Starting a new chapter in life

My father is a military officer, and my mother is unemployed and takes care of the family full-time. From a young age, my mother taught me to be well-behaved, not naughty, and sensible. But what child isn't naughty?

He remembered one time when he saw children playing by the roadside near his home. He wanted to join in, but he couldn't fit in. The other children played together because their parents were on good terms with each other.

But my mother spends her days either at home or at the market, and occasionally takes me to my grandparents' house. She hardly interacts with the neighbors, so she doesn't have a good relationship with other children my age.

I tried to fit in with them, and they didn't chase me away. Sometimes they would even answer when I spoke. But the feeling of being isolated from them was very uncomfortable. I couldn't stand it for more than half a day and went home dejectedly.

My mother is gentle, but she's not very perceptive. She can't sense my emotional changes. If I don't say anything, she has no idea that I'm unhappy. I feel really lonely, so I told my mother that I want to play with other children.

My mom took me to the park, hoping to find me some playmates. Unfortunately, she couldn't really connect with the other mothers who brought their children to the park. They would talk about work, but my mom had never worked.

She was a child from a rural area under Yangzhou City. If it weren't for the Cultural Revolution making her grandparents afraid of being implicated and forcing her father to marry her mother, who had a good class background but was uneducated, I think her mother would never have been able to marry someone like her father. It can only be said that the times created opportunities.

However, my father treated my mother well, and he was quite generous with the monthly household expenses. My mother was used to being frugal, so our standard of living was decent. In any case, as far as I can remember, my mother was very satisfied with her life.

When did Mom change? It was probably when I was eight years old, after my uncle brought back my aunt, whom he had married while working away from home. Before, Mom never thought there was anything wrong with Dad giving money for household expenses and not handing over his salary card, since Dad was the one who earned the money.

But my aunt said that even if a woman doesn't work, taking care of the family is valuable. If she only contributes to household expenses but the man controls the finances, then she is essentially the man's nanny, taking care of the whole family for free.

These words were startling even back then, and even now that I'm older, but my uncle didn't think there was anything wrong with what my aunt said. He agreed with her, and even my grandmother didn't think there was anything wrong with them.

Even with no encouragement from the elders in the family and my uncle's support, my father eventually gave the savings book to my mother. That was the first time I saw my mother smile so happily. Although our family's life remained unchanged afterward, my mother's emotions were clearly different.

I never went to daycare or kindergarten. I started primary school at the age of nine. Well, I was born young; when I was eight, most people had already started a semester.

But after entering school, I experienced the feeling of being isolated. It wasn't that they intentionally isolated me; it's just that everyone else had known each other since childhood, or at least from daycare. Naturally, they would be closer to each other after meeting in elementary school.

As for me, no one around me knows me, and I'm not the kind of person who's outgoing or proactive, so I can only play by myself, which makes me even more silent.

The turning point came at An'an's first birthday celebration. I met him for the first time then. He was very cute and loved to smile. When he held my finger, my heart was filled with warmth. I love An'an.

But Mom wouldn't let me touch him, afraid I'd drop him. I could only obediently watch him. It was only when Dad let me look after him that I could play with An'an.

Happy times fly by, and soon we'll be going home. I really don't want to leave, but I don't dare say it. My aunt said I have a personality problem, that I'm too introverted, and suggested that I come and live with her to attend school.

My aunt was worried that I wouldn't be used to being away from home, but what I really needed was the company of my friends. I didn't want to watch others playing happily by myself anymore.

On my aunt's side, at least there's my little brother An'an.

So, I transferred here in the second semester of first grade. At first, I was very uneasy, afraid that my uncle and aunt would think I was naughty and send me back, and also afraid that I would be disliked for eating too much and not doing any work.

When I tried to help sweep the floor, my aunt stopped me. She said I should just make myself at home and that if I wanted to help, I should play with my little brother. She said she didn't like taking care of him and that he was too much trouble.

But how could my younger brother be a nuisance? He's the best and most obedient little brother. He smiles at me and babbles to me, even though I don't understand what he's saying. But he's just so adorable.

At that time, my aunt was already pregnant with my younger sister, so she really couldn't do any strenuous work. Therefore, I happily took over the responsibility of taking care of my younger brother.

Before I started school, my aunt would take me to play at a neighbor's house near our home. That's where I made friends my own age for the first time. They would take me to play games and catch bugs. Although I was quite scared, I was really happy to be led around by others.

When school started, I naturally joined the group of friends I had played with during the holidays. I was happy to finally have someone to play with.

When my parents came to visit me later, they both said that I had become much more talkative and cheerful. My mother also got a job and became much more outgoing. She even dared to ask my father to do chores.

My aunt's house has lots of delicious food. Besides regular meals, I also get snacks and candy. At home, my mom only buys me candy a few times a year because she says it will rot my teeth.

But my aunt said that I could eat one a day, but no more, and that I had to brush my teeth before going to sleep every night so that my teeth wouldn't get rotten. I listened to her, so I have a set of straight, good teeth.

I was very diligent in school because I wanted to learn well so I could teach my younger brother at home. If I couldn't even understand it myself, how would my brother manage his studies? Although he's still very young, there's a saying, "plan ahead," and as the older brother, I have to set a good example.

When I was in second grade, my little sister Zhizhi was born. She was a very soft and tender little bean. After school, besides taking care of my younger brother, I would accompany him to look after my little sister.

When I was in fourth grade, my aunt's family moved from Haishi to Changning Island. The house was so big that An'an, Zhizhi, and I each had our own room. But I preferred to sleep with An'an; we were used to sleeping together.

Not long after, another older brother came to our house. He was my uncle's son and my great-grandfather's eldest grandson. He was very hardworking and had good grades. He said that since my grades were so good, there was no need to advance step by step if I was confident. It would be a waste of time.

So I made a bold decision to skip a grade. Unfortunately, my IQ isn't very high, and I only skipped fifth grade once. After entering junior high, skipping grades became less of a possibility for me. But thankfully, I'm no longer a student a year behind others; at least I've caught up in age.

With my older brother Ci'en leading the way, I worked even harder. In addition to my academic classes, I read extracurricular books. We have so many books at home, some of which I can't understand at all, so I just listened to my older brother Ci'en.

He helped me choose books to read, but my little brother An'an couldn't sit still. However, I have experience with him and can always coax him to read for a little longer. It doesn't matter if he can learn anything from it or not, as long as he can read quietly, that's fine.

Since Brother Ci'en came, Zhizhi hasn't been clinging to me and An'an as much. She prefers to be Brother Ci'en's little shadow. But Brother Ci'en really likes her. Well, I like her too, but I can't compete with him.

When I was in middle school, my aunt thought that children should have special skills. My brother Ci'en and I didn't have time, so she only sent An'an and Zhizhi off the island to study once a week. Every time that day came, I felt that the house was empty and I was not used to a day without my younger siblings at home.

Later, my aunt got lazy and didn't want to go out, so she invited Teacher Shen to come to our house to teach. My brother Ci'en and I also learned together. I didn't have much of an academic background, so I only learned the basics of the four arts of playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. But I could still show off a little in the activities organized by the school.

My cousin Ci'en got into a great university! My aunt was so happy. She not only threw a grand celebration for him but also personally took him to Beijing with my uncle. Of course, we younger kids went along too and broadened our horizons.

Seeing Ci'en's school, I cheered myself up: I must get into high school and become a college student in the future, so that my aunt can be as happy as she was this time.

However, after I was admitted to university, my aunt did not host the graduation banquet. Instead, my mother and grandmother took me back home and hosted the banquet themselves. Most of the guests were people I did not know. This was not my intention, but I had no control over it.

Fortunately, I went to university in Haishi, and I would go back to Changning Island on weekends to tutor An'an, who is in middle school. Both my brother Ci'en and I were admitted to university, and An'an and Zhizhi will do well too.

However, law is really...troublesome. There's so much to memorize. I used to think I was pretty smart, but I still find it very difficult when I actually start learning. I took my uncle's and my brother Ci'en's advice and studied economic law.

I originally wanted to work for a government agency after graduation, but I ended up in a law firm by chance. Well, it's not bad, except that I'm busy. The pay and benefits are pretty good.

Since I started working, even though we live nearby, I haven't had many opportunities to go back to Changning Island. I can only stay there for a few days during holidays like May Day and National Day, or when our families have a get-together during the Chinese New Year.

An'an graduated and opened a media company in Beijing. I volunteered to be his company's legal counsel, on a voluntary basis. New companies face many legal risks, and by laying a solid foundation for him, his company's operations will run more smoothly.

Later, Ping An Media developed very well, and I was employed by An An for a long time. Even though I was in Shanghai and he was in Beijing, it did not hinder our cooperation.

It was because Ping An Media was such a big deal that my law firm specifically expanded its branch to Beijing, which gave me the opportunity and confidence to become a partner.

My aunt has always been very good to me, but I have never shown her any filial piety. My marriage, childbirth, promotion, and becoming a law firm partner are all achievements that I made after my aunt took me under her wing and taught me.

Otherwise, given my original personality, it's uncertain whether I could even get into high school, let alone have a smooth future. After my aunt passed away due to the pandemic, I often dreamed of my childhood, which must have been the happiest and most blissful time of my life.

When my uncle passed away, I don't know how others felt, but I felt it was something I expected.

I grew up around them and know how good their relationship is. My wife was actually chosen to some extent according to my aunt's standards: smart, generous, independent... Of course, I am also very happy.

With Aunt gone, Uncle's pillar of support collapsed. He was able to endure six years thanks to Uncle Shen, but now that Uncle Shen is gone, Uncle truly has no more attachments. Well, at least in the other world, they can still live happily together.

My life has been uneventful. My husband and I have a harmonious relationship, and my children are relatively easy to raise. They haven't become particularly outstanding people, but they are able to support themselves and live a simple and happy life, which is enough.

After all, as my aunt always said, one should be content with what one has. After my aunt and uncle passed away, I was already over fifty years old, my children had their own lives, and I traveled between Shanghai and Beijing even more frequently.

I once suggested that An'an set up a branch of Ping An Media in Haishi, since many filming opportunities are located there, and there are also good film and television schools there, which would be helpful for future development.

However, my suggestion was rejected by An An. His business philosophy is very strange. Even though he has already established himself in the industry, he never wants to expand. His goal is to make steady progress and produce good works.

Of course, his company did indeed cultivate a large number of outstanding film and television talents, from actors to directors. Zhizhi was certainly one of the best among them, as were their classmates, who later became prominent figures in the film and television industry.

When I turned sixty-three, I retired honorably. With my wife, we followed in the footsteps of my uncle and aunt and traveled all over China. My wife actually wanted to go out to see the aurora and go surfing, but considering her old arms and legs, she decided not to bother.

Of course, there are many countries to visit. With money and leisure, one should really enjoy life. But not long after my trip abroad, An'an called me back. At the age of 65, I was rehired to work as a legal advisor at Ping An Media.

Sigh~ If he weren't my own brother, I really wouldn't want to put in the effort.

In my life, I've transformed from a timid and cowardly child into a lawyer who can stand in court and debate with a group of experts. Regardless of how much I've sacrificed, the influence of my uncle and aunt on me is definitely greater than that of my parents. They taught me that when children grow up, they should be allowed to fly.

I lived a peaceful and uneventful life until I was eighty-eight years old. On my deathbed, I seemed to see my aunt again. She was squatting in front of me, looking at me gently, reaching out her hand to me, and asking with a smile, "Xiao Li, would you like to come to Auntie's house and live with Auntie?"

I smiled and stretched out my withered, wrinkled hand. "Auntie, I missed you. You've come to pick me up..."