On the other side, at Jinlin Garden.
Yang Rui and Ye Wanhua were tending to the courtyard, one loosening the soil while the other watered the plants.
The work wasn’t much, merely to pass the time.
"Madam, your husband, he..."
"He didn’t say where he was going. Don’t worry about it."
Yang Rui gripped the spade tightly, paused, and seemed to hold back his words.
Being on the ground floor, the elderly neighbor saw them busy and, thinking they hadn’t eaten, kindly offered a bowl of freshly picked cucumbers.
As a reciprocal gift, Ye Wanhua gave some okra.
The exchange opened the floodgates to the older lady’s chatter.
"My dear, stay for a longer visit this time. Don’t rush back. I tell you, Jinyuan Mountain is at its most beautiful this season, and the air is great. You should go for a walk."
Ye Wanhua nodded and answered, "Alright."
"Right, there’s also the Jinyuan Bridge. There are a lot of people taking boat rides down there; it’s very lively. Let me think, what else is there..."
The old lady rambled on.
Yang Rui, who was standing by, put down his spade, glanced at Ye Wanhua, saw that she showed no emotional reaction, and continued loosening the soil.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes.
Time ticked by slowly, and the old woman was still introducing the scenic beauty and food of Jin City with great enthusiasm, completely oblivious to the fact that actually, the other person was not interested in listening at all.
"Auntie, your vegetables are grown so well, all in season, no need for supermarkets anymore."
Ye Wanhua suddenly interjected, cutting her off.
The old lady then stopped and burst out laughing, her gaze shifting to her own vegetable patch.
"What’s good about it? It’s far behind that of your Xiao Wang. Look at this cucumber trellis... It was he who made it. See how sturdy it is. It’s been some years... probably ten years now, yeah, about that."
Ye Wanhua was surprised to hear this, but didn’t say much more. She just nodded to the neighborly grandma and went back to watering the plants.
However, the conversation didn’t end there.
"By the way, my dear, it’s almost noon. When Xiao Wang comes back, let him taste Auntie’s cooking, spicy fish. I got up early to buy fresh grass carp, very fresh and lively."
The old woman smiled broadly, so engrossed in talking that she nearly ate the raw okra given by Ye Wanhua. But she stopped herself in time.
"Thank you, Auntie, no need."
"What are you being so polite for? Over the years, I’ve eaten plenty of vegetables and figs from your garden."
Her hearty laughter rang out again.
"Thank you, Auntie. I just had some pastries and am not very hungry. I won’t disturb you."
"Go ahead, your Xiao Wang loves to eat it. When will he come back? What is he doing? He’s not gone to line up for chestnuts, has he? There’s a place at the door doing really good business."
"I don’t know; he didn’t say."
In fact, what Wang Junchen did every day, who he saw, Ye Wanhua often had no idea, and she seldom inquired.
Just like the figs in this courtyard, which had grown large without her noticing.
The lateral branches were clearly pruned, and the main stem was also cut off near the second floor. The sprouting new branches were as thick as an adult’s wrist.
At that moment, after being reminded by the old lady, Ye Wanhua suddenly felt that time was flying by, and she was already 45 years old.
Her career was smooth sailing, but unfortunately, she had no children. Aside from work, it was always just more work.
"Hey, Xiao Wang is back!"
The old lady suddenly exclaimed, inadvertently interrupting Ye Wanhua’s thoughts.
"Auntie, enjoying the sun!"
"The weather is good today. Getting some sun for calcium. Later, I’ll bring my wife over for lunch. Spicy fish, freshly bought this morning."
Before Wang Junchen could reply, the old lady turned and went back inside, moving briskly as if she were running.
"Ah Hua, come taste, just out of the pot."
"When are you going back to Y country?"
Wang Junchen’s intention was overlooked. He lifted and put down the paper bag in his hand, which contained the sugar-coated chestnuts the neighborly grandma had mentioned.
In this scene, Yang Rui kept silent.
He tactfully put away the spade, nodded at Wang Junchen, then turned and left the courtyard, heading straight for the car parked outside. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novelꜰire.net
Wang Junchen slowly took Ye Wanhua’s hand and whispered, "It’s rare for us to come back, let’s stay a few more days. If you get bored, I’ll accompany you to your alma mater tomorrow, or to Jinyuan Mountain if you’d like."
"I don’t want to go; you go if you want to."
Ye Wanhua left with those words and went straight into the house.
Behind her was Wang Junchen with a furrowed brow, and in the car, Yang Rui gripping the steering wheel.