CHAPTER 473: CHAPTER 475: DEPARTURE

Before leaving for S City, Jiazhi didn’t visit Yongfang, but went to the factory to see Xiao Mei.

"Uncle", Xiao Mei’s eyes reddened a bit when she saw Jiazhi.

"Take this money," Jiazhi handed the money to Xiao Mei, feeling pity for his niece.

Xiao Mei shook her head, "I don’t want it. Uncle, you need money for university, and I have my own money too."

"Your money has gone to your family, haven’t it? This is from grandma, not Uncle’s money. Keep it well, and if you face any difficulty, come to Uncle, and remember to write to Uncle." Jiazhi also knew that his niece’s situation at home was not good, so he didn’t know when he would come back to S City, especially since Zheng Xianghong and Guoqiang were not there, and it wasn’t meaningful for Jiazhi to come back.

Jiazhi didn’t want to deal with Yongfang, but he couldn’t help his niece either, so all he could do was give her some money.

"Grandma," Xiao Mei asked, "will she still recognize me?"

"Your grandma will definitely recognize you, just don’t be foolish like your mother. If you’re free tomorrow morning, come to the station to see me off."

As soon as Jiazhi finished speaking, Xiao Mei took the money and nodded. She really didn’t have a single penny on her. Although she worked at the factory, her grandmother took away her salary as soon as it was issued, leaving nothing.

The next day, Jiazhi left with Weilin, Guoqiang, Zheng Xianghong, Xia Xiao, and their five children, along with Yang Xuehua, Xia Jing and Yan Hao, and Wang Aihua and Yuejin.

Yuhua was no longer in the production team, she had taken leave and returned to the city. When the examination results were released, Yuhua was deeply shocked and couldn’t accept that Xia Xiao, a junior high school student, had become the top scholar nationwide while she, a high school graduate, didn’t make it into university.

Previously in school, Yuhua’s grades were quite good, but after joining the production team, she hardly read any books. Although she taught in a primary school with Jiazhi, teaching primary school content was far different from university level.

Despite several months of review, even if Yuhua picked up her performance, it was strenuous.

Previously, Yuhua had studied together with Jiazhi, but after finding out she was pregnant, she refused to be with Jiazhi, also avoiding him. Moreover, due to the pregnancy, the abortion, and her divorce, Yuhua was deeply troubled, and naturally, her exam went poorly.

On Xia Xiao’s side, early in the morning, she arrived at the county’s station where Xiao Mei was already waiting. Seeing Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong approaching, she felt timid and dared not step forward.

It was Jiazhi who saw Xiao Mei first and called out. Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong looked over, and Zheng Xianghong came over first, holding Xiao Mei’s hand, "Grandma hasn’t come to see you, you must blame her, right?"

"I don’t blame Grandma." Xiao Mei couldn’t help but cry.

Zheng Xianghong also felt heartache, "Your mother is hopeless, don’t be like her. If your family is not good to you, come to Grandma, or go find your Uncle."

Hearing this, Xia Xiao, looking at the petite Xiao Mei, sighed deeply and said, "Yes, if you encounter any difficulties, you can also go find your aunt." She then gave Xiao Mei an address.

Now that Jiaxing had arranged everything, Xia Xiao and their family could directly move into the place; hence, Xia Xiao had the address.

Zheng Xianghong said, "Your first and second aunts are studying in the provincial city, you can also go to them, understand?"

Xiao Mei nodded her head, warmed in her heart. She had specially taken leave to come here, waiting here, afraid to miss them.

"Mom and Dad," a call came, just then Chunfang and Lifang arrived with their families.

"Jiazhi, Xia Xiao, ah, just caught up," Lifang let out a breath.

"Auntie, Second Aunt," Xiao Mei called out.

Chunfang and Lifang nodded towards Xiao Mei, taking turns to embrace her. Looking at the frail Xiao Mei, they also cursed Yongfang inwardly for being good-for-nothing.

Yongfang was completely devoted to her husband’s family, always compliant with them, making it pointless to try to help her from her own family side, thus they were helpless regarding Yongfang, pitying Xiao Mei.

Xia Xiao had little contact with Xiao Mei, but from the conversations of Chunfang and Lifang, the two occasionally interacted with Xiao Mei.

"Don’t say anymore, the train is about to leave, write if there’s anything," Zheng Xianghong and her group waved a farewell to Chunfang, Lifang, and all with Xiao Mei.

Watching Xia Xiao and her group leave, Chunfang and Lifang, knowing Xiao Mei had taken leave, said, "You better go back now, if anything comes up, just find your aunts."

Xiao Mei nodded, bid farewell to the families of Chunfang and Lifang, and returned to the factory.

The train was very lively; many were educated youth returning to the city, and thinking of the bustling production team, Xia Xiao couldn’t help but reflect.

Once they arrived in S City, Xia Xiao, Xia Jing and Yan Hao, Jiazhi, and Weilin went their separate ways.

Taking a long-distance train was tiring, not to mention Xia Xiao was still nursing twins, being a mother was hard.

But looking at her four sons and one daughter, Xia Xiao felt very satisfied. With three births and five children, she felt that was enough, and she didn’t want any more.

Jiaxing was already waiting there, along with Yu Shijie.

Seeing Xia Xiao’s children, even Yu Shijie couldn’t help but admire, feeling very envious of Jiaxing; triplets, five children, quadruplets, one girl, twins, and twin boy-girl; impressive.

After a round of chatter, Yu Shijie, seeing Yang Xuehua, his eyes flickered, and he took the initiative to carry her luggage. Yang Xuehua couldn’t avoid it, and the luggage already transferred to Yu Shijie’s hands.

Wang Aihua noticed this, raising her eyebrows, feeling happy for Yang Xuehua at heart.

And Yu Shijie was more direct than before, looking at Yang Xuehua clearly. Previously, he might have had reservations, but now that Yang Xuehua had gotten into First University, and was coming back to attend university, Yu Shijie had no reservations.

Although Yang Xuehua had a family here, it was shut down. Now, Yang Xuehua was living in a house rented by Jiaxing’s help.

After hearing from Xia Xiao, Jiaxing had purchased a courtyard house, but it was somewhat far from First University, inconvenient for commuting.

Because the children were still young, Jiaxing rented a nearby house preemptively, securing a good and fairly priced house, also a courtyard house, with eight rooms in total, one of which was reserved for Yang Xuehua, and Yu Shijie also occupied one.

Jiaxing and Xia Xiao shared one room, Guoqiang and Zheng Xianghong another, and yet another was prepared for the children.

Aside from them, three other rooms housed two families, one couple were the landlords, and the other two rooms housed educated youth who had returned to the city, bringing their families and renting out due to overcrowding at home, though not attending the same school as Xia Xiao.