Meng Yan's Transformation

"Don't look at it, young man. They've gone too far to see it. Go find your cousin!"

As the old lady spoke, she picked up her empty basket on a shoulder pole.

"Okay, okay, I'll go now! This little girl is amazing, amazing!"

As I spoke, I couldn't help but look in the direction of Xiao Wenying's boat.

"Yes, Xiao Wenying is beautiful and she's a very good student. She has it all. If I were born in the city and had a son, I would have him attend a prestigious university in a big city and marry Xiao Wenying after graduation. It's a pity that I was born in the countryside and my son is mute. Forget about it in this life, maybe in the next. Young man, which university did you go to? If you went to a prestigious university, you would have had a chance to wait for Xiao Wenying to grow up and marry her!"

As the old lady spoke, she looked at me with envy.

My face turned red instantly when he looked at me.

"Grandma, how can you talk like that? Xiao Wenying is still a child. If she hears you talking like that, she will definitely regret letting you take the boat for free."

As I spoke, I walked quickly, leaving the old lady behind.

"Xiao Wenying wouldn't blame me. I saw you two were talking very happily on the boat. I didn't even understand a word you said, but you two were chatting happily. I think you're a good young man, a city dweller, a college student, and handsome. That's why I asked you to wait until Xiao Wenying grows up and marry her. I'm being kind, you must work hard..."

As the old lady spoke, she quickened her pace to catch up with me, scaring me so much that I ran over quickly.

When I ran to my cousin's grandmother's house, my cousin happened to be out of the house and saw me. She was surprised to see that I was running out of breath and holding two books in my hands.

"Runsheng, why are you running so fast? You look so tired. Are you being chased by a mad dog?"

While my cousin was talking, she looked at me playfully and picked up a towel to wipe my sweat.

"I didn't meet a mad dog, but I met a crazy woman! I'm dying of thirst..."

As I spoke, I gasped for air and drank a large glass of water.

My cousin asked me what kind of crazy mother-in-law I was, but I didn't tell her.

Three days later, I said goodbye to my cousin and went home. I went to the ferry to return Xiao Wenying's book, but she wasn't there. Her grandfather told me that she had gone to the village to help a child with his homework. I gave the book to Xiao Wenying and her grandfather.

I feel very sorry that I couldn't see Xiao Wenying again.

Many years later, I stayed at the university where my cousin taught and became a university professor. My cousin's grandmother passed away one summer, and my cousin and I went to the funeral and came to Longwan Ferry again.

I was extremely happy and hoped to meet the little Wenying who was full of spirit again: she must have grown into a big girl, must have become more graceful, maybe she would get married... Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel distressed.

The ferry was still the same boat, but there was no little Wenying in her bright pink dress untying the rope. Instead, there was a burly man babbling and gesturing something, which sounded like the roar of a deaf-mute.

When he saw us coming, he changed into a smiling face like a chameleon, gestured for me to get on the boat, and gestured for the boat fare.

"Don't you pay us only after we get to the other side?"

I said this while gesturing to the mute.

"Tiezhu, don't you recognize me? I'm your elder sister! When did you start ferrying people across the river? Where's the old grandpa? I remember that every year at this time, his granddaughter, Yan Wenying, would come and help him ferry people across the river."

As my cousin spoke, she used sign language and patted Tiezhu's shoulder.

Tiezhu used sign language to babble to his cousin.

"Tiezhu, what are you talking about? I haven't been back for a few years, how come so many things have happened?"

As my cousin spoke, she looked at Tiezhu in surprise.