Ma Linghua sat quietly on the bed, her eyes somewhat vacant, her thoughts drifting back to the past.
Images from those years played like a slideshow in her mind, and unconsciously, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a smile.
Back then, amidst that stinking pile of corpses, she spotted Li Zhongguo at first glance, and from then on, this man entered her life.
These past few days, since her return, she has keenly sensed a trace of death about Li Zhongguo.
She knew in her heart that everyone must die eventually, and death can be as light as Mount Tai or as heavy as a feather.
Li Zhongguo is able to live to be 95 years old now entirely thanks to her protection, but he is, after all, just an ordinary person, unlike her Ma family members who are cultivators.
This law of life and death shrouded her heart in a thick fog, making it difficult for her to accept. She just wanted to be alone and try to process this heavy feeling in the tranquility.
At six o'clock in the evening, the door opened, and Li Zhongguo appeared in the doorway with a look of joy on his face.
"Linghua, I was wrong, don't be angry. How about you grill me another one? I'll definitely finish it this time."
His voice was cautious, and his eyes were full of flattery.
Looking at the man in front of her, whose heart and eyes were full of her, Ma Linghua slowly lowered her head and said calmly, "No need, I'll treat you to grilled fish tomorrow."
Li Zhongguo was taken aback at first, then felt like he'd been given a windfall. He didn't refuse at all, and was as happy as a child. "Okay, it's a deal then!"
"Okay! It's settled." Ma Lihua looked at her grandmother, hesitated, and ultimately remained silent.
She knew that some paths and some people had to be experienced and understood by themselves, and others had no right or ability to interfere.
This simple conversation contains deep affection accumulated over the years and a sense of helplessness in the face of life's impermanence.
"Grandma, is Grandpa leaving?"
Ma Lihua's voice was very soft, like a feather drifting in the wind. A cold wind blew by, and the voice seemed to be carried away by the wind, making people feel as if she had never spoken.
The grandfather and grandson sat quietly on the rooftop of the courtyard house, gazing up at the twinkling stars in the sky. The surrounding silence was somewhat oppressive.
The weather was bitterly cold, but the two seemed oblivious, lost in their own thoughts.
"Pear blossoms, everyone goes through that phase, it's just a matter of time."
Ma Linghua broke the silence, her voice a little hoarse, "Your grandfather also said that if he could see you get married, he would have no regrets in this life."
Ma Lihua did not respond, but simply watched the dark clouds in the sky being blown by the wind, her eyes deep and unfathomable, lost in thought.
"How much life do you have left, Master?" After a long while, Ma Lihua asked slowly.
"One year."
Ma Linghua gave a brief reply.
These two words struck their hearts like a heavy hammer, once again spreading silence.
For them, a year is too short, like a fleeting moment, but for Li Zhongguo, this life has been worthwhile. Although there are regrets, those beautiful memories are enough to satisfy him.
"Are we still going to the sinkhole?" Ma Lihua asked again.
“I won’t go. This year, our family will just stay here and keep your grandfather company, just like before. I want to spend time with him and see him off in person.”
Ma Linghua's voice carries a deep-seated loneliness, yet also a sense of acceptance of fate.
"Once you give birth to the successor of our Ma family, I'll go find your grandfather."
Upon hearing this, Ma Lihua, who was already feeling distressed, was struck as if by lightning. She was immediately startled and stared wide-eyed at her grandmother. She couldn't imagine what kind of life that would be like, and that fear instantly overshadowed her grief over her grandfather's passing.
"Don't be afraid, your mother and I will be by your side when you give birth."
Ma Linghua looked at Ma Lihua with loving eyes, trying to dispel the fear in her eyes with gentle words.
Upon hearing this, Ma Lihua's lips twitched involuntarily, and she secretly thought to herself: Without a man, I can't give birth on my own! This thought swirled in her mind, but she didn't dare to say it aloud.
"You don't want the money to pay your respects anymore?" Ma Linghua seemed to see through her thoughts and casually uttered this question.
Upon hearing this, Ma Lihua's eyes lit up immediately, and her gaze instantly became firm, as if she had become a different person.
"Yes, I want milk. I want to have many."
She was secretly calculating in her mind that it would be best to receive money from those kids every month, not too much, just two thousand yuan from each of them. That would add up to a considerable sum of money.
She was lost in her own fantasy, as if she could already see gleaming silver coins flying towards her.
In the shadows, Shangguan Wenyan heard everything, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
Looking at Ma Lihua's cute yet somewhat greedy appearance, his heart felt like a deer was pounding wildly.
He secretly made up his mind that it was time to confess his feelings to Lihua, and he was fully confident that he could cure Lihua's health.
It doesn't matter if he's a little worse than a normal person; with him around, Pear Blossom will be fine.
As the two were preparing to leave the rooftop, a furtive figure outside the courtyard gate suddenly caught their attention. The figure moved suspiciously in the darkness.
"Who's there? What are you doing?" Ma Linghua shouted, her voice echoing like a bell in the courtyard.
"Oh my god! You scared me half to death, Mom, it's me, Hehua." Ma Hehua's voice was filled with panic.
At this moment, she was carrying Li Fagui on her back, crouching down, looking just like a guilty thief.
"You idiot, why didn't you come in through the main gate? What's wrong? Trying to climb over the wall?" Ma Linghua said irritably.
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