The three of them ca out of the hospital, and Zhao Tian took the whip from Zhao Qingxiang’s hand.
"Qingxiang, go call your two sisters."
Zhao Qingxiang ran to the post office. Along the way, he thought about whom to call and finally decided to call the transport team. The younger sister wasn’t working; he had heard that the ceramics factory was far from ho, and the transport team was closer.
Today, the captain Yang Hongming was on duty at the transport team, and he answered the phone.
"Hello, I’m looking for Zhang Fusheng or Zhou Yongbing."
"Who is this?"
"I’m their brother-in-law. Are they not there?"
"They’re not here. Is there sothing important?" He knew their brother-in-law, who would send food and at every year.
"Could you please go tell them to co back? My mom has passed away."
"Alright, I’ll go notify them right away."
"Thank you. I’m heading ho now. Just tell them we’re on our way back from the city hospital."
"Okay."
Yang Hongming rode his bike to Zhang Fusheng’s house, thinking how bad this year was: not long after his own mother passed, now his mother-in-law was gone too.
"Brother, why did you co over?"
"Fusheng, where’s your wife? I just got a call from your brother-in-law. Your mother-in-law has passed, and they’re on their way back from the city hospital."
Zhao Yanping heard the commotion outside and rushed out, just in ti to hear the news.
Tears imdiately started falling. "Brother Yang, did my brother say anything else?"
Yang Hongming shook his head, "No, just said you should go back."
Zhao Yanping ran inside.
"Bro, sorry to trouble you. We’re going to Xiao Bing’s place."
"Sure," Yang Hongming thought, even now, it would take at least half a month to get there.
Zhao Yanping had already put on a coat, carrying her husband’s coat out as well.
"Xiao Ping, don’t worry, even if you’re anxious, there’s not much that can be done."
"Fusheng, let’s go find Xiao Li."
The couple went to the Zhou Family’s house, and at that ti, the whole family was selling tofu.
"Xiao Li!"
Zhao Yanli was startled by her elder sister’s crying voice.
"Elder sister, what’s wrong?"
"Xiao Li, brother just called the transport team. Mom’s gone. They’re on their way back from the city hospital now."
Zhao Yanli was stunned, and the people buying tofu didn’t say a word.
"Brother wants us to hurry back."
"But how do we get back? We won’t make it even taking the train," Zhao Yanli panicked, her voice had a sobbing tone.
Zhang Fusheng remained relatively calm. "We can hire a vehicle from the transport team."
Hearing this solution, the sisters nodded imdiately.
"I’ll go to the transport team to handle the paperwork, you guys start packing up."
"Leave the kids behind. Elders will understand."
The sisters nodded. They were only packing so clothes since they hadn’t been back for long.
Zhao Yanping hurried back ho to pack. She didn’t expect not to see her mom one last ti. When she was young, she felt her mom didn’t like them, but as she got older, she began to understand.
This year, due to her mother-in-law’s health, she hadn’t dared to go back, and now she couldn’t even see her one last ti.
Zhao Yanli also hurriedly packed her things.
Mrs. Zhou and Mr. Zhou quickly finished their tasks.
The people buying tofu tried to comfort Zhao Yanli, but none of it reached her heart.
During the last visit, there was no sign that her mom was unwell. She certainly didn’t look as good as before, but there was nothing to indicate a sudden passing.
She blad herself for not spending enough quality ti with her mom.
The buyers in the yard bought more tofu than usual, and those who didn’t have enough money said they’d bring it over the next day.
Everyone was eager to clear out the Zhou family’s tofu, figuring it could be stored and eaten later, given the circumstances.
Mrs. Zhou went inside and ca out with 200 yuan for her daughter-in-law. "Xiao Li, take it, you might need it."
"Mom, I have money." Both of their salaries were managed by her.
"Just take it. When you’re away, you never know where you might need to spend. Just have it with you."
The kids wanted to follow them. They weren’t incredibly saddened by the passing, being too young and having seen the deceased only a few tis.
Zhao Yanli wouldn’t take them along, since there wasn’t enough space in the car, and they were too young to handle the journey.
"You two, rember to help your grandparents at ho."
The two nodded. Although mischievous, they were quite sensible.
Zhao Yanping returned ho; the little ones weren’t there. There was no ti to find them now.
"Hai Yan, your aunty and we four need to go back. Take care of Jianhua and the others at ho."
"Mom, don’t worry. I’ll manage. The family is in good hands."
The family’s grandma just recently passed, and now the maternal grandmother was gone as well.
Zhao Yanping also packed so clothes. There wasn’t much else to prepare, just needed cash, as the family had food, and at. Nothing else was necessary.
"Tell your brother, he has a day off tomorrow, to cook for them and keep an eye on them."
Hai Yan nodded. "Mom, I understand. I’ll go get them now."
Zhao Yanping, carrying her bag, went to her sister’s place, having already arranged it with her husband to et directly at her sister’s.
When she got to the Zhou Family residence, her husband hadn’t arrived yet.
Mrs. Zhou was preparing a al for them, frying pork fat with green onions and cooking sauerkraut noodle soup.
Zhang Fusheng drove over, and the four ate their fill. They didn’t take any food along, deciding to eat at restaurants on the journey instead.
On the way, with Zhou Yongbing and another driver sharing vehicles, it was naturally faster than driving separately.
Fortunately, it hadn’t snowed this year; otherwise, they wouldn’t make it in ti and would be spending New Year’s Eve on the road.
Zhao Qingxiang caught up to the mule cart and saw his father sitting dazedly, though his hand was in the quilt, likely holding his mom’s hand.
His eyes reddened. "Dad, I’ve already called Xiao Ping and them."
Zhao Tian sat in a daze, not responding. His heart was empty now.
Both brothers felt the sa, taking breaks to sit down, but for most of the ti, they hurried along.
They reached ho around half-past three in the morning.
Qi Xue i heard the noise and quickly went to open the door, bringing the mule cart into the yard.
"Dad, we’re ho. Get down, and I’ll carry Mom inside." Zhao Qingxiang helped his father off the cart.
Zhao Tian watched as his eldest son carried his partner inside, wrapped in bedding.
Qi Xue i hadn’t expected them back so early, so the room wasn’t heated, and hurriedly lit a fire seeing her mother-in-law carried in like that.
She also had to prepare a al for them. Regardless of her mother-in-law’s state, the three n needed to eat.
Zhao Qingxiang laid his mom down, knowing she wasn’t quite gone, as her body was still warm. Yet, she hadn’t awakened, perhaps waiting for her two sisters?
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