One Third Remaining Chapter Thirty-Four The Newspaper

“Actually, there’s nothing wrong with a birthday also being an anniversary of death—it’s both a beginning and an end. Life returns to its starting point, and in a way, that’s a kind of completeness.”

Sun Tiantian placed a bundle of white chrysanthemums before the gravestone, then turned to speak to the middle-aged woman beside her. “By the way, Auntie, do you have anything left belonging to Jinyue’s parents? I came not only to help Jinyue pay respects to her father, but also hoping to bring back something for her—a keepsake, something to remember them by.”

“There’s nothing left of the people themselves, let alone their possessions. That disaster years ago buried everything under the earth…” The woman sighed, then seemed to remember something. “Her parents’ things are gone, or whatever was left was buried here with them. But I do still have one thing of Jinyue’s at my house…”

Sun Tiantian’s eyes lit up; she asked excitedly, “What is it?”

“It’s nothing important, just a cloth doll,” the woman sighed again. “Her father gave it to her for her seventh birthday. She celebrated here at my house, so the doll stayed with me… All these years, I forgot about it until you mentioned keepsakes.”

Sun Tiantian asked, perplexed, “Why didn’t she take it with her? Did she not like it?”

The woman shook her head. “Her father picked it out with care, and she loved it. She carried it everywhere… But while playing with my boy, he grabbed it for a bit…”

“Did he break it?”

“No, the doll wasn’t damaged, but Jinyue fell and scraped her palm. Some blood got on the doll… She’s always been frail, so the whole family coddled her like a little princess, which made her a bit peculiar and domineering. No one could touch her things, and she’d never keep something that got dirty. I cleaned the doll and returned it, but she threw it back at me, furious…”

Sun Tiantian’s face brightened; she immediately took the woman’s hand. “This is more meaningful than anything else. Now it’s the only emotional link between Jinyue and her parents. Please, let me take it back for her—I can already imagine how surprised she’ll be when she sees it!”

Ten minutes later, Sun Tiantian arrived at the woman’s doorstep. She noticed the manure bucket beside the vegetable patch, and a flash of insight made her glance at the woman’s plump hips. With a strange expression, she asked, “Auntie, has anyone unusual been by to see you lately?”

The woman unlocked the door, replying carelessly, “No one comes out here in this remote corner… Oh, now that I think of it, two young men from out of town did come by. Not sure what they wanted. One tried to get fresh with me, so I chased him off with a ladle of manure water.” She puffed out her chest and stuck out her hips, “But that’s nothing strange. Plenty in the village fancy my beauty…”

Sun Tiantian stifled her laughter and nodded vigorously. “You did right. Scoundrels like that should be drenched from head to toe.”

“No need for that, really. If they just peeked, I wouldn’t mind—like Wang Ermazi from the next village, always spying from his wall…” The woman pushed open the door, cheeks flushed. “But these two were so obvious. Not only did they stare, but kept commenting on my big hips…”

Sun Tiantian couldn’t hold back anymore and burst out laughing. She quickly composed herself and asked, “Did they say what they were here for?”

“The one I didn’t chase off said they were looking for someone, but didn’t even know the person’s name. I bet that was just an excuse—they wanted to chat and cozy up. I’ve seen plenty like them…” The woman led Sun Tiantian inside, poured her a glass of water, and set it on the coffee table. “Sit on the sofa for a bit, I’ll go look for the doll.”

Sun Tiantian’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she replied sweetly, “Thank you, Auntie!”

“Don’t mention it. You’re helping Jinyue, so you’re family…” The woman eyed Sun Tiantian’s face and chuckled, “You look so much better when you smile. Reminds me of myself when I was young. If only you could wipe away those dark circles, you’d be even prettier.”

Sun Tiantian choked on her water, sputtering, “Auntie… those aren’t dark circles…”

“I just want to tell you, your real face is most beautiful.” The woman waved her hand and walked toward the bedroom. “My late husband was an elementary school language teacher, full of poetry. He once told me, ‘Lotus emerges pure from clear water, untouched by artifice.’ I still remember that…”

Sun Tiantian listened to the woman’s ramblings, responding with polite murmurs, then stood and began searching the living room for anything related to Jinyue. Suddenly, she found an old newspaper in the TV cabinet drawer. Looking closely, it was a report about the disaster years ago. The photo showed a little girl kneeling amid ruins, struggling to lift a chunk of concrete. Her face was dirty and unrecognizable, but her bright eyes shone with determination, and from the badge on her school uniform, the name “Jinyue” could just be made out.

Just then, Sun Tiantian saw the woman emerge, holding a princess cloth doll. Sun Tiantian quickly hid the newspaper in her clothes, quietly closed the drawer, and sat back on the sofa.

The woman handed her the doll, saying, “It’s been at the bottom of the trunk for so long, it’s filthy. Let me wash it for you first…”

“No need!” Sun Tiantian hastily took the doll. “Once I bring it back, Jinyue will take care of it herself. I wouldn’t want to trouble you any further…” She bit her lip, then cautiously asked, “Auntie, did Jinyue ever come back after the disaster?”

“No, probably afraid of reliving the memories…” The woman exhaled deeply. “I haven’t seen her since then. So when I saw you come to help her pay respects, I was truly glad. At least it proves she still remembers her parents, knows where her roots are, hasn’t forgotten… Unlike my scoundrel son—gone without a word, after all those years raising him!”

Sun Tiantian pondered for a moment, then smiled brightly, glancing at her phone. “Auntie, it’s getting late. I need to head back. I’ll visit you again next time…”

The woman repeated “okay” several times, walking Sun Tiantian to the door, then suddenly slapped her forehead. “Wait a moment…” She hurried inside, returned with a small glass jar, and handed it to Sun Tiantian. “This is my homemade pickles. Jinyue loved them as a child. Please take them to her.”

Sun Tiantian nodded, promised, and briskly turned to leave. As she reached the village entrance, several men in black uniforms and masks emerged from the roadside, their eyes cold as they slowly closed in on her, forming a tightening circle…