Chapter 212 If I have the chance, I'd also like to talk to her about it...

After receiving the award, Fu's mother and her family did not choose to go back the next day. Instead, they rested for another day before boarding the train back home.

Even if you're traveling in a soft sleeper, the journey is still long, so you still need to conserve your energy.

The final destination this time is, of course, Shenzhen.

Although it was Tang Mingli's idea on a whim, she had discussed it with Fu Ci before buying the tickets.

Fu Ci was very happy and said he would pick them up at the train station.

Tang Mingli did not refuse.

In case the train is delayed again, like it was to Beijing, arriving late at night, it would be good to have someone meet him. Besides, she knew that even if she felt sorry for him being tired and tried to refuse, she couldn't get out of it.

On the return journey, Fu's mother's mood was completely different from when she arrived.

When you set off, you are filled with anticipation for the unknown; when you return, you are at peace with the end of something.

Perhaps it was because of her different mood that Fu's mother felt the return journey was much faster. But she also knew that the round trip distance was actually about the same.

As the train attendant announced that they were about to arrive at Shenzhen Railway Station, Ms. Fu remarked, "The return trip took about the same amount of time as the way there, but it just felt much faster."

Tang Mingli understood this feeling all too well. In her previous life, she had specifically looked it up, and experts said it was called the homing effect.

"It's been ten days since I left, I really miss Xiaoyu."

Tang Mingli also wanted to, but felt a little guilty compared to her mother-in-law's longing for her granddaughter.

She's the kind of person who feels half relieved knowing her daughter is safe and sound. Her mother-in-law, on the other hand, misses her daughter even more whenever the topic comes up.

That's understandable, since she and her mother-in-law are from different generations.

Each generation of mothers has its own kind of love.

Tang Mingli quickly regained her confidence and smiled at her mother-in-law, "I miss her too."

Of course, Fu's mother had no doubt whatsoever. In her eyes, a mother is the person in the world who cares most about her child. Yet, her daughter-in-law had been separated from her child for so long because of her.

Thinking of all this, how could Fu's mother not be moved?

"It's really kind of you to come out with me."

Tang Mingli: "..."

Should we be honest with our mother-in-law that she was really happy on this trip?

Just as I was agonizing over this decision, the train arrived at the station.

-

There weren't many passengers on the return train. Tang Mingli and her mother carried their luggage and calmly got off the train.

After following the instructions and circling around a few times, the two arrived at the station exit.

Before I even went outside, I saw Fu Ci standing out from the crowd.

Tang Mingli smiled unconsciously.

Although he is over thirty years old, he is still the most eye-catching person in the crowd.

Fu Ci quickly spotted them and waved to them.

As soon as they approached, Fu Ci took the suitcases from their hands.

Tang Mingli knew he was strong, but carrying two was still a bit too much, so she gently dodged his outstretched hand.

"You can help Mom carry it, I can carry it myself."

After saying that, she naturally took his other hand, which wasn't holding anything.

Fu Ci smiled helplessly and could only let her have her way in the end.

However, he could also tell that his wife's suitcase wasn't heavy, and the two of them were probably just carrying the luggage they had taken to Beijing, without buying any local specialties to bring back.

Mrs. Fu then asked with a smile, "When did you arrive?"

"About twenty minutes ago."

Fu Ci wasn't lying; he really had only waited for about twenty minutes.

The chances of the train arriving early were almost zero, so he didn't arrive too far in advance to wait.

But remembering they were coming back, I was a bit distracted at work all afternoon, and time seemed to pass very slowly.

Fu's mother said thankfully, "Luckily, the train wasn't delayed today."

Fu Ci was equally relieved, because he had taken the train so many times and delays were the norm for him.

"Let's go, my car is parked outside." As she spoke, Fu Ci looked towards the gate and added, "My uncle and the others know you're coming today, and they insist that I take you there for dinner."

Tang Mingli asked, "How did they know?"

Fu Ci smiled and explained, "It was just a coincidence. Yesterday, the store managers from various physical stores came to the factory for a meeting, and your sister asked when you were coming back from Beijing. I just mentioned it casually."

After the great success of the physical store in Shenzhen, Fu Ci opened three more branches in other bustling commercial areas.

"I see."

Tang Mingli roughly understood why her uncles insisted that they come over for a meal; it was simply because they didn't want them to have to cook for themselves when they returned.

Older generations rarely think about eating out, and even if they do, they feel that food outside is not as good as home-cooked food.

Let's eat then, the two families don't live far apart.

-

When Tang Mingli and her group came out of the train station, it was still light out. By the time they arrived at her uncle's building, it was completely dark.

Firstly, the train station is indeed far away, and secondly, there is some traffic congestion on the road.

It's only the 1990s, and Shenzhen already had rush hour traffic?

Curious, Tang Mingli asked her husband, "At this time of day, is there usually traffic on the road when you go back here?"

Fu Ci shook his head. "There are a lot more people and cars, but the road conditions are still relatively smooth."

Tang Mingli laughed, laughing at herself for being obsessed with the morning and evening rush hours.

At that time, cars were more expensive than houses, and there were very few people who owned cars. Even if there weren't as many roads or as wide roads as there would be decades later, there would be no traffic congestion.

The car had already come to a complete stop, and Tang Mingli unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Let's go, Uncle and the others must have been waiting for a long time."

The three got off the bus one after another, and Fu's mother belatedly realized that a question had come to mind.

"You should buy something on the way; it's impolite to go to someone's house for a meal empty-handed."

Regarding etiquette, Mrs. Fu felt that Aunt Tang had always done a good job. Even during the two years when they didn't like Mingli, they never came empty-handed whenever they visited their home.

Tang Mingli hadn't actually forgotten; she had made arrangements long ago.

They brought back several bags of dates from Beijing, and regardless of whether they came to their uncle's house for the meal or not, they planned to give them two bags.

"Mom, have you forgotten that we also bought jujubes?"

"Oh, right, we also have jujubes." Fu's mother slapped her forehead.

It was stuffed in my suitcase and hadn't been touched; I'd completely forgotten about it.

"You brought more stuff?" Fu Ci said, walking around to the back of the car and opening the trunk.

He first picked up his wife's suitcase and weighed it in his hand, then immediately frowned.

This box is noticeably heavier; I don't know if it's filled with clothes or dates.

Tang Mingli also came over, but deliberately asked, "How did you know the dates were in this box?"

Actually, the dates weren't packed in this box.

She packed all her clothes into her own suitcase, making room for her mother-in-law's to pack the bags of dates.

Fu Ci sighed softly: "Actually, I don't know, but I guess the jujubes are packed in another suitcase."

"Wow, he really has X-ray vision!" Tang Mingli truly admired her husband's intelligence; he could accurately guess which suitcase to put the jujubes in just by weighing them.

Curious, she pressed further, "What made you guess?"

Fu Ci was completely helpless with his wife, feeling sorry for her but also powerless to do anything about it, and he even had to explain to her why he thought that way.

“The weather in Beijing is already getting cooler this time of year. Since you’ll be staying there for a few days, you’ll definitely need to bring a couple of warm clothes. All the clothes together won’t weigh as much as Mom’s suitcase.”

Tang Mingli did not deny that his analysis made a lot of sense, but...

"Couldn't each suitcase have been filled with clothes and dates?"

"No." Fu Ci shook his head firmly. "You wouldn't put food and clothes in the same suitcase."

Tang Mingli admitted defeat.

This is not just scientific analysis, but also a thorough understanding of her.

Even though the dates are packaged, she still habitually packs them separately whenever they are food.

Fu Ci, Fu Ci, you almost understand me better than I understand myself.

However, upon hearing this, Fu Ci still shook his head.

If that were the case, he wouldn't have thought they hadn't brought back any local specialties from Beijing in the first place.

The year I was unemployed, my wife and I traveled together. My wife's attitude towards local specialties was always: try them where you are, and don't buy anything else after you leave. If she really saw something she liked, she would buy it and mail it from the post office.

But now, she no longer finds it troublesome to bring back food from far away.

Fu's mother explained, "I originally didn't plan to buy them, but the day before I came back, I tried these jujubes by chance, and they were so delicious that I thought I'd bring a few packs back for you to try."

Tang Mingli added, "The main advantage is that it's lightweight, and it just so happens that there's enough space to fit it in a suitcase."

Although...but...Fu Ci still felt that his wife had changed.

He was happy, but more than that, he felt heartbroken.

Her concern deepened to the point that she began to unconsciously change herself.

-

Tang Mingmei went downstairs to throw out the trash and wanted to see if her cousin and her group had arrived yet, but as soon as she came downstairs, she saw them standing next to the car.

She quickly and accurately threw the trash into the large trash can next to her, strode towards her cousin and the others, and shouted, "Why are you standing here instead of going up?"

After shouting, he politely addressed his mother, an elder, as "Mother Fu."

Upon hearing her cousin's voice, Tang Mingli smiled and leaned over, calling out, "Sister!"

"We just arrived and were about to go upstairs." With that, she deftly opened the suitcase containing dates and took out two bags of dates. "I bought some things in Beijing, so I brought them for you to try."

Tang Mingmei smiled and skipped the pleasantries, simply looking at the two bags of dates in amazement: "These dates are really big."

"Yes, this is the first time I've ever seen such a big date."

That's absolutely true. Even though there were plenty of goods and it was easy to buy them in the previous life, who would normally think of buying dates as a snack? So I've never seen a date as big as an egg.

"Xin'er would be terribly surprised if she saw this."

"She was truly surprised when she tasted it."

"Let's go, let's go up quickly."

Tang Mingli nodded, thinking to herself that her cousin was now very likable.

It was just two bags of dates, but the feedback she received was truly heartwarming, making her, the gift-giver, extremely happy.

If all relatives acted this way, who wouldn't enjoy visiting relatives?

-

Li Hong estimated the time when Tang Mingli would arrive and prepared the food, but after waiting for a long time, no one came. She said to her husband with some worry, "Do you think the train might be delayed?"

Tang Jianguo said, "That's possible."

What if it's late?

"If it's too late, there's nothing we can do."

Li Hong sighed, "It's rare for Mingli to come all the way to Shenzhen, I really want to treat her to a meal."

as well as……

If I have the chance, I'd also like to talk to her about beauty.

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Author's Note: Red envelopes will still be given out in the comments section of this chapter!