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墨書 Inktalez
Just at that moment, Wen Sheng returned home. As soon as he stepped through the door, he ran into his father, who wore a stern expression and looked very displeased.
"Where have you been? You didn't come home all night! Do you know how things have been at home? Do you even care about your family?" his father scolded loudly.
"I went to the Changqing Family," Wen Sheng replied, looking down.
"What were you doing at the Changqing Family? Do you still want your father around? Are you trying to make me worry?" his father shouted.
"Dad!" Wen Xin came out from inside the house.
"You’re not setting a good example either! You don’t do anything useful! Always at home, and you don’t even think about earning some money for me!" he turned and yelled at Wen Xin.
"What are you talking about? She’s just—" Wen Sheng interjected.
"Why don’t you go out and earn some money? What’s the use of going to school?" his father said, his face flushed with anger.
"I'm not going anymore! I'm going out to earn money!" Wen Sheng retorted defiantly.
"Then go ahead! I’ll give you bus fare!" Wen Sheng's father replied.
"Fine, I’m leaving!" Wen Sheng turned and walked out.
Once he arrived in town, Wen Sheng found Wang Lijuan and wanted to say goodbye. He had always liked her, and before leaving, he wanted to see her one last time. In the woods outside of town, Wang Lijuan approached him, dressed in vibrant clothing, moving gracefully towards him.
"Has your family been busy lately? I heard Lin Lin passed away. Is that true?" she asked.
"Yes, it’s true," Wen Sheng sighed.
“Oh! What a pity, she was still so young! Such a beautiful time in her life!” Wang Lijuan sighed.
“I came to tell you that I might be leaving soon. Just for a couple of days, to work! I won’t be going to school anymore!” Wen Sheng said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
“Then just go! Why are you telling me?” Wang Lijuan replied coldly.
Wen Sheng felt a bit taken aback by Wang Lijuan's change in attitude. He awkwardly smiled and said, “Sorry to take up your time! I have some things to take care of, so I’ll be leaving now!”
With that, Wen Sheng turned and walked away without looking back.
“Aren’t you going to find Gao Ming?” Wang Lijuan laughed.
“I’m not going! I’m in a hurry!” Wen Sheng replied, still not turning around.
Wen Sheng returned home later that night, slightly intoxicated.
“Just learn to be useless! Who did you learn to drink from?” His father shouted as he stood in front of Wen Sheng.
“I wanted to drink myself!” Wen Sheng replied lazily.
“Drink yourself to death! You’re leaving early tomorrow! You’re such a disappointment; you’ll never be better than me!” Wen Sheng's father stomped his foot in frustration.
“Er Ge! How come you’re drinking?” Wen Xin asked as she squatted down in front of Wen Sheng with a bowl of water.
"I'm feeling a bit down," Wen Sheng said dejectedly.
"Actually, I'm really sad about Linlin's death too! What will I do if you leave, who will take care of Wen Xin?" Wen Xin replied gloomily.
"Don't worry, brother will make something of himself out there and come back to take you with him!" Wen Sheng said, patting Wen Xin's head.
"I believe in you, Er Ge!" Wen Xin nodded.
"Get some rest! I'm a bit tired," Wen Sheng said as he lay down on the bed, falling asleep shortly after.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Wen Sheng's father called him awake.
"Aren't you leaving today? Are you really going?" Wen Sheng's father asked with a sense of urgency.
"Of course I'm leaving! A promise is a promise!" Wen Sheng replied coldly.
"How much money do you need for the trip?" Wen Sheng's father inquired.
"I'm going to Beijing! Just give me whatever you can," Wen Sheng said nonchalantly.
"Is 100 enough?" Wen Sheng's father asked.
"That's plenty!" Wen Sheng smiled.
"Give the child a little more money!" Wen Sheng's Mother urged.
"What's the point of going out to work for so much money?" he scolded Wen Sheng's Mother.
Wen Sheng's Grandmother initially tried to intervene, but Wen Sheng's Father reprimanded her. As Wen Sheng was about to leave, his grandmother advised him, "Work hard out there! Don't get into fights! And don't be filial to him in the future!"
Wen Sheng merely smiled and reminded his grandmother to take care of herself, especially in the mornings, and not to work in the fields too much. If there were tasks to be done, she could ask Wen Xin to help out more.
Wen Xin accompanied Wen Sheng to the village entrance. With tears in her eyes, she said, "Er Ge, when will you come back to pick me up?"
"It won't be long. Once I find work, I'll come back for you!" Wen Sheng reassured Wen Xin.
"Er Ge, take good care of yourself! Wen Xin will miss you!" Wen Xin hugged Wen Sheng's arm tightly.
"Be good! I'm leaving now, so you must behave at home!" Wen Sheng said before walking away without looking back. Wen Xin stood there watching him disappear into the distance before quietly returning home.
By the time they arrived at the county station, it was already evening. Wen Sheng first bought a train ticket to Beijing for 95 yuan at the station, then purchased a few packs of instant noodles and two bottles of mineral water from a nearby shop.
Outside the station, Wen Sheng looked up at the moon from his hometown; it was round and bright.
Wen Sheng left and didn't return for over two years, with no news at all.
"Mom? Is Wen Xin doing well at home?" Yuan asked delicately over the phone.
"Fortunately, it's just tears from missing his brother! Also, your aunt really misses Wen Sheng. When you see him, remember to have him call home! That child!" Hua Yueting sighed.
"Got it! We'll check in when we have time! The phone bill is quite expensive, so I'll hang up now!" Yuan replied.
"Okay, be sure to listen to Gaoming and the others while you're out! Don't wander around!" Hua Yueting said before slowly hanging up the phone.
On the road, Gaoming squatted down in silence. Wang Lijuan looked down at her red high-heeled sandals, while Lan Lan was happily eating something. Wen Ling gently hugged Yuan and looked up at her. The wind blew through their flowing hair as Yuan lowered her head in silence.
A year later, Lan Lan married Gaoming at home. Wang Lijuan and Wen Ling were nowhere to be found. By the end of the year, Wen Xin received a letter from Wen Sheng, which also included a money order for 1,000 yuan. No matter how she looked at the handwriting, it didn’t resemble Wen Sheng’s, so she showed it to Gaoming, who confirmed it was written by Wen Ling.
One spring day, when Wen Xin was twenty years old, Wang Lijuan was arrested! Wen Ling was still drifting away, and there was still no news of Wen Sheng. Wen Xin lit a cigarette, her crimson lips contrasting with her pale face and the white gauzy long dress she wore. Barefoot, she approached the window, took a puff of smoke, then pulled back the curtains. Squinting her eyes, she gazed at the bustling city below; cars came and went as tears streamed down Wen Xin's face.
The night wind picked up again, and the city lights flickered brightly.
(The End)
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