Yonghe Road

Chapter 83 Wedding Invitation
"In the eyes of the people in Baile Village and my mother, I must be extremely unfilial and selfish. But why can my mother and my brothers be selfish, but I can't?"

Chunshui looked at the village with a confused look, and told his thoughts like peeling a cocoon, revealing his heart to Wang Zian bit by bit.

"From childhood to adulthood, my brothers have had the right and opportunity to make mistakes, but I don't. I must be obedient and sensible. If my brothers had made the same mistake, it would be excusable and forgivable, but if it were me, it would be unforgivable. Just because I'm a girl, I can't make mistakes, I can't be selfish, otherwise I would be guilty of a thousand deaths. Brother Zi'an, believe it or not, if my life can be exchanged for my eldest brother's health, will my mother force me to do it? I don't accept it. I may be a girl, but I'm also a person. I can make mistakes, I'm not sensible, I'm selfish, so what? Is that not okay?"

Tears flowed from Chunshui's eyes and could not be stopped.

Wang Zian wiped them away for her one by one and said, "Chunshui, what others think of you is not important, what matters is how you think of yourself. Although you say that you are a human being and you have the right to make mistakes, you should make mistakes like a man, but in your heart you don't really agree. You got into trouble, and you are more painful than anyone else. In fact, it is not your mother who blames you, but yourself. You don't recognize that you are a mediocre person with insufficient ability, and you don't accept that your arrogant self can fail. You originally thought that you would make a name for yourself with great success, but you were slapped in the face by reality... Now, the person who doesn't accept and looks down on you is you, Chunshui."

Chunshui's heart trembled, and she turned to look at Wang Zian in disbelief. Through the mist of tears, Wang Zian's smile was always warm and calm, just like the impression he had given her since she was a child.

If only he were her parent or brother.

He was the most tolerant person in the world towards her, even more tolerant of her than she was of herself. He accepted her frankness and honesty, as well as her shortcomings and flaws.

Only in front of him, Chunshui's irritability and anxiety will be smoothed out. It seems that only in front of him can Chunshui be a good person.

Who doesn’t like a beautiful self?
Chunshui finally understood the real reason why she liked getting along with Wang Zian since she was a child. She liked him because he could represent the whole world in accepting the truest version of her.

For Chunshui, the world of maternal love is narrow, leaving little room for her. She can't squeeze in, nor does she bother trying. Praised care is worth less than grass, let alone the lack of it. Faced with the rigid barriers of gender, how could she expect Huifang to favor her? She couldn't even hope for fairness, only a tiny bit of handouts from the corners. And the little bit of maternal love Huifang offered her was tinged with utilitarianism, a desire to maximize benefits and care for her sons.

There are many happy girls in this world. They have sufficient selfless love and even favoritism from their parents, but Chunshui is an unfortunate person. She has few relatives in this life. The world has no right to blame Chunshui for her paranoia, nor does it have the right to demand that a daughter who does not get maternal love must repay evil with kindness.

But perhaps only Prince An is willing to understand and support this truth.

If it weren't for her dream-chasing journey, which had dug a huge hole of debt into her life, Chunshui would have given Wang Zian the ribbon she had woven herself. This was a token of love used by She ethnic girls to express their admiration. But now, she could no longer give it to him...

Chunshui felt regretful and disheartened, and the whole world seemed dim and dim in her eyes.

But suddenly her waist felt loose, and Chunshui looked down to see that it was Wang Zian who had gently untied her belt. He carefully took the colorful ribbon in his hand and said, "Think of it as a gift from you to me."

Chunshui's throat was dry and his voice was hoarse. "Brother Zi'an, do you know what the meaning of the ribbons given by us She women is?"

"know."

The two words "simple" stirred up thousands of waves in Chunshui's heart, each wave was turbulent.

"But Brother Zi'an, I owe..."

Wang Zian held Chunshui's hand, looked around at the entire Baile Village, and said, "Chunshui, as long as the green mountains remain, there will be no worries about lack of firewood."

Wang Zian had said this to Chunshui more than once. Saying it again at this moment sounded like hope and a promise, which made Chunshui's floating heart suddenly settle down, like a plane that had been bumping in the clouds and finally landed smoothly.

At the end of the year, Baile Village received good news - the "Golden Phoenix" Children's Choir of Baile Village Primary School stood out after fierce competition in the National Youth Chorus Exhibition and won the first prize in the ethnic minority team group with the highest score in the group.

Media outlets across the city, and even provincial media, reported the incident, including photos of the choir's competition. The beautiful female teacher in a fiery red phoenix costume who served as the conductor was none other than Zhong Chunshui.

In addition to the leaders of the city’s propaganda department and school teachers, Wang Zian also accompanied the children to Beijing to participate in the competition.

Walking on the streets of the capital again, looking at the familiar yet slightly unfamiliar streets of the capital, Chunshui felt mixed emotions.

Once upon a time, she was a famous singer here. The spotlight on the stage shone for her alone, and the cheers of fans surrounded her like waves. The peasant girl from the village became famous overnight, which made her proud and arrogant. The feeling of being the center of attention made her feel that the whole world was at her feet.

Later, her career suffered setbacks, and the halo that once surrounded her vanished in an instant. Instead, she was surrounded and attacked by the whole world, taking advantage of her misfortune. Endless loneliness and confusion forced her to flee here and return to her hometown, where she fell into self-doubt and depression. Like a rudderless boat, she drifted in the sea of suffering and lost her direction...

For young people, the capital is a place brimming with opportunities and challenges. Its vast stage and boundless possibilities attract countless young people with dreams. It can be a place where overnight success can be achieved, but it can also bring one to the bottom of the world in an instant.

Its stage is charming and full of temptation, but also cruel and merciless. It can instantly bring about miracles, but it can also swallow up a person's life and hope in an instant...

When I revisit my old place, things have changed and people have changed.

Chunshui clearly felt that she was no longer the same person she used to be. After this incident, she had calmed down and grown.

More importantly, having Wang Zian by her side makes her feel at ease.

Together they took the children from the choir for a stroll on the streets, treated them to various authentic Beijing delicacies such as douzhi, jiaoquan and donkey rolls, and took them to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony. Then the teachers took the children to visit the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, while the two of them went to Houhai to spend some time alone. They rented a small boat, paddled slowly in the lake, letting the breeze caress their faces, and quietly admired the weeping willows and ancient buildings by the lake, until the night deepened, the lights became bright, and another night full of dreams, desires and ambitions fell.

"A friend is inviting us to dinner tonight." After abandoning the boat and going ashore, Wang Zian said to Chunshui.

Chunshui was surprised that Wang Zian also had friends in the capital.

"Are they your comrades in the army?"

Wang Zian shook his head, thought for a moment and said, "She's your second brother's ex-girlfriend, I guess."

She is also someone he holds close to his heart, but there is no need to talk about this anymore.

Wang Zian and Zhong Chunshui were picked up by a luxury car and taken to the Liang Family Courtyard in Lihua Village. This farmhouse combines canopy camping, picking, farm-style cuisine, and KTV. Having just been fully renovated, the entire environment appears stylish and simple.

When Wang Zian and Zhong Chunshui arrived, Xie Anmin had already asked the owner of the courtyard to serve the courtyard's special dishes.

"I really like the Liang Family Courtyard's silver carp stewed in a pear wood pot, the braised pork elbow in wood-fired sauce, and the oversized farmhouse pancakes," Xie Anmin said with a smile as he invited Wang Zian and Zhong Chunshui to sit down. "I used to prefer Western food, but after living in Baile Village for over a year, my Chinese taste has been rekindled. Since returning to the capital, I've been searching for farmhouse restaurants with all kinds of farm-style flavors, but I haven't found any restaurants that sell She ethnic snacks yet..."

Wang Zian said, "There is a long way to go. Next time you come to our Baile Village, Chunshui and I will treat you to a meal. You helped so much with Chunshui's matter. Chunshui and I haven't thanked you properly yet." After Xie Anmin returned to the capital, he found a team of lawyers and connected with Chunshui's original agency team and the partners that Chunshui had endorsed. After extremely difficult negotiations, they finally reached an agreement. Although the partners terminated the contract with Chunshui, they would not pursue Chunshui's liability for compensation through legal means for the time being. Although Chunshui was burdened with debts, at least it did not have to go to court and be executed.

As for the penalty owed, just pay it back slowly.

Right now, repaying the debt is the primary task of Wang Zian and Zhong Chunshui, so they do not have the extra financial resources to express their gratitude to Xie Anmin in a material way. Xie Anmin does not need it either, so she just asks Wang Zian and Zhong Chunshui to lend her wine to thank her.

After drinking the thank you wine from Wang Zian and Zhong Chunshui, Xie Anmin said, "I'm afraid I won't have the chance to go to Baile Village again. I'm going abroad."

Xie Anmin has been processing immigration procedures for some time, and now it is finally settled.

This news was a surprise to Wang Zian. There was silence at the table for a minute. After about a minute, Wang Zian asked Xie Anmin, "Does Ziqi know?"

The lights in the private room were both bright and dim, making Xie Anmin's expression gloomy. Only her voice could be heard faintly: "Boya, please apologize to Ziqi for me."

For Xie Anmin, Baile Village is just a stop in her wonderful life, and Zhong Ziqi is just a passer-by in her life. But for Zhong Ziqi, Xie Anmin is an unforgettable person in his life.

Xie Anmin knew this gap, the inequality between them in this relationship, and even in society. Like a spoiled little girl who snatches a beloved toy from someone else and then discards it after playing with it, Xie Anmin felt a sense of guilt towards Zhong Ziqi. Therefore, she couldn't tell Zhong Ziqi to break up in person, and she didn't even dare to say "I'm sorry" to him in person. Instead, she simply downplayed the separation and tried to escape quietly.

In fact, Zi Qi had already foreseen the ending and had already accepted it.

Wang Zian should understand Zhong Ziqi.

At this moment, Xie Anmin said so, and he also answered readily: "Okay."

So, that night, in the Liang family courtyard, Xie Anmin called out her fiancé, met with Wang Zian and Zhong Chunshui, and told them that they had planned to get married and settle down abroad.

It was her fiancé, and also her first love. After many twists and turns, it was still this person, the starting point and the end point, forming a perfect circle. When Xie Anmin's fiancé sang "The Pig Who Lost His Happiness" in the private room, Wang Zian looked at the silhouette and saw an uncanny resemblance to Zhong Ziqi, and couldn't help but laugh. It turned out to be a literary stand-in.

Zhong Ziqi had already learned the song "The Pig Who Lost His Happiness", but unfortunately he never had the chance to sing it to Xie Anmin.

When Wang Zian and Zhong Chunshui returned triumphantly with the children of the "Golden Phoenix" choir, Zhong Ziqi prepared a welcoming banquet. The three of them took turns singing "The Pig Who Lost His Happiness" in a private room at the KTV. When it was Zhong Chunshui's turn, Zhong Ziqi toasted Wang Zian with a glass of wine and said, "President Ji Tong has helped Chunshui get a job opportunity. It's up to you to decide whether to tell Chunshui or not."

Wang Zian's gaze drifted towards the singing girl. She was singing the song with deep emotion. Because this was Wang Zian's favorite song, she sang with great devotion and intoxication.

She is a natural singer.

Wang Zian admired in his heart, but his brows were furrowed.

……

……

In the spring just after the New Year, Baile Village is filled with the breath of the New Year. The breeze blows gently, carrying the fragrance of the soil and the sweet scent of flower buds about to bloom.

At the doorstep of Yonghe New District, just like that year when he sent her north to pursue her dreams, Wang Zian once again handed the suitcase he had carried all the way to Zhong Chunshui.

The only difference is that the last time it was done secretly, this time it was done openly, under the watchful eyes of Zhong Ziqi.

Zhong Chunshui raised her head slightly and looked at Wang Zian, tears glistening in her eyes.

Thanks to President Ji Tong, a new agency is willing to sign Zhong Chunshui, and the wings of his dream can fly again. Although it is unknown how high and far these wings, which have been broken once, can fly, Zhong Chunshui cannot back down.

She once gave the choice to Wang Zian.

In fact, Wang Zian asked her to join Baile Village's e-commerce business these days. Thanks to live streaming and selling goods, she has gradually earned a good income, and paying off her debts is not far away. But Wang Zian said that paying off debts is reality, and singing is her dream, and reality must give way to dreams.

Chunshui wanted to pursue her dreams, but she knew that she couldn't have both. If she embarked on a new journey to pursue her dreams, she would lose Wang Zian completely, because she couldn't expect him to wait for her forever in Baile Village. Wang Zian was no longer a child. He had parents and his own worldly responsibilities. Marrying and having children was his obligation, his obligation to his parents, and the inescapable constraints of a rural youth.

Wang Zian has already made a choice for her, and also for himself.

"Go, take care of yourself." Wang Zian waved to Zhong Chunshui. There was reluctance in his eyes, but his smile was still bright.

"I can't give you the happiness you want, so I choose to withdraw. Because I love you, I let you choose a better destination..."

Chunshui sang the song "The Pig Who Lost His Happiness" to Wang Zian once again. Afterward, she took a deep breath, turned, and without looking back, stepped into the car waiting for her on the roadside. This car would take her to Longwan Airport, where she would once again fly to the capital—a bustling center large enough to accommodate all dreams, desires, and ambitions.

Wang Zian stood where he was, silently watching the car slowly start up and drive away.

There were footsteps behind me, it was Zhong Ziqi walking towards me.

Their eyes met, and in each other's eyes there were blessings for Chunshui, but also a loneliness that was hard to conceal.

The world is big, and love is only a part of a wonderful life, not all of it. Although they did not get the perfect ending of lovers finally getting married, fortunately someone got it.

A small car drove towards them and stopped in front of them. The window rolled down, and Lei Sheng, who was in the driver's seat, poked his head out. He handed them two invitations and said, "Next month, Yingying and I are having our wedding. Remember to come and have a nice red envelope!"

Before Wang Zian and Zhong Ziqi could come to their senses, they each had a bright red wedding invitation in their hands, and Lei Sheng had already driven away.

Wang Zian and Zhong Ziqi smiled at each other and decided to go to the tea factory to work overtime, try to get more orders this month, and give Lei Sheng a bigger red envelope next month.