Chapter 285 Sending Xiao Taozi Away
As the night deepened, the textile factory's residential area fell into silence.
Most people who had worked hard all day had fallen asleep, and only a few lights were still on in the darkness.
He Wanyi tucked in the corners of the quilt for Xiao Taozi and felt a sense of peace in her heart as she listened to her granddaughter's even and long breathing.
She tiptoed out of the room and prepared to go to the living room to get a glass of water, but found that the light in the living room was still on.
Jiang Haitang was leaning over the dining table, looking intently at the spread-out drawing in the dim light, sketching with a pencil from time to time, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Haitang? Why aren't you resting so late?" He Wanyi asked softly, with heartache in her tone.
This daughter-in-law is really good at everything and always brings them surprises.
Hearing the voice, Jiang Haitang looked up, rubbed his dry eyes, and smiled a little tiredly.
"Mom, you're still awake? I'll be right there. We have a technical discussion next week, and the design of this transmission component needs to be optimized."
He Wanyi didn't go to pour water, but pulled over a stool and sat down next to Jiang Haitang.
She looked at the drawings on the table that were filled with complex lines and labeled with various data. Although she couldn't understand them, she could feel the concentration and dedication.
She picked up the thermos and filled her daughter-in-law's enamel pot with hot water.
"Take care of yourself and don't overwork yourself." He Wanyi pushed the water over and said softly.
"Mom, don't worry, I will take good care of myself and protect the baby in my belly."
He Wanyi patted Jiang Haitang's hand and said, "Of course I'm relieved. How could I not know what kind of child you are?"
"I'm going back in a few days. Although I will take Xiao Taozi with me, I'm really worried about you because of the heavy work pressure."
"Mom, if I feel tired, I will find someone to take care of me." Jiang Haitang smiled.
She knew her mother-in-law's worries. In fact, Jiang Haitang was also considering whether to find someone to help take care of herself.
"Do you have anyone reliable to look for? I definitely can't hire a nanny right now, but I can ask a relative to stay for a while. No one can say anything."
Jiang Haitang didn't expect that her mother-in-law had already thought of this problem for her.
"Mom, I've thought about it. Aunt Cai from the village used to be a very nice person. She took good care of me and cooked delicious food. If things really don't work out, I'll ask Aunt Cai to come and help take care of me for a while."
He Wanyi knew that her daughter-in-law was a promising prospect, so she nodded and said, "Go to bed quickly. We'll look at the drawings tomorrow. Your health is more important."
Jiang Haitang nodded obediently and packed up the drawings.
The days pass quickly in busyness and warmth.
The day when He Wanyi leaves Beijing is getting closer.
In the small courtyard, He Wanyi skillfully resolved the slight sadness of the impending separation in various ways, and transformed it into a beautiful vision of life in the capital.
Early that morning, He Wanyi was picking vegetables in the yard with Xiao Taozi when she suddenly heard the crisp sound of a bicycle bell coming from outside the door.
"Is Sister He at home?" A cheerful female voice sounded.
He Wanyi wiped her hands, and Xiao Taozi was already running towards the door like a happy little butterfly: "It's Aunt Zhang!"
"Grandma, you don't know Aunt Zhang. She's from the union in our factory!"
"Oh, our little Taozi has such a good memory!" Zhang Hongying bent down and pinched Xiao Taozi's cheek, then took the cloth bag from the bicycle handlebars. "Here are the train tickets and letter of introduction that Director Lu arranged for you, and this roll. It's new from our factory. The union comrades discussed it and decided to give it to Xiao Taozi to make new clothes. Xiao Taozi, how about wearing your new clothes to go to Beijing to see your great-grandfather?"
Little Taozi cheered as she took the cloth and rubbed it against her face. "It's so soft! I want to show it to Grandpa! Last time he said I'd grown taller!"
He Wanyi saw that Xiao Taozi liked it and said, "You can't just ask for things from the factory for nothing. I'll buy these fabrics."
Zhang Hongying immediately said, "Sister He, these fabrics are not for you. They are for the descendants of the martyrs. We only have one descendant of a martyr in our factory. The labor union has decided that we will provide Xiao Taozi with enough fabric for her clothes in the future."
He Wanyi did not expect that the union would make such a decision.
"That's not good..."
Before He Wanyi could finish her words, Zhang Hongying spoke again.
"Sister He, we all understand what you're saying, but we also want to do something for Xiao Taozi. Our factory produces fabrics, so we can only do this little bit for the child. It would be fine if Xiao Taozi hadn't come to our factory, but Xiao Taozi is here now, so we have to do something. We can't let the hero worry about the child while he's underground, right?"
He Wanyi thought for a moment and said, "Please thank everyone for me. Xiao Taozi will remember your kindness."
After seeing Zhang Hongying off, Xiao Taozi couldn't wait to take out her little bag.
"Grandma, I seem to have a lot of goodies to bring. Will they be too heavy for the journey?"
"Grandma is strong, our little peach can take whatever she wants."
Xiao Taozi immediately started to get busy.
Looking at her granddaughter's mischievous appearance, He Wanyi couldn't help laughing.
In the evening, when Lu Liangchen got off work, he was holding a net bag in his hand: "Mom, look!"
He took out a few bright yellow oranges and said, "I asked someone to bring them from the south. Take them with you on your journey. Do you like these, little Taozi?"
He Wanyi knew very well that her son was reluctant to leave his daughter.
She smiled and said, "Seeing how useless you are, if you want to return to the capital as soon as possible, you should hurry up and sort out your affairs here, and then apply for transfer back."
Lu Liangchen nodded: "I have planned it. It will be almost completed in the second half of this year. By then, I can return to the capital with peace of mind."
After hesitating for a moment, Lu Liangchen added, "If the situation remains the same in the second half of the year, Haitang and I will continue to stay in the northwest for another year or so."
He actually wanted to go back earlier, not for himself, but for Haitang and Grandpa Jiang.
After all, Grandpa Jiang’s health is not very good, and I don’t know whether asking a doctor to come back this time will be effective.
Little Taozi had no idea what the adults were talking about, and she had already skillfully hugged Lu Liangchen's thighs.
Lu Liangchen picked up the little peach and held it in his arms.
"Mom, this time you go back with Doctor Qi and ask him to check on Grandpa Jiang. I hope he can recover his health."
"Don't worry, we'll take care of your Grandpa Jiang. Just take good care of Haitang and the baby in her belly."
On the morning of their departure, the train platform was particularly bustling. Little Taozi, wearing the new clothes Jiang Haitang had made overnight and a Mao Zedong badge pinned to her chest, flitted between her parents like a happy lark.
"Mom, remember to drink milk every day!" She imitated her grandmother's tone and reminded Jiang Haitang, "Little brother needs nutrition!"
After seeing Jiang Haitang nod, the little guy felt relieved and threw himself into Lu Liangchen's arms again, "Daddy promised me that you would come to see me before the leaves turn yellow!"
Lu Liangchen was reluctant to leave his little girl behind, but in the current situation, sending Xiao Taozi to the capital was the best option.
This is not only to relieve the pressure on Haitang, but also for Xiaotaozi.
Children who grow up in a compound and those who grow up in the northwest will face many different problems in the future.
In particular, Xiao Taozi is an adopted Heizi. If she had not grown up in the capital, she would have been excluded in the future.
Since he adopted Xiao Taozi, he naturally hoped that in the future Xiao Taozi would be able to enjoy the resources of the Lu family just like the Lu family's biological children.
"Little Taozi, when you get to the capital, you must listen to your great-grandfather and grandpa and grandma, okay? When you miss your parents, just write to them..."
The train started slowly with the sound of the whistle.
Lu Liangchen and Jiang Haitang chased the train and waved until the waving little hand disappeared from the end of their sight.
Jiang Haitang leaned on her husband's shoulder and whispered, "This child has taken our hearts away."
On the train, Xiao Taozi had already adjusted her mood and was excitedly planning her trip with her grandmother: "...First, I have to show Great Grandpa the pine nut candy he asked for, and then go see Third Brother to see his new stamps..."
After comforting her granddaughter, He Wanyi looked at Qi Guangkuan who was going to the capital with her.
This Doctor Qi looks to be only about sixty years old and not very good-looking. It is really hard to tell that he is actually a famous doctor in the medical field.
"Doctor Qi, if you're tired, take a rest. You've been through a lot along the way."
Qi Guangkuan shook his head and didn't say much.
After Jiang Haitang and Lu Liangchen returned home, they saw the clothes that Xiao Taozi had changed out of in the morning, which were stained with a lot of orange juice.
"This kid can even eat an orange in various ways." Jiang Haitang smiled, and her fingers unconsciously stroked the stain. She then found a basin of water to wash Xiao Taozi's clothes.
I had just soaked the clothes in water and had no time to scrub them when I suddenly heard sharp shouting and cursing coming from outside the courtyard gate.
"Jiang Haitang! You're such a heartless ungrateful bastard! You've forgotten your roots now that you've become rich, haven't you?"
The sound was like a rusty saw, instantly breaking the tranquility of the small courtyard.
Jiang Haitang didn't remember who the strange voice belonged to.
Then, Jiang Haitang heard the clanging sound of the yard door being kicked, mixed with a rough and old roar.
"Open the door! We know you're home! Is this the behavior of the textile factory director's wife? She doesn't even recognize her own uncle and aunt?"
Jiang Haitang took a deep breath, and her fingertips unconsciously pinched into her palms.
She knew who the visitors were. Weren't they the second uncle and second aunt of the Jiang family who had accepted the money and house from her adoptive parents and exchanged her for ten kilograms of beans?
Back then, she was sent to the Li family as a child bride for just ten pounds of beans. All the suffering she suffered in the Li family during those years was caused by this couple!
When Jiang Haitang thought about the past, her face turned very ugly.
"Aunt Haitang? I'm going to go find Uncle Lu right now. Please don't come out."
While Jiang Haitang was thinking, she heard someone talking on the wall. It was Kong Shunan.
Jiang Haitang was thankful that the school had not started yet. If it had started, there would not even be anyone to report the news.
She walked slowly to the front door and made sure that the bolt was fastened securely, then she felt a little relieved.
Fortunately, she planned to take a break just now and locked the door. Otherwise, the couple would have walked in directly.
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