CH 17

Lin Lan pricked her ears to listen. She heard the symphony of the forest— the cicadas and the frogs sang as the insects’ chirps were accompanied by the rustling wind. It was really nice.

“Mother, did you hear that?”

“Listen.”

“There is a sound of…” He said before he closed his eyes and hummed, which was actually rather delightful to hear.

Lin Lan looked at him in surprise—this kid is really not just any kid. He was much better than those children who could only sing simple and straightforward propaganda songs.

Besides learning how to play the suona and the bass drum, how could a country boy know the fundamentals of music?

…

After resting for a bit and drinking some water, Lin Lan took Xiaowang home.

The field was full of workers who were tending to the crops and managing the pesticides. When they saw her bringing Xiaowang, they were rather shocked as they continued to stare unapologetically.

Lin Lan naturally didn’t care, anyway. Under the name of a shrew protecting her like a dark halo, what was there to be afraid of!

“Mother!” A voice called out crisply.

Lin Lan followed the source of the sound and found a little girl running in the fields from the north. She was 8 or 9 years old with a lively and pretty appearance— that was Maisui, all right.

Maisui ran over quickly, “Mother, did you go to the county town to look for me?”

Mai Sui was a precocious girl. At the age of 9 this year, she already developed a love for beauty and her vanity also began to take shape.

This was the child that the original owner loved the most. However, Maisui was not as close to her mother as the original owner thought, not wanting to be ‘her parents’ little girl’. Instead, she was closer with her grandmother and aunt who were rich in wealth.

She said flatly, “I took your brother to the doctor.”

Maisui sensitively noticed that her mother’s tone was a little cold before she glanced at the little carrot that was holding onto her thigh. With contempt in her eyes, she wondered why her mother didn’t address him as a little fool.

“I thought you went to the county town to pick me up because I didn’t return at night,” Mai Sui’s tone was a little lost.

Her mother would usually take care of her needs and wants the most. But now, her position was ranked behind her little brother.

An uncomfortable feeling stirred in her heart.

Lin Lan asked casually about her progress in school and about the girl’s uncle and aunt. Then, she asked her about Dawang’s activities these past two days.

She was afraid that Dawang would go to the county town to meet some unconventional people and return changed and negatively influenced.

However, Maisui answered the wrong answers. She kept talking about the colorful world in the city, how well the people in the city dress, how many good things the department store sells— flower skirts, nice hairpins, small leather shoes, and so on.

Lin Lan was getting a little impatient, “Let’s talk at home.”

Maisui saw Xiaowang holding their mother’s hand tightly, which would have been an impossible act before as she hated Xiaowang and wouldn’t ever bring him for an outing.

So why is she favoring him over me? She felt uncomfortable, so she ran to take Lin Lan’s other hand intimately, “Mother, I didn’t come back all night, I miss you.”

Lin Lan said, “You nearly wouldn’t ever see your mother again.”

Your mother drank some pesticides yesterday. I’m sorry, but you really can’t see your mother anymore.