33. Elegy

Can't you speak properly?

Before her trip to the United States could even begin, it was abruptly cut short by a message from Ms. Ma, who urged her to return to China as soon as possible because Mr. Liang wanted to discuss divorce with her soon.

Liang Chuling's original plan to stay here for a few more days immediately vanished, and she booked the fastest flight.

Li Xun looked at his mother, then at Liang Chuling who was about to leave, and hesitated.

Li Chi's condition was visibly poor. The myriad tasks of the orchestra had drained her energy, and she had dark circles under her eyes. Even her voice sounded tired.

"I'm still waiting for a final response from a key funder. I've been waiting for several days now. I've sent emails and followed up with phone calls. Sigh, all I can do now is wait."

Liang Chuling frowned: "Is waiting the only option? Is there no other way?"

“That’s it. I can only wait.” Li Chi’s answer was crisp and decisive, yet it was also a sign of defeat. “I haven’t had my period for months. The doctor said it was polycystic ovary syndrome. I’ve taken the prescribed medication and done all the necessary tests, but now I can only wait and see when my body adjusts itself. There’s nothing I can do but wait. There’s really nothing I can do.”

Liang Chuling then stopped telling the two girls about her family situation and made the decision for Li Xun directly: "Just take me to the airport, don't come back with me. It's better to wait for the exam results here. I see that Teacher Li Chi looks extremely haggard, she needs you more."

Li Xun knew she was telling the truth, and it was also her way of showing consideration. He nodded, said nothing more, and only mustered up the courage to hug her: "Okay."

Her flight home was indefinitely delayed due to air traffic control restrictions. Liang Chuling paced anxiously in the waiting hall, but there was nothing she could do. Time seemed to stand still, and every minute was agonizing.

She hated the feeling of having her fate hanging in the balance, and being forced to passively accept whatever was arranged for her.

But all we can do is wait.

--

As the plane landed, the familiar air began to carry the vitality of spring.

Before Liang Chuling even reached her doorstep, she heard arguing coming from inside.

"Keep arguing! Keep arguing! Have a good argument! I'll call Chu Ling back after we're done! Don't even think about getting rid of me with such a small amount of money!" Madam Ma's voice trembled.

"Why did you call her back?!" Mr. Liang's voice was even louder. "This is a matter between us!"

“Don’t always treat Chuling like a child. She’s part of this family, and she should be involved in the process, not just be told the result.”

Mr. Liang scoffed, his voice filled with impatience: "I really can't talk to you! What's the difference between the process and the result? Things are already like this!"

The gate was wide open, and Aunt Zhang was tidying up a few strings of red chilies outside. She liked to hang the chilies in strings at the door, not only because it looked festive, but also because they could be dried and used in cooking.

Liang Chuling found it interesting too, never bothered with it, and even gave the strings of red flowers names: one string was called Little Red, another was called Medium Red, and then there were Big Red, Extra Red, and Super Red.

Today, as soon as Mr. Liang entered the door, he ordered them all to be thrown away, calling it shameful.

Aunt Zhang was collecting them when Liang Chuling suddenly appeared.

She quickly put the chilies into the basket and was about to pull Liang Chuling away when she remembered that her hand had touched the chilies. Afraid that the chilies would also burn Liang Chuling's hand, she used her apron as a barrier and held her tightly, then pulled her all the way to the door.

"Lingling, you're finally back! No matter what they say later, you mustn't do anything foolish. Everything you do is for the sake of getting more money! Take as much as you can, including your own and your mother's."

Liang Chuling couldn't help but laugh, a very kind laugh: "Aunt Zhang, don't worry, my dad won't abandon us."

Aunt Zhang felt she was still a child, her face scrunched up with anxiety, and she gripped her hand even tighter: "Your father says he'll take care of you, but that's all empty talk. Only what ends up in your mother's hands is real! Your mother will only take care of you once she gets the money! If you don't fight for it now, once that other son grows up, you'll have nothing left!"

Aunt Zhang's palms were very hot, but the warmth was just cushioned by her apron.

Words are like a slap, but a sincere heart can soften them into a gentle caress.

Looking at Aunt Zhang's anxious face, Liang Chuling patted the back of Aunt Zhang's hand: "I know, Aunt Zhang. Don't worry. Where are the chestnuts?"

“Your mother hasn’t been feeling well these past few days; she’s vomited several times.” Aunt Zhang patted her hand, having already forgotten about the chili peppers. “Your father said a few days ago that he would find time to come back and talk about the divorce, but he won’t say which day it will be.”

"It's left the two of us just waiting at home every day, not knowing what to prepare. We don't even dare let Chestnut out to run around freely, afraid that he might suddenly come back and use the cat as an excuse to cause trouble."

"Oh, right," Aunt Zhang remembered the most important thing, "your father mentioned that I should go back to my hometown and not come here anymore. He also told your mother to move out of this house as soon as possible, saying that she could choose from several other apartments. But who doesn't know what he's really up to! What kind of people live in this community? Can money measure their worth? I think it must be that woman's idea!"

"I've locked Chestnut in the guest room, don't worry."

--

The atmosphere was more peaceful than I had imagined.

Ms. Ma sat on the sofa to the side, her expression obscured, but one hand was pressed against her chest to aid breathing, as if she was struggling to breathe. There was a mint wrapper on the table; Ms. Ma would eat a mint whenever she felt a taste in her mouth after spitting it out.

Mr. Liang sat on the main sofa, his face ruddy. He held his phone in one hand and pointed in the air with the other, as if to accompany his words.

Liang Chuling looked at it and felt that all of this was of very poor quality.

Why does such a man exist, who can so easily and feign innocence stir up the emotions of all the women around him?

Ms. Ma, Lin Jiani, this new woman, Aunt Zhang, and Liang Chuling herself.

Why?

Why does such a man exist, leaving everyone to wait?

Waiting for his response, even divorce, arguments, breakups, separation, tearing apart... everything depends on his response.

Even collapses need to be centered on him, waiting for him to watch over them.

The more people hate each other, the more important they seem.

"How come we're home already?" Hearing footsteps, Mama turned around and saw Liang Chuling. After her initial surprise, she gestured for her to sit down and reached out to touch her.

Father Liang frowned and then relaxed; his thousand knots were clearly not here.

But he cleared his throat and adopted a fatherly demeanor: "It's good that you're back. Your mother and I have some things to discuss about our future plans. Don't worry, when you turn 18, I will definitely transfer the shares to you as a coming-of-age gift and a guarantee for you. It won't be long."

"Even though your mother and I have separated, I will continue to take responsibility for you as always. You will always be my daughter."

"Responsible?"

Liang Chuling neither approached Ms. Ma nor sat down.

She walked around the living room, her fingers tracing the pieces of furniture, forming an irregular triangle with her parents. Instead of answering her mother, she spoke to her father in a clear voice, "Dad, good news always brings joy! You look so radiant, are you about to become a groom or a father?"

Mr. Liang was secretly pleased that Liang Chuling had chosen to speak to him first after returning home, and he glanced at his mother with disdain.

At this moment, Liang Chuling's words provoked him, and the radiance on his face turned into anger.

He suddenly stood up: "Liang Chuling, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Liang Chuling laughed: "Am I talking nonsense? You're talking nonsense about that son outside? You're talking nonsense about being so eager to divorce and marry a new wife? Dad, are you in such a hurry to be reincarnated?"

After saying that, she picked up a one-meter-tall blue and white porcelain vase in front of the antique shelf. It was a piece that her father had bought as a pastime in his early years. She held it in her hand and weighed it in her hand; it was very heavy.

"How dare you speak to an adult like that! You've gone too far!" Mr. Liang pointed at her, his forehead veins bulging with anger. "What are you doing? Put those things down!"

"Liang Chuling, watch your hands!" Ma shouted anxiously.

Liang Chuling picked up the vase with a bang and smashed it on the ground some distance away. White porcelain dust rose up, like the smoke of a memorial ceremony.

Loud noises often bring silence.

Ms. Ma immediately ran over to check if Liang Chuling was injured. After checking her over, she felt a little relieved and gently flicked her head: "You little rascal! You scared your mother to death!"

Liang Chuling gave Aunt Zhang, who was about to rush in, a reassuring look and a gesture to stop her, afraid that if Aunt Zhang came in, Liang's father would use it as an excuse to embarrass her.

The composure on Liang's father's face shattered, replaced by disbelief and fury. He pointed at Liang Chuling: "Are you crazy?! You dare to smash things!"

Before he could finish speaking, Liang Chuling threw another glass ornament at her father's feet. Although it didn't hit him, the flying shards still startled him, making him jump back.

"Can't you speak properly?" Liang Chuling looked at him.

"Liang Chuling! You've gone too far! I'm your father!" Liang's father trembled with anger, repeating the words with a fierce but weak tone.

Liang Chuling picked up a grandfather clock and prepared to take her position towards her father: "Can't you speak properly?"

Liang's father's heart pounded with the clock, and he almost reflexively shouted, "What exactly do you want?!"

“I don’t want anything. Didn’t we talk about divorce?” Liang Chuling’s hand stopped on the clock, as if a Damocles’ sword was hanging over it. “The family property will be divided according to the law. Every penny that is due will be taken. My mother’s share and mine.”

"I told you, I'll take responsibility for you..."

With a crackling sound, Liang Chuling used the grandfather clock as a hammer, smashing down a string of ornaments, which frightened her father's words.

"Words are meaningless. You started your business and always valued written contracts and agreements. Why do you prefer issuing empty checks at home?"

Mr. Liang's face darkened further: "What do you mean? You don't believe me?"

“I believe in the law. Besides, you're about to have a new family and new children. The expenses will be huge, and if you're willing but unable to afford it, who will I turn to?” Liang Chuling finished speaking, tossing a bronze horse figurine onto the coffee table, the glass surface cracking with spiderweb-like patterns. “Tell me, who will I turn to?”

Mr. Liang glared angrily at Liang Chuling, but dared not look directly at her. He then turned to look at his mother, and his expression turned fierce again: "I think you called her not to participate in the process, but to divide the family property!"

"Otherwise what?" Liang Chuling smashed another tea set, forcing her father to look at her.

She couldn't accept waiting anymore, couldn't accept waiting for the other person's response, couldn't accept waiting for the other person's gaze, couldn't accept waiting for the outcome.

She didn't want to wait any longer! She didn't want to wait any longer!

"You're not letting me come back to participate in the process, isn't it so that I have to face the result directly?"

She stared at Liang's father and said, word by word, "Come on, let's divide it up. If it's less than a cent, I'll smash one. After I've smashed the ones at home, I'll go smash your company. Anyway, you love me the most, so you definitely won't want to call the police to arrest me. How could a good father call the police to arrest his beloved daughter? Right?"

Liang's father was forced to retreat step by step by Liang Chuling's series of questions and sabotages. The composure on his face had long since vanished, leaving only rage.

He charged towards Liang Chuling without any regard for the consequences, raising his arm!

Ms. Ma, who had been struggling to stand, was horrified to see the situation spiraling out of control. Ignoring her own chest tightness, she rushed over to stop Mr. Liang, shouting, "Don't touch the child!"

But she was weak and slow-moving. As soon as she rushed between the two men, Liang's father shoved her aside, and she fell to the ground, feeling dizzy. There was no actual impact, but she was just caught in a throbbing pain, leaving her gasping for breath.

Liang Chuling's view was blocked by her father, so she didn't see her mother's abnormal, suffocating appearance after she fell to the ground. She only saw the action of pushing her down, which was like adding fuel to the fire.

They simply knocked over the wooden frame, and the things on it crashed all over the ground.

"Smash! Keep smashing! Let's see how much you can smash! You won't get a single penny from me!" Liang's father was also provoked by the destruction and lost his mind. He pointed at Liang Chuling and cursed, forgetting his wife on the ground.

"First Spirit... First Spirit..."

Madam Ma's voice was barely audible. She was already struggling to breathe, and her face had turned from white to pale.

Liang Chuling immediately bypassed her father and ran to see her mother, who was lying on the ground.

Ms. Ma's lips turned purple... Liang Chuling's anger quickly dissipated, her mind went blank, but she dared not move her easily. In a panic, she looked up and shouted at her father, who was still cursing, "Call an ambulance! Call an ambulance now!"

Standing amidst the chaos, Liang's father looked at his bewildered wife, then at his daughter who had finally broken down, and took a step back: "Keep pretending! Don't try to get my money with this trick!"