Chapter 340: Grandma, I’m Really, Really Good~~

Chapter 340: Grandma, I’m Really, Really Good and Well-Behaved!

The train chugged along for many hours before finally arriving at the southernmost small town in the country.

When Mu Mu and Fu Yuanhang sent their things, they also called Su Taotao and Aunt Zhong.

The return tickets had been purchased early, so Su Taotao arrived with Chenchen at the train station around the right time to meet them.

Chenchen, wrapped in a puffy jacket and wearing a hat knitted by Aunt Zhong, clutched his mother’s hand, peering around eagerly, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on the stream of passengers exiting the station:

“Mama, did Grandma get lost? Why isn’t she coming out yet?”

Su Taotao was also scanning the crowd. “Don’t worry, she’ll be here soon.”

“Aunt Taozi! Chenchen! Over here, over here!” Mu Mu waved wildly from afar, jumping up and down.

Chenchen’s sharp ears caught someone calling his name, and he anxiously reached up his arms, asking to be picked up. “Mama can’t see, hold me!”

Su Taotao bent down and lifted the little boy.

Truth be told, Chenchen had gotten a bit heavier, and with the added bulk of his cotton-padded jacket, Su Taotao was struggling to carry him.

Finally, Zhou Linglan appeared through the crowd. Chenchen spotted her immediately with his keen eyes.

Wiggling excitedly, he called out, “Grandma, Grandma!”

His shout drew the attention of everyone nearby.

Zhou Linglan spotted the bright pair—mother and child—standing by the car at the exit.

She hurried over, letting her bags fall and reaching out to take Chenchen from Su Taotao’s arms. “My sweet boy, you’ve grown taller again. Let Grandma hold you.”

Chenchen reached out with his chubby little hands and hugged Zhou Linglan’s neck, grinning widely. “Grandma, Chenchen missed you so much! Why did you take so long to come?”

Zhou Linglan held the little one close, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply the familiar scent of the child. “Grandma missed Chenchen too.”

“Taotao, you’ve worked hard too,” Zhou Linglan said.

Su Taotao smiled. “Let’s talk in the car. We’ll head to the government canteen for a bite first, then go home early to wash up and rest.”

Fu Yuanhang and Mu Mu had already quickly packed the luggage into the trunk.

Chenchen hugged his little uncle and Uncle Mu in turn before settling into his own “ride,” grinning until his eyes disappeared.

Zhou Linglan watched in astonishment as Su Taotao headed for the driver's side, about to take the wheel.

“Taotao, what are you doing? Where’s the driver?”

Su Taotao closed the door. “Mom, I forgot to tell you—I got my driver’s license. I’m a qualified driver now.”

Zhou Linglan’s jaw dropped, and it took her a while to recover.

Mu Mu leaned over from the back seat. “Auntie, buckle up. Aunt Taozi drives very smoothly, don’t worry.”

Zhou Linglan murmured admiringly. “How wonderful. As the saying goes, women hold up half the sky, and Taotao is exactly the kind of woman who does just that.”

Back in Qinglian Village, who could have imagined she’d not only run a factory but also drive a car?

And she was becoming more beautiful and confident every day.

In this era, female drivers are indeed few and far between, and Su Taotao is an exception, which she doesn't deny.

Zhou Linglan touched Chenchen's safety seat: "This chair is also very special, perfect for Chenchen."

"Uh-huh~~" Chenchen nodded slowly, "Daddy made it. Daddy's super awesome. He can make anything for Chenchen. But Daddy's on a business trip and hasn't come back yet~~"

Zhou Linglan sighed and patted the child's head: "Your father's job must be tough for your mom."

Su Taotao glanced at her through the rearview mirror and smiled: "It's not hard. Chenchen goes to school during the day and is very well-behaved at home."

Chenchen nodded emphatically: "I'm very good. I don’t make trouble for Mommy~~"

Along the way, Chenchen pointed out coconut trees to Zhou Linglan, seagull birds, and places with lots of boats where you need tickets, and the old grandpa watching the entrance would let you pass. He also mentioned People's Square, where he first met Dongdong and almost got lost there...

When Zhou Linglan asked about Dongdong, Chenchen started telling grandma about his friends, including Pangpang, the twin sisters, and Guo Guo.

He kept chattering away nonstop.

Seeing Chenchen so talkative made Zhou Linglan happiest. He was a late talker, and some villagers even said he'd never talk.

But now, listen to him talk now! And he’s made so many good friends—it’s wonderful.

The coastal town with its tropical vibe was quite different from Qinglian County with its mountains and rivers, even the air carried a salty tang.

After a simple lunch at the state-run restaurant and a stop at the co-op store to buy some necessities, the five of them made their way to the family quarters.

Before crossing the causeway, the construction site of the new factory on the right came into view: "Mom, the area on the right is the new factory, still under construction. Once we cross the bridge on the left, we’ll enter the base territory, and everyone has to go through security checks."

Zhou Linglan took in the huge construction site in surprise: "Such a huge area is going to be a factory?"

Su Taotao nodded: "Right now we're planning the central area—the entire area inside the construction fence—to be developed in five phases. The first phase of the factory buildings is already finished and in use. We’ve been busy hiring recently."

"If business goes well, we’ll expand further. Eventually, this whole area might become part of the factory."

Zhou Linglan was not some inexperienced country woman. Before marrying Fu Lei, she had been around.

She understood everything Su Taotao said.

"Taotao, I’m so proud of you. You’re something else. Managing such a big factory must be exhausting, right?"

Su Taotao smiled. Only true family would care whether she was tired or not.

Others would just admire the authority of being a factory director, without bothering about the effort and exhaustion behind it.

"It’s manageable. We've got most of our key people, and I’m not foolish enough to micromanage everything. There are plenty of capable people under me," Su Taotao said honestly.

Zhou Linglan nodded, feeling a little guilty: "That’s good. If I’d known you were shouldering such a big responsibility, I would’ve come earlier to take care of Chenchen and lighten your load a bit."

Su Taotao glanced at the pouting little boy in the rearview mirror and chuckled:

"Chenchen is very well-behaved and easy to take care of. Plus, Ah Hang and the others help out, and Zhengtu helps out when he’s around. Chenchen has never been a burden—he’s Mommy’s little joy, isn’t that right, Chenchen?"

"Uh-huh~~" The child swung his little legs and tugged at his hat. "Grandma, I’m really, really good~~"

Zhou Linglan patted his little head: "I know. Grandma misspoke. I should’ve said I should’ve come earlier to spend time with Chenchen."

Only then did Chenchen smile and nod: "Uh-huh~~"

The car slowly crossed the causeway, passed the security check by the guards, and officially entered the base.

Su Taotao’s family was finally complete, and their new life was really beginning...