Shuangling: Braving the Rapids

It was a carved sandalwood box, like a dressing case used by noblewomen in olden times.

Yue Chuan bent down and opened the box. There was no jewelry inside, but there was a five-inch old-fashioned black and white photo, with a thick stack of envelopes underneath.

Picking up the photo for a closer look, it showed a young couple in school uniforms. The boy stood properly, handsome yet youthful, while the girl, with her hair in braids, leaned her head towards him, smiling sweetly.

Yue Chuan naturally recognized Ai Min when she was young, and the girl next to his uncle was the short-haired pregnant woman who was offering flowers at the grave today.

Although I had long suspected the relationship between my uncle and the woman, seeing this photo still left me with mixed feelings.

Uncle Aimin died young, and Li Baihe's life after his miscarriage at the cemetery remains unknown. Reality is always cruel, always tearing beautiful things to shreds.

"That talk about lovers eventually getting married is all bullshit!"

At this moment, Yue Chuan was also cursing the injustice of fate. He was holding such a warm photo, but a chill ran through his heart.

Looking at the loving couple in the photo, and thinking of Li Baihe weeping at the grave, it truly is a mix of heaven and hell.

"Uncle hid the photos so well that even I didn't know. It's clear he still has feelings for Aunt Li. Since they both like each other, why didn't it work out? Is it all because of that guy's bad deeds?"

A photograph sparked the boy's imagination and also aroused his doubts. He put the photograph back in the box, then picked up the stack of envelopes and quietly walked to his desk.

In the past, Yue Chuan would never have dared to open other people's envelopes, but now that his uncle is gone, these scraps of paper are no longer considered private matters. If they can help him unravel the mystery in his heart, that would be wonderful.

He sat down, opened the envelope, and brazenly began to read:

Baihe, seeing your letter is like seeing you in person.

Today is November 11, 1997, which marks exactly ten years since we met.

Hearing from Chen Yun that you're getting married, my heart ached, but I still have to send you my blessings. I wish you a smooth wedding and a peaceful and prosperous life...

Dear Baihe, it's like seeing you in person.

Today is July 1, 1997, the 3218th day since I met you. Hong Kong has already returned to China, but the day I can see you is still far away. It's really ironic!

I've had a lot of bad luck lately. My dad was hospitalized, and two acres of chrysanthemums in Shuangxitian were ruined. It seems I need to rethink my farm business.

But don't worry, I'll pull myself together as soon as possible. I'm still the invincible Qin Aimin!

……

Dear Baihe, it's like seeing you in person.

Today is June 28, 1996, the 2849th day since I met you.

Lately, I often dream of you. I dream of the first time I met you at the Agricultural University, of the debate in the auditorium, of us strolling hand in hand on the playground, reciting poetry under the starry sky...

Baihe, I really can't forget you, I really want to go to the provincial capital to find you.

My thoughts are a bit dangerous, and I can't bother you anymore; it wouldn't be good for either of us. But I still want to know, do you still remember me after all these years? Have you found someone new? Is there even the slightest place for me in your heart?

No, no, I can't ask that. I need to come up with a new idea.

Let's get down to business. I'm planning to plant chrysanthemums in the village. Once I develop new varieties and scale it up, I might make a fortune. I'll definitely invite you to see a sea of ​​flowers then.

If you're still single then, I'll marry you after I've achieved success and fame, and we'll live a simple life like Tao Yuanming, who lived a secluded life...

After reading three letters in a row, Yue Chuan slumped his elbows on the table and sighed deeply, "Uncle, reading your letters makes me feel like life is incredibly bleak!"

Indeed, if these letters were laid out chronologically, they would resemble a tragic love story. Every page is filled with the anguish of a man longing for his lover; if Yue Chuan were to read any further, he might even become depressed.

However, Yue Chuan did not come away empty-handed. At least he figured out one thing: these letters were never sent. They were more like Ai Min's own diary of longing than actual letters.

To verify his guess, Yue Chuan took out all the envelopes. Sure enough, none of the letters had stamps, and there was no address or signature on the cover. What else could this be but a love diary?

"Uncle! Uncle! What can I say to you? If you had just sent one of these letters, I believe Aunt Baihe would have understood your feelings! Now that you've passed away, what are we supposed to do?"

Yue Chuan was slapping his thigh and sighing when he suddenly realized something was wrong: "They both have feelings for each other, so why doesn't Uncle Aimin dare to pursue her? There's probably something else going on here..."

After racking his brains for a long time without finding a clue, Yue Chuan simply sorted all the letters by year and pulled out the earliest one:

Dear Baihe, today is December 25, 1991, and it has been 1286 days since I met you.

It's been over three months since graduation, and I still haven't found a job. I can't support my family, and I'm not qualified to say I love you. I know I've broken your heart.

Even though we've broken up, I still can't help thinking about you. To avoid disturbing your life, I'll write you letters like before, just to comfort myself, but I won't send them!

Let me tell you about my current situation. My health is currently okay, and the hand tremors haven't returned. However, I think I'm really sick; I always feel unwell, and my head is dizzy all the time.

I recently rewatched "Resurrection," and I've gained a new understanding of that line:

Let our love and hate become a memorial to our new life!

The urban-rural divide and the ups and downs of fate may all be just empty lamentations in a vain life. Listen to me, just consider me a passerby in your life and forget about me!

People who will always love you

December 25, 1991

After reading the letter, Yue Chuan finally understood the logic. It turned out that it was Uncle Aimin who initiated the breakup with Aunt Baihe back then, and the reason was likely related to the strange illness his uncle had.

Yue Chuan knew, of course, that his second uncle had epilepsy and that the disease could be hereditary, but he had never seen his uncle have a seizure. Could it be that Uncle Aimin had a seizure while dating Aunt Baihe? And then his uncle broke up with her because of it?

"My uncle seems approachable, but he's actually very proud. He'll definitely choose to break up with Baihe so as not to burden her. It's such a pity! They clearly still have feelings for each other, how did it end up like this!"

Thinking about all this, Yue Chuan began to sigh again.

During this time, he was saddened by his uncle's death and felt sorry for his uncle's sacrifice. Today, he met Li Baihe and learned about the story between the woman and Aimin from the letter. Yue Chuan's thoughts became even more complicated, so complicated that even the brain capacity of a mathematical genius like him could not contain them.

At this moment, besides feeling sad and regretful, Yue Chuan also felt particularly sorry for Ai Min, for his sacrifice, for his unfulfilled love, for his forbearance, revenge, and unattainable ideals.

Yes, how could someone with such a near-perfect image, temperament, and spiritual realm get such a disease? Fate really does play tricks!

"If Uncle knew that Li Baihe was getting a divorce from her current husband because of him, and that Li Baihe was in critical condition after suffering a miscarriage today, I wonder if he would still make the same decision he made back then."

Sitting in Aimin's chair, reading the letter Aimin wrote to his lover, Yue Chuan couldn't help but put himself in the role of his uncle. At that moment, he felt a pain as if "a thousand arrows were piercing his heart and burning his bones".

It's the sorrow of unrequited love, the despair of being at the end of one's rope, the helplessness, the repression, the grievances of having no one to confide in, the anguish of being unable to change the status quo...

"How could someone get this disease when they were perfectly healthy? Sigh! Is this what people mean by fate playing tricks on us?"

"God, why do you always make things difficult for good people? You ignore all the bad people, but you insist on targeting my uncle. Good people suffer while bad people enjoy the benefits. Is this your so-called justice?"

……

Yue Chuan was a stubborn person, and now his thoughts were becoming more and more twisted. He was indignant on behalf of Aimin, complaining about the injustice done to Aimin, and cursing God for being blind.

As he continued cursing, the boy became increasingly obsessed.

He attributed Aimin's death to the unfair world, and his grief turned into anger. The seed of hatred hidden in the boy's heart began to take root and sprout. It was at this moment that he resolved to seek justice for Aimin.

The direct cause of Ke'aimin's death was an accident! Where can we find his enemies?

Regardless, he was determined to avenge Aimin. Whoever offended his uncle, he would fight them to the death. If Heaven was unjust, he would act on behalf of Heaven and take revenge on the whole world!

"Uncle, I will definitely make a name for myself for you! When I succeed, I will make every single one of those who laughed at you, tripped you up, spread rumors, mined, or committed arson kneel before your grave and kowtow!"

Right now, the boy already has a revenge list in his mind. Guess who's number one on the list?