Ye Xiu watched as her daughter, who should have been clinging to her, was instead comforting other children.
Watching Xingxing reluctantly agree, the two of them, hand in hand, walked into the kitchen while she stood alone in the courtyard, somewhat at a loss.
She wanted to help in the kitchen and found Wu Wa stoking the fire while her daughter, standing on a stool, was about to cut the cured meat hanging from the beam—so high, so dangerous.
She covered her mouth, not letting herself make a sound, fearful that it would distract her daughter and cause her to fall.
Soon, Bai Zhi took down the meat and started cooking skillfully, then washing; each process was so practiced,
Though she knew her daughter had done it countless times, at that moment, she couldn’t help but cry, feeling an especially suffocating, sharp pain in her heart.
"Ye Xiu, you’re here?"
Bai Dan, who had just returned from chopping bamboo, spotted Ye Xiu standing at the kitchen doorway.
Wiping away her tears, Ye Xiu turned and looked at Bai Dan,
"Dad, I’m back. Would it be okay if I stayed here for a few days?"
She had run over suddenly and was actually quite afraid, fearing her father-in-law might not agree to her staying.
"As long as Xingxing agrees, there’s no problem. You should ask Xingxing."
For Bai Dan, it naturally didn’t matter, but for Xingxing, it was different; unless Xingxing agreed, he would never consent to Ye Xiu staying. In Bai Dan’s heart, Xingxing was the most important.
"Dad, thank you. May I have a word with you?"
Ye Xiu was particularly grateful to Bai Dan for having looked after Xingxing all these years.
"Sure, come sit down. Would you like some tea?"
Bai Dan nodded and went to brew two cups of Honeysuckle Tea.
Seeing the Honeysuckle Tea, Ye Xiu was a bit puzzled. Isn’t it tough to brew?
Here, they only brewed it when they were feeling overheated.
"This is Honeysuckle Tea made by Xingxing; she says drinking more of it doesn’t hurt."
Bai Dan began sipping gently, the fragrance of the honeysuckle well preserved. His gaze shifted towards the kitchen, softening his expression.
"Ye Xiu, I think I roughly know what you might want to say, but I must tell you, there’s no need to speak it. You don’t need to apologize or admit any wrongdoing. Really, there’s no need to speak from the heart; it’s only right that I treat Xingxing well.
Even she and I argue sometimes."
He recalled the times when Xingxing was stubborn, leaving him truly at a loss.
"You and Xingxing argue?"
Ye Xiu could hardly imagine that scene, as Xingxing had always cared deeply for her grandfather.
"Of course, which family doesn’t argue? Sometimes I drink a bit too much, and Xingxing keeps nagging me—truly, for half an hour without repeating herself. I’m actually scared of her."
Bai Dan laughed suddenly, admitting that when Xingxing scolded him, she really sounded like an old lady.
"You’re afraid of her?"
Ye Xiu was even more confused. Wasn’t that backwards?
"Of course! With that mouth of hers, she can make you cry and laugh. Ye Xiu, what I want to tell you is, the past is the past, what you need to do isn’t always feel guilty or blame yourself, nor is it to keep apologizing. What you need to do—is properly treat her as your daughter. Your politeness creates distance. Understand?"
Bai Dan hadn’t intended to say these things, as Ye Xiu was always .
I was wrong, I’m so distressed, my heart aches.
At first, there might have been some effect, but over time, it just seems sickening.
What is guilt, feeling sorry?
What is making amends, that just creates distance.