Chapter 42
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the bustling crowd at Jinzhou Railway Station carried a strong sense of the New Year atmosphere. Xia Wan, dragging her suitcase, her scarf half covering her face, followed the energetic Lin Wei, struggling to make her way through the shoulder-to-shoulder crowd.
"G1701! Wanwan, hurry up! The ticket gate is here!" Lin Wei's voice penetrated the noise and she turned around to greet him.
"Coming!" Xia Wan responded and quickened her pace.
Her phone vibrated in her down jacket pocket. She freed her hand and pulled it out.
Jiangyu's information.
"Boarded. Contact me upon landing. Happy New Year, Xia Wan." Followed by a small, system-provided fireworks emoticon.
The brief text was his usual style, but that small firework was like a stone dropped into the lake of his heart, spreading a circle of warmth. Xia Wan's mouth curled up under her scarf, and her fingertips replied lightly:
"Have a safe journey. Happy New Year, Jiang Yu." He also returned a small firework.
There is not too much clinginess, and the emotions of the newly confirmed relationship are as light and pure as the first snow. In the crowded torrent of people returning home, they quietly convey the tacit warmth to each other.
"Hey~ Who are you texting with? You're smiling like you've eaten honey!" Lin Wei came closer and raised her eyebrows slyly.
"No one!" Xia Wan quickly put away her phone and pulled her scarf higher to cover her slightly hot cheeks. "Hurry up, the car is about to leave!"
The high-speed train sped by, leaving the gray Jinzhou Plain behind. The scenery outside the window gradually gave way to fields covered in a light blanket of snow. Inside the train, Xia Wan and Lin Wei shared snacks and chatted quietly.
"Do you think Mr. Jiang is resting his eyes or reading boring reports?" Lin Wei asked vaguely while chewing potato chips.
"Probably to accompany his parents." Xia Wan looked at the snow scene flying by outside the window, and the glass reflected her smiling profile.
"Tsk tsk, celebrating Chinese New Year across borders, how cool!" Lin Wei sighed, then changed the subject, "But are you really not going to tell Aunt Zhou about this? My mom is so eager to make a blind date list for me over the phone!"
Xia Wan's smile faded, and she shook her head gently. "It's just the beginning, so things aren't set in stone yet. Let's wait... until things stabilize." Her mother's expectant, slightly anxious eyes, her nagging about "age" and "conditions," still lingered in her ears. Between her and Jiang Yu, there was a sweet present, but also a past and gaps that needed time to settle. She wanted to carefully nurture this nascent relationship, unwilling to expose it to the scrutiny of her family too soon, and even more so, not to disappoint her mother with empty hopes.
The train arrived in Jincheng just as dusk fell. The town's festive atmosphere was palpable: red lanterns cast a warm glow through the drizzling snow, new spring couplets adorned shop entrances, and the air was thick with the aroma of firecrackers and the alluring smell of fried food.
As soon as I left the station, a clear and familiar voice penetrated the crowd:
"Sister! This way!"
Xia Wan looked in the direction of the voice. Her younger brother, Xia Yang, was wearing a brand new navy blue down jacket, his hair neatly combed. He seemed taller, waving vigorously and smiling brightly. Beside him stood their mother, Zhou Wenjuan, wearing a festive crimson cotton coat and a thick off-white scarf. Her face was tired from waiting, but the moment she saw Xia Wan, it transformed into pure joy, her eyes lighting up.
"Mom! Yangyang!" Xia Wan came quickly, dragging the suitcase, and Lin Wei followed with a smile.
"Finally, we're here! Were you squeezed on the road? Are you cold?" Zhou Wenjuan grabbed her daughter's hand, feeling it was icy cold, and rubbed it distressedly. "Come home quickly! The dumpling filling is ready and waiting for you!"
Xia Yang took over his sister and Lin Wei's luggage swiftly: "Sister, Sister Weiwei, the car is over there! Mom has been talking about it all the way!" There was a sense of decisiveness in his movements. The young man who had once made her worried now had a calmer look.
Lin Wei said with a smile: "Aunt Zhou, Yangyang, Happy New Year! I'll leave first, my mother must be waiting anxiously!" Her house is at the end of the alley on the same street.
"Weiwei, go back quickly and say hello to your parents for me!" Zhou Wenjuan reminded with a smile.
"Okay! Wanwan, I'll come play with you tomorrow!" Lin Wei waved her hand and dragged her suitcase into the crowd briskly.
Xia Wan followed her mother and brother into the car. The warmth of home instantly dispelled the chill. The small three-bedroom apartment was bright and clean. Daffodils bloomed on the windowsill, their fragrance wafting in the air. The living room coffee table was piled high with New Year's goods: sunflower seeds, candies, and fried hemp leaf meatballs, all golden and tempting.
The kitchen was thick with steam. Zhou Wenjuan, wearing a floral apron, was deftly rolling out dumpling wrappers. Two bowls of fillings, each containing leeks and shrimp, and another containing cabbage and pork, filled the chopping board with their fragrant aroma.
"Yangyang, peel the garlic and mash it into a paste! Wanwan, wash your hands and come over to make dumplings!" Zhou Wenjuan gave orders in a confident tone, her voice filled with the joy of the New Year.
"Yes, sir!" Xia Yang responded and went to get the garlic.
Xia Wan rolled up her sleeves and joined in. She rolled out the dough, stuffed it, and pleated it with expert skill. Xia Yang peeled garlic clumsily, occasionally getting scolded by his mother, but he just grinned.
"Sister, do you know?" Xia Yang said excitedly while pounding garlic, "Our surveying team went to survey an old factory last week. Engineer Zhao who led me said that I was able to find the positioning points accurately, but I was still a little new to the instrument operation, so he asked me to practice more! He also said that there will be an old neighborhood renovation project in the spring, and he might let me help to do the basic data!" His tone was full of the enthusiasm of a newcomer to the workplace and the joy of being recognized.
Xia Wan watched the glint in her brother's eyes, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart. That confused young man was now steadily walking on his own path.
"Wanwan," Zhou Huilan put down a dumpling that looked like a gold ingot, then turned to her daughter and started the eternal topic. "Look, Yangyang's internship is going well. Mom is worried, but your life is still hanging in the balance." Her eyes were eager. "You'll be 28 after the New Year. You really have to worry about it! That middle school teacher your Aunt Li recommended is really good. He's a gentle man and comes from a decent family. Don't you think about meeting him?"
Xia Wan's fingers, kneading the dumplings, paused imperceptibly. She gently placed the wrapped dumplings on the curtain, her eyelashes drooping. "Mom, the project is tight right now. I'm leading the renovation of that old alley, and there are so many things to do. I really don't have the energy to think about anything else. Besides, fate can't be rushed."
"How can I not be anxious!" Zhou Wenjuan was so anxious that she stopped rolling the dough. "A girl's best years are these few years! No matter how busy you are at work, you can't delay your lifelong event! Look at the daughter of Old Liu next door. She's the same age as you, and her children are..."
"Mom!" Xia Wan interrupted helplessly, her tone softened, "It's New Year's Day, can we eat first? The dumplings are waiting to be put into the pot." She stood up, "I'll go see if the water is boiled." She hid in the kitchen under the pretext of something, temporarily avoiding her mother's concerned fire.
The New Year's Eve dinner was heartwarming and heartwarming. The Spring Festival Gala was lively and festive on TV, with the occasional blast of firecrackers outside the window. Braised carp, four-happiness meatballs, braised prawns, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and steaming dumplings filled the small square table. The family gathered around, Xia Yang recounting anecdotes from his internship and Zhou Wenjuan sharing news about the neighborhood. The atmosphere was warm and cozy. Xia Wan ate quietly, watching her mother's satisfied smile and her brother's beaming expression, feeling at peace. But when a sweet skit played on TV, or her mother's glance casually swept across her, the secret about Jiang Yu in her heart would gently ripple, a touch of sweet bitterness.
After the meal, Xia Yang took the initiative to clean up the dishes.
Xia Wan and her mother were in the living room, eating melon seeds and watching TV. Her cell phone vibrated on the coffee table, and Xia Wan picked it up.
Jiang Yu's message: "Landed. Everything went well. On the way to the hotel. The night view here is very bright."
Below is a photo. Through the car window, I could see a bustling street brimming with color and exotic charm, huge neon signs flashing with incomprehensible words, and buildings with peculiar yet modern styles.
Xia Wan wiped her hands, walked to the balcony, and replied: "I'm glad you're safe. The night view is beautiful. It's snowing in Jincheng, and it's very quiet." She also took a picture outside the window - fine snowflakes fell silently under the dim street lights, and the upside-down "Fu" character pasted on the window frame of the neighbor opposite was glowing red in the snow.
The message was quickly replied: "Just being quiet is good. Spend time with your family. Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year," Xia Wan replied, her fingertips lingering on the send button as she gently tapped two more words: "Miss you."
The message was sent successfully, and she quickly put the phone down, her heart beating faster and her cheeks flushing slightly. Such straightforward words seemed easier to say in a foreign country, separated by a screen.
Zhou Wenjuan looked at her daughter's back suspiciously. Just as she was about to ask something, Lin Wei's message bombarded her: "Come out for some fresh air! Digest your food! I'll wait for you at the usual place!"
Xia Wan said goodbye to her mother, wrapped in a thick down jacket, scarf, and hat, and walked into the snowy night of Jincheng. The streets were sparsely populated, mostly families strolling. The glow of red lanterns gently diffused through the fine snow.
In tacit agreement, the two walked towards the coordinates of their shared memories: Jincheng No. 1 Middle School. The campus was hushed during winter break, the streetlights alone illuminating the lightly snow-covered playground, empty and serene. The wrought-iron gates were closed, and the familiar red-brick school building stood silently in the snowy night.
Standing outside the wall, the white breath I exhaled rose in the cold air.
"Time really flies," Lin Wei stamped her feet to keep warm, looking at the familiar playground. "It feels like just yesterday we were battling wits with the vendor at this entrance over a sausage."
Xia Wan didn't say anything. Her gaze passed through the crack in the iron gate and landed on the easternmost window on the third floor of the teaching building. That was the classroom of Senior 3 (7). Her gaze seemed to be able to penetrate time, seeing herself in that bloated school uniform, ponytail, always buried in a sea of ​​questions, occasionally taking the opportunity to pick up a pen to quickly glance at the tall figure in the front row. Those days and nights filled with test papers, those thoughts that she chewed over and buried deep in her heart, those scribbled words about "a bright future" and the unknown words "May he see the true light"...
"Wanwan, I heard that after our class, this old teaching building became 'abandoned'. There weren't that many students, so this three-story building was put aside!" Lin Wei chattered. "My dad said he took classes in this building when he was in school. So, it really is quite 'old'. Wanwan, how long do you think a building's lifespan is?"
"How long?" Xia Wan gathered the hair from her ears. "Usually, it's 50 years. There are also buildings that are a century old. But in people's hearts, a building carries a period of time. Those are days that can never be returned to, but can only be traced back."
Xia Wan looked up at the dark teaching building and said, "One cannot be both youthful and feel the effects of youth at the same time."
Thousands of emotions surged in my heart, like these fine snowflakes, falling silently and covering the ravines of the past.
The phone vibrated again. It was Jiang Yu's video request.
Xia Wan's heart skipped a beat. She walked to a quieter street lamp and connected the video call.
The screen lit up, revealing an exotic nightscape so dazzling it was almost blinding. Glittering skyscrapers and peculiarly shaped, giant, illuminated buildings illuminated the night sky like daylight. In the background, a faint, rhythmic sound of foreign music and a faint human voice played.
The camera panned, and Jiang Yu's face appeared in the center of the screen. He wore a well-tailored dark gray cashmere sweater. The backdrop was a softly lit, elegantly decorated space, with a large floor-to-ceiling window revealing a vibrant cityscape. He looked well, his deep eyes appearing remarkably calm under the screen's light.
"Xia Wan." His deep voice carried a clarity that could have crossed oceans, along with a subtle warmth. "Happy New Year." He seemed to adjust his position, turning the camera on his phone to the brilliant starry sky outside the window. "Just in time for the celebration light show."
Before he finished speaking, the outlines of several iconic buildings in the distance suddenly lit up, their shimmering light shifting and flowing. Huge laser beams streaked across the night sky, weaving into a dreamy web of light. This, synchronizing with the rhythm of the background music, created a silent yet magnificent visual feast. The dazzling light instantly illuminated the entire screen, illuminating his angular profile.
"Wow!" Lin Wei came over again at some point and exclaimed at the screen, "What a spectacle! Mr. Jiang is celebrating the New Year in an immersive way!"
Xia Wan was also captivated by this extremely prosperous scene and stared at it without blinking.
Brilliant light and shadow danced before Jiang Yu's eyes. He turned the camera back, watching Xia Wan's face, illuminated by the streetlights and the snow. Her nose was slightly red from the cold, but her eyes were clear. In the background were the silent walls of Jincheng No. 1 Middle School and the playground within, covered in a light layer of snow.
"The snow in Jincheng," his deep voice came through the receiver, carrying a quiet warmth, "looks very peaceful."
"Yeah," Xia Wan replied softly, raising her camera slightly to focus on the snow falling silently under the streetlights, and on the empty, snow-covered playground within the wall. "It's very quiet."
The camera captures two completely different time and space: on one side, there is the extreme hustle and bustle and the bizarre prosperity, while on the other side, there is the silent falling snow in a quiet town.
However, the eyes of the people on both ends of the screen seemed to penetrate this huge difference, silently intersecting between the flowing light and shadow and the quiet falling snow.
"Just be quiet." Jiang Yu's voice came with a heavy gentleness.
The video didn't last long. Someone on Jiang Yu's side seemed to whisper something to him.
"That's it for now." He looked at Xia Wan on the screen with a focused gaze, "Spend time with your family. Wait for me to come back."
"Yeah." Xia Wan nodded, her voice particularly clear in the cold snowy night, "You too."
The video ended. The screen dimmed, revealing Xia Wan's silhouette beneath the streetlight, surrounded by drizzling snow. The air seemed to still linger with the echoes of the grand light show and the gentle, low voice of "Wait for me."
Lin Wei took her arm and said with a smile, "A transnational light show, plus a live broadcast of the snow scene, Mr. Jiang's operation is extremely romantic!"
Xia Wan's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't argue. She took one last look at the familiar walls of Jincheng No. 1 Middle School, and snowflakes silently fell on her eyelashes, bringing a chill of clarity.
The dazzling, hazy, exotic lights and shadows on the screen were just an ordinary part of Jiang Yu's world. And the land beneath her feet, gently blanketed by fine snow, was where she had taken root, the starting point of all her stories. Those echoes of youth, those hopes for the future, those nascent emotions that transcend mountains and seas, all quietly settled on this snowy night at the end of the year in Jincheng, weaving together a painting called "the present," a peaceful and possible picture.
She exhaled lightly, and white mist drifted away under the dim street lights.
"Let's go, Weiwei, it's time to go home."
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