Chapter 248: Just Like an Old Friend Returning

Three days later, An Yinan boarded the train. Watching the scenery along the way, the train traveled further and further; from the endless desolation, she could gradually see lush green trees, tender green grass, and crops growing very well.

After walking out of the Railway Station, she saw Uncle Niu standing by the ox cart at a glance, and standing next to Uncle Niu was Li Xiue.

"Li Xiu'e, Uncle Niu." An Yinan ran over quickly, her eyes filled with surprise and disbelief.

Although she had written a letter in advance, she hadn't expected to see familiar people as soon as she exited the Railway Station.

Sweat was beading on Li Xiu'e's nose, and with the sunlight pouring down, her face was tanned red; it was evident she had been waiting for a long time.

And that stone pillar was still there, never having moved a single bit, and the people were still there too; they had never left.

"You finally arrived." Li Xiue looked at her, finally setting her heart at ease.

They had no way of confirming when she would arrive, so they could only send one person to pick her up every day. To avoid delaying work, the few of them took turns coming to pick her up. Fortunately, it wasn't the busy farming season now, and the Captain also turned a blind eye.

An Yinan was full of wonder, "Li Xiu'e, why are you here?"

Li Xiue smiled gently, wiped the sweat from her, and then answered in a measured tone, "One of us comes to keep watch every day. Yesterday it was Yuanyuan, and tomorrow it will be Qiu Hua."

"How are you? Is your body feeling better? Is it really okay to be running and jumping around like this now?" Li Xiue asked with concern.

When they went to the Northeast Camp to see her, she had seemed like a broken doll, with shallow breathing, lying alone on the hospital bed.

Now that she saw the person alive and kicking, she was still very worried.

An Yinan said with a grin, "I'm fine, it's all good. I've already done rehabilitation training, and my bodily functions have all returned to normal."

Li Xiue patted her head, "That's good. You mustn't do this again in the future; you scared us to death."

An Yinan hurriedly nodded in agreement.

Actively admit mistakes, and then never change!

That was her life motto~

Seeing her like this, Li Xiue couldn't bring herself to lecture her at all.

She had been injured to save someone, so how could she blame her?

Uncle Niu hadn't spoken along the way, but he hadn't picked up his Tobacco Pouch either. On that somewhat dark face, An Yinan could actually see a smile; this was truly a surprising discovery!

"Nan Nan!" Xie Yuanyuan was always like this, flying over like a little cannonball.

But this time, she stopped in front of An Yinan and didn't throw herself into her arms.

"You're alive, that's so good." Xie Yuanyuan's eyes were bright, as if they had been washed, clean and clear.

An Yinan rubbed her hair, "Did I scare you? I'm sorry."

In front of Xie Yuanyuan, she was like an older sister.

But in front of Li Xiue and Zhao Qiu Hua, she was a younger sister.

The relationship between the four of them had always been like this.

"Let me tell you a secret, Qiu Hua has been picking quite a lot of green vegetables every day these past few days." Xie Yuanyuan leaned against An Yinan's side, not wanting to leave no matter what.

Seeing the beaming girl, Xie Shuyang also felt a smile ripple through him.

The Xie Family had been rehabilitated.

It dispelled the gloom in his heart; his parents had returned to their original positions, and he wanted to rely on his own abilities to support this family in the future.

The group crowded together and arrived at the Xiao Yuan of Li Xiue and Zhao Qiu Hua. Zhao Qiu Hua heard the sound of voices.

"Off work? So early?" Zhao Qiu Hua didn't even lift her head, still busy with the work in her hands.

An Yinan walked quietly to her side, and everyone watched with smiles in their eyes.

"Qiu Hua, I missed you so much." An Yinan said coquettishly, her voice soft and sweet.

Zhao Qiu Hua's hands paused in their work, and she suddenly looked up to see the person safe and sound.

Emotions surged in her eyes, but now she couldn't say a word.

"It's good that you're back. Go wash your hands and get ready to eat." Her tone was ordinary, without excessive words, but the simplest words expressed a person's true feelings even more.

It was as if she had never left.

This time, Zhao Qiu Hua didn't lecture her, nor did she give too many instructions.

This girl had her own persistence, and no one could shake her spine.

They understood her so well, so how could they have the heart to blame her?

"Alrighty."

Seeing An Yinan's lively appearance, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although An Yinan had written a letter to report she was safe, without seeing her in person, their hearts had always been restless.

This time, Zhao Qiu Hua stir-fried many green vegetables: garlic bok choy, stewed tofu with baby cabbage, stir-fried tomatoes with eggs, and An Yinan's favorite cold-dressed dish.

"Eat slowly." Watching the way An Yinan ate the vegetables, she looked like she had been starving for several years.

"Oh my, sisters, just let Nan Nan eat!" Xie Yuanyuan rested her chin in her hands, just watching An Yinan eat.

Afterward, fearing that Nan Nan couldn't reach, she pushed all the dishes in front of Nan Nan.

Even if Nan Nan ate quickly, her movements were still nimble and graceful, unlike her, who would end up with food all over her mouth.

Besides, the Northeast Military Region really was a place where even birds wouldn't poop.

If birds went there, they'd freeze to death!

Let alone green vegetables, even dried vegetables were extremely scarce.

If she were over there, let alone year after year, she would have had enough after just three days.

An Yinan rubbed her stomach in satisfaction; it was so good to be able to eat green vegetables.

"Your Xiao Yuan was cleaned up two days ago; the village has been keeping it for you." Li Xiue handed her the key.

"Hmm, I don't want to go back to sleep. Can I squeeze in with you all today?" It had been a long time, and An Yinan really couldn't bear to part with her friends.

She didn't know when they would see each other again next time.

"Fine, we'll share a quilt." Zhao Qiu Hua answered immediately.

Xie Yuanyuan rolled her eyes and said, "I want some too, I want some too."

Li Xiue shook her head helplessly, "Alright!"

The four girls gathered together, as if they had endless things to say, chatting about everything under the sun: chatting about gossip concerning Xie Yuanyuan, chatting about how the family had introduced a suitor to Zhao Qiu Hua and she adamantly refused, and chatting about how Li Xiue's brother had gotten married and the family basically stopped sending money over.

The four girls chatted about happy things and sad things, as if once these things were spoken aloud, they were no longer issues.

It felt as if they had always been together and had never been apart.

Unknowingly, no one knew what they had been talking about or how long they had been chatting, but in any case, everyone had fallen asleep.

Early the next morning, upon hearing the wake-up whistle, Li Xiue rubbed her temples and got up.

Xie Yuanyuan was truly restless when she slept; not only did she hog the quilt, but she also liked to throw her legs over onto her, and no matter how many times she pushed them off, they would be thrown back up again.

How could she have been sleeping all night? It was practically more tiring than fighting a war.

"Time to get up, you all still have to go to work today." Li Xiue pushed Zhao Qiu Hua and Xie Yuanyuan.

The two of them got up with sleepy eyes, and upon seeing the porridge that had already been cooked, they finally came to their senses, "Li Xiu'e, what would we do without you?"