The warm breeze of midsummer was intoxicating, with half of the sky filled with fiery clouds and the other half with dark clouds, definitely signaling an approaching violent storm.
Yun Chi counted the salary she had just received from the boss of the bridal shop. After confirming the amount, she took her raincoat and mounted her bicycle.
Rushing to select some fairly fresh vegetables at the market, she paused when her eyes landed on the stand selling sugar-coated chestnuts.
After some hesitation, Yun Chi only bought half a pound of raw chestnuts...the roasted ones were too expensive.
In her current destitute state, she had to economize every day.
Upon returning to her tiny rental room that resembled a matchbox, Yun Chi called out as soon as she entered, "Mom, come see what I bought! We can improve our meal today!"
Much to her surprise, there was no response.
Her mother, who was usually at home watching television waiting for her to come home and cook, was unexpectedly not home for once?
Despite numerous calls, the line was engaged every time.
With a knife in her hand to peel the chestnuts, Yun Chi felt restless, casting anxious glances out the window from time to time.
She couldn't shake off an uneasy feeling, an apprehensiveness similar to the one she had felt waiting for the judge's verdict in court last month...
Just as she sprinkled salt in the pot, a loud "thump" came from the doorway, a sound large enough to indicate something had collided with it.
Startled, Yun Chi tightened her grip on the spatula she had just set down, thinking back to the mishap from a few days ago. She then cautiously stepped towards the door.
"Who is it? Who's there?" Yun Chi mustered her courage and shouted aloud.
"Yun Chi, open the door quickly! There's been a murder! Help!"
Upon hearing her mother's voice, Yun Chi quickly ran to open the door.
Instantly, a figure pounced on her, her voice trembling out of its normal pitch, "Chi! Save me! You must save me!"
Yun Chi looked cautiously at the entrance, only to be terrified by the sight of blood red everywhere!
She hurriedly dragged her mother inside and slammed the anti-theft door shut with a clank.
Helping her mother down onto the only old sofa in the room, Yun Chi ran to shut a few windows before turning back to ask, "Mom, what were you doing? Why is there a pile of red paint in front of our door?"
Yun's mother took several gulps of water from the teacup but still seemed terrified, she said shakily, "Chi, I had no other choice! I tried to talk to your father a few days ago, but he wouldn't give away another penny! I'm getting old and I can't stand living in this decrepit house any longer, so I thought I could use my nest egg to earn some money for you..."
A bad premonition suddenly overcame Yun Chi, and she found herself asking, "Did you gamble again?"
Yun's mother nodded hesitantly without lifting her head.
Yun Chi felt her strength draining away.
"Do you have high-interest debts again? Were they chasing you for money?" Yun asked with despair.
Yun's mother burst into tears, "Chi! I just wanted to help you out because you're living such a tough life! I thought after you were engaged last month, you were finally in for some good times. I even picked out your wedding date for you two. Who knew you'd encounter such a scoundrel who not only got you fired, but also involved you in a lawsuit, causing you to lose all your assets! You're already 27 this year, most mothers with daughters your age would be holding a grandchild in their arms. But instead, you're working three jobs a day, with little time for sleep, let alone another love affair. How can I bear to see you struggle like this?"
The sound of sizzling came from the kitchen. Yun Chi remembered her chestnuts and rushed back to stir them.
A tear dropped into the pan, mingled with the coarse grains of salt, and evaporated into steam, leaving no trace.
Yun Chi wiped the corners of her tear-stained eyes, turned off the fire after the chestnuts were cooked, covered the pot, put on a relaxed smile, and comforted her mother, "Mom, don't worry, your health is the priority! If it comes to the worst, I’ll go beg Dad at the Yun Family. We will definitely find a solution! Here, have some chestnuts first."
Yun's mother, with trembling legs, walked over and hesitated a long while before saying, "Actually, we don't need to plead with the Yun family, there's another way to solve our current problem."
Yun Chi immediately exclaimed, "Mom, you cannot gamble anymore! I sold everything to pay the liabilities after losing the case. I am really penniless now!"
"I am not gambling anymore! I definitely dare not to gamble again!" Yun Chi's mother quickly expressed her stance. She finally lifted her head, revealing a flattering smile on her face.
"Chi, you are a doctoral student from a prestigious university, you are highly educated and well-informed. These are attractive traits! When I used to play cards, I met several bosses. They are not well-educated and are seeking a wife like you! You don't have a boyfriend right now, should I introduce you to them?"
This seemingly good suggestion was a heavy blow to Yun Chi.
She couldn't even remember whether she agreed or not, she just stiffly returned to her simplistic bedroom, partitioned by a divider, and sat blankly for a long time.
The storm began, the strong wind sounded, she was terrified by the thunder and lightning, fear grew deep in her heart.
Whenever she was afraid, she always had the habit of touching the photo frame on her bedside.
She did so this time as well.
She pulled out a photo from the compartment of the photo frame.
The boy in the photo was smiling, his smile was clean and bright, a hint of arrogance on his slightly raised lips. Yun Chi took a deep look at him and immediately felt like a needle was pricking her heart, with the pain piercing deeply.
She flipped the photo over, on the yellowing photo paper, she forcefully wrote down two big characters... "Goodbye".
She thought, given her current dire straits, she probably would not have the chance to meet him again in this life...
