“We’ve been following this matter closely these past few days. We only heard that they encountered a storm on their return voyage and something happened.” Xiao Yaodong had long since stopped working at the ocean shipping company, so he didn’t know much. He comforted Xu Jianguo, “Everyone is waiting for news now. After all, we’re too far away, and communication isn’t convenient. Don’t worry too much.”
Zhao Jingyu was, after all, Xu Jianguo's son-in-law.
If something happens to your son-in-law, your father-in-law will definitely be worried.
“There are all sorts of rumors now. Some say everything is fine, others say the people on the ship won’t be coming back. Even people from my workplace are talking about it.” Liu Yuzhen secretly rejoiced that her son didn’t have to go on the ship, and that after he finished university, he would definitely not have to go on the ship when he came back.
"Don't the company leaders know either?" Xu Jianguo asked skeptically. "Even though communication is inconvenient, there should at least be some definite information, right?"
“I don’t know about that.” Xiao Yaodong shook his head and added, “I’ll ask Director Gao next time I see him.”
Even if the company leaders knew, they wouldn't make it public so quickly.
Even if something goes wrong, they have to investigate it thoroughly, report it up the chain of command, and go through all the proper procedures. They can't just draw conclusions casually.
Xu Jianguo didn't dare to ask any more questions.
Coming here is the same as not coming at all.
On their way back, the couple ran into Xiao Tingshen and Tang Wenya at the entrance of the alley. After learning their purpose, Xiao Tingshen comforted Xu Jianguo: "Dad, don't worry too much. Zhao Jingyu will definitely be alright."
They were discussing this matter while we were eating.
Everyone thought Zhao Jingyu wouldn't be coming back.
"Your dad insisted on coming to ask, but he didn't get any answers," Liu Yuzhen muttered to Tang Wenya. "He just keeps worrying about things that aren't his business."
Xu Qingning has stopped having contact with her family.
Xu Jianguo kept pushing forward, only to make himself uncomfortable.
“Mom, no matter what, Zhao Jingyu is still my dad’s son-in-law. He must be worried.” Tang Wenya had already asked the system, but the system couldn’t find any information about Zhao Jingyu. What does that mean? It means that Zhao Jingyu is no longer here.
But she still had to go back to her parents' home and face Xu Jianguo every day. Of course, she wouldn't tell him that Zhao Jingyu was gone. Instead, she comforted Xu Jianguo, saying, "Dad, Zhao Jingyu is a lucky man. He will definitely come back safely."
"I'm relieved to hear you all say that." Xu Jianguo forced a smile, then sighed. "Only when you're all well can we elders be at ease."
The four exchanged a few pleasantries before heading home.
Early in the morning, Zhao Futang went to the company to find Gao Dejian, but Gao Dejian was not there. Wang Yaqiang said that he had gone to the provincial capital for a meeting yesterday and would not be back for another two days.
“Uncle, we’ve received the news. My brother is really alright, he just got a little injured. Don’t worry.” Seeing that Zhao Futang didn’t believe him, Wang Yaqiang smiled and said, “People outside are just spreading rumors. We wouldn’t lie to you.”
“Yaqiang, I believe in you,” Zhao Futang said, holding Wang Yaqiang’s hand with red eyes. “As long as you’re alright, a little injury is nothing to worry about.”
"Uncle, don't worry, my brother will be back soon." Wang Yaqiang had also been going through a lot these past two days. Without definite news, he didn't even dare to see Xu Qingning. He understood Zhao Futang's feelings. "Tonight, Dawei and I will go to your house to see you and Auntie, and we'll have a good talk."
"Okay, I'll wait for you. Come over after get off work and have dinner at my house." Zhao Futang finally believed him. After leaving the Ocean Company, he didn't go home, but wandered aimlessly on the street, looking at everyone as if they were Zhao Jingyu.
He felt his pocket, pulled out a crumpled one-yuan coin and a few small bills, went into the grocery store, looked at the shelves again and again, and asked the sales clerk, "Comrade, what's good for pregnant women to eat?"
"Uncle, is your daughter-in-law pregnant, or your daughter?" The saleswoman, a woman in her forties, asked him with a smile.
"Daughter-in-law." Zhao Futang was a little embarrassed by her question.
"Malted milk powder, brown sugar, and rice candy are all selling very well." The saleswoman felt a warmth in her heart when she saw that he was buying them for his daughter-in-law. "Uncle, I recommend you buy malted milk powder and brown sugar. They can last for a long time and are quite practical."
"Then I'll have a bag of malted milk powder and a bag of brown sugar." Zhao Futang looked at the price, took out his money, and counted it on the counter. "One dollar and twenty cents, that's just enough."
"Uncle, don't you have any sugar coupons?" The sales clerk chuckled. "I have enough money, but I need sugar coupons."
"I don't have any sugar coupons." Zhao Futang then realized that he couldn't get sugar coupons in the countryside. "I, I'll go home and get some right now."
"Uncle, I happen to have two sugar coupons here. Let me pay for them for you!" The saleswoman readily accepted the money and took some malted milk powder and brown sugar from the shelf for him. She admitted that she was touched.
"Thank you, comrade," Zhao Futang said hurriedly. "I'll bring you the sugar coupons in a bit. My son works at the Ocean Shipping Company, and their company issues sugar coupons."
"No need, I happen to have some extra here." The saleswoman looked at him with a smile. "I rarely see such a thoughtful father-in-law as you, who even knows to buy supplements for his daughter-in-law."
Zhao Futang thanked him again and went home with light steps.
Yang Yuelan had just returned from reading the electricity meter when she saw him carrying malted milk powder and brown sugar. She asked curiously, "What are you buying these for?"
"Oh, I went out for a walk and happened to see it, so I bought some for my third brother's wife." Zhao Futang put it on the table and didn't say much. "Give me two sugar coupons. I still owe someone sugar coupons."
"It's in the drawer, go find it yourself." Yang Yuelan found Zhao Futang strange. How could a rough man like him know to buy tonics for his daughter-in-law?
Zhao Futang pulled out two sugar coupons from the drawer and said to Yang Yuelan, "Yaqiang and Dawei are coming tonight, why don't you make some dumplings?"
"Okay, I understand." Yang Yuelan really liked the two young men, Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei, especially since Liu Dawei had even found a job for Zhao Jingwen. She would be willing to eat dumplings ten times over, let alone one.
Zhao Futang returned the sugar coupons at the grocery store. When he passed the alley entrance, he picked up a few pieces of wire and brought them back. He found some soil outside and started mixing mud, saying he wanted to make a stove.
Xu Qingning was very touched to see that Zhao Futang had bought her supplements, and immediately thanked him: "Thank you, Dad, for buying me malted milk powder and brown sugar. I've been craving them lately."
Although Zhao Jingyu did not live with his parents, he learned many of his good qualities from them.
Many things, their family members don't just talk about, they actually put into action.
This is truly commendable.
"Eat if you want, and buy more when you're done." Zhao Futang glanced at her, then continued fiddling with the mud, saying casually, "There's nothing much to do here. I'll stay for a few days and then go back home. You and your mother can come back to my hometown with me for a while!"
“Going back to our hometown for a while is fine. Qingning has never been back to our hometown before!” Yang Yuelan agreed and said to Xu Qingning, “We’ll come back when the weather gets colder. It’s just that the journey is a bit bumpy, and I’m worried about it.”
“Dad, we can’t go back to our hometown right now.” Xu Qingning refused without thinking. “My mom still has to read the electricity meter, I still have to submit the design drafts, and Jingyu will definitely call back in a few days.”
The main problem is that she's not used to sleeping in different beds, so she can't sleep in a different place. Also, she's never lived in the countryside before, so she's definitely not used to it.
More importantly, she is now heavily pregnant and has difficulty moving around, so she doesn't want to move.
Zhao Futang remained silent.
When Wang Yaqiang and Liu Dawei arrived, they persuaded him to take his mother and daughter-in-law back to their hometown.
The second update is here.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com