The old man spoke calmly, as if he was accustomed to "starving to death".
Qin Jianye nodded, congratulated with a smile, agreed on a time with the old man, and strode away.
Arriving at the post office and preparing to make a phone call, he saw Su Zheyu waving at him excitedly.
"Brother, you're here. Did you get the money?" Su Zheyu grinned with his big white teeth, smiling brightly.
Qin Jianye shook his head: "Not yet, but soon."
"Oh, is that so?" Su Zheyu was a little disappointed, but he quickly adjusted his expression: "Then brother, why are you coming here?"
"Well, I want to call my father-in-law!"
Su Zheyu took him to the phone and handed him over to the colleague in charge of this task: "Sister Wu, this is my relative. Please take care of him."
Wu Caixia nodded, and when she heard the number Qin Jianye reported, she looked at him in surprise.
His fingers skillfully dialed the number and handed the microphone to Qin Jianye.
Qin Jianye waited for a while before he heard a "Hello!"
Qin Jianye quickly explained his purpose: "Hello, comrade, please ask Chen Jinnian at 25 Hongxing Street to answer the phone."
There was silence for a while, and then the person on the other end asked, "What is your relationship with Chen Jinnian?" His tone was a little low.
Qin Jianye's heart skipped a beat: "I'm his son-in-law!" He prayed in his heart that nothing had happened.
The man on the other side started cursing, "You're the Chen family's ungrateful son-in-law! Don't you know something's happened to the Chen family? I've called your workplace several times, but why can't I get a big shot like you to come?"
There was a lot of chatter on the phone, and Qin Jianye was completely numb.
He held the microphone slightly further away, ignoring Wu Caixia's surprised yet understanding expression. He waited until the cursing stopped before bringing the microphone closer and asking, "Comrade, what happened to my father-in-law? I haven't received any news from there!"
"How is that possible? Uncle Chen called your workplace and your neighborhood office no less than five times, and even sent two expedited telegrams!"
The loud voice could be heard from far away. The post office staff all looked over at the same time.
Qin Jianye was very calm: "I was fired from my job two days ago and moved out of the staff dormitory that same day."
With just one sentence, the accusations from the other side came to an abrupt end. Even the post office staff cast a surprised look at him.
Qin Jianye didn't care at all. He checked the time with the other party, and then was surprised to find that the time when the Chen family had an accident was exactly the same as the time when the original family had an accident.
It seems like it was destined by heaven, or someone was pushing it secretly.
He didn't have time to think about it. The man opposite him continued, "Your eldest brother and sister-in-law died in the fire while protecting the factory's property. Your father-in-law wanted to call you and Yunwei back to handle the funeral, but he waited and waited for several days, but there was no sign of you two."
Qin Jianye hurriedly asked: "How is my father now? Is he okay? And who is taking care of my little nephew?"
The other party was silent for a long while before saying, "Mr. Chen insisted on completing the funeral arrangements for his son and daughter-in-law, then he fell ill. I don't know what happened after that."
"What do you mean by unclear? No one on the street went to visit the martyrs' families?"
"Comrade, you can't say that. Why didn't we go to visit Mr. Chen? We even went to various major hospitals to ask for medicine for him. But there was no medicine anywhere.
"Old Man Chen was old, and his health was failing. Later, when we went to visit him, we found he was gone. Both the old man and the children were gone."
"Gone?" Qin Jianye suddenly became anxious: "What do you mean gone? Where could they go, an old man and a child?"
That's the problem. The old man and the child couldn't walk far, but they disappeared! The people on their street are still puzzled!
When people ask me about it, I feel embarrassed. I can't explain it.
"Have you called the police?"
"I've reported it, but after all these days, I still haven't found it..."
"Wait, I'll buy a ticket and go over right away!" Qin Jianye said, then hung up the phone and asked Wu Caixia, "Hello, comrade. I'm Qin Jianye from the Qingshan Brigade. Did anyone call me a while ago?"
Wu Caixia, sweat dripping from her forehead, spoke under the gaze of the surrounding crowd and other staff members, "Hello, Comrade Qin. Some time ago, there was indeed a call from the provincial capital looking for Comrade Qin Jianye from the cement factory."
Qin Jianye frowned: "Then why didn't I get the notice?"
Wu Caixia knew that she had made a mistake and felt very guilty, her face was pale.
"I, I informed them. I have to work and can't leave my post, so I asked your unit's comrade Zhao Xinmin, who came to pick up the package, to help call you over to answer the phone.
Those two urgent telegrams were also sent because he said he knew where you lived and offered to help you!"
Wu Caixia spoke more and more fluently, and even began to think that there was nothing wrong with her, and it was others who were not good enough.
Qin Jianye didn't buy it: "I remember that expedited telegrams need to be signed by the person in charge!"
"Yes, but we don't know your address. Besides, Comrade Zhao Xinmin seems quite reliable."
Wu Caixia's voice became lower and lower. Seeing the disapproving looks from the onlookers, her face turned from pale to red, and she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Seeing this, Su Zheyu, who was standing nearby, hurried over to say something nice: "Brother, Sister Wu didn't mean it. There were indeed a lot of people calling that day, and Sister Wu was overwhelmed, so she asked Comrade Zhao Xinmin for help."
Qin Jianye was very angry, extremely angry.
The day before yesterday, he told his wife that he would send some food to his father-in-law, but today he received the bad news that two of his family of four died and two were missing.
No matter who it is, no one would not be angry.
Qin Jianye slammed the table and said, "Do you know that it was because of your irresponsibility that my wife and I were unable to see my father-in-law for the last time. We were unable to bury my heroic brother and sister-in-law. Even my poor little nephew is nowhere to be found."
Do you know that because of your negligence, our family has been torn apart?"
Wu Caixia was frightened by his vicious expression and cried while sitting at the counter.
The post office leader was called over and happened to hear Qin Jianye's question. His original intention to plead for mercy instantly dissipated, and he also felt that Wu Caixia had gone too far.
"Xiao Wu, this is indeed your fault. Apologize to this comrade!"
After reprimanding Wu Caixia, Director Zhang apologized to Qin Jianye: "Comrade, it was indeed our staff's mistake that caused you to be unable to arrive in the provincial capital in time for the funeral. I am very sorry. On behalf of all the staff of the post office, I apologize to you."
As he said this, he bowed ninety degrees.
Qin Jianye dodged to the side, thinking, what are you doing? Are you trying to shorten his life?
Director Zhang saw Qin Jianye's gloomy face and quickly said, "However, Comrade Wu's mistake was unintentional. Those who maliciously concealed the news from the post office had bad intentions.
The most important thing now is to go to the provincial capital to search for your missing nephew. So, I'll fine Comrade Wu one month's salary and give it to you as your travel expenses to the provincial capital. What do you think?"
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