Ning Shu: “Hello?”

“Hello, hello, is this our third daughter-in-law? It’s me, your mom. Your eldest sister-in-law and I are calling you from the post office.” Lin’s mother hurriedly spoke upon hearing Ning Shu’s voice.

There was a bit of excitement and happiness in her tone.

“Mom, it’s me, Ning Shu. I heard your voice. Are you doing well at home? How about you and Dad? If you feel unwell, don’t worry about saving money, make sure to go to the hospital for a check-up. Only when you’re both healthy can Guodong feel at ease outside.” Ning Shu expressed her concern.

Her care for Lin’s parents was not only because they were Guodong’s parents but also because of their kindness and care for her and her children during the past five years.

Ning Shu would remember this kindness for her entire life.

Moreover, Lin’s parents’ demeanor and attitude were quite pleasing to Ning Shu’s heart.

As Lin’s mother listened to Ning Shu’s words, her face lit up with a smile.

She had always said that among the three daughters-in-law, the eldest daughter-in-law was decent, but a bit too conventional.

As for the second daughter-in-law, well, she lacked brains and only cared about herself and branch family.

But the third daughter-in-law, she might speak harshly, but she had a soft heart.

She was the most filial to them in her heart.

Thanks to the care they had received from Ning Shu’s family over the years, they had someone to rely on until Ning Shu grew up and became sensible enough to take care of them.

Yes, Lin’s mother always felt that the first five years were when Ning Shu was young, just returned from the countryside, and didn’t understand much.

Now, she had grown up and become sensible.

Qian Aifen looked at her mother-in-law’s smiling face and knew that her third sister-in-law had said something.

However, over the phone, she didn’t know what exactly was said.

Sometimes, she couldn’t help but marvel at how things had changed.

Five years ago, whenever her mother-in-law mentioned the third sister-in-law, it was always with a sigh, feeling sorry for her for the rest of her life.

But now, when her mother-in-law mentioned the third sister-in-law, it was with pride written all over her face.

Indeed, the third sister-in-law had changed a lot since last year, even being polite to them.

And when Hai Cai had an accident this time, she borrowed money and helped out. Qian Aifen was very grateful for that.

“Ah, alright, both your father and I are doing well. How about all of you? How’s Hai Cai’s health?” Lin’s mother exchanged pleasantries and then asked about something that concerned the whole family.

Qian Aifen became nervous when her mother-in-law mentioned her son.

Ning Shu replied, “Hai Cai’s health is fine now. I take him for check-ups every week, and his condition is gradually improving.

I’ve enrolled him in nursery school, and he’s getting along well with the other children there. He’s made new friends at the nursery.”

Lin’s mother was a bit surprised to hear that Ning Shu had enrolled Hai Cai in nursery school.

She relayed Ning Shu’s words to Qian Aifen, who widened her eyes. “Mom, thank you so much.”

“The third sister-in-law, here we have to wait until the child is eight years old to go to school.

It’s really great that Hai Cai can start school early with the third sister.” Qian Aifen was willing to send her child to school, even if the family’s conditions were tough, she was willing.

Moreover, her in-laws had promised to provide the money for the child’s education, so she was even more willing.

Previously, there was no opportunity in the village, but now that there’s an opportunity in the military, it’s really great.

Qian Aifen was deeply moved at this moment.

She hadn’t expected Ning Shu to be so thoughtful.

Lin’s mother nodded, “Third daughter-in-law, we really appreciate it. But I’ll give you the money for Hai Cai’s schooling.

When we divided the family property, I said that we, the old couple, would provide the money for the children’s education.” When they divided the family property, she secretly kept 100 yuan without letting the eldest and second branches know, just to pay for the children’s education.

She was worried that the second branch might not send their daughter to school because of the school fees.

Ning Shu didn’t refuse either, “Alright, I’ll talk to Mom about it when I come back next time.” Even though she didn’t care much about the money, she didn’t decline it.

Each matter had its own resolution.

“Mom, how’s things going on Zhaung’s side?”

“I called you this time to talk about Zhuang Xiaopang’s situation.” Lin’s mother said, “Didn’t we report to the police? But Zhuang Xiaopang wasn’t in the brigade. The police also went to his grandmother’s house and other relatives’ houses, but guess where he went?”

Ning Shu said, “I really wouldn’t come out. Could it be that Zhuang Xiaopang’s mother hid him?”

Lin’s mother replied, “She did hide him, but you’ll never guess where she hid him.”

Ning Shu found it peculiar because Lin’s mother’s words were too mysterious, arousing her curiosity. “Mom, stop teasing me and tell me.”

Lin’s mother smiled, rare that there was something that piqued the interest of the third daughter-in-law. “Alright, I won’t tease you. Zhuang Xiaopang seems to have been sent away by his mother.”

“What?” Ning Shu almost exclaimed, “How could his mother bear to send him away?”

Lin’s mother explained, “Zhuang Xiaopang pushed Hai Cai into the creek and caused him to get hurt like this.

His mother knew the Lin family wouldn’t let it go, so she sent him away.

But no one knows where she sent him. The police asked their relatives, but they all said they didn’t know.

Xiaopang hasn’t been found yet, and his mother won’t disclose his whereabouts. Oh…”

Ning Shu didn’t expect Xiaopang’s mother to be so decisive, actually sending him away.

But now that Xiaopang hadn’t been found, Ning Shu felt that the problem was quite serious.

Without finding Xiaopang, she couldn’t rest assured. “What about Xiaopang’s mother?”

“Xiaopang’s mother refuses to admit that she sent him away. The police say there’s no evidence, so they can’t do anything to her. But as for Hai Cai…”

“The police want Xiaopang’s mother to bear the medical expenses.

She didn’t refuse and paid the previous medical bills.

But there are still some outstanding medical expenses on your side because she didn’t provide the receipts,” Lin’s mother said.

Ning Shu always thought highly of Xiaopang’s mother.

She was efficient and decisive.

But she hadn’t expected her to be so decisive when it came to Xiaopang.

In Ning Shu’s opinion, this decision didn’t benefit Xiaopang at all, especially since he needed education.

But she also knew that people’s thoughts in this era were different from those in the future.

Even in the future, there were many who didn’t abide by the law.

Sigh…

Ning Shu sighed.

“Third daughter-in-law, someone else needs to make a call later, so let’s not talk about this for now. I’ll call you again when there’s news about Xiaopang.

Please take care of Hai Cai for now, and when he gets better, your eldest brother and sister-in-law will come to pick him up.

Thank you for your hard work during this time,” Lin’s mother conveyed Qian Aifen’s message again.

Regarding picking up Hai Cai, Ning Shu said, “Mom, please tell my eldest sister-in-law to consider postponing picking up Hai Cai for now.

Let’s wait until Xiaopang is found, or until Hai Cai turns eight and can go to school with his older siblings before coming to pick him up.

Now that Xiaopang hasn’t been found, even if my eldest brother and sister-in-law come to pick him up when he’s better, what if Xiaopang…

They can’t keep him at home forever, can they?”

Lin’s mother felt a pang in her heart when she heard what the third daughter-in-law said.

Indeed, what Ning Shu said made sense.

If Xiaopang wasn’t found and Hai Cai was taken back, and then something happened when there was only one person around, Lin’s mother didn’t dare to imagine.

She relayed Ning Shu’s words to Qian Aifen, “Eldest daughter-in-law, what do you think?”

Qian Aifen didn’t dare to think much.

Just the thought of what Ning Shu suggested might happen made her extremely worried. “Then, since Hai Cai is in the military now, I and the head of the family will go to the police station to inquire again and urge them to find out Xiaopang’s whereabouts.”

Thanks to the carefulness of the third daughter-in-law, they hadn’t thought about this at all.

Lin’s mother and Ning Shu didn’t chat for long because they were reluctant to incur more phone charges.

But Qian Aifen was worried about Hai Cai, so when she heard a bit of news about Xiaopang, she immediately called the military.

On one hand, she wanted to inform Ning Shu about the progress of their report to the police, and on the other hand, she wanted to inquire about Hai Cai’s situation.

Primarily, she wanted to know about Hai Cai’s condition.

A six-year-old child falling ill, especially when alone, even though he was with his uncle, worried Qian Aifen.

At lunchtime, when the family of six sat down together, Ning Shu mentioned the phone call from Lin’s mother.

She mainly informed Lin Guodong, but the other children were curious and had many questions.

“Mom, why was Xiaopang sent away? Doesn’t his mother want him anymore?” the second child asked curiously.

“Exactly…” Ning Shu used this incident to explain some principles to the children. “Hai Cai got sick this time because Xiaopang pushed him into the creek. Xiaopang deliberately pushed Hai Cai into the creek, which was wrong.

Doing bad things is against the law. So Hai Cai’s parents went to the police station to ask the police comrades for help.

Xiaopang’s family was worried that Xiaopang would be arrested by the police, so they sent him away.

You have to remember, if you do bad things, you will be arrested by the police.

After being arrested, you won’t see your parents or family for a long time. So, you must not do bad things, understand?”

The twins and Hai Cai nodded obediently.

Sanbao didn’t understand what being arrested by the police meant, but he understood what Mom said.

Doing bad things means not seeing Mom, so he didn’t want to do bad things either.

That’s why he nodded vigorously too.

Yibao thought for a moment and asked, “Mom, if Xiaopang’s mother sent him away, will Xiaopang still be able to see his mother when he comes back next time?”

“No, dear.” Ning Shu continued to explain.

“If you do bad things and confess to the police, you’ll only not see your parents for a period of time.

It could be a year, two years, or three years.

But if you hide after doing bad things, like Xiaopang’s mother sent him away, Xiaopang will still be found by the police comrades in the future.

Once found, he’ll never see his mother again. So, do you think it’s better to not see your mother temporarily or never see her again?”

Erbao spoke quickly, “Surely it’s better to not see Mom temporarily.”

Yibao said, “Neither is good. I want to see Mom forever and ever.”

“Right, right, what big brother said is right. Big brother is so smart,” Erbao also realized that what his older brother said was correct.

Indeed, his older brother was the smartest.

Sanbao chimed in crisply, “Seeing Mom is good. I want Mom.”

Hai Cai nodded too.

He didn’t want to not see his mother either.

“So, you mustn’t do bad things,” Ning Shu concluded.

Thinking about not seeing Mom and being caught by the police for doing bad things made the children feel scared.

They definitely didn’t want to do anything bad.

“Never do bad things.”