Chapter 124: Past Events

The old men began discussing events from the past.

Obviously, as a young person, there was no place for Su Yao to join the conversation, and she didn’t try.

Instead, she listened quietly from the side.

Mixed in their conversation were some local dialects, so Su Yao could only guess at the meanings.

Old Su, who was Su Yao’s grandfather, was about the same age as these old men.

They had all come through the same era together, recounting some stories that Su Yao had never heard her grandfather tell before, such as those about him and her grandmother.

Old Su was not a man of many words, but he was particularly persistent.

He actually had a woman he loved, but in the end, he listened to his parents and married, through the matchmaker’s arrangements, someone he hadn’t met many times and didn’t like much.

As for why… of course, it was because the woman he liked persuaded him.

Later, Old Su traveled far and wide, hustling everywhere to make money and support his family.

After making a bit of a name for himself, life gradually got better and better.

Later still, that woman found him.

Old Su was a stubborn man. What he said, he meant.

So he didn’t agree to do anything that would betray his wife.

A few years after that, Old Su heard that the woman had died.

That night, he drank himself into a stupor.

He didn’t smash anything, didn’t throw a fit, just sat there silently without a word.

From their scattered words, Su Yao pieced together this story.

As for how much was true and how much was embellished, it was impossible to say anymore.

Only those involved would truly know the facts, and those people had already turned to dust in the earth.

Her grandfather was a remarkable person, stubborn his whole life.

Su Yao never knew what he felt when her parents passed away.

For Su Yao, it was as if the sky had fallen, but the old man managed to hold everything up again.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made it to where she was now.

She thought, this time coming back wasn’t just to tidy up the old house, but also to visit the graves.

From their conversation, she learned that her father was considered one of the more successful ones of his generation, having made his way to the Big City.

As for what happened afterward, they avoided saying more with Su Yao present.

“Girl, you’re living in the Big City now, aren’t you?”

“Mm.”

“You, a girl, thinking to come back for a visit—you’re better than some people, you know.”

Su Yao was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then quietly nodded.

The bus arrived.

After getting on, sheltered from the wind, it finally felt warmer.

But the air was stuffy, and there were people smoking, which made it almost unbearable.

The Ticket Seller scolded a few times, but the old man smoking just grinned cheekily and insisted on finishing his cigarette.

A few minutes later, his craving hit again, and he lit another one.

Su Yao frowned, but couldn’t say much, and helplessly opened the window a crack.

The bus sped along.

Even though the road here was bumpy and twisted, for the Driver—who’d been driving this route for years, seven or eight times a day—this was nothing.

To him, this speed wasn’t even fast.

The small gap Su Yao had opened let in cold wind, but at least it wasn’t choking anymore.

The ride was over twenty minutes.

Actually, the town wasn’t that far away, but with all the stops along the way, even with the Driver going fast, it still took this long.

Getting off, Su Yao felt a rush of freshness.

It might not have been cold in the bus, but it was awfully stuffy.

Staying in there too long was just as uncomfortable.

Su Yao had barely walked a few steps when she was blocked by a few motorcycle taxis.

But she was only in town to buy some things, not going far—just staying nearby.

Before that, though, she needed to eat something.

She was so hungry her whole body was weak.

If she didn’t eat soon, she really might die!

Outside the station, she picked a shop and ordered a bowl of stir-fried rice noodles to go.

After paying and getting her food, she ran to a sheltered corner and started eating.

In a small town like this, people weren’t so particular about such things.

After eating, she went to buy a drink, grabbed two bread rolls, and filled her stomach.

Suddenly, Su Yao felt revived.

She found a shop and bought rice and flour, then got some meat, putting it all in the empty bag she had brought.

She also picked up some snacks to eat.

She wasn’t planning to stay long—she’d leave after Small Year and return to the city.

She had to spend New Year in the city; life here in the old home was just too inconvenient.

“When does school start…?”

Mu Nanqiu was already a third-year in college.

After one more summer, she’d be in her fourth year.

Fourth-years were rarely seen on campus, either haunting the library or teachers’ offices—very mysterious.

When the time came, it would be time to prepare for entering society.

Mu Nanqiu didn’t need to worry, but Su Yao worried about herself.

She couldn’t imagine what she’d do in the future.

If she did nothing, she’d only be a decoration on someone else’s arm.

If that happened, she’d never have any say in her own life again!

Su Yao still wanted to be the one to take the initiative in front of Mu Nanqiu, but since Miss Mu always acted first and only asked permission afterward, she had no choice but to passively accept it.

After tidying up and confirming that everything she needed was ready, Su Yao prepared to head back.

When she got to the bus station and checked her phone, it was almost nine o’clock.

Still early, but she’d already spent over an hour shopping for everything she needed.

Getting off the bus, she hadn’t even reached the door when a car pulled up and stopped by the roadside.

A man in his forties got out, looked her over, and tentatively asked:

“Are you Su Yao?”

Su Yao nodded.

The man smiled, walking toward her as he spoke.

“Still remember me?”

How could Su Yao remember?

But the man didn’t mind, his smile growing broader.

He sized up the pretty, lively girl in front of him, half-joking:

“Don’t remember? It’s your Uncle Su. I used to hold you when you were little, you know.”

He glanced toward the house.

“Someone called me yesterday and said the lights were on over here. Thought maybe a thief had gotten in, so I came back to check. Didn’t expect it to be you coming home.”

“I just came to have a look…”

Being mistaken for a thief, Su Yao felt her face grow hot and explained, embarrassed.

Uncle Su’s surname was Chen, but he was still very warm to Su Yao, making her feel like she was actually the guest, which left her at a loss.

“Su Yao, are you planning to spend New Year here? It’s not easy for you alone. Why not come to my house? My daughter’s a bit younger than you, you can share a room with her. More people, more lively, you know.”

“No, no, that’s alright!”

Faced with such an enthusiastic invitation, Su Yao was a bit startled.

Sharing a room with her Cousin? She didn’t quite dare.

“I’ll be leaving after Small Year, only staying a few days—just came back to tidy up.”

“I see.”

Once Uncle Su understood, he didn’t push the matter, but started telling Su Yao stories about when she was little.