Chapter 151

"Qing Shan!" Lu Hua was so excited he couldn't speak.

"Dad!" Lu Qingshan could no longer hold back, tears instantly welled up.

The father and son embraced tightly, all the years of longing and guilt released at this moment.

"Good child, you've finally come!" Lu Hua patted his son's back, voice choking, "Let Dad have a look—you've gotten thin, darkened, but become sturdy!"

"Dad, I'm late." Lu Qingshan shed tears like rain.

"Not late, not late, seeing you is not late!" Lu Hua pulled his son into the room, "Quick, let Mom see you!"

In the room there was also a familiar figure—mother Wang Guilan. She sat on the sofa, seeing her son, tears immediately streamed down, and the needlework in her hands fell to the floor.

"Qing Shan, my son!" Wang Guilan trembled as she reached out her hand.

"Mom!" Lu Qingshan knelt before his mother, tightly embracing her.

"Get up, get up, you're all grown now!" Wang Guilan helped her son up with heartache, looking him over, "My son, you're so sturdy, you've been doing well in the countryside!"

Just then, the door was pushed open again, and two people entered. Lu Qingshan looked and saw it was his second brother Lu Qinghe and second sister Lu Fang!

"Second brother!" Lu Qinghe exclaimed excitedly, "You've finally come!"

"Qing Shan!" Lu Fang also tears streaming down her face, "These years you've suffered in the countryside!"

Brothers and sisters embraced while weeping, the scene made everyone's eyes red.

After years of separation, the family finally reunited in this small guesthouse room.

The family of five stood embracing, tears blurring everyone's eyes. Lu Qingshan looked at the relatives before him, feeling as if from another world.

"Dad, Mom, these years have let you suffer." Lu Qingshan choked up saying, his heart swelling with a warmth he had never experienced in his previous life.

Lu Hua waved his hand, but a flicker of complex emotion passed through his eyes: "What's the point of talking about suffering or not; a family being reunited is the greatest blessing. Qing Shan, I heard you've been thriving in the countryside these years? Three factories, over seventy workers?"

Lu Qingshan was startled—his father knew his situation in such detail?

"I'm doing fine, Dad." Lu Qingshan took out the gifts prepared by Lin Yue'e, "These are what my wife prepared—mountain ginseng and the jerky we processed ourselves."

Wang Guilan accepted the gift, a loving light rising in her eyes: "This child is thoughtful; I've become a grandmother but still haven't met her. Qing Shan, your wife is good, a virtuous rural girl."

"And this." Lu Qingshan took out Xiao Xue's drawing, voice trembling slightly, "This is what Xiao Xue drew; she said she wanted to show it to Grandpa and Grandma."

Looking at the tender drawing, Lu Hua's eyes reddened again, but he quickly regained his sternness: "Good child, truly a good child! My greatest regret in life is not being able to see my grandsons and granddaughters grow up. Qing Shan, when can I see my granddaughter?"

"Dad, once I settle the factory affairs, I'll bring them to the capital." Lu Qingshan said.

The third son, Lu Qinghe, interjected from the side, his eyes showing clear admiration: "Second brother, I heard Dad say you set up a factory in the village? My goodness, the story of educated youths running a factory has spread to the capital—you're now a celebrity!"

"Not that impressive, just messing around."

Lu Qingshan said modestly, but inwardly he was shocked—how did his affairs become known all the way to the capital?

The second sister Lu Fang wiped her tears, sizing up her second brother: "I was sent down to Longhua County, only returned two months ago. Qing Shan, you've really changed a lot—formerly that… cough, cough, now you have the air of a family head, your gaze is different."

She almost said "that former little devil who caused chaos," but she caught herself in time.

Lu Qingshan gave a bitter laugh—his previous self had indeed worried his family to death.

Wang Guilan carefully examined her son, then frowned: "Qing Shan, what's with these old calluses on your hands? And this muscle—it's even tougher than when your father was young."

"Mom, I've just been doing more work these years." Lu Qingshan didn't elaborate on his hunting and fighting experiences.

Just then, urgent knocking came from outside the door.

"Who could it be? Is anyone coming at this hour?" Wang Guilan wondered.

Lu Hua went to open the door; outside stood a young man wearing black-rimmed glasses, carrying big and small bags, panting.

"Aid Korea? How…" Lu Qingshan instantly recognized that familiar face.

"Qing Shan brother!" Zhang Yuanchao's voice trembled with excitement as he rushed in and tightly gripped Lu Qingshan's hand, "I heard you came to the capital, so I specially took leave to see you! I didn't know where you were, I ran to three guesthouses before finding this place!"

"How do you know I'm in the capital?" Lu Qingshan was even more shocked.

"Qing Shan brother, you're a celebrity now!" Zhang Yuanchao excitedly gestured, "The People's Daily has published your deeds! Educated youths running factories driving rural development—this is big news!"

What? The People's Daily?

Lu Qingshan felt a wave of dizziness—this information was too much.

Lu Hua looked at the bespectacled young man, his scrutinizing gaze carrying assessment: "Little comrade, who are you?"

"Dad, this is Zhang Yuanchao, we were sent down together to Guandong Mountain." Lu Qingshan gave a brief introduction.

"Ah, it's you!" Wang Guilan took Zhang Yuanchao's hand, a flash of relief in her eyes, "Qing Shan mentioned you on the phone, saying you're a good kid."

Zhang Yuanchao's face reddened, his voice choking: "Auntie, it was Qing Shan brother who saved me; if he hadn't saved me then, I would have been bullied to death. I could never repay him in this lifetime."

"We're brothers, no need to talk about repaying or not." Lu Qingshan patted his shoulder, while pondering the People's Daily matter, "How's your work now?"

"I'm doing scientific research at the Industrial University, just recently assigned a specific post." Zhang Yuanchao lowered his voice, speaking mysteriously, "Qing Shan brother, do you know? The higher-ups are now very concerned about your affairs; I've heard even the big leaders in the ministries know about it."

Lu Qingshan's heart jolted—the matter was far more complicated than he imagined.

Over the next two days, eldest brother Lu Qingyuan, younger brother Lu Qingjun, elder sister Lu Hong, and younger sister Lu Xiaoyu also arrived in the capital one after another.

Parents and siblings, the family of nine, were finally all reunited.

On the morning of the third day, the whole family marched to Fuqiang Hutong No. 23. This was the housing newly assigned by the organization to Lu Hua—a standard two-courtyard courtyard house.

"Good heavens! The place is fixed up this well?" Lu Qinghe gazed at the spacious courtyard, his eyes almost popping out.

"Dad, your treatment… is even better than before." Lu Qingyuan lowered his voice, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

Lu Hua surveyed the newly renovated home, a hint of depth in his eyes: "The organization's arrangements—we'll accept them exactly as given."

During the move, Lu Qingshan noticed that his father's luggage contained many documents and books, all tightly wrapped in oil paper.

"Dad, what are these?" Lu Qingshan asked curiously.

"Just some old materials." Lu Hua's reply was simple, but his eyes flickered for a moment.

At noon, Wang Guilan bustled about preparing a family feast—braised pork with potatoes, stir-fried mixed vegetables, sesame sauce cucumber with cold noodles, chilled tomato salad, and soybean paste noodles—all dishes the children loved as kids.

"Oh my, it's been ages since I've had Mom's braised pork!" Lu Xiaoyu drooled with longing.