CHAPTER 152: CHAPTER 153: LIKE A FENCE-SITTER

"There’s a portrait!"

Before the words had even settled, he rummaged through the pile of luggage and handed over a painting tube.

A bamboo painting tube, opened to reveal a rolled-up painting of a Purple Robed Guanyin.

The Purple Robed Guanyin is one of the most famous Guanyin statues on Putuo Mountain, attracting countless devotees.

The artist painting the Guanyin has exceptional skill, but more importantly, they infused the work with emotion, capturing the essence and the sanctity of Guanyin perfectly with a pair of eyes that bring the painting to life.

"It looks so complicated."

Mu Da, who had never seen a Guanyin statue before, leaned in for a closer look and immediately felt anxious, worried that Yi Chichi might fail to capture the spirit of this Guanyin in embroidery.

"Can this be embroidered?"

"It can!"

Yi Chichi was full of confidence. After all, she was someone whose embroidery had been displayed in the National Museum, and she had embroidered countless national gifts.

The Guanyin statue was nothing she couldn’t handle.

"Is there a requirement for the embroidery technique?"

"Su Embroidery."

That was not a problem, as she was proficient and skilled in Su Embroidery.

If it were Shu Embroidery or Xiangxi Embroidery or Yue Embroidery, she would need to spend two months honing her skills; but now, she can directly proceed to order an embroidery frame and get ready to start.

She decided to go find Grandpa Liu the next day to make an embroidery frame.

Considering Uncle Yaozi and the others had traveled back tirelessly, after chatting for a bit, Yi Chichi acceded to his request, took her newly minted aunt to wash up and then led everyone back into the house.

Qin Jiu was entrusted to Uncle Yaozi, so the grandfather and grandson shared a room for the night.

Yi Chichi and Mu Da shared another room.

The two women lay on the bed, having a chat after freshening up.

Though it was billed as a chat, mostly Mu Da was probing Yi Chichi about Uncle Yaozi’s experiences over the years.

Yi Chichi instantly put on a bitter gourd face, "Auntie, I only got to know Uncle Yaozi this year; I was a Youth Corps member inserting myself as of late."

Mu Da understood immediately that this meant she wasn’t very familiar with him before.

"After interacting with him, do you think he’s doing well?"

"On the surface, he seems fine."

He’s the type to have enough for himself, which translates to being carefree, and because he’s a barefoot doctor, he’s quite respected.

But it’s all limited to the surface.

"His inner struggles are known only to him."

Otherwise, during the hypnosis, he wouldn’t have been crying profusely, losing all semblance of decorum.

"What about you, Auntie, have you been well over the years?"

Yi Chichi looked at Mu Da, eyes filled with curiosity.

Love among the older generation is quite poignant, especially during wartime; it’s a true luxury.

Some dedicate their entire lives to waiting for someone who died in battle, never to return home.

Some commit their lives together but inadvertently ruin each other’s, ending up with a brood of children and grandchildren themselves.

Uncle Yaozi and Mu Da were neither of these kinds.

Separated for years, yet able to rekindle their romance truly is beautiful.

Yet, Yi Chichi was still curious about Mu Da’s psychological changes over the years.

"...I don’t know if it’s been good or bad either."

She stayed silent for a long time, then clutched her chest to feel the heartbeat within, her gentle voice laced with a subtle smile.

"Although I was busy with work and had friends before, there was an emptiness here, always felt something was missing, but now..."

A smile curved her lips, "The missing piece has been filled."

"That means it wasn’t really good."

Yi Chichi understood, a piece missing in the soul, a significant regret in life, simply can’t become good.

"Not exactly bad either, at least I didn’t have the time for idle thoughts."

She gently tapped Yi Chichi on the head and chuckled, "Get some sleep, you have to get up early tomorrow."

True.

Then, a good night’s sleep ensued.

The next morning shortly after six, Yi Chichi, already awake by her internal clock, got up to brush her teeth and wash up, cooked some noodles, then woke everyone up for breakfast, and after sending Qin Jiu to school, she started preparing to move back to the Youth Corps Courtyard.

Now that the host was home, she needed to make room.

Oh, Old Witch, I’ve missed your cooking so much.

Days of cooking for herself, tough.

She was relieved at last.

Seeing the joy radiating from her, Uncle Yaozi, as if possessive with jealousy, remarked acidly, "You’re this happy to return to the Youth Corps Courtyard?"

"No longer having to cook for myself and getting to eat ready-made meals every day, of course I’m happy."

Uncle Yaozi imagined it personally and found the joy of not cooking truly unparalleled.

Pursuant to the principle of not letting others have it better, he ruthlessly asked, "So what about Xiao Jiu when you return to the Youth Corps Courtyard?"

"Returning to his great-grandfather."

Since the beginning of school, Qin Jiu had leveraged his strong personal charisma to become good friends with Dun Dun and the others.

He also made new friends at school.

A child with good grades and striking looks holds privileges.

Especially when being good-looking coupled with being nurtured carefully due to family background, resulting in a high IQ and precociousness; his breadth, insight, and acquired knowledge are unmatched by peers from the small village.

Even those older might not be a match.

Thus, as long as no troublemakers or whistle-blowers emerged, Qin Jiu could live like an ordinary child.

This also meant he could return to the old man’s side.

As for her, the things she needed to do had been done, everything necessary was completed.

She couldn’t continue shielding him as if he were a precious gem.

The warm embrace of a greenhouse isn’t Qin Jiu’s destiny; soaring the skies fearlessly like an eagle is his fate.

The circumstances of the Qin Family wouldn’t allow him to become a fragile flower either.

"I can spare some time to visit him morning and evening."

Uncle Yaozi was quite surprised, "I thought you’d be reluctant to let go."

Earlier when Yi Chichi was cooking noodles, he had taken a stroll around the village, chatted with folks, and caught up on the events that occurred during his absence.

Naturally, he knew what Yi Chichi had gone through for Qin Jiu’s schooling.

"That cannot be, raising children is like flying a kite, relaxing when needed, holding tight when necessary."

This applies equally to men too.

After all, men remain boys at heart till death.

"That’s quite insightful."

Mu Da giggled softly and tossed a look towards her future husband, signaling him to speak up quickly.

Understanding her intent instantly, Uncle Yaozi cleared his throat, "Kiddo, have you thought about not returning to the Youth Corps Courtyard, just living here instead?"

"Not convenient."

She didn’t spell out what was inconvenient, but Uncle Yaozi understood well enough.

"I could cook, there are spare rooms."

Yi Chichi’s forehead was crisscrossed with dark lines, fine, this was forcing her to lay things bare.

"Newlyweds in the heat of passion, do you want me to continue?"

If she continued, she couldn’t guarantee her mouth wouldn’t run away with her.

Coming from a post-information explosion world, she dared to do and say things.

Bashful? Shy?

Such notions didn’t exist with her.

With this remark, the soon-to-be-wed couple faltered instantly.

Then, Yi Chichi successfully moved back to the Youth Corps Courtyard.

With big bags, packages, and sea goods and dried fruits that Uncle Yaozi had brought back from the Southern region for her.

With the usual cordiality of acquaintances, especially with her good rapport with Wang Nan and the others.

Yi Chichi’s return brought a burst of joy throughout the Youth Corps Courtyard.

Except for Yan Wanwan and Ning Haitao, who acted like she owed them eight million, saying snide things.

"Some folks are like blades of grass on the wall, swaying one way then another."