Beijing Railway Station

Feeling his mother's excitement, her eyes sparkling, Zhao Dongchuan couldn't help but be stunned.

He never realized his cheap mother had a talent for business, seeing the potential in the 'fan economy' so early.

If my works get published in the future, having Guo Ping as my agent would be a great idea!

Zhao Dongchuan thought silently.

"Mom, I'm leaving tomorrow, and you won't be able to buy that magazine so quickly, I'm afraid it'll be too late!" Zhao Dongchuan said with a slight smile.

"It's fine, buying a magazine is quick. I don't know if other places have it, but Xinhua Bookstore in Wangfujing definitely sells it!" Zhao Zhengguo also responded with a laugh, very supportive of his wife's idea.

Xinhua Bookstore in Wangfujing is known as the "Republic's First Store," the first Xinhua Bookstore in the capital, ranking first in cumulative sales and number of readers served.

Zhao Zhengguo considered that these signed copies were definitely not for selling for money, which would be too vulgar and impractical.

They were mainly for gifting, which would not only be unique but also elevate his status, and he could even brag about his son's signed copies, which was incredibly satisfying.

Seeing both his parents agree to the idea, Zhao Dongchuan naturally didn't object.

After he finished signing all the magazines, Zhao Zhengguo put them all into a bag.

Good wine and delicious dishes were served, and the three of them stopped talking about the topic, beginning to enjoy this rare and wonderful time.

A child traveling far worries his mother; at the dinner table, Guo Ping still couldn't help but repeatedly tell Zhao Dongchuan to pay attention to keeping warm, resting, and eating on time, but she didn't urge him to find a wife anymore.

Zhao Dongchuan naturally nodded in agreement.

He understood his parents' feelings at this moment; although he had been recruited into a unit and didn't have to work in the fields, he was still so far away.

After returning this time, they might not see each other for a whole year, so it was inevitable to feel a bit sad.

This reminded him of migrant workers in later generations, feeling a certain similarity; they all left their Hometowns to work in other places, only returning to their Hometown for a period of rest during the New Year, then leaving home again.

However, he was going from the capital to Huangyuan, while they came from all over the country to the capital.

Such a mass migration resulted in many villages being empty after the New Year, with young laborers flocking to big cities, leaving only elderly parents to care for children, inevitably leading to many more left-behind children.

"Actually, I might be able to come back and visit in a while!" Zhao Dongchuan suddenly thought of something and said to Zhao Zhengguo and Guo Ping with a smile.

"What? Really? Are you being transferred back?" Guo Ping asked excitedly upon hearing this.

Zhao Zhengguo also looked at him with anticipation.

"A job transfer is hard to say right now, but coming to the capital on a business trip is possible!" Zhao Dongchuan said with a slight smile.

"Didn't I submit an article to Peoples Literature? Since it was accepted, the magazine might ask me for more manuscripts, and they might even invite me to the capital to discuss it.

Then wouldn't I have another chance to come back, and legitimately so!"

"Oh, that's true, why didn't I think of that!" Guo Ping immediately said, surprised.

Zhao Zhengguo also nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.

Suddenly, the previously somewhat somber atmosphere immediately became lively, and both Zhao Zhengguo and Guo Ping's spirits lifted considerably.

Their family wasn't like others with several siblings; due to Guo Ping's poor health, Zhao Dongchuan was their only son, so they naturally doted on him exceptionally.

Dinner passed in a joyful atmosphere.

Zhao Dongchuan accompanied his father, Zhao Zhengguo, in finishing the entire bottle of moutai, and Guo Ping also had a few sips.

After dinner, Zhao Dongchuan helped Guo Ping clear the table and wash the dishes, then helped the tipsy Zhao Zhengguo into the house and onto the bed.

After washing up, they all went to sleep.

...

Zhao Dongchuan lay in bed, not yet asleep.

He was still considering how to set up spatial coordinates.

Originally, he planned to set a spatial coordinate point directly in his bedroom for convenient travel, but if someone suddenly appeared out of nowhere and his parents saw it, wouldn't they be scared to death? So, this wasn't suitable either.

The secret base in Huangyuan and the cave dwelling in Shuangshui Village were both his own houses, and no one would enter them, so he naturally wasn't worried.

But in the capital, he didn't have his own house.

Should he set it in some obscure corner? That wouldn't be safe either!

No, his thinking hadn't shifted.

Since he didn't have one, it was fine if someone else did.

He thought of Director Li from the neighborhood office; that pot-bellied old man was quite a playboy.

He had mentioned last time that he had two houses, which was a backup plan.

And Li Zhou… he hadn't forgotten this mastermind.

To pursue the "campus belle," he had arranged for himself to go to the countryside in Northern Shaanxi to settle down.

For a pampered child to go to such a poor and desolate place, wasn't that intentionally leaving him to fend for himself?

He didn't even need to kill someone himself; he was truly ruthless.

Just like that, Zhao Dongchuan slowly drifted off to sleep amidst his wandering thoughts...

The next day, early in the morning, Zhao Dongchuan got up early and helped Guo Ping make breakfast.

After breakfast, Guo Ping went to Xinhua Bookstore in Wangfujing to buy magazines.

He then helped with some housework and packed his things.

Soon, Guo Ping returned, having bought about ten copies of "People's Literature."

Zhao Dongchuan immediately took out his pen and quickly signed them, then had Guo Ping put the magazines away.

After a simple lunch, Zhao Dongchuan suggested going to the train station early to wait for the train, and Guo Ping naturally agreed.

"Mom, you don't need to see me off, I can go by myself!" Zhao Dongchuan said helplessly to Guo Ping, who was following beside him.

"How can I do that? I'll go to the train station to see you off!"

"Alright, but I'm telling you in advance, you should go back when it's time, don't just wait there foolishly with me!" Zhao Dongchuan told Guo Ping beforehand, so he wouldn't run out of time to do things later.

"Okay! Our Dongchuan has grown up! I don't need to manage him anymore!"

Then Zhao Dongchuan, carrying his suitcase, and Guo Ping both got on the bus heading to the train station.

Last time he came, he wasn't familiar with the bus routes, so he walked home.

This time, with Guo Ping leading the way, it was much more convenient.

Upon arriving at the train station and looking at the tall clock tower, Zhao Dongchuan, though not seeing it for the first time, was still very moved.

Such a building, combining beautiful design and practicality, was rare at that time.

Zhao Dongchuan and Guo Ping followed the bustling crowd into the waiting room, which had stone tiles on the floor and simple long benches.

At this time, there was no concept of the Spring Festival travel rush, so the crowd wasn't large.

Zhao Dongchuan and Guo Ping found an empty seat, put down their suitcase, and sat down.

They chatted for a few minutes, and after a while, Zhao Dongchuan urged Guo Ping to go back.

Guo Ping naturally refused, staying for an hour before reluctantly leaving.

She also had to go home to prepare dinner, so she couldn't stay much longer.

Zhao Dongchuan watched Guo Ping leave, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.