As the morning light of New Year's Day 1989 rises, a New Year's Day cultural performance for all primary and secondary school students in the town will be held this afternoon in the town's assembly hall.
Yu Jihong and Fang Yu arrived at school together. Yu Jihong combed Fang Yu's hair and did her makeup. Yu Jihong dipped her hand in water and smoothed the stray hairs on Fang Yu's forehead, then braided her hair according to the teacher's instructions. She then dipped her fingertip in rouge and blended it on her daughter's rosy cheeks, finally adding a small red dot between her eyebrows.
After putting on makeup and changing clothes, Fang Yu sat on the back of the bicycle. "Hold on tight to Mom's clothes, we're going to the town's assembly hall," Yu Jihong said, pedaling hard, and the bicycle jingled as it sped out of the school gate.
The wind carried the chill of winter, but it did not dispel Yu Jihong's enthusiasm. Fang Yu sat behind her, humming the tune of "The Little Girl Picking Mushrooms" softly: "The little girl picking mushrooms, carrying a big bamboo basket on her back."
"Mom, someone's watching me on the road." After riding for a while, Fang Yu hid her face behind Yu Jihong.
“They’re watching you because you’re pretty. There will be even more people watching you on stage later. Dance well, and after you’re done, Mom will take you to have a picture taken, a color picture.” Yu Jihong turned around and smiled.
Red silk ribbons were hung on the gray brick walls of the assembly hall, and a banner with the words "Town-wide Students' New Year's Day Art Performance" written in calligraphy fluttered in the wind at the entrance. A large crowd was gathered at the entrance, interspersed with students who had put on makeup and were ready to perform, attracting people's attention. There were also rows of bicycles, so crowded that there was hardly any room to park them.
The auditorium was packed to capacity. Long wooden benches stretched from the stage all the way to the back door, and people were even crowding the windowsills. Acquaintances greeted each other loudly, their laughter mingling with the warm, lively atmosphere of the room.
The performance is about to begin, and the owner, who goes to his shop to take photos every year, is adjusting his camera.
Upon seeing this, Yu Jihong quickly pulled Fang Yu over, exclaiming, "Boss!"
The boss recognized her too, "Hey, your daughter is performing today too, she's dressed up so well I almost didn't recognize her."
"Yes, boss, she's dancing to 'The Little Girl Picking Mushrooms.' Take a few more pictures of her on stage later. Once I have the photos, I'll buy them from your shop."
"Okay, okay, I'll take a few more pictures when I see her." The photo studio owner glanced at Fang Yu again.
Yu Jihong tugged at Fang Yu's hand, "You have to dance well, we can take pictures of you on stage later, that would be great!"
After the performance began, Yu Jihong kept her eyes glued to the stage. When it was Fang Yu and the others' turn to go on stage, her heart leaped into her throat as soon as the music started. Fang Yu, wearing a floral dress, bounced to the beat, her little hands making a "mushroom picking" gesture, her cheeks flushed red under the lights, like a blooming peach blossom. Watching her, Yu Jihong's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
After the performance, Yu Jihong took Fang Yu to a photo studio. "I took some photos of her on stage," the photo studio owner said.
"Take another clearer picture of her alone, in color."
Fang Yu took another picture in front of a backdrop depicting green mountains and clear waters, still clutching a small bamboo basket prop used during the performance.
"Do you still want the photos with her on them?" the photo studio owner asked after the photo was taken.
"I want to be able to see her clearly too," Yu Jihong said through gritted teeth.
"Okay, I got it. We'll come pick it up together then."
When the day came to pick up the photos, Yu Jihong looked at her daughter in the picture, gently tracing her smiling face with her fingertips. She thought, "She's so beautiful. My daughter has grown up. Her features are becoming more and more like mine."
Yu Jihong's eyes reddened. She put the photo in a cloth bag, rode her bicycle home, and wondered where he was. Why didn't he come looking for her back then? Did he like seeing such a wonderful daughter? Would Fang Yu and he ever meet again in this life?
Yu Jihong asked herself again, did she want to see him again? Yu Jihong's answer was that she didn't know. She wanted to figure some things out, but she didn't want to hurt Fang Sandi.
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