“What?! A ticket for tonight?! Leaving immediately?!”
Su Feng looked bewildered, gazing at his parents with confusion. He felt like things were getting more and more strange.
From asking Uncle Zhang to find him a job to now, it had only been three or four days in total. This speed was simply too fast.
“Dad, Mom, are you hiding something from me?!”
“I still have a year until I graduate. Even if I were to intern now, I could go to the Hospital affiliated with the school, or a nearby Hospital, or even Uncle Zhang’s Hospital. Why do you want me to go to such a distant place to intern and work!?”
The more Su Feng spoke, the more serious his expression became. He vaguely sensed that something must have happened at home, and they were trying to send him away as quickly as possible.
Their youngest son had indeed keenly sensed it. Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan were both surprised and helpless, but since they had decided to tell him, they would not continue to hide it from him.
Fortunately, the area around where their family stood was empty, so they could see anyone approaching from any direction, allowing them to know in advance.
“Xiao Feng, we had initially decided to hide it from you. After all, even if you knew, it wouldn’t be useful. The most important thing was our worry that you would act impulsively. Having one more person involved wouldn’t help, so it’s better to send you away first. If one can leave, then one leaves.”
Qiao Jiuru thoroughly explained to her youngest son the entire story of how the Su family had been reported six days ago, without hiding how she and her husband had been hoarding goods and making preparations, and especially how they had been pulling strings and finding people to send him and Hua Zhu away.
Not only that, Qiao Jiuru also explained the current true situation of their home, including money, various tickets, and supplies, having prepared everything for being sent down.
In short, they had plenty of money, many tickets, and even more supplies, so they wouldn’t starve or freeze; everything was good.
“Xiao Feng, I didn’t plan to tell you before, but Uncle Zhang and Uncle Lu both believe you’ve grown up, and you should know what’s happening in the family. Your father and I think it makes a lot of sense. Also, sending you to such a distant place is, one, to protect you from these troubles, so you don't unnecessarily waste your life and future.”
“Additionally, Mom wants to tell you that your job there is not entirely useless. In the future, when you receive your salary and tickets, you can also send them to us. Especially since you’ll be working in a Hospital, you can send us some medicine, and even buy us nutritional supplements.”
Qiao Jiuru concluded with earnest advice to her youngest son, not wanting him to feel useless, and certainly not wanting him to think that his family was suffering while he went off to live a good life alone.
After listening to his mother’s words, Su Feng lowered his head with a solemn expression, remaining silent for a long time.
Su Huaiyuan, nearby, played with Big Bao and Little Bao, allowing the mother and son to talk properly.
“Mom, I’ll listen to you.”
After a long while, Su Feng finally looked up again and said firmly, though his eyes were already red and filled with tears.
Su Feng knew that, as his mother said, having him go down with the family wouldn’t help much. It would be better to send supplies and medicine to the family from outside occasionally. Perhaps in a year or two, he might even be able to visit his family.
“Xiao Feng, don’t worry about us when you’re out there. Mom won’t let anything happen to your nephews and Hua Zhu. Even if Mom has to give up her life, I will protect you all well.”
“Son, don’t be afraid. You must believe that we will definitely return. Perhaps it won’t take long; maybe if we just hold on for four to five years, our family can be reunited.”
Qiao Jiuru naturally didn’t dare to say that she knew their family would definitely return to Beijing in four years, so she could only hint at it implicitly.
“Xiao Feng, your mother is right. Not just our family, but many families have been reported these years. Such things are too common; changes are bound to happen sooner or later. This kind of change will take time to correct. Your mother and I have analyzed it, and it definitely won’t be too long. Before that, our family must stay strong and await the passing of darkness to welcome the light.”
Su Huaiyuan interjected at this point. He had to give his youngest son confidence and hope, otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to live well. He couldn’t just watch him feel self-reproach, sadness, and worry.
If that were the case, it would be better for the whole family to be sent down together.
Perhaps it was Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan’s optimistic and relaxed attitude, or perhaps it was knowing that his parents had already made all the preparations and hoarded supplies, but Su Feng’s mood gradually improved.
Afterward, Su Feng took the items his parents had specially prepared for him, as well as the three hundred yuan specifically for his personal use.
“Xiao Feng, we know the address of your workplace. As for other clothes, cotton quilts, padded jackets, and shoes, your father and I will go to the post office to mail them later. Tonight, your father and I will go to the train station to see you off.”
Finally, before leaving, Qiao Jiuru told her youngest son that they would go to the station to see him off that night, as they might not be able to see each other for the next few years.
Su Feng tightly clutched the items his parents had given him and nodded heavily, wiping away tears as he watched his parents and nephews walk away. Then he turned and went back to his dormitory to pack his luggage.
He was not a fool; on the contrary, he was very smart. He understood everything his parents said, so he absolutely could not drag his family down. Wherever they told him to go, he would go.
“Xiao Feng, why are you packing your luggage?!”
Su Feng packing his belongings and books on his bed naturally couldn’t be hidden from his roommates. A curious classmate asked.
“My uncle’s leader requested me from the school to go to a military Hospital on a very remote island. They bought me a train ticket and want me to go as soon as possible.”
The place he was going was far and remote, and also isolated from the mainland. For many, it was not a good place to work, so Su Feng was not afraid of saying it would make his classmates jealous.
Indeed, when they first heard that Su Feng was being requested by a military Hospital before even graduating, the classmates in the dorm couldn't help but feel a bit jealous. However, after hearing that his workplace was on an island far from the mainland, no one was jealous of him anymore.
Once on an island, how easy would it be to return?! And the island must be extremely far from home; it was common not to be able to go home for a year or two, truly isolated from the world.
“Su Feng, I wish you a smooth journey.”
“Yes, it’s too unexpected. We wish you a bright future and all the best.”
“Xiao Feng, when you get there, be sure to write to us.”
“Exactly, keep in touch, and have a smooth journey.”
Not only did everyone in the dorm come to say goodbye to Su Feng, but they also voluntarily helped him pack his luggage.
Afterward, Su Feng rushed to the classroom to gather all his books and bring them back to the dorm to pack.
Because the destination was a remote island, and he didn't know how many transfers he would have to make along the way, Su Feng ultimately decided to mail his books.
Moreover, his mother had already given him the island's address before she left, so Su Feng successfully mailed all his books and some hard-to-carry items at the post office.
Finally, Su Feng returned to school to explain his situation to his teachers. However, after he finished speaking, the teacher told him that the school had just received a call from the military, and they were already processing his internship procedures.
After Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan left the medical school, they went to a post office and mailed Su Feng’s clothes, cotton quilts, and other items first.
The couple then rode their bicycles, with Big Bao and Little Bao, to the family quarters near the Hospital. When they arrived, Zhang Hong and his wife had already been waiting at home for a long time.
“Big Bao, Little Bao, quickly go and be affectionate with Grandma Zhang.”
As soon as Big Bao and Little Bao appeared, Fang Xinyu, Zhang Hong’s wife, took them, doting on the two children immensely.
Big Bao and Little Bao were not shy; they had seen this grandma several times at the Hospital, so they quickly became close to Fang Xinyu.
“Is everything settled?!”
Zhang Hong welcomed Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan into the study at his home. After closing the door, he asked softly.
Qiao Jiuru and Su Huaiyuan both nodded to him; everything was prepared, and they were just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“These are the medicines I managed to get quietly over the past few days. Keep them all safe. If anything happens, have Hua Zhu write to us.”
Zhang Hong turned and picked up a large bag of medicine from the study, handing it to Su Huaiyuan. Inside were various Chinese and Western medicines he had prepared for them, which should be enough for two to three years.
“Zhang Dage, thank you. Oh, there’s something I need to tell you. This morning, I even met a family member…”
Qiao Jiuru told Zhang Hong about meeting the Song Family, how her father was Grandpa Song’s childhood classmate, and a rough background of the Song Family. This was because she had told Grandpa Song that if he got sick, he could come to Zhang Hong for help.
Zhang Hong listened and nodded. They were all unfortunate people, and the only way he could help was through treating illnesses and saving lives. If the Song Family came to him in the future, he would definitely lend a hand within his capabilities.
