That evening, Dong Shuangqun's fever completely subsided, and she gradually recovered.
Dong Ya didn't tell Dong Shuangqun about the hardships of the past few days in detail, for fear that he would start to feel fear and worry again.
Through this experience, the two gradually became acquainted. When Dong Ya learned that Chen Jianwei wanted to learn calligraphy, she volunteered to teach him. Chen Jianwei would also often help Dong Ya with his work when the others in the brigade were not paying attention.
Sometimes, when they returned from hunting in the mountains, they would clean up the game and share it with the father and daughter to help them replenish their nutrition.
Sometimes, when Dong Shuangqun's students sent letters or items, Chen Jianwei would secretly bring them back for them when he went to the black market to sell his prey.
Dong Ya recalled the seven years she spent in the countryside. Her memories included not only the heavy labor and the frustration and confusion of not being able to see the future, but perhaps also a touch of sweetness.
Over time, the two developed feelings for each other, but neither of them ever brought it up.
Dong Ya had a feeling that Chen Jianwei might like her. She could deeply feel his help, care and love over the years, and she was quite sure that she also had feelings for him.
Although she didn't know what Chen Jianwei was thinking, Dong Ya was certain that with an uncertain future and her current awkward position, there was no room for further development between them...
"After the policy of exonerating Teacher Dong was announced, did you just go straight back to the city?" Wen Ruan asked, recalling the entanglement between the two on Friday afternoon.
"Yes, I went to the Chen family to look for Chen Jianwei before I left, but I couldn't find him. Chen's mother said he went out and hasn't come back yet."
"But I know he's always been there." Dong Ya felt a pang of pain in her heart as she recalled the scene.
The day the policy of exonerating Dong Shuangqun was announced, the leaders from above drove over to announce the news, and the villagers from the brigade also came to see what was going on.
Having spent seven years in the countryside, neither Dong Shuangqun nor Dong Ya were able to react to such news. They stared blankly at the person who came to deliver the message for a long time before finally coming to their senses.
"I can go back to the city now, my father has been exonerated!" Dong Ya couldn't describe her feelings at this moment; her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
After confirming the information with the person who informed him, Dong Ya's first reaction was to go to the Chen family and find Chen Jianwei!
She made her way through the crowd of onlookers and ran towards the Chen family's house on the east side of the brigade. She had only seen the Chen family's house from afar before, guided by Chen Jianwei, but had never been there.
Because of Dong Ya's status as a child sent to the countryside, she was in a very awkward position and had very limited options. This was the first time she had been able to visit the Chen family openly and legitimately.
She didn't know what to say when she saw Chen Jianwei, but at that moment, she had only one thought in her mind: "She wants to see him!"
Unfortunately, when she arrived at the Chen family home, she could only receive a message from Chen's mother that Chen Jianwei was not at home.
Dong Ya felt a pang of disappointment and stood at the Chen family's door without making any other move until Dong Shuangqun and the others came and urged Dong Ya to get in the car quickly so they could go to the county to take the train back to Beijing.
But Dong Ya refused to leave, her eyes pleading as she looked at Dong Shuangqun. She just wanted to see Chen Jianwei one more time and talk to him...
Dong Shuangqun was somewhat aware of the entanglement between Chen Jianwei and Dong Ya, and was very grateful to Chen Jianwei. She was even aware of the unspoken relationship between the two.
But he definitely wouldn't want Dong Ya to stay here indefinitely.
Especially since they had finally gotten the chance to be exonerated and return to the city!
But seeing Dong Ya's disappointed and pitiful expression, Dong Shuangqun finally softened and agreed to Dong Ya's suggestion. She took the initiative to communicate with the people who came to pick them up, preparing to wait another half hour, otherwise they might miss the next train back to Beijing.
Time ticked by, and Dong Ya remained standing at the Chen family's door, gazing down the only road leading to the brigade's entrance. Half an hour passed quickly, but Chen Jianwei still hadn't appeared.
Dong Ya could hardly contain her emotions and was on the verge of crying.
"Teacher Dong, Comrade Dong, shall we set off now?" the driver asked.
"Wait a minute, please wait a little longer..." Dong Ya pleaded.
The driver looked at Dong Shuangqun with a troubled expression. If they didn't leave soon, they might miss the last train to Beijing that day. The leaders had repeatedly told him to make sure they got on the train on time when they left.
Dong Shuangqun continued to persuade Dong Ya, but Dong Ya remained unwilling to leave, and even had a thought in her mind: "Maybe I shouldn't go back."
But she dared not say it aloud. The long period of living in the countryside had taken a toll on Dong Shuangqun's health, and she certainly couldn't bear the thought of not wanting to go back.
In the end, it was Chen's mother who couldn't bear to watch any longer and stepped forward to say, "Girl, go back. The city is your home, the place that truly belongs to you."
“You don’t belong here. Your time here is just a very short part of your life. We, including Jianwei, are just fleeting passersby in this short period of your life.”
"Jianwei also hopes you can go back quickly and get your life back on track. We're not from the same world. Even if we cross paths again, we'll eventually drift further and further apart." Chen's mother sighed, a trace of sorrow in her eyes, and said in a helpless tone.
Upon hearing this, Dong Ya realized that it wasn't that Chen Jianwei hadn't returned from his trip, but rather that he simply didn't want to see her.
A surge of anger welled up in Dong Ya's heart. She felt as if all her emotions had been doused with cold water, and her feelings seemed to have become a joke in that instant.
As he thought about it, he couldn't help but laugh at himself, his face indifferent: "Chen Jianwei, you'll regret this."
After saying that, Dong Ya turned around and got into the car. If you ignored the dust stirred up by the large tear that had just fallen to the ground, you would think that she really didn't care at all, just like she was acting now.
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