After the Divorce, I Could Hear the Voice of the Future

The news about the annual meeting is still fermenting online, but Lu Liang seems to have vanished into thin air, suddenly disappearing without a trace.

Only a few snippets came out, saying that Lu Liang held a meeting the day after the annual meeting and then left Modu.

It's rumored online that the meeting involved company restructuring, and it is said that Lu Liang plans to integrate existing resources to complete the transition from a limited liability company to a group company.

However, this news, like Old Ma abandoning his apprentice and Sun Yuchen as Liangzi's chief senior disciple, has neither been confirmed nor denied.

Moreover, as it's a dull business change, apart from those involved, other netizens wouldn't even glance at it.

Netizens are more enthusiastic about discussing the annual meeting's prizes, with rumors of an average reward of 98,000 making them envious and jealous.

It turns out that even among those in the same workfield, the gap can be so large; their annual salary is only someone else's year-end prize.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Lu Liang left Modu, first went to Beijing, then to Su City, took a tour, and finally returned to Modu, taking Su Wanyu to their hometown.

It should be said that it was the year before last, after Lu retired from the hometown's mold factory, he stayed idle at home for a long while.

Maybe he was too idle; not yet sixty years old, with grandchildren needing to attend school, but no grandchildren for him to take care of.

Although he initially enjoyed being a village sage, relishing the respect, and the days of managing village disputes.

But over time, he inevitably felt bored and wanted to find a quieter place to plant flowers and raise fish.

So, the couple decided together, took a few million from Lu Liang, and contracted several hills.

On one hand, to avoid social obligations, and on the other, to find something to do for themselves.

That morning, Lu Ya drove an Audi A4 purchased after a significant injury, and brought Lu Liang's family to the foot of a mountain.

She walked in front, pointing the way while smiling and saying, "Yu, bring Siqing over often to keep the old folks company; Lu has grown so enlightened over these years that I feel even if he became a monk someday, I wouldn't be surprised."

"Is it really that exaggerated?"

Lu Liang panted heavily; though his hands were free, he had a little one weighing fifteen or sixteen pounds sitting on his neck.

Though she wasn't yet a year old, and had very short hair, Su Wanyu eagerly dressed her up with two pigtails on her head, each tied with a cute little flower.

It must be the little one's first time climbing a mountain, as she was very excited, constantly swinging her legs on her dad's neck, and each movement made the bells on her ankles ring crisply.

"You'll see later." Lu Ya sighed.

A father's desire for his child to succeed is common, but when they do succeed, the father may feel a sense of loss.

Especially in Lu Liang's case, where for the first thirty years, they couldn't offer him much help and only created trouble for him, forcing him to marry early.

After the divorce, he ascended rapidly, unstoppable, and anyone would have regrets, wondering if things would have been different had past actions not taken place.

These thoughts are not only in the parents' minds but also in Lu Ya's, so she never interferes in Lu Liang's relationships.

She even immediately went to the United Kingdom to look after Su Wanyu upon one phone call to do so, without any hesitation.

But she has a husband, children, her own family, while the parents' family includes her and Lu Liang.

Su Wanyu quietly tugged at Lu Liang's coat: "On the third day of Lunar New Year, you should head back to Modu first. Siqing and I will stay at home for a few more days; I have to wait until the thirteenth to start school anyway."

She can understand Lu Liang's father's feelings. The biggest fear of parents is not being needed by their children, especially traditional elders.

Since they became aware, they haven't lived for themselves. Initially, it's about earning money, then it's about supporting a family. After having a family, it's for the children, and after having grandchildren, it's for the grandchildren again.

Just like her parents now can still worry about their younger brother, whether he can find a girlfriend, whether he can adapt to working within a certain system.

Lu Liang doesn't need his parents to worry. Even if his parents wanted to do something, they wouldn't know what to do, like kites cut loose, drifting without an aim.

She wanted to stay a few more days, to help his parents find the feeling of being needed again.

Lu Liang nodded slightly, took out a tissue, and gently wiped the sweat from Su Wanyu's nose.

"Are you tired? Let me hold her for a while."

Su Wanyu smiled lightly, took the tissue and wiped Lu Liang's sweat, reaching out to take down the little one.

"Bah-bah~" The little one looked reluctant, holding onto Lu Liang's head, unwilling to let go.

"Stop showing off, we're almost there."

Lu Ya glanced at them, her expression full of annoyance.

Early in the morning, she hadn't even sent her children to school and was already climbing a mountain with Lu Liang, and now she had to endure their public display of affection.

After walking for more than ten minutes, a clearing spanning several thousand square meters appeared, along with a large wooden house.

Lu Liang took a deep breath, too tired to complain: "Lu really is something, choosing such a steep mountain instead of one of the nearby smaller hills. Anyone who doesn't know might think he's planting poppies."

"Because it's steep, it's hard to walk, and if it's hard to walk, fewer people will come," Lu Ya said, her words full of wisdom.

"Is that something Lu said?" Lu Liang was surprised.

"He was a technical school student back in the day, knew a lot more than we do now. Before Rongxing molds restructured, it was a military factory."

"That's true."

Looking back, Lu Tiechui was once the most handsome young man for miles around and skilled in lathe and milling techniques.

During that era, technicians could literally handcraft a rocket launcher.

But times have changed, and now those skilled workers have become either workers or grandfathers.

"Siqing, you're about to meet your grandpa. You met during Mid-autumn, but you probably don't remember now."

Lu Liang carefully lifted the little one from his neck. Next to the wooden house, an old farmer was watering the plants.

Upon seeing them, he exclaimed, "Didn't you say the 28th? Why are you back today?"

Lu Liang chuckled, "The company's matters are settled, thought I'd come back early since there wasn't much else to do and have a few more days off."

"Uncle, where should these things go?"

Fang Shiyu, a human climbing machine, carried dozens of pounds without a change in expression or breath.

"Still as sturdy as ever, just find a place to put them down."

Lu smiled broadly, glanced at Su Wanyu, and said, "It's good to have you back, good to have you home."

He quickly washed his hands, dried them, his old face filled with joy, as he half-crouched next to the little one, teasing, "Siqing, do you remember grandpa?"

Su Wanyu prompted, "Siqing, this is grandpa~"

"Yeah-yeah~ya~"

The little one, barely over five months old, didn't yet understand the concepts of dad, mom, or grandpa.

But she sensed that making this sound would make the always-present Su Wanyu happy.

"Our Siqing is so smart, already calling grandpa at just over five months old."

Lu beamed with joy, reluctant to touch the baby's soft cheeks with his rough fingers.

The commotion outside attracted Lu's mother from inside the house. When she opened the door, her face was full of smiles.

"It's a bit cold outside, come in and sit down," she quickly said, wearing a Canada Goose jacket.

As soon as they entered, she held the little one, then pulled Su Wanyu along, smiling, "This coat is light, thin, and warm; in below-zero weather, you only need a thermal shirt under it."

"As long as you like it, that's all that matters," Su Wanyu smiled sheepishly.

Seeing Lu Liang's puzzled expression, Lu Ya rolled her eyes at him and said, "A while ago, Mom had a birthday. Yu sent a coat over. Not everyone is like you."

Lu Liang finally understood and grinned sheepishly, "Nice."

At noon, the family gathered in the log cabin to enjoy a hot pot meal, and although it was in the wild mountains, the water, electricity, and internet were all connected.

As long as there's internet, Lu Liang could stay here, and for a few days, he lived a life as peaceful as enjoying chrysanthemums by the eastern fence and seeing Nanshan leisurely.

"Siqing, you're about to meet your grandpa. You met during Mid-autumn, though you probably don't remember now."

Lu Liang picked up the little one from his neck, and they saw an old farmer watering and fertilizing near a wooden house.

When the old farmer saw them coming, he was surprised and said, "Wasn't it supposed to be the 28th? Why are you back today?"

Lu Liang smiled and said, "I finished the company's business, thought I'd come back early since there wasn't much else to do and have a few more days off."

"Uncle, where should I leave these things?"

Fang Shiyu, akin to a human mountain climber, carried dozens of pounds of items without changing his expression or losing breath.

"Always so strong, just put them down somewhere,"

Lu Tiechui beamed and glanced at Su Wanyu, exclaiming, "It's good to have you back. It's good to have you back."

He hurriedly washed his hands, dried them, and grinned, crouching down next to the little one, who was toddling around by the wood house, "Siqing, do you remember grandpa?"

Su Wanyu reminded, "Siqing, this is grandpa~"

"Gr-gra~pa~," the little one babbled happily.

Seeing the smile on Su Wanyu's face, the little one knew that making this sound would make her happy.

"Our Siqing is so smart, already over five months and calling grandpa," Lu beamed with a wide smile, his rough fingers gently brushing against the baby's soft cheeks, almost reluctant to touch them.

The commotion outside caught the attention of Lu's mother inside the house. She opened the door, looked out, and exclaimed with joy.

"Isn't it the 28th? Why are you back today?" she asked, seeing them there.

Lu Liang chuckled and said, "I finished up with the company, so I thought since nothing else was keeping me, I'd come back a little earlier and enjoy a few more days off."

"Uncle, where should these things be put?"

Fang Shiyu, still strong and energetic, carried several kilograms' worth of things without losing his breath or turning red.

"You're still so sturdy; just put them down anywhere,"

Lu Tiechui smiled broadly as he looked at Su Wanyu with gratitude: "It's good to have you back, it's good to have you here."

He hastily washed his hands, wiped them dry, his old face beaming with joy, squatting down slightly, and started to entertain the little one, saying, "Siqing, do you remember Grandpa from Mid-autumn?"

Su Wanyu gently encouraged, "Siqing, say Grandpa~"

"Grandpa~ya~"

The little one, understanding that making this sound would please Su Wanyu, pronounced it with a tone that delighted her.

"Our Siqing is so smart! Already calling Grandpa at just five months!"

Lu Tiechui smiled brightly, looking at the baby whose cheeks were so delicate that he couldn't bear to touch them with his calloused fingers.

The commotion outside drew the attention of Lu's mother, who stepped out of the house, beaming.

"It's a little chilly outside, come in and sit for a while," she said as she opened the door, wearing a Canada Goose jacket.

As they entered the house, she picked up the little one, while holding onto Su Wanyu, she smiled, "This jacket is so light, thin, and keeps me warm. Even when it's below zero, I just need a thermal shirt under it."

"As long as you like it," Su Wanyu replied with a light smile.

Noticing Lu Liang's puzzled expression, Lu Ya rolled her eyes at him and said, "Mom's birthday was just a while ago. Yu sent a jacket over. Not everyone is like you."

Lu Liang suddenly understood, chuckling, "That's great."

The family had a hotpot in the wooden house for lunch, and even though it was in a remote mountainous area, there were electricity, water, and internet connections.

With access to the internet, Lu Liang found himself quite comfortable there. And for a few days, he enjoyed a life reminiscent of living near the eastern fence and leisurely looking at Nanshan.

"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Let's head down the mountain and prepare for the new year celebrations," said Lu Tiechui.

Lu Liang smiled, holding the little one with his left hand and holding Su Wanyu's hand, as the three of them leisurely made their way down the mountain.