"?"
Ding Yun was completely bewildered. She hadn't been back for four years, but she hadn't forgotten to mail all sorts of good things home. She even video-called them every now and then. She couldn't understand why they would react like this.
"Come in quickly! You've been away for so many years, people said you died out there long ago, do you know that?"
Gao Yi had just finished arguing with a neighbor and was still agitated. Although her words were harsh, she pulled Ding Yun into the house, closed the door, and began to examine her.
Seeing that she hadn't lost much weight and her complexion was still rosy and radiant, she knew Ding Yun hadn't suffered much, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's good you didn't lose weight, it's good you didn't lose weight."
"Old Ding, our daughter is back, come out quickly!"
Ding Ding, who was lying in the bedroom, didn't move when he heard his wife call. He just casually replied:
"She's back, so she's back.
It's not early or late, nor is it normal working hours. Did she quit her job, or did she have another fight with Xiao Li? She comes back to her parents' house seven or eight times a month, doesn't she get tired of it?
My ears are about to fall off from listening!"
"It's not Xiaxia, it's Xiaoyun who's back."
Gao Yi knew her husband had misunderstood. He thought their eldest daughter, Ding Xia, had returned. Ever since Ding Xia had married Li Pan, who had nothing, against their wishes, Ding Ding had become quite displeased with his daughter.
Less than half a year after her marriage, she would often come back to cry and ask for favors, taking things back with her. Ding Ding naturally disliked this daughter even more.
And speaking of which, this matter was actually Ding Yun's fault.
After all, if Ding Yun hadn't been sending them things from time to time, Ding Xia wouldn't have had any favors to ask for, and at the same time, she wouldn't have been in such stark contrast with Ding Yun.
Sending good things back every month.
Taking good things back to her own small family every month.
"Ah, Xiaoyun is back!"
Hearing his wife's explanation, Ding Ding immediately jolted up, flipped over, and excitedly ran out of the room. Seeing Ding Yun standing alive and well before him, he exclaimed emotionally:
"That's great, you finally remembered to come back.
You've been gone for so many years. Your mother woke me up in the middle of the night several times, saying she dreamed you had an accident. The calls and packages you sent were all prepared in advance.
Otherwise, why wouldn't you come back for Chinese New Year for so many years?
It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!
Your mother can finally rest easy..."
"I was just busy with my research, which made you worry. This time, I've achieved some results and the pressure from all sides has lessened, so I finally had a chance to come back.
By the way, why did you think I might have had an accident or died? If I were really dead, how could I have sent so many things to you? Even if I had some inventory.
It wouldn't be possible to have so much inventory!
Besides, didn't we always have video calls? Artificial intelligence isn't that advanced yet, so it shouldn't be able to perfectly imitate my conversations with you yet!"
Ding Yun was actually a little puzzled.
Even though she hadn't been back for years, their communication had never been interrupted. Why would they think she was dead?
That was too unreliable.
"Alas, it's all because of what people around have been saying.
You don't know, when some people say too much, my heart can't help but worry and fret. I easily have similar dreams when I sleep. Ever since you didn't come home for Chinese New Year the first year, those gossipy women around have been viciously spreading rumors about you. Some said you found a boyfriend and went to his place for New Year, some said you were kidnapped, and some said you were arrested for breaking the law.
Or perhaps something unexpected happened.
Otherwise, why wouldn't you come back for Chinese New Year?
The second and third years were even worse. Some said you were already dead, some said you were missing, vanished without a trace, body never found. We didn't hold a funeral because we didn't want to believe it. Others said you were arrested for being involved in a pyramid scheme.
Some even said you became someone's mistress, had a child out of wedlock, and dared not return. We tried desperately to explain, and they would say 'yes, yes, yes' on their lips, but privately they still spread the same rumors. Oh, it almost made me furious.
Oh, and some said you went abroad.
And that you wouldn't want us anymore.
I showed them the things you mailed, and they either said I was bragging or they immediately came over to borrow things. If I didn't lend them, they would say we were putting on an act.
Said we were stingy.
Oh, all sorts of things really made my liver hurt.
Now you know why your father and I emphasized so much a few years ago that you should at least come back for Chinese New Year. If you didn't come back, I really don't know what bizarre rumors some people would have concocted.
They made me feel like I'd lose years of my life from anger.
You didn't come back for Chinese New Year last year, and then you haven't contacted us in the last few months, and we couldn't reach you. We couldn't help but worry a little. What's on your mind at night often appears in your dreams. I've dreamed several times in the past few nights that you had an accident and were no longer with us."
"It's good that dreams are the opposite, it's fine."
In response to Ding Yun's confusion, Gao Yi complained at length, not blaming Ding Yun, but primarily blaming the outsiders who spread various rumors.
They were truly fabricating things out of thin air, imagining things.
Ding Ding also chimed in at the opportune moment:
"Your mother is right, but I've been trying to comfort her. Those people are just jealous that our family is living better than them, jealous that you have a good job, plenty to eat and drink, and can occasionally have a good meal. That's why they spread rumors.
You're definitely fine. What could happen from doing research?
But your mother just can't help but think that way.
However, now that you're back, your mother won't worry anymore!"
"You weren't thinking about that. Yesterday, someone was muttering about whether to report to the police to find out why our daughter hadn't contacted us for several months."
Gao Yi didn't hold back in exposing him, then said again:
"Daughter, let's go out together later. Let those jealous folks see how excellent you are. Then all those rumors will be completely shattered."
"Mom, forget it, forget it.
When faced with people who deliberately spread rumors, even if I show up, they'll come up with other rumors. It's useless. As for not contacting you in the past few months, it's mainly because my research reached the most critical point, and I was truly busy.
If the train of thought is broken, it takes a long time to resume.
Also, you don't need to worry about those rumors. I'm here this time to take you away. You don't need to worry about those gossips anymore. We're moving.
Let me put it this way, the most famous Shennong Pot on the internet is my invention. Therefore, my contributions are immense, enough to get a villa with protective measures in the best land-based base. The treatment in all aspects is also much better than before, so I plan to bring you all to live there together. You should pack your things quickly.
Also, notify my eldest sister and brother-in-law to bring them along. And is my little brother going to school now? Bring him back, and we'll all go together."
In the past few years, extreme weather events had occurred frequently, and many elderly people had passed away. Ding Yun's paternal grandparents and maternal grandmother had all died for various reasons.
So Ding Yun didn't mention them this time.
She only planned to take her immediate family away.
"What?"
Now it was Ding Ding and Gao Yi's turn to be surprised.
Their mouths were wide enough to fit a whole light bulb. After a long while, with excited and dazed expressions, they peppered Ding Yun with questions.
"I didn't hear you wrong, you're the Ding Yun who sells Shennong Pots? That Ding Yun is you? Oh my god!"
"I thought it was a coincidence that you had the same name."
"You're too accomplished!"
"How are you so amazing? So what kind of treatment do you have now? What honors? Are you an academician?"
"It's like our ancestral graves are on fire, a Samadhi fire!"
"Your paternal grandparents were not blessed enough. If they had lived two more years, they would have enjoyed your blessings. What a pity!"
"Your contributions are as great as Shennong's, as great as Shennong's!"
"..."
After this period of excitement, they completely put aside the external rumors. One began to pack their belongings, while the other called to inform their eldest daughter's family to come over and hurried to the nearby school to pick up their son.