Jiang Ruobai fled back to his hometown overnight.
He reasoned that a powerful figure like Pei Sichen would not care about an old, ugly beta like him. He believed he lacked any particular charm to attract Pei Sichen, and once the man’s novelty wore off, he would be forgotten.
As for the 500,000 yuan, he had already contacted Zhou Luo and invested 150,000 yuan into the stock market. In three months, he would be able to repay the full amount to Pei Sichen.
His parents were quite dissatisfied with Jiang Ruobai’s sudden return. They did not understand why their son, who had worked so hard to get out of this remote and impoverished rural village, would suddenly return alone.
Moreover, Jiang Ruobai was acting strange. He looked listless, as if he had lost his soul, locking himself in his room all day without coming out, refusing to speak even when asked what was wrong.
The elderly couple worried that Jiang Ruobai’s absentmindedness was due to a divorce, so during the days he was home, they often tried to probe for information indirectly.
“You said you finally managed to come back, but you did not even bring Xinshu with you, leaving her alone in Hai City. Won’t she be angry with you when you return? I think you should hurry back.”
Wu Xiuju was peeling garlic in the courtyard, her eyes fixed on Jiang’s father, who was sitting on the threshold cooling himself with a fan. She glared at him fiercely, signaling him to say something as well.
“That is right. If you have nothing else to do, hurry back to accompany your wife. Do not make your mother worry about you.” Jiang’s father was shirtless, sitting on the threshold with a fan. Although he was also anxious for Jiang Ruobai, he generally respected his son’s opinions more. However, when his wife’s opinions clashed with his son’s, he would unhesitatingly choose to stand on his wife’s side. After all, in Jiang Ruobai’s house, whether it was a big or small matter, Wu Xiuju was the Chief Justice, and Jiang’s father acted mostly as the gavel.
In the courtyard of their old home stood a large locust tree with lush branches that blocked the sun completely in summer. The house had no air conditioning, so relying on this locust tree was the only way to catch a breeze.
When Jiang Ruobai was a child, he feared the heat. Although the tree branches blocked the scorching sun, he still felt uncomfortable, always dragging the village rascals into the water, feeling only then that it was comfortable.
However, the river water in summer was fierce; the riverbed was narrow, and the current was rapid. One careless mistake could easily lead to being swept away. Because Jiang Ruobai always went to the river, Wu Xiuju often went to block him. Sometimes, when she was lucky, she could stop him and drag him back by his ear; other times, when she was a step late, that brat would take off his pants and dive into the water, ignoring all her shouts.
Later, during a rainstorm, Jiang Ruobai and those children were almost washed away, saved only by some young men in the village. Since then, Wu Xiuju never dared to let Jiang Ruobai near the water. Knowing he feared the heat, she had Jiang’s father pull several large rocks from the riverbank overnight, piecing them together into a stone bed for him under the old locust tree.
When Jiang Ruobai felt hot, he would lie on that stone, and Wu Xiuju would fan him from the side until he fell asleep.
This summer was exceptionally hot. The cicadas in the locust tree were louder than the car horns in the city. Jiang Ruobai lay on the stone, feeling his eyelids sore. Lying for a long time on the place where he often snuck out to sleep in the middle of the night as a child, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.
He had been back for a week, and Pei Sichen had not appeared. He wondered if Pei Sichen would really not come after all.
“Son, tell Mom, did you get a divorce?”
Jiang Ruobai felt the voice was right in front of him. As soon as he opened his eyes, his mother’s kitchen knife was hanging over his head. The freshly sharpened knife still had minced garlic on it, and the strong, irritating smell of garlic rushed straight to his brain.
Jiang Ruobai held his breath, daring not to exhale, and jumped off the stone bed immediately.
“Mom, are you trying to end your son’s life?” Jiang Ruobai pinched his nose and took a long breath.
“What nonsense are you talking about? I am asking you, did you and Xinshu divorce?” Wu Xiuju questioned.
“No, Mom. Xinshu and I are doing fine. Please do not worry blindly.” Jiang Ruobai explained helplessly.
“How can I not worry? If you did not divorce, did you quarrel? Otherwise, why did only you come back? Where is Xinshu?”
Jiang Ruobai had not yet told his parents about Lin Xinshu’s illness; they could not help with that, and it would only cause them unnecessary worry.
“Xinshu is still busy with work over there. She will come back to see you in a while. I just missed you, so I came back to see you. I am doing well, and Xinshu is doing well too. Do not worry.” Jiang Ruobai looked up, seeing the still-lush locust tree and the white hairs on Wu Xiuju’s temples, his heart stung painfully.
He knew his parents’ worries, but he could not explain what had happened during this time. For him, these events were scars he dared not recall. Facing his parents’ concern, he could only brush it off. Regardless of whether they believed him, he could only explain it this way.
In fact, returning to his hometown was both freedom and escape for him. He had escaped the prison named Pei Sichen, and he was also using his hometown memories to wipe away those unbearable recollections.
Fortunately, destiny seemed to favor him for once: Pei Sichen had not found this place.
He had spent these seven days in a daze. Any movement during the night could wake him up; after waking, his body would tremble uncontrollably, making it hard to fall asleep again. He thought he would be glad to have escaped, but what he faced these past few days felt more like the anxious unease of waiting to be executed.
His parents’ aging faces had been ravaged by too many years. If he let them suffer for his sake, how could he have peace of mind?
He stood up, trying to look no different from usual. He wore a bright smile, patted Mother Wu on the shoulder, and consoled her: “Xinshu and I are really fine. How about this? I will take the train back early tomorrow morning. Does that make you feel better?”
“Son, did your company’s leaders give you trouble? If you are being mistreated there, let us switch to another one. Opportunities in big cities are everywhere. You…”
Seeing Wu Xiuju drifting further away, Jiang Ruobai quickly cut her off.
“Oh my, my Ms. Wu, do not worry. Your son is doing excellent work at the company. There is no trouble at all. Do not worry blindly.”
“But…” Wu Xiuju was still uneasy. She knew her son was sensible and reported only good news, not bad, so she had to confirm it over and over again to feel at ease.
“Mom, I am really fine. I want to eat your homemade dumplings. If you do not wrap them, your son will have to starve on the train tomorrow morning.”
“Okay, okay, okay. I will go wrap them. Stop pushing me!”
“Jiang Dongguo, why are you still standing at the door? Come over and help roll the dumpling skins!”
“Hey, hey, hey! Coming!” Jiang Dongguo, who had been sitting leisurely on the threshold, hurried to pat the dust off his pants and ran into the house.
Jiang Ruobai watched the elderly couple busy in the house, his gaze lingering from his parents in the room to the old house: the mottled tiles, the red lanterns that had not been taken down since the Spring Festival, the bicycle he often rode as a child, the old locust tree in the courtyard, and that big stone bed.
These were all his fondest childhood memories. These memories filled his childhood, and the most important people in his life had always been behind him.
Jiang Ruobai felt it was time for him to leave. This was not a safe place. If Pei Sichen had the intention to investigate, he would soon find this place. He could not gamble with his parents’ safety. He had decided to take the train away early tomorrow morning. He would hide in any city as long as it was far away from Pei Sichen.
As long as he hid from him for three months and paid back the money he owed Pei Sichen, he would not owe him anything anymore.
The old courtyard at dusk was exceptionally peaceful and beautiful. The dim light spilled through the dense leaves, falling into golden rays. In the glow, Wu Xiuju filled the table with steaming hot dumplings. The three of them sat around the old locust tree. Jiang’s father took out a bottle of good wine, the father and son drank a little, and the family chatted. At that moment, it seemed that all troubles had dissipated.
After the meal, Mother Wu, understanding her son’s hard work, sent him to the heated bed to rest early.
Jiang Ruobai agreed with a smile. That night, he had a rare good sleep. This time, there was no shadow of Pei Sichen in his dream.
Mother Wu and Father Jiang were busy washing dishes in the kitchen, but as she scrubbed, Mother Wu’s tears fell.
“What is wrong with you?” Seeing Mother Wu crying, Father Jiang hurriedly put down the bowl to check on her.
Mother Wu wiped the tears from her face, looking lovingly toward her son’s doorway: “The child must have been wronged before coming back. I really am uneasy. The child has grown up and will not tell us about anything.”
Father Jiang sighed and consoled her: “The son has grown up and is sensible. He can solve some things himself. Do not worry blindly.”
“How can I not worry? Look at how thin the son has gotten. Life outside must be hard. We cannot help with anything, and I really cannot bear it.”
“Since we know we cannot help, do not add to the son’s troubles. The son likes the scallion pancakes sold by Li Guai at the entrance of the village. I will go buy some for the son to eat on the road tomorrow morning.”
Mother Wu nodded: “Then you get up earlier tomorrow. The son has a seven o’clock train and must leave at six. I am afraid you will not make it.”
Father Jiang: “I know, do not worry.”
Mother Wu sighed long, her eyes red as she finished washing the dishes.
Early the next morning, as soon as the village rooster crowed, Father Jiang got up. Mother Wu got up even earlier, starting to cook the meal at dawn.
“You cook some millet porridge. I am going out to buy the pancakes now.” Father Jiang put on a long coat; it was still a bit cold in the early morning.
Mother Wu was busy with her tasks: “Mm, remember to buy the freshly made ones; those are the most delicious.”
“Do not you worry.”
Father Jiang responded, buttoned his coat, and walked out.
He opened the locked courtyard gate, and the heavy wooden door made an old creaking sound. As soon as Father Jiang looked up, a huge figure blocked his way.
“May I ask if this is Jiang Ruobai’s home?”
Looking at the handsome young man in front of him, Father Jiang asked suspiciously: “This is my son Jiang Ruobai’s home. Who are you?”
The young man smiled slightly: “I am a friend of his.”