Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Finally, an ending is coming...
Three days later, the train arrived in Pingcheng. Cao Fengyi asked her to come with her first, but Shen Rong politely declined.
"The house is a mess, but we need to tidy it up. I'll come see you again in a few days." Shen Rong pinched the little face of the second son of the Dou family and greeted him.
“Madam, Mr. Feng is here,” Gui Chun said as she saw Feng Qing walking this way.
"Sister-in-law, I rushed here as fast as I could but almost messed things up. If I hadn't picked up Lu Lin, he would have scolded me to death." Feng smiled and stepped forward, instructing her subordinates to help carry the luggage.
He greeted Cao Fengyi with a smile: "Young Madam, would you like me to send a few people to help deliver your luggage?"
Cao Fengyi smiled and shook her head: "I have enough people on my side, thank you for your kindness."
She whispered to Shen Rong, "Your Lu Lin is very thoughtful. He has arranged everything perfectly. I feel relieved. I'll be going now. Please come to my house in a couple of days."
Shen Rong nodded and watched them get into the car.
Feng Qing called two carriages and a horse-drawn carriage to take the luggage.
Seeing Shen Rong's downcast expression, Feng Qing didn't dare to act silly anymore and comforted her: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, Lu Lin is very strong. Besides, with more than 200,000 troops in Bincheng, it's not like we can't beat him."
Shen Rong smiled at him, but the smile seemed somewhat hollow.
Everyone knows whether we can win or not. The most important thing is to hold them off temporarily while waiting for reinforcements to arrive in time.
Feng Qing clearly understood as well, and continued in a relaxed tone, "We've been mobilizing our troops recently, and we can head there as soon as the orders come down. It's been a long time since I fought alongside Lu Lin, and I really miss it."
He reached out and took Xiaoming, weighing him in his hand: "This little guy looks so much like Lu Lin. Quick, call him godfather."
Xiao Ming responded by spitting all over his face.
"Just as bad as your dad." Feng Qing tossed it up, and Xiao Ming waved excitedly.
Shen Rong stood in front of the small villa. She had returned again, and there was a sense that things had changed.
Feng Qing and his men helped them move their things.
"Sister-in-law, I asked a few housekeepers to help with the cleaning yesterday. Please let me know if there's anything else you need help with."
Shen Rong looked around and said, "Thank you. It's very clean. We can take care of the rest ourselves. Thank you so much for today."
She took out a bag of money: "Lu Lin isn't home either, and we haven't even started cooking yet, so it's not appropriate to entertain them. Why don't you take them out for a meal and thank them for me?"
Feng Qing refused to accept the money: "Sister-in-law, I'm not much different from Lu Lin and his own brothers. You're making us feel distant. He entrusted me to take care of you, which means he trusts me. How could I possibly accept your money?"
He picked up his hat, and seeing that he was almost done packing, said, "Then I'll be going now. I'll keep this money to buy food for my godson. When Lu Lin comes back, I'll ask him for a thank-you gift. Sister-in-law, you all get some rest. Call me if anything happens."
"This is for those who came to help, thank you..."
Feng Qing still refused to accept it, saying that he had something to offer.
These were all his subordinates. Wouldn't that make him owe them favors and have to pay them out? Shen Rong felt very embarrassed.
After seeing him to the door, Feng Qing got into his car. The car he was driving looked somewhat like Lu Lin's old car, which made her feel inexplicably nostalgic.
Although she hadn't lived here for long, she had many memories of it. This alley held countless moments between her and Lu Lin, from strangers to friends.
Suddenly, she missed Lu Lin terribly. She missed him so much that her nose tingled and she felt like crying.
She felt as if she had lost her lifeline, struggling alone in this unfamiliar place, feeling afraid and lonely. She longed to hear Lu Lin's voice.
These longings, like a gentle stream, surged from her limbs into her heart, so dense and overwhelming that she could hardly breathe.
"Madam, the master is calling."
Shen Rong rushed back to answer the phone, and Lu Lin immediately noticed something was wrong as soon as she spoke.
"You're crying? What's wrong?" he asked anxiously, wondering if something had happened. "Didn't Feng Qing come to pick you up?"
Shen Rong pursed her lips, shook her head, and realized he couldn't see her: "No, I just missed you."
He couldn't calm himself down even when he spoke again.
Lu Lin was silent for a moment: "Wait a little longer. I'll bring you back after things are settled here."
He asked them in detail about their journey, and then asked the child, "If you don't like Pingcheng, you can go home for a visit."
With so many people in the Lu family, and with Lu Xuan and the others by his side, perhaps Shen Rong wouldn't be so sad.
"Mom and Dad haven't seen the child yet?"
Shen Rong gave an "oh," wanting to hear him say more.
However, making phone calls is not so convenient nowadays. Unlike in later generations, we can't just chat on the phone for hours. Long-distance calls are not only expensive but also subject to strict time restrictions, so most people can't make them.
Lu Lin called her from the Security Command Headquarters, but he couldn't stay on the phone for long.
"Don't cry, we'll see each other soon, very soon," Lu Lin comforted her.
Hearing the faint sobs coming from the other person, Lu Lin's heart was in turmoil.
After hanging up the phone, he stood there for a long time. Dou Wenliang happened to come over and asked, "Have you called home? They've already arrived."
Lu Lin nodded: "I just did."
Dou Wenliang noticed his expression and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him: "They are safer in the rear than here."
He got down to business: "News has come from Tianjin that the young emperor has indeed run away."
He must have received some advance warning before the Japanese arrived, so he arranged for a double to impersonate him, and then ran away with a few trusted men, abandoning even his wife.
"Where do you think he'll run off to?"
The two exchanged a glance, smiled wryly, and wondered who else besides the Japanese cared about him.
The Japanese were eager to bring back Sachiko because she had an affair with a close confidante of the deposed emperor. It's likely that the Japanese had been secretly preparing this puppet regime plan for a long time.
Dou Wenliang lit a cigar and took a puff: "I'm afraid it's going to be a tough battle. Jincheng hasn't given a clear answer yet. Are you prepared?"
Lu Lin also lit a cigarette, which surprised Dou Wenliang. Hadn't he quit smoking?
He then shook his head. "Yeah, my wife isn't around anymore. What's the point of quitting?"
"Here, take this one."
Lu Lin glanced at it and shook his head: "I don't like it."
Dou Wenliang raised an eyebrow. He's quite picky!
"I heard you've been staying at headquarters these past few days. What, you've made this your home?"
That makes sense, though. His wife and children aren't there, and the house is empty. No wonder Lu Lin doesn't want to go back. Even their servants have been taken away by Miss Shen, so he won't even be able to get a meal if he goes back.
"Why don't you come to my house for dinner? The food here is really not very good."
Lu Lin glanced at him, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes: "I wouldn't dare disturb you and Miss Bai."
Dou Wenliang, thick-skinned and unafraid of being laughed at, said, "There must be someone to take care of me, right?"
Lu Lin didn't speak, but put out his cigarette: "I'll go outside and take a look."
Dou Wenliang pulled him back, smoking a cigarette, and said, "I just came from there, you don't need to go. What are you busy with today when Xiwen is on duty? Did your wife scold you? Why are you so angry?"
Lu Lin's face showed some frustration. He'd scolded her, but then she cried! Lu Lin felt a suffocating tightness in his heart, as if someone had squeezed it.
“My husband told me that your wife is very composed and didn’t lose her composure at all along the way. She’s handled everything perfectly. Don’t worry. If you’re worried, I’ll have Fengyi spend more time with her.”
Lu Lin looked at the ground, his face cold and indifferent, but his eyes were filled with a hint of sadness.
She's just too strong-willed; to outsiders, she appears composed. In the past year or so, the two haven't been apart. He's not used to it, and she must be scared too.
Lu Lin lit another cigarette and looked out the window: "I do hope they move faster." By "them," he meant the Japanese.
Dou Wenliang chuckled: "That's not good. If we start fighting before Jincheng even replies, I'll be fighting alone, and all my resources will have to go to waste here."
Actually, he wasn't exactly alone. Lu Lin thought of Wen Zhongda, and his eyes flickered.
***
The next day, Zhang Ma and the others went shopping, but Shen Rong was listless and stayed home playing with the children.
Hu Peifang came over at this time, bringing a lot of things with her.
"I heard you're back, so I couldn't wait a few more days. Don't mind me causing you trouble, okay?" She clapped her hands and tried to hug Xiaoming.
Xiao Ming wasn't shy at all; after glancing at his mother, he ran into the arms of the beautiful woman.
"He's so well-behaved! You're so good at having children! He's handsome, and he looks so much like your Commander Lu." The words had barely left her lips when she realized something was wrong.
Shen Rong's smile faded, and Hu Peifang comforted her: "Don't worry, I heard from Lao Wu and the others that the situation in Bincheng isn't that bad. Many newspapers are saying that we're going to fight Japan, and the government is actively preparing for war."
Even ordinary people on the streets didn't believe this. The high-ranking officials in Jincheng were still singing and dancing, and the troop deployments weren't to support Bincheng, but to "suppress bandits"?
Even with external enemies attacking their doorstep, they still want to fight amongst themselves.
"Don't think too much about it, Commander Lu will be fine."
They are officers, after all. Even if a real fight breaks out, they won't die so easily.
War is brutal; the people who die the most are the common folk and soldiers.
Both of them let out a long sigh at the same time.
Hu Peifang changed the subject, talking about other things: "Ever since you went to Bincheng, I can't find anyone to go shopping. The First Floor has a lot of good stuff. Let's go take a look in a couple of days."
"I've heard that Bincheng is just as prosperous as Shanghai, and even surpasses Pingcheng. Is that true? Tell me about it." Her voice was full of curiosity.
Shen Rong nodded: "Bincheng is indeed prosperous, but each city has its own unique characteristics."
Hu Peifang said with some regret, "It's a pity I can't go and see."
She nudged Shen Rong with her shoulder and winked at her: "After your trip to Bincheng, your relationship with Commander Lu has warmed up quite a bit. When are you going to have another little sister?"
Shen Rong almost rolled her eyes. Who's pushing for having a baby like this?
"It's too painful, I don't want to. Why don't you give birth?"
Hu Peifang's expression was somewhat strange, and she asked in a deep voice, "When are you and Teacher Wu getting married?" In the last time they communicated, Hu Peifang said it would be soon.
She also asked a lot of questions about precautions during pregnancy. I originally thought Hu Peifang was pregnant, but looking at her waist now, could something have happened?
Hu Peifang's smile was stiff, even more unsightly than a cry. Xiaoming struggled uncomfortably as she held him tightly.
Shen Rong asked Gui Chun to take the child downstairs to play, and then poured coffee for Hu Peifang.
Hu Peifang took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"I didn't want to tell you this, but now that I've come this far, I might as well not hide it from you. Actually, I'm planning to break up with Lao Wu."
Shen Rong was shocked. After so many years of entanglement, they were finally looking forward to an ending, but it turned out they were going to break up?
Hu Peifang's tears fell in large drops: "We've argued and fought all these days, and I'm fed up with it. The feelings we've had over the years are almost worn away. In his eyes, I'm no longer the reasonable modern woman I used to be; I've become an unreasonable shrew. In my heart, he's gone from being refined and witty to being repulsive. I might as well separate while there's still some affection left, so that we can still smile and nod when we meet again."
"What exactly happened between you two?" How did things turn out like this? Didn't Mr. Wu's wife agree to a divorce?
Hu Peifang shook her head, her smile bitter: "That country woman is more cunning than we imagined. Old Wu was completely fooled by her."
She never intended to get a divorce. First, she got her son into the city to study, and then she came to the city to accompany her son and moved into Wu Yong and Hu Peifang's house.
He acted like a head wife, making Hu Peifang feel like a concubine. He provoked her at every turn. Hu Peifang also had a fiery temper, and the two argued every few days. Wu Yong would only try to get Hu Peifang to back down, hoping that the woman would agree to a divorce.
“I’ve figured it out. As long as that woman doesn’t give in, Lao Wu will never get a divorce. Now that she’s moved in, what am I still doing there? To tell you the truth, I moved out half a month ago. I don’t want to have wasted half my life only to end up as someone’s concubine.”
Before, when Wu Yong's wife lived in the countryside, she didn't bother the two of them, so she didn't care. But now that they're right under their noses, she can't bear the shame.
"I've already bought my ticket; I'll be going to Shanghai in two weeks."
Shen Rong didn't want to interfere in their relationship, so she could only listen silently. When she heard that she was going to Shanghai, she was a little worried: "You won't know anyone there."
“I have a distant cousin over there, and I’m going to stay with her.”
Hu Peifang said with a smile, "Actually, you should look down on me quite a bit. I don't even respect myself. I always claim to be a modern woman, but I still became a man's canary. Over the years, I've been living a life of comfort with Lao Wu, and I've forgotten how to support myself. Lao Wu knows this and thinks I'm incapable of leaving him."
Shen Rong shook her head: "No, I don't look down on you. In fact, I sometimes admire you quite a bit." This is a problem of the times, not just Hu Peifang's problem.
Hu Peifang's courage to escape from her home already puts her ahead of many others.
“From now on, I’ll have to earn my own living.” Hu Peifang smiled at Shen Rong. “We women are too easily taken advantage of in relationships, lose ourselves, and wallow in self-pity. Remember, no matter what, never forget to leave yourself a way out, to have a skill, so you don’t end up like me, being supported by someone else until you can’t fly anymore.”
"Don't tell anyone I'm leaving yet, I'm afraid it'll cause trouble later," she instructed Shen Rong.
She didn't even tell Wu Yong about this idea, for fear that he would stop her.
Shen Rong nodded.
Hu Peifang pinched her cheek: "Don't be unhappy. There are still half a month left, enough time for us to explore all of Pingcheng. You should be happy for me. Maybe next time you see me, I will be famous throughout Shanghai."
The two hadn't seen each other for so long, yet they seemed completely at ease, with endless topics to discuss. Hu Peifang told her about Pingcheng, while Shen Rong shared her experiences in Bincheng.
As evening approached, Shen Rong invited her to stay for dinner and they drank quite a bit of wine. In the end, Shen Rong called a car and had Zhang Ma take her home.
When Zhang Ma returned, she sighed with regret, "How could Miss Hu live in such a place?"
It's dilapidated and nothing like the place she used to live.
Shen Rong didn't speak. Hu Peifang wanted to save money when going to Shanghai, so naturally she wouldn't choose a high-end residence.
Half a month later, Shen Rong went to the train station to see Hu Peifang off. The platform was bustling with people, but Shen Rong was the only one who came to see her off.
"I've been in Pingcheng for so many years, and all the friends I've made were introduced to me by Lao Wu. But having you see me off is enough. It shows that I haven't wasted all these years in Pingcheng."
She kissed Xiaoming and said to Shen Rong, "I'm leaving now. Come visit me in Shanghai sometime."
Shen Rong told her to write back often, and Hu Peifang raised her hand to indicate that she understood, then got into the car without looking back.
She was about to go back when another train pulled into the station to let passengers off, and suddenly there were more people, making it a bit crowded. She carefully avoided the crowd while holding her son.
"Sister-in-law!"
Shen Rong almost thought she was hallucinating; it sounded like Lu Xuan's voice.
She took two more steps, and this time the sound was closer. She turned around and looked around.
Lu Xuan was jumping and waving her hands, her mouth wide open, while Lu You walked behind her.
"Sister-in-law, how did you know we were coming? Did my brother tell you?"
Shen Rong was somewhat surprised and shook her head blankly: "I don't know, why are you here?"
She looked behind them but didn't see Jiang Yufen.
Lu You explained, "My elder brother sent a telegram home, asking us to pick you up and take you back to our hometown."
Lu Xuan snatched her nephew, hugged him, and kissed him: "We've missed him so much! Mom and Dad talk about their grandson all the time."
Shen Rong definitely couldn't handle taking the child back alone. She had originally planned to wait until Zhang Ma and Gui Chun were settled before taking Zhang Ma and Gui Chun back with her.
Unexpectedly, Lu Lin sent someone to pick her up.
"Thank you for your hard work, it's so kind of you to make this trip."
Lu You laughed and said, "We're all family, what are you saying, sister-in-law?"
“That’s right, I also want to come to Pingcheng for a few days. It’s too boring back home. Second brother, let’s go back a little later.”
Lu You disagreed: "Mom and Dad are waiting. We'll leave once my sister-in-law is ready."
Lu Xuan pouted and looked at Shen Rong, who smiled and said, "I also need to buy some things, so I won't be able to leave for at least two or three days."
Lu Xuan smiled with satisfaction: "Sister-in-law is the best."
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