The pear blossoms fall in the evening breeze

I stand by the river in December, watching the moon descend upon the cold surface of the water. You are that shimmering light, twinkling in my hurried life.

Chen Jiayou smiled bitterly as he took out the last thing he had given to Wen Di in his life. "Do you remember the birthday banquet when I touched a turbine? My family said I would become an engineer," he paused and opened his palm. "Look, Wen Di, everything is actually predestined; the answer has been there for over twenty years. I’m sorry I never properly told you, Wen Di, I love you"

A year later, Wen Di received the admission notice from the School of Physics at Peking University. Throughout the entire summer, Chen Jiayou was busy with military drills. The temperature difference between day and night on the grassland was extremely large, and at night he wore a military coat and said to his comrades: "This is even colder than the winter in the north"

The ancients have already taken the yellow crane away, leaving only the empty Yellow Crane Tower here

04

Then, when our son grows up, let's move back to live here, as Fang Ren will feel lonely by himself

In the night, Wen Di lay in bed, unable to sleep. Suddenly, she heard the sound of a harmonica, and she immediately opened her eyes, gripping the quilt tightly. Outside the window, the snow had piled up to a height of one foot. He was squatting in front of her window, dressed in a thick military coat, playing a tune on the harmonica intermittently. The music was long and melodious, tinged with a hint of sadness. They were just like in their childhood, back to back against the wall, she inside the room and he outside, with snowflakes swirling all around.

Wen Di shook his head, then pointed to his heart and gently said: "There is already a sun in my heart"

"Take it slow, don't choke yourself." Chen Jiayou said while handing her the water and patting her back

As soon as the words were spoken, a stone suddenly jumped in through the window, hitting Chen Jiayou on the head before bouncing off. Chen Jiayou looked utterly perplexed and gazed out the window. Wen Di brushed the snow off her clothes and stood up, wearing a bright red cotton jacket, her face beaming with a smile: "So you are going to give up just like that? Chen Jiayou, what happened to the determination you had when you ran three thousand meters?"

At that time, the parents were superstitious; when the child turned one year old, they would place a variety of items in front of them, such as a brush, ink, paper, inkstone, windmill, and spinning top, to predict the child's fate. Little Jiayou kept crawling towards the outside and finally grabbed a model of a steam turbine. The family was overjoyed, saying that this meant a future engineer would emerge from their household

Do not look! Chen Jiayou rushed over to cover his own work.

At that moment, Fang Ren felt a throbbing pain in his throat and his eyes were red. He had no choice but to turn his head away to prevent them from seeing the tears in his eyes

Later on, all the adults in the alley knew that if one wanted to find the children from the Wen family and the Chen family, they should go to Doctor Fang's small house to take a look, and it would be undoubtedly correct

I don't know, I registered my name during the holiday, and I passed the physical examination, so it should be soon

She wishes to dedicate her entire life to this, just like Fang Ren did back in the day

The moon hangs high above, and through the oiled paper window, one can see the candle flickering on the square table as Fang Ren turns the pages of his book.

Wen Di shook his head: "Impossible"

The wind outside blew against my face, and in that moment, the story "The Pear Blossom Falls in the Evening Breeze" appeared in my mind

In the azure sky, a formation of wild geese flew by. Fang Ren looked at the two children playing and frolicking under the tree not far away, and couldn't help but smile: "The swallows of the Wang and Xie families of old, have flown into the homes of ordinary people"

Wen Di gritted her teeth and refused to leave, drenched in rain and covered in mud, yet she remained resolute: "I will not go back, I want to find someone!"

At that time," he said with a smile, "it will depend on you to support it.

Professor David is deeply fascinated by Chinese culture. He has a pair of lake blue eyes and, smiling, he told Wendi that when he was still a handsome and charming young man, he had always wanted to visit China

The number of students sitting in the classroom has been decreasing every year, and the academically successful students all choose to attend vocational schools. After graduation, the state guarantees job placement, allowing them to secure a stable job, which has almost become the default choice. Wen Di has been called in for discussions with the teacher many times, yet she remains resolute in her desire to attend university

What is called growth is merely a series of farewells, and what is called a dream is the only thing you have left when you can no longer give anything up

06

This lonely ancient capital has a history of over 3,000 years since its establishment. Over 3,000 years, Fang Ren thought to himself, how many partings and reunions, joys and sorrows must there have been? Yet he himself, in such a timeworn city, has found a home

When Wendi heard this news on the broadcast, she was memorizing the universal gravitational constant. On this day, the entire world was continuously replaying this epoch-making news

Fang Ren has a box full of works by Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Turgenev. He has studied Russian, and his friend who studied in Russia brought back original editions of these books. In his spare time, he would lean over his desk and translate the books himself. When Fang Ren was working, Wendi and Chen Jiayou never dared to disturb him. They would sit on the floor reading, occasionally scratching their heads when they encountered unfamiliar characters, but they would just move on.

After Fang Ren's death, he left a will bequeathing all his possessions, including his residence, to Wen Di and Chen Jiayou, to cover all their future educational expenses. He tidied the room meticulously, leaving the windows open, with the gentle breeze causing the oiled paper windows to rustle. On the desk by the window, there remained two brushes and two fountain pens, with the ink placed in the upper left corner. Under the glass protecting the desk were several black-and-white photographs; one showed Fang Ren in a black coat, holding two children on either side. In the subsequent photos, the features of the boy and girl gradually matured. In the center of the photographs was Fang Ren, whose face also bore the marks of time. Alongside the photographs were several sheets of white notepaper, listing the books he hoped they would finish reading.

Wen Di reached out and patted Chen Jiayou's arm: "Hey, you need to keep it up!"

Parting in life is as sorrowful as parting in death; he will never know that in this vast and dark universe, there exists a star named after him

"Studying astronomy?" The teacher was so furious that smoke seemed to be coming out of all seven orifices, "Can you eat by studying stars every day?"

So when are you leaving

Prologue

Thus, the two squatted outside Fang Ren's door, preventing him from leaving, fearing that he might simply take a girl, get married, and have children, and would no longer pay any attention to them.

In September 1949, Beiping was renamed Beijing once again. Three years later, Wen Di and Chen Jiayou were born on this land, with both families residing on the same wide alley, where pear trees were planted outside the courtyard, and goldfish in the lotus pond occasionally leaped out of the water to bite the white petals blown down by the wind

Chen Jiayou fell silent; that powerful empire was separated from their homeland by more than a thousand mountains and rivers. He raised his head and said firmly: "Wen Di, no matter how far it is, you must go."

The winter of 1985 saw Britain enveloped in a desolate chill. At that time, London was still truly the foggy city, where the classical architecture on the streets could only be faintly discerned through the Gothic walls and tiles, as everyone awaited the dawn.

Fang Ren decided to abandon traditional treatment, signing an agreement with the same hospital to voluntarily accept new drugs and protocols, documenting all symptoms during the treatment process. This was likely the last thing he could do for the career he loved. If possible, he thought, perhaps he could still save a few lives.

Years later, Wen Di saw the prototype of this story in the library, which is the Greek myth "Orpheus and His Seven-Color Lyre," a nostalgic glance of a passionate singer who caused the death of his beloved. At the end of the book, there were annotations from a stranger: Sadness is the true essence of love

It was early spring in Beijing, with a biting chill in the air, and the sparrows that had taken refuge under the old eaves were startled into flight.

His favorite sandalwood chair was draped with his coat. He made numerous house calls in the rain, which led to the onset of rheumatism. Consequently, he developed the habit of placing his coat over his knees when sitting down

Six months later, Fang Ren often felt fatigued, and he began to experience vague pain in the liver area. At first, he did not take it seriously, but when the situation worsened and he underwent an examination, it was already at the late stage of liver cirrhosis. On the day the examination report was released, Fang Ren sat on the wooden chair he usually occupied, contemplating for a long time, and finally recalled that surgery, the inadequate medical protection measures, and an inconspicuous wound had cost him his life.

Wen Di often dreams, dreaming of him being trapped under that big tree. No matter how desperately she calls out to him, he never opens his eyes again. She begins to increasingly miss their childhood, carefree, sitting by the river and singing songs all day long

Wen Di spoke only after chewing the food in her mouth: "I feel so sad, both in life and in my heart. I am forsaken by everyone, and I cannot see where the future lies."

Wen Di wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the goosebumps that arose on her arms due to excitement

When Wendi lowered her head, she could see Chen Jiayou's flat top, resembling a hedgehog. She reached out to touch it and called out to him with a smile: "Jiayou."

She slowly closed the book, and the warm sunlight fell on her shoulders. She closed her eyes and thought, pondering for many years without finding an answer: why can’t one turn back?

Chen Jiayou was momentarily taken aback, continued to take a few more bites of rice, and did not respond.

Then, in the winter of the third year apart, Chen Jiayou finally returned. He was no longer the naive young man of years past; the scorching sun and biting cold had honed him into a handsome man. His skin had tanned to a wheat color, and he stood at the mouth of the alley wearing a worn military coat, carrying a large bundle of luggage, with swirling white snow settling on his shoulders

Wen Di stubbornly shook his head: "No, he will come, I know."

Fang Ren quickly gained the welcome and recognition of the neighbors. He has a gentle temperament and is humble; whenever someone has a fever or cold, there is no need to run far to the hospital. Moreover, Fang Ren is a genuine university student, and sometimes illiterate elders would knock on his door holding a newspaper, smiling awkwardly as they ask, "Xiao Fang, could you take a look and see if there are any major events today"

Wen Di walked to the iron window, looking left and right, but could not find any trace of him. Startled, Wen Di anxiously returned to his desk and sat down, once again pinching his throat to call out: "Wen Di, Wen Di—"

The key to the house was also in the possession of Chen Jiayou, but Wen Di was unwilling to open the door, so he sat outside. He took out a faded green harmonica from his pocket, placed it at his lips, and tentatively blew a few notes, then the music finally became coherent. Wen Di closed her eyes; it was her favorite "Serenade".

On the day the third year of high school began, after school, Wen Di could not find Chen Jiayou in his class, so she took a longer route to the library to borrow some books. The books she had been waiting for were finally returned, which made Wen Di very happy. That night, Wen Di heard the sound of a stone falling to the ground, which was the secret signal between her and Chen Jiayou. She got up, dressed, and quietly climbed out of the window.

They have all lived up to their fifteen-year-old selves. Wen Di was filled with tears, choked with emotion and unable to contain herself

She rushed out from the path, and Chen Jiayou hurriedly squeezed the bicycle's brakes, nearly causing a tumble for both himself and the bike

Chen Jiayou took a seven-day leave and traveled from western Sichuan. They stayed at the guesthouse of Wangjiang Tower, where they could see the flowing water and white egrets gliding over the river from the upper floor. Chen Jiayou borrowed a bicycle from the owner; although the bell was silent, everything else made noise. During the day, he rode the bicycle around Chengdu with Wen Di, visiting the Bodhisattva at Wenshu Monastery, the water lanterns at Hejiang Pavilion, and the hibiscus flowers on Chunxi Road. The people of Chengdu value leisure, and there are open-air teahouses everywhere. Chen Jiayou and Wen Di followed local customs, lounging in chairs, cleaning their ears, and basking in the sun.

Chen Jiayou only heard his parents mention that a boy was pursuing Wen Di at the dinner table after returning home that day. His mother even shot him a glare: "That person is a talented individual, a high achiever from Peking University. Look at you, you haven't even graduated from high school, and you spend all year outside in the wind and rain. What do you have to compare with him?"

"Why are you carving the wood?" Wen Di asked in confusion

As dawn broke, the dock was already bustling with activity. The worker in charge of registering passengers held a notebook and said, "Little girl, it's time to board the ship; you can no longer wait."

I also don't understand. Seeing her smile, Chen Jiayou felt a sense of relief in his heart. Anyway, she is very beautiful. Wen Di, go walk the path you wish to walk, and live the life you wish to live.

Suddenly, she heard a faint sound of crying, so faint that amidst the wind and rain, it seemed almost like a figment of her imagination

"How did you end up here?" Chen Jiayou looked at Wen Di in disbelief

... ... Additionally, a commando team that set out from Chengdu has encountered a new round of mudslides and is now out of contact with the outside world ... ...

On a day in 1960, a dilapidated human-powered tricycle stopped in front of a wide alley. A young man, well-mannered and refined, stepped down from the vehicle. He was wearing a light gray scholar's robe and was holding a small black leather case in his hand. Fang Ren stood in front of the ancient city's red tiles and green walls, took off his hat, and let out a long sigh. At the age of twenty-six, he had graduated from the medical department of Tongji University and had traveled a long way to Beijing, where he took a position at the Concord Hospital in the eastern part of the city.

Finally, at the end of his gaze, a green figure appeared. Chen Jiayou was panting as he took out something from his bag: "This is your favorite osmanthus cake, and there is only this little bit. Make sure to eat it sparingly; once it's gone, there won't be any left."

Indeed, that is her dream, to attend a university at the pinnacle of the world, with the most authoritative professors in her field of expertise, where she can finally showcase her talents

So, have you discussed it with your family?

No

Occasionally discussing these circumstances, Fang Ren was filled with concern. He would place his hand on the heads of Wen Di and Chen Jiayou, saying to them: "Perhaps ten years is not enough, but twenty years, thirty years... I know that one day, our country will stand up."

Wen Di widened her eyes in surprise. Fang Ren thought for a moment, took out a piece of draft paper from the drawer, drew a large circle on it, and then drew eight smaller circles beside it: "Listen carefully, Di Di, this largest circle represents the Sun, and this one represents the Earth we inhabit. The reason it orbits around the Sun is due to the gravitational force that exists between them. In the universe, there are many planets like Earth. Between heaven and earth, from the largest planets to the smallest dust, there exists a kind of gravitational force among them."

It is very dangerous here! Under any circumstances, please leave immediately! The soldiers on the opposite side also show no signs of retreat.

Chen Jiayou's leg injury was treated for two months, and he did not suffer any lasting effects. Due to his active contributions in rescue operations, he was awarded a first-class merit by the military. He bit the medal with his mouth, finding it extremely hard, and wrapped it in old clothes to send back to Beijing for Wen Di. Over the phone, Wen Di reproached him: "What are you doing? It was you who saved the person, and you who earned the merit; I was just helping to keep it safe for you"

At this moment, recalling that instant, the characters in the story—Wen Di, Chen Jiayou, Fang Ren—seem to be standing at the entrance of the foggy alley, smiling and nodding at me, waving their hands, unsure whether they are saying goodbye or acknowledging that we all have our own paths to follow ahead

Comrade, it is too dangerous here, please leave immediately

In the summer, Chen Jiayou secretly took Wen Di to the riverside. Wen Di, not knowing how to swim, only dared to take off her shoes and dip her small feet into the water. Chen Jiayou rolled up his pant legs high, stretched his arms into the water, and splashed vigorously, soaking Wen Di completely.

Fang Ren has always clearly remembered the details of that surgery; he has a good memory and recalls every operation he has performed in vivid detail. The patient was in the late stages of hepatitis B and required surgery. In 1966 China, this was still a contagious disease that people avoided at all costs. In fact, it was not just a contagious disease; the overall backwardness of the country's medical equipment and the lack of medical knowledge led to countless tragedies

On the weekend, when Wendi finished his homework and went to find Chen Jiayou to play, he saw him rarely sitting on a stone bench, learning carving from Fang Ren.

The light of the sky behind him finally shone through, the warm golden hue settling in the depths of his eyes

Chen Jiayou was amused by her timid appearance. He reached out with his wet hand and tugged at Wen Di's hair, proudly declaring: "Wen Di, do not be afraid, I will protect you"

03

Three hundred eighty light-years, which means that in the next life, there will be no way to meet again

Wen Di kicked the splashes of water in retaliation, but as fate would have it, he slipped on the moss on the stones at the riverbed and fell headlong into the water

In the summer of the second year, Wen Di missed Peking University by a mere two points. She sat alone in Fang Ren's room without eating or drinking for two days. In the end, what she awaited was Chen Jiayou, who had hurried back from afar.

During that summer, she always loved to sit side by side with Chen Jiayou in front of the door. He played the harmonica while she read a book, occasionally lifting her head to hum a few notes along with him. Meanwhile, Fang Ren was inside, lighting a candle. The night was quiet, and the future still felt distant

As the family turned to enter the house, Chen Jiayou quickly stood up and reached out to support the still sobbing Wen Di. Wen Di stared blankly at the injury on his knee, hiccupped, and cried even harder. Chen Jiayou, at a loss, scratched the back of his head, and finally reached out to catch a tear from her cheek, tasted it, and then frowned as he said to Wen Di: "It's salty"

In the decades that followed, whenever Wen Di mentioned the term "universe," her body would involuntarily shudder. She held a deep reverence for this world, and it was this reverence that allowed her to perceive a reality distinct from that seen by others

At six o'clock in the morning, the sky in Beijing was dimly lit, and the square was already filled with soldiers standing at attention. Wen Di and Chen Jiayou blended into the crowd, as the cold dew fell on Wen Di's hair tips, gently brushed away by Chen Jiayou. The onlookers held their breath, watching as the soldiers in white gloves grasped the red flag in their hands and then threw it high into the air. At that moment, Chen Jiayou suddenly reached out and tightly held Wen Di's hand. The red flag rose steadily, Chen Jiayou's palm was warm and slightly trembling, and Wen Di's heart suddenly became extremely soft. She looked up and thought, Brother Fang Ren, if you were still alive, you would surely be proud of us.

Chen Jiayou opened a traditional Chinese medicine shop, and Fang Ren held great respect for the elder, often bringing pharmacology books to seek his advice. As time went by, Chen Jiayou and Fang Ren became familiar with each other. From a distance, he would cheerfully call out: "Big brother, big brother"

His voice drifted in the wind as he slowly said: "Wendi, do not look back"

On such a cold day, Wendi received the English naming certificate and the operational orbital model for "Youxing." She locked them in the bottom drawer, and when she lifted her head, she saw the last sycamore leaf outside the window had also fallen.

The two individuals lowered their heads and remained silent, simply blocking the door to prevent Fang Ren from leaving

After finishing a piece, he played it again from the beginning. On this snowy winter night, Chen Jiayou played "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix" three times, but the window of Wen Di was tightly shut, and he did not wait for her as he usually did.

After the age of seven, Wen Di would squat at the entrance of Chen Jiayou's house every morning to wait for him to go to school together. At that time, their breakfast was very simple, consisting of a cup of soy milk with a lot of soy residue and a white steamed bun. Chen Jiayou had a bigger appetite than Wen Di, so Wen Di would break off a piece of the bun for him every day. Chen Jiayou liked to sleep in, always lingering for a few extra minutes in the morning, and when he went out, there would still be soy residue at the corner of his mouth, prompting Wen Di to tease him about being a clown.

Catching the last bus home, I wore headphones and listened to music while sitting in the back row by the window. The bus passed through bustling streets, with shops on both sides emitting sparkling lights, and people coming and going, creating a lively atmosphere. However, it is precisely because of these beautiful lights that the stars in the night sky have lost their color. In the process of social civilization's development, to gain something, one inevitably has to lose something.

Fifteen-year-old Wen Di and Chen Jiayou knelt by his bedside in tears, the empty single bed with the pillow and blanket neatly folded together

He kicked the bicycle stand with his foot, and the two of them sat down in unison in front of the door. The night was enchanting, the sky filled with countless stars. Chen Jiayou remained silent for a long time before speaking: "Wen Di, I do not intend to continue my studies."

This is an eleven-year-old girl who has realized for the first time the insignificance of humanity and herself

Wen Di was not particularly surprised, as there were already too many examples of dropouts working around him. Although Chen Jiayou's family was not in a state of financial strain, he had always been rather careless about his studies. Thinking of this, Wen Di nodded and calmly asked: "Have you thought about your future path?"

Well

It was the autumn of 1966 when families began to move out of the alley, and the sky over Beijing was overcast, devoid of sunlight

"With such young individuals, your country will surely be able to regain its former glory" They expressed their sincere admiration

But everything came too late

On that evening, after leaving the laboratory, Wen Di took an overnight train to Greenwich. The famous observatory gate was locked and deserted. She sat in her checkered coat in front of the locked iron railing, waiting for five hours, witnessing a sunrise in this place known for having the most accurate time in the world

How could she not cry? Both he and she know that those futures, those gray-haired days, are no longer possible. ... Next year, the year after ... . ... For many years to come, the pear blossoms here will still bloom brilliantly, yet they will no longer be related to them.

The workers behind shouted: "Little girl, hurry, the ship is about to depart"

During these days, Wen Di often thinks of Chen Jiayou. When she sees the wild geese flying south, encounters outsiders with a western accent, or sees young people in green military uniforms... even the small shop selling osmanthus cakes on the street often makes her lose her focus, but he is unaware of it.

I always think about her, afraid that she is unhappy, afraid that she feels lonely," Chen Jiayou said with a self-deprecating smile, "In the end, the one who is truly afraid of being alone is myself

In Fang Ren's cabin, there was silence.

Since the day of its birth, humanity has never ceased its exploration of the unknown world. Wendi looked up at the boundless sky, feeling the sound of her blood surging within her. The allure of it all was simply too great; she yearned to understand this vast universe, to converse with it, and to know what exists beyond infinity

At this moment, Wen Di murmured his name, and the gnawing dull pain first emerged from the tip of her heart, then, after a long while, it began to gnaw at her entire body. In the more than ten years since parting from Chen Jiayou, she had not spent a single day without deceiving herself, but it was only at this moment that she finally admitted that her life with him had come to an end

Fang Ren was flustered and could only shake his head in response: "No."

On this day, Wen Di once again achieved first place in his studies, while Chen Jiayou failed his Chinese exam and was scratching his head trying to memorize "In the spring, the grace of virtue spreads, and all things shine with brilliance." Upon seeing Fang Ren, they laughed and tossed aside their textbooks, running towards him

The mint sprigs on the cabinet have just begun to sprout, revealing a hint of new green. His enamel tea mug is still placed beside it, slightly faded, yet the inscription "Auspicious and Propitious" is still visible.

The two individuals were chattering away, yet neither turned their heads to look at the other

She reached out her hand to caress the celestial model on the desk. I did not know which star she was gazing at, her eyes were deep, as if they had traversed time and the ocean, as if she could see the handsome young man standing under the tree many years ago. She smiled, gently lowered her gaze, and softly replied: "Compared to the infinite universe, the loneliness of humanity is truly insignificant."

Chen Jiayou was ordered to return to duty urgently on the fourth day of his leave. The area of western Sichuan is largely mountainous, and landslides frequently occur during the summer. However, this time, due to continuous heavy rainfall, flooding occurred, and all communication signals in the disaster-stricken areas were completely cut off, making it impossible to understand the extent of the disaster and the number of victims

They have merely betrayed love

Well, I saved you; in novels and dramas, one must always offer oneself in return

"Alright," he said with a smile as he took the rubber band from Wendi's hand, pointing to the night sky, "when you're feeling down, just look up at the stars. Look, those few bright ones, aren't they the Big Dipper?"

Wen Di then raised her head and cautiously asked him: "Brother Fang Ren, do you have someone you like?"

Wen Di did not respond, only crying while digging at the bricks and tiles beside Chen Jiayou. It was then that Chen Jiayou noticed her hands were already rotting, bleeding profusely. He felt an immense pain in his heart; his Wen Di should be sitting in a bright and clean library, flipping through her professional books, a world he knew nothing about.

01

He was very pleased with Wendi's answer, smiled and winked at her, and asked her the final question: "Are you willing to come to Cambridge?"

At the moment when the two were at a standstill, a sudden commotion arose not far away. A group of soldiers, covered in mud and indistinguishable from one another, collapsed on the ground, exhausted. They had finally succeeded in escorting the civilians out of the mountains. The children were crying loudly, and the soldiers in front of Wen Di momentarily forgot the situation at hand, rushing to help with the rescue. Taking advantage of this brief moment, Wen Di blended into the crowd. Her clothes were dirty and torn, and she appeared extremely haggard. The other soldiers merely assumed she was a civilian who had just been escorted out and did not pay much attention to her.

On her twenty-second birthday, Wen Di finally received the gift that Chen Jiayou had owed her for many years. She finally learned that the item he had carved while following Fang Ren all those years ago was a dragon, which represented both of their zodiac signs. Each year, he made a small modification, and after many years, it had finally transformed into a vividly lifelike little dragon, hanging around her neck to bless her with safety.

In the neighborhood, there are many aunts and gossipers who, having nothing to do, enjoy introducing young ladies to Fang Ren. At first, Fang Ren declined their offers, but after meeting one or two, he found himself walking down the street with the young ladies, full of knowledge yet at a loss for words. During meals, Wen Di and Chen Jia You could hear the adults chatting about everyday matters in their respective homes: "Doctor Fang is good in every way, but he is just too introverted"

The soldier, who had just come down from the mountain, weakly reported the situation: "There is still a squad of people in the mountain, the road is cut off, they cannot get out..."

In the evening, Chen Jiayou was concerned that Wen Di would experience foot pain from walking too much, so he took a kettle to the water room to fetch hot water, then poured it into a basin and squatted down to wash Wen Di's feet. His fingers were covered in calluses from training, while her soles were pale and tender, with veins faintly visible under the light. He dared only to gently rub her feet.

Am I not allowed to do it? Am I the one who has to do the laundry and cook? If you are unhappy, I will sit at the door and play music for you, playing until you are satisfied

A crescent moon hung in the sky, illuminated by the light filtering through the hall. Wen Di gazed at his face and finally broke into a smile after shedding tears

Well, when you come back to live here, we should lower the steps leading into the house a bit. By then, I will be old and won't be able to carry you anymore

Wen Di also followed his finger to look up at the starry sky, and then laughed: "Silly, that's not it, that's Lyra α, also known as Vega, and the one next to it is Altair."

Wen Di had no tools in her hands; she could only endure the pain as she pushed aside the bushes and thorns with her hands, struggling to move forward while calling out loudly the name of Chen Jiayou: "Jiayou—he—tu—shu—Jiayou—"

"It's about the same," he chuckled, his pockets filled with small pebbles. He took a few out to toss around, "I want to join the army"

She said on the phone: "I do not want any peace; I want to share all the luck of my life with you"

Well, you manage the shop while I keep the accounts. In a few years, we will have a child. A boy would be preferable, like you or like Brother Fang. You will be responsible for taking him swimming from a young age, and please don't let him end up like me, still a non-swimmer at this age

Every month, when Wendi finishes school and returns home, he pushes his bicycle and follows her from a distance that is neither too far nor too close, only riding away after he has seen her safely arrive home. Over time, the neighbors have all come to know of this person.

Next week, David, the head of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge, will visit Peking University. The university is beginning to consider separating the Department of Astronomy from the College of Physics to establish an independent college. Most of the male students have poor English skills, so the department has selected Wendi to serve as the student representative and translator for Professor David.

Wen Di suddenly spoke: "When you finish your service and return, we will get married."

She is my supervisor during my doctoral studies at Cambridge, the only Asian professor in the entire college, and the only woman to have been awarded the title of Professor Emerita. Her work, "Cosmology and Stellar Structure," is included as a required textbook for graduate students in astronomy across the UK

Whenever she thinks of this, she becomes very excited, but she asks, "Where is England, do you know?"

In the early summer of her senior year, Wen Di returned home once again to meet Chen Jiayou at the train station. He seemed to have grown quite a bit taller, and Wen Di had to look up to speak with him

She dedicated her entire life to her ideals. Every day, she would sincerely pray towards the place where the sun rises, wishing for the safety and happiness of the man she loved

Wen Di and he gazed at each other from a distance of several meters, their eyes clearly reflecting each other's figures, yet neither knew how to step forward. They had already traversed the innocence of childhood, the romance of youth, and the river of growth, which had placed them far apart from their once close bond.

Wen Di remained silent, unwrapping the packaged osmanthus cake, taking a piece and placing it in her mouth, the faint fragrance wafting out, yet she only felt an overwhelming bitterness. The two exchanged glances, yet neither knew how to begin saying goodbye

Wen Di sat in Fang Ren's room, took out the letter that Professor David had sent her, and translated the English words one by one for Chen Jiayou to hear. Professor David said that he had secured a full scholarship for her. He mentioned, "The Cam River in September is beautiful. A Chinese poet once wrote a poem: 'The pool under the elm shade is not a clear spring, but a rainbow from the sky, crushed among the floating algae, settling like a dream of rainbows.'"

At the scene of the rescue, the commands and shouts mingled with the sound of pouring rain, yet everything was chaotic yet orderly. Mud splashed everywhere, and the flood surged like a ferocious beast, causing one to shudder at just a distant glance.

... ... It is not possible to enter the mountains now; we must wait for the engineering troops to arrive later ... ...

On the way back, Wen Di insisted on riding a bike to carry Chen Jiayou, patting his chest to assure him that there would be no problem. Chen Jiayou, sitting on the back seat with extreme distrust, watched as Wen Di pedaled just a few steps before losing control of the handlebars, causing them both to tumble over. The two boys sat awkwardly on the ground, staring wide-eyed at each other, and then suddenly burst into laughter in unison

"Didi, don't cry anymore, we still have the next life," he said gently, "there's still a long time in the next life..."

Fang Ren was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and could only squat down to reason with them: "Listen carefully, everyone must grow up, leave their home, and even their hometown. Parents, teachers, friends, classmates... one day, they will all leave. In the end, the only one who can accompany you is yourself"

In the center of the desk lies Fang Ren's notebook, opened to reveal his strong and vigorous handwriting on the front page, which reads: "As the years increase, one does not necessarily grow old; if ideals are abandoned, one will surely fall into the twilight of life. Time flows gently, and decline only affects the skin; if enthusiasm is cast aside, despair will inevitably lead to the decay of the soul"

"Don't cry, Wendi. Don't cry, I'm here." He endured the pain and forced out an awkward smile to comfort Wendi

Sometimes when Wendi walks down the street, older ladies smile and tease her, saying: "This young man is quite handsome, he is worthy of our Wendi."

The next morning, when Wendi's parents opened the door, they saw Wendi kneeling in front of their door. She was wearing a crescent white cotton coat and heavily bowed her head to the ground, not saying a word, just repeatedly bowing her head.

Wen Di's favorite thing to do is to set a stool in front of Fang Ren's house on summer nights and listen to Chen Jiayou play Schubert's "Serenade." The boy's black hair slightly obscures his eyes as he lowers his head, his expression gentle. Afraid of disturbing Fang Ren inside the house, he dares not play too loudly. The music flows gracefully, harmonizing beautifully with the croaking of frogs by the roadside and the chirping of cicadas in the trees.

This is the first planet she discovered in the vast universe, located over 300 light-years away from Earth. As the discoverer, she named it "You." When submitting the materials, she stood in the center of the oldest conference room at Cambridge University and quietly said: "In my homeland, the distant East, this character represents divine blessing, meaning happiness arrives."

She cut off a lock of long hair and tied it into a knot with a red string; he has already grown to a height of 1.8 meters and is said to be able to grow even taller. By the shores of Weiming Lake, the willows sway gently, while the winds of the western grasslands carry the cries of cranes.

The sound of the steam turbine's whistle echoed, as Wendi looked up at the azure sky, yet tears continued to fall uncontrollably.

In the spring of the second year, the first pear blossom outside Fang Ren's house bloomed. People said this was a good omen. Chen Jiayou and Wen Di, filled with excitement, pushed open Fang Ren's door and began to shout from a distance: "Brother Fang Ren, come out quickly, the Spring God is here!"

In that year, Wen Di and Chen Jiayou were seventeen years old. She rode his bicycle to and from school every day, and occasionally enjoyed freshly baked osmanthus cake. The streets of Beijing were increasingly filled with foreigners with blue eyes and high noses. At that time, they were still unaware that they had reached a crossroads in their lives

We are following your teachings, striding confidently along the path of life, where the scenery is clear and beautiful, and even the thorns have blossomed into roses

"Indeed, one cannot be like you, who has been picky since childhood. The meat in my bowl has all been taken by you," Chen Jiayou smiled and said, "Once he starts to remember things, we will take him to Sichuan. I promised to accompany you to eat the three big cannons, but I haven't had the chance yet. I told him to love his mother well, for his mother was my lifesaver back in the day"

"Alright," Chen Jiayou said with a smile, "I don't have any particular skills either. Let's open a pharmacy, help people get some medicine, and that way we can also take care of Fang Renge's matters together.

She found him countless times, helplessly telling him to stop insisting. The boy, dressed in a white shirt, with a slender figure, smiled politely and said: "You are infatuated with the universe, yet it will not provide you with answers. I am infatuated with you, so what is wrong with that?"

This night, both noisy and silent, is truly beautiful, causing time and fate to involuntarily come to a halt

Those were the most beautiful pair of eyes she had ever seen in her life, clear and bright, always sparkling with life. At that moment, Chen Jiayou held Wen Di's hand and said happily: "That's great, Wen Di, that's great, isn't this exactly your dream?"

Chen Jiayou stood up straight with a smile, tugging at her hair: "I heard it, Wen Di, I heard it."

At the end, when Wendi returned home at the end of a certain month, her mother suddenly spoke up, saying: "It has been such a long time, why not invite someone over for a cup of tea?"

Well, I spoke with them, and they all support me. They believe that a good man should aspire to explore the world, and it is quite unreasonable to spend a lifetime cooped up at home.

During the summer vacation of the second year, Wen Di boarded a train bound for Sichuan to visit Chen Jiayou. The western region in 1973 was still very poor and underdeveloped. Upon arriving at Chengdu Railway Station, Wen Di found that the surroundings were not the dilapidated earthen houses she had imagined. Street vendors were selling snacks, pouring lotus seed soup from a copper spout in a performance-like manner, while people around clapped and cheered.

Fang Ren is like a vast treasure, possessing talents that Chen Jiayou and Wen Di could never imagine. Wen Di's favorite dish is the bear paw tofu he cooks; as soon as it comes out of the pot, she secretly pinches a piece with her fingers and tosses it into her mouth, burning her so much that tears nearly fall.

He no longer has the time to watch the two little ones grow up to become upright individuals with aspirations. He can no longer be by their side during their moments of confusion and uncertainty, during their times of disappointment and sadness, or during their moments of success and happiness

It was only at this moment that Wen Di finally understood Fang Ren's words from years ago. What is called growth is merely a series of farewells, and what is called a dream is the only thing left when you have given up everything else.

Chen Jiayou smiled, while Wen Di had been feeling down lately, her hair also in a disheveled state. Chen Jiayou gently ran her hand through Wen Di's hair, then skillfully braided it into a twist. From childhood to now, every time she braided Wen Di's hair, Chen Jiayou was always gentle.

"Wen Di, stand properly, the water is only one meter deep!"

Wen Di covered her ears and shouted loudly, trying to drown out the sound of Chen Jiayou telling a story

Chen Jiayou opened the iron lunchbox he had been holding and handed the steamed buns inside to Wen Di. Having been confined for two days, Wen Di was so hungry that his eyes were spinning, and he could swallow one in just two bites

Someone! There is someone here!" Wen Di exclaimed with joy, shouting towards the woman at the other end.

Wen Di remained silent and did not respond, everyone has their own story, but unfortunately, most matters in this world can only have a beautiful beginning

He does not speak, holding the microphone and smiling

Eighteen-year-old Wendi stood in front of the summer lotus pond, holding an envelope, and began to cry uncontrollably.

He left a cowhide envelope for Wen Di. Inside was the allowance he had saved during his year of military service, just enough to cover Wen Di's expenses for repeating the third year of high school.

When we are old, we will still lie on the chair together watching the pear blossoms like this

Jia You, did you hear that! Did you hear that!

At that time, ha, at that time

When Fang Ren returned home with a dazed expression, he saw Wen Di and Chen Jiayou sitting at the entrance of his room. Upon seeing him, they both let out a sigh of relief: "Brother Fang Ren, you are finally home!"

I truly miss the version of myself who had just turned twenty, filled with numerous dreams, persistent and hardworking, hitting the wall without turning back. It is precisely because of her unwillingness to give up that I have become who I am today

No one could have anticipated that this young man, with his picturesque features and gentle demeanor, would change the lives of Wen Di and Chen Jiayou forever

Chen Jiayou set off with the troops from Chengdu, and in the haste, the two did not even have the chance to say a proper goodbye. At that time, communication was extremely underdeveloped; the entire guesthouse had only one black-and-white television. Wen Di waited in front of the television for news reports, where the reporter was being buffeted by the wind, shouting into the microphone just to be heard by the anxious soldiers nearby.

Chen Jiayou saw that Wen Di was extremely afraid of water, and intentionally tried to scare her: "Wen Di, let me tell you, there are monsters living in the water. A long, long time ago, there was a big sister who was about to get married. In front of her house, there was a wide and swift river. Her mother sent her onto the boat and told her not to look back under any circumstances. So, the big sister boarded the boat and did not dare to look back. However, just as she was about to disembark, she thought she was already safe and secretly glanced back. Suddenly, a monster appeared in the river and swallowed her whole." A long, long time ago, there was a big sister who was about to get married. In front of her house, there was a wide and swift river. Her mother sent her onto the boat and told her not to look back under any circumstances. So, the big sister boarded the boat and did not dare to look back. However, just as she was about to disembark, she thought she was already safe and secretly glanced back. Suddenly, a monster appeared in the river and swallowed her whole.

07

This is the land she loved for a lifetime, where her beloved lies in eternal rest

She submitted the paper she had written to David, who praised it repeatedly, unable to believe that all the data came from her draft. At that time, the calculators commonly used in the country only had the most basic functions of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, which were even slower than mental calculations. David and two foreign professors he was working with were all astonished by the mathematical abilities of Chinese students. Their specialized textbooks were merely introductory readings from abroad, yet when it came to analyzing the trajectories of planetary motion, they were comparable to a powerful computer

"No," Wen Di shook his head, "but teacher, for me, ideals are more important than just filling my stomach."

Three years later, Chen Jiayou began to grow taller like all boys in their puberty, easily surpassing Wen Di. He even boasted that he would reach Fang Ren's shoulder height after the New Year. Wen Di was not convinced and practiced skipping rope at home every day. Her hair had already grown down to her waist, and every morning she would comb it and tie it into a braid.

Before leaving, David asked Wen Di: "Why do you want to study astronomy?"

On July 21, 1969, Armstrong boarded the "Apollo 11" manned spacecraft to land on the moon. He said: "This is a small step for a man, but a giant leap for mankind"

This picture depicts the solar system, with the Sun being the largest celestial body among them. However, the solar system is merely a tiny part of the Milky Way galaxy, and beyond the Milky Way, there exists an even larger universe. And the universe, "Fang Ren said softly, "the universe is infinite."

Well, I would like to go to the western region. The conditions there are harsh, and few people are willing to go. I believe this is more meaningful and also a way to challenge myself

Fang Ren turned his head and was surprised to find Wen Di staring intently at the sketch without blinking.

Their remaining lives are still long, but his life has already come to an end

Wen Di's family was invited to the school for discussions many times, and they strongly opposed her thoughts. Wen Di felt helpless and did not know who she had learned this from; she began to stage a hunger strike. At night, someone threw stones into her room through the window. The iron barred window from a few years ago had been replaced with a sliding window. She changed her clothes and quietly climbed out through the window.

After completing the surgery, Fang Ren, as usual, had a cup of coarse leaf tea in the office. That day, he finished work early and encountered a shop selling osmanthus cake that had not yet closed. He stood in line to buy a bag, although he did not particularly like this type of snack, but Wen Di and Chen Jiayou did.

Wen Di has been strikingly beautiful since childhood, with her short hair accentuating her vibrant demeanor. Moreover, she is the only girl in the entire Physics Department, and the boys are doing their utmost to pursue her. Roses, love letters, and a daily supply of hot water, Wen Di has coldly rejected countless suitors, yet there is indeed one person who has persistently refused to give up.

He said, "I will wait for you at Kangqiao, you will be my proudest student"

The other party still smiled: "A hundred years ago, people even believed that the Earth was flat"

In this world, there can be countless solar systems in the universe, but for the Earth, there is only one sun around which it continuously orbits, until the Earth explodes and turns to dust.

Wen Di stood up cautiously, holding her breath in a half-believing, half-doubting manner, as the water swayed gently by her neck

It is unknown how much time has passed, when Chen Jiayou sighed and softly said, "Didi, stop crying."

Wendy feels proud of this, and she said: "She just took a nap and has now woken up"

The next day, Chen Jiayou arrived at Fang Ren's house. The furnishings inside were as before, and the room had been cleaned to perfection by Wen Di. He squatted down, lit a fire in the stove, and then picked up the items on the table one by one, placing them back down again. He sat at the table, chatting incessantly with Fang Ren about his life in the military. At first, it was exhausting and difficult, but as time passed, he transitioned from a new recruit to a veteran. Listening to his comrades share their stories, he gradually found some enjoyment amidst the hardships.

Fang Ren replied to her with a smile: "It means that in this world, any two objects, whether living beings or inanimate things, are all mutually attractive."

Wen Di crouched before the Prime Meridian, her trembling hand caressing this line that divides the world, a crack separating the North from the South. Tourists enjoy straddling the zero-degree meridian, as if this act places them at the center of the world. Yet the person she longs for is at the other end of the Atlantic Ocean, their days and nights reversed; she wonders if her figure still appears in his dreams.

After a long pause, she finally spoke up and asked: "Brother Fang Ren, is the sun the largest thing in the world?"

In the end, Grandpa Wen smiled, took the clothes drying pole from his son's hand, and said: "The children and grandchildren will have their own blessings, no need to worry about it, the dishes are getting cold."

At this moment, Wen Di was finally astonished: "Joining the army?"

05

08

Fang Ren looked into her bright eyes, momentarily at a loss for words. He had taught Wen Di and Chen Jia You many things; he had taught them to read and write, to be honest and trustworthy, and how to be kind and upright. Now, was it finally his turn to tell them what love truly meant?

Chen Jiayou smiled as he vigorously shook the branches of the pear tree, the green leaves and pears trembling in the gentle breeze

I once loved a Chinese girl, just like you, with beautiful long hair. " He stood on the Great Wall, gazing into the distance, and said with a sense of melancholy

Upon hearing this, Wen Di's slender body involuntarily trembled

The day before Wen Di's departure, she and Chen Jiayou sat in the courtyard, with the sunlight warming them. The saplings they had planted in their childhood had grown into towering trees, lush with branches and leaves.

The warm flames danced on the indoor fireplace, as Chen Jiayou propped himself against the windowsill and leaped down from the window. Wen Di was caught off guard, embraced by him completely, while snow fell on their shoulders, and neither of them spoke.

Wen Di and Chen Jia You grew up in such a peaceful yet bustling alley. Wen Di's father had high expectations for her; every morning, he would leave for work at the factory, locking Wen Di inside the house, insisting that she practice writing and memorize poetry.

Jia You, Jia You

The year I graduated, she was sixty-one years old, full of spirit, and when she smiled, she shyly pursed her lips. I looked up and asked her, whose hair had already turned gray, "All these years, how have you managed on your own?"

What is meant by universal gravitation

Two women descended from the cliff, and the entire village had been swept away by the flood. The women immediately knelt down and began to weep, calling out their daughter's name as they cried. She spoke in a local dialect that Wendi could not understand, feeling a chill throughout her body. The flood had cut off the path ahead, and a large tree was suddenly uprooted with a crash. Wendi suddenly noticed a cave at the edge of the buffer zone ahead, where all the vegetation outside had been flattened. A sense of inexplicable hope arose within Wendi.

Chronicles of Time

Wen Di was unable to control herself, her heart-wrenching cries mingling with the wind and rain, while the raging storm, at that moment, vanished entirely; her world contained only him

After entering university, Wen Di returned home once a month. She spent all her spare time in the library, captivated by the vast and beautiful world before her, much like a newborn baby just opening its eyes. When she was not reading, she would lean over her desk to write letters to Chen Jiayou, filling five sheets of letter paper densely with her writing each time. Usually, she would send four or five letters before receiving a reply from Chen Jiayou, who would simply write that he was doing well and that she need not worry, and that the scenery there was very nice. When she was not reading, she would lean over her desk to write letters to Chen Jiayou, filling five sheets of letter paper densely with her writing each time. Usually, she would send four or five letters before receiving a reply from Chen Jiayou, who would simply write that he was doing well and that she need not worry, and that the scenery there was very nice.

Wen Di's mother could not bear it and began to cry loudly. Her father slapped the door with his hand, trembling with agitation, and then, with a face ashen as death, spoke: "On the day you turned one year old, your grandfather said that this child cannot be kept. Do whatever you want to do."

Epilogue

This story was written in 2013, when I had just returned to Chengdu from the United States. I had hot pot with an old friend I hadn't seen in a long time at the university gate, discussing future matters and some naive and carefree dreams.

Wen Di smiled lightly and replied softly: "I was born for it"

I actually want to ask her, while drifting alone in a foreign land, has there ever been a moment when she felt regret. For the sake of her ideals, she gave up all the happiness that a woman could imagine

Then, Chen Jiayou turned his eyes and asked shyly, "What does it mean to like someone?"

Fang Ren smiled as he observed the changes in the two individuals, suddenly realizing that he had moved to Beijing six years ago. To describe the passage of time, the phrases "like a fleeting horse" and "the sun and moon weave swiftly" are truly not an exaggeration at all

Please wait a moment, can you wait a little longer

"The normal university does not have an astronomy department," she said earnestly, "Teacher, I want to study astronomy"

"Well," Chen Jiayou said with a hint of embarrassment, smiling as he held the pebble in his hand, "Didn’t Brother Fang Ren always teach us to be useful individuals for our country and society? I want to enlist in the military to protect our homeland. Do you remember when Brother Fang Ren took us to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony? Since that time, I have been thinking that I must become a soldier"

The adult nearby stopped their actions, momentarily at a loss for what to do. The young boy was tense all over, gritting his teeth and holding his head high, presenting a stance of unwavering determination to not back down.

Everything is as it was when Fang Ren was still alive

The woman possessed astonishing strength, effortlessly pushing aside a young warrior beside her, and rose to run back without a second thought. Wen Di's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly followed suit. The path was indeed blocked; the woman, without hesitation, grasped the rope they had used to ascend, stepping onto the damp hillside, slowly sliding down. A gust of wind swept through, leaving her suspended in mid-air, teetering on the brink of falling. Not far away, Wen Di found another rope, mimicking the woman's actions as she descended the mountain, her heart racing like thunder in that moment. The path was indeed blocked; the woman, without hesitation, grasped the rope they had used to ascend, stepping onto the damp hillside, slowly sliding down. A gust of wind swept through, leaving her suspended in mid-air, teetering on the brink of falling. Not far away, Wen Di found another rope, mimicking the woman's actions as she descended the mountain, her heart racing like thunder in that moment.

In order to save a woman's daughter, Chen Jiayou was trapped under a fallen tree, injuring his leg. The little girl lacked the strength to move the tree at all, and with the road ahead blocked, she had nowhere to go but to obey Chen Jiayou's command to hide in a cave. Wen Di and the woman did not dare to easily move the large tree; the woman took her daughter back to find a rescue team. Wen Di sat beside Chen Jiayou, crying desperately, while Chen Jiayou smiled helplessly and reached out to hold her hand.

Fang Ren, feeling helpless, could only take a step back: "Alright, alright, I will listen. I won't ignore you all."

He dedicated his entire life to the medical profession. During his seven years living in Beijing, he performed hundreds of surgeries and saved countless lives

This is a story that took place in the 1970s

A few months later, in the neighboring house, little Wendi, who had just turned one year old, sat on the bed crying loudly at the array of small objects before her. An elderly person beside her sighed quietly, shook his head, and said: "This child does not belong here; she is destined to leave her hometown in the future"

Chen Jiayou waited outside, pushing his bicycle. Upon seeing Wen Di, he simply placed a finger to his lips and whispered "shh." Wen Di nodded and quietly followed him. Finally, Chen Jiayou stopped in front of Fang Ren's room.

You do not understand. Chen Jiayou imitated the adults and waved his hand, brushing off the wood shavings that had fallen on him

As she grew a little older, Wendi began to pester Fang Ren with some peculiar questions

Wen Di was momentarily taken aback: "Are you saying that you are not in Beijing?"

02

At that time, long-distance phone charges were shockingly expensive, and Wendi hurriedly spoke to him: "Recently, I have been memorizing vocabulary every day, even while walking and eating, my brain is about to explode."

Fang Ren smiled as he waved to Wen Di, while the carving knife and wood swiftly spun in his hands. Before long, he had sculpted a vividly lifelike kitten. Wen Di repeatedly expressed his admiration, happily accepting the kitten, and occasionally leaned in to see what Chen Jiayou was carving.

Wen Di lowered her head, and after a long pause, she gently spoke: "Please take me to Tiananmen Square, so we can watch the flag-raising ceremony once more"

Apologies. Fang Ren thought with sadness and despair, as scalding tears fell into his palms

In the fifth grade of elementary school, music classes were introduced, teaching children to play the harmonica. It was spring at that time, and wherever one went, one could see elementary school students wearing red scarves holding green harmonicas. Chen Jiayou learned quickly, and every class, the teacher would have him stand on the podium to play a piece as an example for everyone.

Later, when the isothermal flute finally stood up and opened the door, Chen Jiayou had already left. His vacation lasted only seventy-two hours, and he had been rushing non-stop through the night. Excluding the fifty-six hours spent on the round-trip train and the time spent transferring to the bus, he was left with only three hours in total. During these three days, he had subsisted solely on cold steamed buns and tap water. He passed by his home but had not even a moment to step inside.

Three years later, I returned to my homeland, and it was no longer the backward land it had been when she left. On both sides of the wide avenue, French sycamores were planted, and a boy with dark eyes loudly vowed to become a scientist. Geese flew over the speeding trains, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the tall buildings, one could see the shimmering sea. I thought, if she were to see this scene, she would surely be moved to tears.

The television signal is poor, and the image before me suddenly becomes a blur of white, accompanied only by a buzzing noise

Wen Di suddenly looked up and saw that the corners of her smiling mother's eyes had already developed crow's feet. She lowered her head again and remained silent

Fang Ren was taken aback again, inwardly marveling at how increasingly tricky the questions from these two little ones had become. After a moment of thought, he replied: "It is probably like when you lift your head and suddenly see a very bright star in the night sky"

He passed away in the spring of 1999, and the pear blossoms in front of the door fell to the ground; he never married throughout his life

She could tell that it was a piece titled "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix"

Returning to that summer of 1958, a drenched Wendi timidly arrived home, only to be met with a sharp reprimand from her father. Upon discovering that Wendi had secretly gone to the riverbank to play in the water, her family was furious. They punished Wendi by making her kneel on the ground, and her father, picking up a clothes drying pole, struck her small back. Wendi cried out in pain, her wails echoing down the entire alley. Chen Jiayou, who was sitting at a high chair eating, heard her cries and immediately dropped his bowl and chopsticks, rushing out the door. When he burst into the Wen family’s courtyard, he could not stop himself and fell in front of Wendi with a thud, scraping the skin off his knees, which began to ooze faint traces of blood. He looked up and shouted loudly, "Do not hit her! Do not hit her!"

Wen Di put down the letter and looked into Chen Jiayou's eyes

At that moment, the woman beside them suddenly cried out loudly: "Let me go, my daughter is still inside! Let me go! I want to find my daughter!"

He swore with utmost sincerity, his gaze piercing like a torch

Chen Jiayou arrived punctually at Wen Di's house to report in. He effortlessly climbed up the pear tree outside the window, which was laden with small pears. Chen Jiayou casually picked one, took a bite, and found it both sour and astringent. As he tossed the pear in the air, he shouted loudly into the house: "Wen Di, Wen Di—"

What he did not know was that she was crying tears of joy. Just a little bit, they were only a hair's breadth apart from life and death. Thinking of this, Wen Di felt as if her heart had been hollowed out in despair

He stood up and began to pack his belongings. That day, he walked for a long time along the streets of Beijing, even forgetting the way back. At that time, the streetlights were spaced far apart, and it was the height of summer, with moths continuously flapping their wings and colliding against the streetlights