128 people, all hands on deck, return to the village.

Around ten thirty in the morning, the large bus swayed as it rolled into Peng County. Everyone had been asleep throughout the journey. As the bus pulled into the station, Gao Shen, who had remained alert the entire time, immediately opened his eyes and woke the others.

Afterward, Gao Shen led the group to the state-run restaurant. Considering that they hadn’t prepared anything at home and would be returning later, it was best to eat first and then catch the midday minibus to An Town.

Gao Shen settled Jing Qingxin and the others, urging them to order their meals while he went to visit the Liu family.

He hoped Liu Gang could accompany them back to the village to lend a hand. He had already discussed with Qingxin that Jiang Min would be the bridesmaid, and Liu Gang the best man.

Organizing a wedding banquet involved many small tasks, and Gao Shen worried about the lack of manpower. Having Liu Gang around to run errands and assist would lighten the load considerably.

Gao Shen had already considered the manpower issue. His closest comrades were all from the military, but some had returned to their distant hometowns, making it inconvenient to participate. The two best available brothers were Liu Gang and Zeng Lin, but Zeng Lin’s job made taking extended leave difficult, so he was only asked to arrive a day early.

Liu Gang, however, worked as a statistician at the grain station and could easily get time off. Thus, Gao Shen decided to rely on Liu Gang’s help this time.

The only other male companion was his godfather, a respected elder, whom Gao Shen did not wish to trouble too much. As for his own father and eldest brother, Gao Shen simply scoffed inwardly, utterly uninterested in seeking their assistance—hoping only that they wouldn’t cause trouble.

Aside from them, only the neighboring Li father and son remained. Both were honest and hardworking, with plenty of strength, making them ideal helpers.

Gao Shen headed straight to the grain station. At this hour, Liu Gang should be working. Within ten minutes, Gao Shen found him and explained the situation.

Without hesitation, Liu Gang agreed and promptly applied for a week’s leave at the station. Though his salary would be docked, no amount of money could compare to the importance of the company commander’s wedding.

Gao Shen instructed Liu Gang to return home, pack some clothes, and then meet them at the state-run restaurant.

“Commander, may I bring my mother along?” Liu Gang asked.

“Is she well enough to endure the journey?” Gao Shen wasn’t bothered by the extra person but worried because Liu Gang’s mother had been bedridden for years, and the bumpy ride might be too much for her.

“No problem at all. Recently, my mother has been taking the pills your wife gave her and says she feels better. She can definitely travel. Once there, she can help your wife with kitchen work or embroidery—nothing too strenuous,” Liu Gang explained with a smile.

“That’s good to hear. Everything depends on your mother’s health. Hurry home, pack some clothes, then meet us at the restaurant. We’ll catch the midday minibus to An Town,” Gao Shen instructed.

They parted ways. Gao Shen wasn’t worried about Liu Gang and didn’t need to accompany him, but he was uneasy about Qingxin and the others. Though his godfather was a grown man, he was gentle and scholarly. The other three were women, and if anything happened, none had the strength to defend the group.

Worrying only made things worse. Gao Shen’s heart was heavy with concern, causing him to forget that Jing Qingxin was trained and quite capable of protecting herself.

In truth, order in this era was relatively good. Occasionally, Red Guards could be seen patrolling the streets, and most people dared not cause trouble, lest they be detained and disciplined.

So when Gao Shen returned to the restaurant, the group was cheerfully chatting. The food had started arriving, but since not everyone was present, Jing Qingxin and the others hadn’t yet touched their plates.

Gao Shen briefly introduced the Liu family’s mother and son to the others, hoping to foster a harmonious atmosphere.

Soon, Liu Gang and his mother arrived, each carrying a small cloth bundle. After brief introductions and greetings, everyone quickly set about eating.

They hurried to catch the last midday minibus to An Town. Fortunately, the journey was short—about the length of an afternoon nap—and they arrived without issue.

Upon reaching An Town, Gao Shen hired an ox cart to take them back to Dajing Village.

As a soldier, Gao Shen could easily walk the distance, but considering the group, only he and Liu Gang were physically strong. The others were more vulnerable.

Walking from An Town to Dajing Village took about an hour. Everyone was carrying bags, and the godfather and godmother had always lived in the city, unaccustomed to long treks. Liu Gang’s mother was frail, and the hour-long walk would exhaust her.

Gao Shen was especially attentive to Jing Qingxin’s well-being. Even though she could walk back herself, he didn’t want her to endure such fatigue. As for Jiang Min, Gao Shen hadn’t given her much thought.

Spending a bit of money to hire the ox cart was worthwhile. Though slow and occasionally jolting, it left everyone feeling relaxed and comfortable.

The weather at the end of April was pleasant, with gentle sunshine that didn’t scorch. Otherwise, even sitting on the cart under the sun would have been miserable.

While admiring the countryside and chatting to strengthen bonds, the ox cart reached the entrance of Dajing Village. The remaining distance they would cover on foot, but fortunately, it wasn’t far.

Upon entering Dajing Village, they reached a fork in the road. One path led to the Li family’s production team, the other to the Wang family’s second team. These were the only roads connecting the two teams, as the river lay between them, and crossing required either a detour or climbing over a mountain.

As they walked through the village, they occasionally passed a few villagers. Gao Shen and Jing Qingxin were not well acquainted with the locals and didn’t know how to address them.

When villagers greeted them, they responded with polite smiles and nods. Visitors were rare in the village; most neighbors were lifelong locals. Seeing Jing Qingxin and the group of seven strangers walking together naturally piqued curiosity.

Their attire wasn’t extravagant but differed noticeably from the villagers’. Moreover, everyone carried large bundles, sparking even greater gossip.

“How much good stuff must be in those bags? Usually, visiting relatives only bring a small cloth bundle as a gift, but these people have more than ten large packages and baskets,” some villagers whispered.

They had heard that Gao Shen and the city girl had gone to the market town, and that the people with them were city relatives. This must be a big event. So many people, so much luggage—after murmuring, the village erupted with speculation.