Chapter 136: Departure

“Dear in-laws, you’re here! Come in, come in.” Mother Qin greeted warmly, taking the child from Mother Fu’s arms.

This was Mother Fu’s second visit to the Qin family.

Once inside, she greeted the Qin family’s patriarch and matriarch.

Lan Qingman didn’t show up—Qin Wenze, worried she might say something outrageous again, had simply sent her back to the Lan family first. He really didn’t want to be embarrassed again.

Although Lan Qingman was furious, there was nothing she could do.

The meal at the Qin house was a happy one for both families.

As they were leaving, Mother Qin stuffed a thousand yuan into Fu Mingxue’s hand.

“Mingxue, working out there is tough. We can’t help much from here, so you must take this money.”

“Mum, I can’t—” Fu Mingxue tried to refuse, embarrassed to accept.

But Mother Qin didn’t give her a chance to say no.

“Take it. If you don’t, we’ll be upset. It’s just a token from us. When you’re away from home, you’ll need to spend money everywhere.”

Fu Mingxue had no choice but to accept. “Thank you, Mum. And thank you, Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad.”

Aside from her somewhat troublesome sister-in-law, everyone else in this family was truly wonderful.

“No need to thank us! Just use it as you need. If it’s not enough, I’ll send you more. Be careful on the train tomorrow. Now, let Wenze drive you home so you can get some rest.”

“Alright.” Fu Mingxue didn’t refuse.

After Qin Wenze drove them home, he left.

The next morning, Fu Mingxue found that her parents-in-law and even her brother-in-law, Qin Wenhuo, had come over.

“Dad, Mum, Big Brother, what are you all doing here?”

“You’re leaving today, of course we had to come see you off. Actually, Grandpa and Grandma wanted to come too, but I convinced them not to.”

Fu Mingxue quickly said, “They really don’t need to see us off. Someone will be coming to pick us up soon.”

“Even if someone’s picking you up, we can still see you off.”

Mother Qin helped carry their luggage to the car.

Just then, Xiao Yang’s car arrived.

Seeing it was almost time, Fu Mingxue had her mother carry the two children into the car.

The Qin family also drove to the train station, and only left after making sure Fu Mingxue, her mother, and the two children had boarded the train.

The train set off.

Although this was Mother Fu’s second time on a train, she was still visibly nervous. After all, last time her son-in-law was with them. This time, it was just her and her daughter, plus two young children. She felt the weight of responsibility—she couldn’t let anything happen to the kids.

“Mum, why don’t you take the lower bunk with one child, and I’ll take the upper bunk with the other?”

“Alright,” Mother Fu nodded, though she wasn’t in a hurry to climb up just yet.

Across from them sat another mother and daughter, also with children—one older, about five, and one younger, maybe two or three.

“Auntie, where are you headed?” the young woman asked curiously.

“Going home,” Mother Fu replied simply. She wasn’t about to spill everything just because someone asked.

The older woman sized them up for a moment, then asked, “Where are you going?”

“Going home,” Mother Fu repeated.

She wasn’t going to reveal everything just because someone asked.

The other woman clearly wanted to chat. “Are you mother and daughter, or mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?”

“Mother and daughter. Are you two mother-in-law and daughter-in-law?” Mother Fu replied.

The woman nodded. “Yes, we are. I’m taking my daughter-in-law to visit my son. He’s in the army. It’s a shame you’re not going the same way—otherwise, when my son comes to pick us up, he could give you a ride too.”

“My son is really something—he’s a regiment commander.”

The young daughter-in-law couldn’t help but correct her, “Mum, he’s a deputy regiment commander.”

That’s not quite the same rank."