Immediately after the Spring Festival holiday, I assisted Xu Tong in securing Qianjin's pension. I personally handed the lump-sum payment, totaling over 790,000 yuan, to Qianjin's sister-in-law. I also handed her a bank card to deposit the monthly pension. She accepted it, tears streaming down her face as she choked back her thanks, her voice choking with tears.
Afterward, I personally donated 500,000 yuan to this broken family on behalf of the organization. I hope these two nephews, who are able to support Qianjin, will complete their education and graduate. This is my small token of comfort to Qianjin—you sacrificed your life for my safety, and this is the only way I can repay the family you left behind. From now on, I consider my sister-in-law and two nephews my own family. No matter what happens in the future, if they need me, I will lend a helping hand without hesitation.
To my surprise, Xu Tong didn't take the share we'd agreed upon. She's always been practical, but this time, she showed me her conscience. Not only that, she even accompanied me to the Martyrs' Cemetery to visit Qianjin's grave and lay flowers.
Perhaps it was this gesture that touched a soft spot in my heart. I decided to accompany her and her daughter back to the UK early. Frankly, I also had my own selfish motives—I wanted to avoid the awkwardness of being on the same flight with Peng Xiaohui and Xu Tong.
On February 9, 2012, Xu Tong, my daughter Xu Anqi, and I, along with our family, boarded an Air China flight from Beijing to London Heathrow Airport.
After a long flight of eleven hours, we finally arrived at our destination.
At 12 o'clock in the evening in London, the sky had already sunk into dusk, and the lights on the streets were sporadically lit, as if the whole city was slowly closing its eyes.
It was the first time in my life that I set foot on foreign soil, but I didn't feel the slightest bit of novelty or excitement, only a vague sense of homesickness that slowly spread. Because of the rushed trip, I didn't even get to say goodbye to Peng Xiaomin and Xixi properly.
We collected our luggage, Xu Tong pushing Anqi in the stroller while I pulled the suitcase, and walked out of the terminal. Tian Xinxin's pre-arranged car was waiting outside. The family climbed into the car. I had originally planned to stay overnight in London before heading to Manchester the next day. However, Xu Tong, who never liked the unfamiliar environment of a hotel, insisted on continuing her journey overnight.
So the car drove into the deepening night, heading north along the A1 highway.
Outside the window, the Harmonworth Marsh stretched silently through the mist, and the frosted meadows shimmered in the passing headlights, like a hazy and melancholic winter painting. This unfamiliar landscape, flowing silently in the darkness, quietly added an indescribable sadness to my heart.
Along the way, Xu Tong had a pleasant conversation with the blonde driver in fluent English. Anqi in her arms had already fallen asleep due to exhaustion from the long flight.
I silently held my phone and switched to Vodafone. The 4G signal was intermittent along the way, and WeChat messages popped up sporadically.
Soon, messages from Xiao Min and Lin Xun came pouring in, both wishing me a happy birthday. It was then that I suddenly realized: today is the 18th day of the first lunar month, my birthday.
What surprised me even more was the message from Chen Mengzhao: "I wish you smooth sailing, a pleasant journey, and a happy birthday."
It seems Zhang Xiaomin had leaked my itinerary to her after all. I stared blankly at the screen, then subconsciously reached up to touch the Rado watch on my wrist. Salty tears slipped down my cheeks, seeping into the corners of my mouth, leaving an indescribable bitterness.
Seventeen years of spring, summer, autumn and winter passed in a hurry, but this birthday was spent silently in the night while wandering in a foreign country.
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