Chapter 200

Chapter 200

Early the next morning, Feng Xia set off with Old Lady Wu for the trip back to the capital. The old lady had never been on a plane before, so Feng Xia decided they would fly back and treat her to the experience.

The four of them left early, got to the airport with plenty of time, and found a breakfast place to eat. Dongshan’s savory pancakes are a local specialty, and Feng Xia especially loved them. She had even tried the state banquet chef’s version several times, but she still felt the local Dongshan flatbread was the most authentic—the dough was chewy and springy, bursting with flavor, and paired with the delicious sauce, she couldn’t get enough.

At the airport, the old lady fussed with her clothes and patted her hair. Little Black the snake couldn’t come with them, so Zhang Jia went to handle the check-in. At that time, planes were still a novelty, and the airport was bustling with many blonde, blue-eyed foreigners. Many signs even had English translations.

Old Lady Wu’s eyes could hardly take it all in. She had thought the big mall back in Antai was the most impressive thing, but it was nothing compared to this airport. The airport was a major international hub, built wide and grand.

Feng Xia led the old lady into an airport specialty shop, which sold all kinds of Dongshan local products. Many mountain produce were neatly packaged and displayed in the windows. When the old lady leaned in to look at the prices, even her usually stoic face cracked in shock—it was way too expensive!

A bag of mushrooms weighing about a pound was sold here for six yuan—six yuan could buy a whole basket at the market! Who in their right mind would buy this?

The old lady grumbled inwardly, but just then she saw two tall, blonde Beautiful Country men chatting while grabbing two bags without even glancing at the price. They spent money like water, which made Old Lady Wu click her tongue in amazement. Foreigners sure are rich! These mushrooms could earn foreign exchange, so maybe the price wasn’t so bad after all!

Feng Xia took the old lady on a quick tour of the airport. When the time was about right, she took her to the boarding gate to line up. There weren’t many people at the gate, and the flight attendants were polite and gentle, leaning in to answer questions. Soon it was Feng Xia’s turn. After checking in, they walked through the corridor. It wasn’t long before they could see a sleek passenger plane parked not far away.

"It's so big!" Old Lady Wu looked at the plane, her eyes welling up.

Feng Xia nodded, patted the old lady reassuringly, and said softly, "It'll get bigger. Our lives will keep getting better."

They boarded the plane and took their seats. Feng Xia and Old Lady Wu sat together, Zhang Jia took the aisle seat, and Li Yi sat in the row behind. They buckled up, and with a shudder, the plane took off.

The Chinese people have had a dream of flying since ancient times. Now, truly soaring into the blue sky, white clouds floating outside the window, mountains and rivers beneath their feet, looking down at the vast land of the Flower Kingdom from thirty thousand feet, the pride was beyond words. An elderly couple sitting in front of Feng Xia were wiping their eyes, and Old Lady Wu was the same, her eyes red-rimmed.

Feng Xia, on the other hand, took out her notebook and began to write and draw. Old Lady Wu and Zhang Yi both noticed her actions. The old lady knew that Feng Xia was involved in national affairs, so she kept her emotions in check and did not disturb her.

Feng Xia had a sudden inspiration for further improvements to the aircraft wing. She wrote like a woman possessed, annotating data and recording her sudden ideas. By the time she finished the sketch, an hour had passed. A complimentary boxed lunch was on the table, but Feng Xia had no appetite. She just popped a piece of candy in her mouth, took a couple of sips of water, and leaned against Old Lady Wu to fall asleep.

The plane landed safely. Zhang Yi went to wait for Little Black first, while Feng Xia and the other two headed back. They were picked up by Jiang Long and Zhang Ying, who had returned earlier.

The old lady still remembered Zhang Ying and Jiang Long, greeting them cheerfully. Zhang Ying first drove Feng Xia home. The two exchanged a knowing look, and Zhang Ying got the hint and didn't mention Feng Chun’s matter much.

When they arrived at the 101 Family Compound, the small building had already been cleaned, and even the old lady's room was arranged properly. The room was on the first floor, with plenty of natural light and a large window that let in warm sunshine. The bed had a thick, fluffy quilt that looked super soft.

The old lady said cheerfully, "I’m here to enjoy the good fortune my granddaughter brought me."

Soon Little Black was picked up too. It settled into the new home easily, curling up on the living room sofa, lazy and unwilling to move.

Early the next morning, instead of reporting to the 101 Research Institute, Feng Xia went to the prison where Feng Chun was being held. The prison was on the outskirts of Jingdu. Feng Xia had applied for a visit in advance and went with Zhang Ying.

Inside the prison.

The lighting wasn’t very bright, but you could see how exhausted Feng Chun looked. Her hair was disheveled, and she wore a blue cloth dress that was quite dirty. Her eyes held remnants of terror, and her gaze at Feng Xia was complex—some numbness, an indescribable hatred, and a hint of neurotic madness.

Feng Xia raised an eyebrow. "Tsk, looks like you're not doing well. What? Were you planning to kidnap Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui to threaten me?"

"You don't know anything! Why did you have to change the past? Why! Don't you know that because of you, I have nothing! I've lost everything!" Feng Chun pounded the wooden prison table with both hands, so hard that her knuckles bled. She didn't care at all, her eyes bloodshot as she stared at Feng Xia, as if she could devour her alive.

She screamed almost hysterically, "You know nothing! What right do you have to change it? Don't you know I have nothing left! My money, my house, my life—everything is gone!"

Feng Xia let out a scornful laugh. Surprisingly, her laughter made Feng Chun calm down a bit. She stared at Feng Xia with a venomous look.

Feng Xia said mercilessly, "Feng Chun, don't put all the blame on others. You got to be a salesclerk at the supply cooperative in town—your starting point was much higher than others. Let me ask you, how many points did you get in the college entrance exam?"

Feng Chun didn't speak and didn't look at her. She lowered her head and picked at the dead skin on her hands, so hard that blood flowed, and she licked the blood off, as if she had truly gone mad.

Feng Xia continued, "You didn't do well, did you!" Her tone was affirmative and unquestionable.

"Did you get into a two-year college or fail? Oh, it must have been a two-year college. You were unwilling, right? Why, when you were favored by heaven, didn't you get into university, while Feng Jinlian, Feng Jingui, and I did? Tell me, why? Because Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui endured countless beatings just to read, because they slept only four hours a day and spent all other time either working or studying, because I could stay in the lab for half a year doing nothing but research. Feng Chun, everyone walks their own path. Didn't I advise you?"

Feng Xia's words were like a thunderbolt, shattering the shell she had built around herself. She had always resented the world's unfairness—why could Feng Xia achieve so much while she, after all her scheming, ended up penniless? She refused to accept it!

In fact, Heaven had always favored her. She was the one reborn, the one who had all kinds of opportunities in her previous life, the one who had smooth sailing. So why, why had it come to this?

Feng Chun hugged herself, and suddenly tears flowed from her dry eyes. It was when she was dazzled by the city's prosperity, when she followed Yang Tianhua to gain experience, when she was tempted by Hou Xianlin's status as a Hong Kong billionaire. She suddenly remembered that Feng Xia had warned her long ago: men can't be relied on; she must take charge of her own career. She hadn't listened. What had she been doing all these years!

Why had she wasted the life she had so hard-won on men? She could have lived so well!

Like Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui, respected and with a bright future. Why!

When had she taken this path of no return!

Feng Chun hugged herself and burst into loud sobs.

Feng Xia glanced at her. Everyone chooses their own path, and they must walk it even on their knees. It wasn't too late for Feng Chun to change now, and she hoped she wouldn't repeat her mistakes.

"Visiting time is over, Comrade Feng Xia."

Feng Xia nodded and turned around. Feng Chun lifted her tear-streaked face and said hoarsely, "Thank you. And I'm sorry."

Across decades of time, the sister who had hit rock bottom finally received this long-overdue apology.