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墨書 Inktalez
As the New Year approaches, even before stepping into Song Family Village, one can feel a festive and lively atmosphere. Every household has couplets pasted on their doors and lanterns hanging at the entrance, while the village's stilt team is performing various folk acrobatics.
Song Pearl is not interested in these annual performances; she hurriedly walks toward her home. Along the way, she encounters several young women, daughters-in-law, children, and elderly ladies who are watching the show. Unable to distinguish who is who and unsure of how to address them, she doesn't bother to consider whether her smile might affect others' perceptions. She simply smiles as she arrives at her front door.
The land sold by Song Family Village to Hongqing Group is now surrounded by a transparent fence made of iron bars. Song Pearl's house is right next to this fence, making it look like it is guarding the garden land.
However, the presence of the fence adds a sense of security to that house.
The farmland leading to the Song Family house has been flattened, and a black car is parked there, but there are no people in sight.
No matter how luxurious the car is, it has nothing to do with her family. Song Pearl pushes open the large door and feels a warm sensation upon seeing everything familiar at home.
The house is very quiet; two pigs in the pigpen are lying down, their bellies round and full from eating.
On the roof of the pigpen, some prepared glutinous rice dough for tangyuan is drying, and a half-washed pot sits on a broken water bucket.
"Where is everyone?" Song Pearl wonders aloud.
"I'm back!" Song Pearl calls out. "I brought back something good!"
What she brought back are five pounds of ribbon fish provided by her company and a roasted chicken bought from a shop in County Town.
As Song Pearl speaks and pushes open the door to the main room, she is startled by what she sees inside.
"Who is this person in my house? And they brought so many gifts—could it be a visit? That’s not very likely."
Song Pearl stands at the doorway of the main room with pursed lips, neither stepping out nor going in.
The people inside stop talking and look over at her. Liu Cuiying calls out, "Pearl, we have an honored guest at home! Don't just stand there—come in! It's your colleague from work!"
Song Pearl pouted. How could she compare to her well-dressed, high-minded colleagues? This was clearly a case of a weasel wishing the chicken well without any good intentions.
"I'm sorry, my daughter doesn't speak much," Liu Cuiying interjected, trying to ease the tension in the room.
"It's fine. Song Pearl is also our colleague, not an outsider. There's no need to be formal," said a male voice that was even more pleasant than a radio DJ's.
"Who is this person?" Song Pearl felt her guard go up as she glanced at Song Shiting and then at Liu Cuiying, both of whom were smiling broadly.
Seeing the polite voice and charming smile of the calm and composed man, Song Pearl felt a chill run down her spine.
She asked, "Who are you?"
"This is Wen Yu, your Aunt Liu's grandson. Do you remember Aunt Liu?" Liu Cuiying said enthusiastically, her face glowing with warmth and joy.
Wen Yu? Such a familiar address—had this person cast a spell on them? Song Pearl curled her lips, but the atmosphere in the room did not change despite her expression.
"Pearl, don't you remember? It was Wen Yu who drove us back from the hospital last time!" Song Shiting added, looking kindly at Qing Wenyu.
Qing Wenyu had a charming smile and an easygoing demeanor as he casually sat on the somewhat worn-out sofa without any formality.
"Hello," Song Pearl moved her lips, "You actually seem quite likable while talking!"
"What do you mean?" Qing Wenyu replied, his eyes filled with warmth and friendliness.
"You come off as somewhat intimidating. What brings you to my home?" Song Pearl asked directly.
Every time she faced Qing Wenyu, she found it easy to be herself, and her words flowed more smoothly.
"Pearl, how did you speak to the guest?" Song Shiting said with a stern face, somewhat displeased. "Go inside, put your things down, and rest in your room!"
Song Pearl felt a bit wronged. Since she was little, Song Shiting had never spoken harshly to her. She placed the two bags she was holding down, pushed open the door to her room, and immediately closed it behind her, tears streaming down her face.
"What is wrong with me?" Song Pearl wiped her tears. This year, she seemed to be feeling more human emotions; her feelings had become richer, and she was slowly experiencing the flavors of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness.
Outside the door came a voice—Qing Wenyu's magnetic yet polite and gentle tone.
"I wish you a speedy recovery and a good New Year. I won't disturb you any longer. Goodbye."
Then came the sound of a chair being moved and footsteps.
"Have a meal before you leave!" It was Song Shiting's voice.
"No need, I'm going to have dinner with my grandmother," Qing Wenyu replied gently. Song Pearl could imagine his smiling eyes, which felt somewhat insincere.
This person turned out to be a born actor, specializing in feigned emotions. Only she knew that indifference and seriousness were his true expressions.
Song Pearl thought angrily.
"This is the cured sausage I made; it tastes quite good. Take it home and try it!" Liu Cuiying said enthusiastically. "It's not worth much!"
Of course, it wasn't worth much; who knows if they would just throw it away after going out? Song Pearl wished she could run out and snatch back the sausage Liu Cuiying had given away, but she wouldn't do that. Her shy and timid nature developed over many years couldn't be changed overnight.
As for her current strong dislike for Qing Wenyu, she found it somewhat inexplicable.
Whenever Fish Pond was involved, her thoughts became more complicated.
She believed that Qing Wenyu was definitely not just coming to take a look; his purpose must be to check on the Fish Pond.
At that time, when negotiating the contract with Hongqing, Song Pearl used some tactics to make them agree, without fully understanding, that Song Shiting would retain ownership of the Fish Pond along with the Song Family's house.
After the contract was signed, it was in black and white, and those who executed it wouldn't interfere with how they managed their family and the Fish Pond. However, that didn't mean they wouldn't scheme; they might make Song Shiting voluntarily give up the Fish Pond and move away.
Song Shiting, being such a nice person, couldn't resist a few flattering words. He always considered others first. If Hongqing's sweet talk came his way, Song Shiting would surely fall for it completely.
No, absolutely not. Song Pearl suddenly sat up in bed; she needed to take action. She couldn't let this person named Qing come and cause trouble again!
When Qing Wenyu first arrived at Song Family Village, as Song Pearl had thought, he planned to get close to Song Shiting so that he would gradually develop a good impression of him. Then, making a request for him to relocate and relinquish ownership of the Fish Pond should be easier.
Song Family Village was very lively, with stilt walkers parading through the streets while villagers gathered around to watch, creating a bustling scene filled with cheers and laughter.
Even from a distance, one could clearly see those villagers standing on wooden poles over a meter high, their cheeks painted with peach blush and their eyebrows accentuated. There were clowns and flower girls, matchmakers and Taoist priests, as well as bearers carrying sedan chairs. The stilt walkers sometimes interacted with the surrounding villagers and occasionally performed daring jumps and splits that made the brave spectators gasp in shock.
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