Jane Sampson had been indulging in affection before she finally let go of the two seniors and called out to the driver, Uncle Chip, in the old mansion, "Uncle Chip, there are still two boxes of oranges in the trunk of my car. They are a bit heavy, and I can’t bring them in by myself. Can you please help with that?"
"Are they the sa oranges you brought last ti you visited? Those oranges are sweet; your grandma loves them. She makes sure to have one or two after waking up from her afternoon nap every day," Old Sir Sampson said as he and Granny Sampson held Jane on either side and led her into the house.
The countryside air is fresh, interpersonal relationships are simple and not taxing, and life is comfortable. The only downside is the lack of big city food and drinks. Oranges are not available in the countryside this season, and Jane knew that Granny Sampton liked them, so she went out of her way to buy them from an imported fruit supermarket.
"I heard from Old Black that you and Jas Black stayed at the Black Family ho overnight last weekend?" Granny Sampton, who had been holding Jane’s hand since sitting down, seed reluctant to let go, "Did Jas co back again last weekend?"
"Yes, but he went out of town for tasks again yesterday," Jane responded honestly, nodding her head, but she really didn’t want to discuss Jas with the elders, so she quickly changed the subject.
"Grandpa, Grandma, the reason I’m here is to talk to you both in person about sothing quite important.," Jane said, not ntioning the divorce because she dared not let the elderly know about it.
What Jane Sampson spoke of was her work.
"The last ti Jas ca back, he ntioned that if I feel too bored at ho, I should go out and look for work. I think he makes sense. I’m still so young and can’t stay ho all the ti," Jane glanced surreptitiously at the elderly couple as she spoke.
Both Grandpa and Granny Sampson were very traditional, and in their generation, it was normal for the man to work outside and the woman to manage the ho. So Jane was worried that the elders would be unhappy with her working.
Fortunately, Grandpa Sampson was not so close-minded. After his initial surprise, he also nodded in agreent.
"Tis have changed. Us old folks can’t expect you young people to abide by the ways of our past. If Jas thinks it’s okay, then there’s no problem."
"Is it the piano again? I’ve always said that your piano skills are so good, it would be a pity to stop playing. But after your marriage, you beca a granddaughter-in-law to the Black Family. What Old Black says, goes. He is rather conservative, and so, after you got married, I didn’t bring it up for all these years. But now that Jas has agreed, if Old Black is unhappy, let him convince him."
Granny Sampton’s heart swelled with delight, "When is your performance? Grandpa and I will definitely co to see you on stage!"
"I’m not playing piano," Jane Sampson shook her head, "Grandpa, Grandma, I want to be an actor."
After Jane Sampson finished speaking, a silence settled over Old Sir Sampson and Granny Sampson, who looked at her with so astonishnt.
They were indeed surprised by Jane Sampson’s declaration of wanting to beco an actor.
As she was their granddaughter they had raised by hand, the two elders imdiately understood the reason for Jane coming to them to say these words.
She was not just contemplating becoming an actor; she had already set out on the path to beco one. She feared the repercussions from her family once they learned of it, causing turmoil at ho. She sought a sliver of support and solace from the two elders.
"Does Jas know?" Granny Sampson asked slowly after being quiet for a while.
Seeing Jane Sampson gently shaking her head, Granny Sampson fell silent again.
She was upset and wanted to scold this suddenly overly rebellious granddaughter in front of her. But harsh words failed her, especially when she saw her granddaughter dropping her head, looking pitiful. She couldn’t utter a single one.
"Have you thought about the consequences?" Old Sir Sampton asked.
Jane Sampson nodded and then, after a pause, spoke in a sowhat hoarse voice, "In this world, besides grandpa and grandma, there’s nothing I can’t afford to lose. Even in the worst-case scenario, I can handle it. I’m not afraid."
Jane Sampson’s eyes reddened slightly. There were things she wanted to say but couldn’t, knowing they would only cause the elderly couple pain.
She wanted to shout out loud that she hadn’t had a single happy day since she was 16 years old.
Apart from her grandparents, there was truly nothing else Jane Sampson feared losing, because she had never really had a grasp on those things to begin with.
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