The next day, after breakfast.

Tao Ye knows French, she is going to work in the French church, Su Beicheng is going to find someone, Zhuang Yuncheng accompanies her, and when Su Beicheng's work is confirmed, they are ready to rent a house nearby.

Tao Ye left first, Su Beicheng and Zhuang Yuncheng walked later, and the three of them met after walking out of the alley.

Tao Ye didn't know what to do, her heart was very entangled, indifference and isolation had been with her for a few months, and the hatred for men couldn't dissipate for a while, but last night Jin Jiu'er's words moved her, she tried to change, but it was already difficult, she didn't even know how to open her mouth and call "cousin".

In a trance, Tao Ye couldn't take this step, she lowered her head and walked in the opposite direction.

"Xiaoye." Su Beicheng shouted first.

Tao Ye stood and did not turn back.

"I heard you know French and work in a church?" Su Beicheng and Zhuang Sheng walked up.

"Yes." Tao Ye turned around and said expressionlessly, not even his eyes fluctuated.

"Why are you hiding when you see us?"

Tao Ye was trembling, if it was usual, her heartbeat would not be faster, but at this time, she was very nervous, she was fighting against her inner demons.

"We're relatives, besides, we met four years ago, and I taught you to do your homework, have you forgotten?" Su Beicheng asked softly.

"Nope." Tao Ye lowered her eyebrows and said that she didn't dare to look at Su Beicheng at all.

"Do you hate me or are you afraid of me?"

"I ......" Tao Ye's face was flushed, she was already twenty years old, but she was as shy and nervous as if she had contact with a man for the first time: "I'm sorry!" ”

Tao Ye threw down these three words and ran away, and Su Beicheng shouted a few times and she didn't stop.

"It was her cousin-in-law who hurt her." Su Beicheng looked at her running back and said bitterly.

"It's not good for her to go on like this," Zhuang Yuncheng shook his head and said, "It's like this to relatives, so how can you usually treat other people?" It's going to go crazy in the long run. ”

"I'll try to enlighten her, what an optimistic and cheerful girl she used to be." Su Beicheng felt heartache and regret, and then went to the government office with Zhuang Yuncheng and handed over the letter from Mr. Zhao Cheng to "Yuan Sheng", senior economic adviser of the Shanghai Finance Bureau.

Yuan Sheng read the letter and invited Su Beicheng into the office.

"Lord Zhao Cheng was kind to me, and the Qing court sent students to Europe at that time, and thanks to the help of my teacher, I became one of them." Yuan Sheng said, "But you are more fortunate and capable than me, you have studied in Japan, obtained a master's degree in economics from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom, and are proficient in Japanese and English. ”

"I don't dare to call myself 'capable', let alone compare with you," Su Beicheng said, "I just want to do what I can for the country, and live up to the expectations of the teacher who selected me to study in Japan at public expense in order to do things for the country and the people in the future." ”

Yuan Sheng looked at the young man with a smile, quite pleased.

Outside the government hall, Zhuang Yuncheng was waiting outside, standing on the high steps in front of the government building, with a bird's-eye view of the scene in front of him, he was thinking about what he could do.

After a while, Su Beicheng came out.

"How?" Zhuang Yuncheng asked.

"Okay, I have to talk to him for a while, I only know a little about the situation in Shanghai, especially the political and economic situation." Su Beicheng turned to stare at the government building and said with emotion: "This building will become a place where I take root." ”

Zhuang Yuncheng also looked at this building, he didn't know where he was going to take root.

Then the two went to find a place to rent a house nearby, but it was not so easy to find a suitable and favorite house, the two went shopping until noon, returned in vain, ate a bowl of chaos on the street, and found that they could not find it at two or three o'clock in the afternoon, so they went home.

Zhuang Yuncheng thought about communicating with Fluttershy and Yun Yun first, asking them about their situation and telling them about his own situation, so he went to the telegraph office and sent a telegram to the Beiping Post and Telecommunications Office, which will be delivered to Fluttershy and Yun Yun the next day.

The next morning, the two sisters received a telegram, because the telegraph is a front-end technology, so it is very expensive, they looked at it, and only a short line was written on it: Brother An, don't read how you live because the place of residence is undecided, please wait for me to write again

The two sisters looked at each other and smiled, Yun Yun scrambled to return, so she went to the telegraph office and replied to him with a few words: Everything is fine, wait for my brother's voice

"Why don't you mention what you didn't go?"

"Send a telegram like this, I told him, don't die in a hurry," Yun Yun said with a smile, "This matter is a foregone conclusion when you go, you persuade him again, tell him what I think in my heart, my brother will naturally not be good, but if he says it at this time, the matter may be uncertain, what if he comes back impulsively?" ”

"It seems that you have made up your mind to get over it yourself, I thought you were only on the rise."

"Well, I made up my mind." Yun Yun said, "But there are many variables in life, and I don't mean that I won't always be separated from you, anyway, I have decided this way now, even if I have to change my mind tomorrow, I will wait for tomorrow." ”

Fluttershy smiles and nods.

Jin Jiu'er's house, in the evening.

Tao Ye came back, she only rested for a while, she had to make dinner before she was tired of the day, there was a little brother in the family, and her father no longer came home, as the eldest daughter, she took on the responsibility of taking care of the family, and under the double destruction of physical and mental, she became what she is today.

At this time, Tao Ye and Jin Jiu'er were cooking on the fire in the kitchen, and handed over their two-year-old son to Tao Xin, who was more than thirteen years old, to take care of.

Zhuang Yuncheng and Su Beicheng came back from outside, Zhuang Yuncheng helped take care of the children, and Su Beicheng went to the kitchen.

"Beicheng, you go out, it's choking in the kitchen, it's not a place for men to come." Jin Jiuer said.

"Cousin, you can't say that," Su Beicheng said with a smile, "It's not just women who should go to the kitchen, men work outside, Xiao Ye has studied and worked in a French church, which is very good, self-supporting, and earning money." ”

Jin Jiu'er smiled, she was very pleased for her daughter.

Tao Ye bowed his head to wash the vegetables.

Su Beicheng looked around, and didn't know what to do, seeing Tao Ye washing vegetables, he felt that he could do this, so he walked to her, rolled up his sleeves and said, "Xiaoye, I'll wash this dish." ”

Tao Ye glanced up at him, paused, walked away by himself, went to brush the pot and wash the dishes, and Jin Jiu'er was ready to burn the fire.

"Xiaoye, what are you doing in the church?" Su Beicheng asked.

"Translation, also do chores." Tao Ye replied.

"Tired?"

"It's fine."

"No matter how tired she is, she won't say it," Jin Jiu'er said distressedly, "She used to be a more delicate child, and she told me a little grievance, but now she holds all the hardships in her heart." ”

Tao Ye blushed, didn't say a word, just cared about work, panicked in his heart, his thoughts flew wildly, suddenly his hands were fast, he lost a bowl, and the porcelain bowl "clanged" on the ground and split into several pieces.

"It's fine." Su Beicheng hurriedly said, "I'll deal with it." ”

He went and picked up the chunks, and took a broom and shovel to dispose of the debris.

Tao Ye took a step back, watching Su Beicheng deal with this small accident in an orderly manner, and she felt a little moved in her heart - this is what life is still like!

Su Beicheng suddenly thought that Tao Ye was also twenty years old, and a girl of this age should be married, even if she was not married, she should consider it, "Cousin, Xiao Ye is twenty, about her marriage, ...... about her marriage" Su Beicheng asked.

Jin Jiu'er said with a wry smile: "Since she has reached the age of marriage, of course the father and mother hope to let her have a home earlier, but this family ...... I really can't lack her, it's not that I won't let her go, but Xiao Ye also knows that it is difficult to maintain her family when she leaves, and she refuses to marry. ”

Su Beicheng heard the sound of "clicking" chopping vegetables, turned her head to look at her, she was cutting vegetables with a knife in her hand, brushing the ground to chop vegetables, Su Beicheng was really worried that she would cut into her own hand.

"Don't cut it." Su Beicheng held down her knife and said to Jin Jiu'er: "Cousin, you can cut it, I am afraid when she cuts it like this." ”

Jin Jiuer then came to cut vegetables, set up fire in northern Jiangsu, and stir-fried vegetables with pottery leaves.

Time passed in bursts of aroma, and soon the meal was ready, and everyone tasted wrong, but no one said.

Only Tao Xin pursed his lips and frowned: "Sister, why are some of the dishes you fried today light, some salty, some raw, and some rotten?" ”

"If it's not delicious, don't eat it, what a mouth!" Tao Ye reprimanded Tao Xin, Tao Xin bowed his head boringly, and almost only ate a little rice.

Zhuang Yuncheng and Su Beicheng could still eat, barely eating.

"Don't eat it," Jin Jiu'er said, "I'll go back to the pot again." ”

"No need." Su Beicheng hurriedly protected the vegetable bowl that Jin Jiu'er was about to take, and said with a smile: "You can eat it, it's okay, don't bother." ”

Tao Ye also knew that it was unpalatable, but in the face of this scene, she only licked the tip of the chopsticks, she didn't know how to say it, how to do it, seeing Zhuang Yuncheng and Su Beicheng eating as if nothing happened, she felt very uncomfortable.

Three days later, Su Beicheng and Zhuang Yuncheng picked and chosen, and finally rented a small courtyard house in the lane closest to the government building, which was enough for them and Fluttershy Yunyun to live, but they lived in such a small western-style building in Beiping, and this time they lived in this kind of small courtyard, in addition to not being used to it for a while, he just felt helpless, thinking that the house in Beiping was not sold, so he didn't have any money in hand, and when he had money, he went to the residential area in the French Concession to see, this place is still a little far from the center, and the surrounding neighbors are walking through the streets. The old man who played cards and chess, he felt that this place was only suitable for the elderly, not for young people.

After living at Jin Jiuer's house for a few days, he was about to move out today, and at this time Su Beicheng was still saying goodbye, and at the door, Zhuang Yuncheng and two rickshaws were waiting.

"There's nothing more to say," Su Beicheng said with a smile, "Anyway, we're not so far away, we can take care of each other when we have something, just thank you cousin for taking me in these days." ”

"What do you say, otherwise what do you want my cousin to do?" Jin Jiu'er smiled.

"Goodbye, cousin." Tao Xin waved goodbye obediently.

"Goodbye, little Tao Xin, listen to your mother and sister, take care of your little brother." Su Beicheng saw Tao Ye standing at the door looking at him blankly, biting his lip and pulling the placket of his clothes in his hand, looking very helpless.

"Xiao Ye, you also take care, I have already written the address on a piece of paper on your desk, if there is anything at home that cannot be solved, come to me; Also, take care of yourself and your family. ”

Jin Jiu'er and Su Beicheng both looked at her, she still didn't say a word, her eyebrows lowered and played with a few slender jade fingers.

"Gone." Su Beicheng turned around slightly disappointed and went out, Zhuang Yuncheng took his luggage, put it on the rickshaw, and both of them got into the car.

Tao Ye's heart jumped suddenly, and he heard the coachman's voice, "Sit tight, go!" ”，

If she was lost, her heart was empty, so she ran out, looked at the rickshaw that had just started, saw their backs, she wanted to say something, but felt that her mouth seemed to be blocked by something, she opened her mouth, and the feeling of wanting to say but not being able to say made her feel so uncomfortable.

The words "Cousin-" suddenly burst out of her mouth, Tao Ye stood in a trance, her heart felt as if a huge stone had been unloaded, so she gasped.

"Stop." Su Beicheng stopped the rickshaw, he turned around and saw Tao Ye's ethereal eyes.

"Come often." Tao Ye stared straight at him and said.

"I will." Su Beicheng is determined.

Tao Ye was speechless.

"Let's go." Su Beicheng spoke, and the rickshaw driver ran away with his legs.

She finally screamed. Zhuang Yuncheng said with a smile.

"Well, it's the best practice of etiquette, and she'll turn back." Su Beicheng looked at the sky and muttered to himself, he wanted to see the former Tao Ye, although she was shy but full of enthusiasm, although she was arrogant but behaved amiably, she was a girl in her youth in the best state.

When they arrived at the place, Su Beicheng and Zhuang Sheng packed up for two days, and finally put everything they needed for their new home in place. Zhuang Yuncheng immediately sent a telegram to Yunyun and Xiaodie at home: Everything is in order, come quickly Address: No. 21, Renhe Lane, Liudaotangkou, Huaxing Road

At home, the telegram was delivered to the house the next day, and Yun Yun received it.

She looked at the short line on the telegram, which made her heart blocked, on the one hand, she thought that her sister would also leave, and she would really be alone in Beiping; On the other hand, she could almost predict the mood of her eldest brother when he learned the news that he was not going, it must have been uncomfortable, Yun Yun was stunned for a while, she knew that there was always a price for separation, and she had to endure it.

After a while, she shows the telegram to Fluttershy, who glances at it and immediately looks up at Yunyun, seeing the loss and reluctance in her eyes.

"If you don't want me to go, I won't leave, our sisters will stay here, and when you want to go, let's go together." Fluttershy says.

Yun Yun shook her head and whispered, "I don't want my sister to go, but I can't let you accompany me, my eldest brother needs you more." ”

"It's fine." Fluttershy puts her arm around her, pats her on the back, and comforts, "You need me more." ”

"I've been with him for twenty years, I should try to get used to the days when I don't have relatives by my side, sister, go ahead, I have so many friends here, Chen Qi'er, Senior Brother Rundong, Yuan Ying...... My brother didn't have any of them there, and he wouldn't get used to it. Yun Yun suddenly burst into tears, but she forced a smile, wiped her tears, and sobbed: "I...... I'm early... I have been prepared for a long time, why is it really reluctant to do this job? ”

Fluttershy is silent, still hugging her, and Yun Yun leans on Fluttershy's shoulder and tears for a while.

The next day, Fluttershy accompanies Yunyun to her cousin Bai Chenxuan's house. The train to Shanghai will depart tomorrow at 11 a.m.

At nine o'clock the next day, the two sisters packed up all their things, locked the gate, and went to Bai Chenxuan's house. Two days ago, I had mentioned this to Bai Chenxuan's family in advance, Li Yuanying was the happiest, she was already pregnant for almost ten months, her belly was swollen, and she was about to give birth, some things could only be said to her sisters, just when Yun Yun came, she was like a treasure.

At ten o'clock, Fluttershy sets off alone, wearing a short red blouse embroidered with cherry blossoms, a skirt underneath, a small tulle white hat buttoned down her head, her head tilted, the sun shining through the brim of her hat on her eyes, she squints, staring at the vague sun.

At eleven o'clock, she got on the train, and she was not happy or sad, she was like a cherry blossom, blooming at the right time, and amazed the viewers; withered at a certain moment, leaving the memory to the people who had a heart, so there was never regret and pride, always so plain, not happy with things, not sad with yourself.

Yun Yun was in a sad mood, she was also pleased with her decision, she had long realized that the moon was cloudy and sunny, and people had joys and sorrows, especially when she grew up, parting was inevitable, and she couldn't escape it again and again.

"Yunyun, don't think about it, talk to me." Li Yuanying pushed.

"Okay, sister-in-law." Yun Yun stared at her big belly and joked with a smile: "Why is it that when you are pregnant, it has become a chatter?" ”

"It's what the baby in the womb wants to say, and he just says it through my mouth." Yuan Ying took Yun Yun's hand and put it on her stomach and said, "You feel the feeling, he has been getting more and more restless recently, kicking and beating again." ”

Yun Yun touched this layer of skin, and felt that this belly was like a leather ball, and she didn't dare to squeeze it hard.

"Really, he wants to go out into the world." Yun Yun said.

"yes, he's so old." Yuan Ying stroked her big belly and said funny: "Little baby, come out quickly, my mother's belly can't hold you." ”

"When will you give birth?"

"I don't know, they all say that I am pregnant in October, and I am almost pregnant in October."

"It's been ten months, is it hard?"

"Of course, I don't dare to eat more and don't move more, for fear of hurting him, I have a big belly hanging all day long, it's inconvenient to do anything, and I don't dare to do more." Yuan Ying smiled and said, "But I'm very happy, I'm willing to bear such pain." ”

"But I've heard that giving birth hurts." Yun Yun said with her mouth pouted.

"I don't know, the first time." Yuan Ying smiled, both surprise and little fear.

"It should hurt to think about it," Yun Yun stretched out her hands and gestured, "How can a child say that it is so big, right?" ”

"Almost." Yuan Sakura looked at the circle formed by her arms.

"Huh~ I want to get out of such a small place." Yun Yun grinned.

"Don't say it, you're not ashamed, just talk nonsense if you don't understand anything."

"Hee-hee." Yun Yun smiled, and only with her could she say these words, she had a thought that it was interesting for two girls to live together.

"Hey, you can't come to my house to eat and drink for nothing," Yuan Ying smiled, "but you have to take care of me." ”

"Roger." Yun Yun said with a serious face.

Yuan Ying couldn't stop laughing, she was in a good mood, carefree, like a child with ordinary happiness.

At this time, it was the winter vacation, Yunyun did not go to school, and did what she liked every day, except for staying with Li Yuanying for a long time to relieve her worries, occasionally going to see Chen Rundong and his classmates, occasionally going to see friends, visiting teachers and godmothers, and writing letters to her brothers and sisters who were far away in Shanghai...... She also enjoyed it, so she felt that time flew by.