"Woo-wah, woo-wah!"
Mei Xiaoyuan and Mei Zhixi arrived at the airport for the first time, their big eyes full of curiosity about new things.
"Is the plane really this big? It's really spectacular."
[Dear passengers, hello, flight XA8230 from Pengcheng to Jiangcheng will start boarding in ten minutes—]
"Okay, okay."
"Big plane! Charge!"
"Little Yuanbao! Don't run around! Stand in line and hold daddy's hand!"
"I know!"
Mei Xiaoyuan stopped running with her red backpack on her back, turned around and reached out to grab Mei Fang's hand, while Mei Zhixi, who was standing beside her, patted her milky white beret, held her father's hand, and maintained her ladylike elegance:
"Sister Yuanbao, if you continue to behave like this, we will abandon you at the airport!"
"I'm so cute, daddy can't bear to leave me here! Lululu—"
Mei Xiaoyuan stuck out her tongue and made a face at Mei Zhixi. Mei Zhixi puffed up her face in anger and raised her head to look at Mei Fang:
"Dad, look at my sister! Not only is she disobedient, she's also being mean to me!"
"I was just making faces at you for fun... I wasn't being mean to you."
Mei Fang straightened Mei Zhixi's hat, then patted Mei Xiaoyuan's head, "Don't run around outside. We agreed on this before we left."
"I'm sorry... Dad."
Mei Xiaoyuan's thoughts were always jumping around, and then he looked up and asked Mei Fang: "Dad, do I have a window seat?"
"Yes."
Mei Xiaoyuan jumped for joy, "Then I want to sit by the window!"
"Then I want to sit with Dad."
Mei Zhixi hugged Mei Fang tightly and refused to let go.
"No, sister can't always occupy daddy's place. Daddy has to sit with me this time. Let's look at the white clouds and blue sky by the window!"
"I don't care, I want to sit with Dad—"
"Hey, you two are fine... Why are you almost quarreling? You are sisters, you can't be like this, can't you learn from your mothers? When have you ever seen Yuan's mother and Xi's mother quarrel?"
Under Mei Fang's patient teaching, Mei Xiaoyuan and Mei Zhixi slowly realized their mistakes, and then under Mei Fang's guidance, they held hands and reconciled.
When educating his daughters, Mei Fang never asked the older sister to give in to the younger sister, nor did he use threats to force the children to obey. He was more focused on setting an example and providing guidance. The children also grew up in such an equal environment, and no one felt that their father was partial.
"Also, everyone has a window seat, so there's no need to fight over sitting with me."
It's first class after all.
"Ah, I-are we going to sit alone?"
Mei Zhixi and Mei Xiaoyuan were a little nervous when they heard this, but Mei Fang gently encouraged her daughters:
"It's okay, mom and dad will be with you right here."
As they grew up, Mei Xiaoyuan and Mei Zhixi showed distinct differences. It has to be said that their mother's genes had a great influence on them.
When taking off—
Mei Xiaoyuan: "Beep, beep, the big plane is about to take off!"
Mei Zhixi: "Woo... Dad, I'm scared - hold my hand!"
In flight—
Mei Xiaoyuan: "Wow, what a beautiful sea of clouds..."
Mei Zhixi: (lying on the window, immersed in the scenery alone)
When landing—
Mei Xiaoyuan: (Falling asleep)
Mei Zhixi: (Falling asleep)
call…
When the plane landed, looking at the children's peaceful and beautiful sleeping faces, Mei Fang, Lin Youxi and Xia Yuan smiled at each other, and then looked at the scenery outside the airport together.
"We are back in Jiangcheng again."
"I haven't been back for many years, let me count—"
Xia Yuan was still counting on his fingers, and then Lin Youxi patted him on the head.
"Don't count this, go help Ah Fang hold the baby."
"I know, I know."
The Mei family planned to stay in Jiangcheng for three days. They had hardly ever come back together since they graduated from high school. This furnace-like city, as always, scorched every traveler who came with its super high temperature.
After the driver arranged by the company came to pick them up at the airport, the Mei family rested for a while in a hotel in Jiangcheng. In the evening, they went to Jiangcheng No. 1 Normal School together.
This is where Mei Fangxiayuan and Lin Youxi spent their high school years.
It was a holiday at this time, so the school was open to the public in the afternoon. Mei Youyuan knew that the family of five had arrived at the right time.
"This is it! Is this where mom and dad used to study?"
Mei Xiaoyuan and Mei Zhixi looked at the older brothers and sisters coming and going, and walked into the campus holding their parents' hands.
"What a big school! It's many times bigger than our kindergarten!"
"Dad, where did you go to school?"
"Well..."
The family took a walk in the school playground, and then waited until most of the students had left before Mei Fang brought his family to the floor of the teaching building.
“This is the classroom where my father used to take classes.”
“Wow, wow wow wow!”
Mei Fang was holding Mei Xiaoyuan, Lin Youxi was holding Mei Zhixi, the two kids were leaning against the window to watch, Xia Yuan turned his back and sighed:
"In the past, when the mothers wanted to meet the father downstairs, they would knock on this window and the father would come out."
"Where are you going to play, mom and dad?"
"Well, I usually go to the square for a walk, but other than that—"
As Lin Youxi was talking, he suddenly patted Mei Fang on the shoulder.
"Okay, let's go play over there, right—"
Mei Fang took his family to a small bamboo forest in the direction of the Jiangcheng Normal University No. 1 Society Building.
"What are we doing in the bamboo forest, Mother Xi?"
Mei Xiaoyuan curiously pulled at Lin Youxi's hand, while Mei Zhixi, who was standing beside him, opened her eyes and covered her mouth with a surprised expression:
"This, this isn't the place where... Dad and Mom have dates, right?"
"Ah! Xiao Xixi, how come you are so smart..."
Xia Yuan was sighing and had only taken a few steps when he saw a blushing and heart-pounding scene. He subconsciously covered Mei Zhixi's eyes.
At the same time, a pair of student lovers sitting on a bench in the bamboo forest heard the noise and immediately stood up shyly, covering their faces and hurriedly walked past the family of five.
Mei Fang watched the young couple passing by, feeling mixed emotions:
"It's over. This place is considered a lover's paradise. I have really set a bad example."
"What's the big deal? You are a legendary figure in Jiangcheng Normal School..."
"Ah, this."
As Lin Youxi spoke, he suddenly put his hands behind his back and looked at Xia Yuan, "Yuanyuan? Let's discuss something—"
"No, no need to discuss!"
Xia Yuan blushed and held out five fingers to Lin Youxi, "Five minutes!"
"OK, it'll be your turn later."
Xia Yuan said as she took the hands of Mei Zhixi and Mei Xiaoyuan, "Come on, do you want to go to the bathroom? Mommy Yuan will take you there."
Mei Xiaoyuan's eyes widened: "I, I don't need to go! I don't want to pee - ah, Mom Yuan, what are you doing!"
But Mei Zhixi has already seen through everything—
Xi's mother must want to be intimate with Dad.
"I'll take you to buy ice cream!"
"elbow!"
So, Lin Youxi asked Mei Fang to sit on the bench, and then she sat on Mei Fang and gently stroked Mei Fang's cheek:
"Fang, do you still remember when you made a public self-criticism in front of everyone?"
"Well, of course I remember..."
Mei Fang held Lin Youxi's hand tightly, and then let her hold it close to his shoulder.
"Will it be a bit hot to hold like this?"
"No, it's like this that gives you the feeling of youth."
Because when Xia Yuan was buying ice cream, he met a few high school girls who wanted to take a photo with Mei Xiaoyuan and Mei Zhixi, which delayed him for five minutes.
Lin Youxi once again occupied Mei Fang for 10 minutes.
Of course, Lin Youxi made up for it later by taking care of the children.
They walked past the club building, the gymnasium, and the art building, went to the stage where Mei Youyuan once performed at the art festival, and came to the school history museum, where they saw their young parents walking hand in hand through the door to adulthood. Mei Xiaoyuan and Mei Zhixi personally felt the mark their parents had left on this school.
During the trip to Jiangcheng, Mei Youyuan learned that the family of five also went to Happy Valley, rode the roller coaster together and scared his father to death, played in the haunted house together and made his mother's legs shake, then went to see a family popcorn movie together and ate the sweet and spicy Zhou Hei Ya together.
Everyone in the family can eat spicy food except mother Lin Youxi. Youxi's mother just watched everyone eat spicy food.
After the short trip to Jiangcheng, everyone returned to the familiar Baimei County. They met all the grandparents in turn, had dinner and went out to play. Then, as usual, Mei Fang had a meal with the county leaders and learned about the county's situation and plans.
“We can invest, but we don’t need to do anything like cultural construction of former residences. We don’t like that.”
"Then, what about the cultural memorial? I heard that the three of you have a long-lasting relationship, so you must have a lot of commemorative items from your childhood, right?"
The leaders of the county felt that such a square was not attractive enough, and it would be great if it had some gimmicks.
Xia Yuan, who was standing by, put down his chopsticks and exclaimed, "I have to go back to my hometown and look for it!"
"Don't be in a hurry, finish your meal!"
Baimei County is the hometown where Mei Youyuan was born and raised. The 16 years have carried countless memories for the three of them.
The three of them first went to Baimei County Experimental Middle School, where they attended junior high school together.
"Wow, junior high school feels much smaller than high school!" Mei Xiaoyuan was very surprised, "The classrooms here are so small, not even as big as our game room. Do they need to accommodate so many people?"
“Now it’s a lot less…”
Xia Yuan came to Class 9's classroom, his eyes full of memories and nostalgia for the past.
"Xiao Yuanbao, this is the classroom where Dad and Mom study. Mom is next door."
"Isn't mom in the same class with dad and mom?"
"Yeah, at that time... no."
"Come to think of it, the only time Yuan's mother and Xi's mother quarreled also happened at this time."
"Ah, will Yuan's mother and Xi's mother quarrel?"
Mei Xiaoyuan was surprised and asked, "What kind of outrageous thing did Yuan's mother do to make Xi's mother angry?"
"Why does the premise mean that I made my mother angry?"
Xia Yuan knocked on Mei Xiaoyuan's head, and Lin Youxi beside him said softly, "That time it was the other way around. I made Yuan's mother angry."
"Woo woo, mommy Xi is so gentle..."
Mei Xiaoyuan started to cry softly, while Mei Zhixi asked curiously, "Was mom Xi also naughty in the past?"
"As for the mischief, it happened a long time ago..."
Baimei County Experimental Middle School and Baimei County Experimental Primary School are still open for visits, but the grain kindergarten where the three of them once stayed together has long since been rebuilt into a residential community over the years.
After visiting the school where Dad and Mom studied, the group returned to Xia Yuan’s old house.
This was once one of the most prosperous residential areas in Baimei County, and it still looks like a magnificent house today.
"Is this where Mom used to live? Wow, it's so big."
Mei Xiaoyuan was surprised and said, "It's almost half the size of our home in Pengcheng!"
"That's your grandfather after all."
Mei Fang smiled and said, "Grandpa Yuan used to be one of the biggest bosses in Baimei County, a very powerful and wealthy man!"
"So, what now?"
Mei Xiaoyuan tilted her head curiously and asked her father.
"Hmm... Let me think about it."
Mei Fang scratched his head, then smiled and said, "If you don't count my parents, I should be the richest man in Baimei County!"
"Ah! Grandpa Yuan is so awesome!"
Mei Xiaoyuan clapped her hands.
Dad is awesome too, okay
"Hey woosh... I found it!"
In an old house that was about to be demolished and rebuilt, Xia Yuan found the iron box that contained her most precious memories.
Everyone gathered around curiously and watched Xia Yuan open the iron box.
"Ah, what a cute little brain axe doll. Is there sand inside it?"
"Yes! This is the kindergarten graduation gift that Yuan's mother gave to Dad."
Xia Yuan put his hands on his hips proudly, while Mei Zhixi beside him picked up a small metal cube out of curiosity.
"Mom, what is this?"
"This is an mp3, used for reading novels and listening to music."
Lin Youxi smiled and said, "This is a birthday gift from Dad to Mom."
"What about this?"
"This is a poem that Dad wrote for Mother Yuan and Mother Xi."
Mei Fang said gently, "Later, these became the songs that Yuan's mother sang when she was an idol singer."
"Why do all these things exist here with Mother Yuan!"
"Because, because it was Yuan's mother... who collected them."
"So... what's on this CD?"
Mei Zhixi asked curiously.
"Ahh—that's—that's the slide you can't even touch!"
Xia Yuan struggled to grab the CD, but Lin Youxi snatched it away and handed it to Mei Fang:
"Can it be broadcast? If it can be broadcast, then give it a try... You can see the six-year-old mother's confession to the father?"
Mei Xiaoyuan raised her hands and said, "Oh, it's fake! I want to see it, I want to see it!"
"Rather than looking at that, why not take a look at this album first? You can see Sloppy Ghost's mother, right? There are also photos of other people."
"Tsk tsk, is this grandpa? Grandpa had a lot of hair back then!"
"Grandma is so beautiful too." Mei Zhixi sighed.
"Haha, this must be Aunt Xiaoya, how come she is younger than me?"
"Wow, Xi's mother looked like a boy when she was a child!"
"Who is this, is it dad?"
Mei Zhixi pursed her lips and nodded, "Sure enough, my dad was also very handsome when he was a child. No wonder both Xi's mother and Yuan's mother liked him..."
"Yeah! Very handsome." Lin Youxi said softly, "But don't look at dad like this, he was a bed-wetting king when he was a child."
"Yes! Don't talk about that matter anymore—"
Mei Xiaoyuan immediately put her hands on her hips proudly, "So that's it! I found out why I still wet the bed all the time! It turns out I got it from my dad! Hahahaha!"
"You're still very proud, aren't you, little Yuanbao!"
Mei Fang knocked on Mei Xiaoyuan's head.
In this way, by recalling each item, Mei Youyuan knew that the family of five spent a leisurely and fulfilling time.
And in that place that cannot be recalled, there are still many objects that can evoke the beauty of youth -
For example, Lin Youxi's class notes, which were filled with every stroke of the pen;
For example, Xia Yuan’s lyrics book filled with stickers;
For example, the bicycle that Mei Fang rode;
Xia Yuan's favorite warm baby in winter;
The roller skates that Lin Youxi wore for the first time;
The family photo that Xia Yuan took with her when she ran away from home;
The horror movie discs that Mei Fang had rented in the alley;
Lin Youxi saved money to buy an electric car for her father;
The standing mirror that Xia Yuan had been carrying since childhood;
Umekata's Giant of Light Tiga backpack;
The hairpin that Lin Youxi had lost and found;
Xia Yuan collected an IOU for ten yuan written by Mei Fang (although it had already been redeemed);
A magnifying glass that exposes the buttocks of the C station manager;
Even the fat boy who was slapped by Mei Fang in the amusement park has now entered the palace of marriage.
Mei Fang found the folk guitar he had used when he first pursued his dream of music at Xia Yuan's house, tuned it and began to play the melody.
"Not bad... It seems to be still usable. This is a rare opportunity. Do you want to sing a song together to celebrate?"
"Dad started the song." Xia Yuan patted Mei Fang's shoulder.
"Then... let's use the new song that Yuan's mother composed."
Xia Yuan, Lin Youxi, Mei Xiaoyuan and Mei Zhixi followed Mei Fang's melody, swaying gently together and chanting a light ballad -
Will there always be a day
I'm saying goodbye to my home
Wearing neat and old-fashioned clothes
Speaking in a roundabout way
Is there always a way
The most authentic you
It is not necessarily the safest and best way
Some people hold their heads high
Can I be a child forever
What's wrong with this
Even if I don't understand the world they are talking about
You can also live happily
Can I be a child forever
What's wrong with this
Maybe I'm used to falling.
Also learn to get up and run
La la la…
La la la…
As the family was immersed in the singing, a light pink paper crane and a light blue-headed paper crane leaned quietly against the window of the cabin.
I saw them gradually stand up as if under the influence of the singing, gently flapping their wings, flying side by side, emitting bursts of light, and then slowly dissipating with the light spots emitted by the faint light.
The beautiful singing seemed to be mixed with the tender and innocent voice of children.
"Pin ~ Hang ~ For a hundred years ~ Don't change!"
— (End of the book)
The last song is the song of the same name "Can We Always Be Like a Child?" You can listen to it, it's very nice!
(End of this chapter)