Zhang Guoqing drove out of the village and sped towards the main road towards the provincial capital. He looked at his mother-in-law in the mirror from time to time, and sighed inwardly at her red and swollen eyes.
Zhang's mother kept trying to persuade and comfort her. She secretly wondered why this girl was crying so much, even wetting both her handkerchiefs. As a mother, she couldn't see how worried her child was, and even seeing her was even more heartbroken. She thought back to when her own daughter, Xiaowu, was in junior high and lived in the school dormitory. She couldn't enjoy her food, and no one felt at ease, always worrying about her child being bullied and starving at school. Beijing was thousands of miles away, and she felt even more sympathetic towards her.
After Lin Lishan calmed down, she gave her an apologetic smile. Finally noticing the packages in the car, she looked at Zhang's mother in shock, "Sister, these aren't all for me, are they? I can't carry so much. I've already mailed them back. They can't really be for me. That's too much to eat."
Zhang's mother saw her mouth drop open in surprise, pointing at the package in disbelief. She burst into laughter. This girl had only just realized it now, so slow. Fortunately, she finally stopped crying. Otherwise, she would have cried with her.
"It's not for you. We're sending it to Jiaojiao's grandfather, her aunt, and her younger aunt. They're all in Beijing, so you can take it over there. You've already sent a lot to Jiaojiao's second uncle in the northwest. After a few days, when they've almost finished eating, I'll have Xiaowu send more."
I have several relatives in Beijing. Sister, take care of it yourself and help me distribute it to them. I asked Xiaowu to pack it all together. It looks like a lot, but it's actually not much. It's just a token of appreciation after dividing it among the families.
Ask those relatives not to send any more packages. The child has enough food and clothing here. They all have children to take care of, so how can they spare the energy to take care of Jiaojiao?
Don't worry. We'll take you to the train, and Xiaowu will carry these things; he's quite strong. Just get on the train, and he'll make all the arrangements. Once you're on the train, as soon as it leaves, we'll send a telegram to her grandfather in the provincial capital, asking Xiaozhou to pick you up in his car. Don't worry. We've made all the arrangements."
Hearing this, Lin Lishan looked at her with tears in her eyes, "Sister, you've taken care of my daughter Jiaojiao since she was a child, and now you're loving her. I'm happy for the child and grateful in my heart. I don't know how to repay you. I haven't figured out how to thank you yet. And now you're taking on so much, arranging so many things to bring back to me. How can I feel good about it?"
Mother Zhang took her hand, patted it gently, and said to her, "What is there to be grateful for? Jiaojiao is still my daughter-in-law. There is no need for formalities. We are all family. Let's not say those polite words. Just listen to me. Take these back and give them to the children and elders as a token of your appreciation."
You can accept it happily and treat me as your elder sister. You are straightforward and don't have any tricks up your sleeve. I am happy to be with you. In the future, please come and see us and the three of them often. When they return to the capital in two years, I will visit you often, and you can show me the capital too. We won't talk about those empty formalities."
Lin Lishan listened with a smile and nodded, "Okay, since you said so, I will accept it this time. But don't do this next time."
"That's right. I like your personality. You don't waste time and just say what you want to say, just like me."
Seeing the two in-laws in the car, chatting about everything under the sun, Zhang Guoqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had the foresight to bring his mother along. Let's see. Everything is taken care of.
After speeding all the way to the provincial capital railway station, Zhang Guoqing parked the car directly at the gate, got off the car, and with his mother-in-law's work ID, he successfully bought a sleeper ticket.
These days, if you don't have a certain position, you can't even think about buying a sleeper berth. Unless you have connections, you'll have to squeeze through the crowds with your legs numb, endure days and nights, and arrive at your destination in a mess.
Seeing that the train to Beijing was almost due, Lin Lishan was afraid of missing the time if she went to the restaurant. She was determined to eat on the train. After all, what's the saying "older ginger tastes the best"?
Zhang's mother had baked pancakes early in the morning, just for Lin Lishan to eat slowly on the journey. Knowing that this older sister was a refined person, she had specially added a large pork elbow that she had braised the previous night, carefully slicing it into slices for easy nibbling on the train. She knew they'd be on the train for three days and three nights, eating, drinking, defecating, urinating, and sleeping all on board, so no amount of meat would be enough.
Zhang Guoqing quickly took the scallion pancakes and pork elbow his mother had prepared and stuffed them into his food bag. He then told them to wait in the car for his return and hurried off.
Yesterday, when I saw my grandfather off at the train station, Stationmaster Zhang shook his hand and enthusiastically told him they were family and he should come to me if he needed anything. If not now, when? That's how relationships work; with give and take, you gradually become familiar. I'd intended to meet him before buying the ticket, but it was because soldiers didn't have to wait in line and could easily get a berth, and since it was the starting station, there wouldn't be a shortage of tickets.
Zhang Guoqing knocked on the stationmaster's door with a smile on his face. The stationmaster looked at him with surprise. After a few pleasantries, Zhang Guoqing explained his purpose. The stationmaster immediately took him outside and asked the staff where the conductor for today's train to Beijing was.
After meeting the train conductor, Comrade Liu Ming, Zhang Guoqing saw that there were a lot of documents waiting for Stationmaster Zhang's signature and approval. He repeatedly refused Stationmaster Zhang's personal reception.
In a rush, Stationmaster Zhang handed him a slip of paper with his work phone number and home address. He told his nephew, Zhang Guoqing, to contact him if he needed anything. He could also visit him if he had nothing else to do. Zhang Guoqing said goodbye, secretly appreciating the man. This guy is a shrewd person. No wonder he got the stationmaster position.
Seeing that time was almost up, the train conductor, Liu Ming, took him back to the main gate and unloaded five large packages from the train using a prepared cart. After that, they went directly to the platform and boarded the sleeper compartment.
By this time, Zhang Guoqing had become a close friend, constantly calling him "Brother Liu." After the other party's warm hospitality, he repeatedly pleaded with him to take good care of his mother-in-law on the train, to leave her belongings alone, and especially to help keep an eye on her at the Beijing station until her family sent a car to pick her up. He also asked Liu Ming to come to his house for a drink whenever he had time.
Liu Ming held onto him until the staff on the bus came to ask for his permission. He asked Zhang Guoqing to visit his home before the Lunar New Year and even wrote the address for him personally.
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a wide smile, promising to visit him before the New Year and have a few drinks. He urged him to get down to business first, as they would have plenty of time later.
The train was about to depart, and Liu Ming was busy making arrangements. Zhang Guoqing took the two rabbits from Zhang's mother and forced them on Liu Ming to eat on the way. Ignoring his refusal, Zhang Guoqing said goodbye, fearing he would drag on any longer.
He took his mother off the train and came to the window outside the sleeper car. Standing there, he listened to his mother-in-law's repeated instructions and watched his mother and mother-in-law say goodbye reluctantly.
Lin Lishan watched Zhang Guoqing and the other party as they chatted and put their belongings away, neither of them wasted time. They even treated each other like brothers and agreed on a time to meet up. In just a moment, the other party was already patting his chest, declaring that he would be the one to buy tickets and bring things from now on. She looked at Zhang Guoqing with a smile. This kid was so organized and so effortless. No wonder the old man praised him. This kid was a shrewd person. He had exposed the other party's true intentions with just a few words, and he was completely unaware.
The train whistle blew, and Lin Lishan shouted to Zhang Guoqing, "I must take good care of Jiaojiao, and live a good life with her. I must give in to her in everything. I must take Zhang's mother on a good tour of the provincial capital."
Seeing the train slowly start to move away, Zhang Guoqing breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at his mother, who also looked relaxed, and couldn't help laughing with her.
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