Chapter 198: Unexpected Reunion

"Hehe, Minister Xu, this is what we call scientific farming. With the guidance of the older generation's experience, plus the learning from new-era books, it's hard for these pigs not to put on weight."

"Hahaha, good, a very good 'scientific farming', not bad, really not bad."

Originally, Xu Qianshan had intended to groom Zhang Ping'an, just going through the motions to help him move up, but he hadn't expected such a huge surprise.

This was something he had first mentioned at the Ministry of Heavy Industry, originally intending to help his son-in-law and Zhang Ping'an advance, but he hadn't expected that he would now be adding luster to his own reputation through their political achievements.

Xu Qianshan patted Zhang Ping'an on the shoulder with satisfaction, and the factory leaders behind them looked on with envy and jealousy, wishing they could take Zhang Ping'an's place.

After Xu Qianshan returned to the Ministry of Heavy Industry and spoke about the changes at the Rolling Mill's Pig Farm, those who had previously visited the Rolling Mill for inspections all looked at Xu Qianshan in shock.

"Old Xu, are you serious?"

"Hahaha, Old Lv, could I be joking about this? But to tell you the truth, if you had gone and come back to tell me, I would have been just like you."

"No, I have to go see it with my own eyes." Lv Aimin still didn't quite believe it.

"That's fine, too. One of the cooks at the Pig Farm makes pretty good Sichuan Cuisine."

Once Xu Qianshan said this, Lv Aimin had one more reason to go, and the leaders who hadn't gone before all clamored to go and see for themselves.

Consequently, the Rolling Mill received a call from Lv Aimin that same day, saying he was coming for an inspection tomorrow. Nie Haiquan was puzzled; hadn't they just come? Why were they coming again?

But this was a good thing; fortunately, the welcome banner hadn't been taken down yet, so it could continue to be used.

The next morning, a group of Rolling Mill leaders once again welcomed the inspection from the Ministry of Heavy Industry leaders. When they walked to the Pig Farm, everyone was stunned.

"Good, good, good, very good. Factory Director Zhang is indeed young and promising." Lv Aimin also shook hands with Zhang Ping'an cordially.

By the time the tour of the pigsties, fermentation area, and pasture was finished, it was nearly mealtime, and Lv Aimin was more satisfied the more he looked.

Unlike the foul-smelling air of other pig farms, there was an odor here, but it was very faint, and one could barely see any pig manure.

Naturally, they couldn't see it; for one thing, the four or five tons of pig manure produced daily were piled up and hauled back by the surrounding villages for composting—of course, this good deed didn't exclude Zhang Ping'an's own hometown.

For another, the pasture was like a circle, guarding the Pig Farm, and the freshness of the grass and trees diluted most of the odor.

The pasture grass was now nearly thigh-high, and the earliest grass that had been cut was now nearly thirty centimeters tall, completely sufficient for the Pig Farm's consumption, with plenty left over—they couldn't eat it all, they really couldn't eat it all.

At noon, Lv Aimin and his party ate at the Pig Farm canteen and had Sichuan Cuisine different from what Shazhu made, exclaiming in wonder.

"This is the taste of home. May I meet the chef who made this?"

The Second Aunt, Lv Xiaoyan, was originally from Sichuan Province, so the Sichuan Cuisine she made naturally tasted like home.

"Of course you can."

Before long, the Second Aunt was called over, and Lv Aimin and his companion exchanged a glance, both stunned.

"Are you... Brother Aimin?"

"Are you... Yanzi from Uncle Xiangjun's family? Aren't you already...?"

It turned out that Lv Aimin and the Second Aunt, Lv Xiaoyan, were both from Lv Family Village in Sichuan Province; they were of the same generation and about the same age.

"It's me, Brother Aimin."

The Second Aunt, Lv Xiaoyan, was somewhat emotional. Back then, when her whole family was fleeing, she got separated from her parents and younger brother on the road. She didn't know how she ended up walking to Zhang Family Village alone, where she fainted at the entrance of the village and was found by Zhang Ping'an's grandmother, eventually ending up with the Second Uncle, Zhang Laiwen.

"You all go ahead and eat, I'm going out for a moment." Lv Aimin went straight out with the Second Aunt.

Now the group of leaders was dumbfounded; the big leader had left, so how could they pick up their chopsticks? They just had to wait obediently.

Zhang Ping'an was also dumbfounded; he hadn't expected Vice Minister Lv to be related to his Second Aunt, so he hurriedly went to notify his Second Uncle.

"Brother Aimin, my parents and brother, they..."

"Your parents and brother are all doing well; they have already returned to their hometown. They entrusted me to look for you for many years, but there was no news at all. We all thought you were no longer with us."

"Sobbing." Hearing that her parents and brother were safe, the Second Aunt finally let go of the worry that had hung in her heart for years.

After the Second Aunt's emotions stabilized, Lv Aimin asked about her life over these years.

"Sigh, it was fate that I survived, I met good people. When I go back later, I will tell your parents." With his protection, life in Lv Family Village was now barely getting by.

"Okay, good."

"Yanzi."

"Dear, this is the second brother from my home village, he is also... he is also a leader. Brother Aimin, this is my husband, Zhang Laiwen."

"Ai... uh, hello, Leader."

"What 'Leader'? We're not outsiders. Just like Yanzi, just call me Brother Aimin. Is Zhang Ping'an your nephew?"

"Yes, Lead... Brother Aimin."

"Not bad, not bad. You have a good nephew. I'll go back to eat first, they are probably still waiting. Don't leave yet, we'll have a good catch-up later."

"Okay, Brother Aimin."

After Lv Aimin left, Zhang Ping'an also approached from a distance.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, what is going on?"

"That is..." The Second Aunt briefly explained her relationship with Lv Aimin.

"So that's how it is. Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Minister Lv Aimin is our top superior; he's a very high official."

Zhang Ping'an also told the Second Uncle and Second Aunt about Lv Aimin's current position so they would have an idea.

"I didn't expect Brother Aimin to have become such a high official. Back then, he was the most promising in the whole village. He went out to make his way early on, and now he has really made something of himself."

"Ping'an, thank you. If it weren't for you, I don't know when I would have ever heard news of my family in this lifetime."

The Second Aunt didn't even know how she had crossed nearly two thousand kilometers to Sijiucheng back then. In those years of war and chaos, once separated, no news might have been the best news.

It wasn't that the Second Aunt hadn't thought about going back to see over these years, but it was too far, and she wasn't sure if her parents had returned, plus transportation was inconvenient. If something happened on the road, it would be even worse, so she kept putting it off until now.

After Lv Aimin returned, everyone started to use their chopsticks. Because of the previous interlude, Lv Aimin sped up his eating, and in less than half an hour, he was finished.

"Xiao Wang, you all go back first, I still have some things to handle here."

"Okay, Minister."

Everyone left very tactfully, while Lv Aimin went directly to find the Second Uncle and Second Aunt, chatting for over an hour before leaving the Pig Farm.

That afternoon, Lv Aimin contacted his hometown in Sichuan Province, and it wasn't until evening that he got through to Lv Xiangjun on the phone.

"Aimin, have you found Yan'er?" Lv Xiangjun's aged voice came through; he knew this nephew would not contact him so urgently unless something was the matter.

"Yes, Uncle Xiangjun, please don't worry. I have found Yan'er. She is doing very well and has children of her own. Please don't leave yet; I will have her call you."

"Good, good, good."

"Factory Director Zhang, I will give you a number; have Yan'er call it." After hanging up the phone, Lv Aimin called the Pig Farm.

"Understood, Minister Lv."

Zhang Ping'an dialed the number first, then hurriedly had someone call his second uncle and second aunt over. Long-distance calls between provinces had to be connected one by one, so by the time his second uncle and second aunt arrived, it would be just about time for the call to go through.

"Second Uncle, Second Aunt, it's a call from Sichuan Province; it will be connected in a moment."

"Good, good, good." The second aunt gripped the receiver nervously.

"Is, is that Yan'er?"

"Dad..."