After reaching the County Seat, Li Long first dropped Gu Xiaoyu off at the Big Courtyard. Gu Xiaoxia was already on vacation and had been waiting there for them.
They exchanged brief greetings and asked how each other had been, then Li Long drove Li Juan to the Fourth Team.
Gu Xiaoyu stayed at the Big Courtyard. Gu Xiaoxia had already set up the stove beside the guest room, and the heated wall was toasty warm. There was not a trace of dampness inside-a completely different world from the ice and snow outdoors.
After putting away the luggage, the sisters sat on the bed holding hands and talking.
"As soon as their vacation started, Mingming and Haohao wanted to go to their grandfather's, so I sent them over early," Gu Xiaoxia said with a smile. "It's been several years since we last saw each other, hasn't it? We'll have a good chat over the next few days. Oh, stay here tonight, and tomorrow I'll drive you to the Team to see Dad and Auntie Song."
Although they often spoke on the phone, they had even more to say face-to-face. Gu Xiaoxia said her younger sister had lost weight, while Gu Xiaoyu thought her older sister looked as young as ever. As they chatted, they brought up all sorts of trivial matters, bursting into laughter now and then.
If Sister Yang had not called them to eat from outside, they probably could have talked all day.
When Li Long drove Li Juan to the Fourth Team, everyone in the Li family came out at the sound of the car. Even his mother, Du Chunfang, who often felt the cold, came to the gate. Smiles covered their faces as they watched Li Juan get out, each offering words of concern.
Without needing