"My mom and dad wouldn't go that far!"
Qin Chuan grinned and shook his head. They were adults, not children, and it hadn't even been a month since he last saw them, so it wasn't like they'd be missing him desperately.
"Actually, when I go back to the village this time, I want to bring my parents here to manage the supermarket!"
Qin Chuan explained to Li Ya.
"My parents are getting old, and their health isn't great either. They can't work in the fields like before, doing heavy, tough labor!"
"And our supermarket has always lacked someone reliable and meticulous, right? It just occurred to me that no one would be more suitable or reliable than my parents!"
As Qin Chuan finished speaking, Li Ya nodded quickly.
"Xiao Chuan, that's a wonderful idea. Your aunt and uncle really shouldn't continue to toil in the fields back in the village!"
"Putting them in charge of the supermarket is the perfect solution!"
"As it happens, I don't have anything pressing for the next couple of days. Why don't I go with you to visit your aunt and uncle? I haven't seen them in quite some time either, and I miss them!"
"What?!"
Qin Chuan, who had been smiling broadly, was startled by Li Ya's last sentence. His smile froze on his face.
"I said I'd go with you to visit your aunt and uncle. What's wrong? Your face suddenly turned so pale?"
Li Ya stared at Qin Chuan's face, full of confusion.
"No... no! It's just that I'm worried it might be... inappropriate for you to come along!"
Qin Chuan quickly explained.
This was no joke. Besides picking up his parents and sister-in-law this trip, he also wanted to see Teacher Yang. The thought of Teacher Yang, elegant and dressed simply, appearing like a fairy descending to earth, made his heart burn.
Under these circumstances, how could he dare let Li Ya come along?
That would be suicidal, starting the game on hell mode. His brain wasn't kicked by a donkey, so why would he do something so foolish?
"Inappropriate how?"
"Your aunt and uncle have met me before, and we have a good relationship."
Li Ya pouted her rosy, alluring lips, looking a bit unhappy.
"Sister, you're misunderstanding. I'm not talking about your relationship with my parents, but about other factors!"
Qin Chuan's mind raced, his brain cells never working as actively as at this moment.
"You're from the city and don't know much about rural customs. In my hometown, only married women are allowed to visit the man's family home. Otherwise, it's not proper to go at other times!"
"Otherwise, people in the village will gossip and talk. They'll think the woman is promiscuous!"
Qin Chuan tried to make the consequences sound as dire as possible, emphasizing his tone as if something terrible would happen if Li Ya really insisted on going.
Li Ya was genuinely frightened by Qin Chuan's words, staring blankly. She hadn't expected such dire consequences.
Seeing this, Qin Chuan stepped forward, gently pulling Li Ya into his embrace. He lowered his head, inhaling her fragrance, and began to wrap things up.
"Sister, I'll only be back in the village for two or three days at most. If you really want to see my parents, it won't be too late to see them then!"
"And I actually have something I need your help with!"
Li Ya's attention was successfully diverted. She instinctively asked, "What is it?"
"Renting a place!"
Qin Chuan quickly uttered the three words.
"I'm bringing my parents over this time, so of course, we need to sort out their living arrangements. My sister-in-law is also coming, so we'll need to rent a spacious place!"
"Preferably a connected, standalone courtyard house. I think only you can handle this matter with peace of mind! Far better than those rough and tough men under me!"
"Oh, you! So, in your heart, I'm just someone who can help you rent a place?"
Li Ya lightly hit Qin Chuan's chest, but her tone and expression clearly indicated she was playfully pouting.
Qin Chuan quickly comforted her with gentle words and sweet talk. A few minutes later, he had Li Ya beaming with joy, and she no longer mentioned going to the village with him.
Watching Li Ya's departing taxi, Qin Chuan sighed deeply, a sense of shame rising within him.
He was disgusted with his own scummy behavior. He had such a wonderful woman like Li Ya, yet he was still thinking about getting involved with other women.
But the thought of Teacher Yang, like a fairy, made Qin Chuan unable to control himself. Perhaps he was never meant to be a good man.
He wasn't in his past life, and he couldn't be one in this life either!
With complex emotions, Qin Chuan drove to the construction site, where he met his elder and second brothers.
He explained his reason for coming and asked if they wanted to go back to the village with him.
Like Qin Chuan, his eldest brother, Qin Yang, and second brother, Qin Gang, hadn't been back to the village in a long time.
"Go back, of course, we'll go back!"
Second Brother Qin immediately responded excitedly.
"Everything is normal at the construction site, and we have time to go home!"
"Especially Elder Brother, he really should go back. He hasn't seen his wife and child in so long; he must miss them dearly."
Qin Chuan looked at his eldest brother and noticed Qin Yang blushing slightly and appearing embarrassed.
Although the county town was only about half an hour away from Nanyang Village, ever since the three brothers came out together, they had been busy for over two months, and none of them had returned home.
Qin Chuan and Qin Gang were bachelors, so it didn't matter. But Qin Yang had a wife and a young child.
"Then we'll all go home. I'm the boss, and I make the decisions!"
Qin Chuan waved his hand grandly. An hour later, the three brothers, carrying the gifts they had bought, got into the car and headed straight home, eager to return.
Qin Gang was driving; he had learned to drive at the construction site at some point.
About half an hour later, Nanyang Village appeared before them.
It was already July. Unlike when they had left, this season's small mountain village was surrounded by green hills, blooming flowers, lush trees, and a clear blue sky with white clouds.
Everywhere they looked were breathtaking mountain vistas, like a paradise.
The fields were lined with fruit trees laden with ripe fruit, and the corn seedlings in the farmlands rippled like green waves, stretching endlessly. Occasionally, they could see villagers working in the fields, a towel draped over their shoulders, hoe in hand.
When they occasionally straightened up from their work, they were greeted by smiling faces full of hope. For all farmers, the crops in the fields were their very lives, and they cared for them immensely!
Inside the Santana, the three Qin brothers were all captivated by the magnificent scenery, unable to resist slowing down the car.
"It's so beautiful!"
"I never realized our remote little mountain village was so pretty!"
Second Brother Qin exclaimed, his face filled with enchantment.
"Yes, it's my first time realizing it too!"
Elder Brother Qin Yang echoed, his expression equally filled with awe.
Qin Chuan could understand their feelings. He had felt the same way once.
For wanderers who had been away for a long time, returning to their hometown and seeing every blade of grass and tree felt exceptionally familiar.