Cheng You arrived at the medicinal herb garden again two days later.
She had classes and was busy scouting for a new location, but she hadn't found a suitable one.
To her surprise, when she returned two days later, Liu Ying had already cleared out a room. Judging by her actions, she intended to stay long-term.
"Teacher Liu, you haven't been back these past few days, have you?"
Liu Ying smiled, "No, I went back to get clothes and some toiletries before returning. I want to observe the growth process of Mu Xi grass, and it's more convenient to live here."
Cheng You nodded, "Indeed, it's just that the conditions here are a bit poor."
"It's fine, I'm alone, it doesn't matter where I live."
Cheng You had heard that Liu Ying seemed to have dedicated her entire life to her work and had not married.
The two walked side by side towards the Mu Xi grass, Cheng You primarily wanting to check on its growth.
"How is the land acquisition for the pharmaceutical factory going?"
Cheng You smiled and shook her head, "It's not that easy to resolve. They're unwilling to sell, so we have to change locations."
"Unwilling to sell? Didn't you say it's a garbage dump? That large area must be worth a lot of money. With the money, they could buy a better house. Why wouldn't they want to sell?"
Cheng You explained briefly, "We had some past conflict with Hui Chun Tang, and Grandma Liu has received favors from Hui Chun Tang. She's someone who remembers kindness, so..."
Liu Ying suddenly scoffed, a sharp disdain glinting in her eyes, "Remembers kindness?"
Cheng You looked at her in surprise. She seemed to have significant dissatisfaction with Old Woman Liu.
This blatant emotion was fleeting, quickly hidden by Liu Ying.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't targeting you."
Cheng You shook her head, "I know."
But Liu Ying's hostility towards Old Woman Liu came from an unknown source.
A spark of realization struck Cheng You, and she suddenly recalled what Chen Qin had said before.
Old Woman Liu had a daughter...
She couldn't help but look at Liu Ying again, truly unable to find any resemblance to Old Woman Liu.
However, she didn't dare to ask.
Liu Ying changed the subject, "I originally thought you would refuse to work with me."
Cheng You paused for a moment, then smiled, "For me, it doesn't matter who comes, as long as they are willing to learn, I am willing to teach. I am still a student myself and have much to learn. If a teacher were to reject me for some reason, I would also feel upset."
Liu Ying sighed, "You're more suited to be a teacher than I am."
Cheng You said, "So your main profession is researcher, not a teacher."
With Liu Ying's personality, she was probably more suited for dedicated research in a laboratory than for teaching and nurturing students.
After spending the morning in the medicinal herb garden, Cheng You got up to leave.
Liu Ying glanced at her retreating back, her lips parting as if to speak, then closing.
In the end, she said nothing, lowering her head and continuing to tidy things in the field.
...
She didn't know how many years it had been since she had last visited this place.
In her memory, her home was filled with foul odors, endless garbage, and daily beatings.
Despite Liu Ying's simple attire, her demeanor was incongruous with this place.
She walked forward. This was the only household here; there was no need to search.
She hesitated about whether to knock when she heard a shocked voice from behind, "A Ying?"
Liu Ying's expression turned cold. She withdrew her hand and turned around.
Old Woman Liu was vastly different from her memory. At this moment, no one would doubt if she were called a beggar.
"It's me," she said coldly.
Old Woman Liu's expression was apprehensive. She wiped her hands and tidied her hair.
"Why have you come suddenly? Let's go inside and sit."
Liu Ying remained still, standing in place, and said, "I have a few words to say to you and then I'll leave. I won't sit."
It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over her, making Old Woman Liu stiffen in place.
After a long pause, she gave a bitter smile, "Alright, whatever you want to say, Mom is listening."
Liu Ying said, "I heard someone wants to buy your land. Why aren't you selling?"
Old Woman Liu's face turned ashen. Why wasn't she selling?
Even with Qiu Ying Xun's instruction, faced with such a high price, it would have been understandable for her to sell.
Her not selling was more of a self-punishment.
Someone like her deserved to live in a garbage heap her entire life, unable to hold her head up.
She didn't deserve those better houses.
"I was afraid you wouldn't have a home if I sold it."
Liu Ying said sarcastically, "Home? I've never had such a thing."
Old Woman Liu lowered her head, her chapped lips trembling slightly.
She didn't even dare to look directly at Liu Ying.
"Mom knows she was wrong, she knows she was wrong... You want me to sell, don't you? Then I'll sell. I'll give you all the money."
Liu Ying closed her eyes, her voice laced with endless disgust, "I don't want this money, I find it dirty! If it weren't for Cheng You, I would never have set foot here. Take the money and leave, and don't appear before me again! Do you think I'd be happy to see you here? Your sins can never be washed clean in this lifetime!"
Old Woman Liu covered her face and wept, but dared not utter a single word to persuade her to stay.
She didn't have the right.
Liu Ying's words were remarkably effective. The next day, Old Woman Liu approached Chen Qin and agreed to sell the land.
However, she only wanted to discuss it with Cheng You. Chen Qin had no choice but to call Cheng You over.
Cheng You rushed over, and the first thing she heard was, "You know Liu Ying?"
"Teacher Liu?" Cheng You already had an answer in her heart.
So, Old Woman Liu and Liu Ying were indeed mother and daughter.
"Yes, the research institute she belongs to is currently collaborating with me."
Old Woman Liu nodded, muttering, "She's capable, unlike me, unlike me..."
Cheng You asked, "Did you decide to sell the land to me because of Liu Ying?"
Old Woman Liu fell silent, looking at the garbage-filled area. Mountains of trash, swarming with rats and cockroaches.
No one else could tolerate such a place.
Yet, she had lived here for decades.
"When I first came to Yan Cheng, Liu Ying was still a child. I couldn't make money while raising her, so I found a man and married him. This land belonged to that man. Later, I outlived him, and the place became mine. You're not the first person to ask to buy my land, but I never intended to sell."
Cheng You asked, "Then why do you want to sell now?"
Old Woman Liu sighed, "Because of Liu Ying, I've wronged her."
The matter that had been buried deep in Old Woman Liu's heart for many years finally cracked open today, and she felt the urge to confide.
"I was an unmarried mother. After I got pregnant with Liu Ying, that man abandoned me. I had a very difficult time back then, and I transferred all my hatred onto the child. When she was still an infant, I started hitting her. Lightly, I'd slap her a few times; heavily, I'd hit her with a stick, leaving her bruised all over, her head bleeding."
As Old Woman Liu spoke, tears streamed down her face.
It was as if she were self-torturing, reopening wounds and sprinkling salt.
She thought she would forget, but the image of that child crying and begging for mercy was deeply etched in her mind.