RYEY – Chapter 217 Scared to Tears

When Uncle Niu returned with Qin Guoqing, Li Huan gave Uncle Niu a full basket of grain and told him to head back first. Most of the grain was for Zhao Guoliang and his wife, with a smaller portion for Uncle Niu himself—of course, including the pork floss he missed day and night.

“Erlizi, how much do all this grain cost?” Uncle Niu asked.

“Uncle Niu, we’ll settle it when I get back. I still have important things to take care of right now—go on ahead,” Li Huan replied.

Uncle Niu nodded repeatedly, climbed onto the ox cart, called out to the ox, and left. Although Erlizi and Cheng Qiao hadn’t said what they were busy with, Uncle Niu knew it well enough. How great—he’d get to benefit a little too.

After eating his fill, Qin Guoqing wanted nothing more than to sleep. To come pick up Cheng Liguo earlier, he had gone two nights in a row without sleep and was utterly exhausted.

“Go sleep first,” Li Huan said. “But the kang is still cold. Sleep in my father-in-law’s room for now.”

As soon as Cheng Qiao and the others arrived at the courtyard, they lit the kang in the second inner room. The outer courtyard hadn’t been heated yet, but at least hot water was ready—just enough for Qin Guoqing to wash his face and feet so he could sleep more comfortably.

Qin Guoqing refused. He hadn’t bathed in days and didn’t want to dirty Cheng Liguo’s room. A cold kang was fine—it would warm up after a while.

By the time Li Huan finished heating the whole house, Qin Guoqing was already snoring. Li Huan smiled and shook his head—this kid could really endure hardship. Who knew how he’d been raised.

“Qiao, our child should also learn to endure hardship in the future. Only those who endure the bitterest hardships can rise above others.”

Cheng Qiao rolled her eyes. She didn’t agree with that notion at all—there were plenty of people who suffered hardships, but how many actually became “above others”?

Li Huan took Cheng Qiao to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy food. With nothing else to do, Cheng Liguo began checking the van. After all, they’d be taking Cheng Qiao and little Cheng Li back with them—the vehicle absolutely couldn’t have any problems.

He first removed the fuel can, filled the tank, then checked the brake pads and found they’d just been replaced.

In that case, there was no need for further inspection. If even the brake pads were new, the van must have been thoroughly checked before setting out.

The van had only three seats in the front; the back was completely empty, meant for supplies. Still, Cheng Liguo stayed cautious and placed a large backpack behind the seats, filling it with food and necessities for the journey.

When Cheng Qiao and Li Huan returned, Shitou happened to arrive with a flatbed cart full of corn kernels—just harvested and not yet ground into flour.

“Qin Guoqing’s here,” Li Huan said. “He came a day early.”

“Oh? Then I’ll go haul more goods—there’s still a cart of rice.”

“No need. Cheng Qiao is coming along this time, and little Cheng Li too. If we take more stuff, there won’t be room for people.”

“Ah…?” Shitou looked at Cheng Qiao in surprise, but quickly understood. They were father and daughter—of course she’d worry about whether her father was eating well and staying warm. It was only natural for her to go check on him.

“Then maybe don’t bring little Cheng Li,” he suggested. “It’s such a long way, and conditions over there are really tough.”

“No,” Cheng Liguo said. “Let the kid see what hardship is like. Besides, if little Cheng Li isn’t by Cheng Qiao’s side, neither of them will be at ease.”

True enough—mother and child were bound by the same heart. Shitou couldn’t help but look forward to his own wife giving birth soon, so he could contribute his share of fatherly love.

Taking advantage of the remaining time, Cheng Qiao not only prepared hearty lunches and dinners but also made more than a dozen portions of food for the road, storing them in her space. She even brought a kerosene stove—so in the freezing cold, they wouldn’t have to worry about missing hot meals or hot water.

She also steamed plenty of egg custard and stored it in her space. Little Cheng Li needed a bowl of egg custard every day. Since it was in the space, she could just have Cheng Liguo cover for her when the time came.

Qin Guoqing slept for a full day and night. By the time he woke up, it was already the next morning. After breakfast, they loaded the supplies and prepared to depart.

Qin Guoqing took out five thousand yuan and handed it to Cheng Qiao. On average, five thousand yuan was spent each month on these supplies. With proper nutrition, the patients recovered quickly.

They could also pass on surplus supplies to those in special need, gradually recouping some of the costs. That way, a steady stream of capital kept flowing in.

Several brother units were already eyeing their area, hoping to get a share of the benefits. Fortunately, the old man was formidable enough to hold them off.

“Sister-in-law, y-you—you said what? You’re going too?” Qin Guoqing stammered when he saw Cheng Qiao holding little Cheng Li, about to get in the vehicle.

Such a long journey, sleeping rough and eating on the road—Cheng Qiao and little Cheng Li were so delicate. How could they endure it?

“Let her go,” Cheng Liguo said. “My daughter’s as stubborn as a mule—no one can talk her out of it. Let her go once; she won’t come next time.”

Qin Guoqing was full of admiration and hurried to open the door, letting Cheng Liguo, Cheng Qiao, and the others get in.

“Qiao, take good care of yourself and our son. Dad, I’m entrusting my wife and son to you,” Li Huan said reluctantly, holding their hands.

He hoped desperately that Cheng Qiao would suddenly change her mind and say she wasn’t going—but he knew that hope was slim.

The vehicle slowly started up. Watching it recede into the distance, Li Huan felt miserable. How was he supposed to get through the days without Cheng Qiao by his side?

“Don’t go up the mountain! Remember that!” Cheng Qiao shouted one last time, then rolled up the window. Otherwise, the cold wind would blow in, and little Cheng Li would be the first to suffer.

She took out three hot-water bottles—one for Cheng Liguo, one tucked inside little Cheng Li’s padded jacket, and the last placed against Qin Guoqing’s lower back. Through the clothes, it wasn’t scalding, just pleasantly warm.

With Cheng Qiao and the others on board, Qin Guoqing drove much more slowly. But along the way, food and drink were well taken care of—especially when he saw Cheng Qiao heating meals on the kerosene stove. He was overjoyed.

All along this route before, he’d gnawed on ice-cold steamed buns. They were made of flour, sure, but frozen into solid lumps—there was nothing he could do but treat it as dental exercise.

“Beef rice—my heavens! Sister-in-law, how can you make food this delicious?” Qin Guoqing held his lunch box, eating the fragrant beef rice, tears of joy nearly spilling out. If only Cheng Qiao could be in the vehicle every time he ran long-distance routes.

“Guoqing, when we reach the Hexi Corridor, this kerosene stove is yours,” Cheng Qiao said. “From then on, when you run long routes, you won’t have to eat cold food anymore.”

She gave him the stove outright. Qin Guoqing was so moved he was left speechless. Cheng Qiao smiled—she actually had even better gas stoves and cylinders in her space, but she didn’t dare take them out.

On the seventh day, the vehicle entered a winding mountain road with twenty-two sharp bends. The lane was extremely narrow, and the curves were especially tight—driving required utmost caution.

“Sister-in-law, we’re almost through,” Qin Guoqing said. “Only eight more bends. Hang in there.”

Cheng Qiao had just lulled little Cheng Li to sleep. The little guy slept soundly, completely unaware of any discomfort—until a sudden hard brake startled him awake.

“Waa… waa…”

Little Cheng Li burst into tears. Cheng Qiao’s heart tightened.