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When Zhang Nu saw the tension rise between Zhao Yang and Liu Hai, he wasnât too worried. He knew both of them were good at heart. After spending some time together, theyâd come to understand each otherâs nature, and by then, any misunderstandings would naturally fade.
âAll right, all right. Both of you, calm down,â Zhang Nu said. âWe need to leave this place as soon as possible. If we linger any longer, Iâm worried the villagers will notice something.â
Zhao Yang nodded at his words but raised a hand to stop them. âYou canât take me away just yet. Thereâs someone I have to see first.â
âOnly after Iâve seen them can we leave.â
Liu Hai groaned in frustration, âWhy are you dragging this out? Donât you know your villagers donât let outsiders leave? If you go visit someone now, arenât you just trying to trap us here?â
Zhao Yangâs face darkened. He found Liu Haiâs accusations excessive. When had he ever acted like he didnât want to leave? If it werenât for that person, he wouldnât even risk returning to see them.
âI want to visit my grandmother. Sheâs the one who encouraged me to leave in the first place. She doesnât want me trapped in this place forever.â
âShe told me that before I go, I must see her one last timeâand bring my friends along. If I went to see her alone, others would start getting suspicious.â
Zhang Nu nodded solemnly. âYouâre right.â
âBut... are you sure your grandmother will still support you leaving with us?â he asked. âWhat if she tries to stop you, too? Then what?â
Zhao Yang fell silent. If even his grandmother turned against him, he truly wouldnât know what to believe anymore. All his life, she had been the one person supporting him. If even she had changed... then there really would be no one left in this world he could rely on. But no matter what, he had to go. He didnât want to be a frog trapped in a well. He refused to be caged here for the rest of his life.
âIf even my grandmother disagrees... then weâll leave after seeing her. I wonât wait here any longer. If you wonât take me with you, Iâll find my own way out someday.â His eyes burned with determination, as if the outside world was calling to him with irresistible force.
Seeing that, Zhang Nu and the others understood his resolve. Few people theyâd met had such unwavering clarity about what they wanted.
âVery well,â Zhang Nu said. âWith someone as focused as you joining us, weâre honored.â
âLetâs go meet your grandmother. Iâm curious to see what kind of remarkable woman raised someone like you.â
Zhang Nu smiled as he said this, sounding genuinely impressedâthough in truth, he hadnât met the old woman yet. Still, Zhao Yang grinned broadly at his words.
âYouâll like her, I promise,â he said cheerfully. Zhang Nu and the others laughed when they heard Zhao Yangâs words.
Soon, Zhao Yang brought Zhang Nu and the others to his grandmotherâs home.
Strangely enough, she didnât live with the rest of his family. Instead, she lived on the outskirts of the village, right at its edge. Zhang Nu and the others found this odd. It reminded them of the very first village they had passed through.
âZhao Yang,â Zhang Nu asked. âWhy does your grandmother live all the way out here? Isnât it inconvenient for an old lady? What if something happened to her?â
Zhao Yang shook his head. âWe tried to bring her home, but she insisted on living here. She just... prefers this spot. Maybe because my grandfather used to live here.â
Zhang Nu nodded thoughtfully. âI see... so itâs love that keeps her here.â
Zhao Yang nodded back. In his eyes, his grandmother was a deeply sentimental and incredible person. Not only had she lived safely on the villageâs edge all these years, but she was also well-respected by everyone in the village.
âGrandma,â Zhao Yang called out as he entered the yard. âMy friends are here to meet you. Iâm planning to leave with them.â
The old woman, upon hearing his voice, immediately burst into a hearty laugh.
Ed: Sorry for the delay. Life has been busy T-T