"We're eating out today."
After a pause, Huo Tingzhou added, "Just the two of us. After we finish eating, we'll go see a show."
Today, Huo's mother returned to Beijing.
I arrived at the station a little after 8 p.m., just in time to finish watching the show.
"Watch a show?" Jiang Si asked in surprise. "What show?"
"Piano recital".
Knowing that his wife didn't like watching model operas or movies, Huo Tingzhou asked someone to buy two tickets when he learned that there was a large-scale concert at the Beijing Exhibition Theater in the next few days.
So that's how it is.
No wonder he's dressed so formally today.
Actually, this performance was already scheduled around the Lunar New Year, but tickets were not sold to the public.
Those who have the opportunity to see the performance are basically officials at the ministerial level or above, and their families.
Moreover, each person is only allowed two tickets per month.
With a large family and the Lunar New Year approaching, Jiang Si didn't mention the matter.
I didn't expect him to remember it all.
As they were talking, the car stopped at a long-established Western restaurant near the Beijing Exhibition Center Theater.
Jiang Si looked up and saw that it was the famous Old Mo.
Like most time-honored brands in Beijing, most of them abandoned their original names during that special period in order to ensure their business operations.
The old Mo restaurant is no longer called the old Mo restaurant; it has been renamed the Beijing Exhibition Center Restaurant.
Prices at Old Mo's Restaurant in 1970
The price is naturally higher than that of ordinary state-run restaurants, but for two people, a few yuan is enough to eat their fill.
After finishing their meal, the two walked to the Beijing Exhibition Theater.
Due to the impact of the major movement, the piano recital, originally scheduled for more than three hours, was eventually compressed to one hour and forty-five minutes.
The songs performed were mostly well-known revolutionary songs from that era.
But in this day and age, being able to sit in a theater and watch an entire concert is already a rare treat for Jiang Si.
The final piece, a piano rendition of "The Yellow River," particularly sparked a massive sing-along from the entire audience.
Even after the concert ended, the audience was still reluctant to leave.
The show ended at the perfect time.
The train was delayed today, arriving more than an hour later than scheduled.
It was late at night and there were many people, so the two bought platform tickets to go inside to pick him up.
The wind was strong at night.
Apart from a few scattered staff members, there was no one else on the platform.
Huo Tingzhou found a corner, pulled Jiang Si to one side, and used his body to shield her from some of the cold wind.
Are you cold?
As he asked this question, he looked down at the person in his arms.
Jiang Si shook her head.
After a pause, she asked again, "Are you taking the night train tomorrow too?"
"Um."
When Huo Tingzhou replied to this, he felt both bitter and aggrieved.
He's leaving tomorrow night, and for the next six months or so, he won't be able to be with her and the children.
"Wife?" Huo Tingzhou suddenly called out in a low voice.
"Hmm?" Jiang Si looked up. "What's wrong?"
Huo Tingzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "Tomorrow...you don't need to come to see me off tomorrow."
Jiang Si was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then realized what she meant, "What, are you afraid I won't be able to bear it?"
"No," Huo Tingzhou shook his head, "I..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the sound of a train whistle.
Soon, the train slowly pulled into the station.
As soon as the bus came to a stop, passengers carrying large and small bags poured out of the doors in a rush.
Kyoto Station is the final stop.
Huo's mother had a lot of luggage, so she wasn't in a hurry.
After most of the passengers had left the bus, he calmly picked up his luggage and walked out.
Fortunately, before Mrs. Huo set off, Mr. Huo made a special phone call to inform her of the specific carriage number.
The group quickly met up on the platform.
Unlike the day she left, Mrs. Huo was in a much better mood this time when she returned.
The sandstorms in Xinjiang province seem particularly harsh; in less than a month, Huo's mother's face has developed a high-altitude red hue.
However, judging from her mother-in-law's excited expression, Jiang Si knew without asking.
My mother-in-law probably knows that my eldest brother and sister-in-law want to be transferred back to Beijing.
Moreover, this matter seems to be progressing quite smoothly.
Sure enough, after the three got into the car...
As soon as the car left the train station, Huo's mother couldn't contain her excitement and told Jiang Si the good news.
She also mentioned quite a bit about what she saw and heard during her trip to Xinjiang.
Jiang Si listened quietly, occasionally chiming in with a few words.
Just as Mrs. Huo finished speaking, the car drove into the old house.
It was almost 10 p.m., but the living room was still brightly lit.
Apart from the children who were all asleep, the rest of the family members were sitting in the living room.
They were all clearly waiting for Huo's mother to return.
The moment the knocking sounded, Mr. Huo, who had been absent-minded for almost a month, almost immediately jumped up from the sofa.
As a result of being too excited, he wasn't paying attention and his knee slammed into the coffee table leg with a thud.
The pain made him gasp in pain.
Huo's fourth brother immediately stood up, "Dad..."
Mr. Huo kept quiet and then limped over to open the door.
Mrs. Huo immediately noticed something was wrong, "What happened to your leg?"
Huo's second brother, who was following behind, blurted out, "Mom, you've been gone for over a month. Dad missed you so much. He was so excited to hear you were back..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was glared at by Mr. Huo.
Mrs. Huo was stunned.
He then glanced at Huo's father.
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