The next morning, just as a glimr of light began to break, the Jiang Family was bustling with activity, because Jiang Yanting’s family was departing for a trip abroad today, with a plane to catch at 8:30 a.m. They planned to have breakfast at the old house first.
With farewell dumplings and welco noodles, the grandma woke up early and, with Fan Mingyu, prepared the dumplings, so that once Yanting’s family arrived at the old house, they could be cooked and ready to eat.
"You are traveling with two children for so many days, you must pay close attention to safety," the grandma reiterated, keen on them going abroad to strengthen their familial bonds, yet feeling sowhat downcast at the prospect of not seeing the children for such a long ti.
"I will," Jiang Yanting nodded.
"Make sure you’ve packed everything, passports and docunts, carry them all, don’t leave anything behind," Fan Mingyu advised, never quite at ease.
Shen Zhixian laughed, "I’ve checked many tis already, there’s no problem."
They were going away for more than a week, and were bringing two children. The Jiang Family was worried, and so was Elder Xie, who specially had Xie Duo rush to the airport to see them off.
On the Jiangs’ side, those going to bid farewell were Tang Wan and Jiang Jinsang.
"Uncle, I’ll miss you," Taotao said, holding Jiang Jinsang’s hand along the way, "Mom said that once you get better, you can travel with us."
"Mhm, once I’m better, I’ll take you out for fun," Jiang Jinsang replied, patting her small yellow hat on her head.
"Then it’s a promise," Taotao stood on tiptoes, looking around for a while, "Why isn’t Uncle Xiaosi here today?"
"Uncle has so matters, he couldn’t make it," Shen Zhixian said with a smile, although Jiang Chengsi had called last night to say he wouldn’t be there to send them off.
"Little auntie, have a safe trip," Xie Duo glanced at Jiang Yanting, "take good care of her and the two children."
"You?" Jiang Yanting raised an eyebrow, this casual way of addressing his aunt, by Elder Xie?
As long as the two of them weren’t married, Xie Duo would never change his way of addressing them.
Waking up too early today, Jiangjiang was holding on to Shen Zhixian’s hand, yawning non-stop. Just now, when they went to check in their luggage, he stood still, almost falling asleep on the spot.
...
After seeing the family through security, it was just past seven o’clock, with the sun just starting to rise. The airport was located in the suburbs, shrouded in a layer of thin mist. Jiang Jinsang, Tang Wan, and Xie Duo went their separate ways, each driving back ho.
Since it was foggy, they drove very slowly.
Halfway through, Jiang Chengsi called, "Fourth brother?"
"Are you at the airport?"
"They’ve already gone through security. You’re only calling now? Taotao just asked why you weren’t here."
"Isn’t it that we can et again in the future? Why make a big deal out of a farewell? It feels like a life-and-death separation, I don’t like that." Perhaps because of their eldest brother’s passing, Jiang Chengsi was the type who wouldn’t send you off if you were leaving, but when you returned...
Through wind and rain, I’ll surely co to pick you up personally.
Tang Wan was anwhile texting Shen Shuci, asking how her hand was today?
[It’s fine, no problem. Today’s my first day at work, just doing the onboarding process and familiarizing with the business, so I shouldn’t have to do much, don’t worry too much.]
Shen Shuci had a report ti of ten o’clock, so there was still plenty of ti. Even though she was rather clumsy with hands and couldn’t cook, she knew how to use a rice cooker to make porridge. She had set a tir, so she could have soft rice porridge ready when she woke up, and only left the house around eight.
**
At this ti, at the Huo Family house, Qi Zeyan had also gotten up. He noticed he was the only one at the dining table and frowned slightly, "Where’s Old Huo?"
"Sir..." The Huo family mbers hesitated, seemingly having sothing hard to say.
"On an assignnt, has he left?"
Qi Zeyan, eating shrimp dumplings, chuckled. The old man was always elusive; "mysterious disappearances" were common, and they were all used to it. Sotis they would be dining together, and midway through the al, he would receive a call, drop everything, and flee. Such occurrences were nurous.
These were matters requiring secrecy, so their inquiries would be futile. Their concern for his whereabouts was minimal.
"No." But the Huo family mbers were too honest to lie.
Qi Zeyan frowned and took out his phone to make a call, "Hey, Old Huo, what are you up to?"
At that mont, the elder was sitting in a car, along with two other people, watching him closely...
And then they heard him say:
"Going out for morning exercise."
"How are you going to handle Miss Shen’s matter? I’m feeling uneasy."
"I will take responsibility."
"You said it, so I’m going to leave it to you," Qi Zeyan didn’t know what else to do; after all, it had started because of him. It wouldn’t be right to ignore it, but upon hearing he would be responsible, he felt at ease, "When will you be back?"
"I’m not sure."
"Well, I’m going to finish eating and then head to work. I don’t have ti to wait for you to co back."
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