"Enough!" Su Jinli's voice suddenly rang out, like a sharp note piercing the gloom. Fine drops of rain trickled down her cheeks, mingling with the tears welling up in her eyes. It was hard to tell which was the cold rain and which was the scorching tears. She looked at her father, kneeling at the grave, grieving and blaming himself. A pang of pain clenched her heart, unable to endure the heavy atmosphere of sorrow any longer. "That's all in the past." Her voice trembled slightly, carrying the resolve of someone who wanted to break free from the pain of the past. She reached out her hands and gently lifted her father to his feet, her movements gentle yet firm.
Su Jinli gazed at her father, only then realizing that the white hair on his temples was spreading like frost and snow, each strand seeming to speak of the vicissitudes of life and the pain deep in his heart. Suddenly, a myriad of emotions surged through her heart, and her throat seemed to be choked by something. After a moment, she finally choked out the long-awaited "Dad!"
The word "Dad" resonated like a thunderclap over the silent pear blossom forest. Su Xiang's head, which had been lowered, suddenly lifted, and tears welled up in his cloudy eyes, as if years of suppressed emotions had found an outlet. "Ah!" he replied in a trembling voice, this simple word filled with endless surprise, emotion, and bitterness. He subconsciously wanted to hug his daughter, but his hands stopped in mid-air, as if he couldn't believe the reality of this, afraid that if he moved, this dream-like scene would disappear.
Su Jinli looked at her father's hands, frozen in mid-air, a pang of pain welling up in her heart. She leaned forward, hugged him tightly, and buried her head in his shoulder. Suddenly, a familiar yet unfamiliar smell washed over her: the faint scent of ink mixed with the aroma of flour—the smell of the jujube paste cake her father had meticulously prepared for her in the wee hours of the morning. This smell, like an invisible bond, connected her to her father, instantly awakening a familial bond that had been buried for years.
"Sister..." Young Marquis Su's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling in them, as if ready to fall at any moment. He watched the scene before him, a chorus of emotions swirling within him: heartache for his father's years of pain, yet relief that his sister and father had reconciled. Su Qingyao couldn't help but secretly wipe away her tears. She turned her head away, not wanting others to see her vulnerability, but the slight trembling of her shoulders betrayed the turmoil within her.
Siyan and Nianli, initially naively watching the adults, were infected by this sudden surge of emotion and burst into tears. Their little hearts couldn't fully comprehend the adults' grief and emotion, but the solemn and complex atmosphere made them instinctively feel fear and sadness. Seeing this, Jiang Yan quickly pulled the two children into his arms, whispering soothingly, "Grandma is watching from heaven. You should be happy." His voice was low and gentle, like a spring breeze, gently caressing the children's hearts.
"Yes, you should be happy!" Su Xiang seemed to come to his senses when he heard Jiang Yan's words. He hurriedly raised his hand to wipe away his tears, trying to calm himself down. Then, he tremblingly took out a banknote from his sleeve and handed it to Su Jinli. "Dad has bought you another bookstore in Jiangnan. You can write whatever you want!" His eyes were full of love and doting, as if he wanted to make up for the love and care he had missed out on all these years.
When Nianli heard the words "bookstore" and "what to write," her tearful face lit up instantly, as if she had suddenly discovered a treasure. She immediately stopped crying, stretched out her little hand, eagerly asking for the banknotes, and cried in a baby voice, "Buy chili candy!" This sudden childish talk broke the heavy atmosphere. Everyone was stunned at first, but then burst into laughter.
The pear blossom forest, previously filled with grief and sadness, now felt a touch of warmth and lightness thanks to this small incident. Su Jinli looked at Nianli's adorable appearance, then at the banknote her father had handed her, a mixture of emotions welling up in her heart. This banknote wasn't just a material gift; it was an expression of her father's deep love and apology. She knew full well that her father had silently endured so much for this family, for them and her siblings, over the years.
Jiang Yan looked at Su Jinli, his eyes filled with tenderness and support. He understood that this was a crucial moment for her, a chance to reconcile with the past and embrace family again. He gently held Su Jinli's hand, conveying silent strength, as if telling her: No matter what happens, I will always be by your side.
Young Marquis Su and Su Qingyao watched this heartwarming scene with immense joy in their hearts. They knew their family had endured so much hardship, and now, in this pear blossom forest, amidst their yearning and remembrance for their mother, they had finally rediscovered the warmth and affection they had long lost.
Although Si Yan didn't quite understand the complex emotional changes between the adults, seeing everyone laughing, he also burst into laughter. He hugged Jiang Yan's neck tightly, rubbing his little head against Jiang Yan's chest, as if seeking a sense of security. Nian Li, on the other hand, waved the banknotes in her hand, muttering that she wanted to buy lots of chili candies. She looked so happy, as if the sadness just now had never happened.
As time passed, sunlight gradually penetrated the clouds, shimmering across the pear blossom forest. Dappled light and shadows fell upon the crowd, draping a warm veil over the otherwise mournful scene. The pear blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, their petals falling like snow, as if offering a blessing for the rekindled bond of this family.
Under the warm sunshine, everyone slowly walked out of the pear blossom forest. Su Jinli held her father's arm, Jiang Yan held Siyan and held Nianli's hand, and Young Marquis Su and Su Qingyao followed behind. The family's figures, illuminated by the sunlight, appeared particularly warm and harmonious. They knew that while the pain of the past could not be erased, the family ties they had rediscovered at this moment would become their strength to move forward.
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