Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Returning to Hometown
“In my previous life, Uncle and Mother passed away one after another, and Xia Chuyi was forced to leave her hometown and head south. Since then, she never returned.”
“So this time, coming home seemed to others to be only an eight- or nine-day absence, but to her, it felt like several decades, like two lifetimes had passed.”
“Upon reaching the entrance of the village, the bus she was on stopped, and Xia Chuyi hopped off directly.”
“After thanking the bus driver, she slung her bag on and started walking toward the Xia Family’s home.”
“The weight hit her back abruptly; it was Xia Lan grabbing onto the straps of her bag.”
“Xia Chuyi’s expression darkened, and she suddenly turned around, forcefully shaking off Xia Lan.”
“What do you want now?”
“Thrown off balance, Xia Lan raised her head, pulling out a forced smile: “Chuyi, look, we’re both home now. The things that happened a few days ago, don’t be mad at Sister Lan. You know I didn’t mean to…”
“Xia Chuyi held onto her bag’s strap, looking down coldly at Xia Lan, who was feigning weakness.”
“Xia Lan, I’ll say it again, stop putting on a show in front of me.”
“Once the act is seen through, one is riddled with holes.”
“You!” Annoyed and embarrassed, Xia Lan replied. But quickly, she smiled softly again, and said cautiously, “Then, Chuyi, about what happened between Brother Qing and me, you…”
“Don’t worry,” Xia Chuyi suddenly cracked a smile, “I always keep my word. I won’t gossip about it. As long as the He Family agrees to call off the engagement, I’ll leave the issue alone.”
Her smile put Xia Lan on guard.”
“Chuyi, why are you laughing? You’re not planning to do something, are you?” Xia Lan asked suspiciously.
“Xia Lan!” Xia Chuyi’s eyes flashed as she spoke calmly, “Don’t think everyone is plotting just because you’re full of schemes yourself!”
“You…” Xia Lan still looked incredulous.
“Heh,” Xia Chuyi let out a cold laugh, then her eyes curved into little boats, smiling as she started to walk past Xia Lan, step by step.
“Xia Lan, if I, Xia Chuyi, really set out to deal with you, it will be out in the open… a ‘sunlight plot.’”
In other words, she would set the trap, but whether Xia Lan fell into it was her own choice.
Having said that, Xia Chuyi slung her bag over her shoulder and briskly walked away.”
“Leaving the main road, it was just a half-minute walk on a branching path before the Xia Family’s house was in sight.”
“The Xia Family’s house was a complete brick-and-tile courtyard structure, facing south with a ‘U’ shape. Grandpa Xia and Grandma Xia lived in the central hall, the east wing was occupied by the eldest branch, and the west wing was shared by the second and third branches, with the second at the front and the third at the back.”
“Smoke curled up from the roof, drifting into the sky.”
“As she neared her hometown, Xia Chuyi stood frozen at her own doorstep, unable to move a muscle.”
“Creak,” the door of the room at the end of the west wing opened.”
“A middle-aged woman weakly carried a basin of water out to pour.”
“Dressed in a green jacket, her hair pinned up, her eyes drooping listlessly, she had the appearance of someone worn out by hardships.”
“Halfway through pouring the water, the woman was surprised to see her, and her bitter face broke into a burst of joyful expression.”
“Chuyi, you’re back!” Holding the basin, she hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward to pull her, “How was it, going to the army to discuss your marriage with He Qing?”
Xia Chuyi reflexively dodged the woman’s hand, turning her face away to avoid looking at her.”
“Mother…” Xia Chuyi called out softly.
When she uttered that word, her voice unexpectedly took on a bitter tone.
Across two lifetimes, her feelings towards her mother were complex.
Noticing Xia Chuyi’s unusual demeanor, Mother Xia quickly pressed, “Chuyi, what’s wrong? Was there trouble meeting with He Qing?”