The rain continued to fall in a drizzle, this unceasing downpour seemed to be telling the people in the city that today it would dominate everything in this city, wetting the eaves, wetting the streets, and wetting our moods…
In the living room, the air conditioner was blowing warm air “hulu”-ing towards us. Those two bowls of fragrant preserved egg and lean meat congee were doing their best to create a warm atmosphere, prompting us to instinctively slow down our breakfast pace. Neither of us wanted to leave this place too soon.
After breakfast, Mi Cai and I washed the bowls together, then we each drank a glass of plain water, and sat together on the sofa waiting… We didn’t mention anything about our relationship again, so there was no argument between us. This allowed us to maintain a peaceful mindset to face Yan Zhuomei’s imminent return, although peacefulness didn’t mean we were confident she would accept my relationship with Mi Cai.
I lit another cigarette. Mi Cai went to the windowsill to hang up the clothes we had washed. At this moment, someone knocked on the door. Instinctively, Mi Cai turned to look at me, and I also looked at her in surprise, because neither of us could imagine who would come to visit at this time…
Mi Cai paused what she was doing and approached the door to ask, “Who is it?”
“It’s Auntie.”
Upon hearing this response, I instinctively rose from the sofa and stood up. Perhaps Mi Cai’s aunt had already brought Yan Zhuomei back, and I was about to face this woman who I had never met but who, to some extent, would determine the future of Mi Cai and me.
Mi Cai paused briefly, and this pause proved that she had the same thought as I did…
Finally, Mi Cai opened the door. To our surprise, only her aunt was standing outside. Mi Cai invited her in, but she said to us, “I won’t come in. Cai, Zhao Yang, you two should get ready quickly. Go with us to the airport to pick up your sister-in-law. She’ll arrive in Shanghai at 11 a.m.”
I checked the time and it was already nine o’clock. If Mi Cai and I really needed to go to the airport, we indeed had to get ready to leave soon.
Mi Cai didn’t reply immediately. She asked, “Auntie, who else is going to the airport?”
“Your uncle, Mi Lan, and Fang Yuan. They’ve already started preparing with Zhuomei… I came to inform you, hoping you two can go with us. After all, we’re still a family, right, Cai?”
Mi Cai seemed hesitant, or perhaps unwilling to be with Fang Yuan, she shook her head and replied, “Auntie, Mi Cai and Zhao Yang won’t go. We’ll wait for her in Suzhou and meet her in the evening…”
Mi Cai’s aunt didn’t let her continue. She grabbed Mi Cai’s hand and said, “Cai, you don’t know your mother’s temper, do you? The person she wants to see most is you. Why make her feel embarrassed from the start?… Listen to Auntie and go with us. Later, I’ll ride with you in your car, and we can have a good chat on the way.”
“Auntie, if you’re acting as my mother’s messenger, then there’s no need to talk at all.”
“Cai, you’re wrong. Auntie won’t be your mother’s messenger at all. On the contrary, I’ll try to persuade her…” At this point, Mi Cai’s aunt was already somewhat choked up. She gripped Mi Cai’s hand more tightly and said emotionally, “You’re such a poor child… Auntie really can’t bear to part with you. I hope your happiness comes from the bottom of your heart, rather than being imposed by others… Your personality is too much like your older brother’s. I know you value feelings deeply. It’s impossible for you to give up everything and go to America, so I really hope you can live a married life with a man you admire. I don’t support your older sister-in-law’s excessive interference in your life… But Auntie’s power is really too weak!”
When her aunt mentioned her vulnerable points, Mi Cai’s back already showed signs of sadness. She remained silent… This silence seemed to be gathering strength!
Her aunt continued, “Go with Auntie, give your mother a way out. Don’t start off with hostility before even meeting. That would only backfire.”
Finally, Mi Cai turned to look at me, seeking my opinion. I thought her aunt made sense, so I nodded, indicating my willingness to go to the airport with her to face Yan Zhuomei immediately.
Only then did Mi Cai nod to her aunt. As Mi Cai and I were changing our shoes, her aunt, with a very complex expression, looked at the old house for a long time. But she didn’t mention anything about the house or Mi Cai, perhaps for her, this old house was also a memory that could only be kept in the heart, not spoken of.
…
I went to the community’s open-air parking lot to get the car. Mi Cai and her aunt sat in the back seat. Then I drove in the direction of Zhuomei, because we needed to meet with Mi Zhongde and others there…
About twenty minutes of driving later, we finally arrived at Zhuomei. I saw Mi Lan’s R8 and Mi Zhongde’s Mercedes. Mi Cai and I didn’t get out of the car. Only her aunt rolled down the window to signal. Then Mi Lan’s R8 started first, followed by Mi Zhongde’s car. Our car followed behind, which reflected our mindset—we were the most reluctant among this group to meet Yan Zhuomei.
A moment later, the car entered the expressway heading towards Shanghai. Mi Cai’s aunt finally brought up the main topic. She said to Mi Cai, “Cai, remember what Auntie told you. Don’t confront your mother directly. You can make some promises that can give her hope. Even if she can’t accept your marriage for now, at least she won’t use methods to obstruct it… After she returns to America, Auntie will definitely find a way to help you get the household registration book from your uncle. That’s Auntie’s promise to you.”
“Auntie, I understand what you mean. I’ll try my best to control myself.”
“Hmm…” After a brief silence, she continued to Mi Cai, “Cai, Auntie also hopes you can take this opportunity to reconcile with your uncle. You know, he has always loved you dearly, but… he and your older sister-in-law have common interests. He also hopes you can go back to America to inherit your sister-in-law’s business so you can develop the Zhuomei Group better in the future… Therefore, he has no position to let you give up your American inheritance and stay in China to fight for Zhuomei.”
“Auntie, are you saying… all that I’ve done over the years has been wrong? Is it my stubbornness that has made my loved ones so unhappy?”
“Cai, don’t misunderstand. Auntie doesn’t mean that. It’s understandable that you have unresolved emotional issues, but after so many years, things must have some resolution…”
“Of course, there will be a resolution, but it’s conditional. The condition is that she must realize that what she did in the past was a great harm to us, that it was wrong… rather than continuing to make things worse by forcing me to accept the life she has planned for me. Back then, when she left decisively, she had already severed our mother-daughter relationship. I have no obligation to cooperate with her, and she has no right to demand anything from me!”
Mi Cai’s uncompromising attitude made me feel more deeply the pain she had accumulated over the years. At this moment, I really didn’t know whether she could control herself and face Yan Zhuomei with a compliant mindset… From my perspective, I hoped there wouldn’t be a conflict between them, and the best outcome would be to keep Yan Zhuomei calm and prevent her from interfering. I didn’t expect this extremely self-centered woman to change her stance and accept our marriage all of a sudden.
After Mi Cai expressed her long-standing grievances and resentment, her aunt continued to comfort her… Meanwhile, we were gradually approaching Shanghai International Airport.
…
We successively parked in the parking lot. Mi Lan and Fang Yuan got out of the car first, followed by Mi Zhongde. Mi Cai, her aunt, and I were the last ones to get out. Finally, this strange group stood together and faced each other.
Mi Lan was a very strange woman. She seemed never to think she had done anything wrong to Mi Cai. She still spoke to Mi Cai without any distance, “Sister, I didn’t expect you to actually come and pick up Big Mother… Have you already thought it through and decided to forgive her and go to America with her?”
“Xiao Lan, my presence here doesn’t mean I can accept everything she did in the past… I hope you won’t overinterpret it!”
Mi Lan replied indifferently, “Ah, sister, can’t you talk to me less formally… And I really can’t understand you. Why don’t you want to take over such a big energy industry in America, but insist on fighting with us for Zhuomei to the point of life and death… Why do you have to do this? I really don’t like this about you! You’re too stubborn! In the end, it makes the whole family unhappy…”
Mi Zhongde sternly scolded, “Xiao Lan, don’t talk nonsense…”
Mi Lan retorted, “Did I say anything wrong? It’s really like this, right?… I think my sister won’t hold it against me. She has always loved me the most since I was little. I’m just telling the truth. Isn’t it right for her to accompany Big Mother when she’s all alone in America?… Why should she stay in China with a messed-up man and live a messed-up life!!”
Mi Cai glared at Mi Lan and sternly reprimanded her, “Shut up… My affairs don’t need you to meddle in!”
Mi Lan looked at Mi Cai in shock, perhaps she had never been scolded by Mi Cai like this before. But Mi Cai had authority over her, so she didn’t say anything more. At this time, Fang Yuan hugged her shoulder, indicating she shouldn’t provoke Mi Cai’s emotions anymore.
Of course, I knew that Mi Cai’s anger was more due to Mi Lan calling me a messed-up man… I felt moved, but more self-reproach, because I indeed used to be a messed-up man, and now I still lacked a career, living only on dreams. Because of this, I often dragged Mi Cai down with me, making her feel ashamed…
I began to waver. The pressure around me made me dare not live in my own world anymore, and my desire for a career gradually rose in my heart…
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