Zhao Gang drove the horse carriage and waited early at the station. When he saw the train coming from afar, he greeted the station staff and rushed the carriage forward to meet it.
Gong Tao, carrying various bags, was the last to get off the train. Before he had a moment to catch his breath and ask the staff for information, he heard, "Taozi, over here."
This voice was so familiar. Gong Tao looked in the direction of the shout and saw, "Gangzi."
Cai Meina, seeing Zhao Gang and the horse carriage behind him, let out a sigh of relief, "We have a carriage to ride."
After exchanging a few words with Gong Tao, Zhao Gang said, "Alright, once we move the luggage up the mountain, we need to head back. If we don't hurry, we'll get home at midnight."
Gong Tao responded with a sound and quickly threw Cai Meina's luggage onto the carriage, then Gong Ruwen's luggage, and lastly his own.
Zhao Gang observed his friend's skilled movements and shivered a little. This guy remained as doting on his wife as ever. He could foresee how his own days would go—his wife would constantly disdain him.
Carefully helping his daughter onto the carriage, Gong Tao then assisted Cai Meina. As for his son, Gong Ruwen, he got on by himself. Being a big kid now, did he still need assistance?
If this continued, he would definitely get flamed. It was so undignified for a man; no man should be so subservient, especially in public without considering the impact.
As for his father's differential treatment, Gong Ruwen was used to it and, after climbing onto the carriage, said, "It's cold outside, we need a blanket."
While speaking, he pulled a blanket out of a packed bundle and covered Gong Ruini. This scene made Zhao Gang wince.
Acting like this as the father, and the child follows suit—how can one survive? Zhao Gang felt he was bringing calamity home. Without this comparison, his wife wouldn't find fault, but now, not only adults but also Gong Ruwen was doing so well, his wife would surely remember this.
"You're going to be the death of me," Zhao Gang said as he whipped the carriage forward, waved to the staff, and leisurely left the station.
What did he mean by that? Gong Tao was busy pulling out blankets to cover his wife and said, "Ruwen, get under the covers too. By the way, Gangzi, is there a place to fill hot water along the way?"
Listening to these irrelevant questions, Zhao Gang deeply sighed. Come on, why argue with this wife-loving maniac? He had always been like this. Was there any hope he'd change after these years apart? In fact, didn't things turn more extreme?
"Yes, would you like hot water?" Zhao Gang came to town once a month, so he knew where to get hot water.
"I didn't know you would pick us up; otherwise I would've filled the hot water bottle and packed a pot of hot water." Gong Tao looked expectantly at Zhao Gang.
Ugh, knowing he asked this, it was again for his wife. "Yes, I'll take you there and buy some oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar along the way. As for rice and vegetables, we have them at home," Zhao Gang had already stocked up. "Since we're stopping in town, let's purchase everything. Otherwise, you'd feel awkward if I had to take from home."
"Of course I'd feel awkward. Coming to the Northeast this time, and bothering you for a pick-up, I really am embarrassed." Compared to supposed kin, my acquaintance feels more reliable, honestly. Though Gong Tao hoped Zhao Gang would pick him up, his expectations weren't high—it's a bit far from town, and the train could be delayed. Surely, Zhao Gang couldn't wait foolishly at the station.
"What's there to feel embarrassed about? What's our relationship? Haven't I troubled you less before?" Zhao Gang patted Gong Tao's shoulder, "Live well here; we can make something of ourselves."
"There's no worries here; as long as we work hard, at least we'll have food to eat without constant intrigue and deception." Zhao Gang thought back, wondering how those days were bearable. Here, life truly was peaceful.
"Winter is about to come; when spring arrives, we'll work hard." After receiving his good friend's letter, Zhao Gang already planned what to do, "I just need manpower."
Although Gong Tao didn't know what Zhao Gang meant by working hard, he firmly believed his good friend wouldn't let him down; the rest wasn't crucial. "Great, my expectations aren't high—our family of four can eat enough, and if possible, give Ni Zi some extra nutrition."
Gong Tao turned to glance at Ni Zi, quietly lying under the blankets. In fact, he agreed to come to the Northeast hoping to hunt in the woods for his daughter's supplement; in the city, everything had to be bought with coupons.
"Don't worry; we'll eat chicken tomorrow." Zhao Gang thought Gong Ruini looked quite spirited earlier, assumed she had been nursed back to health over the years, but unexpectedly, she hadn't. What's going on?
Chicken! Gong Ruwen's eyes lit up. It had been a long time since he tasted chicken meat. "Sister, we can eat chicken."
Chicken meat! Gong Ruini's eyes brightened too, almost drooling. If someone had told her in her past life that she would one day drool at the thought of chicken, she would've said they were dreaming.
Since crossing over, Gong Ruini recalled eating chicken only one or two times. Even then, some of it was taken away, supposedly to honor grandparents. Despite Gong Tao and his wife's reluctance to eat it, leaving it for the children, there wasn't much.
Zhao Gang laughed seeing the two children crave meat. Strange, though buying meat in the city was challenging, there should be supply. "Why is your family still the same?"
"Just the same—the moment they knew of my troubles, they bluntly said they wouldn't care for Ni Zi." Zhao Gang got mad thinking about his parents' attitude, and their demands after visiting him made him angrier.
This was heartless. But truly, Zhao Gang didn't think Ni Zi would receive proper care from the Gong Family. "In winter, we'll hunt wild rabbits on the mountains, and there's winter fishing too. Life is quite fulfilling, though we won't have money."
"This era, so what if you have money." Gong Tao wasn't pretending to be some tycoon—it was just that money couldn't solve every problem now. Although he hadn't hunted rabbits or fished yet, his friend's words gave him confidence.
Gong Ruwen listened to Zhao Gang from the back. His expression said it all—eyes widened. If not for the need to set an example for Gong Ruini, he would've drooled.
Winter fishing—that scene must be lively. Gong Ruini had been to Chagan Lake's winter fishing in her past life. That excitement left a lasting impression, although back then, it became commercialized; now it should be more authentic.
Gong Ruini was truly looking forward to life in the Northeast.
If possible, Gong Ruini really wanted to shout out loud, "Northeast, I'm coming."