1 Back to 19

Clang—

Jinhua looked at the ancient well in front of her. The iron basin in her hands fell to the ground, causing the dirty clothes to scatter all over the ground.

Sunlight shone down from the lush magnolia trees above, leaving mottled shadows on the ground.

Jinhua's eyes stung as she looked at this familiar scene.

She was back. Back to when she was 19-years-old.

At this moment, she had yet to meet Rong Zihao and had yet to come into contact with the jade industry. She was just an ordinary university student.

Feng Mingfang came out of the house when she heard the sound. Seeing her standing by the well in a daze, she shouted, "Wretched girl, you're so clumsy when it comes to washing clothes. What can you do?!"

Hearing that incomparably familiar voice in her memory, Jinhua's tears that she had just held back instantly broke through her defenses. They flowed out of her eyes as she turned around and ran towards Feng Mingfang, hugging her tightly without letting go.

"Wuwu, Mom…"

Feng Mingfang was frightened by her sudden behavior. "W-what's wrong? I just asked you to wash some clothes. Is there a need to be like this?"

It was March right now, the season of renewal. Smelling the fragrance of Feng Mingfang's washing powder, Jinhua felt a simple and steady feeling in her heart.

Her parents had divorced when she was very young, and she had always lived with her mother. When she thought about how Feng Mingfang had almost cried her eyes out after she died in her previous life, and how her originally healthy body would deteriorate rapidly and pass away in a few years, Jinhua's heart ached so much that she could not breathe.

"Mom, I'm sorry. It's my fault for disappointing you. I won't be stupid anymore."

Feng Mingfang pulled her out of her arms in disdain and wiped the wet patches on her body. "What nonsense are you talking about? Look at how useless you are. You're crying for me just to be lazy and get out of washing the clothes?"

"No, no. I'll wash the clothes immediately."

Hearing her nagging, Jinhua smiled through her tears and turned to walk towards the well.

"That's right. The tears of girls are all beads of gold. Don't cry so easily."

Feng Mingfang returned to the kitchen to continue preparing her vegetables. From time to time, she would look at Jinhua in the courtyard through the window. There was a smile on her face as she instructed, "In front of someone who cares about you, your tears are gold. Their heart would ache for even a drop.

If I didn't care about you, your tears would be cheaper than the water released from the tap. It would be useless even if you cried your heart out."

"Got it, Mom."

The more Jinhua listened, the more her heart ached. In her previous life, her mother had also said these words to her. At that time, she had been forced to hide and cry by Rong Zihao.

At that time, everyone thought that she was dating Rong Zihao. Actually, she was forced by that crazy person and was unwilling to do so at all.

Later on, she suppressed herself too much. She seemed to have fallen ill and felt that as long as she treated Rong Zihao well, she would be able to live more easily and regain her freedom.

In the end, she was ground down again and again and forcefully twisted into a sacrificial personality by him.

She felt that his background was pitiful and she thought that she could save him and change him.

In fact, she had done it, but she had also paid a heavy price.

Her tears were cheaper than running water in front of Rong Zihao.

She thought of the man who risked everything to go against Rong Zihao for her. Because of her, he was abandoned by everyone, his career collapsed, and he became crazy. In the end, he died in a mental hospital.

Jinhua's heart skipped a beat. She threw the clothes back into the basin and quickly washed the bubbles off her hands before running out the door. "Mom, I'm going out for a while. I'll come back later to wash them."

"Hey, where are you going? It's time to eat…" Feng Mingfang leaned on the windowsill and shouted.

Jinhua's voice came along with the sound of the courtyard door closing. "I'll be back soon."

"You're always so energetic. When will you grow up…" Feng Mingfang sighed and continued to prepare the vegetables.

Jinhua's house was in an alley. It had corniced corridors, red walls, and green tiles. The ground was made of large limestone slabs.

The houses here had been passed down for more than a thousand years. They were intangible cultural heritage that the country had specifically protected. They could only be renovated and not rebuilt, so as far as the eye could see, the retro style here was very strong.

It was time for dinner. The fragrance of food came from every house, and smoke curled up from the chimneys.

A group of children was chasing and playing in the alley. It was very lively. When they saw her pass by, they shouted happily, "Sister Hua, Sister Hua…"

The long-awaited voices and scenes filled Jinhua's senses, moving her heart.

There were many children in the alley, and she often carried some sweets with her.

She touched her pocket and indeed found a few candies. Jinhua smiled and distributed them to everyone. "Be good, go and play."

"Thank you, Sister Hua."

As she watched them run away cheering, Jinhua was also infected by their bright smiles and innocence.

Jian Huaiyu's house was not far from hers. It was two alleys away and she arrived in a few minutes.

His family was also divorced. Their parents have been raising their children alone and had a lot of common topics. Mother Jian was especially close to her mother.

She had rushed over in a hurry, but when she reached the door, Jinhua suddenly didn't know if she should go in.

What should she say when they meet?

She couldn't possibly hug him and cry like she was hugging Feng Mingfang, right?

How awkward would that be…

At this moment, Jian Huaiyu might not have any feelings for her at all. He was no different from the ordinary neighbors around her.

In her previous life, after she died, her soul did not dissipate and stayed in this world for a long time.

If not for that, she would not have known that Jian Huaiyu cared so much about her.

Just now, she had come over with an excited and anxious mood. But if she showed it too obviously, would it disturb the existing peace?

In any case, there was still time. She would come to him again when she had a good excuse.

After making up her mind, Jinhua heaved a sigh of relief and prepared to leave.

However, just as she turned around, she saw Jian Huaiyu carrying a shopping bag behind her.

The young man was tall and slender. His facial features were upright, and the lines on his face were gentle. He was clean and handsome. He had the image of a gentle big brother next door.

Jinhua was shocked. "Jian Huaiyu! You, why are you here?"

Shouldn't he be at home?

"My mother asked me to buy some soy sauce. I just came back from your family's supermarket." Jian Huaiyu showed her the shopping bag in his hand, but his gaze was locked on her face. "Were you crying?"

"Ah? No…"

Jinhua lowered her eyes in panic and noticed that the shopping bag in his hand was indeed from her supermarket.

Feng Mingfang rented a shop on Xingnan Street and opened a small supermarket. The mother and daughter were now relying on the income from the supermarket to survive.

They went home for their meals everyday. There were shop assistants watching over the supermarket.

"Then send it to Auntie. I'll go back first."

"Wait." Jian Huaiyu stopped her and asked persistently, "Why were you crying?"

"No… nothing."

Jinhua did not expect his eyes to be so sharp. She had only cried for less than three minutes. Was it that obvious?

Seeing that she was unwilling to say it, Jian Huaiyu changed the question. "You wanted to talk to me?"

Mother Jian seemed to have heard his voice and shouted in the house, "Is Huaiyu back? Hurry up and bring the soy sauce over. It's waiting to be used."

"Alright," Jian Huaiyu replied loudly. Then, he looked at her. "Come in and talk."