Shen Huaichuan noticed the seriousness in Zhou Qiqi's brows and knew that something was on her mind.
He didn't say much, just nodded slightly, turned around and left.
First, he went to the leader to get his leave approved, and then, without stopping, went straight to Political Commissar Lei's house.
Upon entering the Lei family's gate, the house looked as if it had been robbed.
Several bundles were scattered on the living room floor, and clothes and pants were strewn everywhere.
Zhou Shuhua, her eyes red-rimmed, was stuffing things into her handbag, her hands busy and her mouth not stopping either, muttering to herself:
"Take this thick coat with you; it'll be cool on the road. Also, bring plenty of money, and pick out a few durable clothes for Jianbang..."
Political Commissar Lei tried to persuade her to calm down:
"Shuhua! Don't panic! We know the address, so the person can't run away! How are you going to manage on the road in this mess?"
But Zhou Shuhua wouldn't listen; she grabbed his arm with tremendous force.
"Your clothes fit Jianbang perfectly. Quickly find all your clothes and give them all to Jianbang!"
It wasn't until Shen Huaichuan stepped forward and told her about his and Zhou Qiqi's plan to go together that Zhou Shuhua's burning desire gradually subsided.
With so many people traveling together, we can't just wander around aimlessly like headless flies; we need to come up with a plan.
It was finally decided that we would set off together in two days.
Shen Huaichuan returned home and told Zhou Qiqi the news.
Two days is still a bit rushed.
When traveling far away, especially to a remote village, it's essential to bring everything you need.
Zhouzhou also needs to be looked after by someone else.
Their trip wasn't for sightseeing, nor were they going to any nice places.
Moreover, if things go smoothly, they can return in two or three days; if things don't go smoothly, it might take a week or two. We can't let the children miss school.
When Deng Cuixiang and Zhu Yingying heard about this, they both patted their chests and said they were happy to help take care of Zhouzhou.
This girl is well-behaved and sensible, and doesn't cause any trouble at all. The two of them dote on her like the plague.
But Zhou Qiqi was thinking that Sister Cuixiang had to take care of the pickle stall and had many children at home, so letting Zhouzhou live there would probably only cause trouble.
Yingying's family has an empty room, and she is also very thoughtful, making her the most suitable choice.
After thinking it over, I decided to have Yingying help take care of the baby for a few days.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Xiangyang, having somehow heard the news, came running over with a stack of snacks, placed them in front of Zhou Qiqi without saying a word, and stubbornly said he wanted to use these to exchange for Zhouzhou going to his house.
As soon as Zhou Qiqi said "No," the boy plopped down on Zhouzhou's bed, his bottom seemingly nailed to the spot, refusing to budge no matter what anyone said.
Zhou Qiqi was amused by his cheeky behavior, so she squatted down and pinched his puffed-up cheeks:
"Little rascal, it's not that Aunt Zhou doesn't agree, but look, Zhouzhou is going to your house. Where will he sleep?"
"Sleep with me!"
Xiangyang, with her little neck held high, declared confidently, "My bed is huge! I keep it spotless!"
"That won't do,"
Zhou Qiqi smiled and shook her head, "Zhouzhou is a girl, and you are a boy, so you can't sleep in the same bed."
Xiangyang was dumbfounded, his little face scrunched up, and after pondering for a long time, his eyes suddenly lit up:
"Then... let Zhouzhou sleep with my mom! And my dad and I will sleep together, is that alright?"
Upon hearing this, even Shen Huaichuan, who was tidying up his things nearby, couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Zhou Qiqi laughed so hard that tears almost came out.
"Oh my little darling, what kind of idea is this? Do you think your dad will be happy if he finds out?"
She coaxed and pleaded with him, stuffed a handful of candies into his mouth, and repeatedly promised "I'll definitely do it next time," before finally managing to seduce the little rascal away.
The day before her departure, Zhou Qiqi went to the First Garment Factory again.
The production line was running smoothly, and the workers were quick and efficient. Garments, each bearing the double-sided embroidered "Seven" logo, were neatly stacked into cardboard boxes.
With the previous blockbuster product already established and sales channels stable, she carefully explained the follow-up matters to Deputy Factory Director Zhang before leaving.
On the third day, just as dawn was breaking, the group headed to the train station.
Zhou Qiqi originally thought it would be just her, Shen Huaichuan, and Commissar Lei and his wife, a total of four people, but she didn't expect Lei Yuhua to come along as well.
Commissar Lei explained from the side, "This girl is really worried about her mother. She kept pestering me for a long time, insisting on coming along."
Lei Ming originally wanted to come, but he was persuaded to go back.
Zhou Qiqi was still on edge when she stepped into the carriage, fearing that she would have to face Zhou Shuhua's anxious gaze the whole way.
Only after finding her seat and seeing that Shen Huaichuan had bought her a window seat, and looking around to find that she was in a different carriage from Zhou Shuhua and the others, did her anxiety finally subside, and she breathed a long sigh of relief.
The two families are not in the same carriage, so they don't have to see each other and worry about each other. But they are close together, so they can help each other out if anything happens.
It must be said that Shen Huaichuan is quite thoughtful.
The car swayed, and the scenery outside the window began to rush past.
This is Zhou Qiqi's second time taking the train.
Last time, she was alone, filled with trepidation, heading to the completely unfamiliar life of a military spouse.
And now, a few months later.
Fields, villages, rivers... the same scenery flows outside the window, warmed by the morning sun, but the feeling in my heart is quite different.
She turned her head slightly and could see Shen Huaichuan's calm profile beside her.
Looking back on the past few months, from being completely clueless when she first transmigrated to now having a decent career and people she can rely on, Zhou Qiqi felt like she had just had a bizarre dream.
But the warm body beside her reminded her again and again that this was not a dream.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com