With the matter settled, someone had to return to the ancestral home to retrieve the treasures.
However, sending just one person back would be inconvenient for transporting the treasures and could easily attract unwanted attention.
After much discussion, they decided the entire family would make the trip.
That way, each person could carry a piece or two, making it easy to bring the treasures back to the capital.
Moreover, they had a perfect excuse for returning now.
Their grandson was getting married, and the results of their three children's exams were out, with all of them performing well. It was a double celebration.
Hosting a banquet back home to entertain neighbors and relatives would be perfectly acceptable.
With that in mind, Grandma Su immediately arranged for everyone in the family to get busy.
Gifts needed to be prepared for the elders and close relatives back home.
Gifts for the families of the three daughters-in-law were essential. Although they disliked the couple from the Liang family, they couldn't show favoritism.
There were also some old friends and acquaintances in the village. Since they were making a trip back, it was only right to bring them gifts.
Items for the banquet at home also needed to be prepared in advance. It would be best to buy something unique to the capital to show respect.
Someone also needed to purchase train tickets.
Following Grandma Su's instructions, the entire family sprang into action.
When Li Mumu and Li Zhuzi, among others, arrived from Su Ciliang's house, they saw the family members bustling about their tasks.
Upon inquiry, they learned it was a double celebration, and they planned to return home for a banquet.
Li Zhuzi was overjoyed, his demeanor suggesting it was his own family celebrating.
"It's only right to hold a banquet back home so the folks there can share in the joy!"
Li Mumu, however, had a different perspective. People are prone to jealousy.
Given how well the Su family was doing now, would the people in their ancestral village truly be happy?
They might be consumed by envy and resentment.
But Li Mumu knew he couldn't voice these thoughts and ruin the cheerful atmosphere.
After all, with the eldest grandson getting married, returning home for a banquet was perfectly reasonable.
"Then I won't be going with you. I plan to return to Rongcheng!" Li Mumu announced.
Li Linlin was reluctant to part with her brother.
When they weren't together, she didn't feel much, but after meeting, the parting felt even more difficult.
Seeing her sister's eyes welling up, Li Mumu smiled and patted her head, saying, "How old are you now? You're married, yet you're still acting like a child."
Li Mumu's teasing dispelled her sadness.
Grandpa Su asked, "Mumu, you really aren't coming with us?"
Li Mumu replied, "The wedding ceremony has already taken place; it's just for hosting guests. I have other matters to attend to in Rongcheng."
"That's fine! Come to the capital more often in the future to see your sister. It would be best if you settled down in the capital."
Grandpa Su was quite fond of Mumu. He was grateful and a bright child.
Seeing the entire family making such a fuss about returning home, Su Xiaotian felt speechless.
She thought it wasn't necessary to go through all this trouble; she could have brought everything back to the capital by herself.
But if she had said that, many people would likely worry and become suspicious.
It was better for the whole family to go. This way, they wouldn't need to return for the New Year.
This summer vacation, she hadn't earned any money, so she couldn't waste the winter break. She had to make a good profit.
That evening, the family hung a sign outside the restaurant stating they were closed for seven days due to a family matter and embarked on their journey home.
The next morning, people were disappointed to see Yiming Pavilion closed again.
Yiming Pavilion had been closing quite often recently.
But since it was for a family celebration, what could they do?
Fortunately, it was only for seven days, and it would pass quickly.
Meanwhile, the Su family was already on the train, having slept through the night.
With more than twenty people, young and old, they were quite a crowd.
Although the items they carried weren't particularly valuable, the numerous bags and packages were eye-catching.
From the moment they entered the train station, many people were staring at them.
In those days, public security wasn't very good, and many people would target passengers' luggage on trains.
However, upon seeing their group, even some criminals hesitated to stare.
With so many strong young men, if they were caught, a single kick from each could be fatal!
Money was important, but life was more so. It was better not to snatch food from a tiger's mouth.
This was a large train station, and there were other "fat sheep" to be found.
Therefore, their journey was smooth.
The group arrived in the county town on the morning of the third day.
Transportation had improved considerably compared to a few years prior, and there was even an additional bus route heading towards Nanling Village.
However, they were a large group, and their family alone would fill a bus. Moreover, they were in a hurry to get back.
Su Laosan suggested they go to the bus depot to see if they could rent a vehicle to take them home.
The captain of the bus depot had changed, and Su Laosan didn't know him. However, he still had former colleagues at the depot, so Su Laosan quickly managed to rent a car.
The driver who took them was coincidentally an old colleague.
From his old colleague, Su Laosan learned that the county had changed a lot in recent years and that the bus depot was struggling, barely managing to stay afloat.
He also mentioned that the former food processing factory had now completely gone bankrupt.
When Qi Liangying heard about the food factory's bankruptcy, she secretly felt relieved.
Her decisive action to leave the food factory with a severance pay of five hundred yuan had been the right choice.
If she hadn't left decisively back then, she would likely be in the same pitiable situation as those who were unemployed and unpaid.
Thinking about how she had left in a huff back then, yet was now much better off than those people, Qi Liangying felt her back straighten a little.
She instantly felt a sense of returning home in triumph and became even more convinced that she needed to run her shop well.
Li Zhuzi and his wife hurried back to their own shop for a quick look before accompanying the Su family back to the village.
The reason for returning to the village was that the Su family was hosting guests, and Li Zhuzi and his wife were expected to help.
When the entire family arrived in Nanling Village, the villagers were quite shocked.
The Su family hadn't returned during the New Year, so why were they suddenly back now?
Some recalled hearing news that Li Zhuzi and his wife had taken their children to the capital because Su Shouwen, the eldest grandson of the Su family's eldest son, was getting married.
Their sudden return now led people to wonder if they planned to hold the wedding in the village.
The Su family had indeed come with that intention, so they didn't hide it and directly announced their double celebration.
The banquet was scheduled for the third day.
However, they had already begun preparations, inviting guests. They needed to start now, otherwise, it would be embarrassing if the banquet tables were set but no guests showed up.
Grandma Su dispatched the three sons and eight grandsons to invite guests.