6

On the first night at Bai's house, Fang Siying suffered from insomnia.

Lying on the gorgeous big bed, with her head on her hands, Fang Siying stared at the small glass chandelier on the roof. The fragrance of roses at the head of the bed came to the nose, the moonlight outside the window was like water, the evening breeze blew the curtains, the whole cypress house was quiet, Fang Si lingered motionlessly, although he was quite tired, but he had no sleep, he only felt uncertain, and his thoughts fluctuated.

Think back to this afternoon—what did you do that afternoon? Took Bai Tingting for a walk in the pine forest on the hillside, and went to the bamboo forest to pick two tender bamboos, and then, they walked to the side of the pine and bamboo bridge, Fang Siying asked Bai Tingting and said:

"Shall we go under the bridge and pick up the pebbles?"

Tingting hesitated for a moment, she looked at the river with disgust, and her face was very special. Fang Si said in surprise:

"What, don't you like pebbles?"

"No," Tingting shook her head, and then, pointing to the river, she said, "This is the river, and my own mother jumped into this river to die." ”

"Oh," Fang Siying frowned quickly, why would the adults let the children know about these misfortunes! They don't care if those little hearts can bear it? Cruel, Bai Peiwen!

"They said that the river rose that day because of a typhoon the day before, and the bridge was also washed away by the river. So, Dad said, Mom may have accidentally fallen, there are no street lights here, and it is dark at night, she must not have seen the bridge break. ”

"How do you know so much?"

"That's what everybody knows, they said behind my back, thinking I couldn't hear, and they said......" The kid shivered violently.

No! Don't they even keep the mystery of the child's origins a secret? Fang Siying grabbed Tingting's hand and quickly found another topic:

"Let's not talk about that, Tingting. Can you take me to Shochikuji Temple to have fun? I've heard that Shochikuji Temple is famous, but I haven't been to it once! ”

"Good! I'll take you! ”

So, they went to the Songzhu Temple, and along the path between the pine trees, they climbed the steps, and the pine forests on both sides were green and quiet. The pine trees cut off the sun, the stone steps are covered with moss, and there is an indescribable solemnity and tranquility around it. They walked for a long time, up an unknown number of stone steps, and then they came to the Buddhist temple. In front of the Buddhist temple, the flowers and trees are sparse, the front and back are pine forests, the left and right are bamboo forests, and this temple is surrounded by a piece of pine and bamboo. Presumably, "Shochikuji Temple" is also named after this. The temple is dedicated to Guanyin Master, the incense smoke is in front of the temple, in front of the temple gate, there is a big copper tripod, which burns countless incense. Standing in front of the temple gate, you can overlook Taipei City, and the surrounding scenery is picturesque.

They stood in front of the temple for a long time, and Tingting shook her hand and said:

"Teacher, go ask for a sign!"

With a feeling of indispensability, she really lit a stick of incense and asked for a signature, but the sentence on the signature was vaguely surprising:

Marriage and wealth are not up to others, and a high heart will inevitably be mistaken for Qingqing,

Tactfully detoured and lost the old road, Yun Kaiyue is distinct.

Tingting craned his neck and looked curiously beside him, while asking:

"What does it say, teacher? What do you ask? ”

Fang Siying crumpled the stick, and said with a smile:

"I asked what I asked, and it said what it said. Alright, Tingting, it's getting late, and we should go back too. ”

Back at home, it's already time for dinner. Mrs. Bai hadn't come back yet, and Bai Peiwen told him to send his food upstairs, so there were only Fang Siying and Bai Tingting on the table. Tingting had a good appetite because he was running outside all afternoon, and he ate two bowls of rice in a row, but Fang Siying ate very little. Tingting's good appetite made her happy, and looking at Tingting, she said:

"Isn't it often like this, Dad doesn't go downstairs, Mom goes out, and you eat alone?"

"Yes." Tingting said, "I often don't eat." ”

"Don't eat?"

"If a person eats so tastelessly, I won't eat it, and sometimes, Yazhu forces me to eat, so I eat a little bit."

No wonder this kid is so emaciated! Fang Siying looked at Tingting, and secretly made up her mind that she wanted this child to be normal, happy, and strong. As for homework, at present, it is a secondary issue. Therefore, after the meal, she supervised her to finish her homework, and after making up for her arithmetic for a while, she asked her to bring her broken doll. Then, it took Fang Siying an hour and a half to re-sew the doll. Because there were no rags, Fang Siying actually tore one of her petticoats, and sewed a new dress for the doll with the white silk and lace on the petticoat. During the whole production process, Tingting knelt beside Fang Siying, watching her do it with joy on her face, while constantly helping, handing needles for a while and threads for a while. When the doll was finally finished, Fang Siying stood up from the carpet and said with a smile:

"Okay, your doll looks much better."

Tingting glanced at Fang Siying with a look of adoration. Then she looked at her doll proudly, hugged it tightly to her chest, and murmured:

"Good doll, I'm so cute and cute doll."

Fang Siying was quite moved. Then, because it was too early, she forced Tingting to take a bath and sleep, and seeing Tingting change into a nightgown and get into the quilt, Fang Siying bent down and helped her sort out the quilt. At that moment, the child suddenly lifted up, wrapped her arms around Fang Siying's neck, and pulled her head towards herself, and then, with her wet little lips, she quickly kissed Fang Siying's cheek, and said hurriedly:

"I love you so much, Teacher."

After speaking, because she was embarrassed, she relaxed Fang Siying, turned over and buried her head in the pillow, closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. Fang Si stood there in a daze, not moving for a long time, Tingting's sudden action made her so moved, so excited, so uncontrollable. Her eyes were wet, and there was a fog on the lenses of her glasses, so she couldn't see what was in front of her. After a long time, seeing that Tingting had never turned over, she leaned over to take another look, and it turned out that the child had really fallen asleep after a day of tired travel. She sighed, kissed the child softly on the forehead, and whispered:

"Sleep well, child, and have a sweet dream."

She sighed again, quietly exited Tingting's room, and closed the door. Then she found that Bai Peiwen was standing at the junction of the small hall and the corridor, facing her. She knew that his ears were keen, and she walked over and beckoned:

"Mr. Bai, haven't you slept yet?"

"Come and sit down here." Bai Peiwen said.

Fang Siying walked over and sat down on the sofa in the small hall. There are no headlights in the small hall, only a wall lamp, and the light is faint and soft. Bai Peiwen leaned on the floor-to-ceiling window and said quietly:

"You've been busy all afternoon. I think you're genuinely caring for that child, aren't you? ”

"I care about her because she is so 'poor'." Fang Siying said.

"Poor?" Bai Peiwen was stunned for a moment, "What do you mean?" ”

"I've never seen a poorer child than her!" Fang Siying was a little excited, "No warmth, no love, no care, no everything!" ”

"Are you accusing me?" Bai Peiwen asked.

"I don't dare accuse you, Mr. Bai." Fang Siying said, trying her best to ease her emotions, "But, love her a little more, Mr. Bai, that child needs you!" There was a hint of supplication in her voice.

Bai Peiwen moved.

"I know," he said, this time in a sincere and sincere voice, "that you must think I'm an irresponsible father." However, you see, I have never understood the child very well, and I do not know what to do with her, and she always causes me some painful memories of this child. Ahem, Miss Fang, I think you've heard about her biological mother, right? ”

"Yes, a little." Fang Siying said softly.

"That's a good woman, worthy of your lifelong recollection......" Bai Peiwen fell into deep thought, "people, often because of a moment of confusion, cause irreparable mistakes for a lifetime, if she is still alive......" He took a deep breath, and in a painful, eager tone, said impulsively, "I am willing to sacrifice everything I have to save her life!" ”

"Oh, sir!" Fang Si couldn't help but shout, she was shaken, she saw a burning passion and pain in this man's face, which knocked her down. She felt lost, confused, and panicked.

"Oh," Bai Peiwen suddenly came to his senses, a look of unease rose to his eyebrows, he immediately retreated, and said hesitantly, "I'm sorry, Miss Fang, please forgive me, I shouldn't have said this to you, I'm a little out of shape, I think." ”

"Oh, no, Mr. Bai," Fang Siying said hastily, her mood stirring terribly, and she was annoyed that she had caused these words of Bai Peiwen. Standing up, she hurriedly said, "I'm tired, Mr. Bai, I want to go back to my room to sleep, see you tomorrow, Mr. Bai!" ”

"Wait a minute," Bai Peiwen said, sensitively, "you seem to be a little afraid of me, Miss Fang. ”

"No," Fang Siying couldn't help but wince, feeling very weak.

"Don't be afraid of me, Miss Fang," the man said in a deep voice, "I beg your pardon if I have any gaffes and faux pas, it is because I have little contact with others, especially women. I've almost forgotten about politeness and how to talk. ”

"Oh, you're good, sir," said Fang Siying, a little stiffly, "I'm not afraid of you, never." Okay, goodbye, Mr. Kashiwa. ”

Turning, she hurried back into her room, walking so quickly, as if she were trying to escape something.

Now, she was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to put herself to sleep. Everything she experienced during the day was repeated in her mind, scene by scene, so clear, so vivid, she couldn't get rid of the image of father and daughter. How can we help the blind man's miserable years, and the little girl's poor condition? Do you want to get the dead wife and mother back for them? She shivered violently, and the evening breeze with autumn was blowing through the screen window, and the night was already deep.

She looked at her watch, it was almost one o'clock, and it was so quiet all around, and the lady Bai had not yet returned. Picking up an English copy of Pride and Prejudice, she began to read it absentmindedly. In fact, her mind could not concentrate at all, and her gaze could not linger on the book for long. Every few lines, she would unconsciously raise her eyes and be silently fascinated by the vase of roses, or the sculpture of Eurydice. I don't know how long it was, but a car horn alarmed her, and the lady Bai had returned. Why bother honking your horn when the night is quieter! Didn't she bring a portkey? She put down the book and listened subconsciously. The car drove into the garden, and the door slammed shut with a loud noise. Then there was the sound of high heels coming into the living room, and then she came upstairs, and as she went upstairs, she was singing, and her voice was very high, and her voice was quite good. It is not a popular tune that is sung, but the famous old poem, which was composed into a song:

I live at the head of the Yangtze River,

Jun lives at the end of the Yangtze River,

I don't see you every day,

Drink the water of the Yangtze River......

She hadn't finished singing the song, and her singing was cut off abruptly, as if disturbed by something. Fang Siying didn't hear the door of the next room open, but now, she heard Bai Peiwen's suppressed, annoyed whisper:

"Erin!"

Eileen? So, that's the name of Mrs. Bai?

"What? It's you? Bai Peiwen? The woman's voice was high-pitched and challenging, "What's the matter with you?" ”

"Can you please stop waking the room?"

"Oh? Are you afraid that I will wake up anyone? Are you that governess? Ha ha! "Don't be afraid to wake her up, if you're not blind, you'll find that she hasn't slept at all!" There's still a light in the crack of her door, and I bet she's listening to our conversation right now! ”

"Erin!"

"Ha, I tell you, Bai Peiwen, don't mess with me, I don't know what you're going to do with a governess at home. However, I don't like your governess, there is a thief in her eyes, I tell you, a thief! ”

"Eileen! You are crazy! How much alcohol did you drink? Bai Peiwen's voice was full of anger and helplessness, and there was a little anxiety, "Can you say a few words?" ”

"Say less? Why should I say less? You're the one who stopped me and provoked me to talk! Now you're scared? Afraid of being heard by her? The guy you set up her room and you did everything you could to get it? An old virgin! Ha! Blind master and governess, I am waiting to see how you develop! This is very good fiction material! ”

"Shut up! You vile and nasty thing! Bai Peiwen's voice trembled, and these words obviously burst out from between his teeth.

"What? Despicable and indecent? You call me mean and lewd? Erin's voice was even higher, "It's your wife who jumped into the river, and I haven't raised a bastard child for you yet!" ”

There was a "snap", crisp and loud, obviously, it was Bai Peiwen who waved his hand and hit his wife. Fang Siying expected a bigger storm below, and she listened with fear, but there was silence outside, and there was no sound for a long time, and then, as if a century had passed, Fang Siying heard Eileen's voice, and said in a low voice, gritted her teeth, and full of hatred:

"Bai Peiwen, if you do it to me again, don't blame me for being vicious, I'm going to destroy everything you have!"

"You destroy it!" Bai Peiwen's tone was low and desolate, "What else do I have to destroy?" I've been ruined for a long time. ”

There was a knock at the door, and Fang Siying knew that Bai Peiwen had returned to his own room. Holding her breath, Fang Siying couldn't move for a while, feeling that every muscle in her body was stiff and every nerve was painful. The conversation she had heard had made her so startled, so incredulous, so deep, so intense, so insulted. Staring at the ceiling, she couldn't sleep anymore. She had long guessed that the relationship between Bai Peiwen and his wife was bad, but she didn't expect that they would be so hostile, what kind of family this is! And what about her? What role will she play when she is involved in this family? A mere tutor? Listen to the tone of Erin's voice!

"Fang Siying, you are wrong, you are wrong, you are wrong!"

She said to herself in a loud voice. Then, she froze, and a thought quickly passed through her mind, retreat! Leave now, it's not too late, retreat! But...... But...... But what will happen to the motherless child?

The next morning, because she slept too late at night, Fang Siying woke up at nine o'clock, but fortunately it was a Sunday and she didn't need to go to school. She freshened up and went downstairs, and Bai Tingting greeted her like a fly, with an innocent, joyful, and childish face.

"Teacher, did you sleep well?"

"Okay." She said, but couldn't help but yawn.

"I'm waiting for you to have breakfast together."

"Where's your dad?"

"He's eaten upstairs."

"Where's Mom?"

"She's still sleeping."

"Oh." Fang Siying sat down to eat breakfast, but she was not delirious. Bai Tingting looked at her with a sensitive expression, and because she was so silent, the child didn't dare to speak. After the meal, Fang Siying sat on the sofa, pulled Tingting to his side, and said softly:

"Tingting, Teacher Fang should go back to school and come to your house every day to tutor you."

The child's face turned pale.

"Why? Am I bad? Am I making you too tired? She asked sadly, the sunlight on her face gone.

"Ah, no, it's not because of your relationship...... Fang Siying said, mentally exhausted and tired.

"So, why?" Tingting looked at her, the pair of eyes were so sad, so begging, timidly looking at her, which knocked her down, "Teacher, I'm good, I'm obedient, don't you go, okay?" ”

"Who's leaving?"

A voice asked, Fang Siying raised his head, Bai Peiwen was walking down the steps, he was in his own home, his movements were very skillful and easy, he didn't have crutches.

"Oh, Dad," Tingting said anxiously, "you can keep Teacher Fang!" She said she was moving back to school. ”

Bai Peiwen was stunned, he hadn't spoken for a long time. Fang Siying was also silent, and a painful, embarrassing atmosphere filled the air. Then, after a long while, Bai Peiwen said softly, as if to himself:

"She's amazing after all, I can't even keep a tutor!"

This tone stabbed Fang Siying.

"Oh? Mr! She cried out in pain, "Don't say that! ”

"What else can I say?" Bai Peiwen's face was expressionless, and his voice was empty and distant, "She has always been victorious, forever!" ”

"But......" Fang Siying said hurriedly, "I didn't really leave!" ”

"So, you're staying?" Bai Peiwen asked quickly, and his anger returned to that face.

"I ...... Ah, I want to ......" Fang Si stammered, but, finally, a sentence burst out of his mouth, "Yes, I stayed." As soon as she said this, she faintly felt in her heart that she had fallen for Bai Peiwen's plan. But she was still glad that she had said this, so happy, as if she had suddenly been freed from some kind of spiritual bondage, so happy that she herself was amazed.