Chapter 63 Happiness, old friends

When I finished my chores and arrived at the Bamboo House with Yuanxi and Yuanyi on my back, Master was really there.

I always had a feeling of unease in my heart, afraid that I would not see my master’s figure when I walked into the Bamboo Grove. But when I saw my master on the veranda of the bamboo building, leisurely drinking tea with his legs crossed, my heart was relieved. A wave of heartfelt joy spread through my heart. I myself could not say why.

After settling Yuan Yi, I washed my face with mountain stream water. Yuan Xi was amazed by the beauty of the place and was already like a butterfly, happily flying out and looking around.

I smiled at Yuanxi’s figure and thought to myself, wasn’t I the same when I first entered the small bamboo house? It’s so beautiful here, carrying so many memories. So many years have passed, but nothing has changed, except for the plot of land in front of the courtyard where the master planted some medicinal herbs.

When I left, I gave it to the people in the village. When I came back this time, I saw that it was full of wildflowers. Is this an unexpected surprise?

“The water here is still the sweetest, and the tea made from it is also the most delicious. But would you like a cup?” Master suddenly said.

I sat next to my master, and he poured me a cup of tea. Sure enough, the same tea leaves could only be made into such a flavor with the mountain spring water here, which was nostalgic.

“Master, my parents said they would not live in the town anymore and would not need to do business because they had enough money for their retirement. Before they went to Beijing last time, they had the old house repaired and this time they just cleaned it up and moved back to the village.” I told the master about my parents’ plans.

The master was a little stunned, and it took him a while to say, “That’s good. When people get old, they tend to be nostalgic.”

I took a sip of tea and said, “Master, don’t say you’re young. You’re old too.”

“I’m 81 years old, not even 100 yet. I’m not old, I still have a lot of things to do,” the master said with a smile.

The days at the Bamboo House were peaceful, and my parents moved back to the village.

I was not worried about my parents’ old age. The income from the small building they lived in would allow them to live a very comfortable life in their old age. In addition, there was a clothing store on the street that they had transferred to someone else. My mother said that they were almost becoming capitalists, which made me laugh.

I would often go down the mountain to the village to spend time with my parents. I felt very happy when I saw them busy planting flowers and vegetables.

I also visit my neighbors, but unfortunately, after so many years, I don’t know many people in the village.

I followed Su Rou’s instructions and visited his parents, giving them a sum of money. It was more than three years since I earned that money, and it was a lot of money in the village. I told his parents what Su Rou had said to me before he left for Guangzhou.

Su Rou’s mother said, “He hasn’t been home for so many years, who would want him to come back in a car? Even if he came back in a cart, I would be happy to see him.”

But Su Rou’s father slammed his hand on the table and said, “You’re such a bad mother, Gua. Your son is doing great things, but you’re holding back the revolution.”

This scene made me feel sad. All parents are the same. The kind of feelings that worry about and fear causing trouble for their children are so timid, but they are the most precious thing in a person’s life.

I, speaking of it, have been away from home for many years, and I can be considered an unfilial son.

Wandering around the village, I saw many unfamiliar faces, but I could always see familiar faces. I met Liu Chunyan.

Time flies, and we are no longer the children we once were. When I was young, I always “hated” her and bullied her. After so many years, I met her again for the first time, and suddenly I felt that the memories of my childhood were also very precious.

I also thought of the letters I had never read, and that she was the woman that Su Rou had been thinking about for many years.

Su Rou always talked about her as if she were a fake, but I knew that she was actually very serious.

I took the initiative to greet Liu Chunyan, but then I didn’t know what to say. After so many years, we were no longer children, and it was inevitable that we would be embarrassed.

But I couldn’t just sit there in silence. I asked her, “How have you been all these years? I heard you work in the township government, which is pretty good.”

“Yes, it’s good. I just work hard. I was promoted to director last year.” Liu Chunyan’s tone was a bit constrained and unfamiliar, but I always felt that she was a bit sad.

I don’t know why, but after a long silence, I decided to ask about her marriage: “Are you married? When can I meet the man who married you?”

Liu Chunyan was silent for a long time before she said, “No, I’m not married. My previous boyfriend was in the army, and he died on the battlefield in 1989, the same year the war ended. It was his bad luck. He said that when I graduated from university and got a stable job, he would be ready to change jobs and then get married. Maybe it was my bad luck too.”

I knew which war she was referring to. Looking at her red eyes, I felt sorry for her. At 26, she hadn’t married in the village, which was a big deal, no matter how capable she was.

But isn’t it also because she hasn’t forgotten?

After a long silence, I could only say, “I’m sorry. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

Liu Chunyan gathered her hair and said to me with a calm expression, “There’s nothing to be sorry about, Chen Chengyi. I’ve been alone for so many years, haven’t I? I’ve also been very fulfilled at work. When the right person comes along, I’ll probably forget all about it and get married.”

I blurted out, “Actually, the meat is good, and I liked you when I was little.”

Liu Chunyan suddenly smiled and said, “Childhood feelings are not real. I hated you when I was a child, but then I thought you were pretty good. But that’s not about liking or not liking. How could I know that at the time?”

Suddenly talking about this, I was a little embarrassed and scratched my head, then said to Liu Chunyan, “Su Rou is serious, and for so many years, he has always been serious.”

“Let’s talk about it later. Some things depend on fate,” Liu Chunyan said to me calmly.

She was talking about fate to a Taoist like me, and I suddenly laughed. After so many years, everyone has experienced their own lives, experienced some things, said goodbye to some people, and gained their own state of mind and understanding.

Is it a calmness, or a helplessness towards life? I have no way of knowing. Cultivating the mind is far more difficult than cultivating the body, because the state of mind is always untraceable. It only matters whether you can touch your own heart.

Time passed quickly in this way. I practiced every day in the bamboo forest, accompanied my master, and often went down the mountain to spend time with my parents.

My master also lived a very leisurely life. He was as devoted to Yuanxi as he had been to me back then. Occasionally, I would also teach Yuanxi.

These days are very peaceful, so peaceful that I sometimes feel as if I’ve gone back in time to the days when I was at the Bamboo Grove.

It is worth mentioning that Yuan Yi’s health has indeed improved a lot here. He still can’t speak, but he is awake more and more every day, and he even occasionally expresses some meaning, such as when he wants to sit or walk.

His movements are very inconvenient, and sometimes he whines and cries, unable to control his own saliva, which drips down like a little child. However, Yuanxi always pushes Yuanyi around when he has time, and he also likes to hear Yuanyi whine and cry, patiently wiping his father’s saliva.

I know that Yuan Yi will get better and better. One day, he will recover and ask me again, “Chen Chengyi, how do I compare to you and your master?”

He will be so proud and heroic.

My master and I also started to get busy, going out every day to cut some bamboo and build some huts. Occasionally, my parents would also come to help.

I don’t know when Auntie Hu learned that I and my master had returned. When I and my master started to get busy, he suddenly took a few people up the mountain, his face full of excitement.

When you are too happy, you forget about time and forget a lot of things. I completely forgot about Gao Ning’s promise to leave a letter for me, and I also forgot that in the south, winter always comes earlier, and spring is already here.

Just as I was feeling the spring breeze, the first group arrived. I never thought it would be Uncle Chen and Brother Chengxin.