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The reason why Bai Cuifen's home was quiet was not because there were few family members, as there were only the two of them. The family next door had a similar situation, with just a mother and her son at home. However, the mother complained that her son was too lazy, and the son found his mother too nagging. The two of them argued loudly, making more noise than a large family.
Bai Cuifen and An Shaojie were both quiet individuals. Although An Shaojie had a reputation in the village for being unapproachable, at home he was obedient, gentle, and attentive. Bai Cuifen needed no introduction; everyone in the village regarded her as a virtuous woman, and at home, she was an exemplary mother. She spoke little and educated her children, An Shaojie and An Shaomin, with just enough guidance. She never lectured them unnecessarily; for trivial matters that did not violate principles, they made their own decisions. For significant issues, she would offer her thoughts and suggestions, but for matters of principle, she would firmly say "no."
Thus, the mother and son went about their respective tasks in a quiet and harmonious manner.
Watching the two shadows in the night, Qinglan felt a sense of closeness that was nonetheless out of reach.
For several days, Qinglan dared not seek him out; eventually, she didn't even want to step outside for fear of seeing him again and being seen through as she had been last time.
However, staying at home left her restless.
Qinglan's reluctance to go out eased Liu Jiawei's mind considerably. With his skills improving and soon leaving home to attend university like Qinglan, Liu Jiawei felt more confident and held himself to higher standards. He often worked while asking Qinglan about life at university.
When discussing college relationships, Liu Jiawei advised Qinglan not to get involved with An Shaojie.
Qinglan pouted and said, "You're the one who wronged someone else but still hold a grudge against them."
Liu Jiawei replied, "It's not that I hold a grudge against him. If it were his sister, I would definitely speak well of her, but he is different."
"Why is he different?" Qinglan asked defiantly.
"He has a strong sense of resentment. If he is nice to you, it must be to take revenge on your behalf for his sister," Liu Jiawei explained.
Qinglan was unhappy. "You always think the worst of people. He is so bad, yet I have not seen him do anything wrong. It's you..."
Qinglan's words left Liu Jiawei speechless, unable to respond for a long time.
"Fine, you'll know in the future when you have times when you can't cry," Liu Jiawei said, watching Qinglan storm off to her room.
Qing Shusheng and Liu Xiuzhen were standing nearby and overheard the conversation between Qinglan and Liu Jiawei. Liu Xiuzhen, following behind Liu Jiawei, remarked, "It's time to remind Lanlan."
Her words seemed to agree with Liu Jiawei, but they also served as a hint for Qing Shusheng, suggesting that he should also talk to Qinglan.
Upon hearing this topic, Qing Shusheng avoided the conversation and went out to the yard. Liu Xiuzhen continued behind him, saying, "Lanlan is like this; it will harm her in the future."
For Qing Shusheng, he was not unaware of the implications in Liu Jiawei and Liu Xiuzhen's words. He shared their premonitions and unease. He had been contemplating this matter for days and had wanted to talk to Qinglan, but he didn't know how to approach it. Firstly, as a father, some things felt inappropriate for him to say. Secondly, he did not want to assume the worst about An Shaojie, yet he often felt a vague unease for Qinglan.
However, Qinglan was his daughter—his most beloved daughter, the one he was most proud of. He placed all his beautiful wishes, dreams, blessings, and hopes on her. If she were to be destroyed, it would be the most devastating blow to him.
Thus, he had been considering how to talk to her with the right approach and mindset. But it was currently a busy farming season; he left early and returned late every day, taking on the work that required a man for both families, which led him to set aside the idea of having a heart-to-heart with Qinglan.
Perhaps due to the warnings from Liu Jiawei and Liu Xiuzhen, along with the vague unease in the eyes of Qing Shusheng and Grandma, Qinglan felt some fear and trepidation. For a long stretch of summer vacation afterward, she gradually calmed her heart and no longer experienced that anxious state of wanting to see An Shaojie almost every day. Her heart settled down; in the days without seeing him, lingering thoughts replaced her restlessness.
Until one day, after a long time without going out, Qinglan went with Liu Xiuzhen to water the vegetables in the garden during the evening when they unexpectedly encountered Bai Cuifen and An Shaojie returning from watering.
Naturally, Liu Xiuzhen would not greet Bai Cuifen or An Shaojie, but Qinglan, just like when she was little, naturally approached Bai Cuifen, calling out, "Mother."
Bai Cuifen smiled and gently patted Qinglan's head, asking, "Why haven't you come to my house to play since summer vacation started? Is it because Sister Shaomin isn't home? And there's Brother Shaojie too! Brother Shaojie stays at home every day reading books and memorizing English words. You can come to our house and study with him." Bai Cuifen's eyes simultaneously glanced at An Shaojie.
An Shaojie shuffled his feet on the grass, not smiling or responding, and of course, he didn't greet Liu Xiuzhen either.
"Brother Shaojie." As Qinglan brushed past An Shaojie, she called out to him just like before.
Bai Cuifen weakly greeted Liu Xiuzhen, saying, "Hello, Sister." This was how she had addressed Liu Xiuzhen when she first arrived at Liu Family Village, and she continued to call her that. However, it had been a long time since she had addressed her like this in front of her.
After passing by, Liu Xiuzhen became annoyed again. She pointed at Qinglan's forehead and said, "You silly girl, you're still as foolish as when you were little. Since you're on good terms with him now, naturally his family should greet us first. Now look at you; not only did you take the initiative to greet them first, but that boy is still ignoring people like before. Who does he think he is? Right now, he owes us. How much has your father sent to their family? I’ve never even received a word of thanks."
Qinglan snuggled in Liu Xiuzhen's arms and proudly said, "Mother, he's just stingy! Our family is generous!" Qinglan's words warmed Liu Xiuzhen's heart, and she chose not to say more on the matter. However, looking at Qinglan's charming face and silly smile made her feel a pang of sadness. She sighed and said, "Silly girl, I'm just worried that he might deceive you. I always feel like he's not a good person." Qinglan smiled and comforted Liu Xiuzhen, saying, "Mother, what are you worried about? What can he deceive me about? No matter how far he goes, to the ends of the earth, he is still from Liu Family Village. He can't move his family away; he can't take his mother away unless he forgets his roots and never returns to Liu Family Village or abandons his mother."
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