Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Aunt Liu's house is easy to find; it's the only one in the village with a concrete road in front of it. It is said that this was paved by Qing Yuansheng so she wouldn't have to walk on muddy paths when it rains, as she was unwilling to move to the city.
When Song Pearl arrived, a car stopped at the entrance of the alley, and Qing Wenyu, dressed casually and wearing sunglasses, got out and walked towards Aunt Liu's house behind Song Pearl.
Aunt Liu's house was as clean and tidy as ever, but it lacked the smell of cooking that used to fill the air. A woman in her fifties welcomed them inside. Song Pearl followed her into the main room while Qing Wenyu silently trailed behind, unnoticed by her.
Aunt Liu lay on the sofa, not as sick as rumored. Her dark, skeletal eyes scanned Song Pearl and Qing Wenyu.
Song Pearl felt a chill run down her spine under Aunt Liu's gaze. She took a deep breath to reassure herself that this fortune teller had not recognized her in the past and surely wouldn't now.
"Grandma Liu," Song Pearl called out.
"Good grandson, you brought your wife to see me?" Aunt Liu's voice was much weaker than her appearance suggested. She trembled slightly as she reached out her frail hand to grasp Song Pearl's, asking about Qing Wenyu.
Qing Wenyu cleared his throat. "Grandma, no, she is Song Pearl."
"Oh, your daughter-in-law is named Song Pearl? What a lovely name, and she's so beautiful!" Aunt Liu held onto Song Pearl's hand tightly. Song Pearl squatted down awkwardly, feeling pain from Aunt Liu's grip. She never expected that even in her illness, Grandma Liu would still have such strength!
"My dad is on a business trip for a project right now and can't come back to see you."
"That's alright; it's just an old ailment." Aunt Liu closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. "It's not really an illness; when you get old, it’s like this... No need for concern. Just seeing you brought your daughter-in-law makes me so happy; please sit down."
Aunt Liu continued to hold onto Song Pearl's hand, leaving her no choice but to awkwardly squat there. Because of the delay in conversation, she hadn't even had a chance to explain herself before being mistaken for Qing Wenyu's wife.
"Grandma, she came from your village to visit you; we just happened to meet at the door. She's not my wife," Qing Wenyu said as he pulled a stool for Song Pearl and sat patiently beside Aunt Liu.
"How can that be? I see it differently," Aunt Liu said with a smile, her face full of wrinkles. "I often think about going to the Land Temple to burn incense and ask Landlord Grandpa to bless you with a good daughter-in-law soon. But I fell ill before I could go—sigh!"
Aunt Liu took a breath and continued with a grin: "I never expected you would bring your daughter-in-law to see me; I feel so fortunate! If I could hold my great-grandson in my lifetime, that would be wonderful!"
Aunt Liu grew more excited and began rambling further off-topic. Qing Wenyu coughed several times, trying unsuccessfully to change the subject.
Song Pearl looked at this somewhat pitiful old woman and felt too embarrassed to leave immediately; she could only sit awkwardly beside her while listening to Grandma Liu ramble on.
As long as Grandma Liu didn't suddenly raise that bony hand of hers and point at her while calling her a monster, she had nothing to worry about.
The old lady was sick yet still full of spirit, talking non-stop as if she were not ill at all. Could it be a moment of clarity before the end?
Song Pearl thought this, and so did Qing Wenyu.
"Since you are here, take me to the Land Temple to burn some incense!" Aunt Liu looked at Qing Wenyu and Song Pearl with pleading eyes, appearing quite pitiful.
Looking at the frail old woman curled up on the sofa, Song Pearl felt a slight sting in her nose. Is this what happens when one gets old? How sad.
"Grandma, the Land Temple is on the mountain. Your body can't handle the wind right now; it's better not to go!" Qing Wenyu advised.
"Don't you have a car? You can carry me up the mountain; it's not too high!" Aunt Liu looked at Qing Wenyu with a hopeful expression. "You carry me for a while, and she can carry me for a while, and we'll be there."
Qing Wenyu frowned. That dilapidated temple on the desolate mountain was surrounded by grass; what could they possibly worship there? It was summer now, and the heat made the path difficult to walk. He couldn't guarantee that Grandma wouldn't have an accident.
"How about this? I'll go burn incense for you instead," Qing Wenyu suggested.
Song Pearl quietly observed Qing Wenyu. Except for their initial meeting, he always appeared polite and easygoing in front of others, with a good temper, making him seem perfect.
Yet because of that first impression, she always felt something unreal about him, unsure which side of his personality was truly him.
"Alright," Aunt Liu said, pressing her toothless mouth together and then pulling Song Pearl closer. "Pearl, you should go with my good grandson; don't let him get lost on the mountain!"
At least this time she didn't call me granddaughter-in-law! Song Pearl pursed her lips and smiled in agreement. She had gradually figured out a pattern: wherever Qing Wenyu appeared, her smile seemed ineffective. She hoped his presence wouldn't affect her newly discovered strength.
The woman in her fifties was Aunt Liu's goddaughter. Aunt Liu had asked her to prepare vegetarian buns and other offerings for burning incense, which she packed into a basket for Qing Wenyu to carry to the car.
Aunt Liu struggled to stand up with her cane, supported by her goddaughter, and walked Qing Wenyu to the car. She held onto Song Pearl's hand tightly and said, "Pearl, you must stay with Wen Yu; he might get lost. If you encounter any snakes or anything, make sure to avoid them, understood?"
"Grandma Liu, I will bring your grandson back safely," Song Pearl reassured Aunt Liu as she patted her arm and pulled her hand away from Aunt Liu's grip, which had turned red from being held so tightly.
"Oh dear, I just remembered!"
Just as Song Pearl was about to open the car door, Aunt Liu suddenly shouted in a high-pitched voice: "Aren't you Song Pearl? The one who fell into Fish Pond but didn't drown!"
Qing Wenyu had already taken his seat in the driver's seat; he rolled down the window patiently for Grandma to finish speaking.
"Yes," Song Pearl nodded, her eyes curved with a smile. "I was lucky you called my soul back then."
"That's right, that's right!" Aunt Liu examined Song Pearl's face with her dark eyes. "I think you're still a bit out of it; you need to rest well! Make sure you never jump into the Fish Pond again, understood?"
Song Pearl felt the goosebumps rise again from what Aunt Liu had just said and quickly replied, "Got it, I won't jump again!"
"That's a good child!" Aunt Liu then reminded Qing Wenyu, "Be a good grandson and take care of your wife on the way..."
Here we go again... Qing Wenyu awkwardly nodded in agreement and opened the car door for Song Pearl.
Once Song Pearl got into the car, it started and slowly drove away. She waved goodbye to Aunt Liu, who was still standing in place.
It wasn't until the car disappeared from sight that Aunt Liu was helped by her goddaughter as she slowly walked toward the front door.
"I hope Landlord Grandpa blesses them and keeps them safe!" she murmured, moving her dry lips silently.
Comment 0 Comment Count