A Young Woman's Heart

Mo Xueyao might not feel it deeply, but Li Wanyan was deeply moved.

Of course, she wouldn't show it; she would just keep it to herself.

"It's okay, you don't need to wear it. It'll be terribly hot on the subway later." Godfather waved his hand and said, "Wait until you get to Russia to wear it. Compared to the temperature there, this is nothing."

This trip back to Beijing was actually because my godmother wanted to go back to her parents' home.

Her family owns an old courtyard house on the outer ring road, which is quite far from the city center, so she will have to transfer buses.

"Your train leaves at 11 p.m., right? Why don't you go to A-Yang's parents' house first? There's still plenty of time. I can have a relative drive you to the train station later," the godfather invited.

After thinking for a moment, the father nodded and said, "Okay, it's only afternoon now, so it's fine to go so early."

"Yes, that's perfect, we can have dinner at my place too." Godfather laughed heartily.

Once inside the subway, it was indeed packed with people. Luckily, I wasn't wearing a fur coat, or I would have been sweating buckets.

"Ah—it's even more crowded here than in Shanghai..." Mo Xueyao was like a lone boat in the sea of ​​people, almost about to be swept away.

"Yaoyao, over here!" her mother called out from ahead.

"They're here! They're here!" Mo Xueyao pulled Li Wanyan and squeezed forward with all her might.

After finally reuniting with my family, the line to get on the subway was already incredibly long.

Staff outside were using a loudspeaker to maintain order.

I don't know if it's because this is Beijing, or because it's almost Chinese New Year, but the subway is much more crowded than in Shanghai.

Of course, the subway cars that came over also looked much older than those in Shanghai.

After all, this is the first city in China to have a subway, so it's inevitable that the carriages are old, given that many years have passed since then.

Taking the subway and then transferring, the complicated and congested traffic made Mo Xueyao dizzy. If she hadn't already vomited when she was airsick, she probably would have vomited again.

After much difficulty, we finally arrived at the outer ring of Beijing, in a place that could be considered a small town.

The town here is completely different from the towns in Jiangnan. Almost every household has a large courtyard house, with high walls separating them from each other.

They all look like the residences of wealthy people.

Courtyard houses are rare in the Jiangnan region. Usually, there is a detached villa in a courtyard, and the rest of the space is empty. Instead of building houses, flowers are planted and artificial hills and streams are placed to add to the ambiance.

A siheyuan (courtyard house) is a four-room courtyard house arranged in a square. Unlike the Jiangnan region where houses are often placed in the center of the courtyard, siheyuan houses are typically situated with the courtyard in the center of the four rooms.

There are two sections of courtyard wall between the front and back gates, and there is also a small courtyard between the walls and the house.

Simply put, it's like a storage box, with each section neatly divided.

Although she had seen it many times on TV, this was the first time Mo Xueyao had actually stepped into such a courtyard house.

Pushing open the heavy vermilion gate, one could hear lively sounds coming from inside.

It's clearly a large family, with many members returning here for the Lunar New Year.

After entering the main gate, there is an inner wall without a door. Where a door should be, it is made into a circle. Only after passing through it can you enter the actual courtyard.

However, after entering the courtyard, Mo Xueyao met someone who surprised her greatly.

Even Li Wanyan couldn't help but widen her eyes.

"Huh—!"

"Hmm? Ah! Xiaoyao, class monitor." The person smiled like bright sunshine. His fair skin was considered delicate for a boy, but he still had an unconventional temperament and did not appear too effeminate.

"Xiaoxue—what are you doing here?" Mo Xueyao asked in surprise, walking forward and naturally hooking her arm around his neck. However, because Mo Xueyao was much shorter than him, the action looked a little comical.

“This is my maternal grandmother’s house,” Mr. Xue replied, letting Mo Xueyao hang her arms around his neck like a monkey, and greeted Li Wanyan, “Li Wanyan, you’re here too.”

"Yes, I came with Yaoyao." Li Wanyan smiled gently and stood at a distance without going over.

"You know each other?" the godfather asked in surprise.

"Yes, we're classmates."

"You two are such good friends?" the godfather asked with a slightly teasing smile.

“Yes, we’re best buddies.” Mo Xueyao probably felt that the movement was too tiring for her arms, so she put her hands down. “I never expected that we would be so destined for each other. This is my godmother’s hometown, and for me, it’s like my godmother’s hometown.”

"So, does that mean we're siblings? Well, not related by blood." Mr. Xue laughed heartily. "Is this Xiaoyao and the class monitor's first time in the North?"

"This is my first time."

“Me too,” Li Wanyan said.

"Are you planning to stay for a few days?" As he spoke, Mr. Xue walked to the stone table in the corner of the courtyard. "Come sit here."

"I have to leave tonight." Mo Xueyao naturally walked over and sat down next to Mr. Xue. "Wanyan, come here. Let the adults chat, we'll do our own thing!"

"Ah."

The adults in the courtyard quickly gathered together, and the father picked up the cards and started playing with his godfather and the others again, while the mother supervised from the side to prevent him from getting addicted to gambling again.

Although it's gambling now, it's only a few cents, enough to let him have his fun.

Besides a large group of adults, there were also quite a few children.

They're all running around everywhere, making a huge fuss.

There were a few older ones, some in their twenties, but they all gathered together to talk about work.

There are only three people as old as Mo Xueyao and the others.

That's right, it's her, Li Wanyan, and Mr. Xue.

"So fast?" Mr. Xue took out disposable cups and brewed some Yinjing tea from West Lake for the two of them. "Help yourselves with the snacks on the table, don't be shy."

"Yes, we're just passing through here. Our destination is Moscow."

"Cough, pfft—!" Mr. Xue, who had just taken a sip of hot tea, spat it out. "You guys are going to Moscow too?"

"Huh? Could it be?" Mo Xueyao's eyes widened. "No way... what a coincidence?"

"Yes, I'm going to Moscow too, but I'll be going alone."

"Are you alone? Aren't your parents worried?"

“No problem, this isn’t my first time traveling abroad on my own,” Mr. Xue said with an air of expertise.

"What are you going to Moscow for?" Mo Xueyao asked, puzzled. "To visit relatives?"

"No, it's just a simple trip."

"Just...travel?"

"Yes, since last year, I have been going abroad by myself every year during the Spring Festival and summer vacation to see the customs and culture of different countries. The last time was to Japan."

Do you speak Russian?

"Not really, but I should be fine with English, since it's a global language, as long as I don't go to the countryside."

"That's perfect! Why don't you come and play with us, Xiaoxue?"

“Sure,” Mr. Xue readily agreed.

Sitting on the stone bench, Mo Xueyao swung her legs, feeling an indescribable joy at having made another friend on her journey.

“The journey will be more fun if you have a companion,” Li Wanyan said softly, seemingly very happy to have such a friend join the trip.

"Yes, with three people, you can play a lot of games! For example, Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game) is more fun with at least three people, and you can also play Monopoly."

“Three people is the standard that makes many games interesting.” Mr. Xue nodded. “Hehe, I still find it amazing.”

“Yeah, I guess this is…fate?” Mo Xueyao said, but couldn’t help laughing at herself. “Pfft, this line sounds so cliché!”

"Haha, sometimes many things really do depend on fate." Mr. Xue smiled faintly, "But this is too much of a coincidence."

"Yeah, what a coincidence. I'm even thinking that it would be interesting if another classmate jumped out later."

“That’s impossible,” Mr. Xue shook his head. “Or rather, the possibility is almost nonexistent. The world is so big, how many coincidences could possibly happen to all be gathered here?”

"So it's just a thought, if it were really true, that would be too funny." Mo Xueyao scratched her head and laughed.

"It's less funny and more outrageous," Li Wanyan said, glancing towards the door as she spoke.

"If that really exists, then it's truly outrageous."

"Speaking of which, how many times has Xiaoxue visited her maternal grandmother's house?"

“Oh, this is the first time. It’s so far away. I haven’t been back since I was born,” Mr. Xue said.

Grandma—I'm back!

Just then, a familiar voice came from the doorway, and a petite figure stood there cheerfully greeting the people inside.

Mo Xueyao stumbled on the stone bench and almost fell to the ground because she lost her balance—if Mr. Xue hadn't caught her in time.

"Really!?"

……

Side A >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Side B

Chapter 44 The Daughter of the Great-Grandfather's Daughter's Son

The first thought that came to Mo Xueyao's mind was...

How many daughters from my godmother's family have married out?

My second thought was, am I dreaming?

"Xiaoyao, are you alright?"

"I...I'm...I'm fine." Mo Xueyao, lying in Mr. Xue's arms, said blankly. The reality was too exaggerated, so she couldn't come to her senses immediately.

"Waaaaah—Little Yaoyao, what are you doing here? Damn it, why are you lying in a man's arms? Isn't it comfortable in my arms?!" In front of the adults, the other party showed no restraint whatsoever, rushing over to snatch Mo Xueyao away and hugging her tightly.

That's right, this person is Hua Yinyin.

Mo Xueyao's thoughts were in complete disarray.

"Really? Really?" To the point that all I can do now is repeat that phrase.