The two workers Tan Zishi hired were retired soldiers, diligent and responsible.
Now, they not only helped make Liangpi, Liangfen, and sweet embryo products to earn money but also took care of several children.
The adopted children also knew that their stable life was due to Tan Zishi and his wife, so they were more sensible than children from ordinary families.
As they spent more time together, these people became like a family, lively and bustling.
Chi Ge was living alone. Since coming here and being with these children, his mood had improved significantly compared to before.
Under the care and guidance of these people, the children were all well-behaved and sensible.
This harmonious atmosphere was completely different from what Su Changjiu had imagined.
He had been to orphanages, and the children there were entirely different from the children here.
Children in orphanages always appeared lacking in confidence and timid, and their clothes were often ill-fitting.
When they met people, the children were listless and dared not approach.
Moreover, the children seemed to have poor relationships with each other, appearing cold and distant.
But the children in this private orphanage were not like that at all.
The older and younger children took care of each other.
And when they met people, they would greet them proactively.
Most importantly, the smiles on the children's faces were genuine.
They were sincere and radiant.
"These children are well cared for," Su Changjiu couldn't help but sigh.
If they weren't cared for so well, these children would absolutely not be in this state.
"It's all thanks to everyone's help that we have this," Tan Zishi said with emotion. "My name is Tan Zishi. We haven't met before, but I've heard your name."
For the past two days, when Su Changjiu heard the name Tan Zishi, he felt a sense of familiarity, and now he finally remembered.
Tan Zishi was no ordinary person.
He was once a prominent figure in the provincial capital.
After all, not many people in the area hadn't heard the name Tan Bancheng.
The last time he heard about Tan Zishi was about two years ago, when someone came to the village inquiring about Tan Zishi's whereabouts.
It was said that the person inquiring about Tan Zishi's whereabouts was Tan Zishi's son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.
This incident had caused quite a stir at the time.
How could Tan Zishi be in the capital?
Having his own children and grandchildren but not returning home to enjoy family life, instead raising a group of other people's children here, it was incomprehensible.
Su Changjiu didn't know if Tan Zishi knew that his descendants were looking for him.
He probed cautiously, "Two years ago, I heard that your children and grandchildren were looking for you everywhere. Do you know about this?"
Tan Zishi did not expect that his first conversation with Su Changjiu would be like this.
"Please excuse my appearance. I have no intention of returning. I've left the house to them, considering it my duty fulfilled for them."
If, back then, his children and grandchildren hadn't harbored ill intentions, attempting to bully Li Yuniang and ultimately forcing her to leave her hometown and come to the capital, perhaps their lives would have continued as they were.
But, precisely because those children were ambitious and could not tolerate Li Yuniang,
And they made Li Yuniang suffer greatly.
It was for this reason that he saw through those descendants and ultimately decided to distance himself from them.
"So you don't plan to go back?" Su Changjiu clearly did not expect to hear such words.
What did Tan Zishi's words mean?
Did he know his descendants were looking for him, but he still wouldn't go back?
"Village Chief, I have a request for you. If anyone asks about me after you return, please help me keep it a secret."
Su Changjiu was even more stunned. What did these words mean?
As someone who had been a village official his entire life, he could clearly understand the meaning behind these words.
This was clearly saying that if his descendants looked for him, he should absolutely not reveal his whereabouts.
Su Changjiu couldn't understand why.
After all, as elders and descendants, what kind of grievances couldn't be resolved?
Couldn't they just sit down and talk it through?
Why would it be like this?
But this was someone else's family matter, and Su Changjiu felt it was inappropriate to pry.
"I understand. Please don't worry," Su Changjiu nodded solemnly.
"We meet again," Chi Ge came over to greet Su Changjiu.
Chi Ge was the one who had the most contact with Su Changjiu among the group.
Since Su Changjiu arrived at Hongxin Brigade, he had received quite a bit of care from him.
Not only did he secretly send them food, but he also suppressed those radical villagers who intended to harm their grandparents.
Those years were not easy for Chi Ge, but he didn't suffer, which was already quite good.
During those years, people with overseas connections were almost unbearable, and the Chi family, with their children abroad, was already a sin.
When he first went to Hongxin Brigade, he even thought that he might never return to the capital.
If it weren't for Su Changjiu, the brigade leader who held great influence in the village, they wouldn't even know if their grandparents could survive.
"Elder Chi, hello! It's been a long time!"
"It has been several years. If my old bones weren't too frail to travel, I would have come to visit the village!" Chi Ge said with a smile.
Although it wasn't a good memory, having experienced it meant it was in the past.
Chi Ge did not intend to erase those years from his memory but planned to remember them forever.
Not only did he himself want to remember, but he also wanted Chi Yiyuan to remember.
After returning to the capital, Chi Ge had been teaching Chi Yiyuan to remember the days in the countryside and to remember the kind villagers who had helped them during their most difficult times.
That's right, Chi Ge always felt that the villagers of Hongxin Brigade were kind, even if some of them were indifferent to their grandparents.
But the fact that they didn't come to their door to bully them was already a manifestation of kindness.
"Please take good care of your health, Elder. If there's a chance in the future, I'll come to see you again," Su Changjiu said, taking a bag. "This bag contains some local mountain products. Our village doesn't have much else, just these simple things. Please try them."
Su Changjiu had indeed brought four gifts when he came.
Besides those for the Su family, there were also gifts for the Du family, the Chi family, and Su Taohua's family.
Chi Ge did not expect Su Changjiu to bring him a gift.
"Brigade Leader, you are too kind. Coming all this way, just seeing you is enough to acknowledge our bond," Chi Ge said emotionally as he accepted the small bag.