CHAPTER 356: CHAPTER 349: A CHOICE BETWEEN LOVE AND FAMILY

The next day, Sisi waited at the train station for Zhong Anmei, who had also been admitted to a university. Although her scores weren’t as high as her two brothers’, they weren’t bad either. Since both her brothers were in Beijing, she had chosen a college there as well, attending the same institution as Mo Xiaomi.

Zhong Shaobai had finally made a name for himself in Yuequan Village—three top scorers in one family, who else could boast such an accomplishment? Although still labeled as a "rich peasant," who really cared about class labels anymore?

With three children bringing honor to the family, Zhong Shaobai’s status in the village went up by leaps and bounds. The village appointed him as a barefoot doctor; he only needed to carry a medicine box and walk through the fields, providing treatment for injuries or heatstroke. It was much more comfortable than his previous jobs and he still earned a full worker’s wages—a far cry from his former life!

Zhong Anmei, who was two years older than Sisi and at the prime age of nineteen, was already stunningly beautiful. She had changed from a girl to a young lady, shedding her baby fat and youthful look, and coupled with her tall figure and fair skin, she was absolutely radiant.

However, the academic results of Sisi’s other two friends, Zhong Juying and Zhong Meiying, were not as good. Zhong Juying didn’t even attend high school, while Zhong Meiying did but didn’t get admitted to college and lost any desire to continue studying.

This summer, Zhong Anping and Zhong Ankang did not return to their hometown either; they stayed in Beijing to make money. They got products like electronic watches and radios from He Xuewen and hawked them on the streets.

Of course, this business was risky—if caught by public security, their goods would be confiscated and they would face fines. But high risk meant high return. They could make more in one summer than a worker could in a year. Besides, with a bit of cunning, they wouldn’t get caught.

Under the leadership of the two brothers, Tian Shouhua, Tian Weihua, Hu Weiwen, Zhuge Yun, and others also followed suit, looking for ways to make extra cash whenever they had free time, with remarkable enthusiasm. Especially Zhuge Yun; he could endure the hardest work and sold the most. Now he had not only lifted himself out of poverty but also supported the two elderly at home.

Liu Qiqi, who was with them, didn’t participate in these money-making activities. Her family was well-off and didn’t rely on these several dollars, so she returned home for the summer break.

Liu Qiqi’s personality had also changed a lot, becoming more mature. However, a touch of melancholy always seemed to linger between her brows. Sisi knew what troubles Liu Qiqi had, but as an outsider, she really couldn’t lend any help, especially now that the biggest obstacle between her and Zhuge Yun wasn’t poverty, but Liu Qiqi’s family.

Indeed, Liu Qiqi had never given up on Zhuge Yun. There was a period when she wanted to give up due to his indifference, but she didn’t have the heart to let go and gradually found herself drawn back to Zhuge Yun.

As it would have it, the heavens finally favored the devoted. One day, Zhuge Yun responded to her feelings, and they sweetly started dating. The Hu brothers, being good friends with Zhuge Wen, all chose to remain silent by default, neither supporting nor opposing, pretending to know nothing about it.

However, Liu Qiqi’s family strongly objected. They had already planned her life: graduate from college, work back in Shanghai, marry a well-off local, and then bear a child so they, as grandparents, could watch over them. What a perfect life that would be!

But this disobedient Qiqi actually fell for someone from the countryside, and moreover, someone whose family was poor as a church mouse. Although a capable and intelligent student, what good was that without wealth or influence? Who would bother with you?

This young man did have one advantage—he was an orphan. But this single merit was overshadowed by his other disadvantages. When Liu Qiqi returned home for the summer, her family rebuked her immediately after she mentioned Zhuge Yun, ordering her to break up with him at once or never to set foot in the house again.

Liu Qiqi, who had never been scolded like this her entire life, was stunned at that moment. Yet, she stood firm, refusing to break up, and stubbornly declared that if forced to leave Zhuge Yun, she would jump into the Huangpu River.

Thus, the Liu family’s summer flipped between heated arguments and cold wars, far from peaceful. Liu Qiqi stubbornly refused to yield, intent on marrying only Zhuge Yun, nearly driving Zhou Meili to a heart attack.

Before getting on the train, Zhou Meili and Liu Qiqi’s parents also implored Sisi to persuade Qiqi.

"What does a young girl know about making a living! Love? Can love be eaten as food? Without bread, without money, no matter how wonderful love is, it’s all illusionary. Zhuge Yun’s household is so poor it jangles when they move, our Qiqi has never suffered since she was little, how could she endure such a tough life?"

"Better to have a short pain than a long one. Rather than having her marry into poverty and hardship later, it’s better for me to be the bad guy now."

"We’ve arranged so much for her. We’ve even found her a job, as long as she obediently listens, she’ll spend her life comfortably. But she refuses to listen. She won’t take the easy path laid out for her, she insists on taking the hard road. Oh my, she’s really going to be the death of me!"

Whenever Zhou Meili talked about this, tears would flow down her cheeks. It was clear that the old lady was genuinely heartbroken. Compared to her previously radiant and elegant demeanor, the current Zhou Meili looked haggard, with her grey hair, it was quite distressing to see.

She could understand the feelings of the elderly. They always seem to think they’ve crossed more bridges than the younger generation has walked roads, that they’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice, so they always hope the younger generation will follow the path they’ve laid out.

Maybe following the path they’ve laid out does mean a smooth sailing and steady life, but it also lacks many sceneries and joys. Young people have their own thoughts. Although they face many setbacks and tribulations when they forge their own paths, the joy and scenery along the way are something others can’t experience. Even if they fall and bleed, they have no regrets.

On the train, Liu Qiqi remained silent, quietly looking out the window. As the train started moving, Zhou Meili unsteadily trotted along side the train, waving continuously, still saying something.

All of a sudden, Liu Qiqi burst into tears, crying out loud and drawing the attention of the passengers in the carriage.

The girl cried so hard she could barely catch her breath. Zhong Anmei was extremely distressed and wanted to console Qiqi, but Sisi held her back, thinking it best to let Qiqi cry it out and vent the frustration, to feel a bit better.

After a long bout of crying, she finally stopped. Liu Qiqi bashfully accepted the handkerchief Sisi handed over to wipe her eyes, but her eyes were swollen like peaches.

"Sisi, An Mei, sorry about this."

"It’s okay, no one on the train knows us."

Sisi’s words brought a laugh out of Liu Qiqi, but it was a laugh tinged with the redness of her swollen eyes, which was heart-wrenching.

"I just couldn’t help it. Just now, when I saw Mama running on the platform, and her hair’s all white... suddenly, it struck me how quickly she has aged. But these past two months I’ve still often made her angry—to the point she fell ill several times. Am I being too unfilial?"

"But I really don’t want to be separated from Ayun. I love him, and in this life, I only want to marry Ayun. Mama always says I can’t handle hardship, but I feel that—even if I have to eat chaff and pickled vegetables with Ayun, it would still taste sweet."

"Sisi, I’m so conflicted. It feels like my heart is being sliced with a knife. I don’t want Grandma, Mama, Daddy, and Mama to be sad and hurt, but I also can’t bear to leave Ayun. Sisi, tell me what I should do?"

Liu Qiqi spoke of her anguish. She must have been holding these words back all summer, and now she just wanted to pour them out to someone, otherwise she felt she would go mad.