At the beginning of summer, a large wooden crate had already been prepared for the puppies, and the two little dogs were placed inside.

Since they were not fully grown yet, the bottom of the crate was fitted with four round wheels, making it easy to push, and it could even carry luggage on top.

Cen Huaian was particularly fascinated by this movable crate and eagerly volunteered to pull it.

At first, the puppies, Blackie and Yellowie, were uncomfortable being confined in the crate.

They anxiously paced back and forth, whimpering.

But as soon as Cen Huaian started pulling the crate and they saw their familiar little master, they let out a “woo” sound, stopped pacing, and sat down inside, their big eyes following their little master’s back.

Occasionally, they would lick their fur, looking more content than humans.

Watching this scene, Chuxia found it hilarious.

Cen Huaian even turned his head to glance at her in confusion, not understanding why his mother was laughing.

Chuxia quickly shifted her gaze elsewhere, thinking she must not laugh any further, or An’an would realize she was laughing at him.

The sight of the two also caught the attention of passersby, but fortunately, the distance from their residential area to the bus stop wasn’t far; otherwise, they would have attracted even more stares.

As the bus slowly approached, Chuxia and Cen Huaian were about to lift their luggage and the dog crate onto the bus when suddenly, several small hands appeared beside them to help.

They both immediately looked up, and Chuxia’s eyes lit up with surprise. “Bang Ge? Maozi, Huimao, what are you doing here?”

Chuxia wasn’t the most excited one; the happiest was Cen Huaian, whose joy was evident and impossible to hide.

“Bang Ge, how did you know we were leaving today?” Cen Huaian asked.

Bangzi helped carry the items onto the bus, a smile playing on his lips. “It wasn’t hard to find out by asking around in your residential area.”

After loading the luggage, Bangzi walked over and gave Cen Huaian a hug before releasing him and patting his back.

Maozi and Huimao also came over to hug Cen Huaian in turn.

Cen Huaian wanted to say something, but nothing came out when he opened his mouth.

He just looked at the three of them, his eyes filled with both joy and reluctance.

Bangzi, sensing Cen Huaian’s emotions, waved casually and said, “We’re brothers, right? Since you’re leaving, of course, we came to see you off. No need to get emotional.”

Cen Huaian replied, “Thank you, Bang Ge.”

He wasn’t just thanking him for seeing him off but also for pulling him back from the brink once, preventing him from starving to death.

The bus wouldn’t stop for long.

Standing near the door, Cen Huaian and Chuxia waved at them as the door closed. “Bang Ge, Maozi, Huimao, goodbye,” Cen Huaian called out.

As the bus started moving, Cen Huaian quickly ran to the last row of seats and looked back through the window.

Bangzi stood there with his hands in his pockets, still wearing that casual smile, while Maozi and Huimao stood on either side of him, waving wildly at Cen Huaian.

“Little Scrap! We’ll always remember you, don’t forget us!” they shouted.

Cen Huaian kept his eyes on them, holding back his emotions until the bus turned a corner and they disappeared from sight.

He slowly turned back, leaning against Chuxia.

Chuxia gently patted his back without saying a word.

She understood how he was feeling and knew it was best to let him process it quietly.

By the time they arrived at the train station, Cen Huaian’s mood had returned to normal, and he was pulling the dog crate along the platform.

Almost everyone at the station looked at him, but he seemed not to notice.

He even asked Chuxia, “Mom, do you think the puppies will be okay during the shipment?”

Chuxia, also ignoring the stares, held his hand and reassured him, “They’ll be fine. The station staff will take good care of them.”

Although she was worried too, she felt that since the train station had a system for transporting live animals, and it wasn’t a new practice, the process should be well-managed.

Despite her confidence, when she handed over the shipment ticket for the puppies, Chuxia couldn’t help but ask the staff if there were any precautions she should take and whether the puppies might feel unwell during the journey.

The staff, who had clearly heard such questions many times, didn’t even look up while checking her ticket. “No need to worry. We have dedicated people responsible for shipments; nothing will happen. Just make sure there’s food and water in the crate. Oh, and don’t feed the dogs for a few hours before boarding; they might get carsick.”

Hearing that the puppies could get carsick made both Chuxia and Cen Huaian even more anxious.

Trains took a long time to travel, and the puppies would surely be uncomfortable in a confined space for such an extended period, but there was no other option.

Cen Huaian crouched down, gently stroking the puppies’ heads, whispering to them.

Chuxia vaguely heard him say, “Don’t be afraid.”

Before the shipment, they stayed with the puppies, comforting them.

Just before boarding, they placed food, water, chewing bones, and their favorite toys inside the wooden crate.

As they watched the staff lift the crate, Yellowie and Blackie, who had been lying down, immediately stood up and barked anxiously, switching between barking at the staff and at Chuxia and Cen Huaian.

The puppies thought they were being abandoned and started desperately ramming the crate.

Cen Huaian quickly waved his hand and called out, “Blackie, Yellowie, don’t be scared! Mom and I will come to pick you up soon!”

Whether the puppies understood his words or were simply comforted by his voice, they stopped trying to escape but still lay down in the crate, looking sadly at Chuxia and Cen Huaian.

Their forlorn expressions made Chuxia want to bring them back out, and Cen Huaian found it hard to bear as well.

But they had to board the train themselves, so Chuxia led him towards the boarding area.

There were many people there, all trying to get on the train.

The conductors shouted at the crowd not to push, and the train police were doing their best to maintain order, but it was no use; people were still desperately squeezing onto the train, afraid of missing it.

Chuxia and Cen Huaian headed for the sleeper car, where there were fewer people, but by the time they finally boarded with their luggage, they were both drenched in sweat.

The green train wasn’t particularly comfortable, and the journey was long.

The sleeper cars offered better conditions than the hard seats, but sleeping was still just a makeshift solution.

During the day, Chuxia and Cen Huaian stayed in the upper bunk, reading, playing chess, and resting.

Except for meal times and bathroom breaks, they didn’t leave the sleeper.

The train stopped at various stations, some big, some small.

At the larger stations, the train stopped longer, and passengers could get off to stretch their legs, smoke, or buy something.

But Chuxia never got off.

She had brought food, and the train also sold meals, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and sodas, so there was no need to get off. Plus, it wasn’t safe.

There was also the possibility of missing the train.

Chuxia had seen passengers who lingered too long and got left behind when the train started moving again.

In the afternoon, Cen Huaian couldn’t help but ask, “Mom, where are Blackie and Yellowie now? I really want to see them.”

Chuxia wanted to see them too.

She got down from the bunk with Cen Huaian and happened to see a train attendant passing by.

Chuxia asked if they could go see the puppies.

The attendant checked her ticket and said, “You can, but all sorts of animals are there, and it smells pretty bad. Are you sure you want to go?”

Without hesitation, Chuxia nodded, “Yes.”

“Alright, follow me.”

The attendant led Chuxia and Cen Huaian to the back of the train, giving them instructions along the way. “We don’t know exactly where your dogs are, so you’ll have to find them yourselves. Also, don’t disturb the other animals, especially the cattle and sheep. Keep your movements small and your voices low.”

After what seemed like a long walk, they finally reached the last car.

The attendant opened the door, and a strong smell of animals hit them—a mix of odors that was hard to describe but very unpleasant.

The train attendant covered his nose and said, “I told you it stinks. You can find it yourselves.”

With that, he quickly stepped out.

Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an also noticed the smell, but they were more concerned about Heizi(Blackie) and Huangzi(Yellowie), their two dogs, and started searching through the cages.

The cargo was filled with large animals, and since their small dogs were the only ones, they were placed at the front.

It didn’t take long for them to find Heizi and Huangzi.

Due to the cramped space and lack of ventilation, the two little dogs lay listlessly in their cage, showing no energy at all.

Chu Xia and An An had never seen their dogs like this before, and their hearts ached.

“Heizi, Huangzi.” The cage was a bit high, and An An tried hard to reach and pet the dogs but couldn’t manage.

As soon as the two dogs saw their owners, they became excited, pressing their heads against the cage, whining to express their grievances.

Cen Huai’an became even more anxious upon hearing this and tiptoed again, but still couldn’t reach them.

At that moment, Chu Xia reached out, lifted him up, and An An finally managed to touch the two dogs.

However, Chu Xia could only hold him for a short while, as she felt herself using all her strength.

She quickly asked Cen Huai’an, “An An, are you done?”

Her voice was strained from the effort. When Cen Huai’an responded with a “Yes,” Chu Xia immediately released him, causing his clothes to bunch up around his chest as her arms slid down.

As Chu Xia let go of him and shook her arms to relieve the tension, Cen Huai’an quietly pulled his clothes back down.

Seeing her rubbing her arms afterward, Cen Huai’an thought to himself, “Mom doesn’t have as much strength as Dad. From now on, I’ll only let Dad carry me. I don’t want Mom to get tired.”

With that in mind, he continued to look up at the dogs and talk to them.

Chu Xia also walked over and petted Heizi and Huangzi on the head.

Their condition visibly improved.

Before long, the train attendant called out to them from outside, reminding them that they couldn’t stay in the cargo carriage for too long.

Chu Xia and An An had to quickly say goodbye to Huangzi and Heizi, giving them one last pat on the head before leaving the cargo carriage.

As they walked back, the train attendant smiled and said, “How are the dogs? Healthy, right? Our train has been handling cargo for who knows how many years—cows, sheep, pigs, you name it—and we’ve never had any issues. Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

Chu Xia nodded repeatedly.

The dogs were healthy, but she could tell they weren’t comfortable with this method of transport.

She sighed inwardly, hoping the train would reach its destination soon.

That night, Chu Xia couldn’t sleep well.

The sleeping berths had no doors, just separate compartments, and the train cars were all connected.

Fortunately, the door between the hard seats and the sleepers was locked by the train attendant at night; otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to sleep at all.

Even so, Chu Xia woke up at the slightest noise, while An An, sleeping beside her, was sound asleep, unaffected by the train journey.

For some reason, in the middle of the night, Chu Xia was awakened by the sound of a couple arguing, followed by a child crying loudly.

She barely slept the rest of the night.

The next day, she felt exhausted, leaning against the bed in a daze, trying to catch a little more sleep.

But with people constantly walking back and forth in the sleeper car, she couldn’t rest well.

By the time they got off the train in the afternoon, Chu Xia still looked worn out.

The two days and one night on the train had been a terrible experience.

She and An An went to pick up the dogs. Despite the long journey, the two dogs looked a bit lethargic, but they hadn’t left much food or water uneaten, and there was no vomit in the cage.

After checking them over, Chu Xia concluded that they were fine.

As usual, Chu Xia carried the luggage while Cen Huai’an pulled the cage with a leash.

She held An An’s hand as they walked out of the station.

Before they reached the exit, Chu Xia spotted Cen Zhenian standing at the gate, his eyes scanning the crowd, searching for her and Cen Huai’an.

Before Chu Xia could call out to him, Cen Zhenian’s eyes met hers, and he smiled in relief, his gaze following her and Cen Huai’an.

As soon as they reached him, Cen Zhenian immediately took the luggage from her hands, while the young man standing beside him also reached out to help.

“Second Cousin, is this Cousin-in-law and An An? It’s so nice to finally meet them!”

The young man looked at Chu Xia and Cen Huai’an with a friendly smile, reaching out to touch An An’s head, but An An tilted his head away to avoid it.

However, when Cen Zhenian rubbed An An’s head, he didn’t dodge; instead, he leaned in affectionately, looking up at Cen Zhenian with a happy expression.

He was thrilled to see his father again, though he noticed that his dad looked much thinner.

Chu Xia glanced at the young man curiously, silently asking Cen Zhenian who he was.

Cen Zhenian handed the luggage to the young man, took Chu Xia’s hand in one hand, and picked up An An with the other. “This is my uncle’s youngest son—Jiang Zhida.”

Jiang Zhida, holding the luggage, thought his cousin’s behavior was a bit over the top.

Dumping all the luggage on him while carrying his young wife and child—no wonder he agreed to bring him along to pick up his cousin-in-law; it was all for this moment.

However, when facing Chu Xia, he beamed brightly. “Hello, Cousin-in-law. Just call me Dazi.”

Cen Zhenian nodded and said to Chu Xia, “Everyone at home calls him that.”

“Hello, Dazi,” Chu Xia greeted him with a smile, then urged An An to call him Uncle.

An An looked curiously at Jiang Zhida, finding this uncle different from what he had imagined, but he obediently called out, “Uncle.”

“Hey! What a good boy!” Jiang Zhida grinned so widely it almost reached his ears.

He hurriedly searched his pockets for a red envelope. “That’s odd. I’m sure I put it in my front pocket.”

Ignoring him, Cen Zhenian led Chu Xia and An An toward the parking lot. “You don’t look well. Did something happen on the way?”

His gaze was filled with concern as he looked at Chu Xia.

From the moment he saw her, Cen Zhenian noticed her pale face and dark circles under her eyes, looking utterly exhausted.

Chu Xia raised her hand to rub her temples, her voice tired. “I didn’t rest well on the train. There was noise all night. It was too loud.”

At home, she wouldn’t even hear thunder at night, but on the train, she was startled awake by every little sound and couldn’t fall back asleep for a long time.

Cen Zhenian gently patted her head, smoothing her hair. “The house is all set up. You can sleep in the car for a bit, and when we get home, you can go straight to bed.”

He had driven there, using a car that belonged to Jiang Zhida’s older brother, Jiang Zhishu.

Jiang Zhishu didn’t join the military or go into politics like the rest of the family.

During the reform and opening-up period, he went off to do some business, though no one knew exactly what.

In the entire Jiang family, he was now the wealthiest, although he was constantly criticized by Cen Zhenian’s grandfather for being materialistic and disrespecting the ancestors.

But Jiang Zhishu didn’t care and continued to do as he pleased.

This car was his, and many people in their circle envied him for having one.

After all, at that time, most cars were owned by government agencies, and it was rare for an individual to have one.

Even those from well-established families didn’t all have the money to buy a car.

Moreover, the situation was still uncertain, and many people were still cautious after the events of previous years.

Even if they had money, they didn’t dare to show off too much, fearing a repeat of the past that could ruin their entire family.

Jiang Zhida finally found the red envelope and caught up with them.

He placed the luggage securely, including the two dogs, in the front seat.

“An An, this is for you!” Jiang Zhida tossed a bulging red envelope toward Cen Huai’an, landing right in his lap.

“Take a look. If it’s not enough, let Uncle know. Uncle’s got money!” Jiang Zhida said confidently, patting his chest, sure that the amount he had put in the envelope would satisfy An An.

An An opened the red envelope and saw that it was stuffed full of one, two, and ten yuan bills, so much that the envelope was about to burst.

Cen Huai’an’s eyes widened instantly.

He glanced at Jiang Zhida, then at the red envelope, and started calculating in his head: if every elder he met gave him such a big red envelope like his uncle, his savings would grow quickly, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Cen Huai’an said, his eyes never leaving the envelope as he pulled out the money and began counting.

Jiang Zhida was waiting to hear if Cen Huai’an was happy with the money, but after a while, all he saw was Huai’an counting it.

“An An…” Jiang Zhida wanted to ask again, but Cen Zhengnian reached over and gently pushed Jiang Zhida’s head back. “Let’s drive home. Your cousin-in-law and An An are tired.”

“Yes, yes,” Jiang Zhida said apologetically to Chu Xia. “Sorry, Cousin.”