Susan Cooper was quite happy: "Oh, Little David has really grown up, much more articulate than before."

David Clark felt a bit awkward; it seemed his former self really hadn't been great—just saying a simple thank you could make someone so happy.

"Come in, come in, put your things down and have some water." Susan Cooper hurriedly called out.

David Clark and Emily Clark entered the house together. Grace Thompson had already gone in earlier. When she saw David Clark come in, she didn't say a word, just stood in the corner watching. Her gaze stayed fixed on David Clark's feet, secretly observing his every move from the corner of her eye.

"Grace Thompson, pour some water for Little David." Susan Cooper called.

Only then did Grace Thompson slowly pour a glass of water and bring it to David Clark.

"Little David, take a rest for a bit, I'll heat up the dishes. Didn't you write in your letter that you'd be home three days ago? How come you were delayed another three days—was it hard to get a train ticket?" Susan Cooper chattered as she deftly took dishes out of the cupboard, with Grace Thompson helping her on the side. This Susan Cooper had always been a brisk, warm-hearted, straightforward, and easy-going person.

"My brother acted bravely in Xiangping Province—he single-handedly took down three carjackers and even got injured," Emily Clark said.

"Really? Where did you get hurt? Was it serious?" Susan Cooper asked with concern.

"Uh, just some scrapes, nothing serious," David Clark replied. "It's just that I saved a cadre from Tanzhou at the time, and he was very enthusiastic—insisted I stay in Tanzhou for two days."

At this moment, Charles Thompson came back as well. As soon as he entered, he called out, "Little David is back! When did you arrive?"

David Clark quickly stood up and went to greet Charles Thompson: "Uncle Thompson, I just got here."

Charles Thompson walked up to David Clark, looked him up and down just like Susan Cooper had done earlier, then patted him a few times on the arm and said with satisfaction, "Hmm, you've really grown strong. Old Lin can rest easy now."

"Why bring that up now?" Susan Cooper shot her husband a look, thinking it was a bit inappropriate to mention David Clark's parents at this moment.

"Um... Uncle Thompson, I just got back from the army and didn't bring much for you, but here are two cartons of cigarettes and two bottles of liquor for you to enjoy slowly." David Clark opened a cardboard box and took out two cartons of Hongtashan cigarettes and two bottles of Wuliangye liquor. These were gifts from the Hongxing Factory—the sharp office manager there had already told him who to give them to when buying them.

"This kid, why bring anything at all?" Susan Cooper said politely. Still, the fact that David Clark thought to bring something for Charles Thompson showed he was truly considerate now, which made her very happy.

Charles Thompson glanced at the cigarettes and liquor, his eyes lighting up: "These are Hongtashan and Wuliangye—both are really good stuff, and expensive too. No, no, I can't accept them. Little David, you keep them for yourself." With that, he pushed the cigarettes and liquor back into David Clark's hands. But David Clark could tell that Charles Thompson was a bit reluctant to part with them.

Of course, David Clark knew these were good cigarettes and liquor—even in later years, giving these as gifts would be considered generous. But since he hadn't paid for them anyway, and he felt the Charles Thompson family had treated him and his sister well, he thought it was only right to give them the best.

"Uncle Thompson, these were gifts from friends in Tanzhou. Look, I'm still young, and... cough, I've already quit smoking, so what's the use of keeping them?" As he spoke, David Clark opened one carton of Hongtashan, took out a pack and handed it to Charles Thompson, saying, "Uncle Thompson, have a cigarette—it's a token of my appreciation."

Seeing that David Clark had already opened the carton, Charles Thompson chuckled and accepted it, took out a cigarette, put it in his mouth, lit it with a lighter, took a deep drag, and praised, "Not bad, this really is good tobacco. Ah, I finally get to smoke a cigarette from Little David."

"Uncle Thompson, you keep the rest," David Clark said, putting all the remaining cigarettes and liquor on the table.

"No need, no need," Charles Thompson said, waving the pack in his hand. "I'll just keep one pack to try the taste." Then he lowered his voice and said to David Clark, "Little David, keep the rest of the cigarettes and liquor. Now that you're back at the factory, you can use them as gifts for the director and the Party secretary—maybe you'll get assigned a good job."

"No need for that—whatever job they give me, I'll do," David Clark replied. As he spoke, he went straight to the The Thompson Family cupboard, put the two cartons of cigarettes and one bottle of liquor inside, and left one bottle on the table.

"This bottle stays—today at lunch, I'll have a drink with you, Uncle Thompson," David Clark said.

"This kid, so thoughtless," Charles Thompson said with feigned annoyance. "Drinking such good liquor at a family meal is a waste."

David Clark smiled slightly: "Uncle Thompson, let's just say it's to celebrate my triumphant return and our family reunion—we should have a couple of drinks. Don't worry, now that I'm back, I'll make sure you get to drink this good liquor every day."

"That would bankrupt us," Charles Thompson said with a laugh, taking it as a joke. In those days, everyone lived on a fixed salary—few could afford even cheap liquor every day, let alone something this good. But seeing David Clark's determination, he didn't refuse any further.