The 70s Novel: The Supporting Character Just Wants to Lie Down-Chapter 203: Visiting the Jiang Family

The Spring Festival of 1976 was celebrated amidst a flurry of heavy snow.

This winter was particularly cold.

After the New Year, as the sky just cleared, Wang Baoxing and Liu Yulan slowly began packing their luggage.

Yang Zhigang had already bought train tickets for them for the 7th, two sleeper tickets. They were going to Beijing, to the Jiang Family, which is their daughter’s husband’s home, as guests.

"Yulan, should we bring these jars of pickles too?" Wang Baoxing looked at the three jars with hesitation, thinking that the in-laws’ house probably has everything, how could they care for these things, bringing them over might be laughable.

But Liu Yulan didn’t think so. While packing the things, she said, "What do you know, Mr. Jiang likes them. At that banquet, there was a dish of shredded pork with mustard greens, a sour radish old duck soup, and the old master loved it, he found it delicious."

"Ah? Really?" Wang Baoxing was dumbfounded, recalling that day’s events, but alas, as if it was a blank, he had no impression.

"Oh? Yeah, trust me, it’s the right decision, hurry up and pack them, be careful. Uh... better use straw to cushion them, so they don’t get bumped and broken along the way." Liu Yulan said, bringing over a bundle of straw from the back kitchen.

Since Liu Yulan had instructed so, Wang Baoxing didn’t raise any further objections, taking the straw and wrapping it between the jars and outside each jar, then packing them up.

On the early morning of the 7th, Yang Zhigang drove over, picked up the couple, and took them all the way to the train station, waited until their luggage was sent off before returning. Back at the factory, he called Jiang Yan to inform him that the parents-in-law had already been put on the train and asked him to be attentive in picking them up.

This arrangement showed the meticulousness of the two sons-in-law.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan put down the phone, thought for a moment, then walked out of the office to Wang Miaomiao’s small office, pulled over a chair, and sat right next to her.

Wang Miaomiao was working, seeing him so close, it was impacting her work, she cast him an annoyed glance, "Move over, don’t get so close."

"It’s so cold, I should get closer to keep you warm." Jiang Yan didn’t move away, but moved even closer, "How is it? Warm enough? Want me to warm your hands too?"

"Sigh..." Wang Miaomiao was helpless against his thick-skinned antics that happened several times a day, stopping her work to stretch out her two hands.

Jiang Yan, smiling, took her small hands and wrapped them in his big hands.

This year, the weather was very cold, and for a southerner like Wang Miaomiao, surviving in such cold weather in the north was truly difficult. She had to change the hot water in the saltwater bottle at least five times a day, keeping it in her clothes to feel a bit of warmth on her body.

Seeing how cold she was, Jiang Yan would always stick around whenever he had a chance to warm her hands.

"Just got a call from brother-in-law saying mom and dad are safely on the train." Unable to resist, Jiang Yan stroked her small hand, the delicate and smooth skin making him feel a tickle inside.

"Really..." Wang Miaomiao was happy, "What time will they arrive tomorrow? Let’s go together to pick them up."

"Okay, at nine in the morning, we’ll go together."

Jiang Yan lingered around Wang Miaomiao for over half an hour before being shooed back to his own office. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The next day, the 8th, was a Sunday.

Jiang Yan took Wang Miaomiao to the station by a little after eight, and they found a good spot early to wait.

The train slowly pulled into the platform, Jiang Yan asked Wang Miaomiao to wait there, and he quickly got on the train, soon finding both father-in-law and mother-in-law.

"Dad, Mom, it’s been a long journey." Jiang Yan smiled, reaching to take the two large bags from Liu Yulan’s hands.

"Not tiring, Gangzi saw us off before we boarded, and now you’re here to pick us up, we had sleepers on the train, we could sleep, what’s tiring about that." Liu Yulan was sincere, she truly didn’t feel very tired, actually, she was even a bit excited and thrilled. First time on a train, first time traveling far.

The three crowded together and finally squeezed out.

Wang Miaomiao watched eagerly, rushing over when she caught sight of them, "Dad, Mom, I’m here. Are you tired..."

After another round of warm greetings, they quickly got in the car.

"Let’s settle in at the guest house first," Jiang Yan suggested.

"Ah? What time is it now? Is there still time? We shouldn’t keep the in-laws waiting." Liu Yulan also wanted to go to the guest house first for a rest.

"There’s time. It only takes a few minutes to get there. My house is just about ten minutes from here." Jiang Yan gave them reassurance, and Liu Yulan didn’t overthink it, going along with her son-in-law’s arrangement.

Soon, after Liu Yulan and Wang Baoxing tidied themselves up, changed clothes, and rearranged their gifts, they got back in the car with their things.

This little delay led to their arrival at the Jiang Family’s house at ten, but it wasn’t considered late.

"Ah, dear in-laws, you finally made it, please come in and sit. Xiao Xue, go make some tea quickly." Mr. Jiang, standing at the door with a cane to greet them, was indeed giving the Wang Family great respect.

As they entered the complex, Liu Yulan and Wang Baoxing were awestruck by the guards at the entrance, the garden villas one after another, they were dazzled.

Mr. Jiang’s words finally brought them back to reality.

"Ah, alright, auntie, uncle, come in quickly." Cheng Xue was very happy today, knowing her good friend was really going to be her younger aunt, and they’d be family, was fantastic. As for seniority, haha, letting Sister Miaomiao be her younger aunt, she had no pressure.

"Oh, okay, okay, grandpa in-law, why did you come out, please go inside, the wind is strong outside, don’t catch a chill." Liu Yulan and Wang Baoxing were ushered onto the sofa in the great hall and sat down.

Cheng Xue and Jiang Huilan had already made the tea and brought it over.

Today, everyone from the Jiang Family who should come back had returned, and Mr. Jiang called his grandchildren over to introduce them one by one to the Wang Family couple.

Looking at the Jiang Family, they had quite a few people, and Liu Yulan and Wang Baoxing recognized them by face.

"These are some specialties I brought from home, dried goods, fried goods and pickles, not worth much, don’t find them beneath you." Liu Yulan gestured toward the pile of things placed next to the sofa.

"Not at all, it’s enough that you came, no need to bring things from so far away, you’re too kind." Old Master Jiang beamed, looking very spirited, "The jar wrapped in straw contains pickled radishes? I can smell it, it’s very fragrant."

"Yes, you have a really keen nose." Liu Yulan was delighted to see he didn’t disparage it, and began unsealing the jar. Instantly, the unique aroma of pickles wafted through the living room.

Mr. Jiang directly bent down, carefully picked the top piece, and popped it into his mouth, nodding and praising, "This flavor is superb, really fragrant. The in-laws’ craftsmanship is impressive."

"Haha, as long as you like it." Liu Yulan smiled joyfully at the compliment.