The weather grew increasingly cold. On the eve of Christmas, the sky, uncharacteristically, began to fall with heavy snow. The fruits in the orchard, the crayfish in the fields… all were covered by a blanket of white.
In the village, everything was pristine white.
Families stayed indoors, playing within their own yards.
Tongtong, who had previously lived in the city, had never played in the snow with her mother.
Upon waking and seeing the snow outside, she excitedly called out:
“Daddy, can I play in the snow with you?”
Hearing Tongtong’s words, Liu Chunsheng felt a pang of affection for her.
“Your daddy will surely play with you, right? Yifeng!”
Tongtong, hearing her grandfather’s words, looked at her father with eager eyes.
Liu Yifeng’s heart softened under Tongtong’s gaze. He quickly smiled and said,
“Absolutely, of course! You’re my son, who else would I play snow with if not you?”
He finished by reaching out and ruffling Tongtong’s head, which was adorned with a fluffy white hat.
Hearing Liu Yifeng’s response, Tongtong jumped for joy, cheering,
“Yay, my daddy is the best daddy in the world! I love you, Daddy!”
Tongtong ran forward and hugged Liu Yifeng, who was half-crouched in the snow. She then began to run gleefully around the yard.
Xiaobai, who had been circling Tongtong, followed her, running around the yard as well.
Watching Tongtong and Xiaobai interact, Liu Yifeng felt an ever-increasing sense of happiness. He thought to himself:
I hope Tongtong can always grow up this happy and joyful!
Although Liu Yifeng was a local, born and raised here, he wasn't very clear about the fun places in Haicheng or their visitor traffic. So, he asked Du Ziheng for advice on places with fewer crowds during the New Year's holiday that would also be suitable for bringing children and elderly people.
Du Ziheng, hearing that Liu Yifeng planned to take his father and Tongtong out, became very enthusiastic and offered his suggestions.
He recommended that the family of three visit a hot spring resort not far from Haicheng.
This hot spring resort was not well-known and was something Du Ziheng had accidentally stumbled upon with his wife previously.
Moreover, the resort was very unique.
Not only were the hot springs natural, but there were also various types of pools. In winter, many wild monkeys frequented the area.
For Liu Yifeng, who was traveling with his elderly father and young child, it was undoubtedly an excellent choice.
Liu Yifeng was overjoyed upon hearing this. He struck his hand on the table and decided to take his father and Tongtong to this hot spring resort.
The day before New Year's Day, the Aerospace Kindergarten organized a "Double Festivals" party.
Liu Yifeng and Tongtong performed a parent-child act together, which made Tongtong very happy.
The Aerospace Kindergarten announced that they would be holding New Year's activities the day before New Year's Day, so the kindergarten would close at noon on that day.
Liu Yifeng informed Tongtong about this.
Although Tongtong's holiday hadn't officially begun, she looked forward to it upon hearing that Liu Yifeng planned to take her and her grandfather to soak in hot springs during the New Year's holiday.
Su Wanru, upon hearing that Tongtong's family was going to the hot springs, realized that as a manager of Hundred Fruit Garden, she was entitled to rest during public holidays. With the desire to spend more time with Tongtong, she contacted Liu Yifeng, wanting to join them at the hot spring resort.
The week before New Year's Day, Liu Yifeng had already prepared his luggage for the trip to the hot springs.
The morning before New Year's Day.
"Knock! Knock! Knock!"
"Yifeng, are you home?"
Early in the morning, Liu Yifeng's front door was knocked upon.
At that moment, Liu Yifeng, Liu Chunsheng, and Tongtong were sitting at the dining table eating breakfast.
Hearing the knock, Liu Yifeng hurried to open the door. He saw the village chief standing outside and asked:
"Second Uncle, Happy New Year! Why are you up so early on New Year's Eve holiday?"
Before the village chief could speak, a woman beside him stepped forward:
"Son, it's been so long! I heard my little grandson is a little genius!"
The woman pulled on Liu Yifeng's clothes and said loudly.
Startled by the woman who suddenly appeared beside him, Liu Yifeng took a step back.
He looked up and asked,
"Who are you?"
Liu Chunsheng, who was eating breakfast inside, also came out upon hearing the commotion outside.
Upon seeing the woman at the door, he suddenly shouted, "Why are you at our house? Didn't you go off to live a better life?"
Hearing this, Liu Yifeng's expression changed. He thought:
Could this be my mother?
Liu Yifeng looked at the woman more closely.
He realized that this woman did bear a resemblance to his mother from his childhood memories.
Inside, Tongtong, having finished her last bite of breakfast, jumped down from her small stool and looked at the situation at the door.
The village chief also observed the people present, thinking that this woman couldn't have chosen a worse time to appear.
"Ah, Yifeng, this is your birth mother. It's not appropriate to be talking at the doorway. Let's all go inside."
Seeing the situation, Tongtong understood that things were a bit chaotic and complicated. Knowing it wasn't ideal for a child to be there, she said to Liu Yifeng:
"Daddy, I suddenly remembered that Grandpa Zhao assigned me homework to draw a picture for the New Year today. Um, I'll go to the study now. I've finished breakfast."
Hearing his son's voice, Liu Yifeng snapped back to attention and quickly replied:
"Okay, Tongtong, you go ahead!"
Meanwhile, Liu Yifeng's mother, seeing how well-behaved and sensible Tongtong looked, was about to rush forward and hug him. Liu Chunsheng stepped forward to stop her:
"Village Chief, please come inside and have a seat." Liu Yifeng also stepped forward, using his body to shield Tongtong, preventing the woman from reaching him.
Seeing the situation, Liu Yifeng's mother knew that Liu Yifeng and his father were wary of her.
She pouted and said, "Mm."
She followed Liu Chunsheng into the main hall.
Liu Yifeng, Liu Chunsheng, the village chief, and Yifeng's mother sat in the main hall, looking at each other in silence. Liu Chunsheng, observing the woman looking around the room, couldn't hold back his impatience and said:
"What wind blew you, our 'distinguished guest', here?"
Liu Yifeng's mother chuckled, "Oh, Chunsheng, what are you saying! What distinguished guest! We're all family!"
With that, she eagerly reached out to hold Liu Yifeng's hand.
Liu Yifeng, knowing the woman's intentions, moved his hand aside and offered her a cup of water, saying, "Please have some water."
He then poured a cup for the village chief as well.
When Liu Yifeng was five years old, due to poverty, his mother chose to divorce. After his mother left with his three-year-old sister, she never returned.
Liu Yifeng's impression of his mother had remained at that point in time.