Chapter 2985

The principal paused for a moment, thinking. "Which students are in Class 207?"

With so many students, the principal couldn't remember every single name.

Yan Xiwan answered, "Pan Hongmei, Hu Ya, and Pei Wushuang."

"I remember those three." The principal hurriedly searched around his desk, finally retrieving a file from a drawer. "Their performance has been excellent. Especially Pei Wushuang, who went directly into the combat zone to rescue wounded soldiers. It can be said that all three of them have earned merit."

The principal shared what he knew with Yan Xiwan.

Relieved, Yan Xiwan asked, "Do you know when they will return?"

"Their return date is also in half a month," the principal said.

Yan Xiwan nodded. "That’s good."

Having gathered all the information she needed, Yan Xiwan took her leave.

Back in the car, she reunited with Ouyang Tianyun and asked, "Sister Hongmei and the others will return in half a month. So, how should we spend our vacation?"

Yan Xiwan had been busy for so long that the sudden idea of a vacation felt a bit unfamiliar.

"I’ll accompany you to Yan Family Village. What do you think?" Ouyang Tianyun suggested with a smile.

Yan Xiwan was slightly stunned, then a thought struck her. "It’s time to go back."

Her mood dipped slightly. She had realized that her great-grandmother, Granny Yan, was nearing the end of her life.

"It counts as a happy funeral," Ouyang Tianyun said gently.

Yan Xiwan nodded slightly. "I know. Great-grandmother is over ninety. It is absolutely a happy funeral. I just feel a bit reluctant to let go."

She continued, "How should I tell my parents about this?"

She certainly couldn’t say, "I am the little princess of the Underworld and can foresee people’s life and death."

Ouyang Tianyun smiled. "What’s wrong with saying it? Just tell them that after this break, once work picks up, there won’t be time to go back. Plus, you haven’t returned in two years, so now is a very suitable time."

Yan Xiwan hummed in agreement. "Let’s say it that way."

That day, they returned home and told Yan Tieniu and Wang Suyan about their plan to visit Yan Family Village.

Yan Tieniu didn’t hesitate at all. "We should go. Your great-grandmother and grandparents have been worried about you these past two years."

"Yes, and I have many projects coming up. Once I get busy, there won’t be much holiday time. Even if I can rest, it will only be for a day or two, making it hard to go back then."

Yan Xiwan spoke seriously. "So, I thought we should take advantage of this free time to go back. Parents, you should go too."

Yan Tieniu thought for a moment. "Alright, let’s go back and see them."

Wang Suyan naturally had no objections. "Then let’s all go back and see them."

Wang Suyan had originally planned to stay and care for her youngest granddaughter, Mai Zi. However, considering they hadn’t returned in a long time, and Mai Zi could be looked after by Tian Chunxiang’s mother, she didn’t refuse.

When Yan Zhicheng heard his parents were going back, he didn’t stop them. He only told Yan Xiwan to be careful on the road and to take good care of Yan Tieniu and the others.

Yan Xiwan agreed readily. She had originally planned to invite Yan Zhicheng along, but it was hard to find an excuse with her. Besides, without a good reason, Tian Chunxiang wouldn’t take leave.

Fortunately, if anything unusual happened after they returned, they could simply call Yan Zhicheng and the others.

Yan Xiwan and Ouyang Tianyun, along with Yan Tieniu and his wife, boarded the train back to Yan Family Village.

Due to economic development, more people were taking trains in recent years. Fortunately, they had booked soft sleeper berths. The four of them occupied a private compartment, so there were no worries about privacy or comfort.

"The trains seem much faster now," Yan Tieniu said, holding his teacup and looking out the window.

Ouyang Tianyun explained, "This is the newly developed express train. It’s many times faster than the ordinary trains."

Yan Tieniu sighed, "It’s only been a few years, and development is this fast. It seems we are really getting old."

Yan Xiwan took out a bag of apples and placed it on the table in front of them. "Dad, stop sighing. Even an express train takes five days and five nights to get home. Hurry up and eat some fruit to pass the time."

"You guys eat. I don’t eat this fruit. It just makes me run to the toilet," Yan Tieniu shook his head.

"Don’t you go to the toilet when you drink tea?" Yan Xiwan asked directly.

"Then bring out the dried beef. I’ll eat that," Yan Tieniu said. "My teeth are good, so that’s better for me."

Yan Xiwan, Ouyang Tianyun, and Wang Suyan: (⊙o⊙)…

What kind of logic was that? He just lamented about getting old, but in the next breath, he claimed his teeth were fine.

In truth, it was simply that Yan Tieniu liked beef and disliked fruit.

"Besides, this fruit isn’t as tasty as the water radishes from our home," Yan Tieniu added, preferring the taste of water radishes.

"Forget it. You don’t know how to enjoy life. Go sit aside," Wang Suyan said, hearing Yan Tieniu’s increasingly unreasonable remarks. She handed her a pack of five-spice beef and told her to eat it over there.

Wang Suyan took an apple and took a bite. "By the way, did your godparents mention Guangzai and Rongzai when you visited them?"

"My godparents said that Brother Guang and Brother Rong have found partners in Shenzhen. My godparents are reasonable people. They said it doesn’t matter if they stay in Shenzhen or return to the capital; they are still their sons." Yan Xiwan said, also biting into an apple.

Wang Suyan nodded. "Right. I’ve met your second brother’s partner. She’s quite nice. She’s a battlefield nurse, so her skills are similar to yours."

"Actually, Mom, you are also a very reasonable person. As long as my second brother has a partner, you don’t care what the girl does for a living," Yan Xiwan pointed out, seeing through Wang Suyan’s thoughts.

Wang Suyan laughed. "Your second brother is not young anymore. If he didn’t have a partner, wouldn’t I worry? Besides, I have three sons and one daughter. Even when I’m old and die, at least one of them will carry my body out."

Wang Suyan continued, "Moreover, cremation is now practiced. In the end, no matter how big I was, I’ll just be a small bag of ashes. Even if your three brothers are unfilial, you will still send me to the cemetery. So, why should I care? They found their own partners. Whether their future lives are good or bad is up to them."

Hearing this, Yan Xiwan wrapped her arm around Wang Suyan’s. "My mom is so open-minded."

"Having raised you four, if I weren’t open-minded, I’d have endless worries every day," Wang Suyan said. She had truly let go.

Besides, her children had all grown into capable adults. There was no need for her to cling to these things tightly.

Ouyang Tianyun said, "I think Mother-in-law, you are very open-minded. I’ve heard that many rural areas favor sons over daughters, but you don’t."