Chapter 2686
My chapter is here
Chapter 2686 I’m back
"Hey!"
"Give it your all! Hey!"
The thick fog of early morning settles in the mountains, and the heavy dew becomes an obstacle to footsteps, attempting to stop travelers from pausing for a moment to appreciate the misty mountain scenery.
However, the resounding voice told them that no one could stop them from leaving.
"Old Li, once you get past this mountain road, you'll reach Mountain No. 8."
Old Ma and Li Hongfeng walked at the front, with a wooden stick draped over their shoulders. A bundle of parts wrapped in weeds was suspended from the bottom of the stick by a rope.
"it is good!"
Li Hongfeng rested his right hand on the stick, speaking with some difficulty breathing.
After being away from home for so long, my body hasn't felt as good as it used to be since I started sitting in the office.
I've only worked for a few days, and my body can't take it anymore. This has never happened before.
"Old Li, if you can't take a break, do it. You're over fifty, don't push yourself too hard."
Old Ma noticed that Li Hongfeng's condition was not right and quickly tried to persuade him.
"fine!"
"Those behind, keep up!"
"Especially the convoy, we'll need it later!"
Old Ma glanced at Li Hongfeng again before nodding, "Don't worry, there are people taking care of things. Once we get there, someone will come and give us guidance!"
As they walked a little further, a clearing appeared in front of them, where many people were working, though they couldn't see them clearly.
"Is this a bridge being built?"
Li Hongfeng glanced at it and asked casually.
Old Ma nodded, "Yes, that's the terrain here. It's either uneven mountains or bumpy valleys and small basins. It's tough!"
Li Hongfeng said no more and together they lifted the load and walked forward.
"Old Ma, I knew it was you guys from the chanting!"
A loud voice came from ahead, followed by a figure emerging from the mist, followed by a large group of people.
"Old Ding?"
Li Hongfeng tentatively called out, and then saw the person immediately step forward. Upon seeing the person's face clearly, a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face.
"Secretary Li, you're back?"
"I just got back a few days ago!"
Upon meeting, Old Ding hurriedly shouted to the people behind him, "What are you all standing there for? Help!"
People surged forward from behind, and many greeted Li Hongfeng warmly as Secretary Li.
The two strong young men took the wood and continued forward, while Li Hongfeng, feeling uneasy, patted himself down, but found nothing. Then he remembered something and quickly turned around to look behind him.
Seeing this, Officer Wang quickly took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his coat pocket.
Li Hongfeng took it and casually handed it to the man in front of him.
When Lao Yu saw the cigarette in Li Hongfeng's hand, he immediately rubbed his hands together. It was so early in the morning, and he hadn't even started work yet. He might as well have one first.
The three of them lit up and stood by the roadside.
"Old Yu, how's the bridge you guys are building coming along?"
"I heard from above that the steel bars and cement you requested are still on their way?"
Old Ma asked, and Old Yu scratched his head, then carefully took a puff of air, "Don't say anything. The goods have been cleared, but you know the road conditions. If we want to deliver them, the railway in front of us has to be built first."
Old Ma shook his head. "If you wait until the railway is repaired before sending it, there probably won't be anything left!"
"Huh? Didn't you say it would be soon?"
Old Yu was somewhat surprised. He worked in this remote mountain village, and all the news from the outside world came from the postman when he came in.
Even a radio might not have a signal here.
"Fast my ass!"
"I've been working here for six years already. You say it's almost over? Does that mean there are still six years left?"
"And then another six years?"
Old Ma said speechlessly, then looked at the group carrying things to the side, "Be careful, it's slippery, don't drop the parts!"
The people in the group listened without saying a word, each gritting their teeth and carefully moving forward.
Old Yu then looked at Li Hongfeng and asked, "Secretary Li, I heard you went to Beijing. Why are you back?"
Li Hongfeng nodded, "I came back this time to see everyone and also to deliver something to check on its effectiveness."
Old Yu listened and his gaze fell on the marching procession. "Is this what you're talking about?"
"Is it really possible?"
"Don't lie to me!"
Li Hongfeng nodded, then saw Director Hu in the crowd, who was inspecting parts with the team.
To be honest, when they first met, he didn't have a very good impression of Director Hu.
He particularly disliked the other person's mercenary nature.
However, spending these few days together gradually changed his senses.
First of all, the other party did not sit in the car, but followed the group on foot.
Secondly, although the other party was an educated person, he did not complain of pain when carrying the load, and even kept up with the pace of the journey.
Third, and most importantly, what changed his impression of the other party was that during their breaks, they would always take time to inspect the parts, and even during their free time, they would stand next to the parts, for fear that the parts would be bumped or damaged.
What ulterior motives might someone who takes their work so seriously have?
"Xiao Hu!"
Li Hongfeng greeted him, and Director Hu immediately ran over upon hearing the voice.
"Secretary Li!"
"Xiao Hu, this is Captain Yu. Talk to him about our tunnel boring machine!"
Li Hongfeng left the professional issues to the professionals.
Upon hearing this, Director Hu immediately stepped forward warmly, "Captain Yu, hello, I'm from the First Ministry of Machine Building..."
After Director Hu finished speaking, Captain Yu's face immediately showed a look of surprise.
Then, after repeatedly confirming, "What, what kind of tunnel boring machine is this? Can it really dig dozens of meters a day?"
Director Hu nodded seriously, "Yes, this has already been used on the Changyan Railway and has been proven effective."
"Moreover, our current tunnel boring machine is a refurbished version of the original, so the performance will only be better."
At this point, Director Hu couldn't help but look at Li Hongfeng, "Secretary Li, we owe the design drawings for this tunnel boring machine to the Ninth Division."
Li Hongfeng simply waved his hand and said, "Your First Ministry of Machine Building has the strength and ability, so it's the most suitable place for you."
Director Hu just smiled when he heard that.
But deep down, he knew that strength and ability were only part of it; the most important thing was the bond between them.
People used to say that the Ninth Department was like the daughter of the First Ministry of Machine Building who had married out, but now it seems like they're more like sons. A married daughter-in-law is like water spilled from a bowl; bringing home a piece of meat is considered filial piety.
But the Ninth Division simply provided a pig farm; if they wanted meat, they could slaughter pigs themselves.
As the two were chatting and laughing, Captain Yu looked at Lao Ma, who took a deep drag on his cigarette and then slowly blew out the smoke, saying, "Don't look at me, I just found out too."
"But we'll be at Mount Eight soon, we can go and see what it looks like."
With Lao Ma saying this, Captain Yu became interested as well, "Okay, let's go together then."
Li Hongfeng smiled and didn't say much. He simply stomped his cigarette butt into the soil, then stepped forward and said, "Since you're going, hurry up, the sun's already up."
Upon hearing this, Lao Ma and the others looked up at the sky, and sure enough, a fireball radiating light had appeared on the distant mountain peak, and the surrounding mist was slowly dissipating.
"Captain, are the orders from above accurate?"
Li Bing stood in front of the crowd. The people around him glanced at the time, then at the road ahead, and couldn't help but grumble, "We were all ready, isn't this just a delay?"
Li Bing just shook his head when he heard this, "I don't know either. Anyway, that's the message the communications officer received. Everyone is waiting here to welcome some tunnel boring machine!"
What is a tunnel boring machine?
"I wish I knew."
As they were talking, Sister Shan walked up to her son, followed by two girls: her daughter-in-law Wang Jingjing and her daughter Li Xia.
Since receiving her husband's letter and learning that he would be returning soon, Sister Shan asked Li Bing to notify their daughter, who works in the performing arts troupe, to come back.
But these days have passed and there has been no movement at all.
This made their family a little anxious.
"Soldier, what exactly happened?"
"It's almost the entire morning, why hasn't anyone arrived yet?"
"Should we send someone to greet them?"
As Sister Shan offered her suggestions, Li Bing also felt that continuing to wait here was somewhat passive. Just as he was thinking of sending someone to check, he heard a series of shouts.
Gradually, the sound grew louder and louder, and the surrounding discussions gradually subsided. Then, everyone's eyes turned to the mountain path not far away.
"Hey!"
"Hey~~"
The sound grew louder and louder, and figures appeared ahead.
"Yes, it's Dad!"
Li Xia, the daughter, was holding her sister-in-law's arm when she saw the people in front of her and immediately recognized the leader as her father.
Having a daughter late in life, Li Xia enjoyed a great deal of fatherly love from her father.
Although she couldn't see the face clearly from a distance, she recognized the person at a glance by their walking posture and the way they swung their arms.
Meanwhile, Sister Shan, who was standing to the side, nodded, with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Quick, go help!"
The group rushed forward in a flurry.
Li Hongfeng looked at his little daughter who had buried her face in his arms and kept patting her back, saying, "My little girl is all grown up now, don't cry, don't cry."
"Dad, why are you only coming back now?"
"I thought you didn't want us anymore."
His daughter was crying in his arms. Li Hongfeng bit his lip and then looked at his wife, who was smiling beside him.
Though no words were spoken, they spoke volumes.
"dad!"
Li Bing came up and called out shyly.
The father in front of him was the same father who had chased after him with a belt.
Logically speaking, he should be very happy to be free from his father's control.
But every time I am alone at night, I always think of my father's earnest admonitions beside me.
After becoming the team leader, I felt even more deeply about how hard my father had worked.
"Well, good job."
Li Hongfeng nodded in satisfaction, while Li Bing scratched his head, then, as if remembering something, called Wang Jingjing to his side, "Dad, this is Comrade Wang Jingjing."
"Jingjing, call him Dad!"
Li Hongfeng's head was spinning, and before he could react, he heard a soft, sweet voice, "Dad, Dad!"
"What are you standing there for? The child is calling you."
Then he heard his wife's voice, and Li Hongfeng realized what was happening, followed by a burst of joy.
My son is about to get married and start a family.
Great, that's good news.
With a smile on his face, Li Hongfeng quickly agreed, "Okay, okay!"
While agreeing, he rummaged through his pockets.
He tossed the cigarettes and lighter to his son, then, as if remembering something, slapped his forehead and shouted to his grandson behind him, "Grandson, bring me my bag."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Sun rushed over and handed over a green canvas bag embroidered with five-pointed stars and printed with the words "Serve the People." Everyone immediately turned their attention to it.
Li Hongfeng took the canvas bag and pulled out a square radio, which immediately drew gasps from the crowd.
"I came in a hurry this time and didn't prepare anything else."
"This radio is a new model from Beijing, so I'm giving it to you two as a wedding gift."
"I hope that the two of you can live in harmony and work together to build the revolution."
As he spoke, Li Hongfeng handed the radio to Wang Jingjing, who was somewhat dazed.
"Jingjing, catch it quickly, don't let it fall!"
Hearing Li Bing's urging voice, Wang Jingjing quickly wiped her hands on her pants and then carefully took the gift, saying, "Thank you, Dad."
At the same time, their faces were filled with happiness.
For other girls in the village, getting a washbasin for their wedding was considered a great privilege.
But she actually has a radio; how lucky she is!
Li Hongfeng nodded to Li Bing, and then looked at his wife beside him.
"Xiao Dan, I'm back."
Sister Shan was caught off guard by Li Hongfeng's sudden remark, but replied casually, "Yes, I knew you were coming back."
Li Hongfeng smiled; this was his woman.
"Come on, I'll show you. This time we brought back a tunnel boring machine, something none of you have ever seen before."
Li Hongfeng showed off to his family like a child presenting a treasure.