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墨書 Inktalez
The days in the mountain village are always shorter than the nights. Even in June, by five in the afternoon, the sun has already begun to set slowly, yet the intense heat has not dissipated; the ground still feels as if it has been scorched by fire, steaming with heat.
Bai Cuifen is wearing a short-sleeved cotton shirt with floral patterns, dark blue pants, and cotton shoes. After locking the front door, she shoulders a hoe and steps outside.
Behind her are An Shaomin and An Shaojie.
Shaw Min holds a small rake in his hand, while An Shaojie continues to carry a bamboo basket on his back.
Bai Cuifen is from outside the mountains and belongs to the Han ethnicity, so she usually maintains the traditional attire of Han people. Since marrying into Liu Family Village, her style of dress has always been seen as unconventional by the women of Liu Family Village, who often gossip about it.
As she reaches the west end of the village, a group of women gathers at the arch bridge. Some lean against the railings on either side of the bridge, while others sit on stones beside it.
Below the bridge, Clear Water flows steadily, filled with crystal-clear water that trickles beneath.
The bridges on both the east and west sides of the village are common gathering spots for the women of Liu Family Village. In late autumn and harsh winter, this area receives the best sunlight, making it an ideal place to bask in the sun. Outside the bridge stand two ancient Locust Trees; when spring arrives, clusters of pure white locust flowers hang from their branches, filling the air with a rich fragrance that can be detected from afar. In summer, the dense shade of the Locust Trees casts reflections on both the bridge and Clear Water below, keeping this spot cool even at midday, reminiscent of autumn.
Thus, regardless of spring, summer, autumn, or winter, a group of women often gathers here to chat idly about various matters.
As Bai Cuifen passes by the bridgehead, the women stop talking and greet her with a tone of sympathy and smiles.
"Cui Fen, are you going out now?" they ask while still regarding her with sympathetic eyes as they look her up and down.
Bai Cuifen smiles in response to their overly enthusiastic greetings.
Shaw Min splashed the water under the bridge with a rake, while An Shaojie maintained a stern expression, not glancing at the people on either side of the bridge.
As Bai Cuifen and the others stepped onto the bridge, silence immediately fell behind her, with dozens of eyes fixed intently on her back.
Her soft, rounded waist swayed lightly beneath a thin shirt, and the white shirt adorned with green flowers looked as fresh as new, elegant and clean, with faintly visible creases.
However, before Bai Cuifen could walk far, a disdainful snort escaped their noses, and several women curled their lips in contemptuous expressions.
"Hmph! An Bingwen hasn't been gone for just a few days! She doesn't look sad at all."
"Yeah."
"She locked herself in her room for those days, never going out, and we thought she was so heartbroken."
"Exactly."
"Ah! Poor Bingwen Brother."
"Mm-hmm, it will be even more convenient from now on."
"Haha."
Fortunately, once they were on the bridge, Shaw Min and An Shaojie moved ahead of Bai Cuifen. By the time she descended from the bridge, they had already bounced and run far out of the village entrance, unable to hear those faint murmurs.
Or perhaps they heard it but pretended not to. At least An Shaojie did.
Walking ahead of Bai Cuifen, An Shaojie deliberately spoke loudly while chasing after Shaw Min, playing around. His and Shaw Min's cheerful voices resonated brightly, drowning out the vague and obscure whispers behind Bai Cuifen.
In the past, as long as Bai Cuifen appeared before those women, she could immediately spark endless topics of conversation among them. Now, having just lost her husband once again and becoming a widow anew, Bai Cuifen reappeared before them, rekindling their memories and discussions about old times, much like recalling their own wedding nights with excitement, their faces glowing with happiness.
People easily forget pain and compassion.
As the group of women standing at the bridge began to chat about Bai Cuifen and An Bingwen's story, they had long forgotten the sympathy and pity they once felt for Bai Cuifen when An Bingwen had just passed away.
Watching Shaw Min and An Shaojie frolicking ahead, engrossed in their own play, and listening to the faintly sharp and sarcastic remarks behind her, Bai Cuifen couldn't help but recall her experiences when she first arrived at Liu Family Village.
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