Before I left, my uncle and aunt handed me two hundred-dollar bills. I accepted them with tears in my eyes.
Back in town, I went to buy a bus ticket. Standing at the village entrance, I turned to look back at them. They were standing at the door, gazing at me with reluctance. I waved goodbye and boarded the bus back to the village.
By the window, I glanced at the calendar. Only four days remained until my departure. I took out a pen and made a heavy cross on the date.
When I returned home with my luggage, Ma Hongkuan was already back from work, along with Niu Xinran and her daughter. He looked surprised to see me.
" Fen, why are you back?" he asked.
Niu Xinran led Panpan into my room and smiled at me as she closed the door, as if this room now belonged to her.
" Fen, Xinran's place has been leaking these past few days," Ma Hongkuan explained. "It's inconvenient for her to manage alone with a child, so she’s moved in with us for now."
"Why do you have so few things?" he continued, noticing my limited luggage.
I set down my bags and replied, "I sold everything I didn't need after the college entrance exam."
Ma Hongkuan frowned slightly. "You should keep your books; what if you need them later?"
I didn’t say much more and simply nodded in agreement.
"How are your parents doing?"
I lowered my head. "Things aren't going well, so I came back for now."
He didn't doubt me and simply said to check the dates again.
After that, he went to the kitchen to cook, telling me to rest.
I sat by the window, looking at the calendar on the table.
In two days, I would be able to leave this place.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of something on the edge of the table.
There lay the Marriage Certificate.
He had already filled in the date section, but it wasn't stamped yet.
I thought for a moment; the date on the Marriage Certificate needed to be calculated by someone.
I walked over, picked up a pen, and crossed out the date.
At this time, he should still be cooking.
I headed to the living room.
The door was half ajar.
Laughter from Niu Xinran came from inside.
I instinctively stopped in my tracks.
" Ma Hongkuan, are you really going to marry Fen?"
"Yeah, it's an arranged marriage; I can't back out."
"After what you did with me, how can you marry her?"
Ma Hongkuan remained silent.
Panpan's voice rang out: "Mom, Uncle Ma said he likes Panpan the most."
"Panpan, do you like Uncle Ma?"
"I do."
"Uncle Ma likes Panpan too."
"Uncle Ma also likes Mommy."
Niu Xinran smiled, "Panpan, let's go out and play."
"Okay!"
As I listened to the footsteps fading away, I turned back into the room. I had intended to help with dinner, but it seemed better to let it go. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the calendar in front of me. In two days, I would be able to leave this place. But those two days were going to be the hardest for me.
When Ma Hongkuan came in to call me for dinner, I was just about to fall asleep. Niu Xinran was in the living room practicing her dance in her pajamas. Panpan was giggling in her arms. Ma Hongkuan wore a smile, looking completely relaxed.
" Fen, it's time to eat."
Niu Xinran stopped dancing and smiled at me, " Fen, I'm sorry if I disturbed your rest."
Panpan looked at me and said, "Auntie, you're so ugly."
I walked to the door and said, "You all eat first; I'm a bit tired and want to sleep for a while."
Panpan ran up to me, arms wide open: "Auntie, hug!"
I didn't move.
Panpan pushed me away unhappily: "Auntie, stinky."
Ma Hongkuan walked over and picked up Panpan. "Panpan, let's go eat first."
Niu Xinran smiled apologetically and followed them out.
I closed the door, lay down on the bed, but sleep eluded me.
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