The two elders of the Cheng family turned away to wipe their tears, and Jiang Wanqing kissed her daughter's forehead.
"Don't be afraid, little one. It's because your father is thinking of you, that's why you dreamed about him."
Will Daddy come back? Where is he?
Children are always innocent and naive, saying whatever comes to mind, their eyes sparkling as they wait for the answer they want.
Jiang Jianguo and his wife couldn't help but sigh. Fortunately, what they had just overheard outside proved that it was not impossible for Cheng Ran to still be alive.
"Hmm... Daddy is far away, but one day he will come back, Nannan, you have to believe that." Jiang Wanqing straightened her daughter's braids: "Let's wait for Daddy together."
"good."
"Don't say these things to the child. It only adds unnecessary hope. She'll understand when she grows up," Cheng's mother said, turning around.
“That’s something that happened when she grew up. Now we need to give her hope. We need...hope too.”
Her voice grew softer and softer, and her eyes lowered as she suppressed her emotions.
Before Nannan recovered, Jiang Wanqing stayed with her at the hospital. The doctor said that a good mood would help her recover faster, so she dared not be careless.
However, during the time when her child was taking a long nap, she went back to the factory to see Hongxing.
He and Molly remained at an impasse, living under the same roof but unable to return to their previous way of getting along.
Hong Xing went out to deliver goods, so Jiang Wanqing talked with Molly for a while.
"Are your parents still not willing to agree?"
“Hmm.” Molly was a woman of few words.
"I'd like to take him away for a while, is that okay?"
After she finished speaking, Molly looked up, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"Is it about the new factory building?"
"Yes, I need an assistant."
"Then ask him. I have no opinion, and I have no right to offer one. He's ignoring me anyway."
She lowered her head again, twisting her fingers slightly, her expression somewhat bitter. In this matter, she didn't even know who to blame. Hung Hing was persuaded to leave by her mother, but she didn't have the courage to go against her parents, and things remained at a stalemate.
“Perfect timing. I’ll take him with me. While he’s away, you can talk things over with your family. If you’re feeling down, talk to my mom. Maybe she can help you.”
"Really? But isn't Auntie supposed to be taking care of Nannan?"
"Don't worry, Nannan is going to stay with her grandparents for a while."
"That's wonderful! Wanqing, thank you..."
Molly sniffed. She hadn't had anyone to talk to for a while, and her grievances poured out all at once. Jiang Wanqing quickly comforted her.
With no objections from her side, things went even more smoothly for Hung Hing. He himself also wanted a temporary change of environment, and Jiang Wanqing only mentioned it to him briefly before he immediately agreed.
However, she hadn't told Hung Hing about Cheng Ran yet...
Nannan fully recovered after half a month and was discharged from the hospital. Jiang Wanqing personally took her to the Cheng family. The Cheng family elders liked their granddaughter and had prepared a children's room with all kinds of toys in advance.
"Mom, are you going on another long trip? Will you come back with Dad?"
This is a crucial stage in a child's development. Other children have fathers, but she doesn't. At first, she was curious, but now it's starting to develop into an emotion.
"If Mom finds Dad, will you bring him back to see you?"
"good!"
"Then you have to be good, eat your food properly, don't be naughty, and don't cause trouble for Grandpa and Grandma, okay?"
Jiang Wanqing squatted down, patiently teaching her daughter. The little girl was still holding a toy in her hand, nodding obediently and responding in a childish voice.
"Okay, I'll do whatever Mom says."
"Good girl."
After calming her daughter down, Jiang Wanqing gave another bag of money to the child's grandparents.
“Take these. Nannan is staying here, so we’ll definitely need your help to take good care of her. Even though you’re her grandparents, it still takes up a lot of your time and energy. As her mother, I’m working outside, so all I can do is spend more money on her.”
The two elders exchanged a glance. They were reluctant to accept it, but Cheng's mother frowned and accepted it anyway.
"Alright, I'll keep this money for you for now. You can use it for the child later." She paused for a few seconds and said, "But about the child's father... I still want to make things clear to you. Try not to lie to the child and say things like you're bringing her father back. The child is fragile, and if she finds out you're lying, it will be difficult to handle later. But if you have other intentions... then let us raise the child from now on. Nannan can only have Cheng Ran as her father, no matter if he lives or dies!"
Jiang Wanqing opened her eyes wide: "You misunderstood... Never mind, time will tell. Our adult matters have nothing to do with the children. We should just keep our own thoughts to ourselves."
She didn't stay at the Cheng family's house for long. After saying goodbye, she left, settled other matters, and two days later, she and Hung Hing boarded a train heading south.
Since the journey was long, she told him in detail one of the purposes of her trip, as well as the story of meeting someone who looked a lot like Cheng Ran.
"Sister-in-law, are you telling the truth?!"
Hong Xing's eyes lit up, and he clenched his fists: "I've always thought Brother Cheng was lucky. As long as we haven't found his body, I'll believe he's still alive. Sister-in-law, thank you for taking me with you. Don't worry, I'll definitely help you!"
He was too optimistic, even to the point of being crazy with excitement. Jiang Wanqing quickly raised her hand to signal him to calm down and shook her head.
"I only have doubts, I'm not sure if it's him. Don't get too excited. This is something you and I know right now. We can announce it after we've confirmed it."
“You’re right, sister-in-law. I was thinking too simply. Back then, the area where Brother Cheng went on a mission was kept secret by the higher-ups. It’s hard to say whether it was him or not. If it was, why haven’t we heard anything about it in the past two years? That doesn’t make sense.”
“Yes, so… we should focus on our work and not alert them,” Jiang Wanqing said earnestly.
"clear!"
Meanwhile, in the village where A-mei lives—
After the road was repaired, Huanren carried the gifts up the mountain alone and went straight to Amei's house.
Only Amei's father was chopping firewood in the courtyard. He went in and greeted him.
"Uncle, I've come to see you. I bought you some things. Thank you for letting us stay at your house last time." He made up an excuse.
"Oh, Comrade Huanren, you're too kind. Helping each other is only right. Come in and sit down. My sister has gone to work in the fields. I'm a bit clumsy, so let me pour you a cup of tea. Please don't mind, hahaha..."
"No, no, no, thank you for your trouble." Huanren put down the gift, followed him into the room, looked around, scratched his head, and asked casually, "Where's your son? Isn't he home?"
"You mean A-Ye? He went up the mountain. He should be back around mealtime. Are you looking for him?"
"Ah... it's like this, the county is building a factory, and I just wanted to ask if any eligible men in your village are willing to do manual labor."
Fortunately, he had prepared an excuse before he came, and he said it directly. When the old man heard it, he smiled gratefully.
"Others might be able to do it, but my Ah Ye... forget it."
"Oh? Why not him? I saw him last time; he was strong and healthy, wasn't he a perfect fit?"
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