Chapter 101: Returning Home
Chapter 101: Returning Home
Wang Jing only received a call from her son this morning saying he was coming home today, and she immediately got busy. She knew that Lin Guohui was going to pick her up. She had planned to buy a pack of good cigarettes, but Lin Guohui had spent his whole life dealing with wood and never touched fire. So she prepared some fruits and vegetables, cut them up, and waited.
The students who had just finished the college entrance examination were returning home because they had endured hardship and earned their honors, so they could put everything else aside for the time being. Lin Guohui drove the car directly to the parking lot, and Fang Yuenian got out of the car first. Wang Jing, of course, rushed up to greet her. Two aunts who were chatting idly at the door, as well as an uncle who was a familiar neighbor, also came over with smiles to help, constantly marveling at how hard students these days really work, how difficult it is to get into university, and how much they have to study.
Cheng Bing was already surprised enough that her father had driven to the Fang family's door, but Lin Guohui got out of the car, chatted with everyone for a bit, and then took a piece of melon that Wang Jing handed to her.
He was even more surprised. Taking advantage of a break while moving the books, he whispered a few words to Fang Yuenian. An aunt saw this and said with a smile, "These two college students are really good. Standing together, they look really impressive!"
Fang Yuenian was a little stunned, but Cheng Bing had already given a light laugh as a reply.
After some fuss, the car restarted, and Cheng Bing jumped in, turning back to nod at Fang Yuenian with her chin.
Fang Yue Nian responded with her eyes and thanked Lin Guo Hui again. Lin Guo Hui smiled and said, "It's nothing."
The Cheng family was better prepared. Last night, the Cheng family patriarch brought out a bottle of wine that he had treasured for three years. He originally planned to have a couple of drinks with his son-in-law tonight, but then he remembered that his two beloved granddaughters hadn't returned yet, so he put the wine away and said he would open it when they came back.
Grandma Cheng scolded the old man, but she also knew that the wine was expensive. Just then, Grandma Lin came over and brought a bottle of red wine, so she said to open this bottle.
Cheng Qiuyan was busy cooking when Lin Guohui drove into the yard. He smelled the tempting aroma of the food and heard his parents-in-law discussing what kind of wine to serve. He turned to Cheng Bing and said, "Son, we're getting our thanks to you today."
That's for sure. As soon as Cheng Bing entered the house, he was treated like a VIP. The whole family showered him with warmth and care. From a high school senior who had been studying hard for years, he had suddenly become the pride of the family, about to go to university and bring glory to the family. Cheng Xiaoxiao and Cheng Junjun had felt this way back then, and Cheng Bing finally experienced it firsthand.
After dinner, Grandpa Cheng, having drunk a bit too much, started talking to his grandson, repeatedly saying "not easy" and "good fortune." When he mentioned his two granddaughters who were away from home, he talked about the hardships they endured as children. Through them, he then mentioned Cheng Qiuyan and Xiao Hongya, who, even at a young age, would help with laundry, cooking, and other household chores...
Cheng Bing didn't know who "Little Red Sprout" was that his grandfather was talking about, and he didn't pay attention to it. It wasn't until his grandfather was persuaded by his mother to go back to bed and he was helping his mother sweep the floor that he suddenly realized that the words "Red Sprout" sounded familiar.
Just then, his phone received a text message notification. He went over to check and saw it was from Fang Yuenian.
"Brother Cheng!!! Come out and look at the moon!!"
If I remember correctly, it's the end of April in the lunar calendar, so logically there shouldn't be a bright full moon.
In reality, there wasn't even a crescent moon, let alone a bright one; the sky was filled with twinkling stars, and the night was hazy. Cheng Bing rushed to the old sycamore tree and saw Fang Yuenian playing with a cat. As she got closer, she smelled a strong scent of floral water.
The cat was a notoriously arrogant stray, quite fat, with yellow and white fur, and an air of haughtiness. It ignored everyone and seemed to have no idea why it had the time to come and keep Fang Yuenian company while she fed mosquitoes. It stood on a large rock under the tree, and Fang Yuenian reached out to touch its head, but each time the cat raised its paw to block her.
Cheng Bing watched the person and the cat playing happily without saying a word.
"Brother Cheng?" Fang Yuenian turned to the side and saw who it was. "You're here?"
Brother Cat leaped away and ran off.
"Huh?" Fang Yuenian raised an eyebrow. "Why did you leave?"
"Why are you playing with it?" Cheng Bing asked, sitting down on the rock and looking him over.
“We just happened to run into each other,” Fang Yuenian sat down next to him. “Have you taken a shower?”
"Um."
Fang Yuenian took out a bottle of floral water, "I'll spray some more, there are too many mosquitoes."
Why are you out at this time?
Fang Yuenian shrugged. "Just bored. Did Aunt Qiuyan ask you anything when you came out?"
"No, Grandpa and Dad both drank too much, so my mother-in-law and Mom each took care of one of them, and that's why I came out."
"That's good," Fang Yuenian smiled with narrowed eyes. "By the way, my family is going to start renovating the backyard these next few days, building a storage shed, and also tidying up that wasteland. I asked my mom, and she also wants to build a courtyard wall like Aunt Hongmei's family did."
Cheng Bing asked, "Do I need your help?"
"We need to help arrange for the workers; it's too hot. They can't do anything else."
Cheng Bing nodded, "Send them some melons."
"Haha, Uncle Lin ate some melon today, it was really sweet, but you didn't get any. I'll cut some fresh ones and bring them to you tomorrow."
Cheng Bing said, "Okay."
Fang Yue Nian's smile faded. Listening to the croaking of frogs in the quiet night, she turned her head to look at him. "There's no moon tonight. I just wanted to ask you to come out and talk to me."
Cheng Bing nodded again: "Mm."
Fang Yuenian hummed in agreement, withdrew her arm, and stood up. "Go back now, and don't forget to think carefully about what kind of bookend you'll make for me."
Cheng Bing reached out and grabbed his arm. "Don't you have anything else to say?"
Fang Yuenian: "Huh?"
"Are you in a good mood?" Cheng Bing asked him. "How's everything at home when you got home today?"
Fang Yue Nian clearly felt the weight of her heart sinking, and a ripple spread across it that even the most peaceful night could not smooth over.
Cheng Bing pulled him closer, and Fang Yuenian sat back down.
When people are under a lot of pressure, they are more likely to get stuck on their own thoughts and ideas.
During the busiest time of senior year, I had to eat, shower, and do laundry every day between afternoon classes and evening self-study. This way, after evening self-study, I wouldn't have to be busy when I got back to the dormitory. I would usually do some practice problems until a little while, and then I would barely sleep until 6:30 the next day before starting a new day. This cycle repeated itself, and the same thing happened on weekends, which could last for a long time.
What was he obsessing over?
It's probably because he sees his classmates receiving unlimited support and cooperation from their families as they prepare for exams, while he, on the other hand, has to deal with Fang Wu's neurotic behavior every now and then, wondering what arguments have taken place at home, who got hurt this time, and how to get things sorted out.
He would write math problems late at night by the light of a flashlight, with some unknown FM radio program playing in his ears, and then unconsciously write on a piece of paper: Why?
Then, snapping back to reality, he turned to look at Cheng Bing's back in another corner, gaining a bit of strength to calm down, and then continued studying.
Today, the college entrance examination has ended. I said goodbye to school and returned home. When I opened the door, it was still the same old story.
Fang Wu was engrossed in playing mahjong at the village entrance and had no idea that his son was coming home today.
Grandma Fang got angry at dinner because a dish was cooked with rapeseed oil instead of lard. She escalated her anger to the point of complaining that she had never enjoyed any happiness in her life.
Grandma Hongmei came over to chat with Grandma Fang after dinner. She kept praising her grandson's abilities and said that Grandma Fang was also good, with her grandson and granddaughter being capable. Even if they didn't take Grandma Fang's surname, they would definitely side with Grandma Fang. Otherwise, how could Grandma Fang's Xiaoyue Nian and Grandma Fang's Xiaobingbing have such a good relationship?
It's always the same old stuff.
Trivial matters, troublemakers, malicious acts, and things you can't escape.
But he didn't want to talk to Cheng Bing anymore.
"Nothing's wrong, it's the same as before."
In fact, ever since the college entrance examination, Fang Yuenian's words and actions have been somewhat arrogant.
They rub against each other, and their words are always loaded with hidden meaning. It's just that they've been holding back for too long. They have so much to say, but now that they don't have to hold back anymore, they can't find an outlet.
After hesitating for a while, he slowly said, "Can we go to the carpenter's shop tomorrow?"
Cheng Bing looked at him: "Where are you going?"
Fang Yuenian's ears burned: "I thought we had already agreed that we would have a good talk when we got home."
Cheng Bing freed one hand and slowly cupped the back of his head. This behavior was quite strange, as if she were comforting some small animal. Fang Yuenian twisted a few times but failed to break free, and she didn't really want to.
“Fang Yuenian,” Cheng Bing said in a low voice, “sometimes I feel like you’re doing this on purpose, and sometimes I feel like you haven’t thought it through at all.”
Fang Yue Nian fell silent instantly.
Cheng Bing gently stroked the back of his neck with her palm, and the moment their skin touched, he suddenly opened his eyes wide.
Despite the sweltering summer heat, Cheng Bing's fingers were surprisingly cool, and goosebumps quickly rose on the skin he touched and continued to touch.
Cheng Bing just stared at him for a long time before asking, "Do you remember now?"
Fang Yuenian said blankly, "Remember what?"
"Thinking back, from childhood to adulthood, in whose presence were you the happiest and most at ease? Besides your mother and sister, who was the person you liked and cared about the most? Who did you work so hard to get into the top high school for, and whose grades were more important than yours? Who would make you angry because of someone's early romance? And why would you be angry?"
Cheng Bing's voice wasn't loud, but each word seemed to strike Fang Yuenian's heart like a ton of bricks.
"And who is it that worries about you every day, afraid that you'll get into fights or cause trouble, afraid that you'll get sick, afraid that you'll be unhappy? If you get into a fight or cause trouble, who will take the punishment with you, who will stand up for you? If you're sick or unhappy, who will comfort you, who will console you?"
Fang Yuenian was already pressed against the rock, and now he had no way to retreat, so he... forgot to retreat.
“I’m willing to talk to you about anything, but Fang Yuenian, I hope you can calm down and not make a choice against your conscience just because we are good friends and you don’t want to hurt me.”
Fang Yuenian stared at him in astonishment.
I realized something very important:
Cheng Bing wasn't as confident and secure as she appeared...
"Even now, he doesn't dare to assume that I like him too."
"Brother Cheng," he called softly.
"Um?"
"Actually, you can tell me everything."
Cheng Bing genuinely didn't understand. "Tell you what?"
"I always thought I was your best friend, but I don't think I paid any attention to you... I don't mean anything by it, it's just that now that I think about it, how could I have known nothing back then? But," Fang Yuenian looked into Cheng Bing's eyes, "if there are some things you're still unsure about, then let me tell you, that day in the bathroom, before you kissed me, I already wanted to kiss you." (Author's note:)
Thank you for reading. This book
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