Xia Xiao had received the letter from Sun Yuhua, knowing that Sun Yuhua had been sending letters to her home, but her family had never replied.
Xia Xiao couldn’t help but feel some sympathy for Sun Yuhua. She could see that the people of the Suns were somewhat selfish and dominating.
She had initially heard Mrs. Sun talking about Sun Yuhua and thought Mrs. Sun still cared about her daughter, but as soon as she learned that Sun Yuhua was married, her attitude changed.
Mr. Sun had a stroke and was hospitalized, and Sun Yuhua’s elder brother and sister-in-law had an argument for some unknown reason. If the Suns really cared about Sun Yuhua, how could they not send a single word to her, and moreover, they were still blaming her.
"Yuhua, don’t worry, I will make sure this letter reaches Aunt’s hands," Xia Xiao said.
Sun Yuhua nodded and moved her mouth as if she wanted to say something but didn’t.
Xia Xiao reminded Ning Hui to take her medication on time and to take good care of Yang Xuehua. She also told Yang Xuehua to keep an eye on Wang Aihua before she left with peace of mind.
In private, Xia Xiao fidgeted with Sun Yuhua’s letter in her hands and sighed, "It’s quite thick. Poor Yuhua, having such a family."
Xia Xiao sighed and set the letter aside.
"It’s thick because she’s put money in it," Shitou said.
Xia Xiao was startled and made a sound of realization. She didn’t have a habit of prying into people’s privacy, so she didn’t ask Shitou how much money was in the letter.
"Should we go to Sun Yuhua’s house first, or your house?" Shitou asked.
"Let’s go to my house," Xia Xiao said.
This time, Xia Xiao did not return to her grandmother’s house but to her own home.
"Hey, Big Sister is back!" she heard someone call her as she approached the intersection.
She looked over and recognized Guo Yufeng, Wu Manni’s mother. Xia Xiao greeted her with a smile, "Hello, Aunt Guo."
"Hello, hello, so polite! You haven’t been here for a long time. Girls grow up and change so much, and you’ve become even more beautiful. I heard from your mom that you’ve got a boyfriend in the army."
Guo Yufeng then started chatting with Xia Xiao, who nodded and walked towards her home, "Yes, he’s in the army."
"When are you leaving to go to the countryside? When your brother and Manni get married, will you come back?" Guo Yufeng asked.
Xia Xiao smiled, "I’ll be going to the countryside in a few days and won’t be home for New Year’s. Have my brother and Sister Manni set a date?"
"They’ve set it; it’s happening in the next few days. Your parents will tell you when you get home." Guo Yufeng smiled warmly, showing a lot of affection towards Xia Xiao.
Before reaching her doorstep, Guo Yufeng was already calling out, "Wenjuan, your Big Sister is back!"
Instantly, the whole family came buzzing out: Xia Weiguo, Li Wenjuan, Xia Chunrong, along with Xia Jing, Xia Hong, Xia Lin, and Xia Hua, all were at home.
"Big Sister, Sister,"
Xia Xiao called out to her parents, greeted her siblings, then turned to Xia Chunrong with a smile, "Brother, aren’t you working today?"
"I just got back," Xia Chunrong said. "I was about to pick you up. You came back so early." He spoke as he took Xia Xiao’s luggage and headed inside.
"The train was early, so I was early," Xia Xiao chuckled. "I’m a grown-up now, I don’t need to be picked up. I can find my way."
Soon, Li Wenjuan greeted Guo Yufeng, "Yufeng, come in and sit."
Guo Yufeng waved her off, "No need, your Big Sister just got back. You all catch up first. Our houses are next to each other, there’s always time to sit together, no rush."
Li Wenjuan gave a smile then watched Guo Yufeng enter before she turned back to her own house.
Having Xia Xiao home made the family very happy, but by that time Li Wenjuan also had her worries, "Big Sister, your Second and Third Sisters are being sent to the countryside."
Xia Xiao looked at Xia Jing and Xia Hong, "Has the community committee arranged it yet?"
"It’s being arranged," Xia Jing said. "Big Sister, it would be great if I could go to your place."
Xia Hong chuckled, "Go to Big Sister’s place? Would you be willing if Yan Hao didn’t go?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? What’s there between me and Yan Hao?" Xia Jing glared at Xia Hong and raised her hand as if to slap her.
Xia Hong dodged behind Xia Xiao and said, "Big Sister, Second Sister has a boyfriend now."
Seeing her family’s unsurprised expressions, Xia Xiao knew they all were aware and then asked, "Yan Hao is Second Sister’s classmate, right? Where is he from?"
"The apartment above us, Director Li’s son," Li Wenjuan said. "I also didn’t expect Second Sister to date Director Li’s son."
"Where is Yan Hao going?" Xia Xiao asked Xia Jing.
"He’s going to H Province," Xia Jing said.
"Second Sister, how long have you been dating him? Have you told him that you want to go to my place?"
Before Xia Jing could answer, Xia Lin nodded, "Yeah, I’d also like to go to Big Sister’s place, but we who graduated from junior high didn’t get to go there."
"So, where has the committee arranged for you to go?" Xia Xiao finally asked.
"I’m going to the Y South region, and Third Sister is going to Q Province, to the same place as Sister Xiao Wen," Xia Jing said.
Xia Xiao frowned, "Yan Hao is going to H Province, why are you going to Y South?"
Xia Xiao had never met Xia Wen, nor did she have much impression of her. She was more familiar with Xia Fei, but being sisters and in the same place, they could look out for each other.
But with Xia Jing going to the Y South region, Xia Xiao was even more worried. Y South was in the southwestern plateau, typically known for its karst landscape, fragile ecological environment, low vegetation cover, serious rocky desertification, and poor environmental capacity. It was also prone to mudslides and landslides.
Xia Jing said, "That’s why I’m thinking of applying to the community committee to go to Q Province with Third Sister. It’s closer to Sister Xiao Wen’s place."
Xia Hong added, "If I can’t go to Big Sister’s place, I’d like to be with Second Sister." While there might be classmates and acquaintances in the same area, Xia Hong still preferred being near her sister for a sense of security.
Xia Jing nodded, "Yes, otherwise Xia Hong and I could go to the Y South region together, but with Yan Hao going to H Province, we would have to separate."