Pure Darkness

Chapters 22.1

I remember when he was just 3 years old. Small head, fat arms, beautiful eyes. Everyone who saw her praised her beauty.

“This little woman is too pretty! When she grows up, she will become an amazing beauty!”

At the time, I was always happy to hear such words and proud of it. Tong Sheng inherited the best genes from me and him. In my eyes, since young, she had a beauty that had been stolen from heaven.

Moreover, when she was young, she was also smart and cute.

She always asked me to carry her, always clinging to me and refusing to let go. This caused his father not to be a little jealous. But, what can we do? She was another little soul that emerged from my body. He is my eye seed.

I teach math in a village school. His father was an ordinary worker. We didn't get much money, but we were always very happy. In the summer, his father would take him to the river to swim. In winter, our family will sit around the brazier and I will tell the story.

We're very happy. Every minute, every second, is a gift from heaven. Due to the arrival of our precious Tong Sheng, our ordinary lives have become extraordinary.

After that, he grew day by day. Her beauty was like before, but she also started to rebel, and there was a secret she did not want to share with me.

It is always troublesome when a girl is too beautiful. I noticed the male student who would accompany her at the end of the day when she was in Junior High, noticing that she would use the rest of her breakfast rations to secretly buy lipstick for herself. I am constantly very angry. Back then, his father always laughed advising me, “Let it be. It's like this when women grow up, you can't always look over her shoulder.” But I didn't listen to him. I scolded her from time to time, not allowing her to interact with the boy. I threw away the cheap lipstick she bought.

At that moment, the little girl was also grumpy. She would cry and close the door, and refuse to talk to me for a few days.

I didn't mind it at the time. With a loving father and an assertive mother, her upbringing will benefit her in the long run.

However, the gulf between me and Tong Sheng may have just begun from then on.

When he was in high school, he became very quiet. I still find letters for him from male students in his school bag. However, before I could ask him something, he would say, nonchalantly, “Bu, you don't have to worry about them. They are just little boys, too childish for words.” I don't know what to say.

I felt that she must have had a boyfriend and was involved in some kind of monkey love. However, I have never seen this child and have no proof. Moreover, he never talked much while at home. After she finishes eating, she will use her ear phone and listen to music, or revise. It was as if he had his own world, where his father and I were no match.

I feel a bit sad, but overall everything is still fine. After all, his natural character was clear: kind-hearted and optimistic. There may be a rebellion now, but he will be fine when he grows up.

Tong Sheng's results were consistently average. Surprisingly, he did quite well in the national entrance exam, and was accepted into the undergraduate program. For this reason, his father and I are very happy. Tong Sheng was also excited, and said, “Dad, Mom, wait until I get a good salary. I will make sure that your days are lived comfortably!” His father quickly replied, “Oke, that's great!” On the other hand, I laughed when I told her, “Mom doesn't need you to earn a lot of money. As long as you live well, with health, peace, and a full life, it is good enough.” “Hah. .” Tong Sheng pouted, looking annoyed at my dogmatic speech. However, the boy was basically still happy, and continued to hold hands after dinner and chat. It was as if he had returned to his former self,

After entering the university, Tong Sheng was like a little bird that had been released from its nest. He rarely returned home, but constantly called us. I know that with his attractiveness and optimism, he will have no trouble adjusting to university life. A lot of people will love it, and a lot of people will chase it. While on the phone with him, I have advised him many times, “You are an adult now. If you really want to find a life partner, the most important factor is his morale and character – he should treat you well. Her family background should be fine, and her appearance, well, it doesn't really matter. .” He always interrupts me to say, “Bu, I know what I am looking for,” but he will never explain further.

Accidents come suddenly.

Tong Sheng's father died in a manufacturing accident. He'll never come home again. The accident was caused by improper operation of the equipment by colleagues, but the situation of this man's family is as bad as ours. As a result, the compensation we ended up receiving was very small.

Tong Sheng rushed home all night and cried while holding his father's body. I was crying too. After I finished crying, I had to wash vegetables and cook food because I could not let my daughter starve. Just then, Tong Sheng noticed me and cried sadly, then hugged me and said, “Bu, don't be sad. Mom, I'll take good care of you. Mom, Dad's watching us from above.”

Within one night, Tong Sheng became wise and thoughtful.

Every time he took a break, he would come home to accompany me, buy vegetables, cook, sweep, and clean our house. Almost every day, there will be a call for him. Slowly I realized that he was actually working while studying. When the second semester began, she refused me to pay her tuition or living expenses. The pain of my loss gradually subsided, but I was very worried about him. I advise him, “Tong Sheng, you don't have to work part-time. We still have money. Why don't you spend more time with your friends? It will help you when you go to work in the end. ”

However, he did not take my advice, and said, “I know what I am doing. They have parents who can help them find a job in the future. I'm not like them. I want to work hard and do it myself.”

When I heard this, I said nothing. I could only feel sad and helpless.

We, as parents, are guilty of not being capable enough. He is a good boy, but we have no means to give him a life or a better future.

There was a period when my work unit* went on a summer vacation and I visited Tong Sheng in the city where he was. She was very happy, and even found a way for me to live in an apartment her schoolmates had rented. During that period, both of us, mother and son, were very happy. Every day, she would attend classes, then go to work, return to the apartment very late. I could also look around this great city, with its beauty and prosperous surroundings.

*T/N (and wei) – working units i.e., workplace, mainly used in PRC before economic reform

Back then, he said, “Bu, wait until I graduate. In that case, I will rent an apartment like this, and you can come and stay with me while you are on leave.”

I laughed and agreed.

Once, I was sweeping the floor. When I looked up, I saw him in the room, with earphones, smiling happily in front of the computer. I couldn't decipher her smile and I felt my heart pounding. When he didn't notice, I stole a glance from behind his back.

I saw the QQ number, and the profile picture was a man. Their chat logs are very long. Moreover, the latest sentence from that person was: Your body is very beautiful. I'll be responsible for that.