"Second Uncle, is Yuan Yuan doing well?" Xiao Yifei asked. Yuan Yuan is the second uncle’s daughter.
"She’s doing great. She’s now working at a cultural company in Hangzhou, got married last year, and just had a baby, so your aunt went to help her with the child." The second uncle spoke with pride about his daughter.
"You know, when you two were little, I hoped you would end up together. But you both ended up running further apart, and years would go by without seeing each other." The second uncle seed a bit disappointed.
"Maybe it’s just fate. I rember we used to get along really well in middle school, but sohow lost contact. It’s probably my fault for going too far away. After staying abroad for two years, I ca back to find so many things had changed," Xiao Yifei said, sowhat regretfully.
The two walked around the streets, and Xiao Yifei realized he didn’t recognize many places. They were probably newly built.
"Second Uncle, is this area newly developed? It feels like I’m visiting for the first ti," Xiao Yifei asked, looking puzzled.
"Yes, this area was reconstructed last year after demolition. Honestly, I don’t think it was necessary. It used to be lively with street vendors and everything. Now it’s empty; they can rebuild as they please, all just a matter of governnt decisions," the second uncle said.
"I heard the area where we live is also up for redevelopnt. No one knows if it will be completely demolished or not, but there were talks a few months ago," the second uncle continued.
"I don’t think there’s any need for demolition. Our place is so comfortable, and the houses are all old residences where people have lived for decades. How can they just decide to demolish them?" Xiao Yifei said, quite confused.
Huaxia’s rapid developnt is incredible, and it seems construction is happening everywhere daily. Yet so of the things being torn down were built just a few years ago.
"Don’t worry, if there’s any definite plan for demolition, I’ll definitely contact you. Anyway, you haven’t even called in the past two years," the second uncle said.
"Second Uncle, it’s not that I didn’t want to call you. When I arrived in the city, my phone was stolen, and I lost all the numbers I had stored. Do you have WeChat? If I add you, we can keep in touch anyti," Xiao Yifei asked.
"Yes, yes, WeChat has beco popular suddenly, so I got one too. It’s very convenient for video calls with my daughter," the second uncle said, taking out his phone and opening WeChat.
Under his guidance, Xiao Yifei drove to the Donglaishun Restaurant. "The lamb hotpot here is particularly delicious. I co here to eat at least once a month. I rember you loved hotpot as a child, so you should still enjoy it," the second uncle remarked.
"Of course, I do. My taste hasn’t changed at all over the years," Xiao Yifei replied.
"Second Uncle, I rember when we were kids, you loved to take Yuan Yuan and to that skewer place near the Third Primary School. That was always a morable taste for . Every ti I got hungry abroad, I craved those skewers."
After they finished eating, the second uncle said, "Xiao Yifei, I’ll head ho first. Let’s chat more in the evening. You should go see Grandpa now!"
"Second Uncle, I’ll drive you ho first, then go see Grandpa," Xiao Yifei insisted.
"No need, I’ll just walk to digest a bit. You should go quickly."
So Xiao Yifei left first.
Arriving at his grandfather’s grave, Xiao Yifei found so food and several bouquets of flowers left there. He thought, even after two years, soone still rembers his grandfather, which is really nice.
He recalled a passage he read before: "So people are alive, but they’re already dead; so people are dead, but they still live on." His grandfather was the latter kind. Although his body left two years ago, his spirit lives on in people’s hearts. If a person can live like this, it’s truly enough.
Kneeling in front of the grave, Xiao Yifei said, "Grandpa, your unfilial grandson is here to visit you. Please don’t bla for not coming all this ti. I think about you constantly. But I’ve been afraid to visit, always feeling I’ve let you down. I promise I’ll find the Biwei Silver Needle for you."
"I know it’s always been your wish. Forgive for the misunderstanding I had with you before. I’m working at quite a renowned hospital now, and I’ll certainly beco a good doctor."
Xiao Yifei murmured at his grandfather’s grave for a long ti. What he really wanted to say was, "Grandpa, I miss you so much. Why did you leave so early?" But he never said it out loud, as his grandfather always told him to be brave and be a man.
As he was about to leave, he noticed a man walking over. He recognized him as his father, but he didn’t want to acknowledge him. There was no other path to take.
With his head lowered, pretending not to see, his father still called out, "Xiao Yifei, do you really hate that much? Not even a greeting when you see ?"
"I don’t hate you. What right do I have? I just don’t want to have any connection with you," Xiao Yifei said, expressionless.
His father’s tone softened upon hearing this, "Let’s find a place to talk afterward, now that you’re grown up. I think you can understand my difficulties."
Xiao Yifei didn’t say anything more, waiting for his father on the side.
Later, they found a quiet little restaurant, ordered so small dishes and a few beers, and awkwardly started eating.
After a while, his father spoke, seeming to have been contemplating his words for a long ti: "I know your mother and I both let you down. I’m sure you resent us. But we really had our difficulties. You understand, marriage isn’t easy to manage."
"Is that the difficulty you refer to? To think I had no place in your hearts. How about your child now? Do you also neglect his life?" Xiao Yifei replied, questioning. Everyone talks about difficulties, but has anyone asked Lin Xiaoyifei for his opinion?
"I used to send you money every year and visit during New Year’s," his father said.
"Bringing your wife and new child to Grandpa’s house during New Year’s — was that really visiting ? Did you consider my feelings?" Xiao Yifei said no more after this, fearing he might lose control and either get angry or cry, which would be too embarrassing. He couldn’t let that happen in front of his father.
He picked up the beer on the table and gulped down half the bottle.
Xiao Yifei always thought he didn’t care, but talking about those old tis today, he couldn’t help but feel sad, almost tearing up. Thank goodness for the beer to cover his emotions.
"I was wrong back then. I don’t expect your forgiveness, but seeing you doing well now is enough to ease my mind," his father said.
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