After Aunt Wen gave birth to her son, her mother's mental state began to deteriorate.
She knows one thing very well. She has fallen out of favor in front of her father. What her father values now is Aunt Wen. Compared to her mother, who is now out of shape and full of wrinkles, her father will like Aunt Wen more.
It is also quite normal. Not to mention, Aunt Wen gave him the son he had dreamed of.
My mother often tells me now that I should pay attention to my father. She is worried that if a war breaks out, my father will take Mrs. Wen and her son and run away, leaving us mother and daughter here. This kind of thing is entirely possible.
In the 20th year of the Republic of China, when the Northeast fell, many powerful people fled to the south with their concubines.
One day...
Will I become like my mother?
Looking at the mother now, who can imagine that she was the daughter of the Hanlin family back then? She was also a well-educated and beautiful woman in a deep boudoir?
I have seen photos of my mother when she was young. At that time, Western cameras were a rare thing, and my grandfather didn’t like them very much, but my mother really liked these Western things, so she took a lot of photos. At that time, she
Much more beautiful than I am now.
Although my father did not have the current property at that time, when the Qing Dynasty was still around, his family was still very wealthy because of his business with foreigners.
Everyone around me said that my father fell in love with my mother at first sight.
My mother told me that at that time my father quoted Sima Xiangru's "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix": If there is a beautiful woman, you will never forget it when you see her; if you don't see her for a day, you will miss her like crazy.
My mother heard that my father had read some new schools, so she became fond of him.
My mother was only seventeen years old when she married my father. The year they got married was the second year of the Republic of China. I was born in the second year.
At that time, my father loved my mother as much as Aunt Wen does now.
How long has my father loved my mother? Probably eight years.
Especially after the mother gave birth to her younger brother who died in infancy.
She failed to give birth to a son, and after giving birth for the second time, her mother's figure was completely out of shape.
It wasn't long before my father married his first concubine.
And this concubine is only ten years older than me.
But it is said that when my father was pursuing my mother, he wrote a lot of loving words, all of which were directed to heaven and earth, and swore that he and his mother would grow old together, stay together forever, and never take concubines for the rest of their lives.
After that, up to Aunt Wen, my father already had four aunts.
I don't want to be like my mother.
The winter of the 25th year of the Republic of China was much colder than last year.
That was one day in February.
On this day, Ruo Chulai found me.
When I first saw him, I almost couldn't believe my eyes.
"Let me reply to your previous proposal."
I was very pleasantly surprised.
Then, I invited him to the best Western restaurant in the French Concession, hoping to show my friendship as a landlord.
Ruochu really hasn't changed at all.
"I saw your new work in the bookstore." Ruochu said to me, "Congratulations."
"I'm thinking about the next new book." Every time I faced Ruochu, I didn't dare to look at him: "You said, you will reply to my proposal?"
"'She' said that she can observe you for a while."
When I heard the name "she", my hand holding the coffee cup suddenly trembled.
I am particularly afraid of "her".
Even facing Aunt Wen would make me feel much better than facing "her".
“What does observation mean?”
"literal meaning."
Li Ruochu always has such an indifferent expression in front of me. It seems that nothing in the world can make him sad or happy. But I know very well that this is just his appearance.
"Ruochu," my eyes were fixed on the coffee cup, and I could clearly see my face on the coffee. Then, I said those words: "I like you."
I know that the person I first liked was not me.
What he likes is the woman in black kimono.
I also have to deny that that Japanese woman is more beautiful than me.
"I'm sorry," Ruochu said without a second's hesitation, "I don't like you."
I slowly picked up the coffee cup, trying to cover my face somewhat,
I don't want Ruochu to see me like I am now.
"Are you here just to inform me of this matter? The distance from there to here is not close."
"I have other businesses here. The Bai family has clients all over the country, including foreigners."
I wasn't surprised by this, but I still wanted to talk to Ruochu as much as possible: "You also do business with foreigners?"
"As long as they can afford the price, the Bai family will do business with them."
So, I just stopped by to take a look.
"Looks like a big deal."
There is indeed no shortage of wealthy people in Songhu, especially in the concession.
"Do you also do business with the government?"
"Which government are you asking about?" Having said this, Li Ruochu looked out the window, "Although they are all dirty and disgusting desires, whether to do business or not is not something I can decide.
She'd decided."
I also followed his eyes and looked out.
"Peace can't last long." Ruochu suddenly changed the topic at this time: "The Japanese will not be satisfied with just occupying the Northeast."
"My father also said that. And if war breaks out again, North China will be in danger."
Since September 18th, the Japanese have fought all the way from the northeast to the entrance of the Great Wall. Now, the Japanese army is very close to City Z where the Bai family is located. Once North China falls, what will happen to the Bai family?
"Ruochu."
I suddenly felt something was wrong: "What do you want to do when you come here this time?"
I realized that Ruochu's purpose was not simple.
He looked at me, and after a while, he said: "Miss Mei, do you believe there is retribution in this world?"
When I heard this sentence, I was stunned for a moment.
"Retribution...I don't believe it."
"Looking at the chaos in this world, you should know that retribution does not exist."
Yes, there will be no retribution.
I have always known that my father has been colluding with the southern warlords to sell cigarettes. Not much of our family's money is clean. However, my father has not received any retribution. Every day on the streets, you can often see people smoking big cigarettes to death.
people.
But I can't blame my father. The reason why our family has a place in Songhu and can do business with foreigners so smoothly is because we have warlord connections.
The war is destined to break out, but I, a weak woman, cannot change anything.
If, if he had promised me...he would just nod his head, I would try my best to take him to Hong Kong Island with me.
I have seen those people who fled after the fall of Northeast China. If North China also fell, the Japanese would definitely loot the Bai family... What would happen if that happened first?
"Ruochu, don't stay in the north anymore..." I wanted to hold his hand, but he stood up first.
"I have to go, Miss Mei."
When he left, the coffee was still steaming.
I could only sit there blankly.
Compared with that Japanese woman, is it just my skin that makes me worse?
No, it's not just that simple.
I know.
If you were with that woman for the first time, you won't grow old.
That woman will not be like my mother, whose love fades as time goes by.
I stroked my face.
I can do that too.
I can also accompany Ruochu forever.
But, at that time, this is what he said to me: "One day, you will..."
…
When Dong Xie saw this, he had to turn to the next page to see the following content.
He had just turned the page when suddenly, a person came from behind and hit Dong Xie on the back.
Then, he was hit by the window, his hand was not steady, and the book immediately fell out!
And the book just fell hard outside!
Dong Xie turned around and saw a boy behind him. There were several other tall boys who were the culprits who pushed him and bumped into Dong Xie.
"Please, please let me go..."
The librarian wearing glasses immediately walked up and scolded the boys: "This is the library, you can't make noise here!"
Dong Xie immediately ran down, looking for the book.
But……
But couldn’t find it!
Got picked up?
…
School Academic Affairs Office.
Dong Xie came here and expressed the hope to see the school surveillance and know who picked up the book.
The dean of academic affairs is still the same director Li, the only difference is that he has become bald.
The students who were fighting also came to the Academic Affairs Office.
Director Li refused Dong Xie's request to watch the surveillance. After reprimanding the students, he looked at the bullied student and said, "I have told you so many times that if you are bullied, you should learn from your own behavior."
Look for the reason, why did you bully me?"
Hearing these words, which were almost exactly the same as those before, Dong Xie looked at Director Li and suddenly felt a chill in his heart.
"Director, let me say it again, please let me check the surveillance!"