The paper is short but the sentiment is long

Chapter 2: The Beginning

After her grandfather's funeral, the whole family silently sorted out his belongings.

In the eyes of others, her grandfather had truly lived to a ripe old age, and it was considered a happy funeral. He had always been in good health until he passed away suddenly at the very last moment, seemingly without much pain.

But the family members all knew that although her grandfather had passed away without suffering, he hadn't necessarily been happy during his lifetime.

Her grandfather wasn't a particularly remarkable, wise, or elegant old man. Even though there was a bright two - bedroom, one - living - room apartment, he stubbornly refused to move into any of the larger rooms. Instead, he huddled in the small north - facing room, with a narrow bed, a broken cabinet, and a musty smell. Since they had memories, the younger generations didn't like to go in there and were really too scared to approach this little old man who always sat alone on the small bed.

This little old man, her grandfather, was as stubborn as a stone in a latrine. When asked to eat together, he wouldn't. Instead, he would huddle on a low stool on the balcony and eat vegetables mixed with soy sauce. When invited to go on an outing, he wouldn't go either. He would go out early in the morning, carrying a shabby bag, and take the bus. He would get on any bus that came along, sit by the window and ride around and around. After coming back for lunch, he would go out again. He just never seemed to stop.

According to the elders, her grandfather was taking advantage of the government because people over seventy didn't have to pay for the bus. At that time, Aijia believed it. But one day, somehow, she followed her grandfather onto the bus. Her grandfather was very happy, smiling and showing a mouthful of sallow teeth. After getting on the bus, he clumsily gave Aijia twenty yuan as pocket money. Then, after an awkward moment, he looked out of the window for the whole journey.

Normally, when people take children on the bus, they are used to letting the children sit by the window, but her grandfather didn't. He took the window seat first. After giving the money, he didn't pay any more attention to his granddaughter and just kept looking outside.

There was heavy traffic, people coming and going, and row upon row of tall buildings.

His eyes, with the unique sheen of the elderly, reflected the light outside. His eyes took in all the street scenes outside the window, making Aijia feel that he was looking at the world with his whole being.

Without a mobile phone and being illiterate, apart from watching the news, her grandfather's eyes were always on this new society that was always incredibly novel to him.

Suddenly, Aijia felt an inexplicable aversion to the elders' claim that her grandfather was taking advantage of the government.

How could that be the reason? Clearly, he was just too attached... He couldn't bear to miss even one more glance.

Now, the man was gone, and everything returned to the earth.

Finally, like normal younger generations, they delved deep into the room of an elder they had once overlooked. Pinching their noses and with tear - filled eyes, they saw the tattered pants and clothes with layer upon layer of patches, still carrying the smell of their grandfather. There were out - of - print belts and cloth shoes, and the enamel cup was covered with layer upon layer of water scale... Her grandfather didn't even drink tea, and when taking a bath, he only used laundry soap.

He was a truly poor man, without a trace of nobility or profound connotation.

Aijia didn't believe that a centenarian like her grandfather wouldn't have any family heirlooms. She felt around here and there, and actually found something.

A simple mahogany box.

Even if she didn't know much about antiques, Aijia could tell that this mahogany box with its pure color and smooth texture was of great value. Her heart pounding wildly, she opened the box with its delicate small lock. Inside, there was only a stack of paper. Apparently, the paper had been meticulously preserved. Her grandfather had even placed a large number of mothballs around it, causing the whole box to give off a pungent smell. However, the paper was still covered with yellow stains and mold marks. Aijia was unbearably itchy with curiosity. She put the box aside and took out the paper.

Only when she took it out did she realize that it wasn't actually a stack, but a single sheet that was messily scattered. Presumably, it had been folded too forcefully back then, and the creases would tear at the slightest touch, making the neatly - folded paper seem like a stack. Looking at the back, it was mottled with age marks, and there were faintly rows of extremely neat small characters. She nervously rubbed her hands, worried that the paper would crumble as soon as she opened it. After hesitating for a long time, she still reached for the edge of the paper.

Before she could open it, she heard a voice beside her shout, "Jiajia, what's in your hand?"

"Oh, I..." Aijia quickly looked up and stood up. She wanted to share her excitement of discovering a "treasure" with her mother. But the moment she stood up, her vision went pitch - black, and a powerful sense of dizziness overwhelmed her. She was greatly alarmed. Although it was common to feel dizzy when standing up suddenly, it had never been this intense. This thought flashed through her mind. She seemed to hear her mother calling, but before she could feel if anyone was supporting her, she fainted.

Damn it! Please, please don't let the back of my head hit the ground first!

That was all she could pray for...

"If she doesn't wake up, beat him to death!" A furious roar came, startling Aijia so much that her whole body trembled.

"Hey, she's waking up, she's waking up!" A woman exclaimed delightedly. "Her eyelids are moving. Master, master! Jun'er is waking up!"

"..." Aijia only felt an excruciating headache, both physically and mentally.

She must have been hallucinating. Even if her past obsession with Mary - Sue - style stories had left some after - effects, she had never imagined that her father was a "master"... At least it should be an emperor, a king or something.

"What are you shouting for! Aren't you afraid of scaring her!" A gruff voice approached quickly. When it reached her ear, it softened into a tender tone, "Jun'er? Daughter? Are you awake?"

She was awake, but dared not open her eyes. Aijia's eyelids trembled violently.

"She's having a nightmare!" The man's voice judged. In an instant, his voice became thunderous again, "Somebody! Beat that wretch to death!"

"Oh, master! Jun'er's condition isn't his fault. If you beat him to death now and Jun'er wakes up and can't find him, what if she has suicidal thoughts?!" The woman's voice was extremely anxious.

"If she has suicidal thoughts, beat her until she comes to her senses! She risked her life for that scoundrel. Is my daughter's life that worthless?!"

"Oh, if you want to beat someone, you do it. I just can't bring myself to do it."

"... Eldest son! You do it! If Jun'er still can't let go of that bastard when she wakes up, you use the family rules to beat some sense into your sister!"

"Father, I have to return to the camp later." The younger male voice refused flatly.

"You ungrateful wretch! You just won't listen to your old man, will you? Is the family or that damned camp more important?!"

"That damned camp is more important." Came the answer without hesitation.

"Is your sister or that damned camp more important?!"

"...Both are important."

"Hey! So we're not even as important as this silly girl, huh?!" There were clanging noises, intermingled with the voice of a middle - aged woman trying to stop a fight.

Aijia really didn't want to wake up. At this moment, her heart was in a turmoil. She felt like she was dreaming. She wanted to wake up quickly, yet was afraid that it wasn't a dream. Once she woke up, everything would be wrong. There was a fierce inner struggle within her. She wished she could hit herself with a brick and pass out again. Her eyelids were trembling so much that they seemed to be in complete chaos, as if they could open at any moment.

Finally, at the instant when her eyelids were almost cramping, she reluctantly opened her eyes.

The moment she saw the wooden bed canopy in front of her, she knew that the dream hadn't ended, or...

"Oh, she's awake!" A woman's scream halted a potential father - son brawl. A still - charming middle - aged woman rushed over. Her face was streaked with tears, just like a pear blossom in the rain. Her hair was combed entirely backward and coiled into a butterfly - shaped bun, extremely neat without a single strand out of place. She was wearing a long blue - colored silk gown. Aijia couldn't quite tell what the style was. Anyway, it was the traditional cheongsam worn by women during the Republic of China era, as seen on TV, so antique that it was almost frightening.

It wasn't that the woman was scary, but Aijia was simply stunned. Her whole body tensed up, and she stared fixedly at the woman as if she had seen a ghost.

The woman was frightened and burst into tears. "Master! What kind of look is this in Jun'er's eyes?! Jun'er? Don't you recognize your mother? I'm your mother! You're not stupid, are you? Say something!"

A middle - aged man immediately followed. He had a neatly - trimmed mustache that reached the corners of his lips under his nose. It was hard to say whether he was handsome or not. He had a square face, big eyes, and a straight nose. He was tall and burly, exuding an air of authority even without getting angry. He was wearing a black - based silk mandarin jacket with yellow edges and holding a walking stick in his hand, looking quite stylish. At this moment, this stylish uncle was looking at her with a face full of worry. "Jun'er? Jun'er? Do you recognize your father?"

Aijia blinked, not knowing how to react. Then the light dimmed again. The last gap at the end of the bed was occupied by a tall and tough - looking handsome guy. His clothing was finally a bit more normal. He was wearing a gray - blue military uniform, a bit bulgy and not very figure - flattering, but at least it had a bit of a modern flavor! At this moment, this handsome guy was also straining to lean forward and look at her, but he didn't say anything. His concern was clearly written all over his face.

"Does Jun'er not recognize us anymore? Oh my god, my daughter has been beaten stupid! Master! What should we do! Jun'er doesn't recognize me!" The woman started crying again. "You have to take charge! That scoundrel has harmed our Jun'er!"

The master also blew his beard and glared. "I'll beat him to death!" As he spoke, he raised his walking stick.

Aijia vaguely had the feeling that if she didn't say something, someone might die... But she really didn't want to speak. There was always this sense that once she spoke, she would never be able to get out of this situation. Or perhaps, if she spoke, the dream would wake up?

"Wait a moment, you guys..." She blurted out, startled by her hoarse voice. Wait, regardless of whether it was hoarse or not, this voice didn't seem right!

"She's speaking, she's speaking! Jun'er, do you recognize your mother?"

Damn it, the dream still hadn't ended. Aijia was in a daze again. So, should she say she recognized them or not?

"Don't be in a hurry! Jun'er just woke up!" Although the master was trying to persuade, he was also clearly anxious. "Do you remember your father?"

"Father, stop asking. It's normal for Jun'er. She hit her head too hard. After waking up, she'll forget everything for a while. She'll be fine after a rest. Judging by her eyes, she's not stupid." This big brother was very calm. He quickly put on his large blue - gray cap. When Aijia saw the cap badge, she really felt terrible.

It was white, in the shape of a sun.

The blue sky, the white sun, the flag...

Mom, is it my fault for not learning modern history well?

At this moment, Aijia really felt that she might as well die. She stared fixedly at the cap badge on the big brother's head, feeling that she could hardly breathe. Her body was getting colder and colder, and that familiar feeling of dizziness surged up again. The little figure in her heart was kneeling on the ground, crying out: I want to go home!

She fainted again.