At the very least, in this regard, Madam Zhuang could not afford to suffer a loss…
After returning home, the family doctor came over to examine him. What he said was consistent with what the medical staff at the scenic area had said earlier. There was nothing seriously wrong with his arm.
Zhuang Fuyao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After washing up and lying down on the bed, the discomfort that had been briefly forgotten during the day surged back again. Zhuang Fuyao tossed and turned, rolling from the head of the bed to the foot of the bed. In the end, she sat up in defeat, opened the ticketing app, and bought a one-way ticket to Cheng Beibei’s hometown.
Cheng Beibei’s hometown did not have an airport. She could only take more than four hours on a high-speed train to the provincial capital, then take several more hours on an old green slow train to get there. If she was leaving early the next morning, she would also have to inform Liang Huaixu.
She walked to the door of Liang Huaixu’s room and asked, “Are you asleep?”
She did not knock. She thought that if he was already asleep, she would just tell him in the morning.
Just a second before she turned around, Liang Huaixu happened to open the door. “What’s wrong?”
He was wearing a set of gray striped pajamas and was probably already resting. His hair was slightly messy. It had been a long time since she had seen him look so lived-in.
Zhuang Fuyao paused for a moment. “I want to go on a long trip tomorrow to clear my head.”
Liang Huaixu was silent for two seconds.
It seemed that today’s kind of distraction had not been enough to ease the blockage in her heart.
He asked, “Do you need me to go with you?”
“No need. I’m just telling you.” Zhuang Fuyao thought that it was already quite late. “Then I won’t disturb you. Get some rest early.”
She went back to her room to pack her things. By the time she finished, it was already a few minutes past midnight. While Zhuang Fuyao was thinking about whether she had missed anything, she suddenly remembered that after moving in for so long, she still had not paid Liang Huaixu the rent.
Back then, she had even boasted that she would pay double the rent.
She went online to check the nearby rental prices, doubled that amount, and sent it over.
——Then I won’t disturb you.
Liang Huaixu had originally felt somewhat unsettled because of her polite remark. Now that he received her transfer, the probing look in his eyes grew even stronger.
After quite a while, he finally replied to her: [What’s this?]
Zhuang Fuyao: [Rent. The double rent we talked about before.]
Liang Huaixu refunded it back: [No need. I didn’t intend to take your money.]
Zhuang Fuyao sent it again, speaking with hidden barbs between the lines: [Just take it. Didn’t you say we should avoid suspicion? Living in an ex-husband’s place without paying anything, what kind of situation is that?]
After saying that, she even sent a few emojis along with it: [[smile][smile][smile]]
She felt that after traveling sixteen years into the future, even if she had not learned anything else, she had fully grasped the essence of this kind of sarcastic, yin-yang online talk.
Unfortunately, Liang Huaixu did not go online much and did not understand these internet memes at all. He even thought she was expressing friendliness and directly became immune to this wave of damage.
Since she had already put it that way, it was not convenient for him to refuse again: [Alright, then I’ll accept it. [smile]]
In the next room, Zhuang Fuyao angrily tossed her phone aside.
Damn it. What kind of sarcastic nonsense was this taciturn, coquettish old man pulling!
*
The next day, while Zhuang Fuyao was rushing to catch her train, Liang Chaoluo had also returned to the company to go to work.
No one here knew that he was the crown prince of Changting. They only thought that he was a campus recruit who had joined the company this year. On top of that, he was good-looking, so his colleagues were all quite enthusiastic toward him.
“Xiao Liang, where did you go to have fun over the weekend?”
Another person smiled. “Went to see your girlfriend, right?”
Liang Chaoluo’s Moments were all public and he had not blocked his colleagues, so everyone knew that he had a girlfriend.
Liang Chaoluo sat down at his workstation and turned on his computer. “Nope. I just lay around at home. Didn’t go anywhere.”
At that moment, a notification popped up in the lower-right corner for him: [The net of justice is vast and nothing slips through. The human trafficker Auntie X has finally been arrested. A local hero who acted bravely and upheld justice…]
The person who acted bravely was blurred with a mosaic, but judging from the clothes and build, why did Liang Chaoluo feel that it looked a bit like his dad?
He opened a video app, searched the keywords, and found a roadside-angle video that had not been mosaicked.
“Holy shit.”
It really was.
And why did the person next to him look a bit like his mom too?!
He went to look for footage from other angles. When he finally saw the full face, he sucked in a breath in disbelief.
The location was at the foot of Dongpi Mountain.
Old Liang went hiking together with Madam Zhuang?
No, what was actually going on… As far as he knew, after these two divorced, they rarely kept in touch. Could there be something he did not know about?
Were these two going to remarry?
If that was the case, then who was the woman who had gone shopping at the mall with Old Liang before?
In that instant, the questions filling his mind were enough to be written into a book of One Hundred Thousand Whys. In the end, he arrived at a bold conjecture—Old Liang might be stepping on two boats at the same time, unable to let go of his ex-wife while also starting a relationship with a young and pretty girl!
Over the past few years, he had also heard some hidden stories within their circle. Quite a few uncles and aunties who looked proper on the surface actually played very wildly in private.
Who could not put on an act?
He just had not expected that the father he admired and respected also had such an unknown side… and he did not know whether Madam Zhuang was aware of it.
Liang Chaoluo’s expression was complicated. If he had not seen the information about the two of them going hiking together, he absolutely would not have interfered in Old Liang’s private life.
But now that he had seen it, it was different.
If Old Liang really had done this kind of thing, he would definitely stand by Madam Zhuang to the end.
At the very least, in this regard, Madam Zhuang could not be the one to suffer a loss.
Thinking of this, he immediately put together a handsome-guys gathering and planned to take Madam Zhuang out to have a good time in a few days.
*
By the time Zhuang Fuyao arrived in Zou City, it was already evening. She found a hotel and stayed for one night before setting out the next day.
Zou City was a small county town. The economy was not very developed, but the scenery was beautiful, and the local customs were simple and honest. Near the destination, there was also a large expanse of beautiful autumn chrysanthemums. The midday sun was blazing, and there were not many people in the chrysanthemum fields. There was only one young man there. Zhuang Fuyao went over to ask, “Hello, may I ask if you know where Cheng Beibei’s home is?”
The young man took off his sun-protection face covering. His skin was rough and dark, but his features were handsome. His pupils were very dark, and he looked at Zhuang Fuyao with a guarded expression. “Who are you?”
Zhuang Fuyao smiled in a friendly manner. “I’m Cheng Beibei’s friend.”
“How do you prove it?”
As soon as Zhuang Fuyao heard that, she felt that the other party knew. She quickly opened her Moments, flipped to an album called [Puff and Meat Floss Xiao Bei], and showed it to him. “Look.”
The young man was startled. The way he looked at Zhuang Fuyao was no longer the same as before. “You’re Sister Fuyao?”
Zhuang Fuyao was a little puzzled. Then she thought of something and exclaimed in surprise, “Don’t tell me you’re Cheng Baobao!”
Cheng Fan scratched his head awkwardly. “Sister Fuyao, I’ve changed my name now. It’s Cheng Fan.”
Zhuang Fuyao immediately thought back to high school. When Cheng Beibei called home from school, she kept calling out “Baobao” over and over. At the beginning, they did not know the situation, and someone had even teased her, “Cheng Beibei, which Baobao is that?”
Cheng Fan smiled shyly. “But everyone’s still used to calling me Baobao. Sister Fuyao can call me whatever you like.”
He led Zhuang Fuyao toward their home.
When Mother Cheng learned that she had come, she was especially happy. She immediately went into the chicken coop, grabbed a chicken, and prepared to kill it for Zhuang Fuyao to eat.
“No need, Auntie!” When Zhuang Fuyao saw the living conditions at their home, she knew that even a single chicken was precious to the Cheng family. She hurriedly stopped her.
Upon hearing this, Mother Cheng deliberately put on an angry face and said, “Is Fufu looking down on Auntie’s simple food and drink?”
“No, how could that be!” Zhuang Fuyao shook her head like a rattle drum, but she did not dare to stop her anymore.
Only then did Mother Cheng smile again.
While eating, they chatted about their recent situations. Zhuang Fuyao only then learned that not long after Cheng Beibei passed away, her father had also died. The family was left with only Cheng Fan and Mother Cheng depending on each other. Mother Cheng’s health was also not good. In order to take care of his mother, Cheng Fan had worked outside for several years before coming back. Their daily expenses relied entirely on the five mu of chrysanthemum fields in front of their house and selling sugar melons.
Zhuang Fuyao had previously known that Cheng Beibei had been staying temporarily at her uncle’s home in Jiang City, but she did not know that her family situation was this bad.
Through their conversation, she also learned that she herself had been helping support the Cheng family over these years.
The topic soon turned to Cheng Beibei. Mother Cheng could not quite control her emotions. “That child Beibei was really pitiful, so young—”
Cheng Fan handed over some tissues. “Mom, Sister Fuyao finally managed to come all this way. Let’s talk about something happy.”
Mother Cheng wiped her tears and let out a breath. “Yes, yes, let’s not talk about that.”
She knocked Cheng Fan on the head. “And you too. Five years ago, didn’t your Sister Fuyao come to our home? You didn’t even recognize her!”
Cheng Fan felt wronged and said softly, “It’s been five years. How could I remember so much? Sister Fuyao didn’t recognize me either.”
Mother Cheng gave him another knuckle rap. “You still dare to talk back.”
Zhuang Fuyao laughed from the side.
She could feel it. Although the Cheng family was poor, the family atmosphere was very harmonious. Mother Cheng and Cheng Fan were both very easy to get along with. Even though they said they wanted to talk about something happy, she had come this time precisely because she wanted to understand some things about Cheng Beibei before her death.
So she still chose her words carefully and said, “Auntie Cheng, something happened to me over the past few years. I lost the memories of the past sixteen years, so for the current me, I also only just learned about Beibei’s situation…”
“How could there be such a thing?” Mother Cheng looked heartbroken. “Aside from the amnesia, do you have any other discomfort?”
Zhuang Fuyao smiled and shook her head. “Just the amnesia.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” When Mother Cheng heard about the amnesia, her emotions fluctuated too much. Cheng Fan quickly went inside to get medicine and fed it to his mother.
After Mother Cheng finished taking the medicine, she went to rest. It was Cheng Fan who told Zhuang Fuyao about Cheng Beibei’s matters.
After understanding everything, Zhuang Fuyao frowned slightly. “Your mother’s health…”
Cheng Fan sighed. “She’s been going to the hospital regularly to get medicine. The doctor said my mom’s condition requires proper rest, but our family has five mu of chrysanthemum fields. She just can’t put her mind at ease. Every day, she ignores the doctor’s instructions and still keeps busy working. No matter how much I try to persuade her, she won’t listen.”
Zhuang Fuyao also felt that this was not a solution.
…
After Mother Cheng woke up from her nap, she came out and said, “Fufu, don’t leave. Why don’t you just stay here and play for a few days? Although we can’t compare to big cities, the air is fresh, and it’s not too hot in summer. Many city people rent houses here to spend their vacations.”
Given the Cheng family’s current situation, Zhuang Fuyao did not feel at ease leaving. She smiled and agreed. That night, she stayed in Cheng Beibei’s former room. The yellowed walls were covered with many photos, many of which were group photos of her and Cheng Beibei together.
Zhuang Fuyao’s nose stung. Hearing movement outside the door, she quickly sniffed and steadied herself.
Mother Cheng brought over a blanket and draped it over her. “The temperature difference between day and night here is quite large. I thought it over, and it’s still better to add another blanket.”
Before going out, she asked again, “Fufu, what would you like to eat tomorrow morning?”
“I’m fine with anything, Auntie Cheng.”
“How about egg noodle soup?”
Zhuang Fuyao smiled and nodded. “Sounds good.”
She was usually very picky about beds, yet that night she slept exceptionally well. Early in the morning, when she opened the window, there was a vast expanse of chrysanthemum fields outside. She took a deep breath and could smell a faint floral fragrance, giving her a sense of openness and refreshment.
After breakfast, Cheng Fan went down to the fields, while Mother Cheng took the prepared sugar melons to the market to sell.
Zhuang Fuyao went along as well. While setting up the stall, Mother Cheng picked up a sugar melon, tapped it to break it, put it into a plastic bag, and handed it to her. “Here, have a taste.”
It was Zhuang Fuyao’s first time eating sugar melon, and she was immediately amazed. “It’s so good!”
It carried the fresh fragrance of malt sugar, and the texture was especially crisp.
Mother Cheng smiled. “This is the Cheng family’s ancestral craft.”
She chatted with Zhuang Fuyao about many things from the past. “The house we’re living in now was built decades ago. Back then, having a house like this would have been top-tier within ten li around here… It’s just that later on, there was more and more food available, domestic and foreign alike. Compared to those, sugar melon became unremarkable.”
As someone who had come through from sixteen years ago, Zhuang Fuyao felt this deeply. She realized that there were indeed far fewer artisans nowadays.
She searched for sugar melon online and said in surprise, “So sugar melon is actually an intangible cultural heritage food.”
“Intangible cultural heritage?” Mother Cheng did not really understand these things. “But a few years ago, there were indeed people who came to our door, saying they wanted to spend one hundred thousand yuan to buy our sugar melon recipe. I didn’t believe it and thought it was a scam, so the matter was dropped.”
Zhuang Fuyao nodded. “Auntie Cheng, a few years ago, maybe it wasn’t certain, but now, if someone still wants to buy it from you, that would definitely be a scam.”
Nowadays, a casual search online turned up plenty of videos and materials on how to make sugar melon. Who would still be willing to spend an extra one hundred thousand yuan?
Mother Cheng said, “Baobao also told me that there’s stuff online. But each family has its own method. Even though they’re all sugar melons, the taste isn’t the same. Our Cheng family’s sugar melons really are different from others.”
Zhuang Fuyao was not entirely sure about this point, but before long, she truly experienced how popular the Cheng family’s sugar melons were.
In less than half a day, several sacks of sugar melons were completely sold out.
Zhuang Fuyao was genuinely happy for Mother Cheng. “A full harvest today.”
Mother Cheng smiled. “Yes. Today happened to be a big market day. We have market days three times a month here. It’s only this lively when there’s a market.”
With that said, Zhuang Fuyao understood the Cheng family’s predicament. Sugar melons were good, but in such a small place, the customer flow was limited. It was the same repeat customers coming and going, and the income it brought was also very modest.
…
On the second day she stayed there, Cheng Fan took her to Cheng Beibei’s grave.
Facing Cheng Beibei’s tombstone, Zhuang Fuyao said many things and cried hard for a long while.
On the way back, Cheng Fan rode his electric bike with her as a passenger.
The people here were very friendly. The neighbors were all warm and enthusiastic. When they saw her, they would greet her. Knowing that she worked in the arts, they respectfully addressed her as “Teacher Zhuang.”
“Baobao, taking Teacher Zhuang to see Beibei?”
“Yes, Uncle Li,” Cheng Fan replied with a smile.
When they returned, Mother Cheng had already prepared lunch. There was meat, eggs, and vegetables, especially abundant. After eating, they took a short midday rest, then each went about their own work. This place was far from noise and bustle, with no 996 work culture. It was truly living by sunrise and resting by sunset.
The day before she was to leave, Zhuang Fuyao brought up something.
Cheng Fan was already twenty-five this year. Because the family was poor, he had no opportunity to pursue a relationship. The income from the chrysanthemum fields and sugar melons was also limited, and on top of that, there was Mother Cheng’s health…
So she thought of bringing Mother Cheng and Cheng Baobao back to Jiang City. Coincidentally, the national-style restaurant was in preparation and was precisely in need of people. Although Cheng Fan had not studied much, he was smart, and he also had the craft of making sugar melons.
She could sign a contract with the Cheng family, include sugar melons in the restaurant’s menu, and give the Cheng family a certain percentage of profit based on sugar melon sales.
This way, it could solve the Cheng family’s financial problems, and she could also take good care of Cheng Beibei’s family on her behalf.
As soon as Mother Cheng heard this, she quickly shook her head. “This won’t do.”
Because the treatment being offered was too good. She did not think that their family’s sugar melons had such great value and believed instead that Fufu wanted to subsidize them.
But they had hands and feet of their own. How could they take advantage of someone to such an extent?
Cheng Fan felt the same way.
When Zhuang Fuyao could not persuade them, she thought of taking it step by step. She decided to first bring them to Jiang City and talk about it later. She hooked her arm around Auntie Cheng’s arm and acted spoiled. “Then, Auntie Cheng, you and Baobao come with me to Jiang City to play for a while. You wouldn’t have the heart to refuse me on this, right?”
*
Jiang City
Seeing that Zhuang Fuyao had not sent any messages for several days in a row, a baseless irritability rose in Liang Huaixu’s heart, and he asked He Zongqin out for a drink.
He Zongqin hurried over eagerly and said in surprise, “That’s rare. The last time we came out for a drink was several years ago, wasn’t it?”
He perked himself up, ready to hear what major matter had happened. “Go on. What’s going on?”
Liang Huaixu cast him a heavy glance, said nothing, and only drank in silence.