In the evening, just as the village loudspeaker was about to start broadcasting, a notice was first issued that a movie would be shown in the threshing ground that night.

Although television is now widespread, the excitement and anticipation of watching movies still fills people with a sense of anticipation.

A white screen had been erected in the center of the threshing ground, like a giant canvas hanging on bamboo poles. The projectionist was squatting beside the machine, adjusting it, and the beam of light shone on the screen, creating a shimmering patch of light.

Villagers arrived one after another, benches lining up side by side, the sounds of adults chatting and children playing mingling together.

Fang Yu and Fang Huahua also brought over stools. When Yuan Tingting saw them, she told them to put their stools together with those of her grandmother's.

Fang Dongqiang held Fang Meixiang's arm, while Fang Meixiang's mother held Yuan Fangfang's arm with one hand and Zhe Zhe's arm with the other.

As darkness fell, Fang Yu boldly glanced at Fang Dongqiang from time to time. When Fang Meixiang was about to sit down, Fang Dongqiang pressed down on the stool so that his mother could sit down steadily.

The movie started; it was "The Dream Factory".

The light and shadow danced on the screen, and Ge You's lines drew laughter from the entire audience. Fang Yu had already seen the film, but her gaze kept drifting towards Fang Dongqiang. He was whispering the plot to his mother.

Fang Yu's heart softened instantly. She remembered a sentence she had read in a magazine: "A man who is good to his mother won't be too bad to his woman." Fang Dongqiang felt even warmer in her heart.

As the movie ended, Fang Dongqiang carried a stool in one hand and held his mother's hand with the other, slowly walking home. Moonlight shone on them, casting long shadows.

Fang Yu and Fang Huahua followed behind. Fang Huahua chattered excitedly about the plot of the movie, but Fang Yu didn't say a word, her mind a mess.

Back home, Fang Yu lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The chirping of insects outside the window seemed exceptionally clear, and the image of Fang Dongqiang clinging to his mother kept replaying in her mind. She remembered helping her carry her clothes when she was in elementary school, and the feeling of waiting for his letter when she was in junior high school.

I've always had a crush on him, but after not seeing him for over a year, it seems I've developed even deeper feelings for him this summer.

Should she confess her feelings to him? The moment this thought crossed Fang Yu's mind, her face flushed.

She imagined herself mustering the courage to speak her mind. What if Fang Dongqiang didn't like her? They wouldn't even be able to be friends anymore.

She buried her face in the pillow, her heart pounding like a rabbit's.

Should Tingting go and find out Fang Dongqiang's intentions first? Tingting mentioned this before, and he said to have a dog chase her. What does that mean? "Huahua."

"Mmm!" Fang Huahua responded dazedly.

Are you asleep?

"I was just about to fall asleep, what's up?"

Under what circumstances would you order your dog to chase someone?

"What?" Fang Huahua opened her eyes. "Why did you ask the dog to chase someone else?"

"If you tell your dog to chase someone, does that mean you dislike or like that person?"

"Did Fang Dongqiang send his dog to chase you?"

"What? Never mind, let's go to sleep!"

Fang Huahua was woken up by Fang Yu and couldn't fall back asleep. She answered seriously, "If we encounter bad people or someone steals something, we'll set the dogs to chase them. Also, it's just us joking around, saying we'll send the dogs to chase you."

Fang Yu lay on her pillow and smiled, resting her chin on her hand. How could Fang Dongqiang really send the dog to chase Tingting? He was just playing with her.

But what are his feelings for me? Does he have any feelings for me? Is Fang Dongqiang as embarrassed as I am to say it, or does he not have any feelings for me at all?

"Fang Yu, has Dong Qiang said anything to you yet?" Fang Huahua asked.

"No."

"No, then what will you do?"

"Perhaps Fang Dongqiang didn't mean it that way at all?"

"He didn't say anything. You liked him, but you didn't tell him either. If neither of you says anything, you might just miss your chance."

"If I tell him that he didn't mean it that way, and we're from the same village, it would be so awkward if we ran into each other again."

"Yes, maybe that's what he thinks too, which is why he doesn't say anything. But this can't go on. He'll have so many female classmates at school. If you don't talk things out now, you might not have another chance. Fang Yu, you're often with Tingting, you could ask her to find out what he thinks."

"Tingting said so."

"What did Fang Dongqiang say?"

"His name is Dog Chasing Tingting."

"Ah! Hahaha!" Fang Huahua laughed, all her sleepiness gone. "No wonder you asked that question earlier. When Tingting asked him if he liked you, he called for a dog to chase after Tingting?"

“No, Tingting said she wants me to be her sister-in-law,” Fang Yu said softly.

“Hehe, this Tingting is quite interesting. Hmm,” Fang Huahua thought for a moment, “Tingting’s question makes it difficult for him to answer. He can’t just say, ‘Okay, I also want her to be your sister-in-law.’”

Fang Yu remained silent.

"Dongqiang, Fang Yu likes you." "Dongqiang, what do you think of Fang Yu?" "Do you like Fang Yu?" Fang Huahua practiced each sentence one by one.

"Huahua, what are you doing?"

"I'm thinking about how to put it. I'll go ask for you."

"No, if he doesn't mean it that way, he'll feel embarrassed to see you or me in the future."

"You really know how to think about him. This won't do, that won't do, are you just going to drag this out until he goes to college and finds a girlfriend? You're usually so decisive about everything else, why are you being so slow about this?" Fang Huahua was getting impatient.

"Let me think about it some more. There's still some time before school starts, so I'll talk about it when I've thought it through. Once you've said something, you can't take it back. You should go to sleep early."

"Hmm, that works too. There's no one else in the village who'll be competing with you for it. Think it over early and make a decision before school starts."

"good."

Let's put this matter aside for now.

One morning, Fang Yu was washing clothes at home. Her cousin, who lived next door, rushed over in a panic. "Fang Yu, quick, your mother is on the phone, it's urgent!"

Fang Yu hurriedly put down her clothes and ran after her. Her uncle handed her the microphone. Fang Yu clutched the cold receiver, and Yu Jihong's tearful voice squeezed out from the receiver, "Fang Yu... your father, your father... he's gone. The power lines caught fire, and it burned..."

Fang Yu's mind went blank, and Yu Jihong couldn't finish her sentence. Fang Yu didn't hear a word either, and slammed the receiver on the table with a bang.

By the time she came to her senses, her vision was already blurred with tears. Several elders in the room were discussing how to get to Hangzhou. Her aunt hugged her and said, "Don't be afraid, we're all here. We'll bring your father back."

Soon, Fang Yu's two aunts arrived, and two cousins ​​chartered a dilapidated van to head to Hangzhou.

The scenery outside the car window rushed past. Fang Yu huddled in a corner, hugging his knees. Inside, his relatives were discussing the situation, still not quite understanding it. "They said there was going to be demolition; if only we had come back sooner." "A fire during the day should have been salvageable in time." They were also discussing funeral arrangements. "I heard that now they can't bring the body back; they can only cremate it and bring it back." "We'll talk about it when we get there."...