If it wasn’t for Little Star blocking the view, perhaps today, when Liang Hongi saw that green silhouette, she would have been stunned.
Lin Guozhi also didn’t see Liang Hongi because of Little Star. He was in a hurry because of urgent matters, so he left quickly.
His mory was fragnted and blurry before, but occasionally in his mind, there was the face of Liang Hongi when she was young.
To him, this face was that of his forr wife because whenever he thought of that face, he could feel joy in his heart and recall so monts they shared together.
He was troubled by the fact that no matter how much he tried, he simply couldn’t rember where this face resided.
This ti, Liang Hongi let Du Guangjun enter the house; since he braved the heavy snow to bring her ho, she felt it was inappropriate not to let him warm up by the fire before hastily sending him away.
"Why don’t you sit by the stove to warm up for a bit, I’ll settle the child in the room, heat the kang, and make you a cup of water to warm yourself up before you leave."
Du Guangjun nodded with a smile.
With the snow falling heavily, Little Star’s hands were still warm, and she slept soundly, which reassured Liang Hongi. She placed the child under the covers and got up to heat the kang, boiling a pot of hot water at the sa ti.
"Thanks to you today, co have a cup of tea. I don’t have any good tea leaves at ho, I hope you don’t mind."
"I don’t mind, I can drink anything," Du Guangjun said with a smile and began to make tea himself, not letting Liang Hongi do the work.
"Isn’t this the first ti I’ve co to your place?" Du Guangjun ward his hands with a teacup as he glanced around the room and nodded, "It’s different with a woman; the ho is always clean, unlike living alone, not knowing how to tidy up."
Du Guangjun’s words made Liang Hongi feel a bit awkward, she laughed lightly and said, "Sister Tang told that soone introduced you to soone really nice recently, at our age, finding soone with compatible temperants and without objection from the children is all it takes, no need to be so picky."
Du Guangjun shook his head in self-deprecation, "Everyone is nice, but I just feel in sync with you."
Du Guangjun’s words choked Liang Hongi, and she put away her smile and stated, "I’ve made it clear to you; we’re not suitable, and I don’t intend to find anyone. I’m comfortable living alone; my life is set like this. You should stop fantasizing and don’t waste your energy on soone like who’s not worth it." After finishing, she glanced at the clock and politely ushered him out, "It’s getting late, I won’t keep you for dinner. I’ll treat you to a al at the store another day."
She stood up to escort Du Guangjun out.
Unexpectedly, Du Guangjun took advantage of a mont when Liang Hongi wasn’t watching and hugged her from behind, "Hongi, from the mont I saw you, my heart was possessed, it was all your shadow."
Startled, Liang Hongi let out a scream and quickly broke free from his embrace. Du Guangjun didn’t actually intend to do anything; he was just upset by Liang Hongi’s straightforward words, feeling sad, wanting only to give her a hug to express his heart.
When Liang Hongi broke free, he let go.
"Old Du, you’re already at this age, you have your reputation; don’t do disgraceful things that ruin your lifeti reputation. I’ll say it again; don’t co looking for anymore, nor visit our store. If we et again, let’s pretend not to know each other."
"Hongi, don’t be like this, you know I can’t forget you." Du Guangjun was flustered by Liang Hongi’s words, hurriedly trying to reach for her as she raised the freshly boiled kettle, "Leave now, hurry up, don’t make sick."
Du Guangjun realized his actions just now made Liang Hongi develop disgust towards him.
He hadn’t considered Liang Hongi’s feelings, and indeed must have frightened her, which he deeply regretted. He thought it was no longer their younger days and that they shouldn’t be so reserved.
However, decades of cultivation told him it was ti to leave, not to do anything overbearing anymore.
"Hongi, don’t be agitated, I’ll leave now, the fault today was mine. You take so ti to calm down, I’ll be leaving first."
He walked out of Liang Hongi’s yard, looking back repeatedly.
Liang Hongi watched him exit the gate, trembling as she held the kettle filled with hot water, locking the door with shaking steps.
No one knew how scared she was just now. Being the only one at ho with the child, if Du Guangjun had been slightly unethical, she couldn’t even imagine the possible consequences.
She had survived a lifeti in such harsh village conditions; if her integrity was compromised today, she felt she wouldn’t want to live anymore.
Standing at the gate braving the snow, Liang Hongi cald her emotions, her trembling body also stabilized quite a bit, and she returned to the room in a daze.
Taking out the iron box she’d brought back from the old ho.
Holding the photos inside, Liang Hongi cried—this ti, it was heart-wrenching sobs, crying for a long, long ti.
Had her crying not woken Little Star, Liang Hongi probably would have cried through to the evening.
Nothing was more important than her granddaughter to her, so Liang Hongi composed herself, helped Little Star to the bathroom, and fed her so milk.
If the kids didn’t co ho today, she’ll definitely be back tomorrow; she couldn’t let them worry. After tending to Little Star, Liang Hongi quickly used hot water to soothe her eyes.
She tidied up her son’s room, took Little Star to her daughter’s ho, lit the kang, and changed the sheets and pillowcases for the child.
...
The Lin Wan siblings returned ho at around nine at night; they’d been traveling since the 4 AM train this morning, finally arriving now.
Initially, Liang Hongi heard knocking at the door and thought it might be Du Guangjun again; she ca out clutching a stick but was relieved when she heard her son’s voice and quickly put the stick aside to open the door.
"Why are you back so late? Didn’t you say you’d arrive in the afternoon?"
"It snowed over here, the train stopped for over an hour," Lin Wan said, promptly stepping aside with Han Yi.
Seeing Mu Qing next to Lin Yinghui, Liang Hongi was surprised, "Oh, Qingqing, why are you...?"
"Aunt, We t up with Ah Hui and the others in Capital City, I might be bothering you for a few days."
Liang Hongi smiled happily, "No need to stand on ceremony. From now on, when you co to our ho, treat it as your own. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Co in and warm up, I’ll make so food for you."
"Mom, it’s cold outside; you should get on the kang, let us take care of the cooking," Lin Wan said, leading them inside, eager to see her daughter.
Han Yi hadn’t seen her for six months and missed her terribly.
Liang Hongi wouldn’t listen to them, she entered and put on a warm coat, "You’re all cold, go warm up by the stove before touching the child. She’s sleeping soundly; don’t wake her up."
"Got it, Mom," Lin Wan knew she was cold, didn’t dare touch, just stayed by the edge of the kang to have a look.
Seeing the child sleeping soundly, white and tender, with a scent of milk about her, Lin Wan’s heart lted completely.
Han Yi rubbed her hands upon entering the room, listened to Liang Hongi, and went outside to warm up, feeling only then was warm enough to approach her daughter’s side, touching her little cheek.
Mu Qing intended to help Liang Hongi cook but was sent back. Mu Qing hadn’t seen Lin Wan’s daughter, curious to let Lin Yinghui bring her in.
"Wow, Xiao Wan, your daughter is really cute, she’s really good-looking."
"With good-looking parents, the child is bound to be good-looking." Lin Wan wasn’t modest; her daughter was, indeed, beautiful.
Only Lin Wan would praise her own daughter like that, with Han Yi lovingly agreeing beside her.
Lin Yinghui touched his face next to them, glanced at his Qingqing, his heart skipped, thinking that their future daughter would surely be pretty as well.
Liang Hongi made a big pot of noodle soup for the child. Hot soup and hot water that could warm them physically.
"I’ll prepare so good food for Qingqing tomorrow."
"You don’t need to go to any trouble, Aunt, regular als are fine."
"It should be. It’s just right for our family to gather."
Liang Hongi’s words made Mu Qing blush; she lowered her head and concentrated on eating.
Even Lin Yinghui felt a bit uncomfortable in front of his mom.
After dinner, Han Yi did the dishes alone, while Lin Wan intended to bring the child to her room to sleep.
Liang Hongi dismissed her, "The child is sleeping soundly, you’ll tire her out and she’ll fall ill if you ss with her in the middle of the night. Go, sleep your own sleep, and co tomorrow."
"Mom, how about I sleep with you tonight? I want to cuddle my daughter."
Liang Hongi glanced at her, "Would Xiao Yi agree?"
Liang Hongi’s words made Lin Wan choke, just as Han Yi walked in.
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