhouse unsuitable for him.

In early April in Beijing, daytime temperatures can already reach 18 or 19 degrees Celsius. If there's no wind and the sun is shining, it can be quite warm.

Wang Xingguo, carrying some eggs and canned goods, rode his bicycle back to the gate of the compound. Chen Baowei from the security department immediately greeted him with a smile.

The other two security guards offered Wang Xingguo cigarettes and lit them for him, while greeting him, "Director Wang is back! We all missed you so much during your long business trip."

Wang Xingguo nodded, took the cigarette, lit it, and asked, "Old Chen, nothing's happened in our compound lately, has it?"

Chen Baowei replied with a smile, "It's nothing. The situation is as it is now. Thanks to the grain and canned food you brought back last time, our compound will be able to get through this winter. At least there haven't been too many patients with edema."

Hearing that the situation in the compound was alright, Wang Xingguo smiled and said, "That's good. I was worried about the situation in our compound while I was outside."

Knowing that Wang Xingguo was eager to go home to see his family, the guards didn't try to talk to him any longer.

Shen's mother took Wang Cheng'an to buy groceries. Li Xiuping was sitting at the door with her son, who was playing with a rattle drum. She was making summer clothes for Wang Jianhua while chatting with Aunt Zhao. Aunt Zhao's almost four-year-old grandson, Zhao Weiguo, was playing a game of shooting Japanese soldiers with a wooden toy gun and some other children his age.

Suddenly he looked up and saw Wang Xingguo riding back on his bicycle, and immediately started shouting.

"Uncle Xingguo is back! Grandma, Auntie, Uncle Xingguo is back!"

The two people who were chatting looked up when they heard this and saw Wang Xingguo. Li Xiuping immediately stood up excitedly.

"Auntie, daughter-in-law, I'm back."

"Xingguo, you're finally back."

"Honey, you're finally back! Son, this is your dad, greet him!"

After exchanging pleasantries, Wang Xingguo asked Li Xiuping to put her things away, and then carried his shy son, who didn't want him to hold him, into the house.

Li Xiuping first put the things in a basket, and then went with Aunt Zhao to make noodles for Wang Xingguo.

Wang Xingguo opened a can of yellow peaches. This wasn't actually from his own stock; it was a can of peaches that Director Ma gave him when he returned to his workplace.

Director Ma gave him a total of five cans of food: two cans of luncheon meat, two bottles of yellow peaches, and one bottle of oranges. He also gave him two bottles of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and a carton of Peony cigarettes.

The work that Wang Xingguo was working overtime on was supposed to be done by the heads of the various transportation departments on a rotating basis, but his old boss told him to calm down there, which is why Wang Xingguo has been staying in Daheyan for so many months.

Director Ma applied for these items to reward Wang Xingguo and granted him a month's leave. Regardless of what his former superior said, he really liked this subordinate.

"Son, call me Dad. Do you want a peach?"

"Daddy, eat!"

Wang Xingguo laughed heartily. He had just returned and the brat hadn't seen him for so long that he was shy. But a can of food had made him feel at ease again.

Although the little guy is almost seventeen months old, he can only eat soft food. This yellow peach flesh is just right, and he even knows to ask for his little spoon.

Wang Xingguo patiently used his spoon to cut the peach flesh into small pieces. He couldn't help but laugh as he watched his son clumsily but diligently holding the spoon.

Before long, the egg noodles were cooked.

Zhao Weiguo stood at the door watching Wang Xingguo and his son, and asked, "Uncle Xingguo, what are you feeding my younger brother?"

Wang Xingguo waved cheerfully and said, "Weiguo, come here, your uncle will treat you to some canned peaches."

The can of yellow peaches that Wang Xingguo opened was made of large peaches, with four slices of flesh in each large peach. He shared it among the four of them while he ate noodles with gusto.

She didn't forget to ask, "Auntie, how's my uncle's work lately?"

Aunt Zhao replied, "What else can we do? We're busy every day. It was only last year when you brought back some grain that eased the pressure for a while, but now the situation has returned to normal."

Wang Xingguo was now unable to help. He was afraid of angering his old leader again, which would cause him trouble if he were sent to the army.

Now, joining the army takes at least three years. Thinking that if he were to stay away from his wife and children for another three years, Wang Xingguo could only say...

I've already begged for forgiveness...

After Wang Xingguo had eaten and drunk his fill, Shen's mother returned with Wang Cheng'an. She had bought chives and spinach.

Right now, we still have winter-stored vegetables like potatoes, onions, radishes, and carrots. But the only fresh options are spinach, chives, bok choy, lettuce, and toon sprouts.

Shen's mother was overjoyed to see Wang Xingguo return.

Wang Xingguo opened another can of yellow peaches, gave them a piece, and left the rest for his younger brother and sister. As for his sister-in-law and older brother, they could just eat the canned oranges.

Unfortunately, he was out of canned fruit. The only canned goods in his space were luncheon meat and fish; everything else was gone.

Wang Cheng'an was also shy around strangers, timidly hiding behind Shen's mother and not daring to approach Wang Xingguo.

Wang Xingguo chuckled and said, "You little rascal, I'm your second uncle, what are you afraid of? Come here, your second uncle will feed you peaches, they're very sweet."

Kids are easy to coax. With sweet peaches and sugar water, they quickly lose their fear of Wang Xingguo.

Listening to Li Xiuping and the others talk about the recent situation, Wang Xingguo breathed a sigh of relief.

Everything is fine in the clan. Although everyone lost weight over the winter, there were no major problems.

The situation at the trust store is terrible. The three managers can't get any more grain, and now they have to pay full amount for grain coupons just to have lunch.

Although everyone made a fuss again, it was useless; they couldn't get the food back.

Now, Uncle Niu spends all his time helping to collect antiques and calligraphy and paintings. Ever since Uncle Niu started working for three directors, he hasn't dared to come to Wang Xing's house anymore.

Actually, he was overthinking it. Wang Xingguo didn't think it was a big deal, and he wouldn't feel betrayed just because he sided with those three directors.

Anyway, he chose this path, so he should bear the consequences himself.

Grandpa Li's situation has improved somewhat; at least he's no longer taking his special supplies to donate to others, and Grandma Li and the others are having a much better time.

Something did happen. One of the experts who moved in here apparently had some problems, and his whole family moved out. Then another expert moved in.

Another issue is the coal for heating. In the future, the cost will be shared among households, and no one has any objections to this.

Previously, Wang Xingguo used money from the night market's slush fund to pay for it. Now that the trust store is unwilling to bear this cost, it's reasonable for them to share it, since it only costs a little more than heating themselves with a coal stove.