That night.
Chu Fang lay in bed, playing games.
Moonlight filtered through the gauze, revealing Zhong Tingyue in my silk nightgown. Her figure was graceful, the neckline slightly open, revealing glimpses of her body. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, with a few strands playfully falling across her chest, adding a touch of disheveled beauty.
Zhong Tingyue sat in front of the dressing table, applying a face mask.
Women are naturally fond of beauty, and she is no exception, especially after turning thirty, she pays more attention to skincare.
Time has left no trace on her face; instead, it has added a touch of mature charm.
"What?!" Zhong Tingyue turned around. "You're going to stay in your hometown for a while?"
"Hmm," Chu Fang replied softly. "My mom doesn't want to go to Shanghai, and she's been feeling down lately, so I thought I'd spend more time with her."
I talked to Chu's mother today and learned about her beliefs. He couldn't persuade her to leave, so he could only choose to stay.
“Your mom is really something…” Zhong Tingyue rolled her eyes, looking quite charming, “Always so childish.”
Chu Fang shrugged.
He was helpless.
We can't possibly kidnap Chu's mother and take her to Shanghai.
Zhong Tingyue sighed: "Fine, then stay a few more days."
She then peeled off the face mask, opened her bathrobe, and slowly walked to Chu Fang, smiling, "Then Mr. Chu, please finish your homework for this period of time first."
"My life is over," Chu Fang's lips twitched.
Although he was afraid, he refused to back down. He turned off the light and pulled his wife into bed, and then the bed made a soft rustling sound.
Zhong Tingyue said angrily, "Chu Fang, what did you eat? Your farts smell so bad."
Chu Fang: "Why are you so greedy? You can smell it, but you want the formula too?"
... ...
The next day, the weather was sunny.
After the funeral, the younger members of the Chu family all went out.
Chu Jin snuggled into her mother's arms, reluctant to part: "Grandma, I can't bear to leave you."
This is not a pretense, but the truth.
When Chu Jin makes a mistake, Zhong Tingyue will punish or reprimand her. In Shanghai, almost no one stops her, but back in her hometown, Chu's mother will stop Zhong Tingyue if she sees her doing so.
Chu's mother was Chu Jin's biggest protector.
If anyone wanted Chu's mother to go to Shanghai the most, it would be Chu Jin.
Chu's mother pinched her granddaughter's cheek: "Grandma will miss you too, but Grandma has to wait for Grandma's mother."
As Zhong Tingyue packed her things and got into the car, she muttered to herself, "That'll be quite a while."
"What do you mean, you bad woman?" Chu's mother said sternly.
“You’re only sixty years old, and your death is still a long way off. You’ll have to wait at least twenty years,” Zhong Tingyue said, counting on her fingers.
"What if it's not so certain?"
Zhong Tingyue said quietly, "So, you died young, huh?"
Chu's mother's words caught in her throat.
If she says she can live a long time, then she won't need to stay at home; if she says she won't live much longer, then that goes against her belief in living to a hundred.
Chu's mother glared at Zhong Tingyue: "Bad woman!"
This mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have been fighting for years, and Chu's mother has always been at a disadvantage.
Chu Fang patted her son on the back of the head: "Be good at home, go to bed on time, and don't make Mom angry."
Chu Zhiye is mature and steady, but he is still a child at heart. Sometimes he is mischievous and naughty, even more so than Chu Jin.
"And you only wrote 100 words of the 500-word diary that the teacher asked you to write."
Chu Zhi also disliked completing the homework assigned by the teacher, mainly because it was too easy and he was too lazy to write it.
Chu Zhi also pouted: "Why can't the teacher watch it five times?"
Chu Yi is also going back to Shanghai today. Qian Liyan held onto her daughter tightly, giving her many instructions.
"Yiyi, when you go back this time, you must clarify your relationship with Qiao Zhenghong and not have any connection with that scumbag."
"I know." Chu Yi waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I'm not interested in Qiao Zhenghong."
"So what kind of boys are you interested in?" Qian Liyan changed the subject. "Yiyi, you're not young anymore. You're a grown woman. It's time for you to start dating. When I was your age, I had already given birth to your brother."
Just moments ago they were urging her to break up with Qiao Zhenghong, and now they're immediately pressuring her to start a new relationship.
Chu Yi thought to herself, "My dear mother, can you please not change so much? I can't take it."
As the sun rose, Zhong Tingyue and her group left, and with the departure of the younger generation, the Chu family fell silent.
Chu's mother rode her electric scooter slowly up the mountain to visit her parents.
Chu's father, meanwhile, took his thermos and went to play chess with his friends.
Although Chu's father stayed, he still lost his job, mainly because he wanted to rest for a while.
Chu Fang was the only person in the entire courtyard.
He glanced around and then sighed.
Chu Fang closed the gate, put his hands behind his back, and strolled along the field ridge.
"Xiao Fang hasn't left yet?" an elder from the farm greeted.
Chu Fang took out a cigarette, offered one to the elder, and replied, "The air in the countryside is good and nourishing. I plan to stay for a few days."
"If you're talking about how to make a living, the city is where it's best to live comfortably." The elder tucked his cigarette behind his ear. "You have everything you need for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. That's true comfort."
"You're just used to city life; you don't know the difficulties of rural life."
Chu Fang readily accepted this offer.
No matter how bad the city is, it's still better than the countryside.
He chatted with the elders for a few minutes, then continued his walk along the paddy field ridges, taking in the surrounding scenery.
Since graduating, he has spent very few days at home, and much of his surroundings have changed, no longer resembling what he remembered.
A line of poetry came to his mind: "I wanted to buy osmanthus flowers and share wine, but it will never be like the carefree days of my youth."
Chu Fang arrived at the riverbank, where several fishermen were fishing. He sat quietly beside them.
A woman turned her head: "Chu Fang."
"Who are you?"
"I am Gong Xiaorui, and I am Yiyi's friend."
Chu Fang nodded: "Hello."
While fishing, Gong Xiaorui asked, "Has Yiyi left?"
"Just left."
"Is Yiyi really dating Qiao Zhenghong?"
"No," Chu Fang explained, "it's just a publicity stunt in the entertainment industry."
"Oh, I see. That puts my mind at ease." Gong Xiaorui patted her chest. "Qiao Zhenghong looks a lot like my ex-husband. Neither of them seem like good people. I hope Yiyi doesn't fall for a scumbag."
He glanced at Chu Fang and continued, "However, with a brother like you who protects me at all times, I won't be fooled."
Chu Fang said, "Yiyi has her own judgment. Even without me, she can see things clearly."
"I don't believe it." Gong Xiaorui shook her head. "If it weren't for you, Yiyi wouldn't have achieved what she has today, becoming a big star, attracting the attention of everyone and shining brightly."
“If I had a brother like you, I could do the same thing, or even do it better.”
“I’m not belittling Yiyi. We’re sisters, and I’m happy for her achievements. I’m just stating the facts.”
Chu Fang didn't mind and said softly, "Everyone has their own experiences; as long as you live happily, that's all that matters."
He chatted idly with Gong Xiaorui until noon, when it was time to prepare lunch.
As Chu Fang prepared to leave, Gong Xiaorui handed him the fish in the cage: "Your mother has been in a bad mood and is physically weak lately. Take these fish and make soup."
"I can't accept this."
"It's just a fish I caught casually, there's nothing to be embarrassed about." Gong Xiaorui found a plastic bag and put the fish in it.
Chu Fang took the bag and nodded, "Thank you."
"It's alright." Watching Chu Fang's departing figure, Gong Xiaorui let out a long breath. "Everyone has their own experiences, but why do some people live such happy lives?"
... ...
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