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Bai Cuifen gazed into his eyes for a long time. After he returned home, she noticed these subtle changes in him. She thought it was because of the girlfriend who took him abroad, believing that only love could change a person, making them warm and gentle. Therefore, she assumed that there must be a sweet romance between him and that girlfriend, which had made him more tolerant and magnanimous.
She never expected the outcome to be like this!
So, what had supported him through his lonely life abroad all these years? Why had he changed?
Bai Cuifen understood her own child best; his stubbornness was as hard as a rock, not something that could easily change. He must have gone through something significant.
Thus, Bai Cuifen's scrutinizing gaze swept across his face, as if trying to see into his heart.
He did not shy away from her gaze but met her scrutiny calmly, as if he understood what she wanted to know.
He smiled lightly and said, "Su Hailu and I are still very good friends. She is not just an ordinary person; she is an eagle. She should have the depths of the ocean and a broader sky. My world is small; she is not suited for me."
He spoke lightly, expressing his thoughts without concern for whether Bai Cuifen could understand. But this was his most genuine feeling.
Although his words were profound, Bai Cuifen was educated and seemed to grasp the meaning behind them. She nodded and asked, "Have you been alone all this time?"
"Yes," he replied calmly.
Bai Cuifen stopped asking questions and lowered her head to focus on her embroidery.
Laughter began to echo from the other side again.
After a long time, Bai Cuifen finally remembered to ask, "How long are you planning to stay at home?"
"After returning to the country this time, I don't plan to go out again. I will stay at home for a while before going to Beijing. There is a Pharmaceutical Company in the U.S. that has opened a branch in Beijing, and I work for that company. I will come back to see you often," An Shaojie said.
Everyone was listening, but Simple and Shaw Min had already asked him about this plan, so there was not much surprise.
For Bai Cuifen, this was her hope, so she nodded in agreement after hearing it.
She didn't know where abroad was; it felt too distant. However, she knew that everyone in the world shared one Earth, one moon, and one sun. The sun there wouldn't be brighter than the sun in China, nor would the moon be more luminous than China's. It was better to stay in the country.
If it were up to her, returning to Liu Family Village wouldn't be a bad idea either. Lan Girl had returned from Beijing and was doing well in Liu Family Village. Xu Wen was still a young master from Beijing, yet he also came to Liu Family Village and stayed for several years. He could always return to Beijing later. It was said that people from the city now preferred to go to the countryside, especially the mountains, where the air was fresh and free of pollution.
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At Qing Shusheng's home.
Old Lady Liu, Qing Shusheng, Liu Xiuzhen, Qinglan, Xu Wen, and Qingmei made up a family of six gathered around a square dining table, having dinner.
Qingmei wasn't very tall yet; sitting at the table only allowed her to peek her little head above it. Therefore, she often stood on her chair or half-knelt on it, almost leaning over the table. The table was filled with various farm-style dishes, and Qinglan had brought back some food from the Provincial Capital for her nourishment. To help her recover, Liu Xiuzhen had even specially slaughtered an old farm chicken. The bright yellow chicken soup sat in the center of the table—her favorite dish. After being ill, her appetite had returned with a vengeance; she busily maneuvered between spoon and chopsticks at the table, devouring her food amidst a lively and chaotic symphony of clattering bowls and spoons.
She sat next to Xu Wen. As Liu Xiuzhen put it, this little girl had a tendency to act out; sitting next to Xu Wen made her feel most constrained and less free. Yet every time she chose to sit beside him anyway, wanting to express her carefree Mengmeng state while occasionally glancing at Xu Wen and unconsciously restraining her words and actions. This made Liu Xiuzhen worry about her constantly and keep an eye on her, feeling as if her heart were in her throat as she occasionally let out sharp cries and shouts like harmonious notes in a symphony.
For some reason, today both Qinglan and Xu Wen were in great spirits; they seemed unaffected by An Shaojie's return. Qinglan did not stop Qingmei's occasional "excessive" behavior at all, while Xu Wen also refrained from teaching Qingmei how to be a good girl. Instead, he let her bounce around like a highly energetic ball, often causing little troubles and awkward situations that made everyone burst into laughter amidst the mess and joy at the table.
In the customs of the Tujia people, as long as there are one or two small dishes on the dining table, they will take out the old wine stored in jars and drink a few cups. Today, however, there are more than just one or two small dishes on the table.
The Qing family has never lacked for wine, and their dining table has never been limited to just one or two small dishes. In recent years, their economic situation has improved significantly, so wine is almost always present at their meals.
During these years that Xu Wen has stayed with them, his alcohol tolerance has greatly increased, and he has developed a fondness for their homemade sorghum liquor and rice wine—crisp yet rich and fragrant. As soon as the bottle is opened, the room fills with its aroma.
Today provides even more reasons to drink.
The first reason is to celebrate Qingmei's recovery from her illness. Each person raises a glass to her, and Qingmei claps her hands joyfully, laughing heartily. Although she may not fully understand their words, she knows they are toasting her and drinking for her sake, which makes her happy. She understands this means she is cherished by everyone and that she holds an important place in their hearts.
Though she does not have a father to call her own, she is not much different from other children in the village. She may lack a father, but she has Uncle Xu—something other children do not have. This might be why she enjoys being close to Xu Wen; in her eyes, Uncle Xu is similar to other children's fathers—loving yet strict. Aren't all fathers like that?
The second reason also revolves around Qingmei: welcoming her back from the provincial capital and congratulating her on her first trip there. In short, the reasons for drinking still center around her.
The more they dote on her, the more obedient she becomes, covering her mouth as she giggles and feeling a bit shy. She thinks the adults are like children themselves; they have never been to the provincial capital and treat it as an excuse to drink.
As the adults continue to drink cup after cup, Qingmei laughs nonstop. After finishing the meal, she feels that her home is lively and joyful today. However, she still remembers the excitement at Bai Cuifen's house in the afternoon. So right after eating, she hops into the yard to sneak a peek at their home. Hmm, there’s no one in front of their door; it’s not as lively as it was in the afternoon. Satisfied, she bounces back into her own house.
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