Chapter 83: Farewell

Zhou Tong, a comrade of Chen Mingchuan who worked as a section chief in the Public Security Bureau, arrived.

He glanced at Li Xinyue and asked, “Going to your commune? Are you waiting for the bus? Did you get your tickets?”

Chen Mingchuan introduced them and said, “Yes, I got tickets, although there are no berths, but there are seats. Thanks to you.”

It was hard to get even a seat ticket for the transfer bus.

“Don’t mention it. Get in the car, I have something to do at your commune’s police station.”

“Xiao Wang, open the trunk and help my comrade carry his stuff.”

“Yes!”

The driver got out of the car immediately.

Since it was on the way, they didn’t hesitate.

After loading the luggage, Zhou Tong asked Li Xinyue to sit in the passenger seat while he and Chen Mingchuan sat in the back.

“Mingchuan, is there any news from above?”

“After the Premier’s passing at the beginning of the year, now the leader is seriously ill. Everyone is uneasy, we don’t know what the future holds.”

Chen Mingchuan shook his head. “There’s really no news at the moment. You know the rules of the army, you can’t ask what you shouldn’t know.”

“Xiao Nan came the other day, but didn’t bring any news either.”

“But don’t worry, when I go back, if there’s any definite news, I’ll call you immediately.”

Everything was in chaos, and there were many factions in the bureau.

Zhou Tong’s promotion to section chief was also due to some connections.

With the current situation and hearing some bad news, he felt very uneasy.

“Okay, I’ll trouble you then.”

Chen Mingchuan was young when he joined the army, the youngest among his comrades who enlisted at the same time was one year older than him.

Zhou Tong was two years older than him.

They were in the same new recruit company, and later luckily got assigned to the same veteran company, they were very close.

Hearing this, he pretended to be unhappy.

“Don’t say that, we’re closer than brothers, stop saying these polite words.”

They talked about their old days in the company along the way, and the car soon reached Hongling Commune.

Zhou Tong got out of the car. “Mingchuan, do I really not need to pick you up tomorrow morning?”

Chen Mingchuan waved his hand. “No, no, our brigade secretary has already arranged it. The brigade’s tractor will send us.”

“Next time you come to the province, be sure to come and visit.”

Zhou Tong nodded. “Alright, then I won’t come to pick you up.”

“Xiao Wang, first take my comrade to Li Jiagou, then take them home.”

“I have a lot of things to do today, I won’t be able to leave until after dinner.”

Xiao Wang, the bureau’s dedicated driver, naturally followed orders. “Don’t worry, section chief, I guarantee the mission will be completed.”

Having a car was really fast.

Although the cars in this era didn’t have air conditioning, it was much better than the big bus that panted and swayed.

Li Jiagou was only a few kilometers from the town, even with the bad road, it took only ten minutes to get there.

Li Jingmei was weeding in the production team.

When she heard the loudspeaker calling her name, saying that her niece had arrived, she immediately ran back.

“Third Aunt.”

Chen Mingchuan, in his military uniform, tall and handsome, called out “Third Aunt” and startled Li Jingmei.

“Third Aunt, this is Chen Mingchuan, you don’t remember his appearance?”

Li Jingmei had only seen Chen Mingchuan once, and it had been five years since they last met, how could she recognize him?

“You… well… why did you suddenly come?”

Li Xinyue held her hand and pointed to the pile of things at the door. “This, I picked up cheap goods.”

“You can’t refuse!”

“Also, when you come to the city in the future, remember to take some time to find Sister Li, Aunt Zhang often has cheap goods, no tickets needed.”

“This… this is too much!”

Looking at the several snakeskin bags at her doorstep, Li Jingmei didn’t know what to say.

“My life is actually pretty good now.”

“Xiaoye, don’t do this again, okay?”

“Come in and sit for a while, I’ll make you some tea.”

She was about to leave, and it would be difficult to come back again.

Li Xinyue shook her head: “No, Xiao Wang will be sending us back to the village soon.”

“Third Aunt, we’re going to the provincial city tomorrow, the 8 am train.”

Ah?

Her niece was leaving?

Li Jingmei’s nose turned sour, her eyes red: “Then… when will you come back?”

Li Xinyue shook her head: “I don’t know when I can come back to see you, but I’ll write to you.”

“Once I settle down there, I’ll write you my phone number.”

“If you have any urgent matters, just call me.”

“The provincial city isn’t that far from here, only two hundred kilometers, a few hours drive. Don’t be sad.”

Two hundred kilometers, is that close?

Li Jingmei didn’t know, she didn’t even know which direction the provincial city was located.

She didn’t know how long it would be before she saw her niece again!

Tears flowed freely, unable to stop.

Seeing her like this, Li Xinyue’s nose turned sour, her eyes getting hot.

She hugged Li Jingmei: “Third Aunt, don’t be like this, I’m not going that far.”

“It’s only two hundred kilometers, you can come back anytime!”

Is it that easy?

But there were outsiders present, so Li Jingmei quickly wiped away her tears.

Then she pulled Li Xinyue aside and repeatedly instructed: “If… I mean if, your husband is really bad to you…”

“Then come back, with your skills, we won’t starve.”

This aunt was truly loving.

In this era, if a woman was abandoned by her husband, she would be looked down upon!

It would even make her family look bad.

But her Third Aunt said she could just come back!

Li Xinyue’s throat felt tight as she hugged Li Jingmei: “Third Aunt, thank you. But please believe me!”

“I will be very, very happy in the future.”

“When I have the means, I’ll bring you all to the provincial city.”

“I’ll buy you a house, a car, and arrange jobs for you.”

“Tell your younger brothers and sisters, as long as they study hard, I’ll bring them to the provincial city when they grow up.”

Really?

Li Jingmei felt like she was dreaming.

However, she wouldn’t say ‘that’s impossible’ to discourage her niece!

If she really could live a good life, then her sister would be happy in heaven!

The car belonged to someone else, and they had to return to the village. After a few words, they left.

Back in the village, everyone was preparing to go home for lunch. When they saw a jeep entering the village, they were all curious…

“The police car is here, is it for Zhang Caiyun’s case?”

“No way, didn’t the police from the town station come here a while ago?”

“What could it be then?”

It was rare for a police car to come to their village…

Just then, the car stopped.

Someone had sharp eyes.

“It’s Chen Mingchuan and Li Xin Ye, is this the car that sent them back? My goodness, he’s really achieved something!”

“It must be, I heard that Mingchuan is a high-ranking officer in the army, he has comrades all over the county.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, several people from our brigade joined the army, but he’s the only one who’s really achieved something! Chen’s family’s ancestral grave is burning incense!”