Chapter 106 The Transformation of Mother Huo
In May in Beijing, at the turn of spring and summer, a warm and vibrant atmosphere permeates the air. The sunlight is already quite intense, casting dappled, shimmering light through the dense foliage of the old locust trees beside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dormitory building.
The building is an old-style structure from decades ago, with some mottled gray-white walls, but it is covered with lush green ivy, making it look vibrant.
A black sedan slowly pulled up under the shade of a tree not far from the building. The driver got out and respectfully opened the back door.
Mrs. Huo stepped out of the car, carrying a simple yet elegant wicker basket. She stood beside the car, glancing at the dormitory building before her, a building brimming with life yet undeniably simple. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the lush ivy and the flowering locust trees. Her brow twitched almost imperceptibly—not out of disgust, but with a complex mix of surprise, confusion, and a hint of shame.
She took a deep breath, the sweet scent of locust blossoms in the air easing her tense nerves slightly. She whispered to the driver, "Wait for me a moment," and then walked alone towards the dormitory building entrance.
The hallway was reasonably well-lit; the afternoon sun slanted in through the stairwell windows, revealing fine dust particles floating in the air.
She stopped in front of a door on the third floor. She raised her hand, hesitated for a moment, and then gently tapped her knuckles on the door.
There were soft footsteps inside, and the door opened.
Song Zhiyi stood inside the door, holding a red pen in her hand, seemingly making annotations. Upon seeing Huo's mother outside, a clear look of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her usual composure.
"Auntie?" She stepped aside. "What brings you here? Please come in."
Mrs. Huo nodded and went inside. The room was small and simply furnished, but it was spotless and clean, with everything arranged in an orderly manner, exuding an atmosphere of rigor and discipline.
Mrs. Huo's gaze swept quickly across everything, finally settling on the pile of clearly foreign-language documents on the desk, the open laptop, and the thick Arabic dictionary beside it. A slight pang of sadness welled up in her heart, as if something tiny had gently pricked it.
This is where Huo's nominal "young mistress" has lived for the past few years. And she, as the mother-in-law, has not only never set foot there to show any concern, but has even secretly looked down on this "impoverished" place.
"Please have a seat." Song Zhiyi pulled over the slightly more comfortable chair next to the desk and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Instead of sitting down immediately, Mrs. Huo gently placed the wicker basket she was holding on a corner of the desk.
“Zhiyi,” Mrs. Huo began, her voice much softer than usual, even carrying a hint of unaccustomed, cautious probing, “I heard Yanli… and the old man mention a few words, saying that you have an important job transfer? Going to the United Nations? To… the Middle East?”
The news eventually spread. Song Zhiyi wasn't surprised. She nodded and said calmly, "Yes, Aunt. The temporary transfer procedures have been basically completed, and I'm expected to depart in the second half of the year for a period of two years."
Two years. The Middle East. Mrs. Huo's heart sank slightly. Even without knowing the specifics, she knew it wasn't a peaceful place.
“This basket…” Mrs. Huo pointed to the wicker basket on the table, “Inside are some… things I think you might need. There are a few boxes of pretty good quality American ginseng slices, which can be steeped in water to drink in the summer to promote saliva production and replenish energy; some freshly picked lilies and lotus seeds, which are best for clearing the heart and moisturizing the lungs; and two small jars of loquat honey, I know you know how to take care of yourself, but this tastes quite good…” She spoke a little quickly, as if afraid of being interrupted, or as if trying to hide some kind of unease, “It’s nothing valuable, just a little something. The conditions over there… are definitely different, so it will be more convenient for you to take it with you.”
Her speech was not fluent; her concern seemed awkward and clumsy, a far cry from her usual poised and confident demeanor. But the effort she put into expressing herself, yet her inability to articulate it appropriately, was genuine.
Song Zhiyi looked at the wicker basket that surprisingly harmonized with her simple desk, then at the genuine worry and subtle unease in Huo's mother's eyes. She didn't refuse; she stood up and walked to the small table by the wall. There was an electric kettle and several clean glass jars containing different kinds of tea. She boiled water, took out two white porcelain cups, and scooped some tea leaves from one of the jars.
"Auntie, please have some tea." She brought the brewed tea to Mrs. Huo. The tea was clear and fragrant, made of jasmine. "Thank you. I'll accept the gifts; thank you for your trouble."
Her attitude remained polite and considerate, but that politeness seemed to have lost some of the clear-cut distance it used to have, and instead showed more open acceptance and respect for the elders' wishes.
Mrs. Huo accepted the warm teacup, the warmth emanating from the porcelain slightly easing her tense shoulders. Holding the cup, she didn't drink immediately, her gaze fixed on Song Zhiyi's serene face. This girl, from her initial quietness when she married into the Huo family, which she found overly plain and even "unrefined," to her subsequent remarkable transformations—her composed handling of complex family banquets, her meticulous care for the old man, her talent and decisiveness in her professional field, and even her unwavering, dignified composure… scenes flashed through Mrs. Huo's mind.
She suddenly realized that for the past few years, she had been viewing this girl through the narrow-minded and snobbish lens she had been using. What she had belittled and even criticized were precisely the most precious qualities in this girl, which also made the Huo family seem "vulgar."
A wave of sourness rushed to her nose, and Mrs. Huo's eyes uncontrollably welled up with tears. She quickly lowered her head, using the act of drinking tea to cover it up. The fragrance of jasmine tea filled her mouth, but it couldn't suppress the turbulent emotions surging in her heart.
"Zhiyi..." When she spoke again, her voice was slightly hoarse. She raised her head and looked at Song Zhiyi with a complicated expression. "Before... it was Auntie's fault."
Saying those words seemed to have taken a lot of her energy. For someone as proud as her, bowing down and admitting fault to a junior was almost unthinkable.
“I’m petty and narrow-minded, my mind is filled with nothing but superficial things like social status and appearances. I always felt that you… were not a good match for our family, and that it was unfair to Yanli.” Mother Huo’s voice was low, filled with clear regret, and she spoke slowly, as if she had weighed each word carefully in her mind. “But these past few years, I’ve watched you, watched how you treat people, how you handle things… You’ve shown me that a woman can live so… so powerfully, so radiantly. Not to depend on anyone, but to stand tall and go far on her own.”
She paused, her eyes finally welling up with tears. She turned her head and wiped them away very quickly and lightly with her fingers.
“That boy Yanli…” Huo’s mother’s voice was even softer, filled with a mother’s complex emotions for her son, “I used to think he was perfect in every way, and no one was good enough for him. But now… sometimes I feel that he is actually not good enough for you.”
These words are extremely frank, and also extremely heavy. They are a mother's most sober and helpless assessment of her son and this relationship, after setting aside all external conditions.
Song Zhiyi listened quietly, her face showing no emotion or grievance, only a deep calm and understanding. She truly hadn't expected Huo's mother to say such a thing.
Looking into her clear, peaceful eyes, which held no resentment or grievance, only a pure and calm acceptance, Mrs. Huo felt even more guilty. This gave her the courage to reveal the main purpose of her visit that day.
“Zhiyi,” Mrs. Huo put down her teacup, her hands unconsciously clenching together, her knuckles tightening slightly, “Yanli… he’s really changed a lot lately. I’m his mother, I can see it, he truly… cares about you. Maybe he was confused before, and his methods were wrong, hurting you. But now… he’s serious, he’s changing, he’s learning.” She looked earnestly at Song Zhiyi, her eyes filled with an almost humble expectation, “If you… if there’s still even a little bit of place in your heart, could you… not rush to leave? Or, even if you must pursue your career, could you… give him a chance, wait for him? That child… he truly…”
"aunt."
Song Zhiyi interrupted Huo's mother gently but firmly. A faint but sincere smile appeared on her face, a smile that contained understanding and gratitude, but more than anything, an unwavering clarity and determination.
"Thank you for coming today, and thank you for sharing these heartfelt thoughts with me." Her voice was clear and calm. "However, working at the United Nations is a very important step in my career plan, and it's also the direction I've always strived for."
She paused, then calmly met Huo's mother's gaze without looking away.
“As for the rest,” she said, her tone still gentle, but with a clear sense of distance and boundaries, “Auntie, everyone has their own path to walk. The five-year agreement is almost up. This way… it’s better for everyone, and it’s the clearest thing to do.”
She didn't directly respond to any comments about Huo Yanli, nor did she comment on his "change" or "intentions." She simply calmly reiterated her own choices and path, clearly and calmly separating her personal feelings from her life's direction.
Looking at her, the last glimmer of hope in her mother's eyes gradually faded in her clear and resolute gaze. She finally understood completely how vast and unwavering the will of this girl was. The prestigious Huo family and Yanli's affections were perhaps never meant to be anchoring points in her journey.
She was born to venture into wider seas.
Silence filled the small room, with only the faint fragrance of locust blossoms drifting in from outside the window.
Mrs. Huo slowly stood up and picked up her handbag. Her expression showed disappointment, but even more so, a sense of relief and an unprecedented, heartfelt respect.
"I understand," she said softly. As she walked to the door, she turned back and took one last deep look at the simple yet powerful room and the serene girl inside. "Zhiyi, wherever you go, whatever you do... you must stay safe and sound. Take good care of yourself."
"I will. Auntie, please take care of yourself too." Song Zhiyi saw her to the door.
Mrs. Huo gave her one last look, her gaze complex and unreadable, before finally turning and walking down the dimly lit staircase. The sound of her footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Song Zhiyi closed the door and returned to her desk. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the simple wicker basket before calmly shifting back to the open documents, the flickering computer screen, and the secondment letter bearing the United Nations emblem.
Her path lies ahead.
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