Yun Que'er carried a small chair and sat down beside Yun Mo Tan.
"Don't worry, Dad. Actually, Second Brother is very popular in society. Although the friends he made before weren't good people, from another perspective, it also proves that he has the ability to make friends. Now that Second Brother has learned his lesson, he must know who he can associate with and who he can't. So, Dad, don't worry too much."
Yun Mo Tan kept silent with his head down.
It's true what she said, but a mother always worries when her child travels far away. Moreover, they didn't even know where Yun Jian Zhou had gone.
Yun Que'er knew that Yun Mo Tan wouldn't listen to anything now, so she just sat quietly beside him, waiting for him to calm down on his own.
She noticed that Yun Mo Tan was holding something in his hand and gently rubbing it with his fingers. Curious, she leaned over.
"This is..."
Yun Mo Tan came back to his senses and showed the thing to Yun Que'er.
"This is the family photo we took after your Second Brother was born."
Yun Que'er took the yellowed photo and took a look. In the photo were Yun Mo Tan and his wife, as well as Yun Fu Jin, who was only a few years old at that time. The baby in the woman's arms was Yun Jian Zhou, who had just turned one month old.
"Is this Mom?"
It was the first time Yun Que'er had seen this woman she had never met.
She had heard that her mother used to be a teacher, too, and was met by Yun Mo Tan during an exchange and study trip.
Both of them were fond of poetry and books. They hit it off immediately and got along very well.
Although they didn't fall in love right away, they became friends and often corresponded with each other.
Later, due to a job transfer, they both worked in a rural primary school and became colleagues, then got married.
Yun Fu Jin had told Yun Que'er some stories about their mother. He said that she was a very gentle woman. Her personality was actually a bit like Zheng Ying's, but with an additional air of erudition.
She and Yun Mo Tan were both quiet people. They didn't talk much when they were together.
Yun Fu Jin said that he used to wonder why his parents didn't communicate with each other. He even suspected that their relationship wasn't good.
Later, he found out that they actually loved each other deeply.
Even without words, they were very in sync. They could understand each other's meaning with just a look.
Their love was like a gentle stream, never passionate, but clear and pure like a spring.
It was a pity that God didn't give her a long life. The originally happy and harmonious family fell apart after Yun Yi was born.
"They all say that your Aunt Zheng next door is a one - in - a - million beauty, but I don't think so." Yun Mo Tan told Yun Que'er the story about his wife for the first time. "But in my eyes, she is the most beautiful woman in the world."
Yun Mo Tan put his arm around Yun Que'er and slowly said,
"You never got to see her. If she were still alive, she would definitely dote on you."
There was regret, pain in his eyes, but more of it was nostalgia and longing.
Yun Que'er knew that Yun Mo Tan must miss his wife very much. If there was an afterlife, Yun Mo Tan would still want to meet her.
"Your mother took good care of your two brothers when she was alive." Yun Mo Tan said. "After your Second Brother was born, I was transferred to the town. Just like now, I could only go home on weekends. Your mother took care of the whole family on her own and also had to take care of her job. Every time I got home, I could see your neatly - dressed brothers and the steaming hot meals in the pot."
"Your mother said that our children were the luckiest ones. Even if they didn't study in the future and did whatever they wanted, they would surely have a peaceful and smooth life. Our family would live in harmony and happiness until the end of our days."
It was a pity that God didn't give her a long life. It was when she was pregnant with Yun Yi and in her late pregnancy that there was a flood.
She was busy evacuating students at school and accidentally fell during the chaos.
The school spent a great deal of effort to send her out.
She gave birth to Yun Yi on the ox - cart.
By the time Yun Mo Tan rushed to the hospital, she was on her last breath.
Before she passed away, she held Yun Mo Tan's hand tightly, her eyes full of reluctance.
"I'm just not blessed enough. I promised to accompany you for the rest of your life, but now I can't do it. You must take good care of our children and let them grow up happily."
"What about me? What should I do without you..."
"I'll turn into a star in the sky. As long as you look up, you can see me."
Yun Fu Jin said that Yun Mo Tan's hair turned completely white overnight.
Later, there were several years of famine. The crops in the fields didn't yield well, and many people starved to death.
In order to support his three children, Yun Mo Tan chose to stay and continue teaching while everyone else was so hungry and emaciated that they went on the road to escape the famine.
Although the salary wasn't much, having money was better than nothing. With money, the children wouldn't go hungry.
It was also at that time that Yun Fu Jin dropped out of school and took on all the chores at home.
Yun Mo Tan worked desperately just to make sure that the children could have enough to eat.
Later, life finally got a bit better. Although they couldn't afford to send all three children to school, Yun Jian Zhou and Yun Yi could still study.
But unexpectedly, it was at that time that Yun Jian Zhou said that he didn't want to study anymore.
His reason was that if all the family's money was used to support him and Yun Yi's schooling, life would be tough, and they might even have trouble having enough to eat. So he chose to quit school.
At that time, Yun Mo Tan tried to persuade him for a long time, but Yun Jian Zhou insisted. Yun Mo Tan had no choice but to agree.
It was not until now, when Yun Jian Zhou left home, that Yun Mo Tan understood more.
Actually, Yun Jian Zhou didn't only consider the family's financial situation. There were many other things.
He didn't want to watch Yun Fu Jin and Yun Mo Tan struggling to support the family while he enjoyed the fruits of their labor.
It was a pity that Yun Mo Tan didn't understand at that time. He didn't calm down to properly guide Yun Jian Zhou. When Yun Jian Zhou needed him the most, he didn't give the right guidance, which made Yun Jian Zhou meet so many bad people and end up in this situation.
Yun Que'er looked at the photo and smiled.
"It's not too late." She said. "As long as you understand, it's never too late. Now is the time for Second Brother to really prove himself."
Yun Mo Tan sighed. "Sometimes Dad isn't as sensible as you. If I had understood earlier..."
Yun Que'er held Yun Mo Tan's hand. "Don't worry, Dad. Second Brother will surely be safe. Our family will surely have a day of reunion."
Yun Mo Tan forced a smile, which was like an acceptance of this matter.
The father and daughter leaned against each other, watching the afterglow of the setting sun.
The sun gradually set in the west, and in a blink of an eye, it was a new day.
Seven years later.
"Xiao Que'er!"
Yun Que'er was riding a bicycle when she suddenly heard Ji Cheng Xuan calling her from behind. She was so startled that she almost fell off the bike.
Fortunately, she reacted quickly and braked hard, thus avoiding a disaster.
"What are you doing!"
Yun Que'er jumped off the bike and glared at Ji Cheng Xuan.
"Don't you know that I just learned how to ride a bicycle? Why do you have to scare me from behind!"