Jiang Si had originally thought they were headed to the state-run vegetable market, but to her surprise, Mother Huo pulled her towards the nearby Friendship Store.
To enter the Friendship Store, one not only needed an introduction letter but also a work permit.
Seeing Mother Huo skillfully pull both items out of her bag, Jiang Si realized her mother-in-law had come fully prepared.
Mother Huo didn’t hide anything and smiled as she said, “Mom knows you like coffee, so I had someone exchange some coupons. The goods here are more complete than at the department store. Pick whatever you like—today, it’s on me.”
She patted her bulging wallet, making it clear money was no object.
Since they were already inside, Jiang Si didn’t fuss about refusing.
“All right, go ahead and pick what you want,” Mother Huo said, releasing her hand. “I won’t bother you. Your second sister-in-law and the fourth sister-in-law don’t have time today, so I’ll pick a few things they like.”
“Don’t be stingy with money, got it?”
“Got it, Mom!” Jiang Si was thoroughly amused by her mother-in-law’s generous attitude.
But there was one thing Mother Huo said that was true—the Friendship Store really did have a wide selection.
Jiang Si glanced around casually and noticed that the items here seemed to be from different batches than those sold outside.
The quality was noticeably better.
Just as Jiang Si was carefully selecting her favorite items, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in her line of sight.
Huo Tingzhou?
Strange, hadn’t he gone to deliver luggage for his comrades?
“Ahem—ahem—”
Jiang Si cleared her throat a few times and stepped forward to pat his shoulder.
Huo Tingzhou turned around, “Wifey—”
Jiang Si responded with a hum, “What are you doing here?”
Though she asked the question, she already guessed he was here to buy something for her.
At that moment, Huo Tingzhou wore an incredibly awkward expression. He hadn’t expected to run into his own wife here and was about to explain.
Mother Huo, hearing the commotion, also came over.
Following her was an employee of the Friendship Store.
“Sorry, there’s just too much stuff in the storeroom; I couldn’t find it right away.”
The employee, unaware of the relationship between the three, didn’t notice Huo Tingzhou furiously signaling him with his eyes.
He went on, “Comrade, I checked the storeroom. This is all we have in the largest size at the moment.”
He placed the items on the counter without looking up and began tapping on his abacus. “That comes to 33 bags, 16 yuan and 50 cents in total. If you want, I can ring it up for you now.”
Hearing this, Mother Huo looked on in shock.
Jiang Si quietly turned her face away.
The scene was left with only Huo Tingzhou, who felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, as if walking on thin ice.
“Comrade?” The employee, seeing him silent for a long time, asked, “Do you still want these?”
Snapping back to reality, Huo Tingzhou could only grit his teeth and reply, “Yes.”
He paid, took the goods, and braced himself before approaching Mother Huo.
“Mom, actually, we had discussed this early on.”
Jiang Si felt the need to explain, “We’ve been busy these past few months, worried about having a child...”
“Mom already knows.”
Mother Huo gently patted her hand, then gave Huo Tingzhou a look that said more than words could.
No wonder he kept saying lately, "Let her sleep a little longer."
Heavens above, and the biggest size at that.
This... this daughter-in-law’s delicate little body can’t possibly take all this fussing.
But Mother Huo couldn’t say this in front of her daughter-in-law.
Seeing that Mother Huo didn’t say a word, Jiang Si thought the matter was settled. But as soon as they got home, Mother Huo called Huo Tingzhou into the kitchen...
By the time Huo Tingzhou came upstairs, nearly an hour had passed.
“Are you really this happy?” Seeing Jiang Si clearly wanting to laugh but holding it back, Huo Tingzhou sighed and pulled her into his arms. “If you want to laugh, just laugh.”
And then Jiang Si laughed.
She laughed so hard her eyes nearly teared up. “Seriously, your luck is just terrible... mmph—”
Before she could finish, a warm breath suddenly brushed past her ear, and Huo Tingzhou caught her lips in an unexpected kiss.
Jiang Si was nearly breathless from the kiss.
After a while, Huo Tingzhou let go. “Still laughing?”
“You—”
Jiang Si playfully pinched his waist, panting, “What did Mom say? How did you get so worked up?”
“Nothing much.”
Huo Tingzhou caught his breath and gently rested his chin on the top of her head, his tone resigned. “She just told me to be more understanding toward you, and not to bother you when you’re fine.”
Of course, Mother Huo’s words weren’t quite so polite.
Jiang Si was momentarily stunned. She had thought Mother Huo would ask about when they planned to have children.
After all, Huo Tingzhou was already thirty by East Asian age reckoning.
In fact, they had just discussed the topic of having children two days ago.
At first, Jiang Si wanted to take things naturally.
But after considering the child’s education and other factors, she thought it would be best to postpone it for two years.
That way, after Huo Tingzhou transferred back to the capital city, their child could directly enroll in a school there, avoiding a lot of hassle.
Thinking this over, Jiang Si shifted in his arms.
Then her hands naturally circled his neck. “Once these are used up, I won’t buy any more.”
Huo Tingzhou didn’t react at first, until Jiang Si softly added, “You’re thirty this year, and I’m twenty-two. It’s about time we have a child.”
“Wife, didn’t you say two years later?”
As if realizing something, Huo Tingzhou pinched her cheek. “Mom hasn’t been pushing us to have kids, so don’t worry.”
Secretly, he didn’t want to have children so soon either.
“Mom didn’t tell you?” Jiang Si blinked, surprised.
“Tell me what?”
“About Dad’s promotion.”
“No.” Huo Tingzhou shook his head. Then he added, “Mom’s very tight-lipped. She probably only told you.”
“Alright.”
Jiang Si then shared what she knew.
She started with the fact that Yu Manli had been kidnapped.
Just as they had suspected, Yu Manli had inadvertently shown off her wealth on the bus, which caught the attention of the man named Wang Dachui.
Actually, Wang Dachui’s interest in Yu Manli wasn’t solely because she had money. His main motive was to leave a legacy for his brain-damaged son—someone to carry on the family line and take care of the boy when they were no longer around.
Originally, Wang Dachui planned to knock Yu Manli unconscious and secretly carry her back home.
His house had a cellar over a meter deep.
He intended to hide her there first.
After the child was born, if Yu Manli was willing to live a good life with his son, then he would spare her.
If she refused, he would just bury her right there.
Even if someone found out, Wang Dachui didn’t think it would be a big problem.
The whole village was made up of relatives and kin; even if someone saw, they wouldn’t go gossiping outside.
Wang Dachui thought he had it all figured out. But when he swung the stick, Yu Manli was tough-headed and surprisingly didn’t lose consciousness.
During their scuffle, before she fainted, she managed to kick Wang Dachui into a crippled state.
Despite the intense pain and overwhelming rage, Wang Dachui still dragged her back home.
He thought that would settle things once and for all.
But Wang Dachui’s simple-minded son, aside from being interested in food and drink, was clueless about other matters.
When the police arrived, the couple was still patiently teaching him, hand in hand.
Meanwhile, Yu Manli was tightly bound and thrown into the cellar.
The entrance to the cellar was under their bed.
If it weren’t for the confirmed information and the police bringing several trained dogs, they might not have found her that day.
It was a relief they did, or else...
Jiang Si spoke nonstop for nearly half an hour, but Huo Tingzhou didn’t respond with a word. Instead, he held her tighter and tighter.
So tight that she was nearly struggling to breathe.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Si felt he seemed very nervous.
Huo Tingzhou came back to himself and pulled her closer, burying his head in the hollow of her neck. “Wife, when I’m not around, you must never go to strange places alone.”
Not everyone was as lucky as Yu Manli.
Hearing the worry in his voice, Jiang Si stroked his crew cut. “Okay, I won’t go anywhere.”
The couple stayed in the room for a while longer before heading downstairs.
Since the train to Hu City was scheduled to depart at 6:30 p.m., the Huo family banquet officially began before 4 p.m.
After a lively and warm family reunion dinner, Father Huo drove the four of them to the train station.
He had already given countless reminders.
So Father Huo didn’t say much more. After seeing them onto the train, he patted Huo Tingzhou on the shoulder.
“Take care of yourself. If anything happens, talk it over.”
“I’m here at home, so don’t worry.”
“Got it, Dad.” Huo Tingzhou’s eyes were slightly moist. “You all take care of yourselves too.”
Father Huo waved his hand. “Go now, the train is about to leave.”
Huo Tingzhou responded with a nod and strode forward with his luggage.
A few minutes later, the train departed on time.
Maybe because they bought soft sleepers, nothing unusual happened during the trip.
Around 5:30 p.m. the next day, the train arrived punctually at Hu City’s Old North Station.
After getting off, they took a turtle car back to the old Jiang family residence.
The moment he stepped into the alley, Jiang Si sensed that something was wrong—her family's heavy iron gate had been dismantled.
