Chapter 5 chapter Five

When I got home, I found out that Zihan really decided to return to California. He was a sniper, and then, he didn't know where to scrape the money. That luxurious apartment was basically rented back to live in, and it was returned with a word. Ziying asked him, "Did you immigrate to Australia?" "He thought about it and decided to go to Toronto." "Is there a plan?" "He has reached the retirement age, playing golf and fishing is the best. Of course, there is always a confidante around him, so he must save money." Ziying was upset. "Stay with your mother and be a filial daughter with her."

Ziying was silent. "I heard that the engagement has been postponed?" Ziying don't turn his face away. "In my opinion, it's really important to get married as soon as possible. There is no place to live. If you move to our house, you don't like crowds. You can ask your mother to allocate a small apartment for a new home." Ziying replied: "He has ambition, but he may not be willing." But Zihan said: "He misunderstood that ambition is used to fight the revolution and fight the revolution." "Don't mind your own business, keep your money well, and don't ask your mother for it after a year or so."

Zihan smiled and left. Strange to say, a few months later, the market digested the fact that Internet technology stocks had collapsed, and Nengzi fell to 2.8 anise. Ms. Wang Shijian's two treasures are operating as usual: the ivory mahjong tiles are used every day, and A'e is busy every day. She has recently studied making desserts, and the aunt's house treats guests, and the chef is in charge of the dishes, and the desserts must be prepared by Ah'e. A'e's theory: "The ingredients don't need to be expensive, the desserts are all about the mind." She can make small white rabbit-shaped bean paste shortbread, one bite at a time, sweet and smooth, even swallowing her tongue, she made the skin and filling by herself.

With such care, it must be delicious. Guo Yinnan's side is not very optimistic. Sure enough, as he expected, the house of the eldest brother and sister-in-law was taken back by the bank, and they lost all their money. The family of three moved back to their parents' house, and Yinan was forced to live in the living room without a place to stay. He was a little irritable. "The slap on the left is for property prices to fall, the slap to the right is unemployment, and now I have another punch on the bridge of the nose, and I am complaining." Ziying smiled: "Why don't we live together."

"Yes, rely on your dowry to live on, use your capital to do some nepotism. I will marry into your family, and all children will be named Cheng." "You are calm and finally angry." Yinan said: "Brother and sister-in-law are so confused." He shook his head and sighed. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, and start all over again. Anyway, all four of us are going to work, and there are only babies and nanny at home. It doesn't matter if it's crowded, Yinan, if you feel wronged, I can help you." At this time, Ms. Wang put down the mahjong tiles and stretched.

"Is Yinan here?" "Yes, Auntie." Xiao Guo walked over. "Have you visited the extension of the Pudong weaving factory?" "I've been there, I'm going to work next month, thank you auntie." Ms. Wang smiled: "You are welcome, I have something to bother you. I have a village house in Huanglong, which is dilapidated and overgrown with weeds. The most terrifying thing is that hornets build their nests. Don't get close to strangers. You can take advantage of this month's free time. Find someone to fix it for me." She handed over the key and said with a smile: "It's because no one lives there that it's dilapidated. It's ridiculous. Yinan, would you like to watch the house for me? To prevent people from gossiping, the monthly rent is one yuan, okay?"

Now even Ziying was moved. "Auntie, this—" "Let's fix the roof and walls first." In the afternoon, Ziying and Xiao Guo drove to the suburbs to have a look. What a rotten house, a brand-new bungalow, but a little grass grew at the door.The aunt is clearly helping Xiao Guo out of trouble. "There is indeed a soil beehive on this tree." "The honeycomb in the traditional Chinese medicine spectrum can be used to calm children's shock." "People don't attack me, I don't attack others, I am tall and far away, and I can coexist peacefully."

"After repairing the walls, ask the gardener to tidy up, and then you can move in." "Not married?" "Okay, okay," Ziying said, "I'm joking if I'm in the mood. Mom has a house and no one lives in it. You have someone who owes you a house. Rent it for one yuan. It's the best of both worlds." "It's too cheap for me." "It's not too late to pay the rent in full after getting out of trouble." The room was spacious and bright, and Ling Dingyang could be seen. Guo Yinan was overjoyed, but saw a piece of glass in the floor-to-ceiling window, and the rose frame was tilted to one side.

"I'll call someone to fix it right away." They stood in the back garden looking at the ocean. "Ziying, your mother is so kind to you." "Yes, I am lucky to be in the arms of a capable mother." That's it. In just one week, Guo Yinnan cleared out three or four square feet. During this time, Ziying went north several times to complete work on Zheng Shuren's plane. The final result even made her feel happy. Zheng Shuren, who is used to the world, let out a heck as soon as he entered the cabin door, and he thought to himself: This is called taste, all the furniture is practical and exquisite, luxurious but low-key, and extremely comfortable.Originally, he just wanted to give the girl a job to pass the time, but he didn't expect to actually achieve results.

He showed his friends around the aircraft cabin and introduced Cheng Ziying to them. He was so excited that the plane suddenly took off and flew from Baiyun to Hongqiao. Ziying was so thoughtful that Zheng's logo was even printed on towels and porcelain.Envious of his wealthy friends, they invited architect Cheng Ziying to work on his behalf. Ziying refused to agree. It's boring to do this kind of icing on the cake. The cost of flying a private jet is about 6,000 U.S. dollars per hour. It takes more than three hours to go back and forth. I don’t know how much good deeds can be done by saving money. They just have a dinner.

Ziying didn't take it seriously-the rich man's wine and meat stink! After a while, I saw my mother flipping through a magazine: "Look!" I couldn't help but be happy. It turned out to be a picture and text introducing Zheng's private jet, which was published in the American Architectural Digest. Ms. Wang said with relief: "It has finally been upgraded to an international standard." Cheng Ziying's name is mentioned in the article. "Ziying, there are at least three planes waiting for you." Ziying was unmoved: "What's the use of being first-class, the people's living standards are the most important." Wang Shijian looked at his daughter: "It's a bit strange for those of you who grew up studying in foreign countries. Being happy alone is not considered happy, but everyone must be happy." Ziying smiled: "One day the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital needs to be renovated, and I will do it for free." "Ziying, I'm glad you have a heart of charity." Ziying spread out the newspaper and saw that the financial section reported that Nengzi Network had consumed 18 billion funds in one year. How many universities and how many hospitals can be built with this amount is unknown, and they just burned up like this. Ziying suddenly felt disgusted. That afternoon, she went to the suburbs to visit Guo Yinnan. He reads a book alone in the room. After his meticulous care, the bungalow has become an elegant holiday home. Yinan put down the magazine in his hand, it turned out to be the Architectural Digest. "This Mr. Zheng turned out to be your uncle's old friend." Ziying replied: "It seems to be." Yinan asked, "Has he visited your house?" Ziying wondered, "Why did he come to my house?" "Oh, I guess you know each other well." "It's nothing, he's a rich man, and I'm a boy, don't drag uncle down." "Yes, Ziying, you are right." He pushed open the long window, and thousands of pink roses bloomed outside the garden, attracting bumble bees to gather honey. "Yinan, thanks to you for repairing the house so well." "I can't wait to come back after work. Auntie called out this bungalow because she actually wants us to get married." Ziying nodded. Inan scratched his head. Ziying said softly, "I'm not used to this city." Yinan was taken aback: "You can have whatever you want, and you still say you're not used to it?" "That's what makes me uncomfortable. Just think about it. Work will come automatically. Everyone says they know your uncle. When you come to tea, you reach out, and when you come to eat, you open your mouth. Don't you feel abrupt?" Inan grinned: "No, I'll get used to it soon." "Innan, don't joke." "Okay, okay." "One person attains the Tao, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven, Yinan, I don't want to be a little chicken in my uncle's family." Xiao Guo smiled: "I know, you don't have to rely on your family, you have to rely on your hands to go out and become famous in the end." "Have you laughed enough?" "Ziying, what are your plans? Why don't you make money in the city on weekdays? During the holidays, I'll take you to Guatemala to help poor children build clinics." "OK?" "Last year, an expert was excited and forgot to take the vaccination. He contracted malaria and was ill for half a year." Ziying blamed him for disappointing, and rushed to beat him, and the two of them rolled to the ground and hugged each other. Ziying buried her head in his chest and burst into tears. Yinan sighed: "Little princess, do you still have shortcomings?" "I long for my parents to love each other." "You love what is difficult for others." "Yes, it is human nature that whatever is not available is the best." "I wouldn't worry too much, you'll grow up eventually." Ziying couldn't make Yinnan understand how incompatible she was with this city. When I got home, my mother was flipping through the newspaper. "Ziying, look." Ziying thought it was another sudden financial news, but her mother pointed to the yellowed old-fashioned wedding photos. It turned out that the newspaper supplement had a special issue of happy marriage, and many golden wedding couples presented their jade photos for publication. Ziying was also very interested and admired each piece. "Look, Ziying, I told you that I want to wear a dress to take pictures, and I will have a souvenir in the future." "Mom, what a beautiful wedding dress from the '40s." "Not really." "Are there any photos from the 1920s?" She checked carefully. "If there is, the person involved is already a centenarian." Ziying said: "It would not be cheap to hold a grand wedding back then. It must be rich and powerful people who have such financial resources." "No, Ziying, this couple's 60th anniversary of marriage did not hold a luxurious wedding." "Mom, let's pick a fruit basket and send it to the newspaper as a gift." "good idea." "Mom, where's your wedding photo?" "My marriage failed. It's meaningless to keep it. I have thrown it all away as garbage." "Who sewed your wedding dress for you back then?" "Bought it from a New York specialty store. Don't talk about the past, is there any news from Zihan?" "He was in Monte Carlo, and he seemed to be helping a company promote the digitalization of the entire casino. He used a VIP card to walk around the venue, saying that it was more advanced than Las Vegas." "What's the taste in that?" Ms. Wang smiled. "There is a lot of attention to clothing, temples, and leisure. Time is not the same thing. There is no need to catch up with technology." "Zihan's mouth can make a monk keep his hair." Cheng Ziying's ability is probably to talk and laugh with his mother. In the afternoon, Zihan emailed the photo. On the Green Coast, he was playing with the blonde beauty on the deck of the yacht. The beauty was dressed like Brigitte Bardot in the 1950s in a tiny pink bikini.Ziying suddenly realized that only those with low self-esteem would chase after others, and they were most afraid of falling behind, so they kept saying that they kept up with the trend... Ziying put the photo on her mother's case. The doorbell rang, but there was no one at home, so Ziying went to open the door. Someone sent a large bouquet of white and light purple hosta flowers, the most fragrant of these flowers, also called tuberose, without a name on the bouquet. Ziying gently inserted it into the crystal glass bottle. The phone rang, and Ziying went to listen. "Sister, guess who I am?" Ziying couldn't help laughing: "Call me sister, of course it's Ziyin." "Sister, guess where we are." "There are so many riddles, it must be in Hong Kong." "My sister is so smart. We are at the New World Hotel. Mom will tell you a few words." Zhang Yufang's cheerful voice came: "Ziying, would you like to come out and meet?" Ziying felt a little guilty, but fortunately her mother was not at home: "I'll be right there." "We'll wait for you at the coffee shop." Ziyin came down first, and when she saw her, she almost didn't recognize her. Her arms were longer than Ziying's and she was a big man. He wore a white shirt and blue trousers, very plain. She hugged her sister. "Where's Zizhao?" "He refused to come back. He is staying at a friend's house this week. I will accompany my mother back to Taipei to visit relatives and come to Hong Kong to do some business." "What's your impression?" Zi Yin didn't know how to confess: "It's messy, hot, dirty, busy, and expensive." "Hey, there must be some benefits." Ziying protested on behalf of Hong Kong and Taiwan. Ziyin thought about it seriously: "Grandma treats me really well." "Oh, I finally thought of the benefits." At this time, Ziyin laughed. Zhang Yufang came here panting: "I found it." In his hand is a large handful of something called "Buqiuren", with a long bamboo handle and a small claw on the tail, which is used to scratch itches. "Hey, did you buy so much?" "In the hospital, the old lady's joints are not good, and some people's arms are too fat to turn. With this, it is very comfortable." Ziying smiled and asked, "Are you okay?" "Tory, it's okay." Before he finished speaking, a familiar voice sounded behind him: "My two pearls are all here." It turned out to be Cheng Botang. Ziying felt nauseous, but Ziyin couldn't tell how happy she was, and cheered loudly: "Father!" It was exactly the same as Ziying when she was a child, she only hoped for some family affection and was teased by adults. It turned out that they had already made an appointment early in the morning. Cheng Botang asked Zhang Yufang to take a photo of him and his two daughters, Ziying had to stand behind his father, she was helpless, giving birth to you was a lifetime, Ziying could only grin. Fortunately, the driver came to remind him after a while, and he left in a hurry. In less than a moment, a staff member from a nearby boutique came over and asked softly, "Is this Miss Cheng Ziying? Mr. Cheng asked our shop to give you two sisters gifts." I saw big boxes and small boxes, full of clothes and accessories. Ziying is upset, and today is not Children's Day, but Ziyin is very happy. Zhang Yufang said, "Ziying, you think I'm worthless." Ziying opened her mouth, closed her mouth again, and finally said, "Everyone has their own difficulties." Their votes have completely sacrificed their self-esteem, and they can endure anything, but they also have a bottom line, they must not ask them for money, if they open their mouths, they will definitely turn their faces, and their relatives will not recognize them. "He asked me to marry him in Australia and start over." Ziying was startled for a moment before realizing that she was referring to Cheng Baitang. The relationship was too complicated, the younger sister's biological mother was not her mother, this lady had already made a clean break with her father, and there was no room for negotiating even one hundred and eighty thousand Hong Kong dollars, and suddenly said that she could get married. Ziying felt that she couldn't handle it. She rests her head on her hands. "Ziying, what do you think? Ziyin Zizhao can have a complete family." Ziying didn't know how to speak. "He finally thought of my benefits." Zhang Yufang felt triumphant. "What advantages do you have, you know it yourself, it's fine if you don't." "Ziying, you are from Xinpai, and you think differently." Ziying doesn't understand how a person can come and go when he is called. Zhang Yufang bowed her head and remained silent. Ziying finally said: "I can't give you advice, you should think it through yourself." She stood up and said goodbye. Walking into the street, the hot air rushed up, Ziying suddenly felt unwell, she wanted to vomit, the driver saw her face turned blue, and immediately took her home. Ziying was ill, had a high fever, and moaned all night. The doctor came to see it, examined it carefully, and took various samples for testing. Ms. Wang asked worriedly: "It's just a fever and a cold." "Miss Cheng often goes to the mainland, so be careful." Even Ziying herself became afraid. A'e hurried over and said, "It's just a routine check, nothing happened at all, it's true that she is too tired." The doctor left, but A'e was still cursing behind him: "What a quack doctor, just to scare people." Yes, A'e is indeed the baby of their family. Ziying was sick with all kinds of meat and vegetables. After taking medicine, he could only sleep. He vaguely knew how many times Yinan had been here. I heard my mother say: "Yinan, you go to the guest room to rest these few days, and I have someone to discuss it." Ah'e was heartbroken: "It's better to ask Zihan to come back." "My sister has a cold, so please excuse him, no need." A little awake in the evening, Ziying saw Yinnan sitting beside her bed reading a newspaper. "What's the good news?" "Your aunt came to see you." "Auntie is so nice." He went to hold her hand: "how do you feel?" Ziying asked back, "Did the doctor report it?" "The germs ran into the stomach to rebel, no serious problem, but temporarily can't enjoy the food." "I see, I thought I was going to find someone to donate my liver and kidney." "You don't have to look for it, I'd be happy to offer it." A'e came in and heard it, and spat repeatedly: "Young people dare to say anything, and don't think about the feelings of adults. Your mother gets up in the middle of the night to look at it several times every day. She is so tired that her mouth has sores. Are you still talking nonsense?" "Yes, yes." Ziying was ashamed. "You are only allowed to eat porridge." "Yes Yes." Yinan accompanied her to eat, but there was smoked fish sauce, duck and vegetarian assortment as a side dish. Ziying's eyes were blank. Yinan looked at her and smiled: "The doctor advises you not to eat greasy food." Ziying supported her head with her hands: "It's terrible, this is a punishment for me who is addicted to food." "Ziying, if you have something on your mind, you might as well tell me." "Inan, this city, is driving me crazy." "I understand, I will accompany you back to England for a short rest." "British people do not belong to the yellow race. Just look at how decent it is. Even the foot-and-mouth disease depends on restaurants in Chinatown. There is no shame at all." "Ziying, where do you like? Let's go to Bora Bora for vacation." Ziying smiled wryly: "Maybe a coconut falls and falls on the head of a native, and the native decides to exclude Chinese, and you and I cannot be tourists." South Indian hip-hop is overwhelming. "Where are you going?" "Ziying, let me think about it." Ziying asked, "What news were you reading just now?" Inan had to hand her the newspaper to read. There is an upright color photo on the social page, and the subtitle reads: "Cheng Baitang, former vice president of Nengzi, and Zhang Xiaoqiao, a socialite, are newly married." Ziying was silent. "So you're confused?" Ziying nodded. "Actually, it is your mother who you hope to get back together with him." Ziying was told about the central matter by him, but he didn't make a sound. "Ziying, don't worry about the previous generation." Ziying patted the pillow to sleep more comfortably: "Yinan, you are happier than me, and your family will not embarrass you, the big deal is just a loss in the stock market." "Hey, isn't that enough?" Ziying smiled: "You don't know my difficulties." "Ziying, let's get married, then your troubles will be mine." Ziying was silent. A'e came in holding the flowers and said, "This is from Mr. Zheng." I saw a big bowl of pink peonies, fragrant and beaming. "Which Mr. Zheng?" Ziying couldn't remember for a while. A'e happily replied: "Mr. Zheng who has a private jet." Suspicion arose in Ziying's heart, and she asked, "How do you know?" Ms. Wang came in at this time and gave the loyal servant a wink: "Is the steamed vegetarian dumpling ready?" A'e responded and hurried out. Ziying asked: "Are the flowers outside sent by this person?" "Mr. Zheng cares about the juniors." Ziying disagrees: "Oriental men have not yet learned to respect women. After coming to Hong Kong for so long, I feel that all men have bad intentions." Ms. Wang smiled and said, "Innan is an exception." Ziying thought about it, and her voice was very soft: "Yes, Yinnan is an exception." Then she lowered her face, "Tell Zheng Shuren not to waste his time, he just wants to make friends with my uncle, one is that I don't like businessmen, and the other is that he is too old , I only regard him as an elder." Ms. Wang couldn't help laughing: "Yinnan, this is to express your opinion to you. Now, you can rest assured." Xiao Guo also grinned. Ziying asked: "It's strange, why are you smiling so well?" A'e came in with steamed vegetarian dumplings, each shaped like a little white rabbit, with carrots as eyes, Ziying was immediately happy. "It's better to have shrimp roe and soy sauce." Ah'e winked, and Ziying immediately saw a small plate under the plate. Ziying let out a sigh of relief, no matter how you put it, she is a really lucky person. After a few days, she was able to walk around, lost more than ten pounds, and still clamored to go on a trip. "I'll accompany you to Wenbu." "Hey, it's it again. There are more Tang people than Hong Kong, and their style is more luxurious than Hong Kong." "We're going north, to Tofino National Park." "Ok." "However, you can't eat five-spice beef and tendon noodles." Ms. Wang smiled and shook her head: "Yinnan dotes on Ziying too much." Yin Nan scratched his head: "I think so too, but for some unknown reason, when I saw her red-eyed, my heart immediately ached, and I was willing to do anything." Ms. Wang nodded and said, "This is fate." They set off to the national park together, stayed overnight in a small hotel, and drove a four-wheel drive to camp in the early morning. Because they knew that there were brown bears, they also brought a signal gun. I saw thick fog covering the primeval forest, white waves surging in the distance, the universe was chaotic, and man and nature became one with each other. "Can you walk?" "I can't walk anymore." Yinnan carried Ziying on his back and walked until he reached the top of the mountain before stopping. He took off his rucksack, took out hot cocoa, and each had a cup. Ziying took a deep breath of fresh moist air. Suddenly, she became happy, danced and shouted, "I'm free!" Echoes came from the valley. Two deer frightened and ran past them. Ziying went on to shout: "There are no hypocritical masks, no red tape, and no ants competing for blood." As the sun rose slowly through the fog, streaks of golden light fell on them through the trees, and the dewdrops on their hair and faces shone like diamonds. I really didn't expect the sunrise to be so beautiful and spectacular. They embraced and stared at the east. Suddenly, someone in the distance greeted them: "Hey! You two tourists." Ziying turned her head and looked around, but there was no one there. While in Nahan, I heard this voice again: "Look up, I'm in the sky." They immediately raised their heads. At this moment, the dense fog slowly cleared, and Ziying saw a simple tent set up on a branch of a tree more than 100 feet high with three or four people hugging each other. Someone was waving at them from above. Ziying and Yinnan said in unison: "Environmentalists." There is a long strip of cloth under the tent, with red paint written: "Save this 800-year-old locust tree". "Wow," Ziying approached, "Eight hundred years old." But the young man on the tree asked, "Is there anything to eat?" He slowly lowered a basket. Inan poured soda and cocoa bottles into the basket along with sandwiches and chocolates. He said, "Thank you." Ziying asked loudly, "How long have you been camping in the tree?" "One month." "Wow, is it cold, lonely?" "I have a manual battery-free radio that keeps me informed." "When will the companion come to support?" "Noon, huh." He saw the basket, "Thanks for the hot chocolate." "Come down, the police will catch you." "Catch it and grab it." Ziying admired him very much. "Are you here for your honeymoon? Walk 15 minutes on the mountain road to the left, there is a waterfall, and there is a hot spring under the small pond, where we bathe from time to time." "Thank you for your advice." He hid in the tent and didn't make a sound. Ziying hugged Yinnan and laughed. "Come on, let's go see the waterfall." "Going too deep, I'm afraid." "I have a satellite phone." "Yeah, if a brown bear comes out and you drop that super-powerful phone over the head and hit it on the head, it'll fall over." After all, they are urban people. Back on the four-wheel drive, Ziying asked, "How does the young man take a shower?" Inan replied, "I guess he doesn't care about that anymore." "How to solve the health problem?" Yinan replied: "There is an environmental boy in the United States who lives on a tree for a year to prevent the forest company from cutting it down. As a result, the tree became an address. Many people came to visit him and even sent him letters." "Innan, is it worth it for a tree?" "It's not a tree," Guo Yinan smiled softly, "It's a belief. Like Ziying, you firmly believe that children are innocent, so you love your half-siblings. You are not against your biological mother." Ziying was very moved. They go back to camp. Their hair was already wet with dew, but their spirits were shining. "A lot of oxygen in the air, released by the trees last night." "Every tree is precious." They spend three days at the camp before finally changing into their bathing suits and jumping into the hot springs. The natural gas bubbles gently caressed the skin, making people extremely comfortable, and Ziying's face returned to pink and crimson. Ziying said: "I hope people can enjoy this hot spring pool from generation to generation." Not everyone likes nature. Ziying knew that some young ladies were so frightened when they saw a bee flying out that they screamed in panic. They went to town to see red Indians carving totem poles. Among the sculptures in the studio, there is a lifelike timber wolf standing and roaring.Ziying said: "The standards of beauty are so different. Some people like marble beauties." "Ziying, we should go back." Ziying replied: "Can I live in a small town for the rest of my life? The chances of Chinese exclusion must be very low here." "I will stay here with you for another 20 years." They finally returned to the city, lived in their mother's apartment, and had a phone call with their mother. "Mom, if I register my marriage with Yinan here, do you agree or disagree?" "Ziying, think about it yourself." "You have to marry me." "You don't need to talk to me, Ziying. If you have doubts in your heart, it means that the time is not ripe." Ziying put down the phone. Or mother knows her best. She woke up on the plane, thankfully she didn't make any strange movements. Ziying returned home dark and thin, with a new job waiting for her. Because she herself came back from the Internet, it is extremely precious. Do you know what relationship she has with Mr. Wang Xingyao in this company? The house has been painted, the white walls are faintly lavender, very beautiful, the floor has been waxed, and it is very clean.Several important pieces of furniture have also been replaced, and Ziying couldn't help asking, "What's the matter?" A'e replied: "Earlier, the family was preparing for a wedding, so I asked a decorator to clean it up." "Why don't you ask me to do it myself?" "Miss, you are busy being a bride, have you forgotten?" With a sound of Ziying, the fragrance of flowers in the room is fragrant. "The businessman surnamed Zheng still sent flowers?" "Send it every day, and put flowers in the house, it's completely different." "Where's mom?" "Going to get my hair done." Ziying always felt that the atmosphere was a little strange, but he couldn't tell what it was. When her mother came back, Ziying looked at her and finally found a clue: "Mom, you have repaired your face." Ms. Wang smiled: "You saw it." "Mom is 20 years younger. The eyes are bigger, the tired face is gone, the chin contour is reappeared, and the fat on the neck is gone." Ms. Wang smiled Mimi. "Does it hurt? Why is there no redness and swelling and bleeding from the seven holes?" Ms. Wang couldn't help but laugh: "Because it's an advanced surgery done with a speculum, the swelling subsided in three days." "Wow, long live Western medicine." Ziying looked at her mother carefully, no, no, not only the face, the fat on the mother's arms and waist has also disappeared. A'e came out and said, "Your mother only eats steamed vegetables these days." "Mom, why?" Ziying's heart ached. Ms. Wang replied eloquently: "Reborn, change your face, reincarnate as a human, and start from scratch." "Mom, you are already a beauty, why don't you just be yourself." Wang Shijian stroked his daughter's face: "Keep improving." "There's absolutely no need to go under the scalpel. I'm afraid I'll object, but do it secretly while I'm not at home." Ms. Wang laughed loudly: "You guessed it right." It's strange that my mother suddenly looks young, like the mother in the old photo album, but not like the real mother. Today's plastic surgery is so advanced, I don't know whether it is gratifying or scary. The last time I saw my mother so young, beautiful and radiant, Ziying was only ten or eight years old. It was like stepping into a time tunnel for a while, but Ziying couldn't get used to it. When the doorbell rang, someone brought flowers. Ziying said to the flower shop staff: "Please tell Mr. Zheng that you don't need to send me flowers in the future. The money can be donated to World Vision to benefit the society." The man was obedient, put down the flowers and left. Ah'e covered her mouth and smiled. There was suddenly a lot of laughter in this room, Ziying was a little puzzled. Ah'e made yellow croaker and ginseng soup for Ziying. This dish is very complicated. The large yellow croaker is steamed and the meat is removed, the sea cucumber is cooked and cut into pieces, and then served with soup. It is very delicious. Ziying was feasting, and someone came to visit. A'e said, "Ziying, Mr. Zheng came to see you." Ziying also had something to say to him. She stood up gently. Zheng Shuren walked in very familiarly: "Ziying, hello." Ziying replied: "Hi everyone." "I'll have dinner with your uncle tonight, you should join in." Ziying looked at him: "Uncle is uncle, I am me." Zheng Shuren smiled: "I appreciate you very much." On a hot day, he was dressed in a suit, very elegant, with a box of gifts in his hand, and put it on the table. "You send flowers every day?" He smiled: "Don't worry, I have another donation to World Vision." Ziying was old-fashioned and said, "You can donate a little more." Opening the gift box smoothly, it turned out to be a pearl necklace. "What is this for? My mother has countless gold and black pearls. I don't admire them." "I know." His smile deepened. Ziying coughed: "I already have a boyfriend." Thinking of Yinnan, she couldn't help lowering her voice, "He is a little stupid, but he treats me very well." Zheng Shuren responded. Ziying was about to say: Then you don't need to be courteous anymore... Before she could say anything, she saw her mother standing by the door. She was wearing a black shirt and brown trousers, which made her look even more slender, her waist was close to her abdomen, her figure was standard, and she had regained her youth. "Is the pearl buckle fixed?" she asked. "Already here." Ms. Wang took the bead necklace in the past and put it on, and put one hand on Zheng Shuren's shoulder: "What did you say to Ziying?" Ziying's eyeballs almost popped out of her sockets, and she rolled out of the living room, she quickly turned her face away. Oh, so that's the case, she always thought that Zheng Shuren wanted to pursue Wang Xingyao's niece, that is, Cheng Ziying herself.It turned out that no, he liked Wang Xingyao's cousin, so he was more closely related. The flowers were not given to Cheng Ziying, so she didn't need to make decisions. One side of Ziying's ear was hot, red and numb. She also had a trick, and immediately pretended to understand it early in the morning. The third and fourth child of Ziying said, "I bless you all." Zheng Shuren replied with a smile: "Thank you, Ziying, it is very important to get your approval." He said goodbye. Ziying looked at her mother at this moment, and said softly, "This man has a lot of confusion." Wang Shijian smiled: "Really, I just started dating him, but I want to find a chance to ask him." "Mom, you don't want to remarry, do you?" "What good idea do you, Mr. Morality, have? Do you want me to set up a Buddhist hall in the house, recite scriptures every day, and knock on wooden fish to spend my old age?" "Mom, it's been so many years." Ziying was sad. "Yes, a mahjong set was rubbed until it was broken, because I went to school for you. I have something to do. Now that you have grown up, I can't help it." "Ah, aren't you willing?" "I just want you to have a fixed home. No matter how far you go, there will always be a mother sitting on the mahjong table waiting for you when you come back." "Now I need my mother too." "Now it's my turn to be active." The mother, who was more than ten or twenty years younger, sat in front of Ziying and smiled. No wonder there was so much laughter in the house. Under the sun, Ziying found that her mother even had her ears trimmed. The long hanging earballs were now shortened, like a shell, round and snug. The tip of her nose has also been trimmed, making it sharper than before. Ziying realizes that she no longer recognizes her mother. "Uncle invites you to dinner tonight, you can come together." Ziying was even more surprised by her willingness to devote herself to a new life. She wore a brown Shandong silk jacket, and she buttoned it easily without breathing in: "I'll go to the safe deposit box to pick out jewelry." Ms. Wang left lightly. Ziying walked to the entertainment room, saw the small ivory mahjong tiles, lifted them up, and threw them down again. A'e came to clean up. Ziying said, "You knew about it early on." "The two have known each other since they were in middle school. It was only after the Zheng family moved to Taiwan that they became strangers." The Wang Shijian in Zheng Shuren's mind back then is probably what she looks like today. "Mom has changed." A'e replied: "It's just the appearance, and I usually feel sympathetic to our servants in my heart, Ziying, you don't have to worry about it." "A mother, she's so shameless that her children won't dislike her." A'e smiled: "Ziying, she is also a human being, and she has to live for herself." It turns out that the most selfish is the daughter. At this time the doorbell rang, and Guo Yinnan came up. Ziying shouted: "You must have known early on, why did you keep it from me?" Yinnan raised his arms and surrendered before he dared to approach: "Wouldn't it be better to wait for Mr. Zheng to announce himself." "Zheng Shuren's lover is Gao Ge," Ziying paused, "What is this? A dance partner exchange game?" Yinan held her down: "This is a thing of the past." "Mom will suffer." "That's her wish, don't worry." "She protected me when I was young, but now that I'm older, I protect her." "She is very intelligent, and Mr. Zheng is a good match for her." "What's it worth? This person even speaks English with a Fujian accent. It's completely local." "No matter how good your English is, you can still be an English teacher or report news on a TV station. Today, it's a businessman's world." "Scholars, farmers, businessmen, merchants used to have no status in Chinese society." "Now we have to turn around. Look at my house. Four teachers are crammed into a small apartment." Ziying was melancholy, her mother went on a date, and her mother didn't need her. When she looked up, her shadow seemed to be playing mahjong, doing all the same. A dignified and beautiful middle-aged lady with a bloated waist... Who knew she would have the courage to go to the doctor's office and lose all ten and eight pounds of fat. "That's good, I can leave without worry." Ziying murmured. "Where are you going?" Yin Nan wondered. "I applied for a job and was accepted." "I never heard from you." "The real estate department of Universal Studios in California is hiring people, and the latest plan is to open an entertainment venue in Japan." Yinan looked at her: "How long is this going?" "It doesn't matter for one or two years, and the salary is very good. I plan to find a teacher to learn Japanese conversation." "Why would they hire you?" asked Inan Daqi. Ziying suddenly got angry: "Because my uncle's name is Wang Xingyao." In the evening, she was still invited to dinner at her uncle's house. The luxury cars gathered outside the bungalows in the middle of the mountain, and there was nowhere to stop, so the driver had to let the car go away temporarily and go around in circles. The ladies compete for beauty, each wearing hundreds of carats of gemstones, and they can hardly even lift their heads. No matter whether they have a figure or not, they all wear dresses made by famous Western teachers. When Ziying arrived at the scene, he realized that he was hosting a banquet for an international literature award winner. Ziying quietly sat aside. Uncle stood there greeting the guests.According to Ziying, he is still the good old man, a good uncle who cares about the younger generation and works hard. But it was obvious that the people around him treated him like a god. When they walked in front of him, their shoulders suddenly narrowed, their waists were all bent, their heads were lowered, and their eyes were looking up. What is this for? People who don't know Wang Xingyao think he likes this. Aunt came over: "Ziying, you are here." "Auntie looks radiant tonight." "Ziying, it's so kind of you to stay by my mother's side. The three of me are gone without a trace." A press officer came and asked her to take a photo, but she walked away. 离远看郑树人与母亲，也算一对，只有母亲可以令他在这种场合身价百倍，那么，他自然会珍惜她。 子盈取过香槟喝。 “这位小姐，喜欢看什么书？” 子盈转过头来：“你是记者？” “不，我是写作人。”他是一个清癯的中年人。 “你是宴会主客？” “愧不敢当。” “我喜欢读华人文字，像或李白的诗。” “近代作品呢？” 子盈想一想：“报章杂志上刊登的专栏文字，正代表市民心声，不相干的遥远的作品，我没有共鸣。” "That makes sense." 上座的钟声响起，阅读口味大众化的程子盈松口气，连忙去找自己的位子。 她坐在母亲邻桌，身边是一个英俊的年轻人，殷勤服侍她。 子盈轻轻说：“歌舞升平。” 那说美国英语的年轻人一怔：“什么？” 子盈笑说：“你得赶紧学中文。”五十步笑百步。 “已经找到老师恶补，但自小在纽约长大，没有根基。” 子盈当然明白，他们这一代，只要家境稍微过得去，统统被送往英美读书。到了今日，又勒令回家帮手，死追中文。 年轻人说：“我会到北京小住，听说，清华的女同学很漂亮。” 子盈笑了：“甚有书卷气才真，数美貌，还是上海小姐。” “你会讲沪语？” 上菜了，子盈只吃了一点点，西菜不合她胃口，做寄宿生时吃怕了。 她到走廊打电话给印南。 “印南，陪我吃宵夜，今晚食物难吃之极，牛肉煨得像烂布。” 印南说：“9点钟我来接你。” 走廊边另外有人说话：“杨应瑞长得不漂亮，但是他家势比李友益好得多，你想清楚。” “你以为人人都手到擒来？” “你没有对手，今日社交圈，老的老、退的退、疯的疯，你是新秀，看你的了。” 子盈不知这是谁家名媛，分析时势，倒有三分准绳。 衣裤窸窣：“你看翁家淇，忽然欠债十余万，盏盏之数被人告上公堂，为何她父母不替她还债？” “这一个是肯定没救了。” “你见到程子盈没有？” 终于说得子盈头上。 “极朴素普通的女孩子，但和蔼可亲，我喜欢她。” 子盈松口气，多谢多谢，虽然不必理会别人说些什么，但是好话谁不爱听。 她离开了宴会。 印南的吉普车在门外等她。 子盈上了他的车：“吃什么？” “我带你去一个神秘地方。” 在一条窄巷，其他店铺已经打烊，独这家面店开亮了灯营业，门口停满汽车。 印南找到位子，与子盈挤着坐下，小店可以说全无装修，不过桌椅还算干净，客人肩碰肩背碰背那样坐，全不介意。 店里只卖一式牛肉面，不过，你可以吃净面，也可以吃净肉。 味道奇佳，子盈狰狞地连吃三碗。 她握着他的手：“谢谢你印南。” 郭印南说：“你仿佛已经放开怀抱。” "yes." 他送她回家，她说：“请进来喝杯浓郁的普洱茶消滞。” 子盈走进书房，取出纸笔，在绘图纸上勾了一张世界地图。 她指着华南：“我爸妈来自该处，我与子函在这里出生，然后，”她的笔指向英美，“到彼邦接受教育，满以为从此不必再讲中文，可是，时移世易，又回到原地来。” 子盈吁出一口气。 印南微笑聆听。 “谁会想到我母亲因王家兴旺今日已成为名媛，她与一个台籍商人做伴；而父亲，终于与张玉芳复合，到澳洲退休。” 这时，地图上已经划满了线。 “子函在度假，”她指着欧洲，“他的家在加州，但是赚钱在香港。” 印南沉默了，流浪的华人，四处为家。 子盈老气横秋地说：“就这样，一辈子便过去了。” 印南忍不住笑：“你的一辈子？还早着呢。” 子盈拿起一支银色的笔：“有一个叫高戈的女子，她从西北一直走到河南，到这里落脚，你看多么伟大，离乡别井，走了四千多里，越走越洗练，越走越美丽，真是奇迹。” 印南听她演说，兴趣越来越浓。 “根据高戈旅程，可以写一篇社会学博士论文。” 印南重新冲了一壶茶，听她说下去。 子盈说：“我们像是幕后工作人员，在这个大舞台的一角，看尽沧桑。” 印南不语。 “将来我在哪一个角落歇脚？我也不知道，我不中不西、亦中亦西，是个国际人，到处可以适应，在心底下，又觉得无论住什么地方都仍是客人。” 印南听到这里叹口气：“肚子饿了。”幸亏全球都有中华料理。 “厨房有阿娥家送来的苏州月饼。” 母亲还未回来，不知叫那个郑树人带到什么地方去了。 子盈把地图搁到一旁，这时，打印机忽然开动，原来是子茵传来照片及口讯。 “姐姐，我们在悉尼附近一个叫胡桃溪的小城居住，子照与我已考进当地私立学校，每天终于可以看到爸爸在家里，他沉迷打高球，母亲穿全套防晒衣陪他一去整天，家里说不出的宁静，子照与我都觉得开心……” 照片中是皮肤晒得棕红的程柏棠与两个较小的子女。 印南说：“你总算放下一宗心事。” Ziying nodded. “有一件事，会令你高兴，记得崇明岛那个商场吗，由台湾人接手，已经建妥，而且照你的旧设计，祠堂搬进大厦，作为名胜点。” "real?" “我带你去看。” "when?" “我请朋友去拍摄了现场片段，现在请他们传电邮过来。” "great." 印南过去开启电脑，打了一通电话，片刻，讯息就到。 只见荧屏上出现一座先进商场，似曾相识，当然，这本来是程子盈的设计。 现在建成了，只见内部稍作改动，金碧辉煌十分俗气，镜头推近，大玻璃拱顶下，正是那座小小祠堂。 子盈见过的那个盛大叔坐在祠堂门口，咦，他在干什么？ 子盈睁大双眼，呵，他在收门券，原来，参观祠堂可以收取入场费用，这倒是生财有道。 慢着，盛大叔他似乎还另有任务，他在解释签文，他兼任庙祝，子盈掩着嘴骇笑。 这时，他对着镜头笑起来，露出参差不齐的牙齿：“程小姐，你好。”原来盛大叔还没有忘记她。 “程小姐，”他搓搓手，“你的计划终于实现了，香港人不做，台湾人做，哈哈哈哈，我收入不错。”他似乎有点尴尬，抓抓后脑，“先把经济搞起来，你说是不是，程小姐。” 子盈大笑出眼泪来。 “程小姐，有空来看我，隔壁就快有日本人发展商场，听说东洋人要把观音庙搬进去。咦，我有客人来了，对不起，做了生意再说，祝程小姐你早日嫁到如意郎君。” 他拱拱手，在镜头前淡出。 子盈伸手抹去眼角泪水：“嘻，笑死我。” “我知道你会高兴。” “印南，你真周到。” “我的朋友，正替那班日本人打工。” “我的崇明心愿已偿，了无牵挂。” 子盈按钮看电视新闻：“这是开发大西北专辑，播放了整个星期，十分感人，且看今日说些什么。” 只听得记者说：“今日我们来到兰州大学，访问在该校任教三年的许思韵。思韵在香港出生，美国长大，不识中文，可是大学毕业后，她却来到这里教英文，并且学得一口流利普通话。” 记者身边容貌娟秀的许小姐笑了，一口整齐牙齿说明她自幼受到极好保健照顾，她应该是美籍华人，今日却返回中国服务。 只听她谦逊地解说工作细节，以及她本身的愿望。 记者这样说：“她的月薪只有一千六，明年可望加到二千四，收入同香港的大专院校比较，差距甚远。” 印南很感动：“我们寄物资给她。” 子盈说：“人才交流，像高戈，一定想尽办法要出来，那位许小姐却决定回流。” 印南答：“子盈，人各有志。” “我是边缘人。” “边缘也需有人站岗。” “印南，你说话真让人舒服。” 夜深，母亲仍未回来，小郭告辞，子盈熄灯睡觉。 几乎近天亮，才听见母亲回来，那时，已经有早起的鸟儿叽叽喳喳地叫，可知大约是五点多了。 玩得这么晚，吃得消吗？ 子盈翻一个身，重新入睡。 她母亲卸妆更衣走到书房，发觉大书桌上有两只咖啡杯、一张地图。 她微笑，一定是女儿及准女婿在这里谈天说地。 年轻人总有说不尽的话。 这是什么地图？ 取起一看，发觉是世界图，有人用颜色笔划着交叉线，路线似曾相识，她不禁一怔。 是，上海出生的她还记得幼时住在邢家宅路，表姐叫立虹，小邻居叫胖子，不过7岁的她已经随着父母南迁香港，那是1953年，转瞬间，半个世纪过去。 王式笺看着地图上的红线发呆。 在银行做事的父亲很快把握新的机会，从头再起，王家的男子都有担待，幸亏如此，她这个不成才的女儿离婚后才可以安乐地坐牌桌上。 时间有时过得太快，有时过得太慢，忽然之间，子函子盈都已成年。 子盈一点也不像她，也不像父亲，她像栽培她的香港文化，自成一格。 王式笺忍不住走到女儿房间。 子盈的头埋在枕头里，露出一头浓厚黑发。 她过去伸手搓揉子盈的头顶。 子盈朦胧间说：“妈妈——” 王式笺揉她的脸：“让妈妈多亲热一下，很快你就长大，上大学去约会去，妈妈再也不能拥抱你。” 子盈双臂紧紧抱住母亲腰身。 王式笺仿佛看到三四岁的子盈奔过来：“妈妈，抱抱，妈妈，抱抱。” 她泪盈于睫。 刚想说些体己话，子盈已扯起轻微鼻鼾。 她只得笑了，静静离开女儿房间。 她找到一只相片架子，把地图镶好，放在书桌上。 一到香港父亲便托人找到修女学校让她入学，找人补习英语，替她取个英文名字叫西西莉亚。 大学刚一毕业就与程柏棠结婚，父母没有反对，只说：“式笺，家门总是开着。”这句话真管用。 离了婚，亲眷也说风凉话：“式笺是王家第一代离婚勇士，”直至他们的女儿也离了婚，才不