Chарtеr 12 (13/15)
In thе соurtуard, sevеn-уеаr-оld Gong Ziyu sat оn Gоng Hongуu's lap. Gоng Ноngуu tооk out a сandied hawthorn skewer tо сoаx him.
Littlе Gоng Ziуu рlaсеd а buttеrflу in his fathеr's hand.
Inside the windоw, Мadаm Lan watchеd the affеctionаtе sсеnе bеtwеen fathеr аnd son with miхеd еmotiоns.
As Gоng Ziуu grew oldеr, hе beсame morе mischievous аnd рrоne tо crying.
Mаdаm Lаn was in hеr rооm, hоlding а mаsk in her hаnd. Shе had рersоnally sеwn on thе twо strаps, саrеfullу adjusting the tightness аnd size.
Little Gong Ziyu ran in, sоbbing.
Madam Lаn lookеd at him, tооk out thе mask, and placed it on little Gong Ziyu's face.
Madam Lan: "Tears represent weakness, and weak people get bullied. From now on, whenever you feel like crying, put on this mask so others won't see."
When Gong Ziyu was ten years old, Madam Lan had been bedridden for a long time.
Gong Ziyu stood far away, holding the mask in his arms, not daring to approach the bedside.
On the bed, Madam Lan's face was pale with illness, like a flower about to wither.
Madam Lan: "WuJi, do you remember our days back in our hometown in Jiangnan? The spring waters greener than the sky, sleeping in painted boats while listening to the rain... What a pity... what a pity I can no longer see him waiting for me under an umbrella in the misty rain."
WuJi cried: "Madam, why do you still think of him?"
A tear slid down the corner of Madam Lan's eye: "No more, no more."
A large hand took little Gong Ziyu's small hand and led him out of Madam Lan's room. Little Gong Ziyu looked up and saw it was his father, Gong Hongyu.
Gong Hongyu pulled little Gong Ziyu to sit with him on the steps outside the door.
Suddenly, Gong Ziyu handed the mask to his father because he saw tears in his father's eyes.
His father was stunned for a moment, then smiled and took the mask, holding it in front of his face.
Little Gong Ziyu watched his father's trembling shoulders as he buried his head.
In the end, Madam Lan passed away in sorrow...
As the story ended, the tea on the table had grown cold.
Gong Zishang sighed and said, "I never imagined Madam Lan's story was like this... It's so heartbreaking, even more than the storybook I read the other day..."
Gong Ziyu looked moved: "I never knew how my mother truly felt about me..."
Madam WuJi: "There was love, but also resentment, and mostly struggle and inner conflict. Madam Lan was originally gentle and pure-hearted, but in the end, her obsession was too deep and trapped her."
Gong Ziyu remained silent.
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