The group returned to the room and looked up to see the old man leisurely drinking tea, still sitting in the same chair.
Mao Xiaofeng called out to him, "Old Yang, my sister is here. Keep an eye on things while I go cook!" Old Yang nodded but didn't say anything.
Then Ma Linghua noticed him; the old man they had been ignoring seemed to have something special about him.
Old Yang's back was somewhat hunched, yet he exuded a kind of resilience that came from years of hardship.
His wrinkled face, like a map sculpted by time, tells the story of bygone years with every line.
In the deep-set eye sockets, a pair of eyes, cloudy yet sharp, seemed to be able to see through people's hearts.
At this moment, he sipped his tea, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if he understood everything around him.
Ma Linghua carefully examined Old Man Yang. His faded Zhongshan suit, though old, was neat and clean, with every button fastened meticulously.
His cuffs were slightly worn, revealing a few loose threads—traces left by time.
Old Yang's hands were covered in bulging veins and had distinct knuckles. His fingers were also stained with tea, which must have been a mark left by drinking tea for a long time.
He put down his teacup, slowly raised his head, and glanced at Ma Linghua and the others.
In that instant, Ma Linghua felt as if she were being stared at by a gloomy gaze, and a strange sense of vigilance welled up in her heart.
His eyes were deep and complex, containing the composure of someone who has weathered many storms, the wisdom to see through the ways of the world, and a hint of loneliness that was not easily detected.
"Miss, please sit wherever you like." Old Yang's voice was deep and hoarse, with a unique magnetism.
"Girl?" Ma Linghua was taken aback, then laughed, "Don't get me wrong, I'm older than Xiao Feng."
Old Yang was taken aback, then glanced at her again. "I can't believe it!" His voice was not only low but also somewhat ambiguous.
Ma Linghua smiled, but her eyes remained serious as she said, "I didn't notice either."
Old Yang paused for a moment, then looked away, picked up his teacup again, gently blew away the foam on the surface, and took a small sip.
His movements were elegant and composed, as if he were performing a solemn ceremony.
Ma Linghua and the others sat on the sofa. This seemingly ordinary old man must have something going on.
"Old Yang, have you been living here alone all this time?" Ma Linghua asked suddenly.
Old Yang was slightly taken aback, then smiled faintly, "Yes, it's peaceful being alone."
Ma Linghua's doubts deepened. "I heard from Xiaofeng that you used to live with your son."
Old Yang interrupted her, "That's all in the past, let's not talk about it. The children have their own lives, so I won't bother them."
Ma Linghua smiled and didn't press the matter further; a brief silence fell over the room.
Only the sound of Old Man Yang drinking tea was crisp and rhythmic.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew in from outside the window, lightly rustling the hem of Old Man Yang's clothes.
He squinted, enjoying the moment of tranquility. Ma Linghua noticed a faint, almost imperceptible dimness on his face, as if the breeze was making him feel quite comfortable.
“Look at the scenery outside the window. The flowers are similar year after year, but the people are different year after year,” Old Yang suddenly said.
Ma Linghua followed his gaze. The window was some distance away, so it was impossible for him to see, but the fact that he said it clearly indicated a problem.
A lush garden, with colorful flowers vying for attention? Please, it's the first day of the Lunar New Year. There are no flowers to speak of. When they passed by earlier, they took a look and there was indeed a flower bed, but it was overgrown with weeds.
"Old Yang, do you know what time it is now?" Ma Linghua asked softly.
Old Yang sighed, "Isn't it the first day of June? What's wrong? The weather is quite nice, but... you're all dressed a bit too warmly!"
Ma Linghua nodded thoughtfully, "Yes! It is indeed the first day of the sixth lunar month. We have a cold constitution, so we wear thick clothes!"
"Mom, what's this about being cold-blooded? No, this is clearly... mmm..." Before Ma Hehua could finish speaking, her daughter tightly covered her mouth.
"Shut up. If you can't speak properly, then don't speak. We can talk after dinner." Ma Linghua looked at Ma Hehua with a look of exasperation.
"Is this your daughter?" Old Yang asked suddenly, looking at Ma Hehua.
Ma Linghua smiled slightly, "Oh! She's my daughter. She's just a bit too honest and likes to say random things."
Old Yang smiled and said, "My son is also an honest man. I guess he's not even as old as your daughter!"
Just then, Mao Xiaofeng came out carrying the food. "Oh, you two seem to be having a good chat! The food is ready, come and eat!"
Ma Linghua and the others immediately got up and went to the dining table.
After washing her hands, Mao Xiaofeng came over and pushed Old Man Yang to go eat.
At the dinner table, Old Man Yang remained silent, only occasionally raising his head to look at Mao Xiaofeng and Ma Linghua, a hint of gloom in his eyes.
The three members of the Ma family were more restrained this time. They were not only quite proper, but they also kept picking at the vegetables, without touching any meat dishes.
After the meal, Ma Linghua asked Ma Hehua to help Mao Xiaofeng clear the dishes, while Old Man Yang returned to his chair and continued drinking his tea.
"Why aren't you eating meat?" Mao Xiaofeng asked after she finished cleaning up. She thought it smelled delicious! She ate a lot.
Ma Linghua looked at her and asked, "Xiao Feng, how long have you been living with this old man Yang?" Ma Linghua asked calmly.
Mao Xiaofeng smiled slightly, "I don't remember very clearly either. I only know that he has lived here for a long time, as if he has experienced a lot of things."
Ma Linghua closed her eyes and slowly said, "I'm too late."
Mao Xiaofeng laughed and said, "It's not too late! As long as I get his house, I can invite you sisters over for a get-together whenever I want." She said this with a calculating and dreamy look on her face.
Ma Linghua led Ma Hehua, Ma Lihua, and Mao Xiaofeng back to their room.
Old Yang remained seated, his teacup empty, his eyes filled with coldness.
Ma Linghua and Mao Xiaofeng sat to the side. She looked at her sister in front of her, unsure whether to tell her a cruel truth.
"Do you have something to say to me?" Mao Xiaofeng asked, noticing her hesitant demeanor.
Ma Linghua and Ma Lihua exchanged a glance and then nodded.
Time slipped away quietly in the room, and the sky outside the window gradually darkened.
Old Man Yang suddenly stood up and said, "You have a road to heaven but you choose not to take it, and you have no way to hell but you come here to seek your own salvation."
This doesn't look like there's anything wrong with your feet at all; they're perfectly healthy!
Old Yang approached the room step by step. He walked to the door, reached out his hand, and knocked. It must be said, he was quite a gentleman.
"bump!"
Before he could react, the door panel flew out, instantly sending him flying three meters away.
Old Man Yang: "…………………………"
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