Hearing that Lu Qingqing was about to leave soon, Mother Xu immediately objected.
“How can you leave so soon? You should stay and let Auntie properly thank you. At the very least, let us show some sincerity.”
Fearing she might misunderstand, she quickly added, “I can even bring your family over so we can have a proper gathering—and maybe even recognize each other as godfamily.”
Lu Qingqing remembered that in this area, it was customary to form godfamily ties after being saved, maintaining close contact and showing filial respect afterward.
Of course, not everyone actually had the conscience to do so, but the custom still existed.
“Auntie, really, there’s no need,” Lu Qingqing said, glancing outside and lowering her voice. “My family will be sent down tomorrow. It’s not convenient.”
Hearing the word “sent down,” Mother Xu’s expression changed.
She also knew that people being sent down weren’t necessarily bad, but in the current environment, associating with them did carry risks. Still, a life-saving favor couldn’t be ignored.
“Where are they being sent? Is the location good? Do you need it changed?” Mother Xu lowered her voice. “My husband has some connections. If you need help, just say so.”
“No need. The place is already arranged,” Lu Qingqing replied with a smile. “As long as they arrive safely, that’s enough.”
“Oh… then have you prepared everything you need to take with you?” Mother Xu asked, suddenly thinking of the nearby black market. “You’re not planning to go there to buy things, are you?”
She slapped her thigh. “That place is not safe! If you’re missing anything, tell me—I have connections at the supply store.”
Xu Nana looked at her curiously. “Sister, aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid? Of course I am,” Lu Qingqing said with a shrug. “But it’s useless. I still have to face what I must face. Actually, leaving might be better.”
Mother Xu nodded in agreement. The current environment was indeed harsh, and sometimes the countryside was safer than the city.
But it depended on the place.
“My maternal hometown is in Xiashui County. Maybe—” she suggested quietly.
“Thank you, Auntie, but the place my family is being sent to has already been personally chosen,” Lu Qingqing said with a smile.
Hearing that it was self-selected, Mother Xu immediately understood—it meant it should be relatively safe.
After chatting for a while, Lu Qingqing prepared to leave, but Mother Xu refused to let her go.
If she wouldn’t accept a banquet, at least she could accept gifts.
She insisted on buying supplies for her, asking exactly what she still needed.
The supply store connections were real, and they could even get discounted or “flawed” goods without coupons.
Seeing her insistence on repaying the favor, Lu Qingqing listed a few essential items for going down to the countryside.
She treated it as giving Mother Xu a chance to repay her kindness.
Mother Xu wrote everything down, refused to take the money or ration tickets, and hurried out.
It was getting late—if she didn’t go now, the supply store would close.
Just then, Aunt Sun, the kind elderly woman from earlier, came in with ginger soup and warmly told them to drink it while it was hot.
“Drink it quickly to warm yourselves and drive out the cold. When Old Xu’s second son comes back, let him check on you. If you catch a cold, you can still go to the hospital later.”
“Thank you, Grandma Sun,” Xu Nana said shyly, holding the bowl and sipping slowly.
Lu Qingqing also thanked her. Grandma Sun studied her face carefully.
“You little girl look really beautiful… you remind me of an old acquaintance.”
“Was your acquaintance someone impressive?” Xu Nana asked curiously.
“Yes,” Grandma Sun nodded. “She was a female hero—could ride horses, fire two guns at once, and never missed a shot.”
As she spoke, memories surfaced in her eyes, as if she were seeing that heroic old squad leader again.
When Lu Qingqing heard this, her pupils contracted slightly.
A face appeared in her mind—that was her grandmother.
Her grandmother and grandfather had met on the battlefield. At that time, her grandfather was delivering supplies and medicine to the front lines when fighting broke out.
What was supposed to be a simple delivery turned into a rescue operation. Her grandmother was badly injured, and her grandfather carried her down from the front lines.
She had been covered in blood, barely alive. No one was sure she could survive.
Because the situation was too dangerous, she was taken home to recover.
Over time, the two of them fell in love deeply.
Her grandmother was seriously injured and took nearly two years to recover. By then, her father had already been born—and soon after, her grandmother passed away.
Although Lu Qingqing had never met her grandmother, she had heard countless stories. Whenever her grandfather mentioned her, his eyes softened like water.
Even after so many years, he had never remarried.
He devoted himself to earning money—first sending supplies to the front lines, and later donating everything to national construction.
That was why everyone in South City knew of the “Gu Half-City” family, but few knew that the Lu family was actually wealthier.
Because their wealth could never be kept.
When Grandma Sun spoke of her old squad leader, she sighed.
“You really resemble her. May I ask your family’s name?”
“My grandmother’s name is Li Tiehua,” Lu Qingqing replied with a smile.
Grandma Sun’s eyes widened.
So it really was the descendant of an old comrade.
“What about your family now?” she asked urgently. “Where is your grandmother’s grave? I’d like to pay my respects.”
“I’m afraid their situation isn’t good,” Xu Nana said with red eyes. “Her family is being sent down.”
“What? Who did this?!” Grandma Sun exploded in anger.
“Who dares bully someone without backing?!”
“They were falsely reported…” Lu Qingqing sighed. “But it’s fine. In times like these, being sent down might not necessarily be a bad thing.”
“That’s not acceptable! How dare they!” Grandma Sun was furious. “And your grandfather just accepted it?”
“What else could he do?” Lu Qingqing spread her hands. “Stay in the city and become a target?”
Grandma Sun trembled with anger, unable to speak.
The man who once risked his life to deliver supplies to the front lines was now old.
His spirit was no longer what it once was.
If the old squad leader were still here, who would dare falsely accuse them?
No, she couldn’t let this go.
Grandma Sun paced angrily. She had to find a way to protect them.
Downward relocation was never a good thing—what if something happened in the countryside?
“Wait here. I’m going to make a call. I want to ask them exactly what they think they’re doing.”
With that, she turned and left.
Only after she left did Lu Qingqing turn to Xu Nana and ask in confusion:
“What exactly is her background?”