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墨書 Inktalez
"Dad, my brother and I want to sing."
During dinner, Xu Weihua glanced at Xu Li, worried that his wife might oppose their idea.
"Are you planning to form a group?"
Xu Li put down her chopsticks and took a tissue to wipe Eva's mouth. "I still believe that studying should be your main focus right now. Singing can be a hobby, but it shouldn't become a career."
"Being a star is great! Enjoying the adoration and cheers from others, making money hand over fist—much more than you could ever earn working hard in the fields," she added.
Xu Weihua, however, shrugged it off dismissively. Xu Li looked at him intently. "Remember this, kid: money is never-ending. There are many ways to earn it. From what you’re saying, it sounds like you look down on your father who tends the cattle?"
"No, no, I don’t!"
Xu Weihua shook his head vigorously in fear. Ivan took a sip of his drink and interjected, "Come on, why are you being so serious with the kids? How old are they compared to you?"
Xu Weihua reached out to shake his uncle's thigh for support. Vasily chuckled and lit a cigarette. "These days, being a star can be profitable. They can also broaden their horizons and social circles; it’s good for them. I don’t think these two kids are cut out for academics."
He knew well about their grades; with some effort, they could barely scrape by, yet every time after finals, they would end up getting beaten half to death by their uncle.
"What do you two really want to do?"
Xu Li scanned the faces of her two sons, the pressure from their 'Old Parent' causing them to habitually lower their heads.
"I'll speak up."
Seeing his two nephews hesitating, Ivan said immediately, "They want to transfer schools to Moscow. They were afraid you wouldn't agree, which is why they dragged me and Vasily back for a vacation."
Vasily poured some wine for his sister's husband. "I think going to a big city isn’t bad at all. Lao Si and Old Five live in Moscow; they’ll have someone looking out for them."
"Dad, I want to go study in Huaxia."
"I want to go too."
Xiao Si and Xiao Wu looked eagerly at Xu Li. Anna and Eva suddenly put down their chopsticks and grabbed his arms, shaking him gently. Eva spoke softly, "If the baby wants to go, let him go."
Xu Li turned her head to look at Lao San, her only daughter. "Zhuo Ya, what about you?"
"I think living in Irkutsk is great! I get to be with Grandpa and Grandma every day, and during holidays I can come back to be with Dad."
The little girl shrugged nonchalantly and continued eating. Old Liu immediately pledged his loyalty: "Yes, yes! I'm the most conscientious person; I'm not going anywhere."
"Alright then, if that's where you want to go, go ahead."
Xu Li wiped her mouth and stood up to head into the yard. Lighting a cigarette, she smoked silently as Ivan and Vasily followed her outside. The three men sat in a row on the steps at the entrance.
Misha couldn't help but feel a sense of inevitability. Ivan, with a few gray hairs at his temples, patted Xu Li's broad, sturdy shoulders and said, "Children are like young eagles; they will eventually leave the nest and face life on their own. What you need to do is guide them toward the right path while they are still young."
"I'll help them get their passports and paperwork when I return in two days," he added before standing up to head back inside for another drink. Vasily chuckled and said, "Misha, try to take it easy. This is a hurdle every parent has to face."
"Take it easy? What nonsense!" Xu Li scoffed with a laugh. "As long as my daughter stays by my side, those boys can go wherever they please."
"Zhuo Ya will eventually get married one day," Vasily remarked, as if recalling something amusing. He suddenly burst into laughter. "I remember when we were kids, our father used to say the same thing: no matter what great things you boys achieve, Anna and Eva are my lifelines."
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