Forced to marry a disabled man in the countryside? I'll repay you tenfold!

"Little sister, stop being unreasonable. If you don't want to go, just stay home. If you're hungry, go to a restaurant in town and get some food to go. You're a grown woman, you can't possibly starve to death. If you really want to starve to death, then go ahead and starve to death. Let's see if you can bear to do it. Stop bringing this up."

Zhou's mother's imposing manner immediately diminished, and she muttered, "...Alright then. But Wanqing can go if she wants, but she should leave me plenty of food before she leaves."

Su Wanqing rolled her eyes inwardly, but remained outwardly docile: "We got a lot of meat today, so I made a lot of pork jerky and fried meatballs. I've saved two big basins for you, hanging them in the well to keep them cold for several days. You can also get some steamed buns and porridge from the canteen; that should be enough for a few days."

"Alright then," Zhou's mother reluctantly agreed, as long as there was food.

After Zhou's mother finished her business, Zhou Yanshen returned home, looking travel-worn, as dusk fell. He clutched two hard-seat tickets and two sleeper tickets. Su Wanqing heated up some food for him and then went to find Chen Xiuer.

Chen Xiuer had almost finished packing and had also explained things to Guo Mingyuan. Su Wanqing took out ten ten-yuan bills and handed them over: "Xiuer, this money isn't a loan, it's an advance on your salary. There are many expenses when you get home, hospital fees, medicine fees... you can't do without some money on you."

Chen Xiuer's eyes immediately reddened.

She only had eight yuan left, which was her last paycheck from Dr. Su. She even had to borrow money for her train ticket... She gritted her teeth and took the money: "Dr. Su, I won't say anything else, I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life. If I, Chen Xiuer, ever amount to anything in the future, you'll be the first person I remember. Nannan... is practically your daughter too."

She vowed in her heart: if I ever become successful, I will never forget Dr. Su's kindness today.

Su Wanqing patted her shoulder: "Okay, then I'll accept Nannan as my goddaughter. From now on, she'll be the older sister of the baby in my belly." She gently touched her lower abdomen, which was considered as telling Chen Xiuer the good news.

"Dr. Su, you...are pregnant?" Chen Xiuer was surprised, delighted, and worried at the same time. "Won't the train journey be too tiring for you?"

Su Wanqing smiled and nodded: "It won't be tiring. My husband bought sleeper tickets. You should hurry up and pack your things. You don't need to bring any food; I've prepared everything. Also, go and tell your in-laws so they don't come looking for you later."

Chen Xiuer nodded vigorously.

The next morning, Su Wanqing gave the remaining few hundred sets of rollers to Secretary Liu, asking him to pass them on to Li Aiguo. As for the final payment, she left it there for her to receive upon her return.

By noon, the group had finished packing. They didn't have much luggage: each person carried a basket containing mainly food, two sets of clothes, and Su Wanqing's first-aid kit. They also had three military water bottles: one filled with honey water, one with chilled watermelon juice, and one with plain water.

Zhou Yanshen lifted Su Wanqing's basket to his side, hung the water bottle on his body, carried the medical insurance in his right hand, and held her hand with his left: "I'll do it. Don't carry anything, just hold my hand."

Su Wanqing looked at Zhou Yanshen, who was carrying large and small bags, like a supermodel carrying luggage. She found it both funny and cute, and couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Okay."

She admitted that she initially married Zhou Yanshen because she thought he was handsome and muscular, but now she likes him more and more. She says Zhou Yanshen is not only handsome, but also has excellent character, possessing a maturity and stability typical of this era, and is emotionally stable.

As for its drawbacks, they certainly exist, but they are negligible compared to its advantages.

Zhou's mother didn't say anything special about them going out. She just slipped into the backyard and saw two large basins of meatballs and pork jerky hanging in the well. She hummed in response and didn't say anything more.

The group met Chen Xiuer at the agreed-upon location in the production and construction corps, took an oxcart to the county town, and then transferred to a bus to the train station. After a bumpy ride, they finally squeezed onto the green train bound for Bincheng when it was completely dark.

Since the train was departing at night, the two groups first went to the sleeper car together. The environment there was noticeably quieter, and the passengers were more well-dressed; some looked like cadres in Zhongshan suits, while others were intellectuals wearing glasses. They quickly found two adjacent lower berths. Zhou Yanshen put down his basket and only took out some of his personal belongings.

Chen Xiuer, carrying a small bundle and with her daughter on her back in a basket, thought she would only need to drop Su Wanqing off before leaving. Unexpectedly, Su Wanqing stopped her: "Xiuer, Yan Shen got two sleeper tickets. It's inconvenient for you with the child, so you can sleep here with me."

Chen Xiuer was taken aback at first, then hurriedly shook her head: "Dr. Su, this is absolutely not allowed! Sleeper tickets are so precious, you can't even buy them on weekdays. I know they're all for leaders on business trips. It must have been difficult for you to get two. Uncle Ding's legs have just healed, he should sleep in the lower bunk and rest properly. I'm young, and my daughter is very well-behaved at night. I can sleep sitting up holding her, it's really fine..."

She originally thought that the sleeper berths were reserved for the pregnant Dr. Su and her elders, and she couldn't possibly take advantage of that.

Uncle Ding laughed heartily, in a very good mood: "Comrade Xiuer, you can sleep here comfortably! With a baby in tow, the hard seats over there are crowded and chaotic, and it's inconvenient if the child cries at night. I'm different; I've been bedridden for over ten years, and now I'm tired of beds. I wish I could sit all the time! Alright, put your things here, you can unpack. We'll come over and talk to you again during the day!"

As he spoke, fearing that Chen Xiuer might refuse again, he picked up his backpack and hurried towards the hard-seat carriage. It was peak boarding time, and the place was bustling with noise. Uncle Ding squeezed into the lively crowd, but he felt full of energy—this feeling of freedom to move around and experience the warmth of everyday life was something he hadn't felt in a long time.

After settling his luggage, Zhou Yanshen whispered to Su Wanqing, "I'll take my uncle to the hard-seat section to find a good seat first. I'll come over after the train departs and the tickets are checked." He was ultimately worried about leaving his pregnant wife alone here.

Su Wanqing smiled and nodded: "Go ahead and settle in. Xiuer and I will be fine here."

After Zhou Yanshen left, Chen Xiuer was still a little lost. Su Wanqing patted her: "Don't overthink it. Your uncle really didn't want to lie down, look how happy he is. Everyone is taking care of you because you're raising a child, it's not easy for you."

Chen Xiuer's eyes were slightly red: "Dr. Su, Brother Zhou, Uncle Ding... you are all good people. I will remember your kindness."

"Let's not talk about that anymore, let's hurry up and pack up while there are fewer people around."

Chen Xiuer immediately sprang into action: she placed the doll on the bed and tidied her bundle. Su Wanqing hung the perishable food on the hooks near the window, placed the water jug ​​filled with watermelon juice under the small table, and stuffed the basket under the bed.

Su Wanqing also tore off two pieces of cloth and tied them with a small rope to her and Chen Xiuer's bed to use as curtains. Su Wanqing said with a smile, "You're still breastfeeding, so it'll be more convenient with a curtain."

Of course, she also included her own food, so that she would not only have privacy when sleeping at night, but more importantly, it would make it easier for her to sneak food. Just thinking about it made her very happy.