Zhang Guoqing drove the car out of the village, speeding down the main road towards the provincial city. From the mirror, he occasionally glanced at his mother-in-law, seeing her red, swollen eyes, and sighed silently in his heart.
Mother Zhang kept comforting and advising her. She privately wondered why this sister-in-law had so many tears, even two handkerchiefs were soaked. As a mother, it’s hard not to miss a child when you see them upset. Thinking back to when Xiao Wu was in middle school and stayed in the dormitory, she couldn’t eat well, wasn’t at ease with anyone, and always worried about him being bullied or going hungry at school. Beijing was so far away, with mountains and rivers in between, making her feel even more sympathetic towards her.
Once Lin Lishan cald down, she smiled apologetically at her. Finally noticing the packages in the car, she looked at Mother Zhang in shock, "Sister, all these can’t be for , right? I can’t carry so much, I’ve already mailed so back. They can’t possibly be all for . That’s too much, I can’t finish."
Mother Zhang saw her gape in disbelief, pointing at the packages, and burst into laughter. This sister-in-law was slow to notice, but at least she stopped crying. Otherwise, she might have cried along with her.
"They’re not for you. They’re for Jiao Jiao’s grandpa, her uncle’s wife, and her aunt. They’re all in Beijing, and you take them with you. Jiao Jiao’s second uncle in the Northwest, you’ve already sent a lot to him. When they’ve nearly finished, I’ll have Xiao Wu send more over.
We have a few relatives in Beijing; you manage it yourself and help distribute them. I had Xiao Wu pack them all together. It looks like a lot, but it’s not that much in reality. Once it’s divided among a few families, it’s just a token gesture.
Tell those relatives not to send packages over, the child doesn’t lack anything to eat or wear here. They have kids to take care of, where would they have the capacity to look over Jiao Jiao?
Don’t worry. We’ll see you onto the train, Xiao Wu will handle these things, he’s strong. You just get on the train, and he’ll take care of it. Once you’re on the train and it leaves, we’ll send a telegram from the provincial city to her grandpa, so Xiao Zhou can drive to pick you up. Don’t worry. We’ve made all the arrangents."
Hearing this, Lin Lishan looked at her with tears in her eyes, "Sister, my Jiao Jiao has been cared for by you since she was young, and now you still pamper her. I’m so happy for this child, and I feel grateful in my heart. I don’t know how to repay you. I haven’t even figured out how to thank you yet. Now you’re taking on so much, arranging so much for to take back. How could I not feel awkward?"
Mother Zhang held her hand and gently patted it, saying to her, "What’s there to be grateful about? Jiao Jiao is still my daughter-in-law. We don’t need to be formal, we’re all family. Let’s not say those distant words, just listen to and take these back to show a bit of care to the child’s elders.
Accept it with joy, consider your big sister. I see you’re straightforward, no hidden agendas. I like associating with you. In the future, co often to see us, see the couple. When they return to Beijing in a couple of years, I’ll often visit you too, and you can show Beijing. We won’t talk about formalities."
Lin Lishan nodded with a smile, "Alright, since Sister says so, this ti I won’t stand on ceremony and will accept it. But next ti, let’s not do this."
"That’s the way. I like your straightforwardness, not dragging things out, just like , saying what you an."
Seeing the two in-laws chatting about anything and everything in the car, Zhang Guoqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, he was prescient enough. Bringing his mother along resolved everything.
Speeding along, they finally reached the provincial city’s train station. Zhang Guoqing stopped directly at the entrance, got out of the car himself, and used his mother-in-law’s work ID to easily purchase a sleeper ticket.
Nowadays, without a certain position, don’t even think about buying a sleeper ticket. Unless you have private connections, otherwise, you’ll just have to brace your legs, squeeze into the crowd, endure several days and nights, and arrive totally disheveled.
Seeing that the train to Beijing was soon departing, and afraid that they wouldn’t make it in ti if they went to a restaurant, Lin Lishan firmly decided to eat on the train. It’s true what they say, "The older, the wiser."
Mother Zhang had prepared pancakes early in the morning, just for Lin Lishan to eat slowly on the way. Knowing this sister-in-law was a refined person, she specially added the braised pork knuckles prepared the night before, carefully sliced for easy eating in small bites on the train. She knew that she’d be on the train for three days and nights, eating, drinking, everything would be on board, and how much at would be needed wouldn’t be enough.
Zhang Guoqing quickly took the scallion pancakes and pork knuckles prepared by his mother, shoved them in the food bag, and told them to wait in the car for him to return, then hurried off.
The day before, when sending off the old man at the train station, Station Chief Zhang shook his hand warmly, saying they were family, and he could co to him for anything. When else but now would he look to him? Relationships are about give and take; familiarity grows over ti. Before, he was thinking of asking him to buy tickets, but seeing military personnel didn’t need to queue, easily getting a sleeper without tight ticket constraints, he didn’t bother.
Zhang Guoqing knocked on the station chief’s office with a smile, and the chief was pleasantly surprised to see him. They exchanged a few pleasantries before Zhang Guoqing stated his purpose. Station Chief Zhang imdiately led him outside, asking the staff where the train conductor for today’s Beijing-bound train was.
Upon eting Train Conductor Liu Ming, several docunts were already waiting for Station Chief Zhang to sign and issue approvals. Zhang Guoqing repeatedly declined a personal escort from the station chief.
In the rush, Station Chief Zhang handed him a piece of paper with his work number and ho address, telling Zhang Guoqing, as his nephew, to co to him anyti, even just to visit. Zhang Guoqing took his leave, secretly marveling at how skilled a person the station chief was, no wonder he held his position.
Seeing the ti nearing, Train Conductor Liu Ming took him directly back to the entrance, unloaded five large packages from the car using a prepared cart, and entered the platform, boarding the sleeper compartnt.
Along the way, Zhang Guoqing had already beco brotherly with the other, calling him Brother Liu with every sentence. After the other warmly hosted him, Zhang Guoqing earnestly requested that he take good care of his mother-in-law on the train, concern himself with her well-being but not her belongings. Especially to assist on the Beijing platform until her family’s car ca to pick her up. He also invited Liu Ming to visit his ho for drinks if he had ti.
Even at the last mont when the staff ca to ask the conductor for instructions, Liu Ming was still holding onto him, telling Zhang Guoqing to visit his ho for the New Year, even personally writing down his address for him.
Zhang Guoqing, smiling broadly, nodded constantly, saying he’d definitely visit for the New Year and have a few drinks then. Pressing him to attend to official business first, assuring that they’d have ti later for the two of them.
Seeing the train about to depart, Liu Ming was busy arranging tasks. Zhang Guoqing took two rabbits from Mother Zhang’s hands, forcibly giving them to Liu Ming for the journey, ignoring his refusals, before bidding him farewell, fearing more delay.
He led his mother off the train and stood outside the window of the sleeper compartnt, listening to his mother-in-law’s repeated reminders and watching the reluctant farewell between Mother Zhang and his mother-in-law.
Lin Lishan observed how Zhang Guoqing communicated and arranged things without delay, warmly becoming brotherly with the other, confirming tis to gather. In just that short while, the other already assuredly patted his chest, saying he’d manage future tickets and deliveries. She looked at Zhang Guoqing, amused, thinking how thodical and skilled this child was, no wonder the old man praised him. This kid was sharp; he had the other showing his hand without realizing it.
The train’s whistle sounded "woo-woo-woo," and Lin Lishan loudly told Zhang Guoqing to take good care of Jiao Jiao, for the two of them to live well, to be considerate of her, and to take Mother Zhang to explore the provincial city.
Seeing the train slowly start with a "clang-clang" sound and leave, Zhang Guoqing sighed with relief, looking at his mother, also showing ease, and couldn’t help but burst out laughing with her.
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