"Honey, I’ve got to tell you, the next time I go to Haicheng, I’m still taking the train. It’s way more comfortable than Master Yang’s truck, even though it stops frequently, it’s steady. I don’t need to worry about anything, just sleep, and when I wake up, I eat a bit, and we’re there. Why didn’t I think of this good thing earlier? When we get a chance, I’ll take you and our daughter to Haicheng for a trip," Jiang Changhai said excitedly.
Su Wanyu put away the money, her face lighting up as she said, "Sure, Brother Hai, I haven’t ridden a train in many years either. When we get a chance, the three of us can go out together."
"Yeah, the train is fine to sit in for a few hours just to get a feel of it, but if it’s longer than that, it truly becomes a torment. Alright, I’ll watch some TV first, and then I’m going to take a shower. The train at this time of the year is so stuffy and hot, I smell already," Jiang Changhai said, sniffing himself with a look of disgust.
"Alright, you go on. I’ll get you some clean clothes," Su Wanyu went back into the room, picked out two clean clothes, and brought them to the washing room.
Jiang Changhai showered quickly, coming out in less than twenty minutes. He was drying his hair with a towel as he walked out.
Seeing his wife sitting on the sofa, happily watching TV, and his daughter wearing headphones, bobbing her head to the music on her Walkman, he felt extremely content.
His wife and daughter were the driving forces behind his efforts.
Jiang Changhai casually threw the towel on the armrest of the sofa and sat next to Su Wanyu, saying, "Honey, get me one thousand yuan in a bit. It’s cool now and there’s nothing much to do. I’ll take the money to Laosan and the other guy."
"Brother Hai, you just came back from Haicheng, rest up at home today. You can deliver it tomorrow; after all, Laosan and the other guy aren’t in a rush for the money," Su Wanyu said, concerned about Jiang Changhai after his tiring days, afraid he would wear himself out.
"It’s okay, honey, I’m really not tired. I was cooped up in that tiny sleeper berth on the train for countless hours, I feel like I’m rusting over. It’s good to go back to the village to stretch my limbs," Jiang Changhai said, stretching lazily, looking spirited.
"Alright then, go early and come back early. I’ll make some extra dishes tonight to reward you," Su Wanyu replied, letting him go since he seemed so energetic.
"No need, honey, don’t fuss. I’ll just buy some dishes and eat at mom’s place." By the time he arrived at Stone Bridge Village, it would be just in time for dinner. Having not been back for a long time, it wouldn’t be good to stay for just a little while and then leave.
Su Wanyu realized this as well, and nodded in agreement, saying, "Okay, Brother Hai, then stay a bit longer at home."
"Right, you and our daughter eat at home. Don’t wait up for me tonight," he said.
"Okay, wait a moment. I’ll get the money."
The money Jiang Changhai had just given her was all put away in the cabinet in the bedroom, and now that she needed to give money to Laosan and the other guy, she went and counted out one thousand yuan and handed it to him.
"Make sure it’s secured, don’t lose it," Su Wanyu instructed worriedly.
"Got it, don’t worry."
Jiang Changhai first stopped by the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, bought a few kilograms of pork, some cooked food, and a big fish, before finally returning to the Jiang Family home.
When he arrived, it so happened that Jiang Changtao had just woken up from his nap, still groggy and rubbing his eyes, about to head to the bathroom.
He saw Jiang Changhai entering the courtyard, instantly sobered up, his eyes widened, and he hurried over, asking anxiously, "Big brother, you’re back? Didn’t you say it would take a month? Nothing went wrong, did it?"
Seeing his big brother return so soon, he feared something had happened on the way, potentially causing their money to go to waste.