When the mother-in-law brought Commander Zheng and the other few to the large kitchen, it was truly a big surprise for Sun Dama. Sun Dama, who was making preparations, saw Commander Zheng suddenly appear before her eyes. She dropped the cleaver in her hand with a clang, disbelieving her eyes. She wiped her eyes repeatedly with her sleeve until Commander Zheng loudly called out, "Mother, I'm back!"
Only then did Sun Dama believe what she saw was real. Zheng Sanpao had truly returned home. Sun Dama simply stared blankly at the safely returned Zheng Sanpao without any other reaction, just dabbing at her tears. After a long while, she calmed her emotions. She tightly grasped Commander Zheng's hand while wiping her tears, her heart so full of emotion that she spoke incoherently, repeatedly saying, "Sanpao! Mother has finally waited for you to return. If anything had happened to you, Xiaomei and the three children would have had such a difficult time. Fortunately, you are blessed with great fortune! The ancestors have protected you, the ancestors have protected you! You have truly returned! It's so good, you have truly returned! It's good that you're back! It's good that you're back!"
Commander Zheng also held Sun Dama's arm and said, "Mother, don't worry. Now that I've come home this time, I'm not leaving. I'll stay in the valley with you, with Xiaomei, and with the children. I'll take care of you in your old age."
Hearing Commander Zheng's words, Sun Dama couldn't believe her ears. She anxiously asked repeatedly, "Is it true? Sanpao, you're not lying to Mother, are you? You're really willing to stay, you're really not leaving this time?"
Commander Zheng nodded solemnly and said, "Mother, what I said is true! I'm really not leaving this time. The war is over, and the country has been liberated. We should actively contribute to the country's construction. Besides, I injured my leg in this war, so it's not suitable for me to stay in the army anymore. That's why I applied for retirement..."
As soon as Sun Dama heard Commander Zheng say that he had injured his leg in the war, she immediately said, "You child, you've injured your leg, and you're still talking so much to Mother. Hurry and find a place to sit down and rest."
After saying that, she looked up to find a stool. Only then did she see her mother-in-law and the other people in the large kitchen. She quickly explained, "Auntie, I'm so sorry. I was so happy that I neglected you all."
The mother-in-law waved her hands repeatedly and said, "Auntie, don't be so polite with me. Sanpao and these children walked on mountain roads all morning, and they must be hungry. Please quickly prepare a few of your best dishes to welcome them, let them have a drink to warm their blood and relieve their fatigue."
The mother-in-law thought for a moment and then continued, "Right, Auntie, cook the dishes lightly. They all have injuries, so they shouldn't be able to eat very spicy food. Also, stew a chicken soup with ginseng. I'll go to the farm to catch two old hens now."
After speaking, she said to Commander Zheng and Qi Shengli and the other four, "Sanpao, Shengli, you've traveled such a long mountain road, you must be tired, hungry, and thirsty. Come, come to the dining hall with Auntie to sit and rest for a while. Have some refreshments to fill your stomachs and drink some tea to quench your thirst. The meal will be ready in a moment!"
The group was led to the dining hall by the mother-in-law. On the dining hall table, Aunt Chen had already prepared hot tea and four plates of snacks for everyone. Commander Zheng and his group had set off before dawn and walked for four or five hours on the mountain road. Their stomachs were already rumbling with hunger, so they were not polite. After thanking the mother-in-law and Aunt Chen, the four of them buried their heads in eating.
After settling the group, the mother-in-law prepared to go to the farm to catch wild chickens. Aunt Chen quickly said, "Auntie, you don't need to go. Aunt Zhao already went to the farm as soon as you mentioned it. She should be back soon."
As soon as the words fell, a group of people was seen running from a distance. The person in the lead was Yanzi, followed by her parents. Next to Yanzi was Sun Xiaomei, who had rushed out from the food processing plant as soon as she heard the news of Commander Zheng's return!
We will not dwell on the reunion scene between Commander Zheng and his wife, Sun Xiaomei. As for Chen Lan, because the kindergarten being built was far from the large kitchen, Chen Lan and her mother were the last to know that Commander Zheng had brought people back to the valley!
Chen Lan saw Commander Zheng and the four of them at lunchtime in the large kitchen. Commander Zheng and his group had eaten not long ago, so they were not hungry. They didn't eat lunch again and just sat aside, drinking tea and watching the people working in the valley return one by one.
They saw everyone consciously go to the side sink to wash their hands while chatting, and then each of them took an iron plate and chopsticks from the large cabinet by the dining hall door, went to the serving window to get their own rice and dishes. They could take whatever they wanted to eat, and no one managed them.
At this time, Xu Mingxuan's comrades who were working in the farm returned one after another. Especially when they saw Zhao Tie and Li Daqiang, Zhou Dashi, and about ten other people returning in electric wheelchairs, Commander Zheng and the other three widened their eyes in surprise.
Commander Zheng couldn't help but stand up and shout, "Tiezi, Daqiang, Dashi."
Hearing the shouts, the group turned their heads in unison towards Commander Zheng. Upon clearly seeing that it was Commander Zheng who had returned, they excitedly drove their electric wheelchairs over. Each of them exclaimed, "Commander Zheng, you're back, it's good that you're back! It's good that you're back!"
Commander Zheng limped over to them and touched the electric wheelchair with his hand, saying, "Yes! I'm back, and I'm not going back! From now on, I will stay in the valley and guard this valley with you all."
Only then did Zhao Tie notice that Commander Zheng and his group had all suffered leg injuries. He asked, "It looks like your leg must have been seriously injured, otherwise, how could you bear to leave the army."
Commander Zheng did not refute and said with some dejection, "This time the injury was not minor. I recovered for more than half a year before the doctor allowed me to be discharged, otherwise I would have returned long ago."
He then smiled and said, "Being able to walk is already a gain, much better than those comrades who sacrificed on the battlefield."
After speaking, he patted Zhao Tie's electric wheelchair and said, "Tiezi, your thing is really good. I see you use it quite conveniently!"
Zhao Tie said with a chuckle, "It's very convenient. I was a bit unaccustomed to it at first, but I got used to it after a while. Commander Zheng, please wait a moment. Let's eat first, and after lunch, I'll teach you how to use it. This thing is very easy to learn!"
Commander Zheng said with a smile, "Okay! Tiezi, we've eaten early. You go in and eat first, and then you can come and teach me how to use it after you finish eating."
Zhao Tie didn't dawdle anymore and quickly went to the sink to wash his hands to prepare for the meal.