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As soon as Qinglan returned home, Liu Xiuzhen began to cry and complain about Qing Shusheng's "crimes," completely disregarding her feelings and the flirtations with the "vixen" next door.
"He even said he wants a divorce, that he can't live with me anymore," Liu Xiuzhen said tearfully.
"Divorce?" Qinglan laughed dismissively. "Mother, you shouldn't be so paranoid. Divorce? That's impossible; Father won't divorce you."
In the mountainous village where Qinglan lived, she had never seen anyone from her parents' or grandparents' generation get divorced. She had seen many couples who argued and fought, but none had ever mentioned divorce; they all ended up growing old together, gray-haired and frail.
Qinglan often heard her Grandma tell stories about how a certain gray-haired Father in the village once liked another girl when he was young, while his own wife would argue with him every three days and leave home every two days. Yet, they still ended up sitting together in a corner of the yard, watching the sunrise and sunset, witnessing the seasons change.
So, Qinglan was not concerned about Liu Xiuzhen's complaints.
This was her first long time away from home after starting university, and she was not enjoying her winter break.
Aside from hearing Liu Xiuzhen incessantly talk about how Qing Shusheng wanted a divorce, there was also concern for her Grandfather Liu Dezhou's health. From their hushed and cautious words and expressions, Qinglan understood that Grandfather might not make it past the New Year or shortly thereafter.
Qinglan had visited Liu Dezhou's small room upstairs several times; she could hardly believe that the frail, pale figure lying in bed was once her Grandfather, who commanded respect and spoke with a booming voice.
Every time Qinglan entered, he would try to sit up, but even such a simple movement was beyond his capability. With the help of Qinglan, Liu Xiuzhen, or Qing Shusheng, he could slowly lean against the pillow. His lips would move as if something were stuck in his throat, mumbling incoherently.
Each time she descended from the bamboo house, Qinglan felt an overwhelming sadness that lingered for a long time. There was no urge to cry out loud, but her eyes would moisten, her mood would drop, and her heart would ache faintly.
Life is so fragile; time is so ruthless yet fair. Regardless of whether you come from humble beginnings or wealth, whether you were once strong or weak, it relentlessly wears down your youthful vigor and inevitably erodes your once youthful body.
Time will never stab you to death in one blow; everyone will endure the same amount of pain!
Secondly, the oppressive atmosphere in Qinglan's home is due to Liu Jiawei's situation.
Ever since Shaw Min had an accident, Qing Shusheng has been extremely harsh on him, not allowing him to leave the house and forcing him to work in the fields alongside her.
Liu Jiawei has always been somewhat restless and reckless. Although he is not from a wealthy family, he has never experienced hardship, so he cannot bear the grueling life that Qing Shusheng imposes on him, waking up at dawn and resting at sunset.
Especially after Liu Xiuzhen sent Qing Shusheng to propose to Bai Cuifen and was rejected, this blow truly left Liu Jiawei feeling dejected for a while.
Although he knows he is indeed a scoundrel, Liu Jiawei is very clear in his heart that he genuinely likes An Shaomin. Her fair skin and gentle smile often lead him to fantasize about a day when he could hold her hand and let her lean against him.
Her tranquility makes him yearn for her; it seems she always harbors a beautiful pastoral life in her heart, where spring lasts all year round and flowers bloom profusely!
Liu Jiawei thought that since he had already destroyed her beauty, she should be willing to settle for him, which could be considered an opportunity for him to rise above his station.
However, he did not expect that she would refuse outright, leaving no room for contemplation.
Liu Jiawei was severely impacted! He realized that in her eyes, which were filled with beauty, he was no different from the foolish man who wandered around the village every day.
Do the young girls and young wives in the village now see him the same way they see that foolish man? They all take detours when they see him, their expressions and demeanor mirroring those they have when encountering that foolish man—filled with disdain and fear.
Another person who finds this hard to understand is Liu Xiuzhen. Although Qing Shusheng conveyed Bai Cuifen's message gently to Liu Xiuzhen after returning that night, Liu Xiuzhen has never given up hope.
"They still look down on our family, and so what if their daughter is pretty? Who would want her anyway?" Liu Xiuzhen's eyes were filled with disdain.
"No one would want her, and that's better than being with that beast from our family!" Whenever Liu Xiuzhen expressed her doubts, Qing Shusheng would bluntly retort with this statement.
Later, whenever Liu Xiuzhen encountered Bai Cuifen on the road, she would spit at her and say, "Hmph! What's so great about her?"
Bai Cuifen never responded, walking past with her head down.
Faced with pressure from home and the village, as well as the emotional blow from his first failed attempt at love, Liu Jiawei finally left home in anger one night.
He simply packed a few things, took some money from home, and went to Shenzhen.
Since he left home, he had only sent one letter back to inform his family that, with the help of classmates, he had found a job as a factory worker in an electronics factory, and then there was no further news.
Despite Liu Jiawei's many faults, blood ties are unbreakable! As the year-end approached, students returning from school in town and county, as well as villagers working in distant Shenzhen, gradually returned to the village. Only Liu Jiawei remained out of contact. Whether it was Qing Shusheng, who often scolded and beat him, or Liu Xiuzhen, who had always spoiled him, or Grandma, they all longed for him. They hoped that one day he would suddenly appear on the stone bridge at the village entrance, just like when he used to come home from school, calling out from afar,
"Grandma, I'm back! Is dinner ready?"
Every time he returned home, his first words were always urging Grandma about dinner.
At that time, Grandma would always complain about him, saying he looked like someone just released from a hunger prison. Now Grandma no longer bothers him. Although Qinglan's return brought a smile to Grandma's wrinkled face, there was still a lonely light in her eyes. Her gaze often blurred with moisture, making her vision even more unclear. Whenever she saw a figure appear at the village entrance, she would hurriedly wave to Qinglan, "Lanlan, see if your brother is back? That looks just like your brother." But looking in that direction, there was no shadow of Liu Jiawei; it was far from his figure. Perhaps it was just because of longing that everyone seemed like his shadow.
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