Praise You

My mother was buried in the back mountain. Like most people in this mountain, they were born here, grew up here, and died here.

Besides her, her father's grave is also there. They died just one day apart.

It can be considered as a life and death relationship.

After paying homage to her parents, on the way down the mountain, it seemed as if a spring had grown in her red eyes, gurgling with water.

To ease her heart, the eldest aunt used herself as an example. "When my mother passed away, I was still working in the fields in Jiutao Village. There were no cell phones back then, so my uncle sent someone to bring her the news. When I heard the tragic news, I rushed to the neighboring village and even lost one of my shoes running. I was finally able to see her off. I was only nineteen when I married your eldest uncle. My mother left me at such a young age. I served my mother-in-law, managed the household, and took care of my own child who died young... What did I know back then? I was still a child myself! Women, once married, will suffer endlessly."

"Stop brainwashing A-Yin," the uncle said, unable to bear it any longer. "She's so young, how can she not get married? What will the neighbors think? Besides, how have I ever treated you unfairly?"

"That's right, auntie." Long Qinling held a bamboo basket with both hands, which contained bowls and plates for offerings. He usually neglected exercise, and his thin back was hunched like a cooked red shrimp. He was panting from the exhaustion of climbing the mountain. "Our Ayin not only wants to marry, but also wants to marry into a higher position."

"Hmph, you're so flattering to that Shen guy, you're just being rich." My aunt sneered disdainfully, "Your uncle is a good one, but I don't care about your father's romantic affairs! Like father, like son. I don't think you're any better to your wife and children."

Qin Ling cried out in injustice, "God, I'm doing this for A Yin. Besides, my dad's philandering skills are passed down to daughters, not sons, and I haven't learned a single bit. Otherwise, how could I not even have a girlfriend? It's so annoying!"

The family came down the mountain chatting and laughing. When they arrived at the door, they found a person covered in jewels. She wore a bright silver palace-sleeved blouse and a dazzling diamond and emerald necklace around her neck. Under her iron-gray narrow skirt, her pointed autumn-scented high heels stepped on the muddy ground, looking out of place with the dilapidated environment around her.

The simple villagers gathered together, pointing, as if they were looking at an alien creature.

It’s Shen Lianxing.

Ye Yuanyin called out "Auntie" and wondered why such a high-ranking woman would come here?

My aunt brought a glass of water to the guests, and my uncle politely said, "You guys chat," and then he prepared to leave with his wife and nephew.

"Don't rush to leave." Shen Lianxing stopped them, tilted his head, and said with a slightly disgusted expression: "She and I are probably incompatible. We quarreled after just a few words. There's nothing unbearable to listen to. You'd better stay."

Ye Yuanyin smiled bitterly in his heart, wondering why they came. They couldn't be here to help the poor.

"I heard you're back in Ancheng again?"

"yes."

"So, you've also contacted Sediment?"

"Yes, I have." She lowered her head, with undercurrents surging in her heart.

Chen Lianxing smiled contemptuously, "Other families' second and third generations, once their fathers die, there's no one to take care of them, so they just like to run wild outside. Our eldest young master is different. He doesn't like playing with women, and he doesn't have those bad habits of eating, drinking, gambling, and drinking. He just likes to pick on his own family members and be ruthless. He's quite innovative."

Ye Yuanyin frowned, stopping the sarcasm in her words: "Aunt, you didn't come here just to complain about him, did you?"

Chen Lianxing rolled his eyes in anger and turned to his aunt, saying, "The girl you raised is quite amazing. She has bewitched our young master to the point of being completely bewildered. I heard that he drove eight or nine hours last night to personally bring her back. If it were a big family, he would have to be a romantic. How could such a shabby place, with its poor mountains and bad waters, raise a beautiful girl like Xiaoye? Your family is truly blessed."

The uncle's face was sullen, and he remained silent. He had the final say in all matters of the village, big or small. After decades of serving as a local official, this was the first time he had been bullied and criticized in this land. He still hadn't figured out what Ah Yin was thinking, so he couldn't lose his temper and embarrass his niece.

Chen Lianxing glanced at the Long family, forcing a smile onto his well-maintained face. "I'm just praising Xiaoye. If you two really get together, can you also say a few good words for your husband on behalf of my fourth uncle and me? Is that okay?"

Ye Yuanyin recalled the brief meeting with Xiao He in Xiao Yingzhou's mansion. Perhaps Shen Yuheng also had such a wishful thinking.

She is a pawn, a tool, not a person. "I don't have that much say. I can't influence him."

Shen Lianxing didn't expect her attitude to be so tough. He thought to himself that since he had come here, this must be a great honor, right? Why is he still taking Qiao?

She then added, "Don't you know he's here? If you have any grudges, why not just take revenge on him?"

Shen Lianxing was already angry, and she was even more angry at her resolute attitude of drawing a line between them. If she had a way to deal with Chen Di'an, would she have to condescend like this?

Qin Ling understood the meaning behind the words, and it turned out that he was asking for help. The boy was very flexible and quickly called out "Auntie", saying, "I am Ayin's cousin. According to seniority, I have to follow my cousin and call you Auntie. Auntie, you see, this matter still needs to be discussed. It's almost noon now, and you have come all the way here, so you should have a meal at our house before leaving. We can eat and talk, and everything will be easy to discuss."

Shen Lianxing gave him a disgusted look and used this opportunity to step down. Would she be willing to eat this meal from their family? Could it be that the food in the countryside was more hygienic and more delicious than that in the city? But this girl, I don’t know why she is so bold. From the moment she married into the Shen family, she went against her. How could she swallow this breath!

So when the aunt brought the food and Ye Yuanyin sat down next to her, Shen Lianxing started to find fault.

"The elders have come all this way, and you can't even say a polite word?"

This was indeed something Ye Yuanyin hadn't considered. His aunt smoothed things over by saying, "We only have one daughter. Although we may not be as well-off as those in wealthy families, we were also brought up in pampered surroundings. Ah Yin, this soup is delicious. Serve it to the guests first."

She stood up obediently, took a spoon and filled a bowl of soup for Shen Lianxing and placed it in front of her.

The more Shen Lianxing looked at her, the angrier he became.

"There are so many people in the family, are you the only one who's spoiled? There are elders above you, younger ones below you, and so many social events to attend to. Can you handle everything?"

Ye Yuanyin thought that what they said was right. She was indeed not as knowledgeable as the young lady who had been well-informed since childhood. She admitted that she was not polite and did not do her job well. "I'm sorry, auntie. I really didn't realize it."

"I can tolerate not having money, but not knowing the rules is a dead end. Luckily, your mother-in-law died early. If I had married a daughter-in-law like her, I would be so ashamed if something went wrong."

Long Yan and his wife exchanged a glance. His aunt quickly stood up and thrust her untouched chopsticks into Ye Yuanyin's hands, saying simply, "Ah Yin, see what your aunt likes to eat and give her some."

In order to prepare for her and Qin Ling's return, and also for her mother's memorial day, her aunt was busy all day yesterday. She started slaughtering chickens and geese in the morning, and a table of home-cooked meals had exhausted all her efforts.

Chen Lianxing didn't even accept the gesture she offered, and waved her hand away. "I don't eat free-range poultry. Has it been sterilized?"

Ye Yuanyin's face turned red. Looking at his aunt's embarrassed and awkward expression, his hands began to tremble.

Shen Lianxing still wanted to criticize her, "How can someone like you compare to the young lady of the Zou family? How can you be worthy of being a member of our family? And you are so spoiled, how did your mother teach you?"

A pair of chopsticks came out from somewhere, hit the plate, swung, and poked a bowl. Both the bowl and the plate fell to the ground with a crisp cracking sound.

My uncle didn't say a word to defend himself, but walked away with a sullen face. My aunt was also startled, and in order to block the broken chopsticks, she quickly used her body to protect Ye Yuanyin's head.

Chen Lianxing was furious and trembling with anger. "As expected... As expected, like rats dig like holes... They are all the same, all the same... Uneducated!!"

Suddenly, Secretary Ma hurried into the yard and asked Shen Lianxing to leave.

Ye Yuanyin knew that he should have come too.

"Don't leave yet!" The aunt stopped Shen Lianxing and the other two, pinching her waist and saying, "I have another thing to say. There are always people better than you. You think you are amazing, but is there no one more amazing in this world? How would you feel if someone treated your child like this? Yes, you are rich, and we really can't marry you. I'm leaving this here. Even if we let A Yin marry a cat or a dog, we will never marry her into your family!"

Chen Di'an, who arrived late, heard everything.

Sometimes, timing is crucial in love. Some people always arrive first, others arrive just in time, but he is always late. Perhaps it is simply not meant to be, or even fate plays tricks on him.

*

The mountain breeze blows on the hilltop in the June evening.

They had walked this mountain road together many times and admired the same sunset together.

The setting sun was blood-red, and my mood then was definitely different from now.

The passing years were like a big net, binding them tightly. They didn't know how they had come to this point.

Especially the person in front of her, so many things she likes and so many things that shouldn't be mixed together. She always wants to separate, but when she really has to separate, she feels very reluctant.

What kind of love makes people so caught between a rock and a hard place?

"Let's break up." Chen Yan looked at her, his cold face tinged with pale sickness. "Although we have never gotten back together, I think you were right to insist."

Ye Yuanyin's heart felt like it was drawing a parabola. After a brief moment of weightlessness, it began to plummet without a limit. She hadn't expected such pain.

"Divorce is the best outcome."

He handed her a letter in his hand and said, "This is a letter your mother sent me three years ago. I am not qualified to accept it."

Ye Yuanyin didn't want to cry, but a mist still covered his eyes. Before the final result came, he could pretend that everything could be blamed on tomorrow. But after the result came, he felt that he would not survive today.

She took the letter from him with trembling hands.

Gazing at the gradually brightening lights below, Chen Dian'an said, "I've traveled to many places, but Jiutao Village is the most unforgettable in my life. Here, there's Aunt Long, you, Secretary Long, and Zheng Youshan... Everyone here has given me the warmth I never had at home. Your world is bright and dazzling, so don't underestimate yourself."

Tears couldn't wait to fall from her eyes.

Chen Yan smiled and stroked her cheek. He said, "I'll leave when we get off the mountain. I'll have Qin Ling take you back to Ancheng. You don't have to quit your job at KZ. That will be your stage to prove yourself. I promise I won't do anything to bother you."

"Can I...can I hug you again?"

He stretched out his arms and Ye Yuanyin leaned over.

The deep galaxy that is invisible in the city sprinkles on them like water, and the light flows.

Shen Yan hugged her tightly, as if he had used up all his strength. "Just this once, today, I am glad that Aunt Long is gone. Otherwise, she would be so sad to hear others say such things about you. As long as it's not me, no matter who you choose, it's fine. Yin Yin, I wish you happiness."

He was gone. Completely gone from her world.

Ye Yuanyin walked down the mountain in a daze, and Qin Ling had been waiting for her.

A letter fell down as she moved her hand. She looked at Qin Ling and suddenly burst into tears.

Qin Ling was stunned and said, "Ayin, Ayin, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm going to die." She bent down and sat on the ground, and the letter fell from her hand.

—Mr. Shen, I'm glad to see you in person. I'm writing to you with great pleasure, and I hope it doesn't cause you any trouble. This amulet, though simple, represents my heartfelt gratitude. Since arriving in Ancheng, I've noticed that A-Yin has changed a lot. She's become more beautiful, stronger, and more lovable. I'm sorry that our relationship began this way, but I'm also grateful to God for granting us this connection. Thank you for supporting her and allowing her to become who she is.

I look forward to the day when we become a family, and the day when you call me mom.