After cutting off all contact with the outside world, Lan Yu took her child back to her mother's old home in the countryside, the place where her parents had met and fallen in love.
She hadn't been here for at least ten years. She remembered coming to the countryside with her parents for festivals when she was little.
The village dogs would always bark and chase her, scaring her into hiding between her parents, constantly asking her father to carry her.
Every inch of bluestone path she walked was one her parents had walked. Now, her parents were reunited in heaven. She hoped they would watch over Xiao Ningyu from above.
Following her memory, she found her maternal uncle's house. To her surprise, both her maternal uncle and great-aunt recognized her at once.
Her great-aunt greeted her warmly, "Isn't this Little Lan Yu? You've grown so beautiful, come in quickly."
Her maternal uncle was an honest man, only offering a shy smile.
Her great-aunt, her maternal uncle's mother, was over seventy but still very spry.
Since her mother had called her that before she passed, Lan Yu was also used to calling her Great-Aunt.
Her maternal uncle's wife, wearing an apron, emerged from the brick and tile kitchen. Seeing Lan Yu and her child, she asked, "This child is yours, isn't she? When did you get married? You didn't even let us know."
The warmth of her maternal uncle's family made her feel a long-lost sense of kinship. She said, her heart warming, "Yes, she's my child, her name is Ningyu."
"She has 'yu' in her name too, how lovely," her great-aunt said, reaching out to hold Ningyu.
But Ningyu was still a bit shy and didn't want to leave Lan Yu's embrace.
Lan Yu smiled and said, "She's shy, I'll hold her for now."
Her maternal uncle's wife asked, "Where's your man? Didn't he come with you?"
Lan Yu gave an awkward smile, unsure how to answer.
Her maternal uncle tugged at his wife's sleeve and said, "Don't stand outside talking, let's go inside. Hurry up and make them something good to eat."
"Oh, I'm going now." Her maternal uncle's wife realized Lan Yu must have some unspoken difficulties and stopped asking.
Lan Yu and her child settled in at her maternal uncle's house. Life in the village was like a paradise, leisurely and comfortable.
She slept until she woke naturally every day, free from worldly disturbances. Occasionally, she would take Xiao Ningyu for walks in the mountains and by the water around the village, her mood becoming much more peaceful.
After staying for a while, she felt embarrassed doing nothing and would sometimes help her maternal uncle's family with farm work.
Her great-aunt, being old, no longer worked in the fields. She sat in the courtyard, basking in the sun, stitching shoe soles, or picking vegetables, always with a gentle smile on her face.
Lan Yu was touched by her great-aunt's simplicity and optimism. When she had free time, she would sit beside her great-aunt and watch her skillful hands stitching shoe soles.
Xiao Ningyu sat in a wooden child's chair in the courtyard, curiously watching the chicks running around the yard.
Her great-aunt gestured for her to take off a shoe, held up the shoe sole she was stitching, and measured it against Lan Yu's foot, saying, "I'm stitching these for you. You should wear shoes made by me too, they're very comfortable."
"Great-Aunt, no need, really, I have plenty of shoes." Lan Yu was surprised that her great-aunt wanted to make shoes for her.
Her great-aunt smiled and said, "I know you have shoes, but you haven't worn shoes made by me, have you?"
As she spoke, she took out a pair of very small shoe soles from her basket. "This is for Xiao Ningyu. Thick-soled shoes are good for a child's feet, I'll make her a tiger head, it's auspicious and wards off evil."
Lan Yu saw it was her great-aunt's kind intention and didn't refuse further, saying, "Thank you, Great-Aunt. I'll have her wear the tiger-head shoes when you're done."
Her great-aunt smiled happily. She looked at the brick and tile house behind her and said, "When we were building this house back then, it was thanks to your mother's help that we could build such a good house. It's a pity your mother is also gone, she left too young. You're left alone, your life must be very difficult, right? And now you have a child. If you like it here, stay. We have food, and you and the child won't go hungry."
Tears welled up in Lan Yu's eyes involuntarily. No one had chatted with her about such everyday matters for a long time. It was warmer than the bright sunshine.
She leaned her head on her great-aunt's shoulder and felt that even beautiful times were no more than this.
Before she knew it, she had been in the countryside for almost a month. Taking care of her child, helping her maternal uncle's family with some tasks, her days passed by in a simple and free manner.
Sometimes she would think of An Jing, but the look on his face when he slapped her still made her feel disheartened. In fact, he had his daughter Xiaoxiao, which was enough. She and their daughter were completely superfluous.
So she didn't want to think about it anymore. Once she made up her mind, she would go back and divorce him.
The weather was very good that day. She was in the courtyard helping her aunt dry the grain.
Someone pushed open the half-closed door and stood at the entrance asking, "Excuse me, is Lan Yu here?"
Lan Yu's heart leaped. She hadn't expected Xiao An Jing to find her here and just wanted to turn and leave.
But her aunt, seeing such a handsome man looking for Lan Yu, greeted him with a smile and asked, "Are you our Lan Yu's man?"
An Jing was extremely excited the moment he saw Lan Yu. He had many things he wanted to say to her, but seeing Lan Yu's cold expression, he knew she hadn't forgiven him yet.
He smiled and nodded to the middle-aged woman in the courtyard, "Yes, I'm her husband. She brought the child to the countryside to relax without telling me, which made me search for a long time."
Her aunt covered her mouth and laughed, "Did you make her angry? Young couples like you who just got married like to bicker."
After speaking, her aunt was about to leave the courtyard, wanting to give them some privacy.
Lan Yu grabbed her aunt without a second thought, "The grain isn't dried yet, don't mind him! I have nothing to say to him."
Her aunt smiled and pulled away, "Still sulking? You have a child, and he found you. It's time to make up." With that, she returned to the house.
Lan Yu decided not to dry the grain anymore. She spread the remaining grain on the ground, wanting only to get away from An Jing.
An Jing stepped forward to block her, "Still angry? I know I was wrong. Xiaoxiao has already been sent to her biological father. In my heart, you and Ningyu are the most important."
Lan Yu didn't want to listen to his sweet talk. She pushed him away and said, "Thank you, but it doesn't matter to me now whether we are important to you or not. Ningyu and I are doing quite well on our own."
"Where's Ningyu? Why don't I see her?" An Jing changed the subject, looking around for Ningyu.
"You don't need to worry about her. You weren't this worried when she fell and hit her head," Lan Yu directly pushed him out the door and closed the courtyard gate, even locking it.
An Jing was blocked outside the door, knowing that Lan Yu wouldn't forgive him easily this time.
"I won't leave until I take you back."
"Whatever you say! But you're not allowed in my maternal uncle's house!" Lan Yu's tone was firm. She returned to the house, no longer paying him any mind.
She went back to the room her aunt had tidied up for them. Seeing Ningyu sleeping soundly, she sat beside her, looking at her sleeping face, and whispered, "Baby, do you think we should forgive Daddy?"