Hu Aihong had been quite happy lately. Ever since Zou Sheng started working at the furniture factory, his relationship with his daughter-in-law had improved greatly. Now that she was pregnant again, Hu Aihong practically ran to the furniture factory several times a day. Just now, she was on her way to bring Zou Sheng some mung bean soup when she happened to come across the sedan.
It wasn’t unusual for people to come to the village looking for the furniture factory. Hu Aihong had encountered several visitors before and wasn’t surprised, but the person before her was actually looking for Xu Nianhua?
"I’m Xu Nianhua’s classmate. I heard her family is here, so I came to visit," Jiang Jing explained from the passenger seat with a smile. He didn’t claim to be a distant relative—how distant would that relative have to be to not even know where her family lived?
It seemed more reliable to say classmate.
"Classmate?" Hu Aihong eyed Jiang Jing and peered into the car, feeling that there was something off about his story.
"Auntie, I really am Nianhua’s classmate. She went to school in Ningbei, and since I was heading back home, I took the opportunity to bring some things for her."
With just a few words, Jiang Jing deflected the conversation and said, "Auntie, do you know where Nianhua’s home is? I’m worried about the heat spoiling the things."
Once Hu Aihong heard he was a classmate and had brought gifts, she no longer doubted him and pointed him in the right direction.
Jiang Jing told the driver to start the car, and in an instant, only the rear of the vehicle was left in Hu Aihong’s sight, kicking up a trail of dust.
Hu Aihong covered her nose, muttering: Thinking you’re something special with a car, huh?
The car came to a stable stop in front of the new house Hu Aihong had mentioned. It was a two-story building, and not too far away stood a large edifice that didn’t look like a residential house.
"Dad, Mom, that’s probably the Xu family’s furniture factory," Jiang Jing pointed at the building.
"Nianhua really has good fortune," Gu Hai commented as he looked at the newly-constructed house.
Trotting slowly, Hu Aihong heard Gu Hai’s remark and smiled, saying, "Indeed, she’s fortunate. Xu Qinghe and Ji Ying both dote on their daughter. Despite the hardships when she was younger, ever since they split off from the main family, their life has been thriving."
"Was Xu Nianhua’s childhood really that tough?" Jiang Jing asked, eager to learn more since he was already there.
"Tough indeed." Hu Aihong had just started speaking, about to mention how Liu Sanmei had been harsh on the Xu family from an early age when suddenly, she stopped herself and eyed Jiang Jing’s group suspiciously. Jiang Jing, in his finery, along with the middle-aged man and the lady in a cheongsam, seemed wildly out of place against the village’s earthen ground and old houses.
"You’re not really Nianhua’s classmate, are you?" Hu Aihong couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss; who would bring their parents to visit a classmate?
A thought flashed through Hu Aihong’s mind as her eyelid twitched.
"I am," Jiang Jing insisted, pulling out fifty yuan and offering it, saying, "Auntie, we’re just curious. We wanted to know if Nianhua’s past was really that hard."
Seeing the fifty yuan, Hu Aihong’s eyes lit up, but she quickly shook her head and said, "I’m busy with something else. I have to go."
"The villagers here stick together," Jiang Jing said quietly as he put the fifty yuan back in his pocket.
Hu Aihong hurried over to the furniture factory. As soon as she stepped through the entrance, she shouted loudly, "Shengzi, hurry and call your Uncle Qinghe out. There’s big trouble, big trouble!"
"Mom?" Zou Sheng, who was assembling furniture, asked worriedly upon hearing Hu Aihong’s booming voice, "What happened? What’s the big trouble?"
Xu Qinghe, hearing his name, came out from inside.
Hu Aihong quickly said, "Xu Qinghe, someone’s come to your house, claiming to be Nianhua’s classmate and saying they’re here to deliver something for Nianhua. But I don’t think it’s true. Who carries deliveries and brings along their parents?"