A Young Woman's Heart

"goodbye!"

"Come visit more often next time!"

Perhaps that's what the elderly genuinely hope for.

But the students' responses were mostly polite formalities.

Because there probably won't be many more chances to do it again.

Even if they had the time, few people would think of coming back here to visit.

Nursing homes are destined to be places where people become estranged from the younger generation.

We often talk about visiting our parents, but few actually do it.

After all, everyone has their own life, and when they finally get a break, they don't want to be running around everywhere.

Humans are inevitably a little selfish.

Therefore, those who truly fulfill the virtue of 'filial piety' are respected by most people.

"Is the Snow Music Band all here?" Ye Wen had just finished counting the number of people in the school band when she quickly walked over and called out to Qiu Yi.

"Lele just went to the toilet."

"Okay, let's wait a bit longer, we'll set off once everyone is here."

"I'll go to the toilet too, just in case I need to go on the way..." Although she didn't feel the urge to urinate, Mo Xueyao decided to empty her bladder beforehand.

"Then I want to go too!" Hua Yinyin immediately followed along like a madwoman.

As a result, everyone in the Snow Music Band went to the restroom, and even Mr. Snow followed, except that he went into the men's restroom.

Some elderly people even prepared gifts for the children, like the tall, thin old man.

Moreover, he even carefully wrapped the gifts with ribbons; each gift box was small but exquisite.

"Here, these are the gifts I made for you!"

"Oh, you're too kind, Grandpa..."

"No need, no need."

"Since you've already done it, just accept it! Haha, each one is different! You can decide for yourselves based on your luck, or you can open them and exchange them with others."

"Beep beep—" Just as everyone was about to say something, the bus at the door started honking its horn to urge them on.

It was indeed getting late.

So everyone stopped wasting time, obediently accepted the gifts, and said goodbye to the elderly once again.

"goodbye--!"

Goodbye, children—!

The moonlight followed closely behind the bus, the stars in the sky twinkled, the voices of the elderly behind them gradually faded into the distance, and the bus drove back onto the deserted road they had come from, and everything became quiet.

It's like when someone comes home after a long day at work; even if they were full of energy before opening the door, they can become incredibly tired once they open it.

Exhausted, Hua Yinyin fell asleep leaning against Mo Xueyao.

Mo Zhuyou nestled in Mr. Xue's arms, while Wang Jiale and Yu Shu's heads gently touched, swaying from side to side with the bus.

The rows of streetlights leaned back, and everyone seemed to be lost in that brief, sweet dream.

……

(four)

"Xiaoxiao, aren't you going to sleep?"

"I'm waiting for Youyou to come back."

In the courtyard of a container villa in the suburbs.

Mo Xiaoxiao held the chubby black rabbit in her arms. It lay quietly, as if it had fallen asleep.

A cool breeze blew from across the lake, ruffling a few strands of hair on their heads.

Cha Li slightly turned her head and flicked the hair that was blocking her view behind her back.

"Whew—" She lowered her head, blew on the cup she was holding, and then took a small sip.

"How does the egg drop wine taste?"

"It's delicious, and the yolk is still runny inside. I like this kind the most."

"Pfft, my daughter Youyou likes it too, so I usually make these runny yolk eggs. But some people can't stand them and find them disgusting."

"It's probably just psychological," Cha Li said, taking another small sip.

The rice wine used to boil the eggs is not as strong as baijiu, and it has a slightly salty and savory taste.

The two sat in front of the wooden stake, with the bright moon overhead.

There aren't many clouds today, and the brilliant stars dot the night sky, making you want to pour them into a cup.

In front of the two of them was not only freshly cooked egg drop soup, but also three delicate little dishes.

It contained pastries that had already been cut into small pieces.

They have homemade mooncakes, osmanthus cakes made from osmanthus flowers picked from the mountains, and sachima made using an earthen stove as an oven.

Each one looked quite presentable, and the taste was, needless to say, superb.

Cha Li came here today to admire the moon.

Although you can see the moon in the city, you can't see the starry sky.

In any case, the nights in the countryside are ultimately cleaner and clearer.

Moreover, this area is on the edge of the countryside, so it is even less polluted.

Cha Li squinted her eyes, picked up a piece of Sachima and put it in her mouth, but instead of chewing it, she enjoyed the feeling of it slowly softening in her mouth, as if it were about to melt.

"Is it okay for Youyou to walk alone at night?"

"Hmm, she's walked by several times." Mo Xiaoxiao stroked the cup with some unease, and couldn't help but look back a few times.

Suddenly, she saw a beam of light coming from a distance. As the light drew closer, it revealed the outline of her younger sister in the darkness.

"Youyou~!"

Mo Zhuyou didn't answer, but simply raised her hand high and waved it weakly twice.

She dragged the heavy drum kit, which, despite having four wheels, was not easy to pull on the road covered with pebbles.

Her biggest wish now is that this road can be repaired, even if it can't be paved, at least it can be a flat dirt road without stones.

"She's tired."

"Yes." Mo Xiaoxiao smiled gently, then suddenly walked to the earthen stove, ladled out the egg drop wine that was still warming with the embers, intending to give it to her younger sister.

"I'm back—Sis—I'm so tired—"

"Welcome back~ Here, have something hot!"

……

Chapter Thirty-Six: Listening to the Wind of This City

A cool breeze drifted across the distant sky.

Hua Yinyin stood on the overpass, looking down at the endless stream of vehicles below.

The city's high-rise buildings line both sides.

This is the bustling city center.

Although it can't compare to neighboring Shanghai, it's still lively enough.

Especially during this National Day holiday when many people are on holiday.

She suddenly didn't know what to do. Her bright, almond-shaped eyes blinked gently, as if sand had been blown in by the wind.

It wasn't too early; in fact, she had been standing there for over an hour.

"Young lady..." An old man selling water chestnuts behind her appeared beside her at some point. "Are you alright?"

He had a kind smile on his face.

Hua Yinyin was stunned for a moment, then realized what was going on and quickly turned around: "Um...it's okay, I'm waiting for my friend."

"Oh, that's good. Isn't your friend coming yet?"

"Uh... I guess they won't be coming." Hua Yinyin wasn't waiting for any friend, so she continued to lie.

The old man looked her up and down a few times, then turned around and went back to his stall.

The small stool on the stall seemed a bit cramped for someone of his size.

To avoid being mistaken for someone who wanted to jump off the bridge, Hua Yinyin deliberately stretched out a big yawn, composed herself, and turned around to prepare to go down.

"Little girl, would you like to buy some water chestnuts to eat? These are fresh, and these are cooked. You can eat them right away after you buy them!"

Upon hearing this, Hua Yinyin looked down at the water chestnuts on the stall.

She didn't know if it was a specialty of the South, but she always saw people selling it on the road every autumn.

They are shaped like cow horns, are purplish-black in color, and look very hard.

The old man opened the styrofoam box, and some steam escaped from inside; these were clearly the water chestnuts that had already been cooked.

"Then, ten of them, please." Hua Yinyin didn't even ask the price.

The old man didn't mind that she bought too little; he immediately put it in a bag and placed it on the small tin scale.

This simple tool is certainly not very precise, but the error will not be too great.

"One yuan and thirty cents." The old man skillfully rounded down the change. "One yuan is fine."

"it is good."

Hua Yinyin opened her fluffy little wallet, emptied it out forcefully, and poured out the only one-yuan coin.