Still Frame Chapter 56
byChapter 56: Reaping What Was Sown
Passing by Qiuyue’s house, Zhang Liuxin noticed many people in the yard. Some were workers, bustling about, moving things in and out, making quite a commotion.
“Oh, Mr. Chen, my brother’s wedding is the day after tomorrow. It will be held on the empty lawn behind our house. You and your husband should come too, join the fun,” Qiuyue added, afraid he might decline. “Aunt Hui and Uncle Tu are coming too. Our town is small; whenever there’s a happy occasion, everyone gathers.”
The yard was decorated with brightly colored flowers and paper cuttings crafted using a special technique unique to Bernlin State, which Zhang Liuxin hadn’t seen before. The faces of the people coming and going were alight with brilliant smiles, highly infectious. Just watching them, one could feel the joy of the impending big day.
“Liuxin, why aren’t you saying anything?” Dora tugged at his sleeve. “You and Uncle Yue should come! My mom bought me a new floral dress to wear that day.”
Zhang Liuxin nodded. “Alright, then we’ll be imposing on you.”
They arrived at Aunt Mo’s house and knocked on the door. Aunt Mo was delighted to see the pair, one large and one small. Her face creased with several laugh lines as she said kindly, “You’re here! Come in quickly!”
In that brief moment, Zhang Liuxin felt a rare sense of care from an elderly relative. Although this affection was thanks to Dora, he still felt a warmth spread through his heart.
“Feifei, your mother is always so kind, sending over bread. Your Grandpa Da and I are old and our teeth aren’t good. We can’t possibly eat so much.”
Though she said this, Aunt Mo’s expression betrayed her happiness. She took some loose change from a cabinet next to the sofa and slipped it into Dora’s pocket. “Feifei, take this and buy yourself a toy you like.”
Dora, like a little adult, kept refusing, saying she didn’t need it. The old woman and the child engaged in a tug-of-war until the sound of a wheelchair rolling across the floor was heard. Da Ping slowly said, “What are you two doing, putting on a puppet show?”
Dora quickly ran over with a patter of steps, hugging Da Ping’s arm. “Grandpa, I haven’t seen you in ages.”
Hearing this, the wrinkles around Da Ping’s mouth bunched up like a flower, and he beamed. He quickly wheeled himself over to the coffee table to get Dora some fruit.
“Chen Liu, you sit down too. Sit for a while and let’s chat.”
Da Ping patted the sofa, then picked up a banana, peeled it, and offered it to Dora. “Feifei, would you like some banana?”
“Yes, thank you, Grandpa.” Dora was very well-behaved and sat next to him, eating the banana.
Aunt Mo chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe it, this old man has mentioned you several times. He said he never expected to meet someone so fated in this small town. If you’re not busy, stay a little longer and chat with him. He hasn’t left the house in days.”
Da Ping shot Aunt Mo a displeased look. “You’re just slandering me. Where did I say that?”
Aunt Mo gave Zhang Liuxin a knowing look, suggesting, “That’s just how the old man is.” Zhang Liuxin was amused by the interaction between the elderly couple and curved his lips into a smile.
“How is your puzzle coming along?” Da Ping asked. “That one is very difficult. It took me a long time to make.”
“I’ve done about a quarter. I was a bit busy the last two days and didn’t have time to work on it,” Zhang Liuxin added. “Your craftsmanship is truly excellent. I’ve been doing puzzles for many years, and I rarely see one so exquisite.”
Da Ping smiled and waved his hand casually. “My legs aren’t nimble, and I can’t go out. Every day I’m either watching the news or fiddling with these things.”
Speaking of which, he remembered he hadn’t taken his medicine today and started to wheel himself to get it. Zhang Liuxin stood up first and asked, “Shall I get it for you? Is it still in the same place as last time?”
“Yes, thank you for the trouble.”
Zhang Liuxin walked over slowly and found the medicine bottle. “How many pills?”
“Three.”
He counted out three pills and poured half a cup of warm water. On his way back, he kicked a nearby stool and nearly lost his balance, spilling some water from the cup.
“Sorry.” Zhang Liuxin handed the medicine to Da Ping, grabbed a tissue from the table, and wiped the water off the floor.
“It’s alright, come sit.”
Da Ping took the medicine. Unlike others who might observe subtly, his gaze was always sharp due to his years as a reporter. He looked at Zhang Liuxin’s legs and asked quite normally, “Are you alright?”
Zhang Liuxin hadn’t expected him to ask directly. However, perhaps because of Da Ping’s profession, or perhaps because the man himself was completely unable to walk, Zhang Liuxin felt no aversion. Instead, he felt an unprecedented calmness.
“I’m fine. My exoskeleton ran out of battery, so walking takes a bit of effort now,” Zhang Liuxin patted his thigh with a helpless expression. “But I’ve gotten much more used to it these past two days. My walking doesn’t look too strange, does it?”
The tone of that last question held a hint of hope, which he probably didn’t even realize himself. Da Ping stared at his face for a moment, then said in a steady, affirmative voice, “It’s very good. You can’t tell.”
Zhang Liuxin smiled again, surprised that a renowned journalist, who always pursued truth, would say such a thing to comfort him.
He and Da Ping had a lot in common. After all, the man was the “teacher” he had recognized during his student days, and much of Zhang Liuxin’s imagination about the profession of a war correspondent came from Da Ping’s personal experiences.
So he proactively asked, “How many foreign languages do you speak? I saw in the documentary that you seemed to have traveled to many places.”
Da Ping became animated and replied, “About ten, but I haven’t spoken them in a long time, so I’ve forgotten some. The one I remember most clearly is Yinzhou dialect.”
Compared to other places, Yinzhou was very peaceful. Zhang Liuxin was somewhat surprised that he had learned so much Yinzhou dialect.
Sensing his confusion, Da Ping said, “Because Yinzhou dialect is the common language in many states. I also find the language of Yinzhou very beautiful. You know, places with a long history always nurture particularly precious civilizations.”
Zhang Liuxin agreed.
“Isn’t your name a good testament to that? Liuxin, it comes from a poem, with a beautiful meaning.”
Zhang Liuxin was about to nod when he realized something was wrong. The smile instantly vanished from his face. His pupils widened slightly, and he looked at Da Ping with some tension. “You…”
Da Ping replied to him in Yinzhou dialect, “You have an interview program on Yinzhou’s largest television station. It’s not strange for me to know you.”
Since the other party was using Yinzhou dialect, there was no need to worry about Aunt Mo and Dora outside hearing them. Zhang Liuxin also switched back to Yinzhou dialect. “So, you recognized me the last time I came over?”
Da Ping shook his head. “To be precise, I didn’t recognize you. I recognized your husband, Wen Jin, Yue Lu’s grandson.”
Sure enough, last time he had felt that the other party had stared at Wen Jin for too long. He must have sensed something was off then.
“You don’t need to be nervous. I don’t know much about you two. Of course, I know your identities, but I won’t proactively tell anyone in the city.”
If Da Ping said so, he would certainly keep his word. Zhang Liuxin relaxed slightly.
“Thank you. Wen Jin and I are indeed facing some issues due to a power struggle within the family.”
Da Ping nodded, unsurprised. During his time in Huan City, he had attended gatherings organized by the State Council with prominent families. The undercurrents of struggle, which couldn’t be hidden even in front of the State Council, were easy to discern.
“So, have you really been to many states? Those places undergoing post-war reconstruction?”
This was indeed what Da Ping cared about.
Zhang Liuxin nodded. “We haven’t been to every place. Some projects are spearheaded by the Wen family and the State Council. If Wen Jin and I both have time, we fly over to take a look.”
He sighed. “Actually, I wish we hadn’t been to those places. At least that would prove that not so many places have experienced unrest.”
Da Ping looked at him with an expression of regret, as if they had met too late, deep emotion flowing in his eyes. “Me too. Although my job requires me to constantly learn foreign languages, and I don’t have a high aptitude for languages—learning them is painful—the pain of learning is nothing compared to the pain I feel every time I receive notice that I have to go to the next place.”
The two were silent for a short while. Then Da Ping asked, perhaps trying to lighten the mood, “The information I saw said you and Wen Jin have been married for many years. You truly have a good relationship. Nowadays, too many young people have fast-food romances. It’s rare to find a partner with whom you are spiritually compatible, like you two.”
Had Da Ping also been misled by the press releases about their loving relationship? Zhang Liuxin suddenly felt terrible. In college, he could speak in front of his professors about pursuing truth and respecting facts, yet after graduation, he and Wen Jin had played the hypocritical marriage game for so long. Now, even the journalist he respected was asking about it.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?” Da Ping was very perceptive. Seeing that Zhang Liuxin’s face didn’t immediately show the expected flattered expression, he realized something was amiss.
Facing Da Ping’s inquiry, Zhang Liuxin suddenly had a strong, even wicked, impulse—he wanted to lay everything bare. Da Ping felt trustworthy. In some ways, they shared similar beliefs and even a leg disability, which made Zhang Liuxin feel that the other person could understand his entanglement, suffering, and current confusion.
“Wen Jin and I weren’t always close at the beginning.” The impulsive thought just now disappeared, leaving only a slight lingering feeling, so Zhang Liuxin’s words became a subtle half-truth.
Da Ping seemed to sense something hidden beneath his calm expression. After a moment of silence, he said, “The way things are now is good too. You two look very harmonious and have great chemistry.”
Living under the same roof with someone for seven years, even two strangers would have their chemistry smoothed out. Moreover, several people had said this since they arrived in this unfamiliar environment. Now, even Da Ping, who had seen countless faces, was saying it, which made Zhang Liuxin feel confused again.
“We look quite mismatched, don’t we?” Zhang Liuxin wasn’t being self-pitying, merely stating a fact. He stared at his legs, still holding a grudge in his heart.
Da Ping shook his head. “No, don’t think that way. You are a good match. I’ve seen some of your charity activities at the orphanage. I’ve seen many wealthy people do charity, but you two, as a couple, feel different to me. You are not indifferent.”
“If it’s about your physical condition, it’s normal to have emotions, but don’t let these external things negate others’ feelings for you,” Da Ping pointed to his own legs, which had long lost sensation. “I should have more insight into this than you. If you want to talk about your leg injury, I would be a very suitable listener.”
Under the man’s warm and benevolent gaze, Zhang Liuxin stared at a chip in the edge of the floor tile and slowly began, “I became this way because of a car accident. I was too unlucky.”
It was him reaping what he had sown.
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