Chapter 18 Chapter Eighteen

In the spring of the following year, my uncle left for Xiamen.He is going to Gulangyu Island to buy a house, and then come back to pick up his family.He closed the shop on the seashore and asked his father, who survived, to take care of everything for him.If you have important decisions, you can contact us by telegram. Juna got her wish and gave birth to a son, who is now one year old.She wants to go back with her uncle, but her aunt would rather wait for the new house to be ready before leaving. On the eve of departure, the whole family gave uncle a farewell party at home.This big feast happened to be the baby's first birthday.

There was a lot of joy at the table.The uncle is professionally successful, retires for the elderly, and finally has a son.His face was flushed.Although there are swollen blisters and gray hair, she still looks energetic. He saved about 100,000 yuan from the rubber industry, so he can return to his hometown for the elderly, which is the dream of every overseas Chinese.In addition to the family, Wei Sheng and his father were present. He is in such good spirits that it is not easy to say that he had the foresight to predict the economic chaos and escape the worst outcome. They all speak Hokkien.He talked about the land he wanted to buy, the house he wanted to live in.Juna wanted to go back and see for herself, but her aunt didn't seem to have any objections.Uncle recalled his career experience in Singapore, and commented on the phenomenon of property gained and lost, and lost and recovered.

Some people know the tricks of the business, and some don't.It's all about feel.Of course it's all about luck.Even opening a rubber factory is a gamble.Good luck beckons and smiles at you.You can keep your feet on the ground and accumulate considerable wealth year by year with patience, just like I did.But you won't become a barefoot monopoly. The so-called barefoot monopoly refers to people like Li Liupi.He and businessmen in general look down on riches who get rich illegally.Maybe there is an element of jealousy, but it is mostly because Chinese society has never valued people who make money by smuggling, breaking the law, and doing gangster activities.

Uncle returned to Xiamen by ship the next day.Xingle asked him to greet his mother and sister, and at the same time explain why he couldn't go home now. Tell me everything about me.Say I got a raise, don't worry about me. I will, said the uncle.He gave his niece a sharp and kind look.Don't do stupid things while I'm not around. Uncle told everyone that he would come back when the house was finished.It can be as little as three months and as long as a year, depending on whether he can buy a house or whether he needs to build one now. Xingle kept her job, lived in her uncle's house, and drove her uncle's car to work every day.He hasn't seen Han Xing for a long time.Can't help but miss her, but force myself to stay away from her.Han Xing has made it clear that he doesn't love him, doesn't care about him, and he doesn't want to be humiliated again.Gradually, he returned to normal, no pain, no longing, only peace and tranquility in his heart.

He didn't even go to nightclubs for fear of running into her.Once or twice, he drove to the west of the city, as if seeing her back by the sea.He quickly averted his eyes, not wanting to see what happened.I don't know if she saw herself; maybe she did, because she recognized the car and the plate number.At this time, he will be extremely sad and lonely. One day Han Xing's mother came to his house and said that Han Xing was sick and wanted to see him. The initial reaction was indifference and resentment, hating her for disturbing the peace he had worked so hard for.Is this a trick to lure him back?

He thought for a while.The pretentious indifference finally melted away.The thin walls of self-defense began to shake and crumble. He put on his white coat and sun hat and followed her mother out.Not a gimmick.Han Xing lay on the bed, extremely haggard. He walks up to her.When she saw him come in, she opened her eyes and smiled tiredly.He took her hand, squeezed it lightly, and bent over to kiss her. My Han Xing, I am so happy to see you. Nice to see you too. Han Xing knows that he still loves himself. I'm sorry about those things.she says. No need to apologize.Don't blame you.We have had a hard time.You can't stand it.

Xing Le told her uncle back to Xiamen, her salary increase, and the current living situation. I have seen your car drive by several times.You didn't see me, or you didn't want to see me. No, I didn't see you at all.Otherwise I will stop.He lied in defense. I know I was wrong now.The voice in the illness is very gentle.I always wanted to be independent. I know I didn't give you a good life.How do we reconcile?Will you meet me again? Mother has left the room.Han Xing raised his head from the pillow, pulled him closer, and kissed him tenderly.He touched the hot tears on her cheeks.

He sat back, Han Xing was beside him again, he was extremely happy. I just had surgery. Operation?What surgery? abortion.I don't want to have kids or quit my job. How old is the child? Two or three months. Xing Le was silent.Han Xing was very frank, she said: Xingle, I can't be your wife.I can't have children anymore.Then she covered her face and wept.No matter what happens, it's the girls who suffer. Forget about it.To be honest, he didn't want to hear any more.But Han Xing didn't intend to hide it either. I can't be your wife.That's why I tell you the truth.Yes, I tryst with men all the time.

Is it the Frenchman? how could I know?Anyway, girls will be punished for everything they do.Men will not.Sally told me that all the men she knew were married.Sally said it was all my own fault, I was too careless. who is sally A girl I know. At this point she paused for a while, staring at the ceiling with the whites of her eyes. Xing Le frowned deeply.He loves Korean stars.Not only was she not angry, but at this time she felt that she was the victimized woman who was complaining about gender injustice.Even if Eve didn't exist, someone would have created her. After a while, Han Xing smiled and said: Don't feel sorry for me.I will be fine.

I feel so sorry for you.I just love you. Han Xing stretched out a hand and said: You are a weirdo.I've never met anyone like you.I like you more than ever.Don't worry about me.I will be fine. He got a lump in his throat. The girl was too honest, too open, too brave about everything. You must have suffered a lot. yes.What is that? Are you willing to live with me now? ﹒ Han Xing turned to him with a serious tone.I used to love you blindly.I thought we could hit it off.It didn't work.I like you very much, far more than anyone else.But I can't be a good wife to you.I'm sure.I don't want to try again.

Then why did you call me? I want you to know everything, don't expect too much from me.I'll be up in a few days and I'll be working for a living.I can stand it. He hadn't expected her to say that.This idea is very innocent and healthy. But I want you.I need you. She said rationally: No, if I marry you, it will be a great misfortune to me and you.We can still meet.can be friends. You mean you don't love me anymore. Don't say that.I am who I am.I was born that way.I know you won't like it.I tried to fit in, but couldn't.You must understand.I wasn't fit for that life and I was in pain myself.You know my nature.I like working and I like being independent.Hope you forgive me. I understand. You don't feel bad for me, do you? Absolutely not. Han Xing's attitude surprised Xingle.A few weeks later, he ran to tell Weisheng and explained his reason for seeing Han Xing again. I know you can't help yourself.She won't come back to you? No. That's surprising, his friend said: most girls would give up their jobs to find the security you can provide now.There are villas to live in, and there are various enjoyments. I tell you, you misread her.I think she is 100% honest.She has a noble nature, and it is impossible to deceive me. You are crazy. No, I'm telling the truth.She is great.I used to love her looks.Now I see the light of her soul.I like the way she insists on being independent, and in the future I will meet her as a friend, not a lover.I am serious.Say whatever you want.My girlfriend has great humanity.She has proven it. These words mean nothing to Weisheng or Aunt Xiuying. Xingle's mother is now living in the old house on Dongmen Street.It was a comfortable, spacious house.At the front is the storefront, where Meigong's husband sells cotton and silk from Xiamen.Behind the store is a courtyard paved with fine gray-grained bluestone.There is a well next to the kitchen.The second half is the hall, the ground is slightly higher, and there are two or three stone steps to climb up, which is a traditional building method.The hall is in the middle, the hatchback and the back room are bedrooms. Xingle's mother was happy to accompany her daughter home.She enjoys the happiness of her children and grandchildren around her knees.During the day, she takes a bamboo stool and sits in the shop, watching the pedestrians coming and going.Dongmen Street is one of the busy streets in Zhangzhou.You can buy everything within a few steps.Xingle's mother's pockets were full of silver coins.There are all kinds of delicious dishes and snacks on the market, such as Fuling cakes, various meals and sweet cakes, big peaches in spring, salted pears in summer, dipped olives in autumn and sweet oranges in winter.She often buys these things for the younger generation to eat, which is inevitable for grandma with full pockets.She was docile and content by nature, and now she enjoys the honor and comfort of old age.Uncle had said that he would come back a few months earlier.As soon as he arrived in Xiamen, he announced that he would find a Western-style house on Gulangyu Island and come back to settle forever.He knew that his sister-in-law Xingle's mother was currently living in Zhangzhou, and planned to visit her.He is a Fanke who has made a fortune abroad and returned home with a huge sum of 100,000 yuan. It was a big day when my uncle got home.He looked like a fancier, with gold rings and a large diamond ring; a walking stick with golden bull horns.He was happy, self-satisfied, his voice was louder than ever, and he knew his every word was being listened to. There was a great deal of hustle and bustle in the room.The place felt a little crowded, but the family naturally refused to let Uncle and Juna live in the hotel.This house was bought by my uncle, and he recently used the money to renovate it.Boying escaped from the heron's nest and is currently staying with them temporarily. Now she has vacated the room upstairs in the East Wing and moved down to sleep with Xingle's mother. The family has never seen Juna, so naturally they want to see her and the baby, and she also wants to meet Xingle's family, especially Bai Ying. ah!This is Boying.Uncle introduces Juna in a loving tone.They were on the hall at the back of the courtyard and could hardly contain the excitement of entering the door. The two young women looked at each other and smiled, their eyes were like lightning, instantly reflecting each other's demeanor. Bai Ying wore a plain white cotton gown with three-quarter sleeves, and her hair was combed into a bun at the back of her head as usual.She also dressed up a little bit, because during the mourning period, a white cotton knot was inserted in the bun. I often hear Xingle talk about you. How is he? Wait a minute and ask your second uncle to tell you. A haze flashed across Bai Ying's face, and then his smile returned.She had heard from Meigong that Xingle was living with a foreign woman and was not very happy, so she went back to live with her uncle. Bai Ying still wears the jade bracelet Xing Le gave her last time on her arm.Compared with Juna's gold ring, diamond and gemstone bracelet, Bo Ying is very simple.But when comparing the two, Bai Ying is more attractive. Oh, I think this is Wang Zai.Juna read these two words with a weird Shanghai accent. Bai Ying pushed the child forward, and the child immediately reached out to pull the strange woman he had been staring at. Meet Auntie, Boying called her aunt.If there is a wife and a concubine in a family, everyone always finds a way to distinguish them slightly in terms of address. Tell me, why didn't Uncle Xingle come back with you?the child asked. Oh, he has something to do.He can't give up his job. Then I'm going to see him.I am going to Singapore. Juna's sharp eyes saw that Bai Ying unconsciously took a breath. The whole family was in the hall, some were sitting, some were standing, Mimiya, her husband Takeo, Xingle's mother, everyone was there. Uncle said: Bo Ying, I really hope to see you again this time.I'm so glad you came down. I'm not coming down to play.I escaped.The kid and I have been living here for over a month. escaped? Yes, escape.But times are better, and I'm going back.I think the situation will definitely change.I want to go back. I hope you never go back.Mimiya said. Oh, Mimiya.How can you say such a thing? Mimiya showed a mysterious smile and said: I know. Your words are so funny.Those devils won't be there forever.My mother, Tianzhu and Wawa are still on the mountain.Of course I'm going back. Now let me tell you about my son.Xingle's mother said to her uncle.As usual, she sat on the best chair in Xiangnan. What can I say?Your son is fine.He left that mother-in-law and came back to us.My dear sister-in-law, I really don't know what to say.I don't understand your son.I regard him as my own son. He is very stubborn and stubborn in everything.He moved to a small apartment with that foreigner Cha, and people might say that I drove him away.I'm so ashamed.But he insisted on it.I'm glad he's figured it out now. Is he in good health?asked the mother. rest assured.The members of our Chen family are as strong as bison. We have heard a lot of news about career depression, Meigong said: legal and illegal bankruptcy, suicide, and stupidity.Can not help but worry extremely. He's fine.Still working at that British law firm. Bo Ying was very nervous.Hearing these words, he was relieved. I still don't understand why Xingle must live abroad.Xingle's mother said in a weak and slow voice. Then it depends on what he does.He has no business sense.He would live paycheck to paycheck all his life, barely enough to live.He can't come back with a lot of savings, which I assume you mean.Making money requires a business mind, like his uncle.He was quite proud of himself. Why not call him back?mother said.People can live anywhere.No need to go abroad.When you came back, he was alone.When the second aunt came back, only his third aunt was left there.Why doesn't he go home? Yeah, why on earth?I have returned home.Why can't he come back?I say the same thing.If a person has a business mind, he can make money everywhere.If not, be an employee forever.I can also make a fortune in Zhangzhou or Xiamen.That kid is a fool.He is also infatuated with that foreign girl. real?Mimiya looked worried. They had had enough rest, and uncle also took a nap on the second floor by the well. When he went back downstairs, he saw Juna chatting with everyone in the living room.Juna is listening to Bo Ying talking about her escape from the heron's nest. A few months ago, it was only two or three months since Gan Cane died, and a group of rebels came back to scrape the land for food.Chengou is a rich valley that produces rice, sugar, marijuana and tobacco.There was an officer who claimed to be the head of the regiment, probably himself, with about 150 troops and 50 rifles, which was enough to scare the common people.The head of the regiment said that they were part of the army, and their army occupied the coastal borders of Fujian and Guangdong, where there are high mountains and seas, and there are many depressions and bays. There was no obvious public building nearby, so they used an old temple as their base.Shisan Village at the bottom of the valley has always had no police.There was only one magistrate, on official business, to report news of death or atrocities.The people were safe and sound, but the army insisted on maintaining law and order. As a result, they had to pay taxes for harvesting and crossing roads, and the people suffered unspeakably. Yes, there is a national government in Nanjing, but Nanjing is too far away, and the revolutionary army is busy with the Northern Expedition. This is a small place in the south, and no one can control it. That was last winter.As soon as spring came, the regimental commander looked for a better headquarters for himself and his staff.He chose the heron's nest.In every respect, the heron's nest is better than the ruined temple.It stands on a hanging rock and can see the whole valley.It was not far from the single-street town below, only a mile and a half or so.It has dense woods and many shady areas, and a clear stream a hundred feet below for bathing in summer.There was no telephone, but he propped up a twenty-foot pole that could send signals to the soldiers below. The head of the regiment brought a secretary and an aide-de-camp, and occupied the hall, the master bedroom, and the dining room in the wing.Baiying, her older brother Tianzhu, her mother, Mrs. Lai, and the two children all crowded into the southwest corner, where Xingle's mother used to sleep. No matter how brave Bo Ying was at first, she is panicked now. Oh, Mom, I'm afraid.He tried to be nice, too nice.I don't like his thief eyes. Peace of mind, Bai Ying, peace of mind!Mrs. Lai said: He dare not.have me here. The next day she ran to tell her mother: No.I must get out of here.His adjutant has already spoken to me.He pulls the string for him.He made it very clear.Always say otherwise.One day, I'll kill him and kill myself.But I don't want to do that.I want to plan for Wang Zai. How do you answer him? I said, you rebels killed my husband.Short life!do not bother me! What are you going to do? I want to escape.I had to get out first, I couldn't wait for things to get worse.Tonight at sunset, I'm going to take Wangzai down the mountain, pretending to go shopping.He won't know. No boats will go out, and they will search for boats. I know the way.I only carry a small black cloth bag, unobtrusive.I walked in the direction of the creek, took a boat there to Zhangzhou, and went to live at my aunt's house. What if the officer asks? When I'm gone, you can say whatever you want.Let’s say I went to live with a relative. That night, Bai Ying had enough to eat, put a few hard steamed buns and two sets of clothes in her bag, and hidden fifty yuan in the clothes, took the child down the mountain, and walked out through the front door slowly and generously. .Arrive at the city street and immediately cross the bridge to the opposite bank. She has walked ten miles to the creek many times, once with Xingle.She led the child and walked straight along the stream, and when the river suddenly turned eastward, she began to climb up the road. It was dark, and it was drizzling again.Bai Ying held on tightly to the child and pushed forward, knowing that this child was her lifeblood and responsibility, and she would never let anything happen to him. The road is difficult.The mountain path is getting slippery, and the unstable stone steps sometimes slide up and down. It was so dark that she couldn't see how far they had gone.Occasionally, I saw a faint fire coming from a mountain house far, far away. At last she came to the mouth of the river, where the mountain path turned from the right bank to the left bank. Xingle and she had stopped here to play a game of floating. She remembered that the most difficult section was still behind, with a steeper slope.They might wrestle in the dark. She was exhausted.Holding the child all the way, my arms are sore.She dare not be careless.The drizzle didn't stop, but luckily it didn't intensify.She forgot to bring matches, but matches were not of much use either. She held the child's hand tightly and stepped over the stepping stones in the stream step by step.The child seemed more excited than frightened by this strange night walk. Finally, she found a flat ground full of stones at the bottom of the stream, with a few big trees on the head, which can shelter from the rain.If the rain intensified, she really didn't know what to do, and probably had to wait for the rain to stop before leaving. She sat down on the boulder as comfortably as she could, stretched her legs out, and asked the child to rest his head on her lap. The big tree overhead provided shelter from the rain, but water dripped from the leaves and wet her coat.She stretched out an arm from her sleeve, carefully protecting Wang Zai, and sat down again with her elbows on her knees, letting the raindrops fall on her head and back, overlooking the distance below the river. Bright, slightly emerging.The rapids murmured in her ears, and memories of the child's father haunted her mind. She must have fallen asleep for an unknown amount of time.I just remember that she once prayed to God, not for her own safety, but for her child to be safe and Xingle to return soon. She woke up suddenly and found that her whole body was soaked.The rain has stopped.The child was still sound asleep.She rose slowly.The right thigh was numb from the child's pressure.She rubbed slowly, and the blood flow finally recovered. Then she stood up and put the baby's hand on the beach.Thankfully his upper body was completely dry. She stretched her body and walked around a bit.Then sit on a rock and wait for dawn before leaving. She is most familiar with the dawn scene.The light slowly crept in, and the mountain ridges in the distance were looming, blurry at first, but when Night God lifted its black sheets one by one, the mountain ridge lines became sharper and more obvious. It was much brighter now.She was so hungry that she took out two steamed buns from the black cloth bundle and ate them.Then go to the stream to drink water. Vigorously increased, she patted the sleeping child and woke him up, we are leaving, Wang Zi, she said.The child rubs his eyes.She gave him a steamed bun and ate it all the way.We have to leave now. The mother and son arrived at the creek, around eight o'clock, she booked a seat on a big boat that sailed in the afternoon, and waited for the boat to set off. There is a kind of power that brings Baiying and Xingle closer, a kind of dark power that human beings cannot fathom.Juna just brought a picture postcard of the ship they took from Singapore to Xiamen. A boat as big as a house?Wang Zai asked. Bigger than ten rooms, Juna replied. Since then, the children have been asking questions about this kind of big steel boat that is bigger than a house, can float on the water, and is propelled by steam.That's an incredible myth.Wangzai is going to Xiamen to see this kind of boat. Uncle temporarily rented a villa in Gulangyu Island, an international residential area on a beautiful island opposite Xiamen.Perhaps it was a primitive instinct, just like the African buffalo trekking thousands of miles to find salt. Bai Ying and Mei Gong were invited to go to their uncle's house on Gulangyu Island for vacation. For the sake of their children, Bai Ying readily agreed.Gulangyu Island is only 30 miles away from here, while Singapore is 1,500 miles away.