Chapter 194, Hoping (The Finale)
More than a month passed, and Anna did not return to the country. Although everyone continued their lives in an orderly manner, only Zhuang Tunan sat in front of the bookstall, lost in thought.
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the children all went back to school, and Zhuang Tunan no longer needed tutoring. He was also able to walk without crutches.
"Tunan, could you get me a few newspapers?"
Teacher Yu, leaning on her cane, walked over from a distance.
No one knew what Zhuang Tunan was thinking, but he didn't move an inch, looking down at the ground without saying a word.
Huang Ling, who was sitting to the side doing needlework, hurriedly put down her work and came over to say, "Teacher Yu, do you still want those three things: People's Daily, Suzhou Morning Post, and Suzhou Daily?"
"Okay, let's have these three things today! The magazine isn't due yet!"
"Hey, I'll get it for you right away!"
Teacher Yu glanced at Zhuang Tunan again and said, "Sister-in-law! What's wrong with your Tunan? Why is he spacing out?"
As Huang Ling picked up the newspaper, she said, "Who knows what he is? Let him think whatever he wants! He's not getting any younger, and he still doesn't know how to find a job. He's been resting for a year now! Sigh!"
Song Ying, who was busy at the breakfast shop, said, "No need to guess, she must be missing Anna! Anna has been gone for more than a month, and I don't know when she will be back!"
Teacher Yu took the newspaper Huang Ling gave him, glanced at Zhuang Tunan again, turned to go back, and muttered, "Oh dear, lovesickness is hard to cure!"
Huang Ling felt sorry for Zhuang Tunan when she saw his dejected appearance, but she didn't know how to comfort him because it was a matter of feelings.
Just as Huang Ling was about to go back to her handicrafts, Zhuang Tunan suddenly looked up, twisted his neck, and said to Huang Ling, "Mom, I want to go to America to find Anna!"
Huang Ling looked at Zhuang Tunan and said, "Where would our family get that kind of money? A plane ticket to America costs tens of thousands of yuan, plus food and drinks, you won't be able to come back without at least thirty or fifty thousand!"
"What if she doesn't come back if I don't go to pick her up? Mom, I can't forget Anna, I want to go find her!"
"Tu Nan, you know, the two of us are hospitalized several times a year, and each time it costs a lot of money. Do you think we have any spare money left?"
A car stopped by the roadside, and Xiang Pengfei led Zhao Ping out, carrying fruits such as apples and bananas.
Xiang Pengfei looked at Huang Ling with a smile and said, "Auntie, are you busy?"
Huang Ling saw Pengfei carrying things and quickly stood up, saying, "You're here, why are you carrying anything? It's not like it's far!"
Zhao Ping blushed and said, "When visiting relatives, it's customary to bring a gift. It's only right that I bring a gift for my aunt!"
Seeing Zhuang Tunan looking somewhat worried, Xiang Pengfei asked, "What's wrong, Brother Tunan?"
Zhuang Tunan sighed, squatted down to the side, and said, "I want to go find Anna, but we're out of money at home, and I'm worried!"
"Really? Anna should be back by now. There must be some difficulties she has. Brother Tunan, don't be anxious."
"Pengfei is here!"
Zhuang Chaoying also emerged from the alley.
Xiang Pengfei nodded and said, "Yes, I've come to see you two and have some good news to tell you."
"What? Tell me!"
"Zhao Ping said she's pregnant, so you're going to be a great-uncle!"
"Really? Congratulations, Pengfei!"
As Zhuang Chaoying was speaking, she saw Zhuang Tunan looking dejected and asked, "What's wrong, Tunan?"
Zhuang Tunan said irritably, "I want to go to America to find Anna, but my mom says we don't have enough money at home!"
"It's not enough, I had too much to do today. But I just retired, didn't I? The school gave me a retirement pension of six thousand yuan. If you really want to go, take it and use it. I won't stop you!"
"dad!"
Zhuang Chaoying looked at Tu Nan with heartache and said, "Anna has lived with us for a while, and I consider her family. If you can bring her back, that would be the best!"
Xiang Pengfei then said, "Here's what we'll do, Brother Tu Nan. I'll give you four thousand, plus your uncle's six thousand, making it ten thousand. That should be enough for you to fly to America and cover your living expenses for a few days. If that's not enough, we'll find another way to get the money. But you absolutely must bring Anna back with you!"
"Thank you, Pengfei, I will!"
So Zhuang Tunan went home, packed his things, took 10,000 yuan with him, and first went to Shanghai. From Shanghai, he bought a plane ticket to the United States. Just as he got the ticket and turned to leave, someone greeted him and said, "Tunan! Are you going abroad?"
Zhuang Tunan looked up and saw that it was Li Jia. He said, "I'm going to Texas to find Anna!"
"Really? What a coincidence! My uncle's family is also in Texas. We can travel together!"
"I,,?"
Zhuang Tunan hesitated for a moment and then said, "No, I'd better go by myself!"
After saying that, he grabbed his suitcase and headed to the boarding gate without looking back, waiting for his flight.
When Li Jia saw that Zhuang Tunan didn't want to talk to her, she didn't want to let him go, so she dragged her luggage and chased after him.
Three months later.
It was Chinese New Year's Eve again. Huang Ling was holding three-month-old Lin Moqiu while watching TV. The TV was replaying "A Native of Beijing in New York" once again. Huang Ling pointed at the TV and said, "America, New York, Uncle is in America."
Three-month-old Lin Moqiu stared at the flashing screen, gesturing wildly but unable to speak.
Zhuang Xiaoting brought over a bowl of dumplings and said, "Mom, you eat the dumplings! I'll hold the baby!"
"Are your dad and Dongzhe still drinking? Don't let him drink; it's bad for his health."
"Mom, Dad's stopped drinking, but Dongzhe and Pengfei are drinking!"
"Oh, it's fine for young people to drink a little more. They're happy during the New Year, aren't they? They should be allowed to enjoy themselves!"
Huang Ling handed the child to Zhuang Xiaoting and took the bowl of dumplings. Just as she was about to sit down and eat, she suddenly said, "I wonder how Tu Nan is doing in America? He didn't bring much money with him. I'm really afraid he won't be able to come back!"
Zhuang Xiaoting comforted Huang Ling, saying, "Mom, don't worry! My brother will definitely come back. Dongzhe sent him another 20,000 yuan later, so I think that's enough for him!"
Huang Ling couldn't eat the dumplings anymore. After thinking for a moment, she said, "That's America, not our home. Not only is it expensive, but we don't have any friends or acquaintances there. Who will help him?"
"Didn't my brother call once and say he found Anna's house?"
"Yes, we found a home, but the person has already moved, and it's been a month now! We haven't heard a single word from them. How can we not worry?"
"Oh, Mom, I believe my brother is a lucky person, he'll definitely be fine, so you can eat without worry!"
Seeing Zhuang Xiaoting's worried look, Huang Ling picked up her chopsticks, took a dumpling, and put it in her mouth. She had just chewed a couple of times when she heard someone outside say, "Mom! I'm back!"
Huang Ling's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly stood up and looked outside.
But they found that it was Wu Xiaojun who had come home and was greeting his mother.
Disappointment immediately appeared on Huang Ling's face. She turned around and sat back in her original seat, wanting to continue eating her dumplings.
Holding her child, Zhuang Xiaoting said, "Mom, just eat in peace! If you don't eat now, it'll get cold and won't taste good!"
"Yes, I'll eat it!"
Huang Ling picked up another dumpling and started eating, but while eating, she kept glancing towards the door.
As she glanced at the door for the third time, she saw a figure standing there, saying to Huang Ling, "Mom, I'm back!"
Huang Ling looked at the door again, and this time she was sure that Zhuang Tunan was standing there. A smile immediately appeared on her face, and she said, "Tunan, you're finally back!"
Zhuang Tunan nodded and said, "Yes, I'm back. Look who I brought back for you!"
Zhuang Tunan stepped aside so that Huang Ling could see the person who had come in more clearly.
When Huang Ling saw the people behind Zhuang Tunan, her smile became even brighter and happier.
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