Xia Zi Yu was moved to consider going to Peng Cheng.
This Spring Festival was destined to be gloomy for the Wang family. Though Xia Zi Yu hadn’t given up on Wang Jian Hua, she no longer had any desire to please Wang Guang Ping and Ran Shu Yu.
Wang Guang Ping’s rank hadn’t changed, but being transferred to the Party History Office meant that Xia Zi Yu felt there were fewer ways to rely on him now – did he even have the power to remove the disciplinary action she carried because of the Wang family?
During their reform through labor at the farm, she could send necessary supplies to Wang Guang Ping and Ran Shu Yu, and lend money to Wang Jian Hua to smooth over relationships.
But at the Party History Office, both father and son were powerless, and what could Xia Zi Yu, an ordinary university student, do?
Moreover, Wang Guang Ping and Ran Shu Yu had one attitude at the farm and another after returning to the city and resuming their positions. Xia Zi Yu had long seen through these two people’s true faces. Even if she exhausted herself, she could never truly please them unless she personally, or her family, suddenly rose to the same level as the Wang family!
Just as Xia Zi Yu was worried about her future path, she received a telegram saying Xia Da Jun had made his fortune.
It was like being offered a pillow when feeling sleepy – Xia Zi Yu was naturally overjoyed. Of course, she didn’t completely believe the news in the telegram and needed to verify Xia Da Jun’s situation personally, which meant she needed to make a trip to Peng Cheng.
She had originally said she would stay in Beijing for Spring Festival, but now Xia Zi Yu arranged to meet with Wang Jian Hua again.
Wang Jian Hua was still somewhat dejected, though, after multiple encouragements from Xia Zi Yu, his condition was much better than when he had drunk himself into a stupor that day.
“Jian Hua, I need to go to Peng Cheng right away.”
“It’s already year-end, what are you going to Peng Cheng for?”
Wang Jian Hua was full of doubt, with a hint of caution: “Don’t you want to spend New Year with my parents?”
The atmosphere at home was very tense. The family hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of Wang Guang Ping’s transfer. Wang Jian Hua was grateful for his fiancée’s loyalty, but he was powerless to resolve his parents’ displaced anger.
His father’s spirit was broken, and Ran Shu Yu was depressed. Wang Jian Hua could only choose to let Xia Zi Yu bear the burden.
However, they had already agreed that on New Year’s Eve, Xia Zi Yu would stay up with the Wang family – otherwise, being alone in Beijing during Spring Festival would be too lonely!
Wang Jian Hua thought Xia Zi Yu had changed her mind, but saw she was somewhat excited:
“Of course, I want to spend Spring Festival with Uncle, Auntie, and you, but home sent a telegram saying they have news of my Second Uncle! Jian Hua left the hospital and lost contact for a year, nobody knew where he was, but now they say he’s in Peng Cheng. How can I not go confirm?”
There was news of Xia Da Jun?
This person had slipped away right under Wang Jian Hua’s nose, and he had felt quite guilty afterward. The injured man’s emotions were unstable, and he had said some things he shouldn’t have. Xia Da Jun was also injured at the time, and the outside world wasn’t very peaceful. Some people had guessed that Xia Da Jun had probably died somewhere… Now suddenly there was news, and Wang Jian Hua felt relieved.
“Really? That’s wonderful!”
Xia Xiao Lan might be unkind, but he and Zi Yu weren’t disloyal, especially Zi Yu, who was always kind and generous to others. Now she was rushing thousands of li to Peng Cheng, her concern for her uncle Xia Da Jun was genuine.
“Zi Yu, I’ll go with you!”
Xia Zi Yu didn’t want Wang Jian Hua to accompany her, but after a moment’s thought, she didn’t refuse, nodding enthusiastically:
“Alright!”
The Wang family would never agree to let Wang Jian Hua go to Peng Cheng – Xia Zi Yu wouldn’t need to object herself.
Sure enough, Xia Zi Yu had bought the tickets, but Wang Jian Hua said he couldn’t go. Xia Zi Yu even turned around to comfort him: “Stay with Uncle and Auntie. I’ll send you a telegram when I reach Peng Cheng. I’ll be fine by myself.”
She hadn’t complained once about his backing out, making Wang Jian Hua feel even more guilty and remorseful.
As the train started moving, Wang Jian Hua handed Xia Zi Yu the roasted sweet potato he had bought on the platform, running alongside the train for a while until he couldn’t keep up anymore.
“Your boyfriend cares for you!”
“Yes, you’re lucky!”
Xia Zi Yu held the roasted sweet potato and smiled shyly.
How much effort had she put in to get to this point with Wang Jian Hua? His feelings for her had changed from initial indifference to now being reluctant to let her go, chasing after the train.
This was quite different from Wang Jian Hua’s usual character, and Xia Zi Yu smiled at the thought.
She wasn’t without achievements – Wang Jian Hua was one of them!
Now, she was heading to Peng Cheng.
No matter how impressive Xia Xiao Lan was, even their own father Xia Da Jun had sided with her, which must be frustrating for Xia Xiao Lan.
She needed to secure Xia Da Jun’s support and use it as a stepping stone to connect with the Hong Kong boss, to utilize their capital… Xia Zi Yu slowly peeled the sweet potato but didn’t take a single bite even after it had cooled.
Wang Jian Hua didn’t know that she was truly tired of eating such things.
Sweet potatoes were the cheapest thing in the countryside!
Xia Zi Yu didn’t want to be modest and low-key. She wanted to live well, live in a big house, wear nice clothes, eat refined food, and have cars to take her places!
But before achieving her goals, she had to hide her true thoughts, dressing simply and not being particular about food and drink – who made her lack Xia Xiao Lan’s looks? To get certain things, initial hardship and endurance were necessary sacrifices!
Soon, she wouldn’t need to endure anymore.
Xia Zi Yu smiled.
The passengers beside her felt pity, seeing how a fairly presentable young woman had a raised scar on her cheek that was faintly red, becoming particularly noticeable when she smiled.
…
Xia Zi Yu had received the news later but decisively bought tickets to go to Peng Cheng first.
Old Lady Xia’s family had received the news earlier, and the family discussed back and forth, arguing about who should go to Peng Cheng.
Wang Jin Gui wanted to go and wanted to bring Xia Hong Xia along.
Xia Hong Bing had lost a lot of money, and now that the people of Da He Village knew Xia Da Jun had made his fortune, they were pressing him to repay his debts. He was waiting for his wealthy Second Brother to rescue him, so naturally he wasn’t willing to stay home and wait for news.
Old Lady Xia’s mouth was crooked, her lips trembling as she spoke, “If you leave your old mother behind, see- see if Da Jun will pay any attention to you!”
She had a point – Xia Da Jun was indeed most filial to Old Lady Xia.
Without Old Lady Xia going along, let alone staying to enjoy the good life with Xia Da Jun, even how much money they could get was uncertain.
The family finally agreed that all the adults would go, and Xia Hong Xia’s two younger brothers would first be sent to Wang Jin Gui’s maiden home. If they ended up staying in Peng Cheng and not returning, they would come back to fetch the two children.
As Spring Festival approached, while others were heading home, only the Xia family was packing up their belongings to leave.
Train tickets from Shang Du to Peng Cheng for four people weren’t cheap. Xia Hong Bing just said he had no money, as he was already deep in debt! Wang Jin Gui and Xia Hong Xia were even less likely to produce any money. They stared at each other until finally, Old Lady Xia had to pay.
Without Xia Da Jun earning money, and since Xia Chang Zheng and Zhang Cui hadn’t returned home since separating from the family, the support payment Zhang Cui had given was Old Lady Xia’s only income. After her stroke and hospitalization, plus the bits and pieces that Xia Hong Bing had wheedled out of her for gambling, Old Lady Xia had almost spent all her money.
Paying for the tickets pained Old Lady Xia.
If they couldn’t find Da Jun in Peng Cheng, how would they manage their lives?