From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

We chatted idly as the car drove into the small town.

Knowing the place well, I found an old shop selling incense, candles, and paper money, intending to buy things to worship my father.

This town isn't big. I went to elementary and middle school here, and most of the shopkeepers on the street recognize me.

The shop owner looked up, saw me, and immediately struck up a conversation with a smile:

"Yezi, it's been so long since I've been back to town! Seeing you driving such a nice car, you must have made a fortune out there!"

Before I could explain, the boss's gaze fell on Su Qing in the passenger seat, his eyes filled with envy:

"Is this your wife? She's really beautiful. You're a lucky man!"

I was speechless for a moment, having no idea how to clarify this fake relationship, and felt utterly helpless.

After quickly paying, I picked up the plastic bag full of incense and paper money and hurried out of the shop.

Back in the car, all I wanted was to leave this small town full of gossip as soon as possible.

As soon as she got into the car, Su Qing smiled and said through the window, "I didn't realize you knew so many people in town, everyone knows you."

I glanced at her helplessly: "This town is tiny. I went to elementary and middle school here. Isn't it normal for the shopkeepers and neighbors to know me?"

She covered her mouth and laughed, jokingly saying, "Now that's great! After we've walked around the whole town, everyone in town will think I'm your girlfriend!"

"Then why are you laughing so happily?"

"Why can't I laugh? I'm laughing! I want to see how you're going to explain this lie to these people when you come back next time, hahaha!"

She laughed so hard she was doubled over, without a trace of worry. I really couldn't figure out what made her laugh.

But I was genuinely worried. Gossip spreads incredibly fast in the countryside; it goes from one person to ten, then to a hundred, and within two days the whole village will be talking about it.

Lin Ye makes a lot of money outside, drives a luxury car worth millions, and has found a girlfriend who is outstanding in appearance.

If I come back empty-handed next time, I won't be able to explain myself clearly.

I was too lazy to argue with her anymore, so I turned the car key, started the car, and drove back to the village entrance along the same route.

Back at the old locust tree at the village entrance, I parked the Porsche back where it was and turned off the engine. I then picked up the plastic bag filled with incense, candles, and joss paper and got out of the car.

Su Qing followed me out of the car from the other side. I turned to her and said, "The dirt road on the mountain is difficult to walk on, with lots of thorns and weeds. Don't follow me up."

"I've already come this far, and now you want me to go back?"

She didn't stop walking and followed me straight up the mountain path, stubbornly saying, "I'm not that bad at physical fitness, don't worry about me."

I didn't try to persuade her any further. I picked up the bag and started walking up the hillside, with Su Qing following closely behind.

It was clear that this young lady rarely walked on such wild mountain paths; she hadn't gone far before her steps became heavy and her breathing became slightly rapid.

The mountain road is covered with miscellaneous trees and wild grasses. The azaleas that once covered the mountains in spring have long since passed their blooming season, leaving only layers of green leaves in varying shades.

After walking for most of the way up the mountain path, Su Qing suddenly spoke up behind me:

"The shop owner in town just called me 'your wife,' why didn't you explain it to him on the spot?"

"What good would it do to explain? These people will just spread rumors based on what they see; who's going to listen to what I have to say?"

She pressed on with a hint of amusement, "Honestly, are you secretly pleased?"

Without stopping, I turned my back to her and uttered two words: "No."

Su Qing scoffed defiantly, "I don't believe it."

I didn't reply and kept my head down, continuing to clear the way.

The mountain path becomes narrower as you go up, with waist-high weeds blocking the way, which you have to push aside to pass.

I turned around and reminded her, "Stay close to me, be careful not to get your arm scratched by the thorns by the roadside."

"Okay." She quickly caught up with me, her forehead already covered in a fine layer of sweat, but she didn't complain.

As I parted the weeds blocking my way, I muttered helplessly, "I told you the mountain path was difficult, but you insisted on coming up here to make things hard for yourself."

"Hurry up and move forward, stop nagging. I haven't complained about being tired yet." She reached out and gently pushed my lower back.

I deliberately tried to scare her: "Watch your step, there might be a snake hiding in these weeds."

As soon as he said that, the footsteps behind him disappeared instantly.

I sensed something was wrong and immediately stopped and turned around.

Su Qing stood frozen in place, her eyes wide open and her whole body tense.

"Come on, what are you standing there daydreaming for?"

Her voice was slightly unsteady as she nervously pressed, "What...what did you just say? A snake?!"

"It's just a possibility, is it really necessary to be so scared that you can't move your feet?"

Su Qing suddenly cried out softly, her legs going weak: "No, no, I'm terrified of snakes! My legs are too weak to stand, I can't walk..."

I was at my wit's end with her, so I sighed and said, "You can't just stay in the bushes waiting for me to finish my prayers and come down the mountain, can you?"

Su Qing looked around in a panic. All around her were wild grasses taller than her head, and the mountain wind rustled through the grass and trees.

She said in a pitiful voice, "I'm afraid to stay here alone. Please don't leave me."

"Then why don't you just leave!" I sighed, feeling a bit helpless with her.

She shouted at me, "I can't walk anymore, turn around and carry me for a while."

"Are you sure you want me to carry you on this bumpy, wild mountain road? Don't be ridiculous."

"If you don't carry me on your back, I'll tell Auntie when we get back that you deliberately bullied me on the way up the mountain and left me all alone."

I was stunned.

My mom took a liking to Su Qing at first sight and was eagerly hoping that I would get married soon. If Su Qing went back and exaggerated that I bullied her, my mom would definitely give me a good scolding.

I sighed deeply, not wanting to give in to her so easily, and deliberately said, "If you want me to carry you, just say a few nice things and call me 'wild brother'."

Su Qing was silent for a few seconds, then immediately softened her tone and began to whine, "Brother Ye is the best! He's handsome and kind-hearted. Please carry me for a while, okay?"

Her soft, sweet voice melted my heart, and I immediately turned my back to her, saying, "Come on up."

Su Qing immediately jumped lightly onto my back, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck.

She is very light. I carried her on my back once when she sprained her ankle, and this is the second time.

She was unusually well-behaved while clinging to my back, probably because she was genuinely afraid I would abandon her in the weeds.

After passing through this dense, overgrown meadow, the view ahead suddenly opens up to a flat expanse.

I stopped and put her down: "We're on level ground now. Walk the rest of the way yourself."

Su Qing glanced at me, didn't say anything, and reached into her small bag to take out a pack of tissues and handed it to me:

Wipe the sweat from your forehead.

I took the tissue and wiped the sweat from my face. She then asked, "How much further do we have to go?"

I pointed to a group of earthen graves not far ahead: "See that? That's it."

Su Qing looked in the direction I was pointing and muttered under her breath, "Why choose such a remote mountain for the cemetery?"

"I was only ten years old at the time, and the elders made all the decisions in the family. How could I know anything about it?"

She didn't ask any more questions and quietly followed me towards the cemetery.

When I arrived at my father's grave, I could see that the grave mound was overgrown with weeds, just as my mother had described.

Her back injury flared up again, making it impossible for her to go up the mountain to clean it.

I placed the plastic bag on the ground and squatted down to carefully clear the weeds from the grave mound.

After clearing away the weeds, he swept away the fallen leaves and branches piled up in front of the tombstone, took out a lighter, lit incense sticks, and stuck them in the soil in front of the grave.

Su Qing stood quietly behind me, watching without saying a word.