Zhu Jingsu was still with them, and Zhou Weili had the driver take them to the provincial capital's train station.
It was the first time that little girl Yang Le had taken a train on a long trip, and she was incredibly excited.
A long-lost radiant smile appeared on Zhou Ruilan's face, reminiscent of her unmarried days.
Despite the long train journey that lasted several days and nights, neither of them felt tired.
After getting off the train, Qin Feiyang came to pick me up in the store's van used for hauling goods.
Qin Feiyang didn't recognize Zhou Ruilan when he saw her, but after hearing that it was Zhou Ruilan, he quietly asked, "Weiguang's sister, how come you've aged so much?"
She's probably not even thirty yet.
Qin Hanshu shook her head and said nothing. Qin Feiyang wisely didn't ask any further questions.
The secret to staying young, besides genes, lies in a joyful lifestyle. Zhou Ruilan's life was probably not joyful most of the time, and the premature birth of Lele caused great damage to her body. Without a good living environment, it's difficult to recover through supplements alone.
There was a phone in the electronics store, so Qin Hanshu asked Qin Feiyang to call Zhou Weiguang and tell him that Zhou Ruilan had arrived.
"An electronics store?" Zhou Ruilan asked curiously, "What electronics store?"
Qin Hanshu offered an explanation, but didn't mention her investment. It wasn't that she didn't trust Zhou Ruilan; she just wanted to keep a low profile.
Zhou Ruilan asked in surprise, "Is the TV set for Mom and Dad from the shop owned by Brother Qin?"
Qin Hanshu nodded, "Yes."
Zhou Ruilan glanced at Qin Feiyang a few more times, then gave him a thumbs up and praised, "You're really amazing."
Qin Feiyang smiled, didn't linger, helped carry the luggage, and then drove away.
As I was packing my luggage, Zhou Sheng ran over and said, "Mom, hurry up and take my clothes off, they're really uncomfortable."
Qin Hanshu asked, puzzled, "What? Taken apart? The clothes?"
Zhou Sheng nodded: "Grandma sewed it, and stuffed a lot of money in it. It's uncomfortable."
Qin Hanshu paused before taking off Zhou Sheng's clothes. Sure enough, the innermost thermal underwear had an inner pocket sewn on, which was stuffed full of money, ten yuan at a time, totaling a thousand yuan.
Needless to say, it must have been Zhou Chang'an and Zhao Chunmiao who gave them the money.
Qin Hanshu angrily slapped Zhou Sheng's bottom a few times, "Why didn't you say so sooner? Who told you to take the money Grandma gave you?!"
Zhou Sheng rubbed his bottom a couple of times and said unhappily, "Grandma told me to tell you when I got home. I swear, if I tell you, I'm not a real man!"
Qin Hanshu choked, looked at the money, and felt extremely worried.
Zhao Chunmiao and Zhou Chang'an are not short of money, but a thousand yuan is definitely not a small amount. The amount of money she has sent back to her hometown over the years is probably only this much.
Seeing this, Zhou Ruilan comforted her, "Just keep what your mother gave you. You and your third brother live far away, and I've always been worried about you, afraid that you won't be doing well."
Qin Hanshu felt the money was burning her hands, but returning it just like that didn't seem right. Zhou Ruilan was right; only if she accepted the money would Zhao Chunmiao and Zhou Chang'an be truly happy.
After thinking it over, Qin Hanshu decided to buy another washing machine for his hometown.
***
Zhou Weiguang returned home the next day, stayed for an afternoon, had dinner, and then left.
Qin Hanshu led Zhou Ruilan and Yang Le around to play.
Zhou Ruilan wanted to go to an electronics store, so Qin Hanshu took her there. Afterwards, they also went to Liu Ercui's real estate agency.
Zhou Ruilan still remembered Liu Ercui, but Liu Ercui didn't recognize Zhou Ruilan at first. After finding out, her reaction was similar to Qin Feiyang's.
After watching for a while, Zhou Ruilan sighed to Qin Hanshu, "With so many people coming and going, Sister-in-law Ercui can handle them all so well. She seems really capable."
Qin Hanshu smiled and said, "This is all the result of her continuous efforts."
"But..." Zhou Ruilan was quite puzzled, "How could you just quit such a good job as a department store sales clerk like that?"
No matter how much a real estate agent earns, it's not as respectable or stable as being a salesperson.
Qin Hanshu said, "Everyone's pursuit is different. Like Sister Ercui, she just wants to earn more money to give her children a better life and not ask her ex-husband for money."
"Ex-husband?" Zhou Ruilan asked in surprise, "She's divorced?"
"We're divorced." Liu Ercui had just seen off a client when she heard this and came over.
Zhou Ruilan blushed and said, "I didn't mean to..."
Liu Ercui waved her hand dismissively, "We're already divorced, what's there to hide? Besides, divorce isn't a big deal. We women aren't incapable of earning our own money; we don't have to depend on men to survive."
Zhou Ruilan nodded silently, without offering her own opinion.
Liu Ercui said, "I'm about to get off work. Let me treat you to dinner as a welcome-back dinner for Lan Hua."
Zhou Ruilan said shyly, "No need, Sister-in-law Er Cui..."
Qin Hanshu said, "Alright, let's go to Guangdelou."
With Gu Yan at home, there's no worry about the children going hungry. Liu Ercui also has an eldest son who can take care of his younger sister.
"...Anyway, I feel that although I am tired and under a lot of pressure now, I am much happier and more fulfilled than when I was not divorced."
Zhou Ruilan listened intently as Liu Ercui recounted her divorce and entrepreneurial experiences.
"Sister-in-law Ercui, didn't your family say anything to you? Did they agree to your divorce?"
“Of course I disagree. I tried to hide it for a while after the divorce, but I couldn’t hide it anymore. I heard that my family made quite a fuss about it and even threatened not to let me into their home.”
Liu Ercui smiled and said, "From the moment I had the idea of divorce, I never planned to go back to my parents' home."
Zhou Ruilan stared blankly at the confident and capable Liu Ercui, unable to reconcile her with the simple rural woman she once was.
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