Lin Suzhen was nearly seventy, her hair a crown of silver. Her back was slightly stooped with age, making her much shorter than Zhuang Zi'ang. Her gaze, as she looked up at her grandson, was filled with tender affection.
"Zi'ang, if your father bullies you again, you tell Grandma. Grandma will set him straight."
Zhuang Zi'ang nodded, tears in his eyes. "Okay, I know, Grandma. Thank you."
In reality, in Zhuang Wenzhao's eyes, his parents were old and senile. He wouldn't listen to a word they said.
"Little Butterfly, welcome to our home," Lin Suzhen said with a warm smile to Su Yudiel. "Are you and our Zi'ang... dating?"
Su Yudiel's cheeks flushed. "No, Grandma, we're just good friends."
Zhuang Jianguo feigned sternness. "You silly old woman! The kids are still in school!"
Lin Suzhen quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I'm just an old country woman. I don't know how to talk properly."
"It's okay, Grandma," Su Yudiel said, her heart pounding like a startled fawn. She stole a gnce at Zhuang Zi'ang.
Zhuang Zi'ang was feeling incredibly heavy-hearted. He was afraid that the higher his grandparents' hopes, the greater their disappointment would be in the future. But the two elderly people were overjoyed, already treating Little Butterfly as their future granddaughter-in-w.
The small courtyard was kept exceptionally clean. The sounds of chickens and dogs, along with the fragrance of melons and fruits, filled the air, creating a peaceful, pastoral atmosphere.
After welcoming Zhuang Zi'ang and Little Butterfly inside, the two elderly people busied themselves, pouring tea and offering fruit.
"Little Butterfly, make yourself at home. Don't be shy."
"Zi'ang, don't just stand there. Peel some fruit for Little Butterfly."
"What dishes do you like? Let your grandma cook them for you."
...
It was just past ten in the morning, still some time before lunch. The four of them sat in the living room, watching TV. Knowing his grandparents' preferences, Zhuang Zi'ang tuned in to an opera channel.
The TV was pying the Yue opera "The Butterfly Lovers" (梁祝). As one of the four great folk love stories of China, the tale of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai was known to everyone. Many opera genres had adapted this story, with the Yue opera version being the most famous, boasting a history of over half a century.
Zhuang Zi'ang lowered his voice and said to Little Butterfly, "Young people don't usually like this kind of thing. Just bear with it for a while, to keep them company."
Little Butterfly, however, looked engrossed. "I think it's quite good!"
Zhuang Zi'ang smiled, assuming she was just being polite. After all, the 咿咿呀呀 (yī yī ya ya - onomatopoeic sounds representing the characteristic singing style of traditional Chinese opera) of traditional opera was far removed from the mainstream aesthetic of today's youth. It would be hard to find even one true opera aficionado among a hundred young people.
Back in music css, Zhuang Zi'ang had heard his music teacher introduce the violin concerto "The Butterfly Lovers," and he vaguely remembered sections like "Meeting at the Thatched Bridge," "Eighteen Miles Send-off," "Yingtai's Resistance to the Marriage," and "Transformation into Butterflies at the Grave."
The opera pying on TV was nearing its end. Zhuang Zi'ang kept stealing gnces at Su Yudiel and noticed that she was watching intently, her foot occasionally tapping to the rhythm of the music. She wasn't just going through the motions; she was genuinely engaged.
When the scene came where the deeply in love Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai transformed into butterflies, fluttering together in the air, Su Yudiel was moved to tears.
Zhuang Jianguo and Lin Suzhen were both surprised. How could this little girl be so moved by just watching an opera?
Zhuang Zi'ang took a tissue and gently wiped away Su Yudiel's tears.
"Big Dummy, can people really turn into butterflies after they die?" Su Yudiel asked, her voice choked with sobs.
"Yes, they can. They can be free and carefree, fluttering among the flowers every day," Zhuang Zi'ang answered softly.
If death meant becoming a cold corpse, buried in the ground, eaten by insects and worms, and finally turning into a pile of bones, it would be too cruel and ruthless, albeit realistic. That's why the ancients, with their romantic and fantastical imaginations, gave Liang and Zhu the beautiful ending of transforming into butterflies.
Zhuang Zi'ang looked into Su Yudiel's tear-filled eyes and thought to himself, In the not-too-distant future, when I die and turn into a butterfly, resting on your hair, will you recognize me?
But butterflies had short lifespans, usually less than a month. As the saying went, "The morning mushroom knows nothing of the waxing and waning of the moon; the summer cicada knows nothing of spring and autumn." (朝菌不知晦朔，蟪蛄不知春秋 - meaning some beings have such short lifespans that they cannot comprehend longer periods of time.)
In the vastness of the universe, humans were truly as insignificant as dust. In just over two months, his love, hate, joy, and sorrow would all fade into nothingness.
Little Butterfly, when that time comes, please forget me quickly!
As lunchtime approached, Lin Suzhen went to the kitchen to cook. Su Yudiel refused to be idle and insisted on helping her with the fire. In the rural earthen stove, dry firewood was added, and the fmes roared, illuminating her face with a rosy glow.
Zhuang Jianguo couldn't stop praising Little Butterfly. What a well-behaved and sensible girl she was.
Su Yudiel, having recovered from her earlier sadness, said enthusiastically, "Grandpa, Grandma, if you like listening to opera, I can sing for you."
"You can sing opera?" Lin Suzhen asked in surprise.
"I couldn't before, but after hearing that opera just now, I can sing it," Su Yudiel said with a smile.
Zhuang Zi'ang was also quite surprised. "Could you be one of those rare musical prodigies who can remember anything after just one hearing?"
Little Butterfly cleared her throat and began to sing, "I called for Brother Liang, but he didn't answer. Yingtai's heart feels like it's pierced by an arrow. Your sorrow and regret will st for eternity. How can I, alone and solitary, go on living? We swore an oath to each other by the sea and mountains, for as long as the earth sts, and the sky is old, we will never part..." (我叫梁兄兄不应，英台好比箭穿心，你多愁多恨成千古，我形单影只何以生，我与你海誓山盟生前订，地老天荒永不分…… - Lyrics from the Yue opera "The Butterfly Lovers".)
Her intonation and lyrics were exactly the same as what they had just heard on TV. The two elderly people were beaming with joy. Such a lively and adorable granddaughter-in-w was truly a delight.
After Little Butterfly finished singing, Zhuang Zi'ang asked curiously, "Have you learned this opera before?"
Little Butterfly shook her head. "No, that was the first time I heard it."
"You learned it after hearing it just once?" Zhuang Zi'ang was stunned.
"Of course. Can't you do it? Don't you always get first pce in your grade? You can't be that dumb, can you?" Little Butterfly asked with a smile.
Zhuang Zi'ang was speechless. It seemed there was some truth to her calling him "Big Dummy."
A thought suddenly struck Zhuang Zi'ang. If he took Little Butterfly to hear the old swindler py "Dreaming of the Butterfly" once, could she write down the musical score? Then, they could py it together, a beautiful duet. How wonderful would that be?
Food cooked over a wood fire always tasted better than food cooked with natural gas in the city. Lin Suzhen had spent a lifetime cooking over a stove, and her culinary skills were exceptional. The dishes she prepared, with their enticing colors, aromas, and fvors, made Little Butterfly drool, her foodie nature fully revealed.
The two elderly people lived frugally, usually making do with a single simple dish for a meal. But today was different. Lin Suzhen was especially happy and had prepared six dishes and a chicken soup.
At the dinner table, Little Butterfly excimed with delight, "This smells so good! Grandma, your cooking is amazing!"
Lin Suzhen picked out two chicken drumsticks and gave one to each of the children. "Zi'ang, this chicken is from Old Lady Xu next door. The chickens Grandma raised will be ready in a few months. When summer vacation comes, you must bring Little Butterfly back again."
Zhuang Zi'ang hung his head low, biting his lower lip tightly, not knowing how to respond. Grandpa, Grandma, I'm so sorry, I'm truly sorry!
I won't have the chance.
