Chapter 30: Space is Too Unnatural!
“It’s very important!” the female university student nodded, looking at Nie Qiu with bright eyes.
Nie Qiu looked at the female university student in front of her, and suddenly thought of the students in her tutoring class. She smiled and asked softly, “Do you really want to study, or do you just want to get by the exam?” Two different intentions determine different educational methods.
Li Mingxue was stunned. She had never thought about this question. Hearing Nie Qiu ask, she stood there blankly, not knowing how to answer.
Nie Qiu smiled and said, “How about this! You think about it carefully. Every night I’ll be barbecuing at the bridgehead. If you’ve made up your mind, come and tell me.”
Li Mingxue nodded, staring blankly at Nie Qiu as she left.
When Nie Qiu returned home, she indeed saw Nie Aifang waiting downstairs. Knowing that Nie Aifang was worried, Nie Qiu felt a little guilty. “Mom, I’m back.”
Nie Aifang smiled and said, “It’s good that you’re back. Hurry upstairs and eat! I’ve already made the dumplings.”
Nie Qiu nodded and quickly went upstairs. After eating, she sat in the tricycle and watched Nie Aifang’s back as she pedaled the tricycle with all her might. Nie Qiu smiled, unable to contain the happiness and contentment in her heart, and started humming a song, “Only Mom is good in the world, a child without a mom is like a blade of grass. Nestled in Mom’s embrace, where can happiness be found… Only Mom is good in the world, a child with a mom is like a treasure. Nestled in Mom’s embrace, happiness knows no bounds…” In the past, she had a mom, but it was as if she didn’t have one. She slept alone, woke up alone, learned to dress herself, learned to fold her quilt, and learned to cook.
Besides Yang Zihao, no one would feel heartache for her; only she felt heartache for herself.
Listening to Nie Qiu sing, Nie Aifang couldn’t help but smile with relief. A child who can appreciate their parents’ love is a truly filial child, isn’t that right? What parent wouldn’t be happy to hear their child spontaneously singing this song?
Nie Aifang was naturally happy too! Her daughter was becoming more and more sensible! However, she was still a little unhappy. That was that she had never learned how to pan-fry dumplings. She also hoped that her daughter could be like other girls, able to go shopping and hang out with friends. She also hoped her daughter could have more time to study, instead of setting up a stall with her every day.
She couldn’t learn it herself, and pan-fried dumplings had clearly become their family’s main source of income, so she had no choice. The last time Nie Qiu got into a fight and ended up in the hospital, it had already used up more than half of the family’s savings, and Nie Qiu’s tuition fee for next year was still uncertain, making her… how to choose? She, naturally, also hoped to earn a little more money!
They sold out very quickly today. It was almost twelve o’clock when they finished selling everything, including all the barbecue ingredients and other food. The mother and daughter tidied up the stall and went home.
They returned even earlier today. After Nie Qiu took a bath, she lay on the bed and took out the gold-inlaid jade necklace from her purse. Looking at the fine lines, she smiled.
Nie Qiu thought of a sentence she heard a colleague say before: “Before, only city dwellers wore gold. Now, only villagers wear gold.” It was indeed true. Although gold was still equally precious, it was no longer popular in high society. In high society, jewelry, diamonds, and these dazzling things were popular.
Although this gold-inlaid jade was outdated, it was of extraordinary significance to Nie Qiu.
She smiled slightly, closed her eyes, and held the necklace in her hands, slowly sinking into a dream.
It was still that place, with a gentle breeze on her face, blue sky, and white clouds. Under the pollution of modern urbanization, such beautiful scenery no longer existed. Perhaps it still did, but much of it was artificially preserved and was never as perfect as nature’s.
“Nie Qiu…”
Nie Qiu smiled. Here it comes again! Here it comes again! That tender voice, that childlike tone, made Nie Qiu feel like her heart was about to melt. She smiled and opened her hands. As expected, a palm-sized little white rabbit jumped into her palm, blinking its innocent eyes at Nie Qiu.
“Little one, what’s your name?” Nie Qiu gently stroked the little white rabbit’s head with her index finger. Seeing the little white rabbit squint with enjoyment and look up, as if saying ‘take good care of me,’ made her laugh even more.
“Stand up, Wu, you stand up for me, you useless thing, stand up.” Suddenly, that childlike voice sounded in Nie Qiu’s ear again. Nie Qiu saw the little white rabbit in her palm freeze, and it continued to rub against Nie Qiu’s thumb.
“Nie Qiu…”
“Nie Qiu…”
“Nie Qiu, put Wu down.”
Hearing this, Nie Qiu finally understood. She had always thought the one speaking was the little white rabbit in her hand, but she didn’t expect there to be someone else.
Nie Qiu put down the little white rabbit and lay on the grass, looking at the blue sky. “Hey, what’s your name?”
She heard the tender voice say, “I am Dao, the Jade Spirit of this jade.”
“Dao?”
“Mm,” Dao replied.
Nie Qiu smiled, pointed at the blue sky and white jade, and asked, “Can you tell me what’s going on with me appearing here?”
“Three thousand years ago, I was a piece of jade the size of a fist. But after being dug out by humans fifty years ago, my body was cut into many pieces. My home became dilapidated. If I hadn’t hidden in time, I would have probably died by now. However, the jade I lived on was cut, causing my body to become increasingly weak. I had to hide in a corner of a small piece of jade, day after day, year after year. Then, I was buried as a funerary object with my owner.” Dao’s voice was still tender, but filled with sadness. “It took me thirty years to transform into a white jade in the shape of a rabbit. I didn’t want to stay in a tomb forever. I am not ordinary jade, because I have a soul.”
Nie Qiu understood the loneliness, solitude, and misery of a person in a dark place. It was a pain that no one understood.
“Twenty years ago, I was stolen by tomb robbers. I suffered greatly and went through many hardships. Just when I thought I was about to vanish into thin air, I met you.” Dao chuckled. “I should actually apologize to you, because Chen Li would break your chain and scratch you. It was actually intentional on my part. I needed blood, a contract, and power.”
Nie Qiu shook her head, indicating that she didn’t mind. Yes, she didn’t mind! Her life was essentially stolen. Whether it was good or bad depended entirely on herself. Happiness and unhappiness were only known to herself. Moreover, she was not afraid of this small jade pendant; she couldn’t feel any malice from it.
“This piece of jade is my body, and this mist is my physical form,” Dao paused and said, “But I can’t return to my body. I need more spiritual power. Nie Qiu, will you help me?”
Author’s Note: Two more chapters as promised.
Today there were another 54 votes. Two more chapters tomorrow. I’ve despaired of myself.
