Free Web NovelChapter 1219: Chapter 1219: Boarding the Train
"Once we get to the Capital, can we still find a car to drive home?"
"Old Han has one.
Xinyu, if we have time, let’s make another trip to the Provincial Capital."
"Do you have something to do there?"
"Just going back to have a look. The way I left back then really wasn’t decent."
"You’re not used to being high-profile now."
"I won’t be high-profile. I really am just going to deal with some things."
"If the road is safe, us three—mother and kids—will go with you. If it snows, then we won’t go."
How could that do? He’d deliberately brought his wife along so everyone who knew them would see that they were a married couple, and had always been a married couple.
"If it snows, we’ll take the train. Worst comes to worst, we’ll leave the two little ones at home."
"That won’t do either. We’ll see when the time comes."
By the time they got to the city it was already close to eight. Everyone was waiting for them to eat.
It was convenient too: they made dumplings, tasty and piping hot.
After eating, everyone went back to rest for a bit.
But how could they sleep? They could finally go home—this urgent feeling made them all restless.
Li Yunqiao and Lu Fengzhen came over, bringing lots of pastries.
They really didn’t know what else to prepare. They knew the food Jiang Xinyu made herself was delicious, but Lu Fengzhen didn’t know how to make it, and you couldn’t buy anything that good.
"Dad, Aunt Lu, why aren’t you resting yet?"
"We’re going to the station to see you off."
"But there’s no need. There are so many of us, and it’s so late."
"It’s fine. In a bit your Aunt Lu will go back and your big brother will come over. We’ll help carry the luggage."
Li Yunqiao, Wei Kaiyun, and Old Yang went into the room and the three of them talked for a long time.
Jiang Xinyu went to call Han Xiangjun.
"Xiao Jiang, what’s up?"
"I knew those two definitely wouldn’t call you. Our train is at midnight, we’ll probably arrive in about half a month. Find someone to clean up the house, and have someone go start the fires every day.
We don’t have enough quilts either. Find someone to make fifteen sets of bedding."
"You’re really coming back?"
"Yeah, everyone is coming back. Then go find the best traditional Chinese doctor you can, contact them in advance, and also get things arranged at the hospital."
"What happened?"
"We’re having Master Shang get a checkup."
Han Xiangjun immediately knew what business they were coming to the Capital for.
"Alright, I’ll get everything arranged, don’t worry. Once you get home, you’ll definitely be comfortable."
"That’s best. Have the fires going in every room in the house."
"If it doesn’t work out, you can just stay at my place, can’t you?"
"Guodong and the other two will only stay at home for one or two nights; they’re heading back to their hometown.
Old Han, get a car ready for me. I’m planning to go back to my hometown too."
"That’s nothing, don’t worry. I’ll sort it all out for you."
After Jiang Xinyu hung up, she complained to Zhao Xiaoli that these two men really were unreliable.
It was already twelve when they finally heard the sound of a truck outside.
The children were woken up, and the men started loading the luggage onto the truck.
It was a big flatbed truck, the kind without a canopy, and it was really cold at night.
In the end, Zhao Xiaoli held Ah Bao, and Jiang Xinyu held the two little ones and sat in the passenger seat. Luckily, it was only a ten-minute ride.
Old Yang went to buy twelve platform tickets; that way it was easier and saved a lot of time. After all, there were so many kids, they were afraid they wouldn’t be able to look after everyone.
After asking about the approximate locations of the carriages, the men started moving the luggage inside; there was really quite a lot.
It was already one o’clock. Waiting another half hour was normal.
Old Yang handed out the train tickets to everyone; mainly because once they were on the train, they’d still have to check the introduction letters. Otherwise you wouldn’t be allowed on.
Shi Jing held the train ticket and found it especially interesting, turning it over and over to look at it.
Just as they’d planned, Old Yang’s family of four had one compartment, and Wei Kaiyun’s family of four had another.
The three kids and He Shangzhenkun shared one compartment, Guodong’s family had one, which made things easier.
When the train arrived, the men started loading the luggage, each family’s things going into their own carriage. All the food was put together in Jiang Xinyu’s carriage.
Li Honglin and Li Yunqiao watched the train pull out.
"Dad, let’s go back too?"
"Yeah, let’s go back." He thought about what Xiao Wei had said; it seemed he really had been too impulsive. Better to listen to him and just stay put peacefully.
Shi Xian couldn’t sit still in the compartment. Only after Jiang Xinyu scolded him once did he finally sit properly.
There was just too much stuff. Fortunately, they hadn’t tried to save money by buying fewer sleeper tickets, otherwise there wouldn’t have been room for everything.
It took them half an hour to finally get everything sorted. Jiang Xinyu lay down on the lower berth, feeling truly exhausted.
Tingting lay with her. She lay there obediently, not fooling around like Shi Xian.
Wei Kaiyun was already used to having a son like this. He just watched him toss and turn from the side; as long as he didn’t fall off the bunk, it was fine.
"We’ve finally set off on the road home." Jiang Xinyu sighed. It would soon be 1970.
"Xinyu, if you don’t want to come back, we can stay here, it’s fine."
"No, let’s come back. Life here may be simple, but it’s comfortable. While the kids are still little, let’s stay together as a family.
Once the kids grow up, we won’t have this kind of chance anymore."
"That’ll be good too. By then, the two of us can go travel around and won’t have to worry about them."
"That’s what I was thinking too."
"Alright, it’s settled then. When the kids are grown and can live on their own, we’ll travel all over the country. Wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you."
Jing Chu was also especially excited. As long as they got on the train, then going home was just a matter of time.
"Brother, Sister-in-law, the three of us should talk. I want Dad to come back with us. You two think about how to persuade him, okay?"
"I think Dad definitely won’t agree."
"We have to get Dad to come back with us. When spring comes, we can build you a new house, and by then, Village Chief Li will definitely have Dad in charge of brewing liquor."
"Jing Chu, why did you suddenly decide this?"
"It was because I talked with Aunt Jiang and suddenly felt Dad should come over."
"I agree. When we go back, we’ll talk to Dad together."
Li Xue was especially tempted when Jing Chu mentioned building a new house. Guodong had talked to her about it too, but it felt different hearing it from Jing Chu.
Old Yang was a bit worried about Zhao Xiaoli when he saw how pale she looked.
"I’m fine, don’t worry."
"Do you get motion sickness?"
Zhao Xiaoli shook her head. "No. I didn’t use to get carsick, and I’m not this time either. Really, don’t worry, I’ll be fine in a while."
Zhao Xiaoqiang was worried about his sister too. "Sis, I remember Sister Jiang brought hawthorn preserves. I’ll go ask her for some."
"Xiao Qiang, hurry and go." Old Yang went to find a spoon. Whether it was motion sickness or not, eating something would still help.
When Jiang Xinyu heard what Zhao Xiaoqiang said, she immediately had Wei Kaiyun look through her luggage.
Since it was in a glass jar and she was afraid it would break, she’d put it in the middle of a bag of thick clothes. She hadn’t expected it would actually come in handy.
