So Tian Zhigao didn't have to worry about it, Xian Fangfang could just go out and get it done quickly.

Xian Fangfang went to the Shen family again overnight and made an appointment with Brother Shen Yu to hitchhike the next day and go to Xingyang County, Mengzhou together. She had her reasons. Tian Zhigao's home was there, and Brother Shen Yu was going to "travel and enjoy the scenery", while she was going back to her husband's home in a serious manner.

Brother Shen Yu loves outdoor traveling, so he naturally understands the simplicity and poverty of the countryside. He probably won't mind that she has a rural husband's family. When the time comes, she can travel with Brother Shen Yu, and they can naturally take the bus back to the provincial capital together.

She believed that this trip would allow her and Brother Shen Yu to completely resolve the misunderstandings and enhance their friendship.

But when Xian Fangfang went to Shen's house, she was turned away. The lights were on in the house, and she shouted outside the iron gate for a long time, but no one came out to answer. It was not until Director Shen came back in a car after a meeting and dinner in the city that he came back. When he got out of the car, he still reeked of alcohol.

Director Shen walked to his door and saw Xian Fangfang, and asked her what was going on. Xian Fangfang explained her purpose, and Director Shen nodded: "I know about this. Shen Yu and Meng Zhehan have been a bit busy and tense at work recently. It's the New Year holiday, so they want to go out for a walk and relax. How come they are going the same way as you?"

Xian Fangfang smiled and said, "Yes, Uncle Shen. Tian Zhigao and I are going to the same place along that road, so we are going to take a ride with Brother Shen Yu - you know, the trains and buses are very crowded during this period, so it's more comfortable to take our own car."

"Okay, Fangfang, you wait here for a while. I'll go in and ask Shen Yu to come and talk to you."

Xian Fangfang wanted to follow Director Shen through the iron gate: "Uncle Shen, I'd better go inside to talk. It's quite cold outside."

Under normal circumstances, Director Shen, who was a bit reckless, would have really let Xian Fangfang go into the house with him. After all, he had raised this girl since she was a child and she was his neighbor. He didn't think she would be any hindrance to him and had no defensive mentality at all.

But after his son Shen Yu's repeated complaints, Director Shen finally listened to him and subconsciously stopped him: "Fangfang, um, Uncle Shen is just coming home to get some things. He has to go to the office later. If Shen Yu is not at home, it would be bad for you to wait alone... You are right here at the door. Uncle Shen will go and check on you. He will be right there!"

As he spoke, he locked the iron door and hurried into the house.

Xian Fangfang: “…” She pouted with some dissatisfaction.

The car was still parked behind her. The factory director's secretary and the driver were standing beside the car, watching silently.

After a while, Director Shen came out. He smiled and said to Xian Fangfang, "Shen Yu is not at home. He left a note saying that he went out with his friends and asked us to prepare some things for the trip. Fangfang, if you have any requests, tell Uncle Shen and I will pass them on for you later."

Xian Fangfang was a little disappointed, but with Uncle Shen's help in passing the message, she was more confident that she could get a ride and meet Brother Shen Yu tomorrow, so it didn't matter if she spent a little more time on it.

Then he smiled and said, "Then I'm sorry to bother you, Uncle Shen. I don't have any requests, but I may have a lot of stuff, so I would like to ask Brother Shen Yu to drive to my dormitory area to pick us up tomorrow."

Director Shen waved his hand and said, "No problem! I'll tell you."

The secretary opened the car door, asked Director Shen to get in, and went back to the office building.

Xian Fangfang turned around and walked briskly towards her aunt's house.

Shen Yu left home at four in the morning. The road conditions would definitely not be very good in the snow, and they had to reach Linshui Village within one day, so they had to set off early.

Xian Fangfang waited and waited, but Brother Shen Yu didn't come to pick her up. She got anxious and rushed Tian Zhigao to the Shen family with the luggage. Director Shen suddenly realized and slapped his forehead: "I'm sorry, Fangfang, Uncle Shen drank last night and forgetful... Uncle Shen apologizes to you!"

Xian Fangfang was in tears: What's the point of a simple apology? The people and the car were gone.

Tian Zhigao next to her was very calm. According to his understanding of Xian Fangfang, no difficulty could stop her when she became persistent and willful.

He didn't ask for a ride, nor was he homesick and had to go home for the New Year. All he wanted was to be tied to Xian Fangfang at all times, and not let her out of his sight or out of his control.

As he wished, Xian Fangfang, who insisted on following Brother Shen Yu, not only did not give up the idea of ​​going to Mengzhou, but also urged Tian Zhigao to go to the train station quickly to buy tickets and take the train!

At around 1:00 p.m., Tian Zhigao helped Xian Fangfang squeeze onto the green train. The carriage, which was usually empty, seemed very crowded because the Chinese New Year was approaching. However, Xian Fangfang did not complain. She sat quietly in her seat and chatted with Tian Zhigao with great interest from time to time. Naturally, she talked about the fun places in his hometown.

In Linshui Village, Meng Tao was led by Captain Bao and began to get worried and busy.

Today is the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month. In the morning, Aunt Yang and Captain Bao's wife each came over carrying a chicken and a basket, ready to start work. But in fact, there was nothing to do as no guests had arrived yet.

Zhou Cuiling also came in the afternoon. The grain station was basically not busy these days, so she only worked half a day. On the 26th and 27th of the twelfth lunar month, she didn't have to go. It was not until after the Chinese New Year, on the 5th and 6th of the first lunar month, that she started to report for work every day. Normal work usually starts after the Lantern Festival.

But the guests were late in arriving, and the weather was getting colder and colder, with ice and snow everywhere, which made people anxious. Captain Bao ran back and forth between the village entrance and the Meng family courtyard more than ten times a day, and Meng Tao couldn't help but follow him a few times.

In the evening, Meng Tao, Zhou Cuiling and Captain Bao stood together at the entrance of the village again. There were some idle members standing beside them, all craning their necks to look into the distance. Captain Bao muttered:

"Could it be that the bus broke down on the way? Old Liang and Zhou Laowu were driving the ox cart, and Old Zhou was waiting at the commune. If they couldn't pick anyone up, they should have come back, right? Why is there no sign of anyone?"

Suddenly someone shouted: "Here they come, look!"

In the heavy snow, a few shadows appeared and disappeared along the village road. Captain Bao said happily: "You have good eyesight. See if it's them?"

Zhou Cuiling stamped her feet to keep warm and said without thinking, "It must be them!"

Meng Tao breathed a sigh of relief: It’s good that you’re here. I was just afraid that the bus would break down halfway and I wouldn’t be able to come.

(End of this chapter)