Butterfly and Whale - Chapter 16

The deterioration of Hu Die’s condition seemed to be expected for Jiang Man and Hu Yuanheng, and they calmly and gently accepted the upcoming separation.

Every time Jing passed by, Hu Yuanheng still had time to take out his tea set, make a pot of tea, and chat with him about the tea ceremony.

The same is true of Jiang Man.

Occasionally in the afternoon, when Hu Die was sleepy and took a nap, Jing Yue and Hu Yuanheng were playing chess by the window, and she would sit by the side with a ball of wool knitting a hat.

Hu Die sometimes woke up and saw this scene, and when her parents left, she couldn’t help joking with Jing Yue: “Why do you look more like their child than me recently?”

“It’s normal.” Jing Yu sat on the edge of the bed peeling an apple, and said without raising his head, “After all, a son-in-law is half a son.”

Hu Die: “…”

Seeing her reaction, Jing Yue stopped and looked over: “What? You’re not going to take responsibility after kissing me?”

Hu Die’s face became hot, and she muttered in a low voice: “I didn’t initiate the kiss…”

“So… are you really going to abandon me all the time?” Jing Yue put down the apple and fruit knife, leaned over, blinked his eyes, looking innocent: “Is there something wrong with me?”

“…” Hu Die couldn’t take it anymore, and raised her hand to cover his eyes: “No, don’t talk nonsense.”

He persisted: “Nothing?”

Hu Die relied on him not being able to see herself, carefully looked at his outline, and said slowly: “I didn’t do a bad job.”

You are very good.

It’s my fault, knowing that the ending is already doomed, but still wanting to provoke you, talking about saving you, but unknowingly treating you as a straw to survive.

Is this really salvation?

Hu Die couldn’t tell for a moment who saved who between her and him.

But when it comes to affection, after all, she failed him.

Jing Yu noticed the change in her mood, but didn’t ask anything, just smiled and said: “Okay, I know I’m fine, let go, the apple is about to oxidize.”

“Hmm.” Hu Die lowered her arms and turned her head to look at the side of the window before he looked over. There were many succulent potted plants of different varieties on the shelf under the window sill.

The prettiest mountain roses are encased in coconut shells with butterflies and whales drawn by Jing Yue in marker.

Hu Die thought of something and asked, “Will succulents bloom?”

“Yes, but some varieties will wither after blooming.” Jing Yue followed her gaze: “But most of them can bloom.”

She asked again: “Is the succulent a cactus? A cactus only blooms once every three years. They don’t bloom for several years, do they?”

Jing Yu was also stopped by the question, took out his mobile phone and searched, and said: “It can be said that cactus is a kind of succulent, but succulent does not mean that it is a cactus. As for the flowering…”

He quickly searched again, looked at his phone and said, “Succulents generally bloom in spring or at the turn of spring and summer, but different varieties bloom at different times, and there are also varieties that bloom in summer and autumn.”

Hu Die looked at him and smiled, and didn’t talk more about the blossoming: “Why haven’t you finished peeling your apples, I’m so hungry.”

“The villain should sue first, obviously you keep asking me questions.” Jing Yu cut a small piece of peeled apple and handed it over: “Eat it.”

Hu Die chewed the apple, looked at the sunset outside the window, and suddenly remembered the sunrise that day, and couldn’t help but sighed softly.

Jing Yu looked up: “What’s wrong?”

She clicked her tongue: “Apple is not delicious.”

“…” Jing Yu laughed angrily, “I’m used to you.”

Her eyes were concerned: “Brother Jingyu, you are so fierce…”

Jing Yue raised the fruit knife: “Be careful what you say.”

Hu Die raised her hand to zip up her mouth.

Jing Yue smiled lightly, cut the remaining apples into small pieces and put them in a small bowl beside her, put a fork on it and handed it to her: “Eat half, it’s almost time for dinner later.”

“Yes, yes, you feel more and more like my father now.” Hu Die hugged the small bowl and said before he came back: “I really want to go out to play, brother Jingyue, when will you take me out again?” Play?”

Jing Yu raised his eyes and watched her hesitate to speak, and was silent for a few seconds before saying, “Where do you want to go?”

“You can go anywhere.” Hu Die reached for her phone, and there was a new push message on Weibo, which was a post from the information around Tan Island that she followed.

Tandao Information V: “When the golden wind and the jade dew meet, there are countless victories in the world.”

The Jiugong grid in the attached picture is the real picture of Tanhai Temple taken by bloggers.

The island is dressed up for the upcoming Tanabata temple fair, and fluttering red ribbons can be seen everywhere, with the words “Golden Wind and Jade Dew” written in gilt lines on it.

The Tanabata Temple Fair is an annual festive event in Tanhai Temple. Hu Die was bored in the ward during this time and lost the concept of time.

She clicked on the calendar and found that it was Qixi Festival in three days. She couldn’t hide her excitement in her words: “Brother Jingyu, let’s go to the Qixi Festival temple fair. I heard that going to the temple to pray for blessings on Qiqiao Festival will be very effective.”

Jing Yue couldn’t bear to refuse, but he didn’t dare to agree: “You can go, but you must ask the doctor’s opinion first.”

“No problem.” Hu Die was very excited, as if she had already obtained the pass card that was allowed to go out in advance: “Let me take a look at the strategy of praying first.”

“Yeah.” Jing Yu looked at her and didn’t say any more.

…

In the evening, Hu Die mentioned to Jiang Man the idea of ​​going out to play on Qixi Festival. Jiang Man was not surprised, and said with a smile: “These few days will probably kill you.”

“Then can I go out?” Hu Die hugged Jiang Man’s arm coquettishly: “Mom, just promise me…”

“I didn’t say that I wouldn’t let you go.” Jiang Man sighed: “Counting it all together, your father and I haven’t been to Tanhai Temple for a long time.”

Hu Die suggested: “Then why don’t you and Dad go to the temple fair this year, anyway, it’s fine to stay in the hospital, why not go out for a walk, and treat it as being with me.”

Jiang Man thought for a while, and jokingly said: “We can go, but I’m afraid of disturbing you and Jing Yue.”

“Mom!” Hu Die couldn’t help but her face turned hot, she lay back and covered her head with the quilt: “I won’t tell you anymore.”

Looking at her little daughter’s behavior, Jiang Man couldn’t help laughing, but she smiled and felt sad, afraid that she would notice something strange, so she got up and went out.

Hu Yuanheng, who was sitting in the living room, watched his wife come out of the ward, then hurried into the bathroom, got up and walked over, and heard the sound of water inside.

He was about to go in, but Jiang Man said inside, “Don’t come in, it will be fine in a while.”

This is the agreement of their husband and wife, not to show sadness in front of their daughter, nor to shed tears in front of each other, they learn to be strong and accept.

But they both knew that behind this peaceful and calm scene, they had shed no less tears than each other.

Husband and wife for many years, this is not only a tacit understanding but also a comfort, and it is also a reliance that supports them to go on.

Hu Yuanheng let go of the doorknob, went back to the sofa and sat down, staring at the endgame on the computer chessboard, and couldn’t hold back his red eyes after all.

He gritted his teeth and made a move on the chessboard. He never thought that it would be a dead end, and he would lose all games.

This was like the last straw that broke the camel’s back. He couldn’t bear it anymore, lowered his head and choked up sobs. It was the first time a man who was nearly fifty years old cried like a child.

In the ward, Hu Die closed her eyes, as if she was in a deep sleep, but her trembling eyelashes and the tears running down her eyes were all vying to expose her lie first.

This night, the three of them briefly leaked their emotions, completely breaking all the previous illusions of peace.

But Hu Die didn’t dare to comfort her, so she could only pretend that she didn’t hear anything, and the next day she was still the strong and optimistic little butterfly.

The parents are still so calm and gentle. They wear masks and happily prepare for the Qixi Temple Fair, as if they have never had tears and catharsis last night.

The Qixi Festival came as scheduled, and there was an endless stream of tourists going to Tan Island. Hu Die got up early and brought Jiang Man and Hu Yuanheng to meet Jing Yue before eight o’clock.

“Morning, uncle and aunt.” Jing Yu didn’t get up until he received a call from Hu Die, and went out without even bothering to eat breakfast. He asked, “Why are you so early today?”

“If you go to bed early, of course you will wake up early.” Hu Die handed him the paper bag in her hand: “Here, breakfast.”

“You have a conscience.” Jing Yue took it and looked at Jiang Man and Hu Yuanheng: “Let’s go and take the boat first. There should be no queue at this point.”

Jiang Man smiled: “Don’t worry, you can eat your breakfast first.”

Jing Yu shook his head and said it’s okay, “It’s the same if you go to eat on the boat.”

Hu Die was in a hurry: “Let’s go quickly.”

The last time they went to Tan Island, they rented a yacht. This time they bought group tickets for a cruise ship. There were actually many tourists on the cruise ship at this time.

Hu Die searched around before finding two seats in the corner: “Mom and Dad, please sit here, I’ll go up to get some air.”

Jing Yue had no choice but to say, “I’ll be with her.”

Hu Yuanheng waved his hand: “Go, go.”

There is a viewing deck on the second floor of the cruise ship, and the sea breeze in the morning is still a bit cool. Jing Yue took off his coat and put it on Hu Die’s shoulders: “Be careful of catching a cold.”

“Oh.” Hu Die obediently put on her coat, watched him take a bite of the sandwich, and asked, “Is it delicious?”

Jing Yu didn’t like Western-style breakfast very much, so he chewed a few bites and said, “It’s okay.”

“I made it.”

He swallowed what was in his mouth, and changed his words: “It’s delicious.”

“…”

As the cruise ship set sail, the wind on the deck was getting stronger and stronger. After eating breakfast in two or three bites, Jing Yu squeezed the paper bag into a ball: “Let’s go, go in, it’s windy outside.”

Hu Die also felt a little cold, rubbed her arms and said, “Okay.”

However, the straight-line distance between the coast and Tan Island is very short, and the cruise ship docked not long after. Hu Die walked ahead with Jiang Man on her arm, looking back at Jing Yue and Hu Yuanheng from time to time.

At the foot of the mountain, Hu Die couldn’t help but feel her legs go limp when thinking about her last climbing experience, “I didn’t think the steps were so long before.”

Jing Yu walked over from the side: “Shall I carry you up?”

“I’m not that weak.” Hu Die quickly ran up a few steps: “Let’s have a competition, whoever arrives last will be treated to dinner today.”

Jiang Man looked at her and couldn’t help telling: “Slow down!”

Without looking back, she said, “Got it! Hurry up and follow!”

Jiang Man watched her rush forward, shook his head and sighed: “This girl.”

Jing Yue laughed: “I’ll follow her, you and Uncle take your time.”

“Alright, you go.” Jiang Man squeezed his shoulders: “Our old bones will not compare with you.”

Jing Yue nodded, and followed Hu Die in three steps and two steps, “Run slower, there is still a long way to go.”

“I’m so tired.” Hu Die exerted too much force just now, and now she will hold Jing Yue’s arm and pant: “How did I climb up before?”

“Let you rush so fast.” Jing Yu helped her to sit aside: “Would you like some water?”

Hu Die shook her head, then said slowly, “Let’s go.”

“Really don’t need me to carry you?”

“No, I will definitely be able to climb up today.” Hu Die stood up with his arms supported, thought for a while, and passed his hand over.

Jing Yu was puzzled: “What’s wrong?”

“I’ll give you the right to enjoy a boyfriend.”

Jing Yue came to his senses, couldn’t help but smiled, stretched out his hand to touch her palm, and interlocked his fingers, “Let’s go, girlfriend.”

The boy’s palm was warm and dry, his interlocking fingers were intertwined, and Hu Die’s cold hands were slowly soaking up his warmth.

She lightly touched the back of his hand with her fingertips.

Jing Yue looked sideways: “What are you doing?”

“I want to touch it.” Hu Die touched it again and said, “Exercise your right as a girlfriend.”

Jing Yue smiled and sighed helplessly.

Halfway through the climb, Hu Die exhausted most of his energy, and even Jiang Man and Hu Yuanheng, who set off later, followed, and the four of them sat in the gazebo.

Jiang Man wiped the sweat off her forehead, a little worried: “Otherwise we don’t want to go up.”

“Come on, it’s all here.” Hu Die breathed slowly: “I just haven’t exercised for a long time, my legs are a little sore, I’m fine.”

Jiang Man knew that she was determined to go up, so he said: “Then let’s walk slowly, as long as we are sincere, the Buddha will not blame us if we go late.”

Hu Die nodded: “Yes.”

For the rest of the mountain road, Hu Die still rejected Jing Yue’s proposal to carry her up, so Jing Yue had to carefully support her to walk on the inside of the steps.

Jiang Man and Hu Yuanheng followed, looking distressed and worried.

After climbing to the top of the mountain, it was almost noon, and there were not many people left to offer incense in the temple. Jiang Man went to get the incense. Hu Die remembered that Jing Yue had said that he did not believe this before, and when Jiang Man handed the incense to Jing Yu, he said Sentence: “He doesn’t need it.”

Jiang Man was stunned for a moment, and before he could ask, Jing Yue had already taken the incense: “It’s already here, I still have to offer incense sticks.”

Hu Die saw that he didn’t seem to be joking, so she didn’t say any more.

The four first went to offer incense in front of the temple where the Lord Buddha was enshrined.

After offering incense, Jiang Man and Hu Yuanheng went to see the master monk they knew before. Hu Die was about to go into the Buddhist hall to listen to the chanting, and turned around and said to Jing Yue, “You wait for me here.”

Jing Yue asked, “Can’t I come in?”

“Aren’t you…” Don’t believe this, Hu Die didn’t say the next few words, but she knew that Jing Yu could understand, “I’ll be over soon.”

Jing Yue didn’t explain, just said: “Let’s go together.”

Hu Die had no reason to stop him, and entered the Buddhist hall one after another with him. When the two of them finished listening to the chanting, there were not many people around.

There is a strong smell of incense in the wind.

Hu Die knelt on the cattail mat in front of the Buddha statue, closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and Jing Yue knelt beside her in the same posture.

In the quiet afternoon, the Buddha Hall was full of light and smoky, and the tall Buddha statue looked at the girl and boy kneeling in front of him benevolently.

He heard the girl’s most pious prayer—

“May the Buddha bless Jing Yue, cross the sea of ​​suffering as soon as possible, and realize his dream for many years.”

He saw the young man’s most sincere expectation—

“You don’t do anything, and you are disrespectful. I hope the Buddha will forgive me. What I ask for now is not for myself. I only hope that the wishes of the people in my heart will come true, and the hopes will come true.”

“From the front to the back, the sincerity can be seen.”

The author has something to say:

Note: “When the golden wind and the jade dew meet, there are countless victories in the world.” ——”Magpie Bridge Immortal·Xianyun Makes Skills”Song·Qin Guan.