Chapter 107 Seeing you off for a thousand miles, we must eventually part ways.
Universities started their semester in early September.
Zhao Yidi packed and packed her luggage again and again, but in the end it was still filled with a large suitcase and two woven bags.
Wen Xiaoxiao wished she could fit the whole house inside her.
"Mom, that's enough." Zhao Yidi looked at the mountain of luggage, both amused and exasperated. "The school sells them."
Wen Xiaoxiao was still stuffing snacks into the bag, saying, "Take these cookies with you, eat them if you get hungry. Pack this apple too, eat it on the way."
Zhou Lanying stood at the door, leaning on her cane, and looked at Yidi: "Yidi, eat well and sleep well at school, don't be stingy. Call home if you don't have enough money."
"Okay, Grandma." Zhao Yidi went over and hugged her. "Take good care of yourself at home. If your legs hurt, ask Aunt Ma to massage them for you."
"I'm fine." Zhou Lanying wiped her eyes. "You should focus on your studies."
On the morning of the day of departure, Fu Yunrou and Xiao Junkai also arrived.
Fu Yunrou brought Zhao Yidi a new bag, dark blue and stylish: "Yidi, this is for you, use it in class." She also handed her an envelope, "This is a little something from your aunt, take it to buy books."
Zhao Yidi declined, but Fu Yunrou forced it into her hand: "Be good, take it. You'll be a college student soon, so you should spend the money you need to spend."
Xiao Junkai stood to the side, looking at Zhao Yidi, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
He did well on the exam, but the school he applied to was in Xinjiang.
His father meant that boys should go out and gain experience.
When the acceptance letter arrived, his first thought was that he was too far away from Zhao Yidi.
"What time is the train?" Xiao Junkai asked.
"One o'clock in the afternoon," Zhao Yidi said. "And you?"
"The day after tomorrow." Xiao Junkai scratched his head. "Two days later than you."
Fu Yunrou pulled Wen Xiaoxiao aside to talk: "Xiaoxiao, don't worry, if Yidi needs anything in the provincial capital, just call me anytime. I have a cousin who works at a teachers' college, and I've already made arrangements for her; she'll take care of her."
"Sister Fu, you've gone to so much trouble." Wen Xiaoxiao expressed her sincere gratitude.
“What trouble? We’ll be family sooner or later,” Fu Yunrou said with a smile, her voice not loud, but loud enough for Xiao Junkai and Zhao Yidi beside her to hear.
Both of them blushed.
Director Xiao also arrived, driving his company's black sedan.
He nodded to Zhao Yidi: "Study hard, becoming a teacher is a good thing. If you have any difficulties, call home."
These words sounded ordinary, but both Zhao Fei and Wen Xiaoxiao sensed their weight.
We drove two cars to the train station.
Zhao Fei was driving the factory's van used for hauling goods. He had cleaned it up today and was using it specifically to deliver Zhao Yidi's belongings.
The car was full of Wen Xiaoxiao, Zhou Lanying, Yizhen and Yibao, Wen Xiaogai, Zhao Fei, and Zhao Yidi.
Director Xiao drove his car, with Fu Yunrou and Xiao Junkai in the car.
The two cars drove towards the train station, one after the other.
Inside the van, Wen Xiaogai peered out the window at the traffic, while Yi Zhen and Yi Bao sat on either side of Zhao Yidi, neither of them speaking.
Wen Xiaoxiao turned around from the passenger seat and looked at her daughter: "Yidi, call home when you get to school. The phone your dad bought you is fully charged, call anytime if you need anything."
"Okay, Mom." Zhao Yidi gripped the light blue phone in her pocket.
Zhao Fei just bought this for her a few days ago, saying that she needs a cell phone now that she's going to college.
Zhou Lanying held Zhao Yidi's hand: "Yidi, if you don't like the food in the cafeteria, go out and eat something better. Don't worry about the money."
"Grandma, I will take good care of myself."
They arrived at the train station and the two families reunited.
An hour before departure, the family stood on the platform.
Yizhen and Yibao held Zhao Yidi's hand tightly, reluctant to let go.
Yi Bao bit her lip, her eyes red: "Sis, come back when you have a holiday."
"Okay, I'll come back during the holidays." Zhao Yidi patted her head.
Yizhen whispered, "Sister, I'll send you a text message."
“Okay, I’ll get back to you.” Zhao Yidi smiled.
With mobile phones now, communication is much more convenient.
Wen Xiaogai stood to the side, looking at her sister and then at Xiao Junkai. Suddenly, she leaned close to Zhao Yidi's ear and said in what she thought was a very soft voice, but which everyone could hear, "Sister, don't pay attention to him. He's trying to take you away."
Everyone laughed.
Xiao Junkai was both amused and exasperated: "Xiao Gai, how did I steal your sister?"
"You just want to steal it," Wen Xiaogai retorted, her neck stiff. "My sister belongs to our family."
Zhao Yidi tapped her younger brother on the head: "Don't talk nonsense."
I've seen you off for a thousand miles, but we must part ways eventually.
The announcement began urging passengers to board the bus.
Zhao Yidi hugged each of her family members.
When it was Xiao Junkai's turn, both of them were a little awkward.
The platform is bustling with people; it's not a place to talk.
Fu Yunrou gave her son a push: "Go, take Yidi to the car door."
The two walked side by side into the carriage.
As Zhao Yidi walked to the car door, she turned and went up the steps, when Xiao Junkai suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Yidi".
Zhao Yidi turned around.
Xiao Junkai looked at her, his eyes bright, but his ears turned red: "I...I have something to tell you."
"you say."
“I…” Xiao Junkai took a deep breath, “I like you. I’ve liked you since junior high. I know it’s not appropriate to say this now, you’re going to university, and I’m going to Xinjiang. But I don’t want to keep it to myself.”
Zhao Yidi smiled slightly. You finally said it.
"I like you too," she whispered.
Xiao Junkai's eyes widened suddenly.
“But,” Zhao Yidi continued, “we are all still young and have to go to school. The road ahead is long, and no one knows what will happen.”
"I know." Xiao Junkai squeezed her hand. "I just wanted to tell you that I like you. I will study hard and work hard. After we graduate from university, if you are still willing, I... I want to marry you."
These words, though blunt and clumsy, are so sincere that they touch the heart.
Zhao Yidi smiled and nodded: "Okay. If we still like each other after graduating from university, we'll be together."
It's a deal.
It's a deal.
The train whistled.
Zhao Yidi let go of his hand, turned around and got into the car.
Xiao Junkai stood on the platform, watching her find a seat, put down her luggage, and sit down by the window.
The train slowly started moving.
Zhao Yidi waved through the window, Wen Xiaoxiao wiped away tears, and Zhao Fei put his arm around her shoulder.
Yizhen and Yibao chased after the train for a few steps before Wen Xiaoxiao stopped them.
Xiao Junkai stood there until the train disappeared from sight.
The van was quiet on the way back.
Yizhen and Yibao leaned against the car window, tears streaming down their faces. Wen Xiaogai looked at them, then suddenly exclaimed, "Stop crying! I'll treat you to hamburgers!"
Wen Xiaoxiao was feeling down when his shout left her speechless, wondering, "Where did you get the money?"
"I have a secret stash of money!" Wen Xiaogai puffed out her chest. "I've been saving it up for months, enough to buy hamburgers!"
Zhao Fei glanced at his son in the rearview mirror and smiled, "Okay, Dad's treating today. Order whatever you want."
"Really?" Wen Xiaogai's eyes lit up.
"real."
The atmosphere in the car then relaxed a bit.
Zhou Lanying said with a smile, "Xiao Gai, this child, knows how to care for his older sister now."
Around 6 p.m., Zhao Yidi called.
Wen Xiaoxiao practically lunged forward to catch it: "Yidi? We've arrived?"
"We've arrived, Mom." Zhao Yidi's voice came through the receiver, with a bit of background noise. "Just settled in. There are four people in the dorm now, and they're all doing well. We've eaten at the cafeteria, and it was alright."
"That's good, that's good," Wen Xiaoxiao said repeatedly. "Is the bed made? Is the blanket thick enough?"
"Everything's all set up, Mom, don't worry." Zhao Yidi paused, then asked, "Mom, is everything alright at home?"
"Okay, all is well." Wen Xiaoxiao handed the phone to Zhou Lanying next to her, "Say a few words to your grandma."
Zhou Lanying took the phone, said a few words like "Eat well and sleep well," and then handed the phone to Wen Xiaogai, who was waiting anxiously. Wen Xiaogai shouted into the receiver, "Sister! I miss you!"
Yi Zhen and Yi Bao also chimed in with a few words.
Finally, Zhao Fei took the phone: "Yidi, take good care of yourself out there. Call home if anything happens, don't try to handle it all by yourself."
"Okay, Dad."
After hanging up the phone, Wen Xiaoxiao sat on the sofa, and the empty feeling in her heart finally eased a little.
Now that we have cell phones, I can call my daughter whenever I miss her, which is much better than before when I could only write letters and wait for a reply.
Wen Xiaogai indeed took out his secret stash of money—a tin box filled with loose change, the largest denomination being ten yuan.
He counted for a long time and found that he had eighty-seven dollars and thirty cents.
"Is that enough?" he asked Zhao Fei.
Zhao Fei patted his head: "That's enough. But Dad's treating today, so keep your money and we'll treat you next time."
Wen Xiaogai thought for a moment, then carefully put the tin box away: "Okay, I'll treat you next time."
Night was falling.
Lying in bed, Wen Xiaoxiao said to Zhao Fei, "With Yidi gone, the house feels so empty."
“Children always grow up.” Zhao Fei hugged her. “When Yizhen, Yibao, and Xiaogai grow up and fly away one by one, only the two of us will be left.”
“It’s fine if it’s just the two of us.” Wen Xiaoxiao leaned on his shoulder. “Then we can go around and see the scenery.”
"Okay, wherever you want to go, that's where we'll go."
In the girls' dormitory of the provincial normal university, Zhao Yidi had just finished washing up and was lying on her bed.
She took out her light blue phone; the screen was lit up, and there was an unread text message.
It was sent by Xiao Junkai: "Arrived home safely. Four years will pass quickly, wait for me."
Zhao Yidi looked at the words and a smile appeared on her lips.
She replied, "Arrived safely. See you in four years."
She pressed the send button, pressed the phone against her chest, and closed her eyes.
A new life has begun.
There are unknowns ahead, but there is also anticipation.
There were partings, but also promises of reunion.
This autumn is both an end and a beginning for Zhao Yidi.
For the parents at home, it's a time of letting go, but also a new source of worry.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com