Poem in the Rice Field 11: Chapter 11
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墨書 Inktalez
As I stirred, I softly said, "No need to dye it, Aunt, you look great just the way you are." 0
 
Aunt looked at herself in the mirror and replied, "Of course! When I was young, I was the most beautiful flower in the area." 0
 
"But in a few days, you'll be sending me off to school. You should dye it a bit, so that your white hair doesn't get compared unfavorably by other parents. It would be embarrassing for you." 0
 
How could that be? Aunt, you are the best parent in the world. You are the most qualified mother. 0
 
After dyeing, there was still some left when Uncle came back. He patted his head and said, "Don't waste it; give me some too." 0
 
Second Brother leaned against the doorframe, rolling his eyes and sarcastically commenting, "Look at this couple all dressed up..." 0
 
The dormitory had six beds. Aunt chose one for me that was tucked away. 0
 
"The window side is cold in winter, and the door side faces the hallway breeze. You might have to get up at night to let someone in. This bed is the best." 0
 
Uncle went to buy daily necessities while Aunt made my bed. 0
 
The lady from the adjacent bed remarked, "Your daughter looks like her father; she doesn't resemble you much." 0
 
Aunt paused in her movements and replied, "She is my niece; I am her aunt, so of course we don't look alike." 0
 
The lady's expression froze for a moment. 0
 
 
She seemed curious about why Aunt was the one who brought it over, but she didn’t say anything. 0
 
I walked over and helped Aunt hold the corner of the blanket, clearly stating, “I was raised by Uncle; he is my real father and mother.” 0
 
In that moment, Aunt's hand gripping the blanket trembled violently. 0
 
After several seconds, she nodded firmly, “That’s right, Shi Shi may not be my biological child, but she is my own daughter.” 0
 
Second Brother had originally planned to pursue graduate studies but hesitated due to family circumstances. Now that our eldest brother had reassured him, he began to prepare with full commitment. 0
 
He had always been smart, and back then, the competition for graduate entrance exams wasn’t as fierce as it is now; the acceptance rate was relatively higher than that of college entrance exams. 0
 
He successfully gained admission to Zhejiang University for his graduate studies. There were no tuition fees. 0
 
His advisor was quite good; he worked on projects every month and received stipends. 0
 
Aside from supporting himself, he even had extra money to buy me birthday gifts. 0
 
During my college years, my uncle, in his fifties, surprisingly learned electrical work from others and mastered the skills, working with a renovation company. 0
 
It wasn’t just piecework; he was on a contract basis, earning money per project completed. 0
 
Uncle was diligent and meticulous in his work, earning around ten thousand yuan a month. 0
 
Aunt accompanied Uncle everywhere; sometimes she worked as a stock clerk in a supermarket, other times at a restaurant—she was always busy. 0
 
The family’s life was getting better and better. 0
 
Uncle wanted to tear down the old house and rebuild it. 0
 
Eldest Brother strongly suggested that he buy a house in the county town. “The house at home will be empty in the future.” 0
 
 
"There’s no room for value retention." 0
 
At that time, my uncle was smoking, slowly saying, "I live with your mother. When you all come back, don’t you need a place to stay?" 0
 
"No matter how good the city is, your mother and I still have our roots in the village." 0
 
Now, every household in the village has a multi-story building, but we still live in an old flat-roofed house. Over the years, my uncle has been laughed at by the villagers countless times. 0
 
Building a new house might not just be about retirement; it’s also about face and confidence. 0
 
During the winter break of my sophomore year, my older brother's girlfriend was coming to visit. To prepare for her arrival, my brother took me to the county town for shopping. Unexpectedly, we ran into his ex-girlfriend. 0
 
Calculating the time, they had broken up exactly three years ago. His ex was holding a small child, probably over a year old. 0
 
Light snow fell as they casually chatted at the entrance of the clothing market. 0
 
"Are you married?" 0
 
"Soon. My fiancée will come to my house in a few days." 0
 
"Are you still working at the factory?" 0
 
"I quit long ago. Now I’m a freelancer, making money from home." 0
 
 
 
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  • Amy
  • Mary
  • John
  • Smith
  • Edward