Chapter 84 A Meal to Remember the Bitter Past and Appreciate the Sweet Present
As if guessing her question, Meng Tian smiled bitterly.
"This isn't your fault; we failed to protect her."
Gu Zuozuo shook her head, a smile on her face.
“She doesn’t blame you. Her life was short, and half of the sweetness she experienced was given to her by you. If it weren’t for you, her fate would have been much worse.”
Meng Tian's eyes reddened, and she quickly lowered her head, afraid that someone would see.
"Was she... alright when she left?"
"Yes, there was no pain, just some fear. I avenged her, along with those behind the scenes who caused her to fall into this state."
Although she hasn't sorted out her things overseas yet, there's no rush; she has plenty of time.
What is your real name?
Meng Tian composed herself, swallowed the sob that was rising in her throat, and changed the subject.
"You might not believe it, but my name is also Gu Zuozuo."
Meng Tian was genuinely surprised. What a coincidence!
"Really? I don't believe it either that we share the same name. Not only is the name the same, but we even share the same birthday, although the year is different."
"I'm sorry, I did remember your birthday, but I was in a bad mood that day, so..."
"I understand. If it were me, I would probably be even more excited than you."
Meng Tian smiled, but deep in her eyes was a sorrow she couldn't hide.
They tried to protect her for sixteen years, but they still couldn't keep her safe. She was so scared and lonely, and then she quietly disappeared in a corner where no one knew.
Her hand was held by a warm, slender hand, and she heard Gu Zuozuo's comforting words in her ear.
"Don't worry, she's still alive, just not in this world."
Meng Tian's eyes lit up, and she suddenly turned to look at the girl beside her.
"Are you serious? She's really... still alive?"
"Yes, really. Otherwise, why do you think I would have her memories? Once a living being is confirmed dead, it immediately dies and disappears. Even if someone else takes the initiative, they won't get anything left behind by their predecessor. So she didn't disappear, and neither did I."
Meng Tian thought for a while, not sure if Ming understood, but the worry in her eyes had faded considerably.
"Thank you for living in her place."
Gu Zuozuo tilted her head, and a genuine smile appeared in her eyes.
"Having you all is her good fortune, and it's also my good fortune."
"What are you two... saying? Can you say something I can understand?"
Qi Meng was filled with questions for a while, completely unable to understand what the two of them were talking about. Was there a fourth person between them? Or was she not involved?
"It's okay. Are you hungry? You can eat more later."
The "bitter memories and sweet tastes" meal sounds pretty good.
However, half an hour later, Gu Zuozuo took back her words. This was no food! This was clearly an absolutely bizarre and culinary disaster that would blow your taste buds and your eyes out of shape!
Tree bark, leaves, tree roots, wild vegetables, grass roots, rice husks, buckwheat, sweet potatoes, and potatoes were chopped together and put into a pot to cook, resulting in a big pot of porridge that was neither yellow nor green...
(The information I found all mentioned coarse grains, so I specifically asked the older folks in my family. They said that's what the "bitter memories and sweet present" meal should be like, but it probably varies from place to place.)
Each person received a steamed bun made from wild vegetables and rice bran, and a bowl of rice bran and vegetable porridge.
The people at the educated youth settlement looked at each other, holding their lunchboxes, and none of them could swallow their food.
"You guys have had too many good days. This meal would have been the best seven or eight years ago. So many people wanted to eat it but couldn't."
"That's right, back in the Long March..."
Seeing that the people at the educated youth settlement weren't eating, the old men began to recount the hardships of those years.
Gradually, the educated youth squatted in a circle, with their lunchboxes on the ground.
The picture shows a scene from a meal commemorating past hardships and appreciating present happiness. [Please delete if infringing copyright]
They ate a bite of cornbread, then drank a mouthful of porridge that choked their throats, their ears perked up, listening intently as the old men recounted their past lives.
"Captain, these are insect repellent herbs. The children in the village probably haven't had insect repellent before, right?"
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