Back to Hometown

As the Chinese New Year draws nearer, Ye Cheng and his wife are also making plans to return home for the festivities.

According to their discussion, they will first revisit the property market in their hometown of Yecheng, then head to Lin Yuanyuan's parents' house on the third day of the Lunar New Year, and return to Pengcheng on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year.

Before their departure, there are some shopping errands to attend to.

Visiting parents, father-in-law, and mother-in-law is essential.

With many nephews and nieces, there's no shortage of gifts to prepare.

Even when finances were tight before, despite efforts to save, they always ended up spending ten or twenty thousand every time they visited.

In this manner, they spent two days shopping and acquired numerous items.

Although the expenditure wasn't excessive, totaling only a few hundred thousand, the car trunk was filled to the brim.

Indeed, Ye Cheng plans to drive back to his hometown this time.

Despite the journey spanning over 700 kilometers, a conservative estimate suggests it would take more than ten hours to complete.

Fortunately, his wife has become a proficient driver over time.

With both of them driving, there shouldn't be any significant issues.

The only concern is that Lin Yuanyuan has never driven on the expressway. Hence, Ye Cheng arranged for her to practice driving on the Ring Expressway in Pengcheng, with him sitting in the passenger seat. Although Lin Yuanyuan was initially nervous, she quickly adapted and drove smoothly after a while.

Upon exiting the highway, Lin Yuanyuan remarked, "I find the highway much easier to drive on than city roads."

"Indeed," Ye Cheng concurred, reminiscing about his own early experiences driving on highways.

The following day, around four in the morning, the family, accompanied by an aunt and uncle, departed from Jinxiu City.

Despite the early start, they found themselves among a multitude of others with similar plans, resulting in a lengthy queue at the expressway toll station even before dawn.

"Husband, it seems like there might be a traffic jam ahead," Lin Yuanyuan fretted.

"If there is, we'll just have to endure it. We're well-prepared anyway," Ye Cheng reassured her, though inwardly hoping to avoid any delays.

As for why they didn't opt for the high-speed rail or flights, owning a car offered a sense of convenience, akin to walking in Jinyi at night. Moreover, traveling in rural areas without a vehicle can be quite inconvenient.

This trip back, Ye Cheng intends to purchase a car to keep at home. Post-Chinese New Year, he plans to have his father obtain a driver's license, alleviating the need for future driving concerns.

On the Jingzhu Expressway, Ye Cheng allowed his wife to take the wheel, capitalizing on her current mental alertness.

However, after less than two hours of driving, they encountered a traffic slowdown, signaling an impending traffic jam.

Ahead on the navigation screen, a red traffic jam indicator flashed.

Progress became stop-and-go, with over half an hour passing before the traffic came to a complete halt.

Ye Cheng took over driving from Lin Yuanyuan, acknowledging her prolonged stint behind the wheel.

For Lin Yuanyuan, it marked her longest driving duration to date.

In the ensuing hours, the car advanced a mere ten kilometers or so.

By noon, the sun shone brightly, yet the long car ride proved monotonous.

They resorted to eating in the car for sustenance. By around three in the afternoon, the road finally cleared.

After a brief rest, Lin Yuanyuan resumed driving, progressing until around six in the evening when they reached a service area. Exiting the car, they enjoyed a hot meal, rested for an additional hour, then resumed their journey.

Ye Cheng received a call from his father inquiring about their whereabouts.

At that point, they were still traversing the Jingzhu Expressway, yet to transition onto the Shanghai-Ming Expressway.

Ye Cheng estimated they wouldn't exit the expressway until the early morning hours.

The uncertainty regarding the conditions on the Shanghai-Ming Expressway lingered.

As the Chinese New Year approached, an influx of travelers compounded traffic congestion on the roads.

Fortunately, despite heavy traffic, congestion remained minimal.

Finally, at 11:40 pm, Ye Cheng guided the car off the highway and onto the national highway, a mere ten kilometers from home.

Qinqin, nestled in the back seat, had already drifted off to sleep on her aunt's lap.

Ye Cheng dropped off his eldest aunt and uncle first before heading home.

By the time they arrived, it was already one in the morning.

As they pulled into the driveway, Ye Cheng's parents were still awake, with the house illuminated.

"Qinqin must be exhausted. I've settled her in our bed, where she can sleep with us," his mother informed them, swiftly retrieving Qinqin.

Ye Cheng, his wife, and his father then commenced unloading the trunk.

Once finished, Ye Cheng urged his parents, "It's late; you should retire for the night."

"Alright, everything's prepared; clean sheets and quilts are in place," his mother assured.

Their hometown house spanned three floors, built several years prior. Ye Cheng's parents resided on the first floor, while his eldest brother's family occupied the second. Typically, when Ye Cheng returned, he stayed on the third floor.

After a quick shower, Ye Cheng and his wife retired to bed, nearing the two o'clock hour.

Following a day-long drive, exhaustion settled in swiftly.

Lin Yuanyuan drifted off to sleep promptly, whereas Ye Cheng remained alert.

Taking a glance at the Bitcoin market, he noted its value had surpassed 10,000.

However, he planned to release a portion during the Chinese New Year and liquidate the rest come early March.

Ye Cheng didn't rise until after nine in the morning, finding his wife absent.

Descending the stairs, he spotted Qinqin playing with his eldest brother's two daughters.

"Sister-in-law," Ye Cheng greeted Xu Yi, who sat conversing with Lin Yuanyuan.

"Oh, Ye Cheng," Xu Yi responded.

"Where's eldest brother?" Ye Cheng inquired.

"He returned home in the early morning after being out all night. He's still asleep now. Why is there such a wide gap between you two brothers? You've bought a house and a car, whereas he has nothing, spending his days playing cards," Xu Yi lamented.

Ye Cheng offered no response, merely offering a smile before proceeding to freshen up.

Following breakfast, Ye Cheng and his wife visited their two uncles' homes, bearing gifts.

Both uncles had been kind to him, thus Ye Cheng reciprocated the gesture.

At his uncle's residence, Ye Cheng engaged in a game of chess, exchanging moves.

His uncle, a teacher who had battled illness over a decade ago, now grappled with diabetes and high blood pressure.

"Uncle, when will Brother Qiang return?" Ye Cheng inquired.

Cousin Ye Wenqiang, who operated an advertising firm in Zhonghai, typically made an appearance during the Chinese New Year.

"I reckon he'll be back by tonight. We've encountered some delays on the road," his aunt chimed in.

"Chengzi, join us for lunch here," his eldest aunt offered.

"No, we should head to the second uncle's house," Ye Cheng declined promptly.

After the chess match, Ye Cheng and his wife proceeded to the second uncle's abode.

Only his second aunt was present, as the second uncle had ventured to the fields for work.

Despite the invitation to stay for lunch, Ye Cheng politely declined.

During the meal, Ye He, the eldest brother, finally arrived.

"Xiaocheng, good to see you. You've acquired a car quite swiftly. Must have cost a pretty penny, right?" Ye He inquired, taking a seat.

The fraternal relationship remained strong.

"Three or four hundred thousand," Ye Cheng responded with a smile.

"Not bad, when I strike it rich, brother, I'll get one too," Ye He remarked jovially.

"With your knack for it, it might be a distant dream," Xu Yi interjected, somewhat sarcastically.

Ignoring the comment, Ye He raised his glass, proposing a toast to Ye Cheng.

Given their father's high blood pressure, he had abstained from smoking and drinking.

The brothers had much catching up to do, having not seen each other for a year.

As the conversation flowed, Ye He expressed some regrets, acknowledging the wisdom of pursuing higher education in today's competitive landscape.

Reflecting on his own life choices, Ye He admitted to occasional frustration, particularly with his wife's persistent admonishments.

Ye Cheng listened silently, reminiscing about their childhood, when his elder brother had been the more rambunctious of the two.

Following junior high school graduation, Ye He had ventured into the workforce.

"Brother, what are your future plans? Manual labor might not be sustainable in the long run," Ye Cheng inquired.

"My wife's thinking of saving up to open a store selling decorative materials in the real estate market down the line. As for me, I'm considering venturing into lobster farming or something similar. We have different ideas," Ye He shared.

Ye Cheng contemplated the possibilities. Establishing a decorative materials store seemed feasible for now.

However, considering the impending changes in the real estate market by 2021, coupled with rising material costs, it might pose challenges.

Pondering further, Ye Cheng entertained thoughts of launching a farmhouse project integrating fishing, leisure, and dining experiences, possibly leveraging his expertise in live streaming to boost visibility.

This venture could not only support his elder brother but also pave the way for his own financial stability.

He recognized the burgeoning potential of such recreational ecological agriculture ventures.