The next morning, after breakfast, Liu Nanfeng drove to the bus station.
He arrived at the bus station at half-past six, but there was no other choice. Yu Huilan had boarded the bus at five, and it was estimated she would arrive soon. He couldn't let Yu Huilan wait for him at the station.
Su Huamei had wanted to come along, but Su Jinxiu had forcibly taken her to a coffee shop, preventing her from accompanying them.
"Mom, over here."
Liu Nanfeng immediately spotted Yu Huilan standing under a large tree.
They had arranged this the previous night to avoid losing each other.
Yu Huilan was traveling light, with only a backpack and a sun hat.
"Where's your car?" Yu Huilan asked as soon as they met.
"Parking isn't allowed here. I parked further ahead. We need to walk a bit."
"Alright, let's hurry." Yu Huilan hurried forward in the direction Liu Nanfeng indicated.
"Mom, don't be too sad. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all natural."
Seeing her red eyes and somber expression, Liu Nanfeng tried to comfort her, knowing she was in low spirits.
"Sigh, that's true, but Aunt Sun was only in her fifties, and her daughter-in-law had just gotten pregnant. She didn't even get to see her grandchild."
Hearing this, Liu Nanfeng quickly fell silent, not daring to continue, lest he embarrass himself.
Upon reaching the parking spot, Yu Huilan directly pulled open the rear passenger door.
"Mom, why don't you sit in the front passenger seat?"
"No, that seat is for your wife. One shouldn't just sit there casually."
"Mom, you're quite particular. Here, this is the breakfast your daughter-in-law prepared for you."
Liu Nanfeng picked up a bag beside him and handed it to the back.
Yu Huilan accepted it without any ceremony.
"Jinxiu is truly thoughtful. Honestly, I am quite hungry. I didn't have time for breakfast this morning," Yu Huilan said with emotion.
"Jinxiu made you a rice ball with your favorite shredded potato and shredded radish, and this chicken soup. It's perfect for drinking in one go."
"Jinxiu is truly virtuous. The Liu family's ancestral grave must have emitted wolf smoke for you to marry such a wonderful daughter-in-law."
"Mom, you're exaggerating. 'Wolf smoke'?"
"Mom is just speaking the truth. Jinxiu's appearance, demeanor, personality, and family background—which one isn't outstanding? You, my son, must have accumulated good fortune for several lifetimes."
"Haha..."
Hearing his mother praise his wife so highly, Liu Nanfeng also felt happy.
"Sigh..." But at that moment, Yu Huilan suddenly sighed deeply.
Liu Nanfeng glanced at her in the rearview mirror and then remained silent.
Seeing Liu Nanfeng not speaking, Yu Huilan sighed deeply again from the back seat. However, Liu Nanfeng continued to drive attentively, feigning ignorance.
Yu Huilan grew impatient and asked directly, "Son, why aren't you asking me why I'm sighing?"
"I don't want to ask."
"You unfilial son, do you want to anger your mother to death?"
"Mom, you want to talk about the child, don't you? Jinxiu and I are still young. You can wait another couple of years."
Liu Nanfeng knew his mother too well. The moment she sighed the first time, he knew what she wanted to say.
"Young? You're almost thirty years old, how can you still be so irresponsible?" Yu Huilan said angrily.
"Then we'll talk about it after I turn thirty."
"After you turn thirty? I'm asking you, is this your decision or Jinxiu's?"
Yu Huilan was furious at his words.
"It's naturally my decision. You know what kind of person Jinxiu is; she listens to me." Liu Nanfeng naturally didn't want his wife to suffer any grievance, so he took all the blame upon himself.
"You wretched boy, how could I give birth to such a wicked son? You deliberately want to anger me to death, don't you?" Yu Huilan reached out from the back seat, attempting to hit Liu Nanfeng's head.
"Mom, I'm driving. Can you please not move around so much? You might lose a son before you get to hold a grandson, then there'll be no hope left."
"Pah, pah, pah! You jinx."
Yu Huilan retracted her hand upon hearing this and began to appeal to his emotions.
"Don't blame me for rushing you, son. It's just that I thought of Aunt Sun, such a good person, gone just like that. She held on for two years, wanting to see her grandchild. But just as the child was about to be born, she passed away. Aunt Sun died with her eyes wide open. Thinking of this makes me so sad... *sob sob sob*..."
"*Sob sob sob*..."
While waiting at a red light, Liu Nanfeng handed her a pack of tissues from the side.
"What?"
"Wipe your tears."
"Don't you have anything you want to say to me?"
"Eat your breakfast while it's still warm. It'll be completely cold if you don't eat it soon."
"You stubborn boy, just like your father. What's wrong with having a child? You don't have to raise them. I don't care if you agree or not. When we get back, I'll talk to Jinxiu." Yu Huilan said angrily.
"Mom, why are you talking to Jinxiu about this? I said it's my decision that I don't want one. It doesn't matter who you talk to. You know I'm stubborn, so don't cause trouble for me." Liu Nanfeng said, slightly annoyed.
"Why are you speaking so loudly? Can't Mom say a few words to you? Have your wings grown strong? Your temper has grown, hasn't it?"
"Mom, I'm driving. I don't want to argue with you." Liu Nanfeng said helplessly.
Yu Huilan snorted lightly and stopped talking, quietly starting to eat her breakfast.
The journey was finally quiet until they arrived at Aunt Sun's residential complex. Yu Huilan didn't speak to him.
However, as soon as Liu Nanfeng got out of the car, he was startled by the black smoke covering the complex.
A massive cloud of smoke had formed a huge vortex, with black energy continuously being drawn from the residential buildings into it, causing it to grow larger.
"What are you looking at? You go back first." Yu Huilan, seeing her son standing there stunned, couldn't help but speak.
"I'm seeing if it's going to rain," Liu Nanfeng replied.
"Rain?"
Yu Huilan looked up at the sky and then said, "You're talking nonsense. Such nice weather, how can it rain?"
It seemed Yu Huilan couldn't see the massive black vortex in the sky.
"You go back first. You don't need to pick me up this afternoon; I'll take a taxi back." Yu Huilan said, and then walked towards the complex.
"Mom..."
Just as Liu Nanfeng was about to call out to her, he heard a surprised voice from nearby, "Liu Shutiao, why are you here?"
Liu Nanfeng turned around and saw Shen Wenhui. He was also a bit surprised but then thought about it and didn't find it unexpected.
The deceased Aunt Sun was a long-time good friend of his mother, likely from the same factory.
Shen Wenhui's mother was also from the same factory. When the factory dormitories were demolished, it was highly probable that she was allocated to the same residential complex as Aunt Sun.
"Are you Wenhui?"
Hearing the voice, Yu Huilan also turned around. Upon seeing Shen Wenhui, she recognized her immediately.
"Aunt Yu." Shen Wenhui also recognized Yu Huilan.
"Oh, it's really been a long time. You've grown into such a young lady. You've grown so beautifully." Yu Huilan held Shen Wenhui, examining her closely with a joyful expression.
"Aunt Yu, you're here for Aunt Sun's funeral, aren't you?" Shen Wenhui also reacted at this point.
"Sigh, yes. Where is your mother?"
"She's already gone to Aunt Sun's house."
"Then I won't chat with you two anymore. You chat; I'm going ahead." Yu Huilan said, and then hurried towards the complex again.
After Yu Huilan left, Liu Nanfeng smiled and said, "So you live here."
"It's just that you haven't paid attention. Otherwise, if you thought about it, you should know where I live. When the demolitions happened back then, everyone was resettled in a few nearby complexes."
"Haha..." Liu Nanfeng smiled a little sheepishly.
Just then, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Zhan Zhongxiao calling.
"Hello, why are you calling me so early in the morning?"
"Where are you now? I'll come find you."
"Huh? Why are you looking for me?"
"Didn't your scooter get lost yesterday? It's all because of me. I'll go with you to buy a new one today. Consider it my compensation."
"What does my lost scooter have to do with you? How can you compensate me? Stop joking, alright?"
"Who's joking with you? It's just an electric scooter. Not only will I compensate you, but where are you now?" Zhan Zhongxiao said stubbornly on the phone.
"Oh, I'm with Wenhui."
Zhan Zhongxiao: ...
He Chu Tao reminds you: Please remember to collect after reading.