Yonghe Road

Chapter 77 Ran away
"You are a big star now. There are so many people who care about you. How can it be my turn?" Wang Zian said jokingly.

After hearing what Wang Zian said, Chunshui stood up and said goodbye in disappointment.

Wang Zian did not send her back to Yonghe New District. He and clerk Xiaoliang had to go to the city's Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau and Design Institute. The village was going to build a research and study base that integrated white tea culture and red education, and there were many matters to communicate.

As for Chunshui, Wang Zian felt that some things, especially the conflicts with his family, were better handled by Chunshui himself.

"I have to go to the city during the day. When I come back in the evening, I will invite you to have dinner at the village restaurant." Wang Zian said.

Chunshui left without saying anything.

From a distance, I finally saw the four big words "Yonghe New District".

A powerful, dignified Yan style calligraphy is engraved on a massive white marble plaque that adorns the gatehouse. The gatehouse is surrounded by exquisite relief carvings, featuring auspicious dragon and phoenix motifs, as well as floral designs symbolizing good fortune and prosperity. In the sunlight, the four characters "Yonghe New District" shimmer with golden light, highlighting the nobility and uniqueness of this villa complex and creating a powerful visual impact on those approaching.

Chunshui was already standing under the gatehouse. The faint fragrance of flowers drifted out from the villa area with the wind, making people feel calm and peaceful.

Chunshui looked up and looked inside, and saw that the environment of the entire villa area was quiet and elegant, with shady trees and colorful flowers. Villas were scattered around in an orderly manner, with some European elegance and luxury, while others were smooth and fashionable in modern simplicity. The architectural styles were diverse but harmonious and unified.

Chunshui walked in and saw the roads within the villa complex were clean and tidy, and each streetlight was exquisitely designed. The leisure area featured exquisite benches, pavilions, and fitness facilities. It was clear that everything here exuded a unique country villa style and a high-quality lifestyle, truly incomparable to the former Chang'an New Street.

In the past, when Secretary Lao Wang mobilized the whole village to move to the villa area, Chunshui was particularly tempted. Unfortunately, his family could not afford the difference in price at that time, so he could only feel itchy.

Several villagers approached, men and women, some speaking Mandarin, some the She ethnic group's dialect, some their local dialect, a strange harmony. They were all from the same village, so Chunshui naturally recognized them. But as they passed, only Huang Yunzhi stopped, turned to look at her, and murmured, "Is this Chunshui from Old Zhong's family?"

Chunshui quickened his pace and walked forward.

At this moment, I understand what it means to be "homesick".

Everyone looked at Chunshui's back and said that Huang Yunzhi had recognized the wrong person. Such a fashionable beauty was obviously a city girl, how could it be Chunshui?

"Chun Shui is a big star now, of course she is as fashionable as the girls in the city..." Huang Yunzhi defended.

"Yeah, now that she's a big star, why would she come back to the village? She doesn't even contact Huifang."

"Huifang has such a bad life. Her husband is like that, her daughter is like that, and her son is like that..."

The voices of people's discussions drifted away with the wind. Chunshui followed the house numbers given by Wang Zian and searched for each villa one by one, but he couldn't stop his worries.

For the mother, the death of her husband was a devastating loss; the daughter's rebelliousness and the constant mother-daughter clashes were certainly unpleasant, but the son... what could the son do? The two older brothers were considered good sons to their mother, especially Zhong Ziwang. As the eldest son, he shouldered so much for their mother. Therefore, even though Chunshui often resented her mother, she never blamed this older brother.

A familiar figure was squatting on the roadside not far ahead.

He was watching ants on the ground with a few other children.

yes, Sir.

Chunshui smiled, a tender feeling of familial affection rising from the depths of her heart, prompting her to walk over. Just then, a mischievous child caught a caterpillar from nowhere and placed it around Zhong Ziwang's neck. Zhong Ziwang jumped in fright, a look of terror on his face, making whining sounds as he scratched at his neck, trying to get the caterpillar off. The surrounding children erupted in laughter, some even clapping and cheering.

Chunshui was puzzled by Zhong Ziwang's strange behavior. She walked over quickly and helped him take the caterpillar off his neck. When she was about to throw it at the culprit, Huang Yunzhi's voice came over: "Chunshui, Chunshui——"

The naughty child was Huang Yunzhi's child.

Huang Yunzhi ran back to confirm whether the modern girl was Chunshui.

Confirmed now.

She asked the child to apologize to Chunshui. Chunshui sternly asked Huang Yunzhi's child to apologize to Zhong Ziwang. Huang Yunzhi said, "Ziwang won't understand even if we apologize to him..."

Huang Yunzhi's words were strange. Chunshui couldn't help but look back at Zhong Ziwang. He stood there, stamping his feet nervously, clenching and unclenching his fists, unclenching and clenching again...

"What happened to my eldest brother?"

Chunshui asked Huang Yunzhi in disbelief. She had already noticed that something was wrong with Zhong Ziwang. Zhong Ziwang was clearly a fool now.

……

……

Wang Zian visited the city's housing and construction departments and several design institutes before returning to Baile Village. It was past lunchtime. He drove back to Yonghe New District, got out of the car, and headed straight for the Zhong family's house.

An afternoon was enough time for Chunshui to talk it out with his family.

There is no need to worry about Zhong Ziqi, as he will not embarrass Chunshui; Zhong Ziwang has become a child with the intelligence of a three-year-old, so Chunshui does not need to open her heart to him, as he is just Huifang.

Wang Zian remained optimistic. Huifang and Chunshui were mother and daughter, after all. How could they harbor any lasting hatred? Huifang's preference for sons over daughters had been a factor in their past conflicts, but ultimately, it was all about money. If Huifang had money, she wouldn't have to rely on Chunshui to support her son, and Chunshui wouldn't resent her so much.

Now that the Zhong family's financial situation has improved and Chunshui has become famous, they are no longer short of money, so the conflict is easily resolved.

When Wang Zian entered the Zhong family home, he didn't see the ideal scene of a loving mother and filial daughter. Chunshui wasn't even there. Ziqi wasn't there either. Only Huifang was sitting at the dinner table, feeding Ziwang.

"Auntie, Chunshui is back, right?" Wang Zian walked in with a smile.

Huifang looked up at him, a pang of sadness welling up in her heart. Wang Zian had been well-behaved and sensible since childhood, never needing Secretary Wang to worry about anything. Even now, as the village secretary, he was always friendly and courteous when speaking to the villagers, even more so than when his father was secretary. Huifang could never raise a son like him.

She didn't ask for her child to be outstanding, just safe and sound. But even this simple wish couldn't be fulfilled.

Zhong Ziwang wailed for another mouthful of rice. Huifang bit off a spoonful of rice and fed it to him. Then she turned around and replied to Wang Zian, "Yes, Chunshui is back."

"What about her?"

"She ran away again. Ziqi went to chase her." Huifang smiled bitterly and sighed softly.