Chapter 91 Separation
The short holiday quickly came to an end, and the day of parting finally arrived.
Liu Zhixia carefully checked Shen Yi's luggage again and again, afraid of forgetting anything.
Shen Yi held her hand tightly, pulled her into his arms, and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, everything is packed. All the food and things you made are stuffed in."
He looked at the bag, stuffed to the brim, his eyes full of amusement. It had arrived empty, but now it was overflowing.
This is filled with the heartfelt wishes of Liu Zhixia and her parents-in-law.
Having lost both parents at a young age and grown up relying on the kindness of others, this was the first time he had ever truly felt the warmth of home.
After the family had breakfast together, the entire Liu family, except for the eldest son and his wife, went to see Shen Yi off at the village entrance.
Lu Kai had arranged a car to enter the city in advance and was waiting by the roadside.
The Liu family looked at Shen Yi with reluctance. Although they had only known each other for a few days, the elderly couple truly treated him like their own son.
Liu Xuejun also liked his brother-in-law very much. He tugged at his sleeve and asked reluctantly, "Brother-in-law, can I come to see you at the army base later?"
Shen Yi nodded: "Of course. Once the application for military accommodation is approved, you can come with your sister."
Liu Xuejun's eyes lit up instantly: "Really?"
"Of course! You're welcome anytime!"
Lu Kai patted Liu Xuejun on the shoulder: "Okay! I'll take you out to play later! It's a bit out of the way, but there are still plenty of places to go!"
Liu Xuejun looked at Zhang Xiuying with a smile, his eyes full of expectation.
Zhang Xiuying nodded in agreement: "I'm worried about your sister going alone. It would be good for you to see her off."
Liu Shouren looked at Shen Yi with reluctance, repeatedly urging him, "Son-in-law, remember to take good care of yourself. After my daughter passes away, you must take good care of her too!"
"Don't worry, Mom and Dad!" Shen Yi solemnly promised, "I promise I will definitely give my wife a good life!"
Zhang Xiuying wiped away her tears and nodded vigorously.
While they were reluctant to part, Lu Kai and Aunt Zhou were also saying their goodbyes.
Aunt Zhou had just given a few instructions when Zhao Dongmei and Xu Zhihong came over.
With red-rimmed eyes, Zhao Dongmei stuffed a cloth bag into Lu Kai's hands, her voice choked with emotion: "It's going to get cold soon, so I knitted a scarf that I haven't used yet. Take it. It's cold over there, so take care to keep warm."
Lu Kai, clutching the scarf, nodded repeatedly with a silly grin: "Okay, thank you!"
Xu Zhihong wisely refrained from disturbing her and instead chuckled as she joined Liu Zhixia's group.
Seeing Liu Xuejun wiping away tears, she couldn't help but tease him: "Liu Laosi! You're about to become a teacher, why are you crying like a child?"
Liu Xuejun's face flushed red as he retorted defiantly, "I was just reluctant to leave my brother-in-law! Don't make fun of me! I don't believe you cried as much as I did when you left home!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized his mistake and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Xu Zhiqing, I shouldn't have brought that up..."
Xu Zhihong laughed heartily: "You're wrong! I ran faster than anyone else! And I was happier than anyone else!"
Everyone was somewhat surprised by her seemingly genuine demeanor.
Xu Zhihong quickly changed the subject: "Sister Liu, why did you get on the bus too? Are you going with Comrade Shen?"
“No,” Liu Zhixia explained, “They were going to the city, and it just so happened that they were going there on the way. My mother and I went to visit my second brother and sister-in-law.”
"I see." Xu Zhihong suddenly understood, then waved to the people in the car, "Comrade Shen, Comrade Xu, have a safe journey! And please take good care of Brother Kai! My sister really likes him!"
Xu Zhigang patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry! I've got it covered! I'm already a couple, and I guarantee this second couple will be no problem either!"
Just then, the driver arrived: "Gentlemen, are you ready? I'm done too."
Lu Kai said goodbye to Zhao Dongmei and Aunt Zhou, and nimbly climbed into the car.
Liu Zhixia and Zhang Xiuying also got on the car and went into the city together.
Upon arriving in the city, the mother and daughter got off the bus halfway through the journey. The driver was still going to take Shen Yi and the others to the train station.
Liu Zhixia looked at Shen Yi with reluctance: "Remember to write to me when you get there. I will study hard with Xuejun to learn to read."
Shen Yi's eyes were also filled with reluctance, and he solemnly promised, "Okay! I will apply to join the army as soon as I get back, and we will see each other again soon!"
Liu Zhixia watched the car disappear at the end of the road before reluctantly turning her gaze away.
Zhang Xiuying sighed: "Let's go find your second brother and sister-in-law."
"Okay." Liu Zhixia wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded vigorously.
The two entered the lumber mill dormitory as if they knew the way well.
Zhou Juan was startled when she saw the mother and daughter with red eyes: "Mother, little sister, what's wrong with you two?"
Zhang Xiuying explained, "My son-in-law went back to his unit. We just saw him off and stopped by to see you on the way."
Zhou Juan breathed a sigh of relief: "So it was your brother-in-law who left. Come in and sit down, Weidong is still at work and won't be back until he has lunch."
“No need, don’t delay his work.” Zhang Xiuying shook her head, took out a wad of cash from her bosom, and stuffed it into Zhou Juan’s hand. “Give this to Weidong.”
Zhou Juan stared blankly at the considerable sum of money in her hand: "Mom, what is this...?"
"The money for the division of property," Zhang Xiuying said calmly. "We've divided the property. This is your share, the two of you."
"What?!" Zhou Juan was so shocked her jaw almost dropped.
Zhang Xiuying sat down, took a sip of water, and began to recount the events of the past two days.
She felt at ease with her sensible and steady second daughter-in-law, not worried that she would harbor selfish motives like her eldest daughter-in-law.
After hearing the whole story, Zhou Juan's face darkened: "My sister-in-law is really out of her mind! Instead of making money properly, she insists on supporting that insatiable family of her own! If she were more obedient, her life would be so much more comfortable!"
Zhang Xiuying took out the family division document: "Take a look, you'll get everything you're entitled to. If you have no objections, put your fingerprint on it."
Without saying a word, Zhou Juan found some ink and pressed her fingerprint on it.
"Dividing the family property is a big deal, I still need to call Weidong back. Mother, little sister, wait for me, I'll be right back!"
A moment later, Liu Weidong rushed in with a dark face. As soon as he saw Zhang Xiuying, he became anxious: "Mother! Is it true? My eldest brother is talking about dividing the family property? It's already done? Such a big thing, why didn't you tell me!"
Zhang Xiuying glanced at him indifferently: "It's not him causing trouble, it's me who wants to break up! That's why I came to inform you."
"Is this what you call a notification?" Liu Weidong asked, sounding as aggrieved as a child. "Haven't they all been distributed already?"
Zhang Xiuying retorted confidently, "If I told you before we broke up, could you have changed my mind?"
Liu Weidong was taken aback. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that it made sense; once his mother made up her mind, nothing could change it. All the grievances he felt were instantly swallowed back down.
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