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墨書 Inktalez
The small bridge and flowing water, the white walls and black tiles, the Jiangnan water town was as serene and tranquil as an ink wash painting. Xu Ziyao said that every year on the anniversary of his mother's passing, he would return to Zhouzhuang.
This time, Wang Yushan accompanied him, wearing a long-unworn purple qipao adorned with small white flowers. Her hair was styled into an elegant bun, decorated with a pearl flower. Xu Ziyao was taken aback for a long moment when he saw her looking so graceful and delicate.
He took Wang Yushan to visit distant relatives in the village before leading her up the mountain. Xu Ziyao's mother was buried on a hillside just outside the village, a solitary grave facing the vast fields and babbling streams below.
Xu Ziyao carefully removed the weeds from the grave and added some fresh soil. When it came time to pay respects to his mother, Wang Yushan solemnly followed suit.
"I lived with my mother until I was fifteen and never met my father," Xu Ziyao said as he sat on the hillside, facing the wind, one hand tugging at the green grass at his feet.
Wang Yushan listened quietly as he continued, "Both my parents are from Zhouzhuang. My mother followed my father to Shanghai to seek her fortune. My father became the leader of Feng He Tang after seizing an opportunity.
But at that time, there were gang conflicts in Shanghai, with everyone vying for control of the docks to expand their power. My mother feared that being in Shanghai would distract my father, so she returned to Zhouzhuang with me, who had just been born. My father promised he would come back for her soon, but he never did.
When she passed away, my father finally appeared and took me to Shanghai. But then I discovered that he already had another woman there, just no children. I felt it was unfair for my mother to have waited for him all those years, so I didn’t want him to have it easy either. I deliberately caused trouble for him; seeing him flustered made me feel better."
"Do you really feel better?" Wang Yushan countered.
He took a deep breath, lying back on the grass and gazing at the leisurely white clouds in the blue sky, slightly furrowing his brow. "Not really. No matter how wrong I acted, he never got angry. His indifference felt like a burden to me; it made me feel like I was doing something wrong. Lately, he's been troubled by continuous incidents at the docks, but I can't help him at all. Suddenly, I feel quite irresponsible."
"It's not too late for you to realize this now. No matter what he's done, he's still your father and your only family," she said softly, looking at the hillside covered in blooming purple flowers swaying gently in the wind.
The strands of hair falling by her ear were lifted by the breeze, revealing an indescribable sadness in her eyes. Xu Ziyao sat up and brushed aside the hair blowing onto her face, asking gently, "What’s wrong?"
“Ziyao, do you think if my parents were still alive, they would force me to marry into the Chang Family? I really don’t want to marry into the Chang Family; I just want someone to take me away from here.”
“Then let’s elope,” he said, looking seriously into her eyes.
“Elopement? Do you... do you like me?”
“I’ve already taken you to pay respects at my mother’s grave; what do you think?” Xu Ziyao pinched her nose playfully, filled with affection.
Wang Yushan smiled shyly, and he naturally pulled her into his embrace, saying, “From the first moment you jumped into my car, I liked you. I thought to myself that I had to marry such a special girl. Yushan, if you trust me enough, we will definitely be together.”
His embrace brought an overwhelming sense of security. Wang Yushan nodded firmly, “I believe in you.”
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