In that dream, where she could not tell whether it was real, Chang Nian saw Tong Guan once again.
They had not seen each other for two days. Tong Guan, once so spirited and handsome, now looked weathered, his eyes filled with exhaustion, though he forced himself to stay awake through bloodshot eyes.
Chang Nian did not move. She could only watch Tong Guan's face draw closer bit by bit, allowing her to see clearly that after two days apart, her husband had grown stubble, and his temples had turned faintly gray.
Before Tong Guan even came close, his eyes had already reddened. Trembling, he reached out and lovingly brushed Chang Nian's cheek, saying softly:
"Nian, why did you have to push yourself so hard?"
Chang Nian lay weakly where she had fallen. She did not know whether she was dreaming or awake, but the sight of Tong Guan brought another wave of pain to her heart.
"Tong Guan, we've weathered so many storms together. Why do you still have to risk your life now?"
She still did not understand, and did not want to understand. She did not even want to hear Tong Guan's explanation.
They did not say much in this dream, because Chang Nian was beginning to lose control of her emotions.
She had once said that she would never argue with Tong Guan again, but what she could not understand, she simply could not understand. What they wanted was fundamentally different; there was no way either could persuade the other.
Tong Guan did not argue with her, nor did he explain himself again. He merely gently combed her hair, enduring her angry glare as he tenderly gave her instructions.
Chang Nian's voice trembled. She was too afraid.
From that nameless mountain village to the Branch No.