Chapter 132 - 129: Li Xiu Comes Home
Setting aside how Zhang Hongying’s family was discussing their little girl’s new friend, Zhou Lian found herself anxiously awaiting Li Xiu’s return day after day. The longing was a given, but the main problem was her family’s little terror, Li Xianglin. That little devil, nicknamed Nuonuo, was more than she could handle right now!
In her past life, Li Xianglin had a refined and dignified appearance that hid a fiery personality. As a child, she had been the most well-behaved and sensible girl. But look at her now—spoiled rotten by Li Xiu, she was a total terror and so bossy!
Gazing at Nuonuo, who looked like a little angel as she slept on the bed, a gentle, loving smile graced Zhou Lian’s face. This was her treasure across two lifetimes, her sweet, caring daughter. In her past life, it was her daughter who had suggested taking her mother along to college. After discussing it with her younger brother, the two of them threatened not to attend university to force their reluctant mother and silent father to agree. When the school year began, she took her mother with her, and that stay turned into a lifetime away from home.
Gently stroking Nuonuo’s small, rosy cheeks, Zhou Lian recalled when she was on her deathbed in her past life. Her daughter had held her, sobbing. Even at fifty years old, she cried like a child, asking anxiously, "Mom, did you ever resent me?" She remembered asking at the time, "Resent what?" "For making it so you had no home to return to for the second half of your life. For separating you from Dad for all those years?"
She was having her last rally of energy then. It was only when she was truly on the verge of death that she realized her daughter had been carrying such a burden in her heart. So, she used all her strength to console her, saying, "Pingping, my dear, your mother lived her whole life by the book. Before I was married, I listened to my parents. After I got married, I listened to my husband. No one ever asked if I was happy or if my heart ached. I always thought that’s just how my life would be. But I have the best daughter in the world. You were only seventeen then, Pingping. For my sake, despite your young age and at the risk of shouldering your father’s resentment, you put your weak and useless mother on your back. And you carried me for half my life, just so I could be a little happier. In this entire life, you and An’an are my greatest pride, my most important treasures. Pingping, I have to thank you. You let me know what it means to be alive, what happiness and freedom truly are."
Wiping the tears from her face, Zhou Lian leaned down and gently kissed the sleeping Nuonuo. She smiled and whispered, "My darling baby, I hope that in this life, you can live every day safely, healthily, and happily!"
As she recalled the events before her death in her past life, her thoughts inevitably turned to Li Xiu. After she had consoled her daughter, she was truly at her limit. She remembered Li Xiu grabbing her hand, looking at her calmly, and saying, "We were husband and wife for a lifetime; I know what you’re worried about. I’m telling you, I never once resented Pingping. Never. Pingping is our most precious daughter. Both our children are good and filial. The son and daughter you gave me are the greatest pride of my life!"
The Li Xiu of that time had been terrifyingly calm, but the madness in his eyes could not be faked. In that moment, she had truly let it all go. There was no resentment, no hatred. He was just like a familiar stranger.
In this life, it was Li Xiu who had brought her to where she was now. Bit by bit, his gentleness had chipped away at the thick walls around her heart, letting the sunlight pour in. He made her understand that she could release some of her old obsessions, and that letting go would open up a much wider world.
The man on Zhou Lian’s mind, Li Xiu, was currently on a train heading home. The speed of the old-fashioned green-skinned trains was excruciating. For someone like Li Xiu, who was used to modern express trains, it was endlessly frustrating. Even though he’d taken this train a few times, he still couldn’t get used to the crawling pace. He was burning with impatience, wishing he could instantly appear before his precious wife and daughter.
Outside the train window, the fields were pitch-black. Li Xiu stared out, lost in thought. ’I wonder if my wife is managing to take care of herself and our daughter. She’s very capable, but I’m afraid she’s not used to being on her own.’ The more he thought about his wife, the more restless he became. ’When I get back,’ he thought fiercely, ’I’m going to find some suitable people and train them up. I’m never leaving her for this long ever again!’
After enduring a few more agonizing days, he finally arrived in the Capital City. With two large bags slung over his back, Li Xiu hurriedly boarded a bus, his heart pounding with excitement. ’I’m almost home! I’m about to see my wife and daughter!’
Hearing a knock, Zhou Lian’s heart leaped with joy. ’That must be Li Xiu!’ She grabbed a small blanket, wrapped Nuonuo snugly inside, and hurried out to the courtyard with the child in her arms. Opening the main gate, she looked at the dusty man standing outside and said with a tearful smile, "You’re a mess!"
Looking at his wife, who was smiling through her tears, and at his daughter, who was reaching out with her little hands and crying "Daddy," Li Xiu smiled. He started to reach out to hug them but pulled his hands back. "It’s cold out," he said. "Hurry back inside. Don’t catch a chill."
After closing the gate, the family of three returned to their room. Li Xiu took off his grimy, padded jacket. He looked at the two pairs of bright, clear eyes—one big and one small—staring at him from the bed and smiled. ’It’s so good to be home!’
"Watch our daughter. I’ll go get some water ready for you to wash up," Zhou Lian said softly, looking at the dusty, grimy Li Xiu. ’Long-distance travel these days is such an ordeal.’
Gently stopping his wife, Li Xiu said tenderly, "No need. I’m filthy. You watch our girl. I’ll get it myself. It won’t take long. Wait for me, Bao’er!"
Li Xiu scrubbed himself from head to toe until his skin was almost raw before finally getting out of the water. ’I was so filthy,’ he thought. ’You get all sorts of people on the train; it’s just so grimy. I don’t know if my wife was disgusted by me, but I sure was disgusted with myself.’
Drying his hair, he walked into the inner room. He saw his two darlings on the bed, both looking up at him at the same time with sparkling eyes. Li Xiu was overjoyed. He tossed the towel aside, sat on the edge of the bed, and pulled both mother and daughter into his arms. With a contented sigh, he said, "Bao’er, I missed you like crazy."
The family of three embraced in silence. Even the usually mischievous Little Nono was uncharacteristically quiet, resting peacefully in her father’s arms. The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, bathing the family in a warm glow. It was a beautiful, picture-perfect moment.
"Li Xiu, are you hungry? Tired? I’ll go make something to eat," Zhou Lian said with a smile, glancing from her unusually quiet daughter to her slightly thinner husband.
"No rush. Let me just hold you for a while longer. I’ll go cook in a bit, but just let me hold you first," Li Xiu said gently, kissing her forehead as he looked at her with adoring eyes.
During the dozen or so days he’d been away, he hadn’t been able to eat or sleep properly. All he did was think about his wife and daughter. The longing had been so intense it felt like it was clawing at his insides. ’I’m never being separated from her like this again,’ he vowed to himself. ’This feeling is unbearable.’ Holding his wife and daughter now, he finally felt his heart settle. He felt grounded.
As the sky began to darken, Li Xiu finally released his wife. He looked down and saw that their daughter had fallen asleep. ’No wonder she’s been so quiet all afternoon.’ He was about to wake her, but Zhou Lian stopped him. "Let her sleep for a bit," she said. "We can wake her when dinner’s ready." Zhou Lian thought that with their daughter asleep, she and Li Xiu could cook together.
As it happened, Li Xiu understood her perfectly. He smiled, took her hand, and led her toward the kitchen, asking gently, "Bao’er, what do you want to eat? Your man is home. Tell me what you’re craving, and I’ll make it for you!"