Yang Yuelan opened the door sleepily and was stunned to see Zhao Futang and his son Zhao Jingwen standing outside, looking travel-worn and carrying large bags of luggage. "Why are you here?" she asked.
"It's past ten o'clock, and you're only getting up now?" Zhao Futang was a little puzzled. Yang Yuelan wasn't lazy, so why was she sleeping until this time?
"I overslept," Yang Yuelan said with an embarrassed smile.
Zhao Jingwen couldn't hide his joy: "Mom, I'm here to work."
"Who found you this job?" Yang Yuelan asked in surprise.
“Liu Dawei helped me get the job opening.” Zhao Futang carried his luggage into the house and then asked Yang Yuelan, “Did you have Huihui send me the telegram? Is it something?”
"Liu Dawei originally told me to report on the 1st, but we came over early after receiving the telegram." Zhao Jingwen looked around the small living room, which was much brighter than when they last came. Although there was an extra stove, it didn't seem out of place.
“I didn’t ask her to send you a telegram!” Yang Yuelan was stunned. “Didn’t she say what it was about?”
"They didn't say anything, just told me to come to the city quickly." Zhao Futang also found it puzzling. "I thought something had happened here. Is Third Brother's wife doing well?"
"She's fine," Yang Yuelan replied quickly. "You all rest for a bit, I'll go cook."
She had never gotten up this late before.
My daughter-in-law massaged her head last night, and it worked quite well. She slept very soundly, much better than a few days ago.
"I'll do it with you." Zhao Futang took a small stool and went to the yard with Yang Yuelan.
Zhao Jingwen got up early and, after a two-hour drive, went to the room where Yang Yuelan lived and rested on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Xu Qingning was lying in bed when she heard her father-in-law and brother-in-law arrive. She was quite surprised. After listening to their conversation in the room, she learned that Wu Huihui had sent a telegram to ask them to come.
Without a doubt, Wu Huihui sent the telegram because of Zhao Jingyu's matter; she really knows how to meddle in other people's business.
Her father-in-law and brother-in-law came, and she felt embarrassed to stay in bed any longer; otherwise, she would have stayed in bed until lunchtime.
Yang Yuelan had long been used to her routine. She wouldn't get up or call her, but would keep the food warm in the pot for her, so she could eat whatever she wanted whenever she got up.
Xu Qingning picked up the washbasin and went out. She first went to the kitchen to greet Zhao Futang before going to the communal sink to wash up.
Yang Yuelan then told Zhao Futang about Zhao Jingyu's matter and instructed him, "Don't mention this matter in front of your daughter-in-law. Go find Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei later and ask them about it."
"I understand." Zhao Futang's heart clenched, his voice trembling. "Huihui must have sent me the telegram because of this. When did it happen? Why didn't you tell me?"
“Everyone has been talking about this for the past two days. I asked Yaqiang, and he said it’s normal to encounter storms at sea and that there’s nothing to worry about, so I didn’t tell you.” Yang Yuelan said in a low voice, “It was Huihui who heard these rumors, so my sister came to check on me. Leilei and Yucheng also came. They were quite worried. It must have been my sister who was afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold on, so she had Huihui send you the telegram.”
"I'll go to their company and ask them now." Zhao Futang couldn't wait any longer and strode out.
He didn't go to Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei, but went directly to the Ocean Shipping Company office to find Gao Dejian: "Director Gao, is there any news about my son?"
"Oh, it's you." Gao Dejian recognized Zhao Futang and shook hands with him warmly. "I'm sorry, we should have come to you to talk about this. As of now, we don't know much either, and everyone is just guessing."
He had discussed this matter with Fang Meiyuan yesterday.
Fang Meiyuan said she would talk to Xu Qingning and Yang Yuelan about this when she had time, to comfort them, and that she couldn't appear in the company's name, as it would make them suspicious.
"No news at all?" Zhao Futang, who had also worked before, sat down on the sofa opposite Gao Dejian without any hesitation. "Director Gao, I hope we family members can know the truth. Please tell me anything, I can handle it."
“Brother Zhao, I’m a father too, and I understand how you feel. This storm is the worst in decades, and it’s really quite serious. Because our cargo ship is still overseas, we can’t contact them for the time being,” Gao Dejian sighed before telling him the details. “But the information we have so far is that the storm has passed, and rescue ships have already gone out to sea to search, so we are waiting for news.”
"I understand." Zhao Futang nodded with a heavy expression. Gao Dejian walked over and sat down next to him, patting him on the shoulder. "I have always admired Jingyu and treated him like my own child. I believe he will be alright."
“Director Gao, I’ll be staying in the family compound these days. If anything happens, just let me know. Don’t let Jingyu’s wife know yet.” Zhao Futang’s eyes reddened as he spoke. “She’s pregnant and can’t be upset.”
“We understand.” Gao Dejian nodded repeatedly. “Don’t worry, we will handle these matters properly.”
Yang Yuelan made hand-pulled noodles, made egg drop soup, and added some greens; it tasted pretty good.
Zhao Futang didn't eat a bite, saying he wasn't hungry.
Xu Qingning saw this but said nothing, silently eating her rice. Zhao Futang had been gone for so long; he must have gone out to gather information.
Zhao Jingwen ate two large bowls and said he hadn't eaten Yang Yuelan's cooking in a long time.
Xu Qingning also ate a bowl. She hadn't eaten in the morning and was hungry, so Yang Yuelan put two extra poached eggs in her bowl.
Yang Yuelan knew that Zhao Futang had something on his mind, so she didn't ask him at the dinner table. Instead, she placed the noodles in front of him and said, "You have to eat something even if you're not hungry. Dinner is still a few hours away."
She had been in a much better mood, but Zhao Futang's actions made her start to worry again.
Zhao Futang barely managed to eat a few bites before pretending to be calm and saying to Zhao Jingwen, "Tomorrow we'll go find Dawei and have him take you there in advance to arrange your dormitory. Once you get to the factory, you can work hard."
"Dad, I understand." Zhao Jingwen cherished this hard-won job opportunity and was in a particularly good mood. He didn't notice anything unusual about Zhao Futang and smiled as he said to Xu Qingning, "Sister-in-law, Chengjun and Qiyuan have been talking about you ever since they went back. They said you made them new clothes, bought them new shoes, and even bought them delicious food. The two boys stayed for more than two months. You've really gone to a lot of trouble."
"Big brother, you're too kind." Xu Qingning smiled. "They're both very well-behaved."
"The two boys really liked Qingning; they even cried when they left." Yang Yuelan took the opportunity to praise Xu Qingning, "Qingning made them new clothes and bought them delicious food. Where can you find an aunt like that?"
Zhao Jingwen didn't know what to say, he just smiled.
As soon as Xu Qingning stood up, he caught a glimpse of her slightly protruding belly, then quickly looked away, too embarrassed to look at her again.
Because Zhao Jingwen was there, Xu Qingning told Yang Yuelan to go to her room to sleep.
Yang Yuelan said there was no need, as her son didn't need to avoid suspicion, and besides, the kang (heated brick bed) in her room was big enough for three people to sleep comfortably.
Xu Qingning listened to the three of them chatting until midnight.
She didn't hear clearly what they were talking about.
As she listened, she drifted off to sleep.
In her dream, she found herself on a cargo ship. The deck was flooded, and she carefully held onto the railing, calling out to the cabin, "Zhao Jingyu, are you there?"
Two hands wrapped around her from behind: "Why are you here?"
First update.
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