Xu Jianguo was hesitating when he saw Zhao Futang pushing his bicycle in from the gate. He hurriedly went up to him and asked, "In-law, where have you been?"
It was already dark, and he couldn't see the expression on Zhao Futang's face.
But when he thought that Zhao Futang had actually come to the city, he felt that things were getting serious.
"In-law?" Zhao Futang almost didn't recognize Xu Jianguo. He quickly said, "I went out to take care of some business. Why are you standing outside? Come in and sit down."
"I heard Jingyu had an accident. How is he?" Xu Jianguo followed behind Zhao Futang and walked forward. Zhao Futang frowned when he heard this and said, "My dear in-law, I asked the company leaders yesterday. They encountered a storm at sea, but there is no definite news yet. We are also waiting for news."
"I just heard it from people over there; they say it's quite serious." Xu Jianguo, unsure of the veracity of the news, sighed, "How could something like this happen out of nowhere..."
He was angry that Xu Qingning wouldn't listen to him and insisted on marrying Zhao Jingyu.
That's bad, something's happened.
“In-law, we must keep this from Qingning, so she won’t worry.” Zhao Futang stopped and instructed Xu Jianguo, “She thought Jingyu was fine, so I didn’t dare tell her anything else.”
If anything were to happen to his son, his first priority would be to protect Xu Qingning and the child.
He was determined to preserve his son's bloodline no matter what.
"But this can't be kept secret any longer!" Xu Jianguo knew Zhao Futang meant well, but his mind was in turmoil.
If Zhao Jingyu were gone, Xu Qingning would be so young, with a child to support... even if she remarried in the future, she wouldn't be able to find a good family.
It makes me anxious just thinking about it.
"We have to keep it a secret even if we can't hide it." Zhao Futang had thought it through. If all else failed, he and Yang Yuelan would take Xu Qingning back to their hometown to get away from the gossip, and then come back after the baby was born.
Thinking of this, Zhao Futang suppressed his grief, his steps growing heavier. The blow of a parent outliving their child is something no one can bear.
As he approached his doorstep, Xu Jianguo suddenly stopped and said, "In-law, I won't go in. I'll head back first."
"Since you're here, come in and have a seat!" Zhao Futang composed himself and earnestly invited him, "It's been a long time since you've come to see Qingning."
"I'll come see her another day." Xu Jianguo turned and left. He didn't even need to guess that Xu Qingning would ignore him when she saw him.
Xu Qingning will never understand.
Everything he did as a father was for her own good, but she just wouldn't listen to him.
Because of Xu Qingning and Zhao Jingyu's affair, he is still ridiculed by his relatives and neighbors.
It is said that Xu Qingning followed Zhao Jingyu home regardless of everything, and did not leave home to get married.
"Then come when you're free." Zhao Futang didn't want to force him, so he locked the bicycle, watched him leave, and then went back inside.
As soon as Zhao Futang entered, Yang Yuelan greeted him happily and told him what Fang Meiyuan had said: "We have news about Jingyu. He's fine, but he'll be back a few days later than expected."
"Really?" Zhao Futang was somewhat incredulous. He had no way of knowing whether the news was true or false.
Could it be that the company leaders deliberately released false information to quell the rumors in order to conceal the truth?
"Really." Yang Yuelan scolded him when she saw that he didn't believe her, "Would I lie to you? That's what the leader said. If you don't believe me, go ask Lao San's wife."
"I believe you." Zhao Futang said he believed her, but he was still half-convinced. Seeing Yang Yuelan's cheerful appearance, he felt a little better and said in a low voice, "Qingning's father just came by, also about Jingyu."
"Why didn't you let him in?" Yang Yuelan peered out the window but saw nothing.
“He wouldn’t come in. I couldn’t very well drag him in. He probably didn’t want to see Qingning upset.” Zhao Futang thought Xu Jianguo was a strange person. He had clearly reached the door, but then he left again.
Yang Yuelan remained silent.
As a mother-in-law, she shouldn't comment on her daughter-in-law's parents' affairs.
During the meal, Yang Yuelan told Xu Qingning that Zhao Futang did not believe her, and asked Xu Qingning to tell him.
Xu Qingning smiled and said, "Dad, Manager Fang is here specifically to deliver this message to us. It's true."
"That's good." Zhao Futang nodded, looking at Xu Qingning with a kind smile. "I'll go to the company tomorrow to ask him in detail. You don't need to worry about these things; he'll be back soon."
Yang Yuelan, unaware of Zhao Futang's thoughts, asked Zhao Jingwen about his work: "Has the boss's work been arranged?"
"Everything is arranged." Zhao Futang then explained the details of the meat processing plant to his mother and daughter-in-law. "The eldest son's workplace is in the suburbs, about seven or eight miles from here. He earns thirty yuan a month, and lunch and dinner are provided. There is a dormitory, so the conditions are quite good."
"This company is really good." Yang Yuelan was very satisfied. "I'll find another job for my second son when I have the chance."
“I told the eldest brother that the second brother’s job is up to him.” Zhao Futang sat in his chair, his back straight, exuding the authority of a patriarch. “He got this job thanks to Liu Dawei’s connections. We can’t keep bothering him. As the eldest brother, he has to keep an eye out for the second brother.”
Xu Qingning thought Zhao Futang was very thoughtful and proper in his speech and actions, and had the dignity of a head of the family, which was quite good.
"By the way, Qingning, your father just came, but he didn't come in," Yang Yuelan said to Xu Qingning. "He came because he heard about Jingyu's situation."
“When he asked me, I didn’t know that Manager Fang had been here,” Zhao Futang continued. “I’m sorry to have worried your father.”
Xu Qingning said "oh" and then fell silent.
She knew very well what kind of person Xu Jianguo was; he only came to ask the question because he wanted to save face.
Since he's come to the tenement, he'll definitely go to Xiao Tingshen's house to find out what's going on. She doesn't know much about Xiao Tingshen, but Tang Wenya will definitely exaggerate the facts and spread rumors.
If Tang Wenya dares to spread rumors, she will seek justice from the leaders.
Xu Jianguo still went to Xiao Tingshen's house with Jiang Yumei. Jiang Yumei bought a large bag of fruit, as she didn't want to lose face in front of her in-laws.
Xiao Tingshen and Tang Wenya were not home. Liu Yuzhen said that the two had gone to celebrate a classmate's birthday and had not returned yet.
Xiao Yaodong warmly invited the two to have tea: "Ting Shen will be going to university in the provincial capital in a couple of days. Wen Ya said she wants to go home to stay, so we'll have to trouble your mother-in-law then."
"No trouble at all, it's nothing." Jiang Yumei was overjoyed without hiding her happiness. Tang Wenya had already said that as soon as Xiao Tingshen left, she would move back to her parents' home.
“A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; there’s no such thing as ‘it’s all right’,” Liu Yuzhen said indifferently. “Logically, since our son isn’t home, we, as his parents-in-law, should take care of our daughter-in-law, but she wants to go back to her parents’ home, so we can only go along with her.”
"You're too kind, in-laws. Wenya is your daughter-in-law, and also my daughter. It doesn't matter which family takes care of her the same way." Jiang Yumei had already heard that Tang Wenya had been cooking and washing clothes at their house these past few days, and as a mother, she was already feeling sorry for her and wished she could take her daughter back home right now.
Of course, she couldn't afford to fall out with Liu Yuzhen over this.
Anyway, Xiao Tingshen is about to go to school, so she can take care of her own daughter.
Xu Jianguo listened with great impatience.
He came today to inquire about Zhao Jingyu, not to listen to their idle chatter.
Thinking of this, Xu Jianguo turned to Xiao Yaodong and asked, "In-law, I heard that the ocean shipping company's ship had an accident. What's the situation now?"
Thank you YANchUN and 墨钰Acero for the monthly tickets.
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