The good news from Beijing had been on Jiang Wanqing and Cheng Ran's minds. As the year drew to a close, they discussed buying train tickets to go home for the New Year in advance.
After they left the Southwest, Cheng Ran's parents naturally couldn't stay here; they would also have to go back with them. Moreover, after being sent back this time, they wanted to prevent the two elders from having to travel back and forth anymore...
When Cheng's mother brought the train tickets home, she hadn't cooked yet, but it was already mealtime. When she saw Cheng Ran and his wife return, she turned her head away and refused to look at them. She held a grudge in her heart. Since they wouldn't let her talk nonsense, she might as well not say anything at all. She was getting old and was being disliked. If it weren't for the greater good, she wouldn't have put up with this kind of treatment here.
Whenever her emotions surged, Cheng's mother missed the carefree life in the capital. Now that she thought about it, it was quite nice to turn a blind eye and not have to worry about other things. Unfortunately, she was being pressured now, and if she took the initiative to bring up going back, she would definitely lose face.
"Mom, we're back."
Cheng Ran greeted her, and Jiang Wanqing cleared her throat.
"Ahem...tsk, I was going to announce some good news, but it seems your mom doesn't want to hear it. Oh well, we'll just leave on our own then. She and your dad are adults, they'll definitely be able to take care of their own lives by then."
Jiang Wanqing used a feigned indifference to lure him in, and deliberately raised her voice.
Good news? Go by yourself? Upon hearing the implication in her words, Cheng's mother immediately turned around and anxiously questioned them.
"What good news? Where are you going? Are you trying to leave your father and me behind? That's unfilial..."
"It's the same old stuff again. You were so indifferent to us just now, we thought you didn't want to hear it. Fine, then we won't say it. You guess it."
Not wanting to indulge her, Jiang Wanqing took Cheng Ran's hand and was about to go back to the room with him. He deliberately held the train ticket in his phone, leaving a corner showing, and then casually dropped the train ticket on the ground.
"Oh dear, this can't fall..."
"What is this? Let me see!"
With quick eyes and hands, Cheng's mother bent down and picked it up immediately. When she saw the travel route and departure station clearly, her eyes widened and she held up the train ticket.
"You're going back to the Beijing area?!"
“Yes, it’s almost Chinese New Year. I’m going back to see the kids and spend the holiday with my parents. I bought tickets for you and Dad too, but you seemed quite happy with the place. In that case, why don’t you wait here for us to come back? That way, we won’t say we’re trying to kick you out. I’ll have Cheng Ran go and get the tickets refunded later.”
"No way! Who said we're not going back!"
For Jiang Wanqing, manipulating Cheng's mother was an extremely simple matter. She exchanged a glance with Cheng Ran, and he immediately understood.
"Yes, Mom, don't worry, we definitely won't waste any money. I'll go get a refund for the tickets in a bit. I'll leave things here with you and Dad. Wanqing and I will be back after the New Year."
"You bastard! Who told you to cancel the tickets! On such a wonderful day as the Lunar New Year, you actually want to leave your dad and me here? How can you be so unreasonable!"
Just moments ago, Cheng Ran was wondering when he could go back to Beijing, and now the opportunity had arrived. How could Cheng's mother let it go? She immediately protected the ticket and refused to return it to Cheng Ran no matter what.
"Are you sure you want to go back to Beijing with my dad? Wasn't it me and Wanqing who forced you to?"
"Of course we have to go back!"
"Okay, then you should start packing and getting ready according to the schedule."
Having achieved her goal, Jiang Wanqing used a feigned retreat to advance, and Cheng's mother indeed fell for it. Jiang Wanqing sighed.
"Sigh, I thought I'd finally have someone here to help with the laundry and cooking. I'm afraid I won't be coming back this time."
"I……"
Cheng's mother wanted to argue with her, but if she said she would come back, it would mean she would have to be a maid, doing laundry and cooking, things she was tired of and didn't want to do anymore. But if she said she wouldn't come back, then the person who said she would never go back would become a joke.
Weighing the two options, it's better to joke around, because being a housewife involves real physical labor.
She thought for a moment, then shut her mouth, put the ticket away, and went to the kitchen.
"I'll go cook."
Jiang Wanqing and Cheng Ran gave each other a silent high five. Perfect!
That evening, when Mr. Cheng returned home from playing chess, he saw his wife packing her things, which puzzled him.
"What are you doing? Packing things up and throwing them away?"
"Pah, pah, pah! What are you throwing away! We brought it from Beijing, so of course we're taking it back to Beijing. You should hurry up and pack it too, we're going back to celebrate the New Year!"
"Huh? Who said that?" Mr. Cheng frowned.
“Cheng Ran has already bought the tickets. Originally, he and Jiang Wanqing weren't going to take us, but I argued my way through and got the tickets. I can't stay here any longer. If they don't let me speak, I'll go crazy. It's better to go back. No one will be watching me, and I won't have to worry about causing trouble. Old man, hurry up and pack your things!”
The thought of returning to a familiar place and being her true self made Cheng's mother so happy that she hummed a little tune.
Mr. Cheng also missed home, and it would be best if he could go back. He was getting haggard from staying here.
The family of four boarded the train two days before the Lunar New Year. To keep things quiet, Cheng Ran deliberately didn't buy seats in a row, but instead bought seats in the same carriage. He sat with Jiang Wanqing, and his parents sat together, with two rows of seats between them, ensuring safety and peace of mind.
After putting down her luggage, Jiang Wanqing glanced back and smiled.
"Your mother's mouth is harder than a dead duck. She clearly wants to go back, but she insists on fighting for that useless pride."
Cheng Ran was well aware that he agreed with Jiang Wanqing's words, but after all, he couldn't say anything harsh to his own mother.
"Just bear with it for a few more days. It looks like next time you come back, you'll only need to buy two tickets."
"Hmm, that's not necessarily true. We still have Nannan. I'm thinking about whether we should bring her with us. A child can't be without her parents for years."
"You're right. Let's see how it goes, and discuss it together?"
"Um."
The train whistle sounded, signaling imminent departure. Jiang Wanqing's heart raced with excitement. She had already planned out everything she wanted to do back in Beijing, meticulously listing it all in her mind...
The journey from the southwest to Beijing was long, and along the way, Cheng's mother awkwardly made up various excuses to give them dry rations.
"Don't starve to death, have something to eat. You guys buy food on the train every day, how much money can you afford to eat like this?"
Is it because they're worried about the money, or because they're worried about the fact that the children aren't getting healthy food?
Jiang Wanqing and Cheng Ran remained silent, accepting the gift since it was their own property.
"By the way, this time when we go back to Beijing, your dad and I won't visit Nannan at your place. Remember to bring her back to the old house for the New Year's Eve reunion."
"Okay, Mom."
This is not an excessive request. It is natural for a daughter to be reunited with her maternal grandparents and her paternal grandparents as well. Jiang Wanqing is not the kind of person who would suppress her daughter from recognizing her ancestors.
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