Chapter 180: The Road Home

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Steel Rolling Mill was festooned with lanterns and ribbons, and the New Year atmosphere was already in the air. A long line formed at the factory office entrance, and the workers waited cheerfully to receive their New Year provisions. This year's profits were good, and benefits were richer than before: ordinary workers received two jin of white flour and one jin of pork, while cadres got double.

He Yuzhu! Four jin of white flour, two jin of pork! The logistics office clerk shouted the names loudly.

Sha Zhu cheerfully stepped forward to take the New Year provisions, deliberately waved them before Xu Damao: "See? This is a Squad Leader's perk!"

Xu Damao pursed his lips: "What are you bragging about? You're just a kitchen helper, serving people is a trivial thing. I'm different; I'm a cultural person who shows movies, not on the same level as a cook!"

Li Ping'an stood by the office window, watching the lively scene, but his mind was on something else. He turned, took an introduction letter from the drawer, inhaled deeply, and headed to the director's office.

Director, I would like to request a family‑visit leave. Li Ping'an placed the introduction letter on the desk, intending to take his sister back to Henan hometown to pay respects to their parents.

Director adjusted his glasses: "Ping'an, the factory's situation is special now; if you leave…"

Director reassured, "Don't worry, I've arranged the work, I've assigned Wang Dahu to the shift." Li Ping'an's tone was firm, "This is my mother's dying wish; I must fulfill it."

Director pondered a moment, then took up the steel pen: "Leave early, return early."

Holding the stamped introduction letter, Li Ping'an let out a long sigh. At this moment, he had waited too long.

Back at the Security Department, he immediately summoned all team members for a meeting.

During the Spring Festival, safety in the plant must not slacken. Li Ping'an looked around, "Wang Dahu, you're in charge of overall coordination, assign the night shift and have the dog follow patrol."

Wang Dahu pounded his chest: "Director, rest assured, with me here, I guarantee even a mouse can't slip in!"

After arranging the work, Li Ping'an went to the canteen to find Sha Zhu.

"Zhuzi, I'm going back to the hometown for a few days, could you help watch over the house?"

Sha Zhu was slicing meat; hearing that, he set the knife down: "What are you saying! Who's who here!" Rest assured, I'm here; see which short‑sighted one dares to mess with your house!

The remark was heard by passing Xu Damao, who said sarcastically: "Yo, planning to return home in splendor, huh?"

Li Ping'an ignored him, continuing to remind: "Mainly, stay vigilant…"

"Got it!" Sha Zhu blinked in understanding, "The stingy old man in the Front Courtyard, and the devout old lady in the Central Courtyard, right?"

On the way home, Li Ping'an deliberately went to the supply and marketing cooperative and bought two jin of assorted candy, and also purchased some incense, candles, and paper money. Thinking that he would soon take his sister to the parents' graves for worship, his mood was both heavy and gratified.

Just upon entering the Siheyuan, he heard Jia Zhangshi metaphorically scolding: "…some people, once they climb a high branch, forget their roots!"

Yan Bu Gui was writing Spring Festival couplets; seeing what Li Ping'an held, his eyes brightened: "Ping'an, are you heading out far?"

Take Li Ping'e back to the hometown to have a look.

"Henan, huh…" Yan Bu Gui did a quick calculation, "This round trip will cost a lot, right? If you ask me, staying in Beijing for the New Year would be better."

At that moment, Liu Haizhong strolled over, hands behind his back: "Ping'an, you're now a leader, you must mind your influence. Being off duty during the big New Year, is that appropriate?"

Li Ping'an couldn't be bothered, headed straight to the back courtyard. Yet he heard Jia Zhangshi shouting from behind: "Dongxu, learn a bit! That's what it means to bring glory to one's ancestors!"

During dinner, Li Ping'an told his sister the itinerary.

"Brother, are we really going to the parents' graves?" Li Ping'e's eyes instantly reddened.

Li Ping'an handed her a piece of meat and said, "Parents, I've found you again; you have finally made progress."

The little girl bowed her head to eat, but tears kept streaming down.

Late at night, when everything was quiet, Li Ping'an alone packed his belongings. He took all the medals he had earned over the years, wanting his parents to see them. He also brought the yellowed "Three Character Classic"—the book his mother most often taught him to recite while alive.

"Ping'an…" Yi Zhonghai, appearing at the doorway, said, "I heard you're going back home?"

Li Ping'an didn't look up: "First Elder, something wrong?"

"You are now the backbone of the factory; being away for seven or eight days will have a bad impact, right?" Yi Zhonghai said earnestly, "You must consider the bigger picture…"

"My parents have been waiting for this day for ten years," Li Ping'an said coldly, "What bigger picture can outweigh filial piety?"

Yi Zhonghai was choked speechless, muttering as he walked away.

Early the next morning, before dawn, Li Ping'an woke his sister.

"Ping'e, are you ready?"

"Ready!" Li Ping'e, wearing a newly made cotton jacket, clutched a Small Cloth Bag in her hand, "I embroidered a pair of lotus blossoms for Mom and Dad…"

When the siblings left with their luggage, the whole Siheyuan was still asleep. Only the light in Sha Zhu's house was on; he had gotten up early to prepare some dry food for them.

They ate on the road. Sha Zhu handed Li Ping'an an oil‑paper‑wrapped snack, "Come back early."

"Thanks, Zhuzi."

Just as they were about to exit the courtyard, the Jia family door cracked open. Jia Zhangshi peeked out, then quickly shut the door, muttering, "What are you showing off…"

When they arrived at the train station, dawn was just breaking. The platform was packed with people returning home for the New Year, big and small bundles of luggage, noisy chatter, weaving a vivid festive scene.

Li Ping'an held his sister's hand tightly, fearing the crowd would push her away.

"Brother, what is our hometown like?" Li Ping'e asked curiously.

"There are mountains, water, and a jujube grove." Li Ping'an's gaze drifted far; his parents are buried at the edge of the jujube grove.

The train blew its whistle as it entered the station. The crowd began to stir; Li Ping'an shielded his sister forward. Just as they were about to board, he suddenly felt a sharp gaze land on his back.

He whirled around, only to see a figure wearing a duckbill cap vanish swiftly into the crowd.

"What's wrong, brother?" Li Ping'e asked.

"Nothing." Li Ping'an withdrew his gaze, but a hint of unease rose in his heart.

After finding a seat and settling, Li Ping'an let his sister sit by the window. The train slowly moved, and Beijing gradually receded into the morning mist.

"Sleep a bit, the road is still long."

Li Ping'e obediently closed her eyes, but her small hand kept clutching her brother's hem.

Li Ping'an stared out at the fields rushing by, a mixture of emotions swirling inside. This return home was not only to fulfill his promise to his parents, but also to finally resolve a lingering matter. The past buried deep in his memory was now time to face.

The train thundered southward, carrying the hard‑pressed siblings toward a hometown both familiar and strange.

Meanwhile, in the Steel Rolling Mill's Security Department, Wang Dahu was reshuffling the shift schedule. He constantly felt that with the director gone, something would happen at the plant, a feeling that made him restless.

"Everyone, stay sharp!" he told the on‑duty team, "With the director absent, we must guard the plant even better!"

Outside, snow began to fall. This Spring Festival was destined not to be peaceful.