Standing Next To You-Chapter 34: Returning to River Village

The River Village underwent significant changes over time. The road had become three times bigger than before, and the pathway that she and her grandmother used to walk on was now cemented. Crossing the mountain would not be as difficult as it had been in the past.

The houses in the River Village had been upgraded. Most of the families now lived in brick houses and owned motorcycles or tricycles for transportation. The village was less crowded than before as well, as some people with enough savings had moved to the town to buy houses for the sake of convenience.

However, the villa at the entrance of the River Village remained unchanged. Its walls still stood tall, although it appeared desolate and empty.

Bei Sangyun cast a quick glance at it before entering the village. Due to the vivid dream of the past, she recognized some of the faces she passed by.

The elderly women basking in the sun while munching on melon seeds were the same aunts who had once praised her as a sensible and smart child. However, after the incident, they gossiped about her and changed their attitude toward her.

In this small village, Bei Sangyun’s presence stood out. Despite wearing casual clothes with a hood on top, her milky skin and demeanor were markedly distinct from those of the villagers.

One of the aunts spotted Bei Sangyun. "Who is this pretty girl? Is she from the town?"

The older women turned their attention to Bei Sangyun, their eyes lighting up as they caught the scent of potential gossip. With renewed energy, they quickly gathered around her.

"Dear young girl, what brings you to River Village? Is there someone you’re searching for?"

"Would you like us to show you around?"

A sense of déjà vu washed over Bei Sangyun.

Ah, she recalled it now.

During her last visit to River Village in her past life, these very aunts were the first who surrounded her. Arriving in a car, dressed in an expensive dress and wearing jewelry, she had deliberately showcased her wealth, which drew a crowd from the village.

These aunts had posed the same questions then. However, due to her unfavorable impression of them from her previous stay in the village, she had responded with arrogance and talked down on them.

One of the aunts grew irritated by her arrogant attitude and lashed out, accusing her of ingratitude and arriving far too late. Only then did Bei Sangyun grasp the harsh reality that her timing was tragically off.

Mocking laughter escaped Bei Sangyun’s lips.

Her desire to return to the village without appearing as the poor and pitiful girl she once was had led her to delay her visit until she could arrive in a car, clad in the dress gifted to her for her graduation. Without knowing that such a foolish decision would make her regret for the rest of her life.

Reflecting, Bei Sangyun realized how stupid and naive her past self had been.

Bei Sangyun looked at these aunts who reminded her of the painful past. Now that she looked at them closely, Bei Sangyun could see the passage of time on their faces.

Perhaps because these old women reminded her of Grandma Bei, she was not as angry as she was in the past. Nor she had the energy to explain more.

"I know my way." Bei Sangyun avoided them and left on her own.

"She knows her way? Where is she going?" The aunts discussed with themselves as they looked at Bei Sangyun’s disappearing back.

"That pretty girl does seem familiar. But where could I have seen her? She gives off an air of someone from a wealthy city," one of the elderly aunts pondered.

"The only house at the back of the village is that small hut..."

Suddenly, one of the older aunts gasped. "I recall now! She resembles Bei Silang’s daughter!"

"Ah, indeed. Bei Silang’s daughter possessed fair skin and captivating features that helped her win over a handsome man in the Capital. That incident gained a lot of attention at the time."

"But it can’t possibly be Bei Silang’s daughter. The girl is far too young."

"Oh, come on! Your old age must be playing tricks on your memory. Obviously, it wouldn’t be Bei Silang’s daughter. It must be her granddaughter, Bei Sangyun!"

"Bei Sangyun?! That thin, dusky little girl? How can a person change that much?"

The old aunts indulged in gossip with each other, their excitement driving them to share this newfound information with everyone who passed by.

"Have you heard? Bei Silang’s granddaughter is here in the village. She looks so different now—quite beautiful, just like Bei Silang’s own daughter!"

"Isn’t that the clever little girl from before? Wasn’t she sent away?"

"I recall an incident involving the Young Master back then. Didn’t the Chuan family make her disappear?"

The normally quiet village was suddenly rejuvenated by this gossip. In no time, the news of Bei Sangyun’s return to the village spread throughout, reaching everyone’s ears.

Meanwhile, Bei Sangyun was not aware that her arrival caused great fanfare. When she arrived at the familiar hut and saw the live chickens in the yard, Bei Sangyun could not help but feel emotional.

The last time she came here, the hut and the yard were empty and desolate. There was no trace of life here and it looked abandoned.

But now that she came a bit earlier, she could see some traces in the yard.

There was a pair of old pants and shirts hanging on the fence. There was smoke coming from the outdoor kitchen.

Bei Sangyun silently opened the small bamboo gate and entered.

The chicks immediately became noisy.

This hut was brimming with life, unlike the last memory she had in this place. It resembled the home she had grown up in when she was young. Bei Sangyun held back her tears as she approached the hut.

The door of the small hut was slightly opened. She could directly see the bamboo bed and some clothes on top of it.

Bei Sangyun removed her shoes and stepped inside the hut. Contrary to her memory from childhood, she realized that the hut, which she had once believed to be spacious enough for her and her grandmother, was actually too small for two people, particularly for two adults.

She touched the bamboo bed with longing. This room smelled like grandma.

Bei Sangyun then noticed the clothes on the bed. She unfolded it and the memories of her childhood days flooded in.

Wasn’t it her clothes when she was young? Why were these clothes on the bed?

Her gaze fell upon a pair of small straw sandals resting beside the bed, and Bei Sangyun’s eyes welled up with tears.

Those were her old sandals, worn for years. They had been mended and polished meticulously. Looking at them now, she couldn’t help but marvel at how tiny her feet used to be, resembling those of a three-year-old.

The sudden clamor of chickens in the yard disrupted Bei Sangyun’s emotions, momentarily halting her tears.

From the yard came a familiar old voice, "I know you’re hungry! Just be patient! Cough! Cough!"

An elderly woman, her hair white with age, shuffled forward with a hunched back, carrying a bucket of water. She broke into a hearty cough after scolding the chicks.

Her clothing was worn and tattered, and her feet were still clad in the same straw sandals that had been repaired numerous times.

Bei Sangyun clenched her lips tightly, struggling to contain her emotions. With misty eyes, she walked up to Grandma Bei and gently took the bucket from her hands.

"I’ll carry it," she said, attempting to sound strong despite the trembling in her voice.

"Who—" Grandma Bei was startled by the sudden presence behind her. When she turned around and saw Bei Sangyun’s face, she let out a shocked gasp.

"....Bei Sangyun?"

Overcome with emotion, Bei Sangyun’s tears fell freely now as she nodded. "I knew you would recognize me, grandma."

Grandma Bei’s mouth hung open, her eyes welling with tears. "....My granddaughter... my child."

Setting the bucket aside, Bei Sangyun embraced Grandma Bei. "Yes, it’s me, grandma."

Bei Sangyun embraced Grandma Bei, realizing she was now taller than her grandmother. In contrast to her younger self, who could only clutch at Grandma Bei’s clothes, she could now envelop her grandma in a full embrace.

Her arms encircled Grandma Bei’s thin and delicate frame. She felt a faint quiver in Grandma Bei’s body. The familiar scent of wood wafted into her nose, evoking more tears from Bei Sangyun’s eyes.

How many times had she yearned for this moment, to hold her grandmother close?

If this were a dream, she prayed for it not to end.

The moment was filled with unspoken sentiments, a reunion that had been long overdue.

.....