When Lin Qing, Gu Nanxun, and their third brother arrived, it was already dusk. A setting sun hung in the sky, casting a dim light on the crowd in the square. Looking at the scene before him, Lin Qing felt even more uneasy.
At this moment, in the center of the square, on the platform where the brigade leader gives his daily address, stood two ragged old men.
A crowd had gathered below the platform, talking amongst themselves with expressions of indignation on their faces, as if they were waiting for something.
Lin Qing's anxious gaze swept past the crowded throng and landed directly on the two figures on the stage that were both familiar and unfamiliar. The two elderly people had gray hair and haggard faces, and were being escorted by several young men in green military uniforms as they stood in front of the stage. Lin Qing's heart suddenly raced. Even though she had never seen these two elderly people before, she felt inexplicably sad.
Lin Qing turned to look at her third brother, Lin Yunfeng, and saw that his face was full of grief and indignation. His gaze was fixed on the two people on the stage, his eyes glistening with tears, and his fists clenched involuntarily. He gritted his teeth, his body trembling slightly from restraint.
Lin Qing knew she had guessed correctly; the two elderly people on the stage were her maternal grandparents. Lin Qing carefully observed the two on the stage and saw a hint of resentment in her grandfather's eyes, while her grandmother's face was full of worry and helplessness.
Lin Qing looked angrily in the direction from which the sound came, but she was helpless. She couldn't just go up and shut people up. At that moment, Lin Qing felt extremely helpless and desperate. She could only hold onto Gu Nanxun's arm tightly.
The crowd quickly became agitated, waving their arms and shouting. Everyone was filled with righteous indignation.
Lin Qing stood in the crowd, her emotions a complex mix. Surrounded by excited chatter and discussions, she looked at her grandparents on the stage, her heart filled with helplessness and anger. She desperately wanted to rush onto the stage, but knew that would only make things worse. She couldn't act impulsively; she could only watch from here, unable even to say a word for her grandparents. Her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh.
Seeing Lin Qing like this, Gu Nanxun held her hand tightly with heartache. He used his large hand to gently pry open Lin Qing's fingers one by one, and then carefully held them in his own.
When the shouts around them subsided slightly, Lin Qing whispered to Gu Nanxun, "Brother Nanxun, what should I do? What should I do now? Will something bad happen?"
Gu Nanxun gently patted the back of her hand and whispered, "Qingqing, don't be afraid, it's alright, don't worry, I'm here! I won't let anything happen to Grandpa and Grandma."
"I know, I'm just a little sad, Brother Nanxun. When will this end?" Lin Qing's voice carried a hint of despair. She felt hopeless and helpless about the situation before her. This was the first time Lin Qing had shown such emotions since she had been in the countryside for so long. Before, she had only learned about these things from books and other people's conversations, but no matter how many words were in the books or how others described them, nothing was as painful as experiencing it herself.
Gu Nanxun remained silent for a long time, then patted Lin Qing's hand and said, "It will be over soon, it will be over soon, don't you know? It will be over, and things will get better and better from now on."
Suddenly, the captain walked onto the stage and began to speak. His loud voice echoed in the air, and every word struck Lin Qing's heart like a heavy hammer.
Some people in the crowd began to shout, some were angry, and some were just going with the flow. Lin Qing felt dizzy. She tried to steady herself, but she couldn't calm the turmoil in her heart.
Lin Qing's heart pounded like a drum. She couldn't hear anything else; all she could hear was the murmur of voices around her, and the tense, uneasy atmosphere in the air. She stared intently at her hunched-over grandparents. Their faces, etched with the marks of time, now held an even stronger sense of helplessness and fear.
An indescribable pain welled up in Lin Qing's heart. She clenched her hands tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. Gu Nanxun felt the pain in her hands but said nothing, still holding Lin Qing's hands tightly.
"..."
Looking at her grandparents, Lin Qing's eyes reddened, and her heart ached. She didn't know if it was her own emotion or a lingering emotion from the original owner of the body; she only knew that her heart ached terribly and she felt suffocated.
"Qingqing, calm down, relax, this will pass. You need to calm down, don't forget you have a baby!" Gu Nanxun had been watching Lin Qing's expression closely. Seeing her sudden change in expression, he quickly whispered, firmly grasping Lin Qing's shoulders and holding her in his arms, constantly comforting her.
Lin Yunfeng was also in the crowd, his expression complex, a mixture of anger and helplessness. He looked at his sister, shook his head slightly, and gestured for her not to act rashly.
Gu Nanxun hugged Lin Qing tightly for a while, then let go, took her hand, and whispered in her ear, "Qingqing, we can't lose our temper here. It will only make things worse. Remember, Grandpa and Grandma still need us."
Lin Qing took a deep breath. She knew Gu Nanxun was right. She couldn't break down here. She needed to be strong, for her grandparents, for her family, and for the original owner of this body.
Her gaze fell on her grandparents again. Their eyes revealed a firmness and composure, as if telling Lin Qing that no matter what happened, they would face it with strength.
A surge of strength welled up within Lin Qing. She knew that no matter how difficult the road ahead, she would bravely walk on with her family.
Gu Nanxun stood in the crowd, his brows furrowed, his eyes revealing complex emotions. He knew this was a struggle, and currently no one could change the status quo; this ordeal was something his grandparents had to endure.
Time passed slowly. Gu Nanxun glanced at his watch and knew it was time. He patted Lin Qing's hand and said to Zhao Chen and Zhao Xi, "Take good care of Qingqing." Then he squeezed through the crowd and jumped onto the stage.
"Please calm down, everyone. If this continues, someone will die."
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