Li Qingsong never expected that his mother, who had merely gone to his “workhorse” younger brother’s house to “keep someone,” would end up getting herself detained.
He hurried back to his unit and then rushed nonstop to the local police station to bail her out.
As a bureau chief in public security, he was forced—under the witness of the Women’s Federation—to sign a humiliating guarantee letter, promising to keep a close watch on his mother and never again set his sights on his niece…
Anyone with eyes could see who benefited from this matter. Even if Li Qingsong had ten eloquent mouths, he couldn’t argue his way out of it. Under the mocking gazes of others, he managed to bring his mother back.
He hadn’t expected Li Qinghui to be so ruthless—actually trying to send his own mother to prison!
This incident was utterly humiliating. Li Qingsong didn’t even dare imagine what rumors would spread in his workplace.
Li Yang, however, didn’t care about any of that. Her only goal now was to safely make it to the Northwest. If anyone dared to provoke her—hmph!
It was unclear whether Li Qingsong had used his savings to return the bride price to that foolish man’s family, but he didn’t come to trouble her again. Meanwhile, Li Yao’s spot to go to the Northwest was officially confirmed.
Five days later.
Early in the morning, the art troupe gave the touring girls a half-day off so they could go home and briefly say goodbye to their families. After all, they would be heading deep into the Northwest for over a year.
It was said that personnel from the Northwest Military Region would arrive the next morning to pick them up.
Everyone made their final preparations with a mix of anxiety and excitement.
Some arranged to go together to the department store to buy clothes and skincare products.
Others, worried about food and lodging, had already gone home to bring jars of pickled vegetables…
Li Yang declined Jiang Xue’s invitation to go on a shopping spree.
“I won’t go. I’ll go home and spend time with my parents. We can buy things anytime. If something’s unavailable in the Northwest, family can send it later. With your delicate hands, how much can you carry? The journey will be long and bumpy—you might end up so sick you can’t even think about carrying all that stuff…”
Hearing this, Jiang Xue felt it made sense. The journey was long—bringing too many things would exhaust her.
“Alright, I’ll listen to you. Yangyang, what do you think I should bring? I’ve never traveled far before.”
As for Jiang Xue insisting she was cute and wanted to “raise” her like a child, Li Yang was already tired of hearing it.
Who would end up taking care of whom—that wasn’t certain yet!
Li Yang thought for a moment. “There’s nothing too critical. The army will arrange our daily needs. Just bring some thicker clothes and some dry food.”
After settling everything, the two went their separate ways to return home.
They just needed to gather at the art troupe square at 9 a.m. the next morning.
Zhao Wanrou had already prepared many daily necessities for Li Yang—soap, cold cream, dried meat, milk candies…
The Northwest was dry, and Zhao Wanrou feared her fair and delicate daughter would come back looking worn and dull.
“Mom, this is too much. I can’t carry it all.”
Zhao Wanrou had a solution. “Then take less. I’ll mail the rest to you tomorrow.”
Li Yang could only compromise.
They had only one daughter. It was just a one-year separation…
The couple spent the entire afternoon preparing a table full of Li Yang’s favorite dishes.
Li Yang ate heartily, but Li Qinghui and Zhao Wanrou barely touched their food.
“Yangyang, you must take good care of yourself there. If you encounter any difficulties, call home. Dad will help you solve them.”
Zhao Wanrou also kept reminding her of many things before suddenly saying:
“Qinghui, how about I go to the Northwest with Yangyang? I can’t rest easy!”
Li Qinghui: So he was the one left all alone?
Li Yang couldn’t help but laugh.
“Mom, what would you go there for? You wouldn’t even be able to see me every day. You should stay home and keep an eye on Dad.”
Her sharp gaze fixed on Li Qinghui.
“Dad, you know what I mean, right?”
“You’re not allowed to have any more contact with Li Xiujin or that family. They’ve never treated you as a real son or brother.”
“When I was young, I couldn’t protect myself or Mom. But now, if anyone dares to target us again, I won’t let them off.”
“You already gave them your job and house, and trapped Mom in that family for a lifetime, making her serve those awful people for more than ten years.”
“It was your weakness that fed their greed.”
“I’ll be blunt—those people will never stop exploiting you. If you can’t see clearly, then Mom will live with me in the future.”
Zhao Wanrou was startled.
“Yangyang?”
Li Yang smiled and comforted her.
“Mom, you also need to stand up for yourself. Your daughter still needs your protection. I don’t want to be driven to death by them someday.”
She didn’t want to say such discouraging things at a time of parting, but she had to give them a warning in advance—to keep them from being deceived again.
“If anything happens, go to Grandpa or Uncle. They’re your closest family—you don’t need to feel embarrassed.”
“Mom, you’ve struggled in that household for half your life. Now take some time to rest at home. Once I’ve settled in there, I’ll call you over to visit if it’s convenient…”
Zhao Wanrou truly felt her daughter had grown up—she was clearly worried about them.
Li Qinghui, meanwhile, felt both angry and heartbroken. Other people’s daughters were warm little cotton jackets; his felt like a drafty vest.
What Li Qinghui didn’t expect was that Li Yang’s prediction would come true.
His useless elder brother really was hopeless.
Although Li Qinghui was struck by his daughter’s words, he still took leave early the next morning and, together with his wife, sent her to the art troupe.
They watched until the troupe’s bus disappeared into the distance before leaving.
Meanwhile, Li Yao was also sent early in the morning by Ma Limei and Li Xiujin onto another bus with the second team.
Since Li Qinghui and Zhao Wanrou only sent Li Yang to the gate, the two groups didn’t cross paths much.
As for Li Yang, although she had said she would travel light, she still ended up carrying several overstuffed bags at departure. Fortunately, the troupe had arranged three buses for the year-long trip.
Li Yang placed her belongings on her seat and asked Jiang Xue to watch them while she went to the other two buses to check attendance.
Unexpectedly, just as she was about to step down, a tall and striking figure had somehow boarded the bus.
As she turned her head, she collided straight into him.
The pain at the tip of her nose was intense.
“Mm!”
In the next instant, Li Yang covered her nose, eyes watering, unable to speak from the pain.
“Miss, are you alright?”
A deep, cello-like voice echoed inside the bus.
Li Chengyun hadn’t expected to bump into a fair and delicate girl the moment he got on. His chest felt strangely numb from the impact.
All the girls on the bus stretched their necks to look. Seeing such a handsome man, they all let out shy exclamations.
No one cared about Li Yang’s condition anymore…
Li Yang was both in pain and annoyed, her mind full of frustration.
Fortunately, Chen Lili and Jiang Xue were the first to react and rushed over.
Jiang Xue blurted out, “She’s in so much pain she can’t even speak—how could she be fine? You’re so big, like a giant sandbag…”
Chen Lili also asked with concern, “Li Yang, are you alright?”