"I really shouldn't have said that at that time. I was just so angry... Sigh."
Sister Ge let out a deep sigh.
Li Chuchu patted Sister Ge on the shoulder. "Forget it. I guess she's been really annoyed by her mother-in-law recently. She probably didn't think about these things."
"That's exactly why I shouldn't have said that when she's so upset. I'm so stupid... Why was I so quick-tongued?" Sister Ge said remorsefully.
Li Chuchu didn't know how to comfort Sister Ge. Once some words were said, they couldn't be taken back. She could only pat her on the shoulder and say, "We're neighbors. It's inevitable to have some arguments. We still have a long way to go in the future."
Sister Ge forced a smile at her and took Xiaojun back home.
It was very quiet next door that night. There was no sound of quarrels throughout the night.
...
In the evening, Shen Yanshan came back.
He called Li Chuchu over and told her something. "I'm going to Hong Kong."
"Hong Kong?"
Li Chuchu was a bit incredulous. In this era, it should be very difficult to get a visa to go to Hong Kong, right?
"Why do you want to go there?"
Shen Yanshan explained the general reason and then looked at Li Chuchu nervously, wondering if she would agree.
If she didn't agree, should he still go?
In the original text, Hong Kong was indeed mentioned. Shen Yanshan's arrest should be related to the boss of some electronic equipment.
Li Chuchu grew up in the southern coastal areas. She was a bit familiar with that area and was quite interested in going to Hong Kong to find out what was going on.
Shen Yanshan didn't expect Li Chuchu to nod and agree directly. "Okay, but I'll go with you."
"No."
He refused without thinking. "This is not a trip for fun. The public security in Hong Kong is not good, and we'll be in a place where we don't know anyone. I can't guarantee your safety."
But Li Chuchu had made up her mind. "I agree to let you go, but this is the only condition."
Shen Yanshan stared deeply into Li Chuchu's eyes.
Her clear eyes reflected his nervousness.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'm not as useless as you think. And I can speak English. Besides Cantonese, English is also a commonly used language in Hong Kong. You may not adapt to the place faster than me."
Li Chuchu said confidently.
And Shen Yanshan was convinced.
He felt a deep sense of frustration and a hint of subtle pride in front of Li Chuchu.
Li Chuchu was not a shy young wife who never left home. She was tougher, more determined and more capable than he thought.
Shen Yanshan didn't hesitate anymore. "Okay, I'll go to the neighborhood committee tomorrow to get a letter of introduction and then buy tickets for the earliest train to Spring City."
In this era, there was no direct train to Hong Kong. They needed to transfer in Spring City and then take a ferry.
Li Chuchu asked, "What about the visa?"
"Don't worry. I have a way. We'll probably be away for about ten days. Pack up the things you need." Shen Yanshan told Li Chuchu not to worry. Once they decided to go, he could handle the rest.
Li Chuchu nodded.
She would wait for Shen Yanshan to buy the tickets first. After that, she would ask for leave from her unit.
Seeing Li Chuchu frowning, Shen Yanshan wanted to laugh. "You looked so heroic just now. What's bothering you now?"
Li Chuchu glared at him. "I'm thinking about how to ask for leave."
As an employee, it would probably be a bit difficult to ask for a ten - day leave.
Shen Yanshan put his arm around Li Chuchu's shoulder. "Just say you're going back home to visit relatives, or you're going to see a doctor. If all else fails, say there's something going on at home. There must be a way."
Li Chuchu sighed. "I hope everything goes smoothly."
Since they had things to do the next day, they went to bed early after dinner.
Now Shen Yanshan was used to sleeping with Li Chuchu. He couldn't fall asleep without her by his side.
Sometimes in the middle of the night, when Li Chuchu turned over in her sleep and put a leg on him, Shen Yanshan would get aroused. He would go outside to calm down and then come back to hug her and sleep.
If Li Chuchu didn't go with him, he wouldn't be able to calm down.
It was just right that they went together. He didn't have to worry about her all the time.
...
The next morning, Shen Yanshan first went to Factory Director Wang to check that the contract was okay, then signed it and paid a deposit of 40,000 yuan. Then he went to the neighborhood committee to get a letter of introduction on the pretext of going to Spring City to see a doctor.
In the afternoon, he and Li Chuchu went to the railway station to buy tickets.
There were an unusually large number of people at the railway station. Li Chuchu and Shen Yanshan came at noon, but the place was already crowded.
Standing in the crowd, they were almost pushed forward.
The crying of children, the shouting of adults, and all kinds of noises were endless. The smell of sweat around had covered the smell of coal smoke. The back of the person in front was completely soaked with sweat.
Outside, there were also the cries of peddlers and the shouts of barbers.
Shen Yanshan carefully protected Li Chuchu in his arms as they queued in front of the ticket window. He whispered to Li Chuchu, "There are a lot of pickpockets and human traffickers here. Remember to keep your things safe."
Li Chuchu nodded.
With Shen Yanshan standing beside her, people around didn't dare to get too close because of his imposing manner. He made her feel very safe.
There was a father and daughter in front of the queue.
The father looked very elegant. He was wearing a white shirt and gently held his daughter's hand. "Xiaomei, Dad is going to buy tickets at the window later. Hold Dad's hand tightly all the time, okay?"
"Okay."
The girl was wearing a doll - like dress.
People behind were holding their letters of introduction and money, nervously looking at the ticket window in front.
"Don't tell me the tickets to Xiangcheng are sold out?"
"Let's see if we can buy standing - room tickets."
There was also an old woman standing beside the queue, constantly looking around. She was holding an upper - berth ticket and eager to find someone to exchange it for a lower - berth ticket.
But not many people had bought sleeper tickets, so no one was willing to exchange with her for the time being.
The railway station was a microcosm of all kinds of people.
Li Chuchu noticed a man wearing a cap, bending slightly and shuttling through the crowd. He looked very sneaky. It was so hot, and others wished they could take off their shirts, but he still wore a cap. He looked really strange.
Not only Li Chuchu but also many people in the railway station noticed this man. They watched him warily and subconsciously protected their letters of introduction and money.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd screamed. "Hey, Xiaomei? Xiaomei? My child is missing! Did any comrade see her?"
The speaker was the elegant middle - aged man who was just in front of the queue.
As soon as these words were said, there was an immediate commotion.
"What child? What does she look like?"
"About one meter tall, a six - or seven - year - old little girl wearing a blue dress. Please help me look for her!" The father was very anxious and sweating profusely.