CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83: LOST IN COMFORT

Ever since they provided the Deputy Town Mayor with a thousand pounds of grain, no troublesome matters from the street have come their way. It’s been ten days already.

Xiao Feng’s pneumonia has mostly healed, Doctor Liu even said no medication is needed anymore, just keep an eye on the temperature. As long as he doesn’t get overheated, it’ll be fine.

"Zhang Yuan, I almost don’t want to go back. I really love it here!" Xiao Xue said early in the morning, packing up her things.

"I don’t want to go back either, but we have to!" Zhang Yuan, who has been even happier than Xiao Xue these past few days, replied.

"Yeah, it’s been ten days! I wonder how worried mom and dad have been. By the way, the street office hopefully hasn’t arranged tenants for the courtyard, right? I worked hard tidying it up!" Xiao Xue was still thinking about her house.

These days, she painstakingly tidied up the courtyard and even designed it well. If the street office had arranged tenants, her efforts would be in vain.

She is the type who, once she buys something, doesn’t want it to go to waste—even if she can’t live there temporarily, she still wants the house to be arranged to her liking.

"I’ve talked to Aunt Wang! She’ll keep an eye on it for us! By the way, we need to visit her later. We’re heading back today, and she’ll come with us to handle the property transfer!" Zhang Yuan reminded Xiao Xue that there is still a property in Pingyang Town that needs their attention.

"Alright, go find her later! I checked when I went to the courtyard the day before yesterday, the bus to Pingyang Town is at nine-thirty in the morning! We need to hurry up! Otherwise, we won’t have time for breakfast!" Xiao Xue continued her bustling movements, chatting away.

"No need to rush! We’re not taking the bus!" Zhang Yuan helped pack, looking completely unhurried.

"Really?" Xiao Xue knew Zhang Yuan was resourceful; his comment assured her he must have arranged something.

"If we take the bus, we’d have to bike back from Pingyang Town, and not only would Xiao Feng catch a cold, you’d be exhausted too. I’ve arranged for a jeep!" Zhang Yuan explained.

Xiao Xue was thrilled, "Let me go make you breakfast now!" She cheerfully hopped toward the kitchen.

She had been worried about how to carry a child while sitting on a bike.

Sure enough, after breakfast, with everything ready, the jeep arrived to pick them up.

It was driven by the Deputy County Mayor’s secretary.

Wang Jinfeng was sitting in the car, smiling at them.

"Aunt Wang..." Xiao Xue greeted, holding the child.

Zhang Yuan comfortably settled into the car, merely nodding.

"Is the child alright now? Ready to head back?" Wang Jinfeng asked with concern.

"Yes, he’s all better!" Xiao Xue politely responded.

The jeep bumped along and didn’t reach Pingyang Town until after three in the afternoon.

Thanks to Wang Jinfeng’s connections, the transfer was swiftly handled; during this time, as long as you had the documents, you didn’t even need to be present.

So, Xiao Xue successfully transferred a courtyard to Bai Daliang.

However, she hadn’t planned to reveal just yet that the courtyard was under Bai Daliang’s name, worried that Grandma Bai might cause trouble.

The jeep drove them to Chaoyang Commune Fifth Team, right to Xiao Xue’s family’s courtyard gate.

The jeep heading to Xiao Xue’s family attracted more and more villagers along the way, curious about the jeep and the people inside, full of curiosity and gossip.

At the courtyard gate, Xiao Xue got off the jeep with Bai Rufeng and was startled by the crowd gathered there.

She had dozed off in the car; it was Zhang Yuan who woke her up at the courtyard gate and handed her the child.

Throughout the journey, it was Zhang Yuan who had been carrying the child.

"Aunt Wang, Secretary Lin, come inside for some tea and a meal before heading back! It’s been a tiring trip!" She initially ignored the villagers’ chatter and greeted Wang Jinfeng and the driving secretary.

"No, Xiao Xue, we have other matters to attend to! We just wanted to safely return you home," Wang Jinfeng politely declined.

"Just one meal, can’t hurt!" Xiao Xue invited again.

"Can’t delay, it’ll be dark soon, and the roads are hard to navigate," Secretary Lin also declined.

"Alright then! Take care on your way back!" Xiao Xue had no reason to insist further and said farewell.

"Quickly get inside with the child! It’s cold outside!" Wang Jinfeng urged, "Xiao Yuan, when you’re in Chenxi County, don’t forget to visit Aunt Wang!"

"Sure! Aunt Wang, take care! Say thanks to Uncle for me!" Zhang Yuan replied, taking the items Xiao Xue had brought back from the car and waving goodbye.

"Drive, Secretary Lin!" Seeing both had exited the car, Wang Jinfeng waved.

The jeep slowly drove away in front of the crowd’s eyes.

"Xiao Xue... Xiao Xue..." Only after the jeep departed did Wang Cuihua dare to approach and take Bai Rufeng from Xiao Xue.

Behind her, the four little ones followed, eagerly watching their big sister, waiting for her to announce their little brother’s condition.

"Xiao Xue, how is Xiao Feng?" Bai Daliang bravely inquired.

For Wang Cuihua didn’t dare ask at all.

At this time, Bai Dajiang and his wife also emerged from the crowd, silently listening with ears perked for the reply.

Everyone stopped talking, watching Xiao Xue, some worried, some purely curious, and others with ill intentions. Such is human nature; no matter if they have no direct conflict with you, when others do better than them, they often hope you’ll have a rough time.

"Dad, Mom! Don’t worry! Xiao Feng is completely recovered! Come inside quickly! Don’t let him catch cold!" Xiao Xue kindly announced, raising her voice.

Hearing this, Wang Cuihua seemed like a deflating balloon, her stress melting away, her ashen face brightening, gradually blossoming into a smile.

"Good, good! Mom will take Xiao Feng inside!" With gleeful feet, she practically flew into the house.

"Cuihua, slow down! You might trip!" Bai Daliang fretted, running after her.

"Xiao Xue, is Xiao Feng really okay?" Aunt Wu Zhaodi hurriedly approached to ask.

"Really, Aunt, no issues now. Big hospitals are indeed more capable than here. Come on, let’s go inside!" Xiao Xue hooked Wu Zhaodi’s arm, leading her in.

The four little ones followed behind, taking the things from Zhang Yuan’s hands, gathering around him and entering the house.

On the outskirts of the crowd, An Quanzi hurried home to relay the good news to his own mother.

His mother had also been worried about the Daliang family, but now all is well. The little one came back healthy, easing her concern.

As for the others, they had seen the commotion, the jeep had left, and their house was small enough, better to head home instead of crowding further.

Everyone entered the house, Wang Cuihua placed the child on the kang bed, carefully unwrapped the quilt to find her son not only recovered but plump, visibly fairer and larger than his sister Bai Rucai. Only then did she feel relieved.

Truly holding her son, the feeling of relief and regaining overwhelmed her heart; she couldn’t bear to let go.

"Okay, Mom! Doctor said, kids shouldn’t get too warm now; they shouldn’t sleep on the heated kang! I bought thick mattresses for Xiao Feng and Xiao Cai. From now on, keep the kang fire mild; it’s spring now, will warm up soon." Xiao Xue stepped forward from the supermarket, presenting the thick mattresses to Wang Cuihua to place the two children upon.