My Taoist nun girlfriend is from the Republic of China era, 1942.

Chapter 193 My First Farewell

Time flies, and Qingming Festival is just around the corner.

A light drizzle fell, shrouding the cemetery on the outskirts of Jiangcheng in a misty rain.

Lu Yuan and his family of three stood quietly in front of the two tombstones, holding umbrellas.

New green grass had sprouted beside the tombstone. Lu Yang knelt on the prayer mat and, imitating the adults, respectfully kowtowed three times.

Chen Xiaomiao was burning paper money beside her, the firelight reflecting off her face as she muttered to herself.

"Dad, Mom, we're moving to the capital. It'll be far away, and we might not be able to come back to see you as often... Take care over there, don't worry about us..."

"Yangyang has grown up and is very sensible..."

On the way back, Lu Yang remained quiet.

But when he turned into the residential area and saw a "Quick Moving" truck parked downstairs, his heart sank slightly.

The day arrived much sooner than he had anticipated.

Chen Xiaomiao was standing in the middle of the living room with her hands on her hips, speaking at a very loud voice.

"Hey! Hey! Um, big brother, be gentle, that thing is very precious!"

"And that box, it's full of Yangyang's books. Be careful when you move it, don't damage the corners!"

"You idiot! Get over here! Don't stand there causing trouble, or I'll pack you up and send you away!"

Erbaiwu seemed to sense the changes in the house, excitedly darting between the cardboard boxes, and occasionally nudging the workers' trouser legs with his nose. Chen Xiaomiao yelled at him, and he tucked his tail between his legs and shrank into the corner, whimpering pitifully.

Lu Yuan held a list in his hand and was checking something with someone who seemed to be a foreman, his expression focused and calm.

Lu Yang looked up at his father and asked, "Dad, how long until we leave?"

Although I had expected it, when the day actually came, I still felt a strange sense of emptiness.

The place where he was born and raised is being dismantled and packed up little by little, and will soon become part of his memories.

"immediately."

Lu Yuan seemed to see through his son's thoughts: "The plane is already waiting. The rest of the family matters will be handled by Lü Xin and the moving company. Do you want to say goodbye to your friends?"

Lu Yang nodded.

"Go ahead." Lu Yuan patted his son's head. "Mom and Dad are waiting for you downstairs."

Lu Yang turned and walked towards the door, taking the elevator up.

This was the first time he had ever gone to Zheng Qingtong's house on his own initiative, so he was inevitably a little nervous.

He raised his hand and rang the doorbell.

"Ding-dong-"

The crisp sound of the bell echoed in the quiet hallway, but there was no movement inside the door.

He pressed it again.

There was still a long silence.

Aren't you at home?
He was about to press the doorbell for the third time when, with his hand halfway up, the door clicked open a crack from the inside.

A strong smell of smoke mixed with the stench of alcohol hit him, and Lu Yang instinctively took a half step back and covered his nose.

Behind the door, a haggard face was revealed.

It's Zheng Zhifeng.

The man had sunken eyes, bloodshot eyes, and dark stubble on his chin. His shirt was wrinkled, and he looked exhausted and listless, as if all his energy had been drained away.

He paused, staring at the small figure at the door, before finally realizing what was happening: "It's... Yangyang, are you looking for Qingtong?"

"Ahem... Hello Uncle Zheng, is Qing Tong home?"

The strong smell of smoke made Lu Yang cough twice.

Zheng Zhifeng then realized that he still had a cigarette in his mouth, and hurriedly stubbed it out. He then fanned himself to try to dispel the smell of smoke.

"Uh, I'm sorry, Uncle didn't notice."

His voice was terribly hoarse: "Qingtong isn't home. It's the Qingming Festival holiday, so I sent her to her grandparents' house in the countryside."

"They went to the countryside?"

"Ah."

Zheng Zhifeng leaned against the door frame, as if talking to himself, or as if explaining to Lu Yang: "Her mother and I... have some things to take care of recently."

I'm worried about her mother... Sigh, anyway, let her go back to her hometown for a few days, to have some peace and quiet.

His lawsuit with Gao Rong has reached a fever pitch. In order to prevent Gao Rong from hiding their daughter before the verdict is handed down and using it as leverage in the custody battle, Zheng Zhifeng had no choice but to send Zheng Qingtong back to her parents first.

Lu Yang could see the adult's exhaustion and helplessness, so he didn't press the matter further.

"Uncle, I'll be going now, goodbye."

"Okay, Yangyang, be careful on the road."

Zheng Zhifeng watched Lu Yang walk into the elevator, and as the elevator doors slowly closed, his eyes were once again covered by endless fatigue and gloom.

After going downstairs and getting into the car, Lu Yang took out his phone.

Chen Xiaomiao turned around from the passenger seat: "Yangyang, did you manage to talk to Qingtong?"

"Qing Tong is not at home."

"Sigh...that girl, she's a pitiful one too."

Lu Yang didn't respond to his mother anymore. He opened WeChat and found Zheng Qingtong's profile picture.

He tapped the screen with his fingertip and typed out a line of text.

[Lu Yang]: I just went to look for you, but you weren't home.

The message was sent successfully, and almost immediately the recipient's chat window displayed a "typing..." message.

[Zheng Qingtong]: Yes, I'm at my grandparents' house in the countryside.

Chen Xiaomiao glanced in the rearview mirror and saw her son staring intently at his phone with a serious expression. She couldn't help but nudge Lu Yuan in the driver's seat with her elbow.

The couple started whispering to each other in front...

Lu Yang ignored his parents' comments; his attention was entirely on his phone screen.

[Lu Yang]: Are your parents getting a divorce?

He asked directly, without any preamble.

Zheng Qingtong: I don't know...

[Zheng Qingtong]: My dad only said that he and my mom had some things to take care of recently, and asked me to stay at my grandparents' house for a while.

[Zheng Qingtong]: But they were arguing very fiercely. Before I left, a lot of things in the house were broken.

[Lu Yang]: Call me if you need anything.

This was the most practical concern he could offer.

[Zheng Qingtong]: Okay.

[Zheng Qingtong]: Are you... really going to the capital with Jasmine?

[Lu Yang]: Yes, I'm on my way to the airport now.

[Zheng Qingtong]: What is the capital like? Is it much bigger than Wuhan?

[Lu Yang]: I don't know how to describe it either. You can come and see for yourself when you have time.

[Zheng Qingtong]: I hope so.

[Lu Yang]: I'm almost at the airport.

[Zheng Qingtong]: So fast...

[Zheng Qingtong]: Then take good care of yourself, and say goodbye to Jasmine for me.

[Lu Yang]: You can call her yourself.

[Zheng Qingtong]: Okay
The car slowly pulled up beside the private plane. Lu Yuan parked the car and turned around to say, "Yangyang, get out of the car."

"understood."

Lu Yang took one last look at the screen and typed a few words.

[Lu Yang]: I've arrived, ready to board the plane.

After sending the message, he didn't wait for a reply. He put his phone back in his pocket and opened the car door.

The phone in my pocket vibrated.

Lu Yang did not stop walking, nor did he take out his phone to check again.

He knew it must have been sent by Zheng Qingtong.

Perhaps it's "Have a safe journey," or perhaps it's "Message me when you arrive."

But whatever it is, it means he is experiencing separation for the first time in his life.

(End of this chapter)