Chapter 191: Farewell
She didn’t know how terrified the several people from the Jiang family would become over the things she left behind, and how they would even argue because of it.
At this time, Su Ning and Zhang Ze were returning to the guesthouse in the county town, picking up their luggage and the seafood they had bought earlier, then hurriedly heading to the Reclaimed Land Farm.
Yan County was still two days’ journey from the Reclaimed Land Farm, and the round trip required transferring buses several times.
……
Reclaimed Land Farm.
The snow that had been falling for several days finally stopped.
But because of this heavy snow, the people in the farm rarely had some time to catch their breath and rest.
Apart from the daily snow clearing and ice shoveling, there was no other strenuous work.
Before leaving Shanghai City, there were the cotton clothes and quilts sent by Zhang Qi; after Wang Xu arrived, he managed to buy more by all means possible. The Yan Family Members were much better off than others.
At least they didn’t have to rack their brains for ways to keep warm, fearing that a cold would cost them their lives.
Enduring the urge to scratch hard at the backs of his hands that were painfully itchy with frostbite, Yan Nan looked at his older brother beside him, who also had hands full of dry cracks and frostbite.
“Older brother, do you want to trade with Shi Dali for more frostbite ointment? I heard this isn’t even the coldest time yet; we need to prepare more for Mom and Xi Xi and them.”
Otherwise, after this winter, would those hands of theirs still be usable?
They themselves were all rough men who could endure it, but they couldn’t.
Picking up the iron shovel to clear the last hard ice block, white mist sprayed from his nostrils. Yan Dong heard his words, nodded, and agreed.
Now Father’s leg injury had completely healed, and there was still quite a bit of money and ration coupons left from what Xiao Xu brought. To make Mother and younger sister suffer less, they couldn’t skimp on places where it should be used.
“Hoo~”
His cheeks, reddened by the heavy snow, couldn’t make any more expressions, so Yan Dong could only keep a cold, hard face. “Wait a bit and go to the canteen to pick up food, then ask Mom and Xi Xi if there’s anything urgent they need. I’ll exchange it all together.”
“Okay, got it…”
“Yan Dong, Yan Nan, you two are both here just in time. Come with me quickly!”
Having experienced it once and then twice, the two brothers could now see clues from the hint of expression leaking from Shi Dali’s eyes as he came again; they no longer had the initial worry and vigilance.
But who would it be this time?
Exchanging a glance, Yan Dong nodded to him, and the two put down their tools in hand and quickly followed.
“Tsk, what background does this Yan Family have? How come people keep coming to visit them? They’re so lucky!”
“Who says otherwise.”
Who here didn’t hope to be remembered often by family or friends, to have someone thinking and caring about them?
Even if they didn’t come all the way to visit, just mailing a package to improve their harsh situation would be cause for thanks to heaven and earth.
But in reality, it was the exact opposite. The closest relatives and life-or-death friends who were sent down here all desperately cut ties and made their stance clear.
Getting a package like that—even if it only contained a pair of straw sandals—would make others envious and jealous to death.
Like the Yan Family, who had only been here a short time, yet waves of people kept coming to visit…
The people around couldn’t help but lower their heads one after another, all sorts of emotions surging in their hearts.
“I just regret now, why wasn’t I in the same cell as the Yan Family? No way to even get a bit of luck!”
“You? Even sharing a room with them would be useless!”
Hearing this, Chu He, who had indeed benefited, buried his head even deeper, completely ignoring the scrutinizing gazes.
……
Following behind Shi Dali once again to the guards’ dormitory, that room which was already somewhat familiar, Yan Dong gave a slight nod to the person guarding outside before pushing the door open first and walking in.
Yan Nan followed closely behind. The warmth from inside the room hit them in the face, making their bodies, which had been freezing in the ice and snow for most of the day, shiver involuntarily.
“Yan Big Brother, Yan Second Brother.”
“Su Ning?” “How did you come?”
Seeing the pretty figure standing in the room clearly, the two brothers were both extremely surprised.
Even if they saw Xiao Qi today, they absolutely wouldn’t be this flustered; it was just too unexpected.
The steady Yan Dong came back to his senses first. His stiff, frozen face forced out a kind smile, and a warm, soft light rose in his eyes. “Su Ning, we’re very happy to see you again.”
“And this is?”
“He’s the older brother who came with me, Zhang Ze. Zhang Brother, these are Yan Bei’s older brothers Yan Dong and Yan Nan.”
East, south, west, north, center?
These names were pretty easy to remember.
“Hello, Comrade Yan and Comrade Yan.”
“Hello, Comrade Zhang.” “Hello.”
Zhang Ze smiled and greeted the two, then tactfully stepped back behind her to be a qualified wooden post.
“I came to Yan County in Jilin Province on urgent business. Thinking it wasn’t far from you, I came to visit on behalf of Yan Bei before leaving.”
So that’s how it was.
After simply understanding the situation, Yan Dong breathed a sigh of relief—as long as nothing had happened to the grandparents.
“Xiao Xu said the grandparents are now with Xiao Qi? How are their old bodies holding up? Have they suffered?”
“Grandpa Yan and Grandma Yan were injured a bit when they first arrived, but nothing serious. Now the three are together, with Yan Bei looking after them all the time. Apart from periodic thought checks, there’s no big problem. Rest assured.”
“That’s good.”
Regarding the issues they wanted to know and care about, Su Ning explained them all in general.
It was also at this time that Yan Dong and the other finally learned the full reason for the matter, as well as the current specific situation of the Fu Family.
Wang Xu himself only half understood it, so what they knew wasn’t comprehensive either.
Upon learning that Fu Jiatan’s hands and feet still had hope of recovery, and Fu Rong’s paralysis was also being treated, the two brothers were sincerely happy.
As for blaming them?
If the situation were reversed, what choice could they make in that position?
The blame could only go to the Tong Family who weren’t human. The Fu Family and Yan Family were both victims.
“Su Ning, thank you.”
“Yeah, whether it’s the life-saving medicine and things you prepared for Xiao Qi, or coming all this way today to visit us…”
At this point, even these tall men couldn’t help but choke up emotionally.
Yan Dong never envied his little brother’s inhumanly smart brain, but for Su Ning, he did feel a bit envious of him.
“Yan Bei and I…”
Thinking of that night afterward, a hazy affection had always lingered and spread between the two. Su Ning’s face slightly reddened as she cleared her throat twice to cover the unease in her eyes before continuing.
“And Fu Jiaming are all very good friends. As Jiaming puts it, it’s a life-or-death friendship. So, you two big brothers don’t need to be so polite. I’m very happy to come visit on behalf of Yan Bei.”
Not missing the flash of unease on her face just now, Yan Dong had some understanding in his heart and was secretly happy for his little brother that he was about to break through the clouds and win the beauty.
But the two hadn’t pierced that window paper yet. To avoid overstepping, he could only pretend he hadn’t seen or knew anything.
“Right, Yan Big Brother, how is Yan Uncle’s injury?”
“Speaking of that, the secret medicine passed down in your family is truly amazing!”
Yan Nan on the side couldn’t help but interject, while giving her a thumbs up.
It was said the medicine would heal completely once used up, without missing a single bit—truly too impressive!
“The medicine had just been used up less than a day ago, and the injury was completely healed.”
“That’s good. And Aunt Quan and Xi Xi sister? How are they?”
“The food and supplies you prepared were a big help, according to Xi Xi.”
After exchanging the situations on both sides, both parties felt much more at ease.
Su Ning smiled and took out the things she had prepared this time for them.
Apart from the two large bags of seafood traded in the small fishing village, there were also things specially bought after arriving in the county town here.
“If possible, Yan Big Brother, find someone to help turn this seafood into medicinal porridge to properly nourish Yan Uncle, Aunt Quan, and them. If it really can’t be done, these good things can also be used for transactions.”
“This bag has everything you need right now: easy-to-store food and daily necessities bought at the supply and marketing cooperative, as well as emergency medicine I specially prepared in advance.”
Seeing the similar faces of the two show matching emotion, with their eye corners slightly red and moistened, Su Ning quickly lowered her eyes and took an envelope from her personal bag.
“This is what Yan Bei asked me to pass to you. With this on you, you’ll have confidence. He says not to worry about needing it—just spend it. There’s still plenty of salary and bonuses saved from years of work.”
To let Yan Dong and the other accept it without reservation, Su Ning chose to tell a well-intentioned lie.
The meeting time was limited; both sides knew that after this parting, who knew when they would meet again.
The originally warm atmosphere became somewhat low.
Taking a deep breath, Yan Dong earnestly instructed her while gazing at her, seizing the time. When leaving, both he and Yan Nan walked away looking back every few steps, only barely reining in their emotions after exiting the dormitory gate.
It’s a bit late today, but made it in time. Happy Mid-Autumn mooncake festival to everyone. Love you all~
