Hearing Xu Xiuxiu's refusal, Wang Qinghua couldn't help but sigh in relief, her gaze softening a bit toward Xu Xiuxiu.
"But Xiuxiu, if you live there alone with the child and sothing happens, what would you do?" Song's Mother Liu Shuxiang helplessly reminded her, her furrowed brow deepening due to Xu Xiuxiu's refusal—it almost looked like she could kill a fly with those creases.
To be honest, she wasn't worried that her daughter-in-law would do sothing to betray her son by living there; after all, the two families were only separated by a wall. Xu Xiuxiu was quite assertive but usually seed steady and not frivolous. It was just that her living alone with the child was a bit worrying.
"I'll just be more careful at night," Xu Xiuxiu continued to insist.
Aunt Wang Qinghua obviously didn't want her to move in, and Xu Xiuxiu didn't want to start another argunt over this, so she let it go.
"No way," Song's Mother Liu Shuxiang imdiately rebutted, "How about I tidy up and stay next to you at night? After all, at my age, I can live anywhere." Since Xu Xiuxiu didn't want to move into the house, Song's Mother felt she might as well move in next to her place. With more people in the house, surely thieves would not dare to easily break in.
"Mom, really, there's no need," Xu Xiuxiu smiled, trying to reassure Song's Mother, "The incident last night was an accident, and besides, that thief got a taste of his own dicine and probably won't dare to co back." If he did dare to co back, she would make sure he wouldn't leave the sa way he ca; if it really ca down to it, she would kill him and dispose of the body in the void.
"This..." Song's Mother was still hesitant.
However, Mr. Song calmly looked at Song's Mother and subtly shook his head. Song's Mother reluctantly abandoned the idea of further persuading Xu Xiuxiu and gloomily settled down to eat breakfast.
Xu Xiuxiu didn't continue the conversation, and after breakfast, she took Song Chengguang back to their little house.
Although it seed like the matter had passed, only Xu Xiuxiu knew it had sparked her desire to leave the village. Whether it was to follow the troops or to find a job in the city where Yuanhuan's unit was stationed, she just knew she didn't want to stay in this place any longer. Otherwise, she would certainly be assimilated by the local customs and lifestyle.
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This was sothing she absolutely couldn't accept, and she couldn't be like the won of the '80s around her, content to obediently stay ho taking care of her husband and children. She was educated and held a university degree—surely in this decade, she could find a way out.
So, after dinner that night, Xu Xiuxiu wrote a letter to Yuanhuan, who was stationed with the troops, for the first ti.
By the ti the letter reached Yuanhuan at the military base, seven or eight days later, he had just finished a training drill with a group of new recruits. On his way back to the barracks, he received the mail delivered by the communications officer. There were two letters; one was in his brother Yuanying's handwriting, which Yuanhuan was very familiar with, as the family letters were usually written by Yuanying.
What surprised him, however, was the other letter. The handwriting on the yellow envelope, delicate and graceful, was different from his brother's proxy writings. He had a hunch about who might have written this letter, and his heart... couldn't help but begin to expect a little.
It was because this was the first letter Xu Xiuxiu had written to him in two years.
Back at the dormitory, after a quick shower, Song Yuanhuan carefully opened the letter from ho, which began with greetings from everyone, followed by updates on recent minor events at ho. Of course, it also included the incident of a theft in Xiuxiu's room. Although only a few sentences were written about it, Song Yuanhuan read it with a pounding heart and overwhelming self-reproach.
In his mind's eye, he could see the figure of Xu Xiuxiu holding their son at the village entrance, the fair-skinned woman standing sowhat strained by the roadside, holding her son upright. Her reluctant gaze often haunted him. To think that their ho had been burglarized; she must have been flustered that night!
With a heavy heart, Song Yuanhuan put down the family letter and slowly opened the one Xu Xiuxiu had written him.
The letter was brief, with only a few simple greetings before getting straight to the point. It clearly conveyed Xu Xiuxiu's wish to be closer to the military base—to be closer to him.
Although Xu Xiuxiu did not ntion the unsettling incident of the burglary in her letter, Song Yuanhuan felt that his wife must have been frightened, hence her desire to be closer to him. Was this her way of seeking comfort?
Song Yuanhuan raised his eyebrows, carefully stored away the letter, and picked up so paper to start writing a reply to his family.
On the other end, Xu Xiuxiu, having shared her intentions with Song Yuanhuan in her letter, did not hang on anxiously. Life went on as usual, eat what should be eaten, and she successfully turned her son Song Chengguang into a plump, adorable little atball that everyone loved.
By the ti Song Yuanhuan's reply reached Xu Xiuxiu, more than half a month had passed. Little Song Chengguang had advanced from toddling around to taking small steps confidently, full of energy.
"Xiuxiu, Yuanhuan's letter says he wants you to visit the military base. What do you think? Do you want to go or not?" Song's Mother Liu Shuxiang, too, had received her son's letter, which ntioned that military wives were allowed to visit, and Yuanhuan wanted Xu Xiuxiu to stay at the base for a few days. Song's Mother Liu Shuxiang was more than happy about this.
After all, it's not good for a young couple to be apart for too long. As they barely had any affection for each other to begin with, staying apart for too long might lead to disputes. Now that the military allowed family visits, and Xiuxiu, having nothing much to do at ho, could also stay for a few days without issues.
"Yes! I'll get ready to go in the next couple of days," said Xu Xiuxiu, sitting on the wooden bed, holding Song Chengguang's arms, letting the little one hop in her embrace.
Although Song Yuanhuan's letter did not say for her to co directly and accompany him at the military base, nor did he agree to her moving out of the village, Xu Xiuxiu was not discouraged. Regardless, leaving here to live in the city was not that easy, and she knew Song Yuanhuan would not easily agree. She had anticipated this.
"Good! I'll prepare so things for you to take to Yuanhuan on the road," said Song's Mother with a smile. "However, Xiuxiu, considering you're going to visit, are you planning to take Chengguang with you? It might be inconvenient on the road for a woman alone to carry a child. Why not leave Chengguang with ?"
Song's Mother broached the subject tentatively, hoping Xu Xiuxiu would leave Song Chengguang at ho for her to take care of, as she was still young and could easily look after the child for a few days.
But how could that be possible? How could Xu Xiuxiu bear to leave the little one at ho and go to the military base alone?
"Mom, I plan to take Chengguang with to the base," Xu Xiuxiu asserted firmly.
"Xiuxiu, you really need to think this through. It's very unsafe on the train. As a woman alone, I'm already worried, let alone with a child. No, it's better if Chengguang stays at ho with for a few days. You can rest assured I'll take good care of our little treasure," Mrs. Song spoke, raising her hand to gently stroke Song Chengguang's head.
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