"Teacher is leaving," Chen Yunqi said with a smile, patting his head. He then turned around and handed him a box of pencils and a stack of unused drawing paper, saying, "I won't be able to teach you anymore. If you still want to draw, practice hard. When you go to study outside, I'll try to find you a good teacher."
Huang Yelin took the drawing and looked at it again and again, asking incredulously, "Why are you leaving? Everyone says you're going to build a house here and find a wife, why are you leaving now?"
Chen Yunqi wanted to tell him that the teacher didn't want a wife and wanted to be with his third brother, but he felt that Huang Yelin was still young and shouldn't tell him things he didn't understand. So he could only smile helplessly and say, "I don't know how to build houses or farm. I can only go back to work and earn money so that I can support your studies in the future."
Huang Yelin, puzzled, pressed on, "If you don't know how to build it, we'll build it for you. Once it's finished, Huang Xiaoya and I will move in with you, and we'll have Third Brother move in too, so we can play together again."
Looking at his innocent expression, Chen Yunqi couldn't help but flick his forehead and say, "What are you doing here? Don't you need to take care of Mom and your brother?"
Huang Yelin scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Oh dear, I almost forgot, there's also Mom and my younger brother."
"Alright, stop thinking nonsense and focus on your studies. Remember our promise," Chen Yunqi straightened his crooked red scarf and looked at him, saying, "Is Dad back?"
Mentioning this, Huang Yelin instantly forgot about Teacher Chen's departure, and a look of undisguised joy appeared on his face. He excitedly said, "He just came back yesterday! He said he won't go out to work anymore! He wants to stay home to farm and take care of us, and he also said he won't sell his younger brother again!"
"That's good," Chen Yunqi said, smiling as he looked at his happy face. "Then you have to keep a close eye on him. You're a big kid now, so you need to take good care of yourself and your family."
Huang Yelin then realized that Chen Yunqi was leaving and saying goodbye. He looked at Chen Yunqi with some sadness and said, "Teacher Chen, can you not leave? I'll miss you, and Huang Xiaoya will miss you too. Will you come back?"
Chen Yunqi put his hand on his shoulder and said earnestly, "I'll miss you too, but I have to go back. I'll definitely come back to see you when I have the chance, and you can come to see me when you grow up. You're always welcome, I'll be waiting for you."
"You keep your word?" Huang Yelin held up his little finger.
Chen Yunqi also extended his little finger and hooked it with his, "It's a deal."
The school bell rang, and Huang Yelin reluctantly left Chen Yunqi's room. After taking two steps, he turned back and said to him, "Teacher Chen, I will definitely work hard to earn back the money I spent on the doctor's visit last time."
Chen Yunqi smiled and nodded. After watching Huang Yelin leave, he closed the door and opened the cardboard box under the bed again, staring blankly at its contents.
There was a light knocking sound outside the door. Chen Yunqi thought it was Huang Yelin returning again, so he got up and opened the door without thinking, blurting out, "What is it now?"
He froze after speaking, the faint smile on his face vanishing instantly. Standing outside the door wasn't Huang Yelin, but someone he least wanted to see at that moment.
"Teacher Chen, may I come in and say a few words to you?" Amu asked, staring into his eyes from outside the door.
Chapter Sixty: Dawn
Chen Yunqi's light brown eyes were filled with a chilling coldness. He looked at Amu, who looked guilty outside the door, and his hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists and trembled slightly, as if he was about to punch Amu in the nose. His tall figure blocked the doorway, showing no intention of inviting him in.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice cold and lifeless, barely containing his anger.
"I'd like to talk to you about Sanwa'er..."
“You’re not qualified to talk to me about San San,” Chen Yunqi said impatiently, as if he had expected it. Before he could finish speaking, he looked away impatiently and made a move to close the door and ask him to leave.
Seeing the look of disgust on his face, Amu, in a moment of panic, reached out and blocked the doorway, whispering, "Teacher Chen, don't send me away. I want to help you and Sanwa..."
At this moment, Chen Yunqi seemed to have reverted to the seemingly humble yet aloof Teacher Chen he had been when he first arrived at the mountain. Thinking of his and San San's current predicament, which was entirely due to this man, he suppressed his anger and questioned Amu in a low voice, "Help us? Haven't you helped enough?"
Chen Yunqi, who hadn't originally intended to waste words with him, suddenly lost his temper. He said sternly, "Did you see San San? Did you see the bruises on his body and face? Are you satisfied? You know his personality perfectly well. Did you consider that he wouldn't even fight back? Now that you've achieved your goal, why are you pretending to help?"
As he spoke, he took a step closer to Amu, his tone becoming increasingly aggressive: "I'm warning you, after I leave, you'd better stay away from him. No matter what happens in the future, his body and his heart belong to me. Don't even think about it, you'll never have him in this lifetime. I advise you not to try."
Chen Yunqi had never hated anyone to this extent in his life. Always one to repay evil with kindness, he now felt an overwhelming urge to humiliate Amu in every way possible. Even trampling Amu's pathetic pride underfoot wouldn't quell his hatred. He had expected that a man hearing such provocative words would either fly into a rage or leave in a huff. But to his surprise, Amu, enduring the oppressive aura before him, gritted his teeth and endured for a long while before finally giving up his inner struggle and saying, "I understand. Teacher Chen, you can take San San away. I'll help you."
Still seething with anger, Chen Yunqi's face showed a hint of surprise upon hearing this. After pondering for a moment, Amu lowered her head and repeated firmly, "Take him away, I'll help you."
Chen Yunqi felt deep down that he shouldn't trust him, but perhaps because he was too fixated on the phrase "take him away," he hesitated for a long time, then inexplicably took a half step back and let his mother into the house.
After entering the room, Chen Yunqi sat on the bed, reached out and closed the cardboard box he had been looking at, and looked up at his mother, saying, "Go ahead and say it."
He didn't invite Amu to sit down, so Amu stood awkwardly at the table and said, "I know you guessed that I was the one who reported you, and I know you hate me now, but..."
Upon hearing the word "but," Chen Yunqi's indifferent face revealed obvious displeasure. Amu, intimidated by his fierce gaze, felt her confidence instantly wane, and she suddenly became stammering: "But... I really do like San San... We were fine even without you..."
"You're overthinking it," Chen Yunqi sneered, ruthlessly exposing his attempt to cover up his misunderstanding. "Even without me, without anyone else, San San wouldn't love you. He treats you like an older brother, respects you, and trusts you. But what have you done to him? How dare you say you like him? Do you even deserve it?"
He had already processed these questions and accusations on his own, and didn't want to delve into the causes and reasons anymore. But now, facing Amu, he still couldn't control his anger and vented all his frustration. With a gloomy face, he said to Amu, "The fact that I haven't given you a good beating is already the greatest mercy I can show you. You can leave when you've said enough, so I don't have to go back on my word."
“Yes, I don’t deserve it, I’m a bastard, I’m so sorry to San San,” Amu was overwhelmed with shame by his words and looked at him in despair. “I didn’t dare to say or do anything, and I didn’t dare to hug or kiss him like you did! I had no idea that liking a man could involve doing these things! I know I never had this opportunity before, and I never will! I regret it, and I want to make amends! I want to be good to him one last time!”
Am was utterly ashamed. He was terrified that Chen Yunqi would retaliate with harsh words again, which would be even more painful than a beating. Before Chen Yunqi could speak, he hurriedly explained, "I'll find a way to bring San San out tonight. You wait at the entrance to the road down the mountain and arrange a car to pick you up as soon as possible. You guys go ahead, I'll handle things with Uncle Lu."
Amu's words struck a chord with Chen Yunqi. He didn't care what the price was if he could take San San away. No matter how much he hated Amu or how much he disdained accepting his help, he couldn't bring himself to refuse for San San's sake.
Chen Yunqi lowered his eyes and silently considered the matter. Amu, thinking he didn't trust her, spoke again, "Haven't you always wanted to take him away? What are you hesitating for? Don't you trust me?"
"I don't believe you," Chen Yunqi raised his head and stared at Amu for a long time before asking, "Why did you help me?"
Am sighed deeply, tilting his head back slightly. His eyes, once again fixed on Chen Yunqi, were filled with loneliness and desolation. He didn't know how to express himself accurately, so he simply said, "I've figured it out. I have nothing. I have no money and no ability to give San San a good life. I can only take him to work and endure hardship; no matter how far we go, we can't escape this mountain valley. Seeing him with you, I know that only you can make him so happy, so I hope he's happy."
“You’re wrong,” Chen Yunqi said, not moved by Amu’s words as she had hoped. He responded with a slightly sarcastic tone: “San San is the kind of child who is not afraid of hardship. He loves me not because he is greedy for material satisfaction, but because I dare to stand up for him and protect him from all harm. What he wants is not the so-called good life you talk about, but respect and freedom.”
“I can admit to loving him in front of the whole village, but you,” Chen Yunqi stared intently into Amu’s eyes and said, word by word, “you can never do that.”
Amu finally understood the difference between him and Chen Yunqi—it wasn't status or position, family or background, wealth or wisdom, but rather the understanding and courage to love. He kept emphasizing his childhood sweetheart relationship with San San, but Chen Yunqi understood and cherished San San better than he did, never judging her with worldly eyes. Wealth can be created through hard work, but the capacity for love was what he truly lacked.
Am was completely convinced of her defeat and smiled with relief, saying, "Teacher Chen, you are a good person, you will treat San San well."
Now that things were out in the open, the two stopped their heated exchanges. Amu stepped back to the door and said to Chen Yunqi, "I'm leaving now. I'll figure something out tonight. Just be prepared and wait for me."
A glimmer of hope struggled to reignite in his heart. Chen Yunqi recalled San San's resolute farewell to him, handed the cardboard box to his mother, and said, "Give this to him for me. Don't try to persuade him; let him make his own decision."
San San had been sitting on the bed with his knees drawn up to his chest for a whole day. Night fell without him realizing it, and when he came to his senses, the unlit room was pitch black, so dark that he couldn't see his hand in front of his face.
Because of his shameless words and actions, which had caused his father to lose face in front of the villagers, he was dragged home and brutally beaten. He didn't remember how many slaps he received or how long he was whipped with a thick rope; it was as if a long period of his memory was missing. His clenched teeth were filled with the heavy smell of blood, and his torn and bleeding body was in so much pain that he had lost all feeling. It wasn't until his father tore at his hair and slammed him against the wall that he finally collapsed, pleading incoherently.
"Dad...please don't hit me...it hurts so much..."
When San San's father was tired and had had enough of beating him, he overturned everything in San San's room, throwing out all the clothes and books Chen Yunqi had bought for him and telling San San's mother to take them to the yard to burn. He caught sight of the harmonica beside San San's pillow, immediately picked it up, threw it on the ground, and raised his foot to stomp on it. San San struggled and rushed over, covering it with his hands, crying and pleading, "Daddy, don't step on it! This is my only birthday present, please..."
San San's father wouldn't listen to him. If San San uttered even half a word related to Chen Yunqi, it would ignite his fury. He stomped hard on San San's hand and roared, "Shameless wretch! If I'd known you'd be like this, I should have drowned you in the chamber pot back then!"
Without a word, he kicked San San away, smashed the harmonica to pieces, and said viciously, "You want to study? As long as you break up with him, I'll let you study! Otherwise, neither of you siblings will study! If you don't want to get married and have children, you can remain a bachelor for life! Let your sister get married soon! If you don't listen, I'll call the police right now, I'll go to his parents! I'll go to his workplace! I'll let the whole world know what kind of person he is!"
All hope vanished, and all bright futures turned into nothing.
San San wasn't incapable of accepting a future without Chen Yunqi. He had originally had nothing, and Chen Yunqi's appearance was a beautiful accident for him. He never dared to hope for anything lasting, only daring to bury his humble desires deep in his heart, and only daring to indulge in wild dreams in moments of passion. That confession under the fireworks was the most dazzling moment of his life, and repeated passionate lovemaking painted his pale life with bright colors. Even though cruel reality caused him to lose again, he knew he had already possessed far too much, and he had to be content; he had no regrets.
He didn't know Chen Yunqi's life outside. If, because of him, Chen Yunqi had to suffer the same contempt and scorn as him, be abandoned by his family, and cause Xiaoyan to suffer a lifetime of hardship, he absolutely could not bear it. If they couldn't be together forever, he only hoped that his beloved could return to her original life, gradually forget him, and live a peaceful and happy life. He would bear all the longing and grievances alone.
San San had mentally prepared himself, determined to cut the Gordian knot and get Chen Yunqi out of this mess cleanly. But when he actually stepped out to face Chen Yunqi, the man's haggard face and dim eyes tore at his heart, and the words he had carefully chosen just wouldn't come out. If it weren't for his father's violent coercion, he would have rushed forward immediately and let Chen Yunqi take him away, casting aside all the ties of family and clan, all the constraints of ethics and morality, and using his most ordinary strength to smooth his lover's furrowed brow and give him a most sincere kiss.
You can leave now.
San San didn't know how he managed to utter those three words. He didn't even get to take one last good look at Chen Yunqi, to carefully imprint those deep brows and gentle lips into his heart. Half a year had passed so quickly; all that endless affection and unending love could only be cherished and remembered for the rest of his life.
San San closed his eyes and curled up on the bed, the pain in his body amplified infinitely in the darkness. The sounds of his parents arguing and crying came incessantly from outside. He slept and woke up repeatedly in a daze, and after an unknown amount of time, he was awakened by the clanging of chains. He immediately endured the pain and got up, hiding at the foot of the bed and nervously looking towards the door.
Only when San San recognized the figure who had slipped in as her mother, who was holding an oil lamp, did she breathe a sigh of relief and ask softly, "Brother, what brings you here?"
As Amu approached, he suddenly saw the bruises on San San's face in the lamplight, and he was filled with remorse. That night, he had heard San San being beaten outside and had already guessed that San San would be seriously injured, but when he saw with his own eyes that it was several times more terrible than he had imagined, he realized how foolish he had been.
Am squatted by the bed, staring at San San for a long time without saying a word. San San thought he was there to reprimand her, so she lowered her eyes, not daring to look at him, and said softly, "Brother, I didn't mean to hide it from you... Please don't blame me, and please don't blame Teacher Chen... Please help me persuade Dad not to cause trouble for Teacher Chen, okay?... Teacher Chen is a respectable person, I don't want to drag him down... I've already promised not to contact him again..."
Am recalled Chen Yunqi's words: even at this point, the kind-hearted San San still respected him like an older brother, blaming himself for all the mistakes. Am wished that San San hated him like Chen Yunqi did, saying some sharp, sarcastic, and heartless things to him; otherwise, he didn't know how much his conscience would trouble him.
San San, still confused, kept muttering to himself with his head down when his mother suddenly interrupted him, saying, "Uncle Lu is drinking with the secretary and Sheng Xueli in the inner room. I told your mother I'd come in to check on you and try to persuade you, but she didn't lock the door. Hang in there and hurry up and get ready. I'll take you out when I bring you dinner later."
San San was stunned, not understanding for a moment what his mother was trying to do. Seeing San San's confused look, his mother hurriedly rummaged through the house for his clothes, muttering to herself, "You don't need to bring too much, do you? You can buy whatever you need outside. Let's go first."
As he haphazardly stuffed clothes into an old schoolbag, he asked San San, "Are you badly injured? Can you walk? It's okay, if you can't walk, I'll carry you out."
San San called out to him, "Brother? Where are you taking me?"
Without thinking, Amu blurted out, "I'll take you to find Teacher Chen! He's waiting for you at the village entrance, go with him!"
San San never expected things to take such a turn. He stared wide-eyed in astonishment as his mother paced around the room like a headless fly, muttering to herself. Suddenly, he felt a strange surge of emotion and impulse. But just as that determination and courage were rekindled, his father's threatening words echoed in his ears again.
"I'm going to find his parents!" "Let Xiaoyan get married soon!"
Am zipped up the bag, hid it behind the door, and said to San San, "I'll go get you some food now, and check out the situation outside. Eating something will give you the energy to keep going. Listen to me later..."
"Brother, I'm not leaving."
"...Arrangements... huh??" Before Amu could finish speaking, he heard San San's firm refusal. He froze on the spot, and after a long while, he frowned and said, "Not leaving? Why not leaving? Don't you want to be with him anymore?"
"I don't want to think about it anymore," San San said with a bitter smile. "I was born here and I will die here. This is my fate. I was delusional before, but now I understand. He and I... we are not on the same path."
Upon hearing this, Amu anxiously whispered, "What nonsense are you spouting now? You..."
"Brother!" San San interrupted him again, "I said I'm not leaving, don't try to persuade me! What would I do there? Could I get used to life in a big city? I don't know anything! I've never seen anything! I'll just be laughed at if I go!"
The usually gentle San San became unusually stubborn at this moment. Amu seemed to understand his intention and sighed, saying to him, "San San, you should think it over carefully. If you really think it over, I won't persuade you anymore. Teacher Chen is leaving tonight. He has something for me to take to you. I've hidden it outside. Do you want it? If you do, I'll go and get it."
San San hesitated for a long time before nodding slightly. Amu turned and went out, but soon after, when no one in the house was paying attention, she secretly brought in a cardboard box and stuffed it into San San's hands.
San San mustered her courage and used her scarred hands to open the cardboard box. She stared blankly at the contents inside, hot tears welling up in her eyes.
Inside the cardboard box was a neatly folded, clean blue T-shirt, a small box wrapped in floral paper, and an admission notice with his name on it.
San San opened the box and took out the white silicone bunny. As soon as she held it in her hand and gently touched it, the bunny lit up.
The soft orange light reflected in San San's moist eyes and illuminated the dim room. That light was so much like the gaze of a tender lover, warming San San's lonely life in a special way, no matter how far away they were.
Chen Yunqi sat on a large rock at the foot of the mountain path, smoking. Another whole night passed. He repeatedly told Tang Yutao and Li Hui to go back and rest, but the two stubbornly stayed with him, refusing to leave. Just before dawn, San Niang and Li Laoqi arrived. San Niang stuffed seven or eight hard-boiled eggs into Chen Yunqi's backpack. Unable to face such a painful farewell, she only told them to take care, then, weeping, she and Li Laoqi helped each other away in a hurry.
The moisture in the air, along with the rising sun, cast colorful rays onto the clouds on the horizon. The crimson dawn was dazzling, and its vibrant energy dispelled the darkness. Day had broken.
Chen Yunqi stood up and looked at the end of the path. Apart from the flag fluttering on the school roof, everything between the mountains and the sky seemed to be still.
Will everything get better?
He picked up the backpack from the ground, dusted it off, and turned around to hug Tang Yutao and Li Hui tightly.
Li Hui was already sobbing uncontrollably. Tang Yutao calmly put his arm around Chen Yunqi's back, without saying much, only saying softly, "Brother, take care, don't worry." Chen Yunqi knew that he would definitely take good care of San San for him, so he hugged him tightly gratefully, then waved goodbye, picked up his luggage, and walked down the mountain without looking back, bathed in the morning glow.
Chapter Sixty-One: Returning Home
The waiting hall was bustling with people in the evening, and the gleaming marble floor reflected the stark white lights.
People hurry along the pedestrian conveyor belt, coffee in hand and various suitcases in tow. Outside the duty-free shop, supermodels display trendy clothing, shoes, and bags on a giant LED screen, their faces expressionless. Announcements in both Chinese and English, searching for people and boarding announcements, echo repeatedly overhead. Outside the huge windows, planes packed with travelers slowly take off with a roar, disappearing one after another into the gilded clouds.
Chen Yunqi sat wearily on a bench at the boarding gate, a copy of Caixin magazine casually in his hand. He opened the magazine to a report titled "Where Are the Schools for Migrant Workers' Children Going?" Looking at the densely packed, tiny print on the smooth, glossy paper, he suddenly felt utterly alienated from everything around him.
In the span of six months, he seemed to have become a completely different person, as if he had gone to another world, or as if he had a magnificent and beautiful dream. When he suddenly woke up, he realized that he had left something very important in the dream. Overnight, he could no longer find his former self.
The information on the big screen showed that the flight was delayed. Not long after boarding time, some passengers began to get restless. Airport ground staff came out to negotiate and calm them down. Chen Yunqi looked at the crowd gathered in a corner and calculated the time. He estimated that he would not get home until midnight at the earliest.
Time ticked by, and just as people's emotions were about to spiral out of control, the staff member finally announced clearance for takeoff over their walkie-talkie. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the crew boarded the plane first, and then the one-meter line blocking the boarding gate was removed. People finally lined up as they wished, boarding the plane amidst grumbling.