More than six hundred kilometers, taking the train takes an entire night, finally arriving at the station at around seven in the morning the next day. Half standing, half crouching, finally leaning against a chicken coop and falling asleep, if it were the Ye Ling from the past life, she would never endure this, but in this life, after spending a night leaning against a chicken coop, she only had one thought, which was that it was truly wonderful to have a chance to live again.
The northern winter is cold, a thick cotton-padded jacket and two pairs of cotton pants are still not enough, people's heads are wrapped in thick hats, with straps fastening two cotton gloves together slung around their necks.
Old Mrs. Ye had lived through the wartime years, her legs bowed with the passage of time, standing like two semicircles. Wrapped in black cloth from the ankles to the outside of the knees, it prevents cold wind from penetrating from below. Wearing those high-faced shoes typical of old women in the 70s and 80s, simple in design yet warm.
On the upper body, she wears a teal cotton jacket with slanting lapels and loops, reaching all the way to below her buttocks, and a sheepskin hat with a turned-up brim on her head.
As for Ye Ling beside her, she wears a similar teal coat, grey trousers on the bottom, with black velvet cotton shoes, and a red plaid scarf around her neck. This kind of scarf is very popular now, usually only newly-wedded brides would have one, and Ye Ling's was bought after she had a spat with Grandma Ye. Grandma Ye took out the money saved from a year's worth of selling eggs to buy it for her.
When Ye Ling wore this scarf around the village, who among her peers didn't envy her? That feeling of being above others, when thought back upon now, only makes Ye Ling feel ashamed. She was truly foolish for not understanding anything, how could she spend the hard-earned money saved by her grandma over a year on something, and still feel it was deserved?
Her parents acted as if they didn't have a daughter; all these years, she was raised by her grandma.
Against the cold wind, Ye Ling tightened the scarf around her neck. In this life, she still wants to wear this scarf properly, not because it's beautiful, but as a constant reminder to herself, not to be as foolish as she was in the past life.
Ye Ling took the initiative to grab the bag, supporting her grandma as they walked over the overpass with the crowd, reaching the exit. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar train station exit, she didn't expect to be back here again. However, Ye Ling remembered in her past life, she stood here for more than half an hour before dad came to pick them up. The reason, naturally, was to first take the younger sister who learned dance and mom also stayed with her, so only dad came alone.
The two grandparents stood side by side at the train station for more than half an hour. Ye Ling knew nothing had changed, just like in the past life, her dad was late, while she and grandma stood in the cold wind for so long, all because of that pampered little sister at home.
Ye Ling remembers feeling angry in the past life too, but seeing the pastries her dad bought for her, she easily put the matter behind her. Although grandma was also angry at dad, seeing she wasn't angry, she didn't pursue it further.
From afar, finally seeing the familiar gray Zhongshan suit approaching, Ye Ling took a deep breath, helping her sitting grandma back on the bag, "Grandma, my dad is here."
"Here, huh?" Grandma Ye, after all, had aged, with her body unable to endure after sitting an entire night on the train.
Standing for more than half an hour in the cold wind, she couldn't stand anymore, the north winter falling over thirty degrees, standing outside for a while would chill one to the bone, no matter how thick the clothes, and with Ye Family's conditions not too well-off, Grandma Ye's cotton clothing was made years ago, inadequate for the cold winds.
Seeing grandma shivering in the cold wind, eyes full of distress, Ye Ling understood why her dad was late, making her even angrier.
He Ping rushed over with big strides after getting off the bus, steps a bit frantic, obviously quite anxious too. But Ye Ling thought he brought it on himself, turning her head directly away without speaking when he arrived.
However, Grandma Ye, words tinged with helpless complaints but also joy seeing her son, said, "He Ping, why did you come so late? Look at Lingzi freezing."
At the end of it all, Old Mrs. Ye's heart ached for the granddaughter she raised.
He Ping guiltily said, "Mom, I first took Ye Qian to her dance lessons, held up on the road for a bit."
Turning to his daughter, He Ping's face already bear a serious look, "Lingzi, why didn't you take your grandma to the waiting room when you saw I hadn't come?"
He Ping, who taught students in school, appeared more strict than the ordinary person, coupled with a lack of patience, resulting in a bit of an explosive temper.
Seeing her son scolding the granddaughter, Old Mrs. Ye became disgruntled. Before she could speak, Ye Ling intercepted, "Dad, I wanted to take Grandma to the waiting room, but she was worried you couldn't find us insisted on waiting outside. Besides, didn't you and Mom say in the telegrams you would pick us up? No matter how urgent Ye Qian's dance lessons were, they wouldn't take those for Grandma to freeze outside for so long, you're okay with this despite her age?"
The meaning was clear, they stayed outside to avoid He Ping looking for them fruitlessly, yet another meaning was suggesting their prioritizing their daughter hurt the older generation, pushing the blame elsewhere, how selfish.
Originally angry with her son for scolding the granddaughter without discerning right from wrong, Old Mrs. Ye's discontent turned onto him upon knowing the granddaughter's words, face turning solemn.
To say Old Mrs. Ye was formidable would be correct, raising her son as a widow, staying in the countryside with the granddaughter over the years without a word of grievance, despite the son not able to provide financially; Old Mrs. Ye bore on alone, gritting through.
The elderly was strong-willed, but not foolish.
She refrained from rushing to speak, yet her gaze to her son changed.
He Ping was caught by surprise by his daughter's words, torn between retorting or staying silent. After all, the daughter wasn't wrong, he hadn't fulfilled his role as a son, coupled this with years of his mother helping to raise his children, he long felt remorseful towards her.
Reflecting again on his earlier attitude, He Ping knew he was impulsive, subsequently, his tone softened, "You're right, it was my mistake, and I acknowledge it."
Ye Ling turned aside, a cold laugh in her heart, being sensible, knowing when to lower oneself.
However, Old Mrs. Ye would not forgive her son merely for admitting a fault, "Alright, alright, talk more when we get home, didn't your wife accompany the second one for dance? Has the food at home been prepared? Lingzi and I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon, we stood through the night, we need a hot meal."
He Ping's face turned red, guilt within grew, as he stooped down to take the bag from his daughter's hand, "Mom, let's head to a place for a hot bowl of noodles before heading home."
Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Ye realized the home wasn't prepared either, clearly overlooked her role as mother-in-law, face darkening immediately.
"Then…" better to head home to eat.
Halfway through, Grandma Ye's words interrupted by Ye Ling, "Then listen to Dad, eat first, everyone's chilled through, a warm meal would be good."
Pulling at her grandma, unwilling to spend money, softly pinching her grandma's arm, her grandma understood the granddaughter's intention, ceasing opposition.
Ye Ling understood, Grandma was frugal in daily life, reluctant to spare a dime. But for this granddaughter, there was nothing she wouldn't. Hence, knowing Grandma wouldn't turn her down.
He Ping finally breathed easier, originally feeling undeserving of this mother, yet managing to at least provide her with warmth somewhat relieved guilt in his heart.
Walking behind her dad, Ye Ling felt the lightest among them, as she knew her mom was the thriftiest, living conditions relying solely on dad's salary, great expenditure also on Ye Qian's lessons, spreading every penny into two. Though the hot noodles cost little, it would pain her mom for half a month.
With this thought, Ye Ling curiously anticipated what expression her mom would show upon knowing this.
After all in the past life nothing of the sort happened, last time upon eating pastries dad was blamed a lot, this life included noodles plus pastries, heartache fueling her anticipation.