Meng Yan's Transformation

When the boat reached the shore, my cousin dragged me off the iron-pillared boat like a zombie.

"Wa, wah..." the baby cried again.

The sharp cry pierced Yan Wenying's numb surface, like lightning in the dark, causing her empty eyes to suddenly shrink. Tears overflowed from the corners of her dry eyes, resonating with the cry, causing a long-lost tremor in her chest.

"Big Brother, I remember you, but what good does it matter? I'm already broken..."

Yan Wenying looked at the backs of my cousin and me and muttered to herself.

Then came the babbling cries of the mute Tiezhu and the sounds of fists and kicks.

"Tiezhu, stop hitting Xiao Wenying. If you keep hitting her, she'll kill her. If she dies, you won't have a wife!"

The voices of people on the shore trying to persuade me and the crying of a baby echoed behind me.

My cousin and I came to the mourning hall of my cousin's grandmother, and I cried even more sadly than my cousin.

At the funeral, I learned about Xiao Wenying's past from the villagers:

Xiao Wenying's father, also a university professor, was labeled a reactionary authority and a rightist, ultimately banished to the village of Xiao Wenying's grandfather. After a struggle session, Xiao Wenying's father, unable to endure the beatings and humiliations from members of the Revolutionary Committee, hanged himself in the cowshed where he was held. While trying to collect Xiao Wenying's father's body, Xiao Wenying's mother lost her mind and fell into the river, drowning. After her parents' death, Xiao Wenying was adopted by her grandfather. However, misfortunes never come singly. Xiao Wenying's grandfather, while saving a drowning child on a ferry, was injured and subsequently died. With the passing of her family, Xiao Wenying was devastated. She attempted suicide by jumping into the river, but was rescued by the mute Tiezhu. Tiezhu's mother, with his unwavering care and protection, rekindled Xiao Wenying's hope for life. She, Tiezhu's mother, and Tiezhu became dependent on each other. However, Tiezhu's mother, seeking repayment for her kindness, used both persuasion and coercion to force Xiao Wenying to marry the mute Tiezhu. Not long after, Dumb Tiezhu's mother passed away. Some of his fellow villagers envied Dumb Tiezhu for marrying the beautiful Xiao Wenying, while others were jealous of him marrying such a beautiful wife. They complained about sour grapes and spread rumors about Xiao Wenying's bad behavior. Some even went to Dumb Tiezhu's house with ill intentions to tease Xiao Wenying. When Xiao Wenying resisted them stubbornly, they turned to Dumb Tiezhu and tried to sow discord, saying that Xiao Wenying was a beauty who brought disaster and would bring down her parents and relatives. From then on, Dumb Tiezhu watched Xiao Wenying every day, beating or scolding her whenever he was displeased.

I discussed with my cousin about rescuing Xiao Wenying, but she opposed it.

After the funeral, my cousin and I returned and came to Longwan Ferry again. Xiao Wenying was not on the ferry boat.

I asked the mute Tiezhu about Xiao Wenying's whereabouts, and he reacted with disgust and anger. Finally, through my cousin's sign language, I gave him all the money I had. Only then did he lead me to "Xiao Wenying."

On the shore, "Xiao Wenying" tied the baby to her back with a cloth strip and knelt on the ground to quickly cut grass for pigs. The baby swayed slightly with the mother's movements and looked around curiously. "Xiao Wenying"'s clothes were covered with mud and her arms were sunburned, but she was still concentrating on her work and her movements were nimble. The baby's skin color became darker due to the sun, forming a sharp contrast with her mother.

"Xiao Wenying, I...I'm leaving now. Is there anything you need my help with?"

As I spoke, I stood in front of "Xiao Wenying." She didn't even look up, but instead sped up her work cutting grass for the pigs and turned in the other direction.

But I continued to follow "Xiao Wenying".

"Brother, please go away. I don't need your help."

While "Xiao Wenying" was speaking, she still didn't look up and continued to cut grass for the pigs.

"I brought you a book. You can read it in your free time. If you still want to go back to the city and continue your studies, come to Tsinghua University and find me."

As I spoke, I took out a book from my backpack and handed it to "Xiao Wenying".

The mute Tiezhu rushed over, snatched the book from my hand and tore it into pieces, babbling and pulling me away from "Xiao Wenying" roughly.

My cousin hurried over and comforted the mute Tiezhu.