radicalducati Chapter 55: Memories
Chapter 55: Memories
The snow in Changbai Mountain has been falling for two days in a row.
Yu Chen and Nie Xiguang didn't go to the advanced slope to join the fun anymore. Most of the time, they stayed on the gentle slope of the beginner slope and slowly glided along on their skis.
Sunlight filtered through the pine branches, falling warmly on the two of them.
Jiang Rui's sharpness had been worn down by the downhill race, and he was also shocked by Chris's injury, so he became much more well-behaved. He would occasionally come over to chat, but seeing the two of them being so affectionate, he would wisely run away.
Jiang Yun and the others tacitly made room for each other, spending their days either soaking in hot springs or playing cards in the villa, and their evenings gathering together for a hot pot stew.
Time passed slowly and gently, and before we knew it, it was already the third-to-last day of the holiday.
That evening, the two sat side by side on the snow slope watching the sunset.
The orange-red afterglow dyed the snow-capped mountains a golden-red hue, making them breathtakingly beautiful.
Nie Xiguang suddenly turned her head, looked at Yu Chen's profile, and asked softly, "Yu Chen, there are only three days left of the holiday. Do you... want to go home?"
Yu Chen paused for a moment, then asked, "Home?"
In his memory, the images of "home" have always been blurry fragments: an old house with white walls and black tiles, an osmanthus tree in the yard, and two blurry smiling faces.
Since his transmigration, his goal has been very clear.
The memory of that "home" seemed to have never been triggered by him.
All I know is that my parents in this world are gone.
"Mm." Nie Xiguang reached out and gently took his hand, her fingertips icy cold. "I know you've had a tough time growing up alone. The holidays are almost over, we can go and pay our respects to your aunt and uncle, and talk to them."
She paused, then her voice softened even more: "I'll go with you."
Looking into Nie Xiguang's earnest eyes, Yu Chen felt a gentle, bittersweet feeling, as if something had gently struck her heart.
"Okay." Yu Chen squeezed her hand, and a tiny memory slowly exploded in his mind: "In a small village in Wuhu, Anhui."
Nie Xiguang's eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously: "Then let's set off tomorrow! I'll go tell my mom."
She stood up excitedly, her skirt sweeping across the snow and splashing up fine snowflakes.
Yu Chen watched her joyful figure as she walked away, and couldn't help but smile.
The next morning, the two packed their luggage and said goodbye to Jiang Yun and the others.
Jiang Yun gave Yu Chen a thick red envelope, saying it was a token of her appreciation for her uncle and aunt, and also told Nie Xiguang to be careful on the road and take good care of Yu Chen.
"When you get there, spend some quality time with Xiao Yu and don't make him too sad," Shen Shu said, repeatedly reminding Nie Xiguang as she held his hand.
"Okay, Auntie!" Nie Xiguang replied with a smile, took Yu Chen's hand, and set off for Wuhu.
The green train swayed and rocked, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from the snow-capped Changbai Mountains to the green tiles and white walls of the Jiangnan water towns.
Nie Xiguang leaned on Yu Chen's shoulder, flipping through a Wuhu travel guide she had found on her phone, chattering away.
"Wuhu's xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are super famous, and so are their shrimp roe noodles. We definitely have to try them when we get there!"
"I heard the ancient town over there is also very beautiful. How about we go explore it after we finish the worship ceremony?"
Yu Chen listened quietly, occasionally responding, his gaze falling on the window, the fragments of his memory gradually becoming clearer.
That was the world, Yu Chen's original life.
My parents were honest, hardworking farmers who lived a simple but peaceful life on their few acres of land.
To support his education, his parents worked day and night, which led to their illnesses. They both passed away from illness when he was in his second year of high school.
The original owner was heartbroken and worked hard to support himself through his studies. He was admitted to a university in Jiangning and became the only college student in the village, although it was only a junior college degree.
He earns his living expenses by working as a deliveryman in Jiangning, braving wind and rain, hoping to earn enough to repair his parents' graves.
But fate played a cruel trick on him. One sweltering summer day, after delivering his last order, he collapsed from heatstroke by the roadside and never woke up again.
Then, Yu Chen, who came from another world, was stuffed into this body by the system.
It turns out he wasn't reborn, but rather his soul transmigrated.
It turns out that beneath his silent and calm demeanor lay the original owner's deep-seated forbearance and loneliness.
It turns out that his obsession with developing technology and making big money stemmed not only from his own ambitions but also from the unfulfilled wishes of the original owner of this body.
He wants to marry a beautiful wife, make a lot of money, live in a big house, and make his parents proud in the afterlife.
It was already evening when the train arrived at the station.
The two eventually arrived at that small village.
As the sun sets, wisps of smoke rise from the chimneys.
The old locust tree at the village entrance is still the same as I remember it.
Yu Chen led Nie Xiguang along the path between the fields, their steps growing heavier and heavier.
The old house is located at the deepest part of the village. The white walls are mottled, and moss grows on the black tiles. The osmanthus tree in the yard is lush and leafy, but no one takes care of it, and the ground is covered with withered leaves.
Nie Xiguang held his hand tightly without saying a word, only gently stroking the back of his hand with her fingertips, conveying silent comfort.
Pushing open the half-closed courtyard gate, a musty smell wafted out.
In the main room, there were two black and white photographs.
The man and woman in the photo have simple smiles and gentle eyes.
Those were the original owner's parents, and also his, Yu Chen's, parents.
Nie Xiguang took out incense, candles, and paper money from his bag, carefully arranged them, lit three incense sticks, and handed them to Yu Chen.
Yu Chen took the incense, her fingertips trembling slightly.
He walked up to the photo, knelt down respectfully, and kowtowed three times.
"Dad, Mom."
He spoke, his voice hoarse beyond recognition.
"I've come to see you."
"I brought my girlfriend home. Her name is Nie Xiguang. She's a very nice girl."
"I'm currently working on photovoltaic technology and have made some progress. I'll earn a lot of money in the future, live in a big house, and make you proud of me even in the afterlife."
"Don't worry, I will live well and see this wider world for you."
Tears, finally unable to be held back, fell onto the cold blue brick floor.
Nie Xiguang also knelt down, kowtowed three times, and said softly, "Uncle and Aunt, I am Xiguang. I will stay with Yu Chen and take good care of him from now on, so that he will not be lonely anymore. Don't worry."
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the two of them.
Yu Chen knelt on the ground, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Nie Xiguang reached out and gently hugged him, pressing her face against his back, silently keeping him company.
It turns out that those memories he ignored never disappeared.
It turns out that there really are people in this world waiting for him to come home.
After the ceremony, the two stayed in the old house for a long time.
Yu Chen rummaged through the original owner's belongings: a yellowed diary, several worn-out certificates of merit, and a faded sweater.
The diary was filled with the original owner's thoughts and feelings.
"I delivered thirty orders today and earned two hundred yuan. I'm one step closer to the money I need to repair my parents' graves."
"I saw a couple today and I was so envious. When will I be able to have a girlfriend, hold her hand, and go shopping and eat with her?"
"I want to make a lot of money, live in a big house, and make my parents proud."
As Yu Chen watched, her eyes reddened again.
He closed the diary and clutched it tightly in his hand.
Don't worry, Mom and Dad.
Don't worry, it's another Yu Chen.
I will fulfill your wish.
As Yu Chen left, he looked back once more.
The mottled white walls, the swaying shadows of the trees, and the half-closed courtyard gate.
From then on, he would come back every year.
It was getting dark.
After leaving the old house, Yu Chen was in low spirits, and Nie Xiguang also lost the idea of exploring Wuhu.
She simply stayed by his side quietly.
Yu Chen didn't know how she got into the hotel; she only knew that the receptionist said that too many people were going home for the Chinese New Year and all the nearby hotels were full.
There was only one room left.
and many more...
One room?
-
It was supposed to be released today, but I know you won't pre-order unless I leave you with some bait.
This chapter is free.
Hahahaha!
Don't blame me, I know you perverts all too well.
Even if you're not following this series anymore, please give it a first subscription as a thank you for your support.