Feng Likai looked at Feng Liya coldly and said, "If you want that ten thousand yuan, you can have it. As long as you go to the countryside, I'll persuade Chuxiao to give it to you."
"I... I didn't think that!" Feng Liya rebutted.
Seeing that the atmosphere was about to become tense again, Feng Peng waved his hand and looked at his beloved daughter, saying, "Alright Liya, go cook with your mother. I have something to tell your eldest brother."
Feng Liya and Ma Cuixiang had no choice but to go to the kitchen to cook. Feng Peng and his two sons stayed in the living room to talk.
"Likai, find a way to get some of the money back from Chuxiao. We can't let her take so much money away. You and Chi both need to get married, and money is needed everywhere. Besides, it's not safe for her to carry so much money. You can send it to her later when there's a need to spend money or when she gets married," Feng Peng said shamelessly.
Feng Likai lowered his head and remained silent. Seeing that he did not immediately rebut as he had the previous two days, Feng Peng thought he was tempted by his proposal and continued, "Although the letter of severance of kinship has been signed, she is still my biological daughter after all. I won't abandon her."
"Okay, I'll find a way to keep the money tonight. For now, she only listens to me," Feng Likai finally agreed.
Feng Lich twitched his mouth. "Dad, for Feng Liya, you're really willing to give that little girl ten thousand yuan. Since you're so rich, give me some compensation too."
"Don't cause trouble," Feng Peng reprimanded.
Feng Lich hummed and then leaned back on the sofa to drink tea.
"Dad, I'll take Chuxiao to the Educated Youth Office tomorrow. You don't need to worry about it," Feng Likai offered proactively again.
Feng Peng looked at his eldest son with satisfaction, then smiled and nodded, "Alright, you take her tomorrow. You have a good relationship with her anyway."
After dinner, Feng Lich returned to his room, and Feng Likai took Feng Chuxiao back to his own room.
After the door was closed, Feng Likai took out a thick stack of coupons for Feng Chuxiao and said in a low voice, "Chuxiao, the place you're going to the countryside is in our province, so take these coupons. They can all be used."
Feng Chuxiao was truly grateful to Feng Likai at this moment. He had really put in the effort to get so many coupons for her. "Thank you, Eldest Brother."
This "Eldest Brother" was sincere, unlike the previous times she had called him that, which were just polite formalities.
"With so many things, you must keep them safe," Feng Likai said worriedly.
"Don't worry, I've already saved most of the money and only kept enough for my use."
Feng Likai didn't say any more, because he could see that Chuxiao was a determined person and didn't need to be overly worried.
Watching Feng Chuxiao pack her luggage, Feng Likai said, "You should hurry and pack too. Get some sleep early, you have to get up early tomorrow to go to the Educated Youth Office."
"Okay, I know," Feng Chuxiao waved her hand without looking up.
She put most of the things she bought today into her space, leaving only the lighter items outside. She made a bundle with a bed sheet, which she would use as a bed board later.
Looking at the thin quilt on the bed, Feng Chuxiao had another idea: she would take care of Feng Liya's things.
Feng Liya's room was full of good things, and she had many good clothes. Even if she didn't wear them herself, she could secretly sell them to others to make money.
However, she would have to wait until the middle of the night to act, so no one would know.
Hearing that there was no movement outside, she walked out the door, went downstairs, and then went to the bathroom to wash up before leaving.
✦✦✦
The next day, as dawn broke, Feng Likai, carrying a large bundle on his back and pushing a bicycle, led Feng Chuxiao, who was carrying a small bundle, out of the Feng family's small courtyard.
Feng Chuxiao looked back at the place she had lived for three days and thought to herself that from now on, she would never set foot here again, and nothing here would have anything to do with her anymore.
And where her hukou would be registered in the future would be up to her.
"Chuxiao, get on, let's go."
"Mm."
Feng Likai took Feng Chuxiao to the Educated Youth Office. When the staff member at the office saw Feng Chuxiao's appearance, they immediately showed dissatisfaction. They looked at Feng Chuxiao with suspicion and then questioned Feng Likai, "She doesn't have some serious illness, does she? How can someone like this go to the countryside?"
The staff member at the Educated Youth Office had only seen people returning from the countryside looking like this; they had never seen someone going to the countryside from the city looking so thin and frail.
Feng Likai was very embarrassed. Just as he didn't know how to speak, Feng Chuxiao spoke first, "Hello, comrade. I'm just a bit thin, but I'm not really sick. And I have quite a bit of strength. If you don't believe me, I can lift a bundle for you to see?"
Saying that, she lifted the large bundle that Feng Likai had unloaded with one hand.
The staff member at the Educated Youth Office was skeptical. He took the bundle from Feng Chuxiao's hand and was surprised to find it quite heavy, at least thirty to forty catties.
If a frail Lady comrade could lift it easily with one hand, it meant she wasn't the type to fall over with a gust of wind.
"Alright, hurry up and take your things and get in line. We'll send you to the train station shortly."
Feng Likai helped Feng Chuxiao carry the bundle and then stood in the Educated Youth line.
Soon, they would have red flowers pinned to their chests and be sent to the train station by bus.
"Eldest Brother, do I also have to take the train?" Feng Chuxiao asked softly. Feng Likai had mentioned that the place she was going to the countryside was in their province.
"I'm not sure about that either. You watch your things, I'll go ask."
Feng Likai placed the bundle at Feng Chuxiao's feet and turned to find the staff member at the Educated Youth Office whom he knew.
After a while, he ran back and whispered in Feng Chuxiao's ear, "Get in line first. There are two other people going to that place with you. Someone will take you to the bus station later."
Feng Chuxiao understood. It seemed that there was more than one or two places for this batch of educated youth going to the countryside today. Feng Likai had also given gifts and used connections to arrange for her to be sent to the nearest province.
However, it wasn't that close, it was 200 kilometers away.
Soon, Feng Chuxiao got into a big truck with the others. When they passed the long-distance bus station, a staff member from the Educated Youth Office called her to get off.
After she got off, she looked around and found that she was the only one getting off. Where were the other two people the comrade had mentioned?
"What are you looking at? Hurry up and bring your luggage over!" the staff member from the Educated Youth Office shouted.
Feng Chuxiao put the large bag on her back and the small bag on her chest, then followed the staff member into the bus station.
Feng Likai went home after having breakfast outside. However, when he got home, he found the house quiet. His parents' door and Feng Liya's door were closed, and he didn't know if they were at home or had already gone out.
Just as he was about to go upstairs, he noticed his father's briefcase on the sofa. He felt suspicious. What was going on?
Feng Likai still walked to the door of his parents' room. He raised his hand as if to knock, but then thought of something and directly pushed the door. To his surprise, the door wouldn't budge.
"Dad! Mom!"
Feng Likai called out several times, but there was no response from inside. He went to push Feng Liya's door, and found it was the same.
Something was wrong, very wrong. Could they all be in the room and something had happened? It was impossible that they couldn't be woken up for so long!
Feng Likai ran to the storage room again, took out a large hammer, and then forcefully smashed the door of his parents' room.
The door finally broke open. He rushed in and saw that his parents were still in bed, but their faces were as pale as paper.
Feng Likai's heart skipped a beat, then he tremblingly reached out to check their breathing. He found that although weak, they were still alive.
He didn't understand what was happening, but he carefully lifted their quilt.
A glaring patch of red blood met his eyes. Feng Likai was terrified, and he quickly ran out to call for help.
✦✦✦