Chapter 29: Departing for the City

Although the mother-in-law is easy to get along with, since the family hasn't split yet, she didn't want her daughter and son-in-law to have a hard time: "Alright, after you put us on the bus, hurry back to the farm. Once we're in the city, it'll be easier to handle. If all else fails, find a porter to help. Rest assured."

Liu Chuxue also agreed with her mother's thoughts; after all, when she visited the Qiu family yesterday, the heavily pregnant second sister-in-law of the Qius looked difficult to deal with, and she didn't want her older sister to be bullied upon returning: "Alright, let's listen to Mom on this."

They all knew that Liu Laoqi, who guarded the health clinic, had a semi-old bicycle: "Sister, go borrow the bicycle from Seventh Grandpa. In a moment, have Brother-in-law push Dad over there to take the bus."

Xia Qiu replied with an "okay" and ran toward the gatehouse.

After finishing the packing here, Xia Qiu had also borrowed the bicycle; unexpectedly, Liu Laoqi, this elder of the same clan, followed along.

Seeing Qiu Shaofeng carrying the person out on his back, he hurried over to lend a hand.

After seeing the person seated properly, he took twenty yuan from his pocket and handed it to Liu's mother: "Shanliang's wife, expenses for this trip to the city will likely be considerable. A poor family travels with a rich road; keep this money safe."

Liu Chuxue didn't expect this Seventh Grandpa of the same clan to lend them so much money, and felt a wave of emotion.

Liu's mother looked conflicted; Seventh Uncle was right, but how could she bear to reach out and take this old man's money. Just then, Liu Laoqi said: "I'm still fairly well-off. Take it."

Chuxue saw that if they didn't leave now, they would miss the bus: "Mom, this is Seventh Grandpa's kindness. We truly need it right now. Keep it. Later, when our family recovers, we will show more filial piety to Seventh Grandpa."

These words hit Liu Laoqi right in the heart; after all, his son was in the army, his daughter had married over there, and now he was alone in the house.

The group dared not delay any longer and hurried toward the intersection leading from the commune to the city. In another twenty-odd minutes, a public bus heading to the city would pass through here.

When passing the high school Liu Chuxue attended, the Liu couple wore expressions of guilt. Now that the eldest daughter was married and the youngest was still small, they could only let the second daughter accompany them to the city; her studies would likely fall behind.

Liu Xiaqiu also thought of this point and leaned over to her younger sister: "Chuxue, if it weren't for this, I would accompany you. You are on the verge of graduation; if your studies are delayed and you don't get your diploma, that would be bad."

Liu Chuxue glanced at her brother-in-law pushing the bicycle ahead: "You know your in-laws' situation better than I do. If you don't work for a few days, others aside, your distant sister-in-law will cause a scene."

Liu Chuxue, to save trouble, spoke very bluntly. Liu Xiaqiu thought of her own distant sister-in-law and sighed: "If I had known, I wouldn't have married over so early."

Liu's mother naturally heard the sisters' conversation: "What nonsense are you talking? Having me and your sister go along is enough. Don't worry about it; just live your own small life well."

After speaking, she sighed inwardly as well; ultimately, she still blamed herself for not bearing a son for her husband.

When trouble arises, it is still boys who can handle things; it is truly hard on the daughters.

They had just arrived at the intersection for a short while when the public bus came.

A couple sitting by the bus door, seeing their situation, said: "You sit here."

Liu Chuxue hurriedly thanked them and settled her parents there: "Sister, Brother-in-law, we are leaving. In a moment, return the bicycle to Seventh Grandpa."

Just as she finished speaking, the bus started moving.

Liu Shu Village

Liu Pozi looked at the old man smoking a pipe on the kang head with some displeasure: "Didn't we agree before? How did you agree to split the family?"

(End of this chapter)