☆ 9. Phone Call

“What did you say?”

Fang Aihua suddenly looked up, as if she couldn’t believe her ears. She stood up, stunned for a while, and then stumbled over a few steps to grab Su Youqing’s arm.

“W-What did you just say, Youqing?”

“You said Chengzi, Chengzi is still alive?”

“Yes, alive! He’s still alive!”

Su Youqing understood how Fang Aihua felt at this moment and quickly shared the news he had just heard at the commune: “I just went to the commune and ran into Director Huang…”

Ever since learning that his grandson was still alive, Su Youqing had been going to the police station every day, hoping to find out his grandson’s whereabouts.

Leizi was the first business deal of Su Dazhi. He remembered clearly where Leizi had been sent, he was the only child who had not been sold to the provincial city.

According to the information Su Dazhi had confessed, he had sold Leizi to Zhou San, whom he knew from the black market. Zhou San, through a relative from his transport team, sent the child to his distant aunt who had married into Xiaoxian.

The aunt had no children for many years and was thinking about adopting a child.

However, there were few normal children in the orphanage, and since their family was well-off and wanted a smarter child, they asked Zhou San to help find one in the countryside.

The reward they offered was quite tempting.

But the requirements were also high, so Zhou San thought of buying a child.

Originally, Zhou San had set his sights on Su Dazhi’s son, Su Erhu. In order to secure the deal, he had taken Su Dazhi out for drinks twice, and during the conversation about children, he had heard about the talented son of the village captain.

Especially after learning that the child was only three years old and had just started to remember things, Zhou San was already intrigued.

Afterward, through threats and bribery, Su Dazhi and Zhou San managed to get the child back.

Now, the child has already been picked up through the Xiaoxian police station.

Leizi was taken away when he was just over three years old, and two years have passed. He has gradually accepted his new parents, and fortunately, the child was intelligent and still has some memories of Su Youqing and the others.

Although he still longs to go back, he isn’t throwing as big a fit as he did a couple of days ago.

Su Dazhi’s madness has improved somewhat with the return of his grandson.

Because of this, Su Youqing is particularly grateful to Ji Meng, if it weren’t for her providing the information, he wouldn’t have been able to find his grandson, and there would be no hope for Su Dazhi’s condition.

Yesterday, when Ji Meng came to his house to get the introduction letter, he was busy helping Shi Feng with his son’s treatment and didn’t properly thank her.

Today, when he went to the commune to handle some business, he ran into Director Huang rushing out of the commune. Upon hearing from Director Huang that Su Cheng was still alive and had even made a phone call back, he quickly rode his bike to rush home.

He wanted to hurry and share the news with Fang Aihua and Ji Meng.

“Sister-in-law, do you want to go to the commune to call Chengzi? Is Ji Meng still here?

Director Huang said there’s a phone number left for Chengzi. If you want to contact him, just call that number, he can answer now.” Su Youqing repeated Director Huang’s words to Fang Aihua and then asked her.

“Alive, Chengzi is still alive!”

Fang Aihua’s lips trembled, and she burst into tears, both crying and laughing in excitement.

It felt like a dream, no, even if it were a dream, Fang Aihua had never thought that one day she would hear the news that her son was still alive.

“I want to go, I want to call Chengzi!”

Fang Aihua couldn’t believe it, she needed to hear her son’s voice right now, immediately!

“Ah Meng took the child back to the city this morning, but it’s okay. Once we confirm this is true, I’ll send her a telegram to tell her, she left me her address…”

Fang Aihua murmured to herself, then immediately looked up at Su Youqing and asked him:

“Youqing, please, can you take me to the commune? I really need your help.”

“Ah, what’s the trouble, sister-in-law? My bike is right outside, I’ll take you!”

Su Youqing quickly replied.

Fang Aihua thanked him repeatedly.

Although Su Youqing was getting older, his legs were still quite agile, and he had enough strength. It didn’t take long for him to take Fang Aihua to the commune.

Director Huang was still in the commune office waiting. When he saw Fang Aihua arrive, he greeted her warmly.

“Madam, you’re here! They just left a number over there, I’ll call it back for you right now.”

Seeing Fang Aihua’s anxiety, Director Huang quickly dialed the number. After the operator connected the call, he handed the phone to Fang Aihua and stepped out with Su Youqing.

“Hello, Chengzi? Is that you, Chengzi?”

Fang Aihua couldn’t be bothered to thank him, so she grabbed the phone and eagerly shouted into it.

“Yes, Mom, it’s me!”

On the other end of the line, the man stood in front of the desk. Hearing the two urgent shouts from the receiver, he tightened his grip on it, responding to the elderly voice with a deep and powerful tone, his sharp eyes slightly reddened.

It was his mother’s voice, old yet kind.

She was still alive, he didn’t come back too late.

“Really, it really is my Chengzi!”

Fang Aihua was so excited that she couldn’t contain herself, crying and laughing for a while before quickly asking, “What happened? Why does everyone say you were sacrificed…?”

Fang Aihua bombarded him with questions, but then remembered her son’s status, realizing that many things were classified and couldn’t be discussed. She hurriedly said:

“Mom was just asking randomly, you don’t need to respond. As long as you’re okay, that’s enough for me. Nothing else matters.”

This was the essence of motherhood. No matter how much she had suffered upon hearing the news of her son’s supposed death, she never mentioned it. In all her words, she only cared that he was safe.

Su Cheng’s throat felt slightly choked. He looked up and swallowed hard, forcing a smile:

“Yeah, I understand, Mom. I still have some things to handle here and can’t leave for now. It might take a while before I can come back to see you.”

“That’s fine, you take care of your business. It doesn’t matter when you come back!”

Fang Aihua immediately replied. As long as she confirmed her son was alive, she was satisfied. As for when he would return, she knew he was a soldier, and it wasn’t easy for him to take leave, especially since she had heard that the battle over there hadn’t ended. She wouldn’t rush him. Although she really wanted to see her son—the son who was still alive—she didn’t want to hold him back. In order to reassure him, she quickly added:

“Chengzi, don’t worry about home. We’re all doing well…”

Fang Aihua said this and suddenly thought of her daughter-in-law and Qiuqiu, whom she had just sent off. She felt frustrated again:

“You should have called back earlier, Qiuqiu and Ah Meng just returned to the city today!”

Ah Meng. That woman.

Back to the city.

In an instant, Su Cheng straightened his lips, his expression turning cold.

“Mom, are you saying she took Qiuqiu back to the city with her?”

“Yes, Ah Meng’s return was a bit rushed this time, but there’s nothing she could do, her elder brother…”

Fang Aihua briefly explained the situation regarding Ji Meng’s elder brother and her plans, worried that her son might overthink this matter and it could affect their relationship. She paused and continued:

“Chengzi, don’t think too much about Ah Meng going back to the city. She did it for Qiuqiu’s sake. Qiuqiu is old enough to go to school, but our village’s school is about to close down. How could she go to school here?”

“And you know, after the news of your supposed sacrifice came back, your aunt-in-law had her eye on our house, trying to claim it for herself. It was a terrible situation, but fortunately Ah Meng acted quickly, reported it to the police, and they arrested them. That dog, Su Dazhi, who abducted children, was also investigated by the police…”

Fang Aihua briefly recounted the scheming of Wu Kaifen’s family against them, causing the man to furrow his brow tightly.

“Mom, can you tell me exactly what happened? She reported Aunt-in-law to the police, and what about the situation with Su Dazhi’s child abduction?”

“Well…”

Fang Aihua suddenly realized that in her eagerness to speak well of her daughter-in-law, she had mentioned some things that she shouldn’t have, which would clearly cause her son worry and guilt. But since the conversation had already reached this point, she didn’t hide anything and explained the situation in detail. In the end, she advised him:

“Chengzi, listen to Mom, don’t hold it against your wife for leaving without telling you. She didn’t mean it that way. After you were reported as sacrificed, your aunt-in-law spoke ill of her, and there were many rumors in the village. She suffered a lot of grievances, and her own family had problems too. With everything piling up, it’s inevitable that mistakes were made.”

Fang Aihua didn’t want her son to blame his wife for leaving without notice, especially since it had caused her to faint.

She felt that her poor health was the reason she couldn’t withstand the provocation and fainted, and it had nothing to do with her daughter-in-law.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, and Fang Aihua couldn’t help but urge, “Chengzi, did you hear me?”

“I understand, Mom.”

Su Cheng replied with a furrowed brow. Remembering something, he added:

“Mom, don’t tell Qiuqiu’s mother that I’m still alive for now.”

“Why not?” Fang Aihua was puzzled and more anxious.

“Why can’t we tell Ah Meng about this? Chengzi, do you have other thoughts?”

“I’ll tell you this, Chengzi, I won’t allow it. In my life, I have only recognized Ah Meng as my daughter-in-law.

If you’re going to have doubts about your wife, who gave you such a lovely daughter, over such trivial matters, then I won’t acknowledge you as my son. Anyway, Ah Meng also said that once she settles down, she’ll take me to live in the city.”

The old woman’s words were filled with warning and affection for her daughter-in-law, showing how much effort she had put in during this time. Su Cheng’s eyes grew deeper, he slowly pressed his palm on the table. After a moment, he replied:

“It’s not what you think. I plan to go over there and take a look myself…” He paused then “To give her a surprise.”

His son was planning to personally go and bring his daughter-in-law back.

Fang Aihua immediately felt at ease, smiling and nodding in agreement:

“Alright, alright! Then I won’t say anything, you go and pick them up. It’s also a good opportunity to meet your father-in-law. We haven’t had contact over the years.”

—

“Please, help me buy a ticket to the provincial capital, I need to go there.”

After hanging up the phone, Su Cheng turned around and said to the guard waiting behind him.

The guard looked troubled at his words: “But your injuries… the doctor said you need to rest in bed for a while.”

This time, Su Cheng had narrowly escaped death, but he had been shot three times. He had stubbornly removed the bullets himself and had been injured again while trying to retrieve a confidential document on his way back. He was also experiencing symptoms of a concussion, making it completely unsuitable for him to move.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been in the county town but had to report safety through a phone call to the commune.

“Commander, if you’re worried about Qiuqiu, I can go to the provincial capital and bring them to the military district.”

“No, I want to go personally,” Su Cheng stated firmly.

His injuries on his body were serious, but his daughter was even more important.

He wasn’t comfortable leaving this matter to someone else.

Moreover, Su Cheng’s eyes gazed ahead, his dark pupils glimmering with a profound light.

He also wanted to see what that woman was really up to.