The next day, Cheng Su slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped out the door, seeing Chunhua yawning profusely and looking like she hadn’t woken up yet, she couldn’t help but chuckle, "Didn’t sleep well last night?"
Chunhua yawned again and pointed to Hualing’s room, "There was a ruckus all night yesterday, did you not hear it?"
Cheng Su was startled and shook her head.
It was odd, since coming here, she rarely had nights where she couldn’t sleep because of insomnia, and recently, with being so busy, she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed, oblivious to any noise.
Just as Chunhua was about to speak, she smiled at someone behind Cheng Su, "Hualing, good morning!"
Cheng Su turned around and saw Hualing wearing a blank expression, with red eyes that not even a thick layer of powder could hide her haggard face.
And at this moment, Hualing was carrying a travel bag that seemed quite heavy, though it was unclear what was inside.
Seeing Hualing’s complicated gaze upon seeing her, Cheng Su couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Hualing squeezed past them without saying a word and walked downstairs.
Upon witnessing this, Chunhua, with a face full of curiosity, grabbed Cheng Su and asked, "Hey, do you think she’s really packed up such a big bag to run away from home?"
Cheng Su scoffed, "How could that be?" Then said, "I won’t talk to you anymore, I have to rush to the company now!"
"Oh!"
Descending the stairs, the sunlight was just right. Cheng Su pushed her bicycle out of the building and glanced at the clothesline in the courtyard, already laden with many clothes. Some families were airing their quilts, others drying green beans -- a true slice of people’s livelihood.
Cheng Su smiled and pedaled her bike out of the courtyard.
As she rode, she saw from afar Hualing waiting for a ride with her bag. Thinking of what Chunhua said, could it be true that the commotion was about leaving home?
No need to meddle in idle affairs, let alone someone else’s marital issues, Cheng Su silently recited to herself as she pedaled past Hualing, feeling a sharp gaze cutting towards her like a knife.
Cheng Su first stopped by the restaurant, as usual, to hear Old Song and others’ arrangements. Qiulan said, "Right, Sister Su, first thing in the morning, I got a call from your in-laws."
"Oh?"
"It was your mother-in-law, she said she’ll be coming to Qing City tomorrow with your elder sister and asked if you could pick them up at the bus station," Qiulan replied.
Cheng Su frowned, so they were indeed coming. She asked, "Did she mention what time their bus is?"
Qiulan’s face turned red, slightly embarrassed, "This... I forgot to ask!"
"No worries, I’ll call back and ask!" Cheng Su smiled and walked over to the cashier to call back home.
The one who answered was still the village secretary’s wife, who said to wait while she went to fetch someone. Knowing calls were expensive, Cheng Su asked and decided to call back after fifteen minutes.
During the wait, Cheng Su visited the new yard next door that was under renovation to check on the progress. Dazhi was already busy working there early in the morning. Upon seeing her, he mentioned they’d be able to use it in three more days.
Cheng Su examined the details, thanked him for his hard work, and returned to make her call.
When the call connected, it was indeed her mother-in-law. Right away, she rattled off, "Didn’t you tell your colleague to inform you that we’re taking the bus over tomorrow? Why are you calling? Calls are expensive, don’t you care about wasting money?"
Cheng Su was caught off guard and took a deep breath, patiently responding, "Mom, I don’t have much to say, and I know the calls are pricy. I just wanted to ask about the time of your bus tomorrow, so we can make arrangements to pick you up!"
Mother Qi was taken aback, "Didn’t they tell you? We’ll be leaving early in the morning; we might arrive around one or two in the afternoon, I guess!"
"Okay, since the call is expensive, I’ll hang up now!" Cheng Su said quickly and then hung up.
Mother Qi held the receiver, stunned for a while before muttering to herself, "She just sassed me back!"