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墨書 Inktalez
It is still not as lively here as in the big cities, but in this place, it is a vibrant land where not only her diligent sweat and hard-earned tears are shed, but also the blood of her unyielding spirit and struggle against fate.
Of course, there is also his toil and love here.
The cold wind gently lifts the corners of his clothes and stirs his slightly curled hair. He is no longer the warm and jade-like youth he once was; his face now bears the faint marks of life's hardships. He is not old, and he has matured and become steady over the years, but now there is a deeper sedimentation of worldly experiences in his calm demeanor.
What will tomorrow bring?
Xu Wen sat down by the roadside, resembling a leisurely villager, the only difference being his understated yet exquisite attire, an elegant and light demeanor, and a slightly melancholic expression.
Although his outfit was refined, he did not mind sitting on the ground. Over the years, he had long integrated his body into these mountains and merged his soul with the natural scenery around him. More carefree than the locals, he could lie down or sit anywhere—on the grass in the forest or on stones by the mountain path—without concern.
He never intended to return to the dormitory; saying he would go back was merely an excuse.
Because An Shaojie had returned, he was afraid to see him. Was it really him who was afraid to see An Shaojie? It should be An Shaojie who was afraid to see him! He sighed lightly at his inexplicable fear.
After thinking for a moment, he realized it might not be because he was afraid to see An Shaojie himself but rather because he feared witnessing her reaction upon seeing An Shaojie—that scene!
He had known for a while that An Shaojie had come back from abroad, but he had never told her because he did not want to see her reaction upon hearing this news.
Well, what one does not want to face must eventually be faced. An Shaojie not only returned to the country but is currently in Liu Family Village. She knows he is back, and it is only a matter of time before she meets him; likewise, it is inevitable that he will meet An Shaojie.
How should he face him?
He loves her. He has loved her since university; he regarded her as his greatest rival and competitor. Although he never showed it, he believed that if he let go, he could have her. As fate would have it, he let her go, but after all these years of silently standing by her side, he still has not won her over.
He thought again. He loved her, but was it just to possess her? He hadn't won her over; would anyone mock him for that? Was it his own cowardice, or was it the gaze of others that made him afraid to see her?
He had always believed himself to be open and upright, a gentleman without fear. When had he ever been so timid?
When he had resolutely come here from Beijing, when had he cared about others' opinions? Wasn't it his open heart at that time that had filled him with a sense of heroism?
During college, with nothing to his name, he had cared for her without hesitation, never backing down from gossip. Why now, for him, did he have to lie here lost in thought?
Moreover, she had never agreed to be with him; she had even repeatedly urged him to leave. Wasn't she doing this out of genuine concern for him? How could one say she felt no affection or love for him?
Indeed, since ancient times, love has always been a difficult riddle. To live for love is a passionate affair; to die for love is also a passionate affair. Why should one care about gains and losses? Isn't all love meant for the happiness and joy of the other?
Sometimes gaining and possessing is love, but sometimes letting go and giving up can be an even deeper love.
As long as the other person is happy and joyful, that is enough; he felt this way, and so did she!
With this thought in mind, Xu Wen hugged his knees and stood up, walking out of the woods and getting back into his car to head towards Liu Family Village.
Xu Wen drove slowly. As he approached the entrance of Liu Family Village, a white car suddenly sped past him.
Nowadays, many people in the mountains worked outside, and many families had bought cars. So even on the mountain roads, it was not surprising to see cars coming and going. Xu Wen paid no mind and continued to drive leisurely, occasionally glancing at the scenery outside.
The white car that had passed him suddenly came to a stop. The window rolled down, and a head poked out from inside.
"Xu Wen," the person called out, stopping the car by the roadside to wait for him.
When Xu Wen's car was parallel to his, Xu Wen saw Jian Ming leaning against the car window, smiling at him. Beside him sat the pregnant An Shaomin, while Simple and Chen Yang were in the back seat.
Simple was still as carefree as ever, her cheerful smile always on her face, almost making everyone who saw her envious. Upon seeing Xu Wen, she was so excited that she nearly jumped out of the car, waving her hand to greet him, "Xu Wen! Xu Wen!"
It seemed that An Shaojie had returned, and they knew the news, so they hurried back as well, Xu Wen thought.
After graduating from university, An Shaomin was assigned to Jian Ming's school as a teacher. They got married last year and invited Xu Wen and Qinglan, but Qinglan couldn't attend due to work commitments and only sent Xu Wen with a gift.
During the years Xu Wen stayed in Liu Family Village, he often met Jian Ming and An Shaomin during winter and summer breaks and other holidays when they returned to see Bai Cuifen. Therefore, Xu Wen had become quite familiar with An Shaomin. He had known Jian Ming since their school days in Beijing, and they shared many similarities in their approach to life and interactions with others. This led both of them to regard each other as confidants.
Moreover, their dedication to love further deepened their mutual admiration, creating a gentlemanly bond that felt pure and clear like water, requiring little conversation.
Simple and Chen Yang were in Beijing, so Xu Wen rarely saw them. Thus, when he met Simple this time, she was unable to contain her excitement. Knowing that Jian Ming's car had driven far away, she still leaned out of the window to shout at Xu Wen: "Tonight, Chen Yang and I will come find you and Qinglan!" The rest of her words were lost in the wind.
This was her first visit back to Liu Family Village since moving to Beijing. Her excitement was not only because she saw Xu Wen but also included thoughts of Qinglan. After all, it had been many years since she last saw Qinglan. Besides Qinglan, there were also familiar yet vague memories of the village and its surroundings.
As Xu Wen's car followed behind, he noticed that when Jian Ming's car reached the village entrance, it was surrounded by many people. Bai Cuifen stood at the front of the crowd to welcome them.
This was Chen Yang's first visit to Liu Family Village. For Simple, it was also her first visit since Jian Ming and Shaw Min got married. Simple and Chen Yang were already engaged; thus, this trip to Liu Family Village marked their formal introduction to Bai Cuifen as close relatives. Bai Cuifen took this seriously as well; holding a roll of firecrackers in her hand, she lit them as they approached. Suddenly, the crackling sounds echoed throughout Liu Family Village, adding a festive atmosphere to the lively scene. An Shaojie was not among the crowd; he stood in front of their Stilt House but did not come out to greet them.
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