She noticed that these people were extremely careful when watering the fields, and every movement was gentle and slow, as if they were holding not a ladle but a vessel full of treasures.
Their eyes were focused and pious, and every drop of water was like a precious treasure. They were carefully sprinkled on the roots of the seedlings, fearing that even a little bit would be wasted.
That focused look seemed as if he was protecting his most beloved baby.
At this moment, a child from a family seemed to slip, stumbled and accidentally stepped on the vegetable leaves.
With a "crack" sound, the tender leaves were instantly bent and juice seeped out.
The child's father was originally bending over and watering the plants attentively. When he heard the noise, he immediately rushed over. The muscles on his face were tense, his expression darkened, and his eyes were full of anger.
He grabbed the child's arm and roared like thunder: "You child! How can you be so careless! This dish is the lifeblood of the whole family. The family's food depends on it, and you dared to step on it and destroy it! You are not allowed to eat tonight!"
The child was frightened by the sudden roar and trembled all over. His eyes instantly turned red and big tears rolled in his eyes. His lips trembled slightly. He wanted to defend himself but dared not say a word. He could only bite his lip and hold back his tears.
The little body swayed slightly as his father pulled him, his face full of fear and grievance, and his forbearing look was heartbreaking.
It's too bitter.
Su Huaiyue looked at this scene and felt a pang of pain in her heart.
It’s so bitter!
Su Huaiyue stood there, her eyes filled with complicated emotions. She looked at the skinny and ragged people on the other side of the river, and recalled the prosperous and bustling central area of Youzhou.
There, the streets are bustling with traffic, people are dressed in fine clothes, shops are filled with goods, restaurants are filled with laughter, and people enjoy a life without worries about food and clothing; but here, the land is barren, the houses are dilapidated, and the people are struggling for their livelihoods, unable to even guarantee basic food and clothing.
She couldn't connect these two completely different scenes, and the shock in her heart surged like waves.
Lu Jin stood quietly beside her, as if sensing her inner turmoil, and softly explained, "Huaiyue, although Youzhou is not a large territory, it is truly desolate.
In the past, countless people devoted decades of effort to bringing peace and prosperity to the heart of Youzhou. However, due to its remote location and scarce resources, effective development and governance have always been difficult. It's truly a struggle.
During my grandparents' generation, the entire Youzhou was almost completely impoverished. It was only after generations of unremitting efforts that the central area gradually underwent the transformation it has today."
Su Huaiyue listened quietly. Lu Jin's words seemed like a key, opening the door to her understanding of the painful history of this land.
Her mind involuntarily emerged of those people who were exiled here. During their exile, they had to sleep in the open air, lack food and clothing, and suffered both physical and mental torture.
But when they finally arrived at this land of exile, what awaited them was even more cruel survival challenges.
The desolation and poverty here plunged their lives into deeper despair, even worse than the hardships on the road to exile.
Thinking of this, Su Huaiyue felt a lot of emotions in his heart. No wonder people in ancient times would faint when they heard the word exile.
After a moment's silence, Su Huaiyue turned and left. Her steps were firm and powerful, and her eyes revealed an unquestionable determination.
As they walked, she said firmly to Lu Jin, "Mrs. Lu, I've decided. I want to open a restaurant here. The people here live in such hardship. I hope to provide them with some job opportunities through this restaurant and improve their lives. Moreover, I believe that as long as I run the business with care, I will be able to let the people here taste delicious food and feel the warmth of life. Even if it's just a small change, I'm willing to try."
Although her voice was calm, it contained great power, as if declaring her mission and responsibility.
Lu Jin's eyes widened in disbelief as he exclaimed, "Huaiyue, are you crazy? This place is so far away from the bustling center of Youzhou, and transportation is inconvenient. Opening a business here is simply a thankless task!"
Su Huaiyue remained unmoved, her eyes firm as she spoke, "Mrs. Lu, I know what you're worried about. But look at these people; they live in such hardship. I want to do something for them. Besides, although this place is poor, it also offers business opportunities. I can offer some affordable dishes to attract locals. At the same time, I can also provide them with job opportunities, so they can earn an income to improve their lives. I believe that as long as we work hard, there will always be a way."
Lu Jin sighed helplessly, and the sigh seemed to carry many complex emotions, echoing softly in the slightly silent atmosphere.
She followed Su Huaiyue silently, her pace unconsciously slowing down by half a beat.
Looking at Su Huaiyue's thin but straight back, casting a long shadow in the afterglow of the setting sun, she felt mixed emotions.
Su Huaiyue's back is thin yet full of strength, like a seedling growing stubbornly on this barren land. Despite the harsh environment, it still stands straight and moves forward bravely towards the unknown future.
Suddenly, an indescribable emotion surged into Lu Jin's heart, and she couldn't help laughing.
Her eyebrows were curved and the corners of her mouth were raised, but there was a hint of emotion in her eyes, as if she was recalling her youthful years, or lamenting the changes in her mood today.
In that smile, there was admiration for Su Huaiyue's courage, but also helplessness about his own gradual loss of momentum.
When Su Huaiyue heard the laughter, she stopped walking and turned back in confusion.
With a look of bewilderment on his face and his bright eyes full of confusion, he asked, "Mrs. Lu, why are you laughing suddenly? And your smile is so strange. Is there something on my face?"
As she spoke, she subconsciously touched her face with her hand and looked around, as if looking for something unusual.
Lu Jin shook his head slightly and looked at the two geese, one big and one small, flying in the distant sky.
At this time, the sky presents a soft orange-red color, and the geese spread their wings and soar against this gorgeous background, their posture elegant and firm.
She said slowly, "I feel that perhaps I am really old. Look at the wild geese, the big one leading the small one, moving forward courageously. If I were younger, I might immediately spend a fortune to accompany you in running this seemingly thankless restaurant. But now, if you hadn't asked me, I might not even come."
Time is unforgiving, and I'm not as brave anymore. I used to be like you, full of dreams and fearless, but as time went by, that courage and drive gradually wore away.
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