When the Huang family arrived at the hospital, they didn't even get to see Huang Mancang, and returned home the same way they came.

After all that fuss, it was already dawn, and I could go to work.

Huang Xiaoguo and Huang Xiaomin left home hungry and dejected, leaving the two women behind.

Wang Huijun, still completely unaware of what was happening, looked at Li Jin'e.

When they returned at dawn, Huang Xiaoguo looked very unwell, and she didn't dare to ask.

After they left, Wang Huijun quietly asked what had happened the night before.

"What else could it be? It's just that Dad is lying unconscious in the hospital and has lost a finger."

What!

A finger was broken?

"What happened during the two months you were gone? How did you manage to break your finger?"

Li Jin'e shook her head. "I don't know. The police won't tell us either. They just said it involves a case they're investigating and they can't disclose it. We paid the fee and were sent back."

Speaking of the expenses, she got angry at Huang Mancang. He went out for no reason, broke his finger, and even got involved in the police investigation.

I don't know if it will involve them.

The situation is dire. If things go wrong, our whole family could be sent to labor camps, and that would be the end of us.

After listening to her analysis, Wang Huijun's heart was in turmoil.

"How about we send a telegram to Mom? If... if we really can't avoid it, then we'll go to Mom's place. That way, she'll be there to take care of us and we won't be too upset."

Li Jin'e's face was serious. "You're right. We need to be prepared for both possibilities. It's best if nothing happens, but if something does, we'll have a way to deal with it."

With the major plans set, now it's time for the family to enjoy food and drinks.

Li Jin'e spent half of her living expenses this month at the hospital last night.

The remaining half is with Wang Huijun. Looking at those few dollars, she knows how her family of five will survive the next ten days...

“We can’t skimp on the money for sending telegrams. I’ll send the telegram first. As for food, Xiaomin and the others have a canteen. I’ll have him go get food from the canteen and then tell my older brother. That’s why next month’s salary might not be as much.”

"Forget it! Never mind, let's just get through this first."

Wang Huijun knew this was the best arrangement, so she took out a dollar and handed it to Li Jin'e, saying, "Make sure you explain things clearly to Mom. It's okay to type a few more words; don't worry about spending money."

Li Jin'e nodded, took it, and walked towards the door.

For a moment, only Wang Huijun and her child were left in the room. The room, which was usually a bit cramped, was now empty, and she felt a sudden sense of unease for no reason.

Wang Huijun was timid and clumsy with words, but she had figured out the family's temperament. According to Huang Mancang's personality, he must have gone out to gamble during those two months of disappearance, and lost a lot, which is why he was reluctant to go home.

Suddenly, news came back that a finger had been broken, meaning he must have gambled away all his money and lost a finger in the process.

Recently, the police have been cracking down hard, targeting gambling and reactionary elements.

Huang Mancang must have run into someone's gun.

Once the police find out that Huang Mancang was also involved in gambling, his whole family... will inevitably be sent to a labor camp.

The guesses in his heart kept coming out, and the more he thought about it, the paler his face became.

I put Huang Xuewen on a stool, put a small wooden cart in his seat and told him to sit and play quietly without moving around. Then I pulled out a large cloth from the house and started tidying up.

Wang Huijun was busy tidying up the house when Li Jin'e, who had just finished sending a telegram, frowned and rushed to Huang Xiaomin's factory.

"Hello, could you please call Huang Xiaomin for me?"

The old guard at the gate leaned lazily back in his chair. "This is a restricted factory area. Outsiders are not allowed to approach."

Li Jin'e pursed her lips, "I'm a worker's family member, so I'm not an outsider. I need to talk to him about something."

The old man opened his eyes and said, "Even family members are not allowed."

"you!"

Li Jin'e glanced longingly at the factory gate, then turned and left, hoping that Huang Xiaomin and she were on the same wavelength.

When the telegram arrived, Old Lady Wu was just about to take a tractor with the villagers to the town market.

The village market, held every three months, happened to be nearby, so the village secretary gave the women in the village a day off to come and attend.

"Oh, our village Party secretary is the best."

"That's right. Look around at all the village secretaries in the surrounding area, which one can compare to ours?"

"If you ask me, Cuifen is lucky to have married such a good man."

Gou Cuifen proudly raised her head and said, "Yours is not bad either," a slightly insincere compliment.

Seeing Old Mrs. Wu beside him, he gently nudged her with his elbow and asked, "How about you? How's your husband?"

Grandma Wu was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the topic to involve her.

Her man?

Huang Mancang?

If Gou Cuifen hadn't mentioned it, she would have almost forgotten about this person.

"Go ahead."

A woman in the car chided, "Cuifen, what kind of question is that? Mingxia is pretty, has a good temper, and is literate and knows how to raise pigs. Her husband must be the same."

"Equally good-looking? Equally good-tempered?"

Gou Cuifen pursed her lips where no one could see her; it wasn't that she couldn't stand seeing others do well.

It's true that good women are hard to match with good men. If that's really true, why have I never heard Mingxia talk about her man?

If it were really that good, why would Mingxia have come to settle in their small mountain village alone with her two sons?

I spoke too quickly and regretted it as soon as the question left my mouth.

Gou Cuifen waved her hand, changing the subject, "Stop talking about these stinky men. Instead of wasting time, why don't you think about what to buy in town?"

Spending money on things seems to be a woman's nature. When talking about what to buy later, all the women on the tractor immediately joined in, chattering away.

Gou Cuifen patted the old lady Wu beside her, "I spoke without thinking just now, don't take it to heart."

Grandma Wu smiled and shook her head, "It's nothing, he really is a stinky man."

A simple word of agreement already reveals the true character of Old Mrs. Wu's husband.

Gou Cuifen was probably joking when she said that.

That's not what Grandma Wu said.

After a bumpy ride to the town, Old Lady Wu pulled a cushion from under her bottom and casually put it into her basket. She jumped off the cart, gave Gou Cuifen a few simple instructions, and left alone.

Huang Xiaofu and Huang Xiaoqiang didn't come today; they're taking a rare break and are resting at home. Even Gu Qing didn't come.

Thinking of the way Gu Qing looked at the fourth son, Old Mrs. Wu shook her head.

Thinking of the few people at home, he turned and headed towards the telegraph building.

She hasn't been to the telegraph office since she last sent her address by telegram.

"Comrade, hello, do you have any telegrams from Wu Mingxia?"

Behind the greenish glass, a round face looked up. "Wu Mingxia? Wait, let me look for her."

Grandma Wu's gaze swept over the girl with pigtails, and she began to survey her surroundings.