The next day, just as the sky was beginning to turn pale, Huang's father was already standing at the road leading to the mining area, his gaze piercing the rain as he anxiously awaited his family's arrival. His figure, shimmering in the morning light and rain, appeared especially resolute and expectant.
Meanwhile, Huang Nai was busy at the stove, filling the thermos with brown sugar ginger tea. Its sweet and spicy flavor dispelled any chill. A pot of thick porridge bubbled, and next to it, a stack of golden, crispy egg pancakes exuded an alluring aroma.
Huang's mother was equally distraught. She paced back and forth at the gate of the family compound, looking up from time to time into the distance, hoping to see her loved ones soon. Although the rain had eased, it was still continuous, soaking her clothes and blurring her vision.
Finally, around noon, the sound of wheels rolling could be heard in the distance. Several carts were slowly moving forward in the mud, followed by exhausted families.
Huang's mother's eyes lit up. She was about to rush forward, but her reason pulled her back. She turned back to the three sisters who were eager to help, and said, "I'll go and help. Don't get wet, or you'll get sick. Go tell your grandma that they're here."
After saying that, Huang's mother plunged into the rain and headed straight for the crowd. However, she didn't see any of her family members. Her heart tightened, and she quickly grabbed Huang's uncle and asked in a trembling voice:
"Little brother, where are my parents? Didn't you leave together?"
Uncle Huang looked embarrassed and explained in a low voice:
"Second sister-in-law, I went to your parents' house and told them that you wanted us all to come to the mining area, but your aunt said that there would be no room for so many people at home, so she asked us to come first. They planned to go to the provincial capital to seek refuge with your eldest sister."
When Huang's mother heard this, her face turned pale instantly.
"The provincial capital is so far away from here! And the roads are so chaotic, it's not as convenient as coming to the mining area!" She was extremely anxious, but helpless.
Upon seeing this, Huang's father quickly stepped forward to appease him:
"Let's go home first. Mom is still waiting for us at home."
When they returned to the family compound, Grandma Huang had already been waiting at the snack bar entrance for a long time. Seeing her eldest son and youngest son's family covered in mud and in a miserable state, especially her little grandson who was shivering slightly from the cold, her eyes were filled with heartache.
He quickly stepped forward, hugged the child in his arms, and said in a choked voice:
"Come in and have something hot to eat."
Huang Wenrong and the others quickly took action, pouring hot brown sugar ginger tea for everyone to warm up. Huang Nai took out clean clothes that had been prepared long ago and urged them to change into them before eating.
At the dinner table, everyone was eating voraciously. The two children, Yinliang and Erya, were unable to speak. Their faces were pale, and their eyes revealed extreme fatigue and coldness.
The adults were exhausted after walking in the rain and pushing things for a whole day and night, not to mention the two children, which was undoubtedly a huge challenge.
Huang Nai looked at them with concern and comforted them softly, "Eat slowly and don't choke. After eating, have a good rest."
After the meal, Grandma Huang arranged for everyone to rest first, but Xu Mengyao found that Huang's mother was not at home. After cleaning up the dishes, she went to the snack bar to look for her.
Due to the recent continuous rain, Xu Mengyao did not ask Shaozi and others to come and help. The semi-shutdown state of the mining area has suddenly increased the financial pressure on many families. Coupled with the severity of the floods constantly reported in the news, the entire mining area is shrouded in an atmosphere of frugality and anxiety.
The snack bar's business has been greatly affected by this. The dim lights are sprinkled in every corner, making it look particularly warm and slightly empty.
As soon as Xu Mengyao entered the room, she saw Huang's mother sitting alone at an old wooden table, staring blankly at the incessant rain outside the window, her face full of worry and helplessness.
She walked over to Huang's mother and sat down, then asked softly, "Mom, what's wrong? Did something happen on the way when grandma and the others didn't come?"
Huang's mother shook her head, tears flashing in her eyes.
"They... didn't want to come with your uncle. They said they were worried that there wouldn't be enough room for them and it would cause us trouble. Your grandma and her family went straight to the provincial capital to stay with your aunt."
When she said this, Huang's mother's voice choked with sobs.
"Mom, don't be sad. Grandma and the others also feel sorry for you and don't want to cause you any trouble." Xu Mengyao comforted gently.
"But I'm just worried! The provincial capital is so far away from here! What if something happens on the way? Your aunt hasn't been back for a few years. Can we find her? Our family can take care of your uncle and your younger uncle, so why can't we take care of them?"
Huang's mother's voice was filled with grief and anger, as if she wanted to pour out all her worries and dissatisfaction.
Xu Mengyao held Huang's mother's hand tightly, feeling the slight trembling from her fingertips.
"Mom, don't be angry. My uncle and my younger uncle are here, they will definitely take good care of grandpa and grandma. As long as we go to my uncle's workplace, we will definitely find my aunt. Don't worry! When the rain stops, we will find a way to contact them."
Huang's mother's eyes turned red as she heard this, but her frown still revealed her worry. She sighed softly, as if to comfort herself.
"I hope so. I hope they're all right."
Xu Mengyao had to change the subject: "Mom, what are we going to do tonight? There are seven more people at once, and we really can't fit them all in the house."
Huang's mother also had a worried look on her face. She stroked her forehead and said, "Yes, we can't sleep on the floor on a rainy day. It's easy to catch a cold. Your father said yesterday that he wanted to take them to a guesthouse, but that would be quite an expense. Otherwise, I'll ask your father to ask if Grandma Qiu's house has been rented out."
While the mother and daughter were discussing, Zhang Xiaomei heard their conversation as soon as she entered the room. After understanding the situation, she smiled and suggested:
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