Running Away

Uncle Mumu took the initiative in this matter, essentially making the decision for his daughter. Fortunately, the matter wasn't widely publicized, and with so many people on the street, their reputation was largely intact. Uncle Mumu comforted himself, believing Wang Xiyue's family must have encountered some trouble. He understood Wang Xiyue's character and the mutual affection between her and Tong Haojing, so there had to be a reason for this situation. He wanted to find an opportunity to ask Wang Xiyue about it. Was trust between people really so fragile, disappearing in an instant? It shouldn't be like that. However, Uncle Mumu still felt he had let his daughter, Mei Tingyu, down.

The crowd on the street had dispersed, and the lively ancient town fell silent again.

Mei Tingyu feigned calmness, secretly took out a small round mirror, pursed her lips, and used her slender fingers to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She was particularly pleased with her youthful beauty and charm, even feeling like the most beautiful woman in the world. She was lost in her own admiration, yet Tong Haojing hadn't appeared.

"He's still not here, I'm leaving!" Mei Tingyu stood up, glaring strangely at Uncle Mumu, a look of blame evident on her face. She began to fidget, pacing back and forth in the teahouse. Enraged, she chided her father, "It's all your fault, acting like your daughter can't get married! Let's go, I don't care!" With that, she stormed out of the teahouse.

Uncle Mumu couldn't say much in front of his daughter, his face etched with embarrassment, unsure how to resolve the situation.

"Wait a little longer, he's not that kind of person!"

Uncle Mumu looked towards the street entrance again, unwilling to give up. The gathering had broken up, and only a few people were visible at the street entrance. He finally resigned himself to it. Following behind Mei Tingyu, Uncle Mumu almost couldn't keep up with his daughter, something that had never happened before. Mei Tingyu was screaming as if she had gone mad, completely beside herself. She felt utterly humiliated, never expecting Tong Haojing to be so heartless. Thinking back to what Tong Haojing had said, how he had treated her well, it all seemed like an act now, fake. Yet, a sliver of lingering sentiment made her reconsider. Perhaps Tong Haojing had grand ambitions and looked down on this rural area. He had his own plans, and she couldn't expect him to be stuck here forever. Moreover, Tong Haojing had openly expressed how much he wanted to become a police officer. Even if it was just a dream now, dreams could eventually come true. Thinking this way, she felt she might not be worthy of him and there was no need to be angry. She should wish him well instead.

This was Mei Tingyu's understanding side.

Mei Tingyu, crestfallen, returned home with tears in her eyes and remained listless for several days. She felt that perhaps leaving this place, forgetting everything here, and starting a new life would be the only way the world would be fair to her. The rapidly developing economy of the southern cities was a land of opportunity, and earning money by working elsewhere was incredibly enticing. She had already considered going out to work and earn money when she graduated from high school.

Uncle Mumu's smile vanished. He smoked silently, carried his hoe, and continued to tend to the vegetables and weeds in the field in front of his house. Occasionally, he would go to the Tangdu River to fish. His eyes would gaze in the direction of the large house, hoping that one day, Tong Haojing and his daughter would appear before him, smiling.

A few days later, one morning, at the Tangdu City bus station.

Tong Haojing crossed the Tangdu River bridge and arrived at his hometown in Tangdu. He wandered aimlessly in front of the Anda bus station, his money dwindling. Seeing a small noodle shop hiring help, Tong Haojing's eyes lit up. He thought that as long as he could eat and sleep, it would solve his immediate problem. This was the way a rural boy survived; even having a bowl of noodles brought him immense joy.

The noodle shop owner at the cash register tirelessly served customers. He could clearly remember the portion sizes and the preferred level of spiciness and saltiness for regular customers. Tong Haojing, however, often forgot the order of customers and their portion requests, leading to embarrassing mistakes and loud reprimands from the owner. This stark contrast made Tong Haojing admire the owner's shrewdness: "Work in a profession, love it, master it. Even selling small noodles has its intricacies, and one can excel at it. But where is my own way forward right now?"

Inside the noodle shop, the cook at the stove, Baldy Lu, left a deep impression on him. The skill with which he lifted noodles from the bubbling pot with his thick arms was like handling a beloved toy, carefully placing them into neatly arranged large and small bowls. Even the slightest difference in the number of noodles, whether one too few or one too many, was precisely weighed in his eyes. More and more customers came to eat the specialty noodles, but the shop was small, and the benches and tables were simple. Many people couldn't understand why this very simplicity became its most unique attraction.

Many tried to imitate him but failed. Tong Haojing could sense that this was Baldy Lu's cleverness.

A girl carrying a large travel bag sat down at a small square table by the shop. She was dressed plainly and had a somber, melancholic expression, clearly burdened by something and feeling down.

"One liang of small noodles, make it spicy!" Her voice was slightly hoarse, and her somewhat anxious eyes revealed a hint of determination. She was going out to work and earn money. Tong Haojing, busy in the shop, sensitively recognized the familiar voice from the hoarseness. He quickly turned his head and saw a slender, beautiful young woman enter the shop. The one ordering noodles was Mei Tingyu.

Tong Haojing was both surprised and embarrassed. "How could we meet in a place like this? Is it fate, a divine arrangement, something inescapable!"

Mei Tingyu also saw Tong Haojing. She instinctively wanted to avoid him, but there was nothing to block her view. However, deep down, she felt a joy at meeting an acquaintance in a foreign place. Yet, having just experienced the runaway wedding, Mei Tingyu was filled with resentment towards Tong Haojing. She hated that he had left without a word, hated that he was cowardly and not a man, that he clearly cared for her but dared not confess, leaving her with no face to be seen.

Tong Haojing brought the noodles, his head bowed in shame, frozen in place, flustered and panicked. His hands trembled, and his feet felt glued to the ground, unmoving.

"The soup is spilling! The soup is spilling!" A young girl eating noodles suddenly stood up, shouting in surprise. The soup dripped in a line, staining the girl's white skirt a coffee-brown color.

Tong Haojing snapped back to reality, bewildered and at a loss.

"Waaah... waah, pay for my skirt! Pay for my skirt!" The skirt was new, and the girl couldn't help but cry sadly. She wiped it with tissues again and again, a large pile of used tissues accumulating on the floor. The stained skirt had lost its novelty.

Tong Haojing stood blankly beside the girl, unconsciously patting his empty pocket. Penniless, his head began to buzz, and his helpless, stiff expression was somewhat alarming.

"What's wrong, spacing out!" The owner put down his work and came over to mediate. He looked at the girl's skirt and then at Tong Haojing.

"Look what you've done!" The reproachful and displeased look made Tong Haojing afraid to look the owner in the eye.

Mei Tingyu, sitting nearby, saw this scene. Her heart ached, and she rushed over to ask what happened. The owner looked at Mei Tingyu suspiciously, "Are you with the girl?"

Mei Tingyu didn't answer. Instead, she turned to the little girl who was covering her face and crying, "Little sister, will it wash clean? Or how much should I pay you?" Mei Tingyu took out fifty yuan from her pocket and handed it to the girl, "Is this enough?"

The little girl wiped her tears and hesitated, shaking her head. For some reason, she suddenly changed her mind. She no longer wanted the student-like young man to compensate her.

Tong Haojing waited anxiously...

The little girl seemed to understand Tong Haojing's timid, fearful, and pathetic gaze. He was just a young man working his way through school, an older brother. Her anger gradually melted away, and she acted kindly. Her actions touched Tong Haojing, touched Mei Tingyu, and even the customers eating noodles at the scene. Everyone couldn't help but praise, "This girl is so well-behaved!"

Tong Haojing, still shaken, sat opposite Mei Tingyu. He lowered his head in silence for a moment before softly apologizing, "Xiao Yu, I'm sorry about that day. It was all my fault. I didn't know what to do then." Tong Haojing's sincere apology made Mei Tingyu's heartache lessen considerably. She noticed that Tong Haojing's complexion wasn't good either, perhaps he had suffered the same emotional turmoil, which had taken a toll on his appearance.

Tears welled up in Mei Tingyu's eyes, a mixture of emotion and happiness. It was clear that Mei Tingyu had forgiven Tong Haojing. "What's the use of saying these things now? It's all in the past."

"It was all my fault. Xiao Yu, where are you going?" Tong Haojing's concern and care for Mei Tingyu stirred a warm current in her heart.

"I have a chartered bus at nine, heading to Hedong Province. Someone introduced it to me!" Mei Tingyu's listless eyes were filled with confusion and helplessness.

"I see. Now I don't know what to do," Tong Haojing said with a pained expression, a little embarrassed to speak.

"Ah, right. When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a road. When water reaches its end, it becomes beautiful scenery. When a person reaches a dead end, they find an opportunity. I just saw a banner at the entrance of Anda station that said 'Serving in the army is glorious.' Why don't you go and join the army! A man with ambition can go anywhere, and perhaps you can achieve your dream." Mei Tingyu pointed in the direction of the station. Even in her dejected state, she hadn't forgotten to care for and encourage the person who had hurt her.

Tong Haojing's eyes lit up upon hearing Mei Tingyu's words. A bright blue sky opened up in his heart. He suddenly remembered that his uncle had retired from the army and joined the civilian workforce. He had also heard his parents say that several young people from their village had become city dwellers after retiring from the army. Now, whenever they visited their hometown, they were quite impressive. Most importantly, joining the army could lead to a transfer to the Public Security Bureau as a police officer. This was a roundabout way to become a police officer, and whether it would succeed depended on his own destiny.

A fire reignited in Tong Haojing's heart, his whole body felt hot, as if he had inexhaustible energy. He was no longer at a loss. A smile appeared on his face. Deep in his heart, he was filled with gratitude towards Mei Tingyu, even a bit of admiration. Not only was Mei Tingyu beautiful, but she was also quick-witted and intelligent. She had unintentionally shown him a path, illuminating his confused eyes. As Tong Haojing's complex thoughts swirled, Mei Tingyu urged him, "It's time, we can talk later." With that, Mei Tingyu stood up and walked towards the station. Tong Haojing, being sensible, quickly hoisted Mei Tingyu's luggage onto his shoulder and said reluctantly, "I'll see you off!"

Mei Tingyu didn't speak. Tong Haojing silently followed behind her, seeing her onto the bus. He watched Mei Tingyu's receding figure until the bus pulled away from the station, his heart filled with reluctance and concern. He didn't know when they would meet again, and Tong Haojing couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, tears streaming down his face. Perhaps the real world was intentionally tormenting these two young people, giving them more hardships and experiences in life. Was this not a good thing in itself?

Tong Haojing excitedly returned to the noodle shop. Someone quietly told him, "That young lady just now was Baldy Lu's daughter!"

"No wonder. Like father, like daughter. This girl's kindness has its roots here!" Tong Haojing secretly envied Baldy Lu and his daughter. The dream of being a police officer from that night still lingered in his mind. With a kind heart, the path ahead would only widen.