Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 127 Green Card
Yue Xuelian walked out of the terminal building of Bincheng Airport with only a satchel on her back.

She stood on the square in front of the airport, looking up at the sky without a trace of cloud for a long time, breathing deeply and heavily, as if something was oppressing her chest.

She frowned slightly with a dignified expression, and walked slowly on the familiar land, in the familiar city, and among the familiar crowd, not as if she was returning from a wanderer, but as if she was about to leave her homeland.

She found a public phone booth and dialed a number. When the call was connected, she whispered, "Mom, it's me. I'm back, just off the plane."

"Why did you come back suddenly?" Lin Yidan on the other end of the phone was surprised and surprised, and asked in a hurry, "What happened?"

"Mom, don't be nervous." Yue Xuelian said in a relaxed tone, "I just want to come back and take a look. Nothing happened."

Lin Yidan said: "You go home first, do you have the keys to the house? Well, I will explain what I have in hand and go home right away."

Putting down the phone, Yue Xuelian got on the bus and sat on the seat by the window.She looked at the pedestrians and buildings flashing by outside the car window, and listened to the conductor's report of the station names in her heart, but none of them were correct.

But in her mind, what appeared were row upon row of skyscrapers, endless traffic, and idle people of various skin colors.

She got off the bus, walked along the all-too-familiar street, and walked towards the building where the family members of the hospital staff had lived for more than ten years.

The streets are still so dirty and messy, with garbage piled up everywhere and flies flying around.The foul-smelling air was mixed with the loud cries of peddlers along the street.

The family building is still so dilapidated and gloomy, the walls are peeling off, the windows are narrow and dim, and there are all kinds of clothes drying on the balcony, which is lifeless; the corridors are still full of sundries, and they are still so narrow and petty.

Opening the door of her own room, a warm atmosphere of home rushed to her face, hitting her visual, olfactory nerves and limbs.She changed into her slippers and eagerly went from room to room.

The home is still the same, clean and orderly, except for some more supplies for the mother, it has hardly changed.The floor, furniture, books, and walls all reflect Liu Xiaonan's shadow.

When she saw the framed photos of herself on the wall and on the desk, her tears could no longer be restrained from flowing down.

She stood in the empty home, letting her tears flow wantonly.These are tears of pain, these are tears of regret, these are tears of remembrance.Everything in the past, like a movie shot, is presented in front of her eyes one after another, sweet, happy, joyful, and expectant, like a heavy punch, hammering her fragile heart.

How long will it take to completely forget all this?She leaned on the wall with one hand, almost unable to stand still.

The sound of the door opening sounded, and Lin Yidan pushed the door open and entered the house.With tears in her eyes, Yue Xuelian threw herself into her mother's arms, finally waiting for her emotional support.

Lin Yidan helped his daughter back to the bedroom and sat down, took a towel to wipe her tears, and asked distressedly: "You child, why are you crying when you get home? Is there something you are hiding from Mom?"

Yue Xuelian smiled with tears in her eyes: "What can I do, isn't it homesick?"

Lin Yidan held his daughter's face in both hands: "I'm studying and working part-time. I lost a lot of weight than when I was at home. It shows that the United States is not as good as it is said in the legend. You don't write a letter to tell me in advance when you come back. I went to a pen meeting in a far away place. I just left for a few days. He said that it will be a month. See you next time."

After hearing this, Yue Xuelian let out a long sigh of relief, and she said: "Time is running out, you will come and go for at most a week, if you don't see her, you will disappear."

"That can't be done." Lin Yidan thought for a while and said, "The City Federation of Literary and Art Circles must know where Xiaonan is going to attend the PEN meeting. Go and find out. If you have a phone call, ask him to come back. If you don't have a phone call, go find him."

"Mom, I'm tired and jet-lagged." Yue Xuelian changed the topic: "American fast food is not good at all. I haven't eaten your food for almost two years. I'm hungry. Make me something better." Let's eat."

Lin Yidan shook his head, put on his clothes and went shopping, feeling uneasy all the time.The reason why my daughter came back this time seems to be reluctant to talk about Xiaonan. There must be a reason for this, and she must ask after dinner.

After dinner, Fang Juan heard that Yue Xuelian had returned to China, so she came to join in the fun.Yue Xuelian bought cosmetics for Fang Juan, and the two talked and laughed in the hut, talking about the United States.

Lin Yidan sat alone in the big room, focusing all his attention on the conversation between his daughter and Fang Juan.Unfortunately, even if Fang Juan mentioned Liu Xiaonan, her daughter cleverly avoided talking about it.

After Fang Juan left, Lin Yidan asked Yue Xuelian to sit beside her, took her daughter's hand and said, "Xuelian, what's the matter with you when you come back this time, let's tell mom about it. Otherwise, mom will sleep all night." Don't feel it."

Yue Xuelian remained silent, lowered her head, not daring to look at her mother.

Lin Yidan stroked his daughter's face and asked her to raise her head: "Tell me, you have to say it sooner or later. Mom has experienced a lot in this life, and maybe she will give you good advice."

Yue Xuelian bit her lip and summoned up her courage before whispering, "Mom, I got married in America, a month ago."

Lin Yidan let go of his hand as if it was burning, stood up and took a few steps, but when he turned around, his whole body was trembling and his face was pale.

She poked her daughter's forehead hard, her voice was stern: "Xuelian, Xuelian, how should you face Xiaonan? His mother suffered from breast cancer and was hospitalized for surgery. I don't know how many years she will live. Even so, he won't let me tell you, Afraid to distract you, I still think about your suffering in the United States, and I want to send you money. After the old man passed away, he was afraid that I would be lonely, so he came to accompany me every Sunday, cook for me, clean up, and be his son That may not be the case, right? He has always believed in your feelings, but you, how can you bear to do it?"

"I can't help it." Yue Xuelian choked up: "I have always loved Xiaonan to the point of death. But, love can't solve practical problems?"

"Don't deceive yourself and others in front of your mother." Lin Yidan became more and more angry as he said: "Since you have betrayed your feelings, what right do you have to talk about love? What is Yue Zifan doing for food? His daughter is by his side. He is not the most tolerant Don't want to be betrayed by a woman? How can he allow his daughter to betray? Why doesn't he use those sanctimonious big words to educate his daughter? He is a waste and an idiot. I don't think he will have the face to face Liu Zhixin in the future. , to face your own students.”

"Mom, don't scold my dad." Yue Xuelian also stood up and refuted her mother loudly: "My dad doesn't know at all. I got married and kept it from everyone, just because I was afraid that my dad would find out, that he would stop me, that I would Pissed him off."

"You are afraid of angering your father, but for an American green card, are you not afraid of hurting Xiaonan?"

"It's not all for you that I did this."

Yue Xuelian waved her hands, her hoarse voice made Lin Yidan feel terrified, and her daughter's words also pierced her heart.

She calmed down, sat down with her daughter in her arms, and said kindly, "Mom didn't intend to blame you. For such a big matter as marriage, at least you have to discuss it with your mother or your father. How can you make up your own mind?"

"To discuss with you, will you agree?" Yue Xuelian shed tears of grievance, and said sobbingly: "I have wanted to have a complete family since I was a child, but have I ever had it? I love Xiaonan deeply. I have a clear conscience, and I will never change it. But your old man died, and it was really not the time to die. Let me see the hope of our family reunion in the United States. My dad has adapted to life there, and I thought if I can get a green card, bring you to the United States, and change the environment in a foreign country, and you and my dad may be able to get rid of the past."

Lin Yidan knew that he owed his daughter too much, but he didn't know that her daughter had such difficulties and knots.In order to get back together with Yue Zifan and to have a complete family, she did not hesitate to sacrifice her love. The price was too high. How would she, as a mother, make up for it in the future?
The one who made the sacrifice should be myself. I have lived most of my life, so there is no emotion.For the sake of her daughter, reunite with Yue Zifan through a broken mirror, even if it is still a broken mirror, so what?Why are you still alive?

Lin Yidan hugged Yue Xuelian: "Silly daughter, you have these thoughts, why didn't you tell mom earlier? It's not that mom can't understand, you don't need that American green card, mom can also give you a complete family."

"It's too late, everything is irreparable." Leaning on her mother's shoulder, Yue Xuelian burst into tears: "I have already obtained a green card and am an American citizen."

Lin Yidan sighed helplessly: "How can I explain this to Xiaonan?"

"I'm ashamed to see Xiaonan. I came back this time to take you to the United States quietly. I left a letter for Xiaonan to explain the situation. I hope he can understand, and I hope I won't hurt him too deeply."

"This is not a small matter. My head is in a mess. You let me think about it."

Sleepless all night.At dawn, Lin Yidan closed his eyes and squinted for a while.

The mother and daughter woke up almost at the same time, Yue Xuelian also did not sleep well, her eyelids were swollen, her eyes were bloodshot, her face was dark and her long hair was messy.Although she found countless reasons to justify herself in the United States, when she returned home and faced the inescapable name of Liu Xiaonan, she still fell into deep pain, self-blame and regret, and she still fantasized that everything could start all over again.

Fortunately, she didn't have to face Liu Xiaonan directly, otherwise, it would be a disaster for her mentally.

Seeing her daughter becoming so haggard overnight, Lin Yidan was really distressed. He didn't bother to wash up and make breakfast, and told his daughter truthfully about his thoughts after a night of deliberation.

She said: "Xuelian, things are already like this, we can only move forward. Mom has made up her mind, Mom will go to the United States with you, but I can't go with you. We hurt Xiaonan, we can't leave quietly No. Mom is waiting for Xiaonan to come back at home, explain to him face to face, arrange everything properly, and then fly to the United States."

Yue Xuelian gave a bleak smile, feeling somewhat comforted in her heart.At least, her previous goal was achieved.

After a brief breakfast, Lin Yidan let his daughter sleep for a while, and then went to the hospital to submit his resignation report.When I came back, I saw that my daughter was not asleep, she was sitting at the desk with a pen in her hand in a daze, as if she was writing a letter, but there was not a word on the credible paper.

Lin Yidan sat next to his daughter, impatiently asking her the question she was most concerned about: "Xue Lian, what occupation is that American doing? Do you have any photos? Let Mom take a look."

Yue Xuelian took out her American green card and a photo from her satchel, and handed them to her mother.Lin Yidan glanced at the green card, put it under the photo, and fixed his eyes on the American in the photo.

This is a group photo in the church. Yue Xuelian is wearing a white wedding dress with a faint happy smile on her face; beside her is a Caucasian young man in a suit. handsome.

This should be a wedding photo, and a heavy stone in my heart fell to the ground lightly.

Yue Xuelian said: "His name is Jack. He is the youngest literature professor in our school. He is five years older than me. He was never married before. He believes in God and worships Eastern culture. He can speak simple Chinese. When I first arrived in the United States, My spoken English is not good, and I can’t understand much in class. He learned that I am from the East and I am also a university teacher, so he wanted to learn Chinese with me. In this way, we learn from each other, and we are both teachers and students and good friends.”

Seeing her mother's face bright and listening quietly, Yue Xuelian continued: "About a year later, he started chasing me. I told him about Liu Xiaonan and the romantic agreement between me and Xiaonan, I hope he knows He was very moved, but he was a stubborn person and never gave up. During this period, I did not do anything to apologize to Liu Xiaonan. I did not agree to him until your old man passed away. I proposed to him There are two requirements, the wedding will be held immediately, without fanfare, only his parents and a few friends and colleagues know about it; after marriage, my parents will live with us, which is our Chinese tradition. He agreed, and we Just in the church, a simple wedding ceremony was held."

Lin Yidan can no longer blame her daughter, after all, her daughter's happiness is above all else.In the next few days, Yue Xuelian took her mother to go through the visa and overseas settlement procedures. She agreed with her mother's approach and decided to go back to the United States first.

She wrote a letter to Liu Xiaonan and sent it to the dormitory of the textile factory through the post office.

I am about to return to the United States soon, and live a long-awaited life of freedom. Maybe I will never come back again, but there are always some things in my heart that are hard to let go.

At noon on the first day before leaving, Yue Xuelian came to the High School Affiliated to Normal University to find Meng Xiangxiang.She kept a low profile when she returned to China this time, and did not contact anyone, but she wanted to see Meng Xiangxiang.

Meng Xiangxiang was the closest person to Liu Xiaonan besides her.Knowing about Meng Xiangxiang's performance in the hospital and the location of her internship through her mother, she felt that she should explain more.

Meng Xiangxiang was taking a lunch break in the dormitory when he suddenly saw Yue Xuelian, so happy that "sister-in-law" and "teacher" shouted in turn.

Yue Xuelian said coldly: "I am not worthy to be your teacher, let alone your sister-in-law."

After listening to Yue Xuelian narrate the purpose of returning to the country this time, Meng Xiangxiang lamented: "You have let down senior brother, how can you be so cruel? What can you do if you ask senior brother?"

Yue Xuelian said: "I came to you to ask you to do me a favor, not to teach me a lesson. I will leave my contact address in the United States to you. If there is any major event or major change in your elder brother , please write to me and let me know. If you are willing to help, we will no longer be teachers and students, but sisters. I also hope this is a secret between us, especially not to let your senior brother know. And more importantly The point is, if you love your elder brother, why don't you take this opportunity to fight for yourself?"

"I know how much Elder Brother loves you." Meng Xiangxiang shook his head like a rattle: "How could Elder Brother fall in love with someone else again?"

Yue Xuelian reminded Meng Xiangxiang: "Don't forget, your senior brother has a special feeling for you, which is not something everyone can have. Your senior brother deserves your love, right?"

Meng Xiangxiang still shook her head, only weeping sadly for her elder brother.

Yue Xuelian did not expect that there was a person who wanted to blatantly take advantage of the situation to rob her.

Before boarding the plane, Fang Juan, who came to see him off, put her arms around Yue Xuelian's shoulders and said in a low voice, "Little heartless, you just left Liu Xiaonan behind like this? That's fine, anyway, I have been secretly in love with him for a long time, if it wasn't because you were me My good sister, I have already started. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, I have no choice but to go and comfort that sad person.”

Yue Xuelian warned Fang Juan: "You are not suitable for him, and he will not fall in love with you. I have hurt him once, please don't hurt him again. Otherwise, I will no longer be sisters or enemies with you."

(End of this chapter)