CHAPTER 281: 281. LIAN EN RETURNS

Since the autumn winds of 1980, Lianshan had been hoping for his wife’s belly to grow, but even by the scorching summer of 1981, his wish hadn’t come true.

But his eldest son Lian En, who had been with Feng Ju for two whole years, was about to return successfully soon.

Thinking back to when that scoundrel Feng Ju left, he clearly promised that he’d bring Lian En home during both summer and winter holidays, assured that the child would spend New Year at home.

But once he managed to lure Lian En out of the house, those promises turned into mere words.

For two whole years, the phone calls were consistent, twice a week without fail, and no matter where the mentor and the student went, local specialties were sent back continually.

But who cares about that?

What he cares about is his eldest child he hasn’t seen in two years!

Thinking of this, Lianshan couldn’t help but grit his teeth: "That brat Feng Ju is so unreliable, doesn’t keep his word. Now that Lian En is back, I can’t let the child follow that unreliable person anymore. He needs to be kept away! Just because he fancies painting and wants to be a painter in the future? I’ll put my big face forward with Uncle Wu, I refuse to believe that all of Beijing couldn’t find a teacher better and more reliable than Feng Ju!"

Shuzhen, whose ears were nearly full of his complaints, helplessly rubbed her forehead, secretly thinking, ’If it were any other subject, it would be easier. But in national painting, forget Beijing, it’s hard to find someone in the world better than Feng Ju.’

Of course, she wouldn’t dare say that, otherwise, the foolish man might think she believes other men are better than him. He’d surely drag her to bed for various forms of persuasive education!

Tired of being tossed around for half a year under the pretense of wanting another son, Shuzhen was quite resistant to this.

Finally, the day of Lian En’s return arrived after much anticipation.

At around five in the morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, a few youngsters came knocking on the door.

Afraid that their parents might oversleep and miss the time to pick up their big brother.

Lianshan, awakened from a sweet dream and annoyed, frowned: "The train arrives at two in the afternoon, but you’re knocking at the door at five in the morning? Hurry up, everyone go back to your rooms, and sleep a bit more!"

"No, Dad. We should go early, not late. If we go early and wait, it’s just wasting a few hours. But if we’re late, what if Mr. Feng sees nobody at the station, thinks our family doesn’t care about our big brother, and takes him away again?" Lian Xi’s fearful face pressed against the door, holding it tightly to prevent Dad from closing it and going back to sleep.

Mr. Feng has broken his promises more than once or twice, we can’t give him another chance to do so!

Some days ago, during a phone call, he heard Mr. Feng saying two years is too short, and actually going to high school at sixteen is completely fine.

"Right! Dad, I haven’t seen my big brother for two years. I miss him so much it hurts, let’s go earlier so Mr. Feng doesn’t take him away again, okay?" Xinyue pouted as she spoke, pulling at her dad’s arm and shaking it.

With two of them leading the charge, Xinzhi, Chenchen, and Xinqing joined in, with five kids hanging onto their dad, pulling sleeves, and holding onto legs.

They begged and shook him in various ways, wanting Lianshan to take them all to the station to bring back the big brother they’d missed for two years.

The moment Lian En stepped into the room, he saw such a heartwarming scene.

After wandering for two whole years, his heart instantly found a sense of belonging, a broad smile spreading across his mouth: "No need for all that effort, Dad, Chenchen, Xinzhi, Xinyue, Lian Xi, little Xinqing, I’m back!"

The six of them all looked up to see the fair and handsome figure with enchanting phoenix eyes smiling at them from the doorway.

Aside from being taller, more elegant, and dressed more delicately, wasn’t this the person they had missed for two whole years?

"Wow, wow, wow! Big brother, it really is big brother!" After staring for a while, Xinzhi was the first to laugh with joy, charging like a small cannonball into her big brother’s open arms.

Her action seemed to unlock a switch, as the other little ones quickly followed suit.

Swiftly rushing towards Lian En, in the blink of an eye, Lian En was surrounded by the five of them.

Chirping like little birds, calling "big brother" endlessly.

So warmly that it felt as if he had only left for two days, not a long two years.

Lian En was moved and also surprised, wanting to get close to his eldest son, but couldn’t break into the closed circle of the little ones, so Lianshan smiled and explained: "Chenchen and Xinzhi were afraid little Xinqing might forget you, so they kept showing her the photos you sent back over the past two years. Every time you called, they insisted she was involved, and every time you sent back snacks or toys, they repeatedly told her they were gifts from big brother.

They put a lot of effort into making sure she wouldn’t forget you.

Looking at it now, it was really effective!

All that effort wasn’t wasted."

"Really? Chenchen, Zhi Zhi, Lian Xi, Yueyue, and little Xinqing, you are amazing! Truly the best brother and sisters!" Knowing how much effort his siblings put into it, Lian En was deeply touched. He stretched his long arms and hugged all the little ones tightly.

The six siblings embraced closely together, making Lianshan, their dad, feel comforted deeply in his heart.

Ever since the little ones started knocking, Shuzhen quickly got up, dressed, and tidied the bed. When she opened the door, she saw her eldest supposedly arriving by a two o’clock train, now holding the little ones with a bright smile?

"Lian En, didn’t you say the train was at two in the afternoon, how did you get back now? Are you alone, did your mentor not come with you?" Shuzhen asked with a smile, expressing what Lianshan was puzzled about but hadn’t had the chance to ask.

"Mom, actually, it was the train at four-twenty in the morning, but thinking the arrival time was too early, I didn’t want to disturb you. I came back by myself, why would I need a reception at home? So my mentor and I quietly got off the train, found a taxi nearby, and rode directly home. He dropped me at the gate, carried my things into the yard, and watched me enter before taking a taxi back to the train station."

"Heh heh..." Lian En scratched his head, laughing awkwardly: "My mentor said he didn’t dare come in after snatching your precious baby for two years, afraid you two would thrash him together. So he didn’t come in, outside there are some boxes with gifts for you and siblings, a gesture to apologize, hoping you could forgive, and when I’m off for winter break he’ll come to pick me up again!"

"What? Coming back again?" Initially nodding slightly, thinking he had some self-awareness, Lianshan heard and gritted his teeth: "He hasn’t yet settled since taking my eldest son for two years, and now he’s plotting again for next time? Hanging curtains on the wall — no way!"