Section 3

Grandmother gently patted her back and no longer pressed for answers

"Girl, have you encountered someone you like?" Grandmother's voice suddenly became very soft

She said indignantly, "Hmph, who stipulated that there must be a phoenix tree to call it Phoenix Alley!"

Zhu Jiu detected the caution in her words, and a sudden bitterness arose in her heart. Over the years, every time she spoke on the phone with her grandmother, the latter would offer countless reminders and advice, yet never inquired about her romantic life

"Oh, it itches!" Zhu Jiu turned sideways to avoid it, wrapping his arms around his grandmother's waist, pressing his face against her broad back, deeply inhaling the faint scent of traditional Chinese herbs on her, and murmured, "I am my grandmother's little child for a lifetime!"

However, she ultimately did not have the opportunity to bring that person home to drink the mint liquor brewed by her grandmother herself

The tone of her voice is playful, and her pouting expression truly resembles that of a child. It is only in front of her grandmother that she displays such demeanor

There are no extravagant words, that is her truest blessing

This name is quite nice, I have decided to adopt it. From now on, it shall be called Wutong. Come, Wutong, bark a couple of times." The puppy nestled in his arms seemed to understand its new owner's words and actually barked twice, "Woof woof." He laughed heartily, proudly patting the dog's head, praising it for being so clever

He recalled the dream from last night, so vivid... it felt almost real

It is getting late into the night

Since leaving home at the age of seventeen, the number of times she has returned is few and far between, yet the furnishings in this room remain unchanged, just as they were in her youth.

Zhu Jiu slept very soundly this time, not even having a single dream

She is unlike other parents; even though she worries about her daughter's lifelong affairs, she never pressures her. She has always granted her immense freedom and respect

The familiar scene tells her that this is at home, in her own bedroom

What is the name of this alley

"Good, good, good, my little child for a lifetime." The grandmother turned around with a cheerful smile, lifted her up to take a look, and said, "Hmm, finally looking a bit better."

When Zhu Jiu entered the inpatient department again, his steps showed not a trace of hesitation

Wutong Alley, the one with the Wutong trees

How many days will you stay this time? The tone of my grandmother's voice already carried a sense of reluctance

She remained silent for a while before softly replying: "No."

Zhu Jiu muttered: "I can eat a lot, and I don't gain weight! Really, if you don't believe me, just watch tonight; I can eat two big bowls!"

During dinner, Zhu Jiu looked at her grandmother, who was constantly serving her dishes. Under the light, the elderly woman's smiling face was covered with wrinkles, and her white hair resembled silver threads, which made Zhu Jiu's eyes sting. Time hastens aging, and this is her dearest family member. She grows older day by day, yet the time she can sit down and share a meal with her is increasingly scarce. Even during the Spring Festival, which is most cherished by the Chinese, she has been absent many times.

In the evening, she cuddled with her grandmother on the same bed, holding a pillow as they slept.

She went downstairs, quietly walked behind her grandmother, reached out to cover her eyes, and in a playful tone whispered, "Guess who I am?"

Looking down, I saw my grandmother standing in front of the wooden rack in the corner of the yard, gathering the Chinese herbs that were drying in the setting sun

"In the future, you must not take night flights anymore, thank goodness for your health!" Grandma chattered, pinching her cheek, "Why are you so thin? Are you too busy with work and not eating properly?"

When she went abroad to study, she was aware of the difficulties of pursuing a medical degree. Additionally, due to financial constraints, it would be quite challenging for her to return home even during holidays. Therefore, she was very worried about her grandmother, as she would be the only one left at home after her departure. Before leaving, she felt very downcast and even impulsively told her grandmother the night before her departure that she would not go and that studying at a university in the country would be just fine. In the end, just like this time, she was sternly reprimanded by her grandmother.

When she returned home in the morning, her complexion was very poor, with dark circles around her eyes, and her haggard appearance startled her grandmother, who kept asking if something had happened. She felt a bit guilty, realizing that she should not have gone straight home from the hospital; instead, she should have found a hotel to get some proper rest and then stood before her grandmother looking refreshed.

That year, after she accepted Fu Yunshen's proposal, she called her grandmother. Such a significant event surprised her grandmother, but she did not blame her; she only asked, "Child, are you happy?" She still remembers her answer, "Grandma, I am very, very happy." Her grandmother smiled and said, with a choked voice, "Then Grandma blesses you. Make sure to bring him home when you have the chance. Grandma will brew your favorite mint wine, and we will drink it when you return"

Zhu Jiu carefully organized the herbs on the shelf and then walked to the kitchen. A pot of soup was simmering on the stove, and the rich aroma was mingled with a faint herbal scent. Zhu Jiu knew that her grandmother had prepared her signature medicinal dish. Every time she returned home, her grandmother would go to great lengths to nourish her, eager to cook all the best ingredients for her to enjoy

As dusk approaches, this area is the oldest residential neighborhood in Liancheng. The buildings are old, mostly two to three stories high, and the public facilities in the alleys have also aged, with dim streetlights, some of which are broken and left unrepaired. Numerous small shops line both sides of the alley, including hardware stores, fruit shops, vegetable stalls, convenience stores, and snack shops, creating a cacophony of voices. However, Zhu Jiu finds it both familiar and warm.

What are you talking about! Grandma suddenly became serious: "Girl, you are not only my granddaughter, but you are also a doctor to many people. Remember, everyone has their own place and their own responsibilities to fulfill"

You little girl! Grandma laughed and playfully pinched her waist, saying, "At your age, why do you still enjoy playing childhood games?"

She squatted down to help her grandmother pick vegetable leaves, but her grandmother sent her to the supermarket at the end of the alley to buy soy sauce

It smells so good, the scent of home

She knows that her grandmother cleans this room every day

Wutong Alley, Wutong... As she walked with a tap dance, she felt a bit dazed, and suddenly a long-forgotten conversation echoed in her ears

In the evening, Grandma prepared delicious food for you! Grandma smiled and suddenly remembered something, "Oh dear, there is still soup simmering in the kitchen, let me go check if it's done. Please help me put these herbs away in the medicine cabinet."

That person chuckled lightly, "There isn't even a single phoenix tree in this broken alley."

Alright, I was just joking! Zhu Jiu felt both bittersweet and proud; this was her grandmother, who cherished her but never spoiled her. From a young age, she taught her through both words and actions to be an upright, kind, independent, strong, responsible, and accountable person

The grandfather and grandson engaged in a lengthy and detailed conversation.

She smiled faintly, and her heart became immensely tranquil

This is the place where she grew up, a city that is constantly changing, yet this Wutong Alley seems to have remained largely unchanged, still as it was in the beginning

She glanced down at the two photos that Leo had sent her in her phone's album, and the questions in her heart needed an explanation

She got out of bed, pushed open the door, and walked onto the balcony. Stretching her body, she closed her eyes contentedly and took a deep breath, the faint scent of herbs wafting into her nostrils

"I took a week off." She paused, hugged her grandmother's arm, and said in a spoiled tone: "Can I not go to America? I want to stay and keep you company"

Just like that person

On that day, it seemed to be a night like this, as dusk began to fall and the streetlights were just coming on, amidst the chaotic sounds of people, she and he walked side by side in this alley

When I opened my eyes, the sky was already at dusk. The setting sun rushed in through the wooden window frame, slicing the light into strips of shadow that fell upon the aged wooden floor. The evening breeze gently stirred the white curtains by the window, both soft and warm.

That was their first meeting; many years have passed, yet everything feels as if it were just yesterday