The square was crowded with people seeing them off, with drums beating and gongs sounding on the other side of the street to tie big red flowers on the young men going to enlist.
An ZhiAng had a classmate going with him, who shamelessly dumped all his luggage onto the other, angering him and making him glare with bulging eyes, saying he was too righteous!
The elders of both families watched them bicker and laughed at the side.
Zhou Nan and Old Madam kept nagging and instructing An ZhiAng, but he just frowned impatiently.
Seizing the chance, he pulled Zhi Xia and said, "Little sister, eldest brother is leaving now. When I get there, I'll write you letters. Don't forget to write back. If you have anything, tell eldest brother. With me gone, go find second and third elder brother if you need help. I talked to them for two hours yesterday and they agreed to take good care of you, so don't be polite with them. Also, I spoke to Liu Jun, but it's best you don't get involved there. Dad always said they weren't doing proper business and I feel it's too dangerous..."
He didn't feel that way when he used to hang out with them, but it was different for his little sister. A girl shouldn't be mingling with the boys, that's like tossing meat buns into the mouth of wolves!
But he still had to mention it, just in case his sister had some problem she couldn't solve. Liu Jun could be a backup plan.
He thought Old Madam and Zhou Nan were too naggy with useless words, not realizing he was even more long-winded when facing Zhi Xia.
But Zhi Xia didn't feel impatient. Instead, she felt warm inside.
This was the difference between growing up surrounded by love, and growing up without. But now Zhi Xia had people who loved her too. She was no longer the pitiful nobody who would die without anyone knowing.
"Eldest brother, have I told you you're the best, kindest big brother in the whole world?"
Zhi Xia hugged An ZhiAng emotionally, delighting him immensely.
"Remember what you just said forever! You must always think I'm the best big brother, and never change your mind!" An ZhiAng patted her back affectionately, feeling like he still hadn't done enough.
His wonderful little sister deserved to be spoiled and treasured as she grew up.
The feelings of youth were always the most sincere. Sometimes just a sentence could be etched into the heart.
The assembly call sounded from the front. Zhou Nan's eyes were red as she hung things on him, telling him to hurry over there.
An ZhiAng kept looking back as he left. Zhi Xia's gaze remained fixed on his retreating figure.
They wouldn't see each other again for at least two years.
Zhi Xia had tucked a photo of herself into his bundle. She had taken and edited it herself on the tablet, deliberately making it black and white pixelated, then printing it out.
On the orderly platform, An ZhiAng found his seat and embarked on his own life journey.
Only Zhi Xia knew this was the path he should have taken, without anyone interfering, successfully getting his life back on track. The future was boundless and bright.
All his things were stowed in the luggage area, only the bundle from Zhi Xia remained clutched in his arms.
It still emanated residual warmth - this was food lovingly prepared by his sister. Though there was also something hard like a stick, puzzling him.
Curious, he opened the bundle. The first thing he saw was the photo.
An ZhiAng smiled, stowing it against his chest. His whole body felt warm and cozy.
There were also two small jars of meat sauce and pickled cucumber, and two aluminum tiffins still hot. The stick-like oblongs turned out to be beef jerky when he took a bite.
An ZhiAng's eyes lit up. This was a real treat!
But then he wondered, where did little sister get this beef jerky?
It must be thanks to Old Master. Little sister wouldn't have access.
They probably kept none for themselves, giving it all to him!
An ZhiAng felt pained and touched. He closed the bundle and glanced out the window. The train had been moving for some time, their figures long vanished, just rows of trees flashing by.
At the station, only when they were completely out of sight did Old Madam say, "Let's head back too. We're tired after all that yesterday. Go home and do what you need to do."
Then she looked at Old Master holding his great-grandson and asked, "Wen Qing can stay with granny for a couple days, okay? After you finish up in the next few days, he can go back."
Wen Qing turned his head and hugged Zhou Nan's neck. Zhou Nan quickly said, "I've nothing much to do at home now. If Mom wants the kid, let his mom take him over when she's back this afternoon. The cut on his head still hasn't healed. He keeps trying to scratch it these days, quite fussy."
"It doesn't matter if I see him or not. I just miss him and will go over myself. But you must watch him closely these few days - the itch means it's healing, he absolutely must not scratch it." Old Madam sighed worriedly.
Zhou Nan quickly agreed.
Zhi Xia thought for a moment, then gave the ointment to Zhou Nan. "This is a rural folk remedy I used for injuries before. It stops itching and scarring. Apply twice a day, you can try it on Wen Qing."
She had decanted the ointment into an unmarked bottle, originally planning to give it to Liu Ling in a couple days. She didn't want others knowing about it, because it could still be used after the wound healed.
But Wen Qing's wound was itchy, and a child wouldn't know restraint. Scratching could aggravate it, so it was best to use the ointment now.
"Okay, I'll try it when I get back." Zhou Nan didn't think too much and just pocketed the medicine.
By the time they got home, it was already noon.
Old Madam looked at Old Master and asked, "Aren't you going to discuss the child's marriage with Old Pei? What about Jing Zhi's side - how do we tell him Zhi Xia is marrying Xiao Jing?"
"I'll go ask Old Pei. Just get the dowry ready for the child. Focus on clothes for her to get married in first, time is tight. Discuss with Zhi Xia if she plans to follow the army or stay home. If going, then don't prepare big items, just give the child some pocket money." Old Master hurriedly arranged, then complained, "As for Jing Zhi, what is there to say? I don't need to report to him. That useless father, completely useless!"
If those two had paid a little more attention, Zhi Xia had been back a month already, so much had happened, yet they were still kept completely in the dark!
On reflection, if not for the pregnancy, she probably wouldn't have told them at all!
At this point, Old Master was irritated with Pei Jing too.
Zhi Xia was shy as a girl, yet after recognizing her, that boy still kept silent. How intolerable!
Old Master couldn't bear to blame his granddaughter, so could only push all blame onto others. After all, when a matter came to light, someone had to take responsibility.
Seeing his disgruntled figure, Old Madam called out, "You old fart, saying you'll go then going, bring Zhi Xia along too! Xiao Jing is injured, isn't he? Let Zhi Xia go see him, it'll be good for the children to talk."
Her main consideration was this aspect. If purely to discuss the wedding, that should be done at home with the Pei family coming over.
Men's and women's thoughts were different after all. Men felt marriage was just living together, with each fulfilling their own duties and responsibilities. But women were more sensitive, understanding that feelings were most important between a couple.
The situation for these two was already awkward. And it wasn't simply a matter of being together because of affection. As elders, they naturally had to help, to first allow the pair to nurture their feelings.
