Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Departing for the Island

The moment Lu Xiao left, Su Tang felt as if a cat were clawing at her heart, leaving her anxious and frantic.

She put away the items Zhang Cui and Aunt Wang had pressed upon her. Gazing at the thin stalk of ginseng, her heart grew warm.

She would not forget her neighbors’ kindness.

She would visit them to express her thanks once she returned from the island.

But for now, the most pressing tasks were to pack her luggage and wait for word from Lu Xiao.

She turned the house upside down, digging out any valuable ration tickets or coupons that could be traded for goods. She also pulled out a few thicker items of clothing; the wind on the island would be strong.

’Medicine! Right, medicine is the most important thing!’ She gathered the common remedies she had managed to save up over time—things like cold-remedy packets and painkillers—and wrapped them securely.

She also packed the medicine she had specifically gotten a prescription for at the hospital.

Then she remembered they still had some brown sugar and decided to bring it along. Mixed with hot water, it would help warm her father.

By the time she was done bustling about, the sun was fully up.

Su Tang forced down a few mouthfuls of the noodle soup Lu Xiao had made the night before. She could barely taste it, her mind completely consumed by the news of her father’s grave illness.

But the minutes and seconds ticked by. The sun climbed from the east to its zenith, then slowly began its descent to the west.

Lu Xiao still hadn’t returned.

Su Tang couldn’t sit still. She checked and rechecked her luggage, folding and refolding the old clothes she had packed for her parents.

She repeatedly picked up and put down the letter on the table. The tear-stained patch on the paper had dried, leaving a faint, wrinkled mark that made her chest tighten every time she saw it.

’Why isn’t he back yet? Don’t tell me he couldn’t get the permit…’

The moment the thought surfaced, Su Tang felt as if she couldn’t breathe.

She walked to the door, craning her neck to look outside. The alley was empty.

Just when she was so anxious she felt she might combust, when it felt like her world was about to collapse, the sound of familiar footsteps finally reached her from beyond the courtyard gate.

Su Tang’s heart leaped into her throat. She shot forward and threw the door open.

Lu Xiao stood at the doorway, drenched in sweat. His military jacket was unbuttoned, revealing an undershirt soaked through and clinging to his solid chest.

In his hand, he clutched a manila envelope, his face etched with exhaustion from rushing around.

“Tangtang!”

He gasped for breath as he strode into the courtyard, swinging the door shut behind him.

“How did it go?”

Su Tang’s voice trembled, her eyes glued to the envelope in his hand.

Lu Xiao grinned, slapping the envelope firmly into Su Tang’s hand. “It’s done! The letter of introduction, the travel permit—it’s all here! I even got boat tickets for tomorrow morning!”

Su Tang quickly opened the envelope and pulled out the papers inside.

There was a letter of introduction bearing a bright red official seal, along with several permits clearly stating “Travel Authorized”!

’Black ink on white paper, a red seal! It’s real! I can go to the island!’

A huge wave of joy and relief crashed over her. Su Tang’s legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed.

Lu Xiao shot out a hand and steadied her.

“This is wonderful… just wonderful, Lu Xiao!”

Su Tang clutched the permits as if they were a life-saving elixir. Tears began to stream down her face again, but this time, they were tears of joy.

“How did you manage it? And so quickly?”

Lu Xiao raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his face, helped Su Tang inside, and lowered his voice.

“I explained the situation to my CO. The old man has a soft spot, and he knows your family’s circumstances are unique. He gave it special approval, classifying it as a family visit for military personnel, which simplified the process.”

“I had to run all over the place to get the stamps, barely getting it done in time. I had someone pull some strings for the boat tickets, too. It departs from the pier at six tomorrow morning.”

He picked up the glass of cooled boiled water from the table and downed it in several large gulps before continuing, “But we have to leave right now. We need to catch the earliest train to the pier.”

Su Tang gazed at Lu Xiao’s exhausted yet exceptionally determined face, at his undershirt soaked through with sweat. That familiar warmth flooded her heart again, this time mingled with a tender ache.

’She could only imagine how far he’d run today, how many people he’d had to plead with.’

“You must be exhausted. Sit down and rest. I’ll get you something to eat.”

Su Tang said, her heart aching for him.

“I’m not tired!”

Lu Xiao waved his hand dismissively, his eyes scanning the luggage piled on the bed and the small cloth bag next to it.

“You’ve already packed?”

He looked at the pile of belongings in surprise.

Su Tang quickly explained how Zhang Cui and Aunt Wang had helped.

Lu Xiao nodded, his gaze softening. “They’re good people. All right, we’ll take this medicine. It could be a lifesaver.”

He carefully tucked the medicine deep inside the luggage.

“I bought some dry rations for the road. You go ahead and double-check all the tickets and money. Make sure nothing important is left behind. I’ll get the bicycle ready to haul our luggage to the train station.”

The young couple immediately sprang back into action. Su Tang secured the permits, money, and tickets in a hidden pocket close to her body, while also repacking their luggage to be more sturdy.

In the small room, there was only the rustling of packing and Lu Xiao’s occasional, quiet instructions.

Few words were spoken, but the feeling of them relying on each other, of weathering this storm together, was so poignant under the dim yellow light that it was enough to make your eyes sting.

「Several days later, in a swaying ship cabin.」

The salty, damp sea breeze, with its distinct fishy smell, seeped in through the cracks of the porthole.

The hull of the ship rose and fell with the waves, emitting a low, rhythmic CLANG.

On a narrow bunk in the third-class cabin, Su Tang leaned against Lu Xiao’s shoulder, her face a little pale.

The journey—several days and nights on a train followed by this bumpy sea voyage—had left her feeling woozy.

She tightly clutched the package with the medicine and ginseng to her chest, not daring to let go for a moment.

Lu Xiao sat ramrod straight, like a deep-rooted pine tree, doing his best to keep his body steady so Su Tang could lean against him more comfortably.

One of his large hands gently patted Su Tang’s back, while the other was looking over a crumpled, simple map of the island.

“We’re almost there, Tangtang. Just hang in there a little longer.”

He said in a low voice, his words partially drowned out by the sound of the waves, but his steadiness was reassuring.

“According to this map, we’ll still have a bit of a ride after we disembark to get to the work station where your parents are.”

Su Tang lifted her head and looked out the porthole.

The vast, boundless sea stretched out, its deep blue water churning with whitecaps.

In the distance, where the sea met the sky, a faint, grayish-green line had appeared.

’That was the island! The place where her parents were!’

Her heart tightened. She was eager to arrive quickly, yet also afraid of what she would find when she did.

’Dad… how is he really doing?’

“Lu Xiao,” she said, her voice a bit hoarse. “Do you think… Dad will get better?”

Lu Xiao set the map aside and pulled Su Tang a little closer, resting his chin on the crown of her head. His tone was resolute.

“He will. Of course he will. We’re almost there, aren’t we? We’ve brought medicine and tonics, and most importantly, you’re here in person. The moment your dad sees you, his spirits will lift, and that alone will cure half his illness!”

He paused, looking at the ever-clearer coastline outside the window, his eyes firm. “No matter what we face, you’ve got me. The two of us, together, we’ll bring Dad home and nurse him back to health!”

“Mm.”

Su Tang leaned on Lu Xiao’s shoulder and said no more.

When the ship’s horn blared, they knew they had arrived at the island.

They followed the crowd off the ship. The second her feet hit the ground, Su Tang was overcome with nausea and vomited.

The ship had been swaying so much that even on solid ground, she still felt the phantom rocking of the waves.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep