Wang Liansheng wrote a lyrical prose, depicting nostalgia, inspired by accompanying Mr. Lian back to his hotown.
Ling Chengyan thought for a mont and said, "In recent years, people’s lives have been getting better and better... In this aspect, you know more than I do, so you can, hmm, not necessarily write and publish articles, but rather investigate and study what the next steps should be... For example, overseas Chinese returning to support the construction of their hotowns, their money doesn’t grow on trees, it’s best to let them see the returns and prospects of their investnt. When there are returns and prospects, you won’t be pleading with them to invest back ho. And, it shouldn’t be limited to overseas Chinese, can it be extended to wealthy rchants abroad... those they refer to as big tycoons..."
Ling Chengyan contemplated as she shared her thoughts with Wang Liansheng.
Wang Liansheng listened thoughtfully, "I’ve thought about it too, just not as clearly structured as you."
As they talked and walked ho, they detoured to the farr’s market, where they happened to et a seller with wild rabbits. Ling Chengyan decided to buy two.
While buying the rabbits, Wang Liansheng chatted with the vendor and learned they were hunted with a shotgun.
Speaking of hunting, the sturdy black vendor was very enthusiastic and answered extensively: "... Once it snows, you can follow the tracks and find them. On a good night, you might be able to get a dozen."
Ling Chengyan frowned slightly, "What about when it doesn’t snow?"
The vendor chuckled, "When it doesn’t snow, it’s much harder, running all night might not get you one."
Ling Chengyan muttered quietly, "... Good thing it doesn’t snow much."
When they got ho, as Wang Liansheng was cleaning the rabbits, Ling Chengyan noticed the small pellets he picked out and tossed on the ground, finding five or six in one rabbit, and even a dozen or so in the other, almost turning half a rabbit into a sieve.
Shaking her head at the scattered pellets, Wang Liansheng laughed, "This is just what we picked out, so had even more."
Ling Chengyan advised, telling him to remove the parts hit by the pellets to avoid harm, then decided not to watch anymore.
Using such things for hunting is a complete massacre, eventually, wild animals might be wiped out by it.
The children didn’t mind, happy with rabbit at to eat. As Ling Chengyan checked their calligraphy, the aroma drifting from the kitchen made them restless, constantly glancing back.
Ling Chengyan tapped Xiao Xing on the forehead, pointing to two misspelled words she circled, "How did you write these characters?"
Looking at them, Xiao Xing pulled a bitter face, "Mom, I didn’t an to write this extra stroke, I couldn’t stop the pen, I can write it..."
Ling Chengyan glanced at her indifferently, "You know how to write it, but if you submit a test paper like this, will the teacher give you points? Write two more sheets and finish before dinner."
Xiao Xing pouted, "Mom..."
Without lifting her head, Ling Chengyan waved her hand, and the little girl reluctantly returned to her room to rewrite it.
Hongbing, the most careless one, was nervous after Xiao Xing was found with mistakes, watching his fourth aunt inspecting his work without blinking.
In the end, Ling Chengyan looked up and said, "No misspelled characters..."
Hongbing imdiately jumped up in cheers, but before his cheer ended, Ling Chengyan pointed to his calligraphy and said, "... But you lack patience, compare the first sheet with the last one."
Hongbing glanced quickly and dropped his head. The first sheet, though not excellent, was at least tidy, but by the last page, the characters looked disjointed, lines no longer straight.
Ling Chengyan looked at him, "Tell yourself, what now?"
Hongbing quickly glanced at his fourth aunt, lowered his head, and softly said, "I’ll rewrite it..."
Ling Chengyan nodded, handing him his calligraphy.
After dismissing the two older children to practice writing, Ling Chengyan finally picked up Shi Tou’s calligraphy.
At just four years old, Shi Tou lacked strength and control, so the characters weren’t as good as his siblings’, but as Ling Chengyan reviewed it, she noticed that through both sheets, they were written earnestly. Moreover, it was clear that little Wang Wenzhang was earnestly trying to write tightly and neatly without breaking them apart.
It was unexpectedly quite good.
"Wang Wenzhang’s writing is very earnest, he deserves praise." Ling Chengyan watched as the little guy placed his papers back on his small desk, then took his hand to wash up, and led him to the kitchen.
She picked the first rabbit leg as a reward for little Wang Wenzhang.
The next morning, without any worry from Ling Chengyan, Wang Liansheng woke the children up, washed, and sent them to the door, where soone from Ling Chengyan’s side picked them up and took them to the training grounds.
When Wang Liansheng returned, Ling Chengyan had already packed her backpack and luggage, preparing to leave.
"I’ll be out this ti and won’t be back until the new year, leaving you at ho alone, I’m sorry." Ling Chengyan expressed her guilt before her departure.
Wang Liansheng shook his head, had her wait a mont, ran to the kitchen, and gathered so jerky, milk powder, sheepskin vests, gloves... all stuffed into her pack.
The originally flat pack was filled to the brim.
"When you train, you don’t like wearing coats, so wear the vests underneath... Wear the gloves, and socks, I brought you a few extra pairs, so they can still dry after washing at night..." Wang Liansheng packed while giving endless reminders.
Ling Chengyan stood listening until the whistle was heard from outside, then picked up her pack, stopped Wang Liansheng who wanted to see her off, and marched out the door.
For this trip’s training, she directly took the train southward, heading to Jiang Province where the climate was completely different.
Over there, it was truly southern in nature, yet not as warm as the Southeast Coast; the humid winter, though not below zero, was still chillingly cold.
In the north, winters are harsh but dry, thick enough clothing keeps one warm.
The southern winter is different, the cold seems to be everywhere, creeping in through collars, cuffs, even seams of clothing, eventually reaching the bones. Critically, the southern winter has no fire for warmth, it’s cold outside and remains cold indoors, even the damp bedding in the bed doesn’t provide any warmth.
The Special Service Company’s training is intense and difficult, making it impossible to wear bulky winter coats, even heavy cotton shoes are out, with only rubber shoes allowed.
In this climate, still having to crawl through dense jungles and traverse mountains made those accustod to northern climates quite uncomfortable. By the second day of arrival, so began feeling unwell, a few even with noticeable diarrhea, needing to visit the dical office for shots.
Ling Chengyan took out a bag of soil and handed it to the cook accompanying them: "Put a handful in the water tank, let it settle, then boil water for everyone to drink."
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