CHAPTER 459: 459 ARRANGEMENT

Zhao Xiaoli stood beside Lv Beiguang, lowered her head, and whispered, "Thank you, Uncle Lv."

"No problem, I’ll go in with you later. If you have anything to say, say it quickly."

"Mm, I understand." Zhao Xiaoli was filled with fear, feeling lost and uncertain about the future.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Wang Dajiang came out, a smile covering his face, completely different from his demeanor yesterday.

"Are you the ones wanting to see Zhao Xiwang and his wife?"

"Yes, sorry for the trouble, comrade. Have a cigarette," Lv Beiguang said, offering a pack of cigarettes.

Wang Dajiang accepted it with a smile, "You’ll have to wait a bit longer; the couple isn’t kept together. Let me take you to a room to wait."

Lv Beiguang expressed his thanks and followed Wang Dajiang.

The two of them were placed in a room with only one table and two chairs.

Another ten minutes passed before there was any noise outside. Zhao Xiaoli had been growing anxious and raised her head to look at the door at the sound.

She saw her parents being brought in, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

Lv Beiguang quickly moved to Wang Dajiang’s side. "Captain, shall we step outside for a chat?"

Wang Dajiang laughed as he looked at Lv Beiguang. Yesterday, Jiang Xinyu had already instructed him not to accept money from them. Out of the blue, he had an idea. "Captain, I have a jar of five-year-old sorghum liquor at home. How about I bring it to the restaurant for you tonight?"

"Hehe, Secretary Lv, you’re too kind."

"It’s nothing to be courteous about. Even though I work at a liquor factory, I don’t drink. This liquor was taught to me by a retired master at home. The Captain surely knows liquor; I’ll let you taste it, and if you like it, I’ll buy more sorghum and continue brewing at home."

"Then I won’t stand on ceremony," Wang Dajiang said, turning to leave, with Lv Beiguang following behind him.

The room was left with the family of three. Looking at her parents’ disheveled state, Zhao Xiaoli couldn’t stop her tears. "Mom, what’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing, just hungry. My dear, you must have been beaten, right?"

"It’s nothing. Xiaoli, why did you come here?" Zhao Xiwang asked weakly, his face devoid of color.

"Dad, I only have ten minutes, I’ll speak, and you listen."

"Go ahead."

"Dad, after you were taken the night before last, Uncle Lv asked me to sign up for rural relocation. His boys, Guodong and Jing Chu, are going too.

I signed up yesterday; the train is at 8 AM tomorrow.

Also, Uncle Lv said Xiao Qiang will stay with him until you return. If you can’t return, when Xiao Qiang is old enough, he’ll go to the countryside too."

The Zhao couple hung their heads low but held onto their daughter’s hand.

"Xiaoli, this is for the best. You should leave first; only Xiao Qiang is left to be taken care of."

"Yes, your mom is right, Uncle Lv’s arrangement is for the best."

"Xiaoli, be careful when you’re out; you can’t trust everyone."

"Mom and Dad, when can you come back?"

The couple stopped speaking. They didn’t know yet; they only knew someone had written a report letter, and Zhao Xiwang knew who it was.

"Xiaoli, don’t worry about us. Once you leave, tell Uncle Lv to find a way to visit us the day after tomorrow after seeing you off."

"Dad."

"Don’t ask any more questions. Quickly leave. Be very careful. There’s money in the pickled vegetable jar in the kitchen. Give half to Uncle Lv, since Xiao Qiang is staying with him. The rest, take it all with you; it’s not like home out there, be very cautious."

Zhao Xiaoli’s tears never stopped. Her mother gave her a gentle push, which made her leave.

Lv Beiguang and Wang Dajiang were at the door, watching Zhao Xiaoli come out.

"Captain Wang, I’ll head back first and go to the restaurant later," Lv Beiguang said.

"Go ahead."

Zhao Xiaoli followed behind Lv Beiguang, suddenly lifting her head to look at the man’s back ahead, feeling a special sense of security.

"I need to buy things for Guodong and Jing Chu first, then I’ll take you home."

"Uncle Lv, I sent the ticket yesterday, and you helped me buy it as well."

"Alright, let’s head home first."

The two walked silently along the way, until they reached the Zhao family’s place. "Uncle Lv, my dad said you should find a way to see him the day after tomorrow. You wait for me a moment."

Zhao Xiaoli hurried to the kitchen and took out a package wrapped in plastic, revealing a thousand yuan inside.

"Uncle Lv, my dad said to leave five hundred yuan for Xiao Qiang. Please hold onto it for him, since you’re taking care of him, it shouldn’t cost you anything."

Lv Beiguang didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted it. "You find the ticket, I’ll go buy things. Also, bring your quilt, cotton-padded coat, everything with you. If you don’t know how to pack, I’ll pack it for you in the morning."

Lv Beiguang didn’t go to Jiang Xinyu’s house, instead headed directly to the supply and marketing cooperative and sought out She Xiaoyun.

"Why are you here at this time?"

"I’m sending Guodong and Jing Chu to the countryside, here to get them stuff; help me think about what they’ll need."

"Why send them away?"

Lv Beiguang rubbed his face and recounted the events of the night before last.

"In the county, they can’t attend school anyway, so I’m sending the two of them to the countryside where it’s safer."

"Alright, I’ve got it. Prepare a large and a small lunch box for each person, and also prepare ceramic pots, a kettle, cups, towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and tooth mugs.

That’s enough; too much will be troublesome. Hard to carry on the road."

"Alright, prepare three sets. I’ll call our factory director."

Lv Beiguang and Sun Baosheng took two additional days off.

She Xiaoyun also told him to buy six large burlap bags; quilts and warm clothes need space.

Lv Beiguang returned home directly, delivering to Zhao Xiaoli. Then he lay down at home. He didn’t want to visit Jiang Xinyu’s house, afraid of causing trouble for her. Once the children left, he’d be relieved.

Jiang Xinyu skipped lunch, rode her bike directly to the train station, found the leader of the track team, and bought four sleeper tickets.

Without returning home, she went straight back to the textile factory.

Returning to the office, she saw the lunch on her desk. Song Qingqing had bought it for her.

With no appetite, she simply took it into the inner room and stored it away.

She was about to let the two three-to-four-year-old children leave her, and it was terribly painful.

Lying on the bed in tears, thinking about what was happening. Once the children were settled, she’d quit her job and go find them, no matter what, as children were the most important.

After work in the afternoon, she rushed home. Dinner was ready, prepared by Jing Chu.

"Not bad, Jing Chu’s cooking is really good. I’ll start kneading dough. Tomorrow morning, I’ll bake bread for you to eat on the train."

"Jing Chu, fry another dish."

Knead enough dough for two tubs, ready to steam tomorrow morning.

Six people sat in the courtyard for dinner, a subdued silence around the table, heads bowed with bowls in hand.

Afterwards, Guodong took responsibility for cleaning up. Jiang Xinyu prepared the visible things for the two children.