Chapter 102: I’m a Living Example

Everything that needed to be said had been said. As for what Big Egg would do, Su Qinghu wasn’t worried.

This kid might be stingy, but he treated Second Egg really well. For example, the two boxes of instant noodles sent over by Grandpa Chen Bo—most of them ended up in Second Egg’s stomach.

On Tuesday, Su Qinghu suddenly received an assignment: she had to go on a business trip with Sister Li and Yuan Hang, accompanying people from the newspaper’s operations department.

The newspaper had even arranged the train tickets, asking them to meet up at 9 p.m. to depart together.

Their names had already been submitted, so no matter how much she felt like a rookie, she had to go.

That afternoon, they got off work early. Su Qinghu went to the bank first, and after finishing her errands, she headed straight home. Under the anxious and even solemn gazes of Big Egg and Second Egg, she quickly packed up their clothes, shoes, and daily necessities, grabbed her own small bag, and called for them to leave.

Big Egg stood rooted to the spot, refusing to move.

Even Second Egg’s eyes showed rare panic. “Mom?”

Su Qinghu hurried them along as she walked out, “Come on, I’m running out of time! I have to go on a business trip for the next few days, leaving tonight. I need to take you to your grandparents’ while I still have time!”

The kids were sensible, but they were still young. She didn’t feel comfortable leaving them home alone.

If she really let them stay by themselves and something happened, she’d never forgive herself.

“We used to—”

Big Egg started to protest, but Su Qinghu cut him off. “Don’t talk about before. The past is the past, now is now. Where you used to live and where you live now are different.”

Their old place was small, but it was surrounded by people—you could even hear the neighbors talking.

Now, it was a courtyard house. Well, maybe not a big one, but at least it was a standalone home. In a place like this, if something happened, even if the kids called for help, there was no guarantee anyone would hear them or arrive in time.

“No more arguing. This time you have to listen to me. While I’m away, you must stay at your grandparents’ house,” Su Qinghu said firmly. “I’ll pick you up when I get back.

And you’re not allowed to sneak home on your own.”

With the two dejected kids in tow, she headed straight for Chen Bo’s place, signed in at the gate, and waited for someone to come get them.

Su Qinghu saw Chen Bo and Mrs. Meng striding over. She waved and called out, “Dad, Mom!”

Chen Bo took the bags from her, felt the weight, and asked, “Something up?”

“Yeah,” Su Qinghu nodded. “I have to go on a business trip for work. My name was put down, and I’m leaving tonight.”

She checked her watch. “Dad, Mom, sorry to trouble you to look after Big Egg and Second Egg for a few days. I’ll pick them up when I’m back.”

“Did you get your tickets? Sleeper or seat?” Mrs. Meng asked anxiously.

“There wasn’t enough time, so just seats,” Su Qinghu smiled, seeing her mother-in-law’s urge to pull some strings. “It’s fine, I’m young, I can handle it. If I get a chance to upgrade to a sleeper on the way, I will.”

No need to make herself suffer on a long trip, right?

She didn’t even want to imagine the speed of those old green trains, or how crowded they might be—she just hoped the smell inside wouldn’t be unbearable.

Mrs. Meng started to reach for her pocket, but then remembered she’d just showered and changed clothes after dinner—she hadn’t brought any money!

Su Qinghu pretended not to notice, waved, and headed out. “Dad, Mom, sorry to trouble you these next few days. I’m off!”

Watching Su Qinghu walk away, Big Egg and Second Egg were still a bit reluctant. Once she was out of sight, Second Egg visibly drooped.

“Come on, let’s go home with Grandpa and Grandma. We’ll cook you some good food these days, and when your mom comes back, you’ll have both grown a bit,” Mrs. Meng said, taking one child in each hand, while Chen Bo followed behind carrying the bags.

====

When Su Qinghu arrived, there was only half an hour left before security check. Seeing her make it, Sister Li and Yuan Hang both breathed a sigh of relief.

But the operations department manager gave her a cold look and said, “In the future, be more mindful of time. Try to get to the station at least an hour early.”

Su Qinghu replied, “Understood.”

It wasn’t that she was particularly patient—it was just that the station was packed, with barely any room to stand. Their gate already had a long line.

Not being near the front meant they’d have less time to find their carriage once on the platform.

Running across the platform in the summer heat was neither dignified nor comfortable.

Tickets checked, into the station, onto the train—after dozens of hours, they finally got off.

The moment Su Qinghu set foot on solid ground, she felt different.

A bit lightheaded, a bit wobbly...

“Xiao Su, are you okay?” Sister Li saw Su Qinghu’s lips had gone pale and her eyes were unfocused. “Do you want to rest a bit before we go?”

Su Qinghu shook her head—she didn’t even have the strength to speak.

It wasn’t until they’d left the train station and she breathed in the fresh, slightly humid air that she finally let out a long sigh of relief.

Traveling by train in this era really was a trial...

“I need a break,” Su Qinghu said, holding her back, her eyes brimming with involuntary tears. “Ten minutes.”

“With those ten minutes, we might as well take a car to the guesthouse and rest there,” the operations manager frowned at her. “University graduates these days really can’t handle hardship.”

Su Qinghu: “…You’re right, I’m a living example. Sigh, I’m dragging down my seniors.”

She didn’t care what she said anymore—no one was going to force her to move right now!

Yuan Hang burst out laughing, and even Sister Li couldn’t help but smile. But she didn’t laugh right away; instead, she smoothed things over. “Xiao Su’s only been with us for less than a month, and she’s already doing great. Even our supervisor praised her writing. I’m sure she’ll do well on this trip, too.”

Su Qinghu smiled, echoed Sister Li’s words, and then continued sitting on her suitcase to rest.

She couldn’t help feeling that this operations manager had it out for her…

But why?

Was it just because she hadn’t arrived at the station a full hour early?

She hadn’t been late, after all—was it really that serious?

After resting, the manager insisted on taking the bus, but Yuan Hang hailed a car instead. “My treat this time, not on the department. It’s too hot, and we have too much stuff—no way we’d all fit on the bus.”

“Xiao Su, sit up front,” Yuan Hang said, opening the passenger door for her. Then he told the manager, “Let’s be gentlemen—ladies first.”

Su Qinghu thanked him with a smile. Thinking back on Yuan Hang’s words and actions, she suddenly felt like she understood something."