Chen Yang rushed all the way and managed to reach the station just before the last bus back to Liuhe County started.
He bought a ticket and got on the bus, finally breathing a sigh of relief. If he had missed it, not only would accommodation be a problem, but more importantly, Shen Xue would have worried.
This was also why he hadn't continued to chat with Zhang Weiyang about business matters; time was too tight.
As for buying a car, that was out of the question. It wasn't just about money. In those days, you even needed a ticket to buy a bicycle, and cars were not for ordinary people.
The bus departed at five o'clock and didn't reach Liuhe County until half past six. By the time Chen Yang was heading home from the county town, it was already dark.
In the small courtyard of Chen Yang's home in Shenjiaba Village, Shen Xue's heart suddenly felt uneasy as she watched the sky darken.
This was the countless time she had held her baby and peered out from the doorway, but she still hadn't seen the person she wanted to see.
"Mama, my tummy is hungry."
The baby sniffled, Mama had said they would wait for Papa to come back to eat meat.
So, even though the meat smelled delicious, Yan Yan held back her drool. She wanted to wait for Papa to come back and eat the tasty meat together.
But now the meat had gone cold, and Papa still hadn't returned. Her little tummy was rumbling, and only then did the little one hug Mama tightly.
"Mama, please warm up the meat for Yan Yan. My little darling is hungry, I'm sorry."
Looking at the pathetic baby, Shen Xue, who had been solely concerned about Chen Yang, finally realized that her child was still just a child. She could endure, but the baby couldn't go hungry.
"No."
"Mama, I want to wait for Papa to eat the meat together."
"I'll have my milk powder."
But Shen Xue didn't expect that as soon as she spoke, the baby tugged at her, preventing her from warming up the already cold braised pork.
The baby's world was actually very simple.
Papa treated her so well. There was delicious meat, and she wanted to eat it with Papa. Yan Yan would never eat alone!
Looking at the determined little one, Shen Xue felt an inexplicable ache in her heart.
Such a small child already knew how to care for others.
But that scoundrel, he didn't even know they were worried about him, coming home so late, the heartless one.
"Okay, okay, Mama's baby is the best, she'll wait for Papa."
"Mama will make you some milk powder, how about a candy first?"
Shen Xue kissed the baby's little face with affection. How could she not dote on such a sensible child?
She peeled a milk candy and put it in the baby's mouth, then quickly made a cup of milk powder and fed it to her.
But she had completely forgotten that she herself hadn't eaten anything. Of the thick pork belly Chen Yang bought that morning, she had only cooked some for her parents and the child at noon, not making extra for herself.
She had saved it all!
She had saved it for Chen Yang to eat, the heartless man, why didn't he come back sooner.
Although she felt a little resentful, Shen Xue was more worried!
In those days, there were still wolves in the mountains. In the wilderness, it was twenty to thirty li from the county town to Shenjiaba Village. Chen Yang was alone; how could she not worry?
After feeding the baby, she couldn't rest easy and carried the child towards the village entrance.
She wanted to go to the road to meet her husband, in case something happened, she could help.
Just as Shen Xue was filled with worry, Chen Yang was also trudging his way towards Shenjiaba Village.
He got off the bus at half past six, and the journey home was almost complete, but it was already dark. Chen Yang was also afraid Shen Xue and their daughter would worry. For the first time since his rebirth, he wasn't with his wife and child this late.
He ran all the way home, not paying attention to anything else. Now he had only one thought: to get home immediately, then give his beloved wife a big kiss, and hug his baby.
No amount of money, at this moment, was worth as much as his wife and child.
But as he ran all the way home, he found that the gate of his courtyard was not closed, and there were no lights on in the house.
Looking at the open door, Chen Yang's heart suddenly sank.
"Wife!"
"Yan Yan!"
Chen Yang shouted, his heart suddenly filled with anxiety.
There was no response from inside. When he rushed into the house, a bowl of greasy braised pork, a plate of pickled radishes, and a stir-fried dish of small greens on the table had not been touched at all.
"This foolish woman, not eating dinner so late."
Chen Yang looked at the table full of food, and his heart trembled uncontrollably. He knew his foolish wife must have been waiting for him.
But before he could feel any heartache, his heart sank again because he couldn't find his wife and daughter after searching the entire house.
"This foolish woman, where did she go so late at night."
"There are jackals and wild boars that come out in the wilderness at night. Why would a woman run around with her child in the dark."
Chen Yang was also very anxious, but he wasn't blaming her; he was genuinely worried about Shen Xue and the baby.
"This is bad. She must have been worried about me, and when she didn't see me, she took the child and went towards the county town."
After all, he had lived two lives. With a little analysis, Chen Yang had a clue.
The thought of this, coupled with the untouched food on the table, made Chen Yang more and more convinced of this possibility.
She probably prepared dinner and waited for him with the baby, but when it got dark and he still hadn't returned, she worried and went to look for him with the child.
But Chen Yang, in his haste to get home, took a shortcut and didn't use the main road. This way and that, the two of them just missed each other.
Chen Yang slung his crude bow and quiver over his shoulder and hurried out towards the village entrance. It was late at night, and Shen Xue was out with the baby; how could he not worry?
If they encountered jackals or wild boars, he couldn't bear to think what might happen.
"Wife, Yan Yan!"
"Wife, Yan Yan!"
Chen Yang ran, shouting, but he didn't see a single person even after running out of the village. Moreover, it was dark.
This was not like later times; there were no streetlights. When it was dark, it was truly pitch black. He became even more worried.
Chen Yang ran desperately, his heart about to explode, but he didn't dare to stop. He had to find Shen Xue immediately.
Just as he was about to go mad, he suddenly thought he heard a faint sob.
It sounded like a woman crying ahead!
"Wife, Yan Yan, is that you?"
Hearing the sound, Chen Yang became even more worried. He was afraid; he was truly afraid that it wasn't Shen Xue ahead.
Meanwhile, Shen Xue clutched her leg, tears streaming down her face from the pain, the baby clinging to her desperately.
It was dark, and she was in a hurry to find Chen Yang.
She accidentally missed her step and fell off the ridge of the field. She had twisted her ankle, and the pain was so intense she couldn't stand up.
Hearing Chen Yang's voice, Shen Xue's悬着的心 finally settled down, but for some reason, she felt a wave of grievance.
She had made a table full of food at home, and he, the scoundrel, hadn't come home until dark. She refused to acknowledge this scoundrel of a man.
"Papa."
"Mama is hurt, Papa, come quickly and save Mama."
But the little one didn't have so many thoughts. As soon as she heard Chen Yang's voice, the baby seemed to have found a savior.
Mama was hurt, and only Papa could save them!
"Wife!"
"Don't move, I'm coming right away."
Hearing the baby's voice, Chen Yang's heart trembled fiercely.
Shen Xue must not be harmed, otherwise, he would never be able to atone for it, even if he died ten thousand times!