Cheng Su’s head buzzed, and in her ears, the old monk’s words persisted, "You’ve come this time by your own will; there’s no need for detailed inquiry."
Coming this time, coming this time!
Cheng Su suddenly had a realization and came to her senses, but when she looked up, the old monk had vanished without a trace. She hastily stood up and looked ahead, barely catching sight of a dark red corner disappearing at the junction between train cars.
She lifted her foot, wanting to chase after him, but after taking one step, she stopped and sat down again.
If the monk had wanted to say more, had wanted to guide her, why would he have left?
If he had already guided her, why would there be any reason for him to stay?
Cheng Su gazed out the window, lost in a daze.
Will what’s lost ever return, and should one never readily give up?
...
Mother Qi was agitated, depressed, and panicked these past few days.
Because Father Qi had not come to fetch her home as she had hoped. Instead, her belongings in the old house were mounting.
Mother Qi had a fear that she would end up living here for good, alone until her death. No, perhaps even if she died and began to decay, nobody would know.
On several nights, she dreamt that people were standing beside her bed, looking at her and cursing, and those people - weren’t they the ancestors of the Qi family hanging in the hall?
Whether it was a dream or reality, she couldn’t tell.
Thinking of this, Mother Qi shuddered. Looking once more at the dilapidated old house behind her, she felt even more frightened and instinctively backed away a few steps.
"Mom!" Her younger son Jianguo came forward, carrying a bag of something.
Mother Qi ran over like an arrow, "Jianguo, you’ve come? Was it your dad who sent you?"
"Yeah!"
Mother Qi was overjoyed, "Did your dad send you to take me home? Just wait, I’ll pack up right away!" That old coot, he’s finally softened.
Qi Jianguo hurriedly held her back, "No, Mom, Dad didn’t say to bring you back. He sent me to bring rice to you!"
Mother Qi’s expression changed, looking down at the thing in the snakeskin bag by his feet - was that rice?
"Bringing over rice?" Mother Qi clenched her teeth, "Is your dad set on making me live alone here? Didn’t you talk to your dad? What about Fengping! What have you all been eating to grow up if you can’t even speak up for your mom?"
Qi Jianguo felt awkward, "I’ve talked to him, but Dad... he..." He hesitated, carefully gauging his mother’s mood, "Dad said you should reflect on your own mistakes?"
Mother Qi leaped up and cursed heaven, "Qi Shuhua, that black-hearted, rotten scoundrel, wants me to reflect? I’ll reflect on nothing. Heartless bastard, I was blind to have married him, this conscienceless man! Wuu wuu..."
Qi Jianguo’s head hurt, not this again.
After Mother Qi cried for a while, she desperately grabbed the hand of her younger son, "Jianguo, go beg your dad again. This old house is uninhabitable, water leaks from the roof, and at night, at night there are ghosts!"
Qi Jianguo’s expression subtly changed, "Mom, don’t talk nonsense. This is our ancestral house, the ancestors of the Qi family are all enshrined here. If Dad hears what you said, he’ll only be angrier with you!"
"I’m not lying to you, at night they all stand beside my bed talking to me. Wuu wuu, Jianguo, I can’t live here, if I keep staying here, I’ll die. Jianguo, you can’t just leave me to die, you can’t be without a mother!" Mother Qi cried out.
Qi Jianguo pursed his lips, his eyes filled with pity.
"Jianguo, you’re a promising student, Dad values you the most. Just talk to him, he’ll surely listen to you. Just tell him, if he doesn’t let me return, you won’t go to school anymore, okay?" Mother Qi had a sudden spark of inspiration, voicing a suggestion.