Although there were no robbers on the train, there were pickpockets.
If their money were stolen, all three families would have lost everything.
"Understood, don’t worry."
The next morning, Jiang Mianmian woke up early. When Jiang Changhai came out, he was somewhat surprised to see her.
"Daughter, why are you up so early today? It’s still a long time before school starts," Jiang Changhai asked, puzzled.
"Dad, aren’t you going to Haicheng today? Mom and I will take you to the train station, and after you leave, I’ll go to school," Jiang Mianmian said, looking up at Jiang Changhai with reluctance.
"Oh, my dear daughter is so sensible. Don’t worry, Dad will be back in a few days," Jiang Changhai bent down to lift Jiang Mianmian up, playfully bouncing her a little.
After the family had breakfast, Jiang Mianmian and her mom took her dad to the train station. The mother and daughter stood on the platform, waving vigorously at Jiang Changhai.
"Alright, you two go back now," Jiang Changhai waved back at them casually.
When the train had left, Su Wanyu took Jiang Mianmian to school.
Since Jiang Changhai was traveling by train this time, the mother and daughter were not as worried as before.
On hot days, when Su Wanyu didn’t feel like cooking, she would take Jiang Mianmian out to a restaurant or the transport factory’s cafeteria. During those ten-plus days, the mother and daughter lived quite freely.
That weekend, Su Wanyu, utterly bored, sat on the sofa and watched Jiang Mianmian doing her homework. She casually asked, "Daughter, your dad has been gone for thirteen days now, why hasn’t he come back yet?"
This was already the third time Su Wanyu had asked her that day. Jiang Mianmian, without even lifting her head, replied, "Mom, didn’t Dad say he would be back in about two weeks when he left? He should be back in a couple of days."
"Oh, I miss your dad so much," Su Wanyu said plaintively.
Jiang Mianmian sighed, put down her pen, and asked resignedly, "Mom, just tell me, where do you want to go? I’ll accompany you."
Su Wanyu immediately stood up, cupped Jiang Mianmian’s face in her hands, and said cheerfully, "Good daughter, come with Mom to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, I’ll buy you an ice soda."
The mother and daughter held hands and walked out. They had just stepped out when Su Wanyu was turning around to lock the front door.
Jiang Mianmian saw a very familiar figure at the entrance of the alley, holding a large suitcase and carrying a big parcel, staggering back home.
"Mom, Mom, Dad’s back," Jiang Mianmian exclaimed, tugging at Su Wanyu’s arm excitedly.
"Hmm?" Su Wanyu quickly turned around following Jiang Mianmian’s gaze, and sure enough, she saw Jiang Changhai.
The person they had been talking about for over ten days suddenly appeared before them, and the mother and daughter excitedly ran towards Jiang Changhai.
"Brother Hai, what’s that you’re carrying?" Su Wanyu ran over and, looking at the large suitcase Jiang Changhai was holding, asked curiously.
Jiang Mianmian, noticing the characters ’black and white’ on the box, also looked at her dad with curiosity.
Seeing both of them sizing up the big item in his hands with curious faces, Jiang Changhai, not immediately boasting as usual, began to be mysterious.
"Hehe, wife, daughter, this is something great. You’ll find out when we get home," he said.
"Brother Hai, give me the bag, I’ll carry it," Su Wanyu reached out wanting to take the backpack from Jiang Changhai.
"No worries, wife, these items aren’t heavy. We’re almost home, I’ll carry them," Jiang Changhai said cheerfully, reluctant to tire his wife.