Chapter 4: IV. Going to the Countryside Chapter 4: IV. Going to the Countryside Blue sky and white clouds hung above, the sun hung high in the sky, scorching the earth with its fiery rays. Among the green, lush paddy fields, farmers wearing straw hats and with trouser legs rolled up were bent over, plucking seedlings from the ground.
A black car drove up from the distance, speeding past the concrete path beside the fields, leaving behind a trail of flying dust before disappearing into the distant village.
In front of a small farmhouse, an elderly couple with graying temples and dressed in plain clothes stood outside the courtyard, craning their necks toward the direction of the village entrance as if they were waiting for someone.
“Old man, what do you think is going through Xinxin’s mind? What does it matter if her child is a little ugly? She’s a mother herself, how can she bear to abandon her own child?” Li Meixiang couldn’t help but feel angry thinking about the phone call two days ago.
“You know how stubborn Xinxin is. If we don’t agree, she’ll surely give the child to someone else to raise. It’s all our fault for spoiling her too much when she was young; we’ve spoiled her rotten,” Yang Lisheng became angrier the more he spoke, but what use was his anger?
He had said everything he wanted to say over the phone two days ago, even losing his temper, but no matter how much he pleaded or scolded, Xinxin was adamant about not wanting the child. With no other choice, he had agreed to let her send the child over. That child was his granddaughter; how could he bear to let his daughter give her to someone else?
“Here they come,” Li Meixiang said, spotting Song Yufeng’s car approaching and stepping forward to meet it. Despite being angry, they still had to receive their son-in-law.
Song Yufeng pulled up, pushed open the car door, and got out, “Dad! Mom!” Truth be told, he felt really embarrassed, and even more so, guilty toward his daughter.
“Hmm!” Yang Lisheng gave a faint nod of his head. Xinxin was unreasonable, but Yufeng should have advised her; instead, he let her have her way. And the Song family, they had all agreed as well. He really didn’t understand what was more important, face or family affection?
Li Meixiang saw Mrs. Jin getting out of the car with the child and walked forward, extending her arms, “Let me hold her.”
Mrs. Jin nodded, carefully handing the small infant in her arms over to Li Meixiang. As a servant of the Song family, she felt that the Young Madam shouldn’t abandon her third young mistress just because she was ugly and send her to the countryside, but she was just a servant, with little influence.
She looked at the small infant in Li Meixiang’s arms, “Old Madam, the third young mistress is very well-behaved; she hasn’t cried at all on the way here. Just now on the road I’ve already fed her formula.”
The eldest young mistress and the second young mistress were also looked after by her, and they cried a lot when they were young, nowhere near as easy to manage as the third young mistress. It was a shame that this child was so unlucky, disliked by her parents from birth because of her appearance.
Li Meixiang nodded, looking lovingly at the baby in her arms, “How adorable this child is, where is she ugly?” She had been a gynecologist before and had delivered countless children, many uglier than this one, yet their parents still cherished them like treasures. She couldn’t comprehend how Xinxin, who was a mother, could be so heartless.
The small infant opened her eyes at that moment.
Li Meixiang saw this and quickly, happily, held the baby close as she walked over to Yang Lisheng, “Old man, look, the baby is awake, see how cute she is? Little treasure, I’m your grandmother, and he’s your grandfather.”
Yang Lisheng was surprised to see the small infant looking at him and his wife, “Her eyes are so expressive.” A child so young usually can’t see very well and would cry from being in an unfamiliar place, yet she was remarkably calm, not at all behaving like an infant who had been born just a few days ago.
“Dad! Mom! These two bags contain Xiao Ning’s formula, clothes, and diapers,” Song Yufeng said, bringing out two large bags from the back of the car trunk. He was secure in leaving Xiao Ning with her grandparents, but he couldn’t neglect her. Even if he couldn’t give her parental affection, he would still ensure she had no worries regarding food and clothing.
Li Meixiang nodded and headed inside with the baby in her arms, “Let’s go inside and talk.”
“Mm,” Song Yufeng responded and followed Mr. and Mrs. Yang.
Entering the main room, Yang Lisheng sat down and looked at Song Yufeng, “How long are you planning to leave Xiao Ning here?” He had been too angry to ask two days ago. Xiao Ning would grow up, and when she did, she would need schooling, but in comparison to Beijing, the educational resources here definitely couldn’t match up.
“That…” Song Yufeng didn’t know how to respond. Given Xinxin’s attitude, she didn’t seem to plan on taking Xiao Ning back home. But parents get old, they couldn’t stay with Xiao Ning forever. The thought of the child being all alone if they were gone one day made his heart ache.
Seeing Song Yufeng’s reaction, Yang Lisheng’s face grew grave, “Are you planning to leave Xiao Ning here her whole life, out of sight and out of mind? Just because she isn’t pretty, do you intend to shirk the responsibility every parent should fulfill? How lamentable for two educated people, what a waste of all those years of schooling,” he said, his voice growing increasingly angry, feeling an injustice on behalf of his granddaughter.
“Old man,” Li Meixiang reached out and tugged at Yang Lisheng’s sleeve. After all, their daughter was principally at fault in this matter; their son-in-law had simply spoiled her too much, indulging her whims.
Yang Lisheng took a deep breath, steadying his emotions, “I know you don’t want to see Xiao Ning, but I hope you will take her back before she starts school. If you can’t give her affection, you must at least fulfill your responsibilities as her parents.”
“I understand, Dad,” Song Yufeng replied, visibly ashamed.
“Alright, you can go back now,” Yang Lisheng waved his hand dismissively at Song Yufeng. Even if it wasn’t his son-in-law’s fault, he was still implicated.
“Old man, Yufeng has come a long way. Let him stay for the night before leaving,” Li Meixiang suggested. It was not a long drive from here to Beijing, but it would still take a whole day and night.
Seeing Song Yufeng’s look of guilt, Yang Lisheng’s heart softened, and he reached out to take the baby from Li Meixiang, “Go and cook.”
“Yufeng, if you’re tired, go and lie down in the room. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat,” Li Meixiang said, smiling at Song Yufeng as she rose and headed for the kitchen.
“Thank you, Mom,” Song Yufeng nodded.
“Old Madam, I’ll come with you,” Mrs. Jin stood up and followed Li Meixiang.
Song Yufeng turned his gaze back to Yang Lisheng, “Dad! Don’t worry, I’ll definitely bring Xiao Ning back as soon as I can.” Xiao Ning was his child, and he couldn’t bear to leave her here forever; he would come to see her often.