Chapter Twelve Not at Peace

  The quiet town became lively with the arrival of New Year, people hung red lanterns, cut window flowers, posted spring couplets, set off firecrackers, made offerings, paid New Year's visits and visited relatives, wherever they went were people enjoying the festive atmosphere.

  All this has nothing to do with the New Year's Eve, she closed the door early. She packed dumplings by herself and stared blankly at the Spring Festival Gala on TV, the program was wonderful but couldn't lift her spirits, so she turned off the TV and went to sleep.

  This is the most desolate New Year's Eve since I grew up.

  Du Meiling was very angry at Luo Xingye's disdain for her. After returning home, she heard from her parents that Luo Xingye had also become an orphan. Hui Ye had been admitted to university but didn't attend, and even got into a fight while trying to earn money for his mother's medical treatment, ending up in jail. Her anger unknowingly transformed into resentment.

  At first when she went to school, the precocious her had a good impression of Luo Huiye, but that Luo Huiye was like a block of wood, unaware of the situation. The whole town knew that Xing Ye was just a burden brought by her mother, and yet Luo Huiye treated her better than her own sister. If it weren't for their family's circumstances, how could someone as good as Luo Huiye end up in such a predicament? She still dared to look down on herself with disdain.

  Thinking of my life is another wave of hatred, Luo Xingye, you mock me, if you were like me, could you still laugh?

  Staring at Du Meiling, who was sitting in front of her and talking loudly, she once again experienced the thickness of this woman's skin. Last time, she was clearly furious, but now she can still chat with her as if nothing had happened. Anyone with eyes could see that she didn't want to bother with her, yet Du Meiling seemed to feel nothing and came to find her again and again.

  "How are you going to spend your days from now on with no one to rely on?" Not seeing a response from Xing Ye, Du Meiling continued: "How about this? I can help you find a job at the company where I work?"

  She opened her eyes wide in the starry night, and indeed this was the real purpose of her repeated coldness, regardless of herself.

  Du Meiling saw Xing Ye and thought she was moved, so she covered up her inner joy and persuaded more: "Our company is a big company, if you go there, it's a high-end white-collar job, the salary is very high, do you know what white-collar means? That's the synonym for high-end employees. With your talent, sister, making several thousand yuan a month is no problem."

  "Nightclubs are also considered big companies, and being a hostess is also considered a high-end white-collar job. Ha! Such remarks are really refreshing." Xing Ye listened to her nonsense and couldn't help but retort.

  Du Meiling was suddenly frightened by Xing Ye's words and lost her smile, but she forced herself to say: "What did you mean by 'Miss' or not 'Miss', I don't understand. We're a foreign company, the treatment is good."

  "Don't you understand? Weren't you a hostess at the nightclub? A foreign company? Even the janitors at foreign companies need a college degree, and you didn't even finish high school. What can you do?"

  "How did you know? I..." Du Meiling's face turned red, and she immediately regretted saying the wrong thing, which was equivalent to indirectly admitting what Xing Ye had said.

  "If you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself. Haven't you heard that saying? Do you think just because Luo's village is far from the provincial city, no one will find out? Besides, looking at your outfit, even a clever person can guess roughly what's going on. People behind your back are already discussing it, and some people who aren't very bright get flattered by a few words and lose their bearings, yet they're still smug about it. It's laughable." Xing Ye's words were a bit harsh, but she believed in speaking to people according to their nature. To Du Mei Ling, she thought she was being quite polite.

  Du Meiling hasn't worn that skirt since she heard Xing Ye's comment about it. Although others might not know, she felt uncomfortable in her heart. Today, she wore a silver-gray open-necked coat with black tight-fitting pants and high-top black leather boots. Underneath was a black low-necked sweater with a mesh pattern, revealing a large patch of snow-white neck and a hint of collarbone. The exposed skin on this winter day was particularly eye-catching. If she dressed like this in the big city, people would only think it's fashionable and nothing more. But in this small town, people would likely think it's seductive, as Ah Po would say, "like a fox spirit".

  Du Meiling subconsciously pulled her coat tighter, and Xing Ye's words completely opened up her cover, revealing the worry and inferiority in her heart. Was it that someone had discovered herself in the provincial city? It couldn't be such a coincidence, could it?

  "I don't know who that big-mouthed person is talking nonsense with you, what a ridiculous thing!" Du Meiling retorted.

  "Spring Light Night Club", Xīn Yè just coldly said the name of the night club she was in, instantly leaving Dù Měi Líng speechless.

  The starry night's disdainful gaze knew that no matter how hard he tried to push it away, it was useless.

  "Sister, on a starry night..." Du Meiling didn't say anything, but tears fell first. "You don't know how much suffering I've endured these past few years. Without an education, I couldn't find work. Even when I was washing dishes and doing odd jobs at someone's restaurant, the boss would bully me. I had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill..."

  Xing Ye bluntly cut her off, "What you want to eat is your business, I'm not one to meddle in others' affairs, but you shouldn't be thinking of harming others. The job I'm introducing you to is the same as yours, we may not be related by blood or marriage, but we grew up in the same small town, what kind of heart do you have?"

  Xing Ye was getting angrier the more he spoke, while Du Mei Ling's heart was growing colder. She had thought that with a little coaxing and complaining, she could easily win him over, but before she knew it, she had gotten herself entangled in his words. At this point, she wiped away her tears and feigned surprise.

  "Sister Xingye, I wanted to help you, but I didn't have any ill intentions. I'm already miserable enough myself, how could I possibly harm you? I also..."

  Staring at her rapid change of face under the starry night, he thought to himself that this was the Du Meiling he knew.

  "Some words are better left unsaid, let's just stop here. You can go now, I won't tell anyone about your business, and don't come looking for me again."

  Xing Ye had a look of unwillingness to talk again, so Du Mei Ling could only walk away with a huff.

  Du Meiling was still afraid that Xing Ye would spread her business out, so she packed up and returned to the provincial city the next day. She didn't come back for several years, and later when she contacted her family by phone, she learned that they didn't know about her situation, only then did she confirm that Xing Ye really hadn't said anything, and once again proudly brought her boyfriend home for Chinese New Year.

  On the tenth day of the first month, Luo Sanbo brought the young couple Qingliang and his wife over. Both parties signed their names on the written agreement and paid 2,400 yuan in rent for two years at once.

  Xīn yè bǎ sì bǎi kuài yòu huán gěi le Qìng Liáng liǎng kǒu zǐ, zhǐ qiú tāmen zhào gù hǎo fáng zi, bùyào ràng tā pò bài le. Qìng Liáng liǎng kǒu zǐ běn jiù kàn Xīn yè bàn shì gān jìng lì luò, zhè yī lái gèng jué de shì gè shí chéng rén, mǎn xīn huān xǐ de dā yingguo lái, bǎo zhèng huì gēn zhào gù zì jǐ jiā yí yàng.

  The next morning, Xing Ye left the Luo family village with a simple luggage, without anyone seeing her off. She quietly got up early and cleaned the house again, locked the door and walked away without looking back.

  To take a bus, we have to go to the county town first, buy tickets at the station, and check the time. It's still quite rich, so I decided to go with Grandma Wang to another place tonight.

  Grandma Wang saw Xing Ye carrying luggage and knew she was going on a long trip. This time, she didn't know when she would be back. Thinking that she was just a young girl and it was her first time traveling alone, Grandma Wang couldn't help but worry about her. She repeatedly reminded Xing Ye to take care of herself, manage her finances well, and be careful around strangers...

  Xiao Ke knew that Xing Ye was going to leave, so he had been sulking with a small face and wasn't happy. Although Xing Ye repeatedly promised to come back and see him soon, Xiao Ke still sulked and didn't speak.

  It's getting late and I have no choice but to bid farewell and leave under the starry night sky.

  Xiao Ke quietly followed behind her, no matter how she persuaded him to go back, he wouldn't budge. Having no choice, Wang Nainai also accompanied them to the train station.

  Fortunately, Wang's home was not far from the train station, but just as she was about to check her ticket and enter the station, Xiao Hui suddenly hugged her waist and burst into loud sobs.

  "Sister Xīnyè, don't leave like mom and never come back."

  Xīng yè míng bái le xiǎo kuì de jiū jié, rén men yì zhí gào su tā, tā mā ma shì chū yuǎn mén le, zài tā de yìn xiàng lǐ chū yuǎn mén jiù huì bú huílái, xiǎo kuì hài pà zì jǐ yě huì hé tā mā ma yí yàng, xiāo shī zài tā de shēng huó lǐ.

  "Xiao Kai, I won't be like your mom and not come back. I'm just going to the provincial city for a trip. You stay at home and study well. When you grow up to be a man, grandma and I will still need you to protect us, understand?"

  Xiao Ke looked up at the starry night with a pair of tear-stained big eyes, and the starry night sincerely smiled back at him.

  "Sister, I promise." Xiaohui said seriously.

  "Alright, I promise I'll be back soon to see Xiaokui." Xing Ye said with equal seriousness.

  When Xing Ye's figure disappeared at the ticket gate, Xiao Kai was still waving goodbye to her with tears streaming down his face.

  The destination of Xīnyè's journey was not his grandfather's home, but a provincial city three hundred miles away, where there were relatives he wanted to see even more.

  Brother, I've come to see you.