Chapter 78: Cherish a Man's Tears (01)

  After resting at home for a few days, Chen Haonan felt more comfortable in his heart, just like others. However, as the time spent at home lengthened and his sister Chen Jiayi didn't return home either, he began to feel somewhat depressed, with all sorts of indescribable feelings in his heart...

  Strolling around the fields, riverbanks and small hills near Green Town, Chen Haonan always inadvertently thinks of his father, thinking of those beautiful childhood memories - but time is no longer!

  The day before returning to school, Chen Haonan wandered to his father's grave again. In just over half a year, it was already covered with weeds. Perhaps when people die, they really become "dirt", and can only be accompanied by wild grass. However, although the frost freezes the grass and withers, the spring breeze blows and the grass grows again! But people can't.

  It was still early when Chen Haonan returned to school and tidied up his dormitory. After finishing the cleaning, he suddenly remembered that it had been a long time since he last visited Li Donglin's home. However, just as he was about to get up, he hesitated again - he thought of Li Jia, recalling the scene where he had impulsively kissed her on a whim. He felt very sorry for her, and even more so for Uncle Li and Aunt Qiao.

  Lying in bed thinking about these things, Chen Haonan was very resentful of himself... Gradually, gradually he fell asleep. When he woke up, he felt extremely hungry, so he immediately got up and ran to the second cafeteria to eat something randomly.

  As soon as Chen Haonan came out of the cafeteria, he went back to the classroom. Ah! There was actually no one in the classroom, but he was happy to be alone and started doing his work: first, he did some math exercises, then he remembered English vocabulary...

  Time flies, and before you know it, the sky is dark. Because they just had a long holiday, the students returning to school were all very excited, and after their whispers, the evening self-study began.

  Quietly, the two evening self-study sessions slipped away unnoticed - just as the bell for the end of the third evening self-study session was about to ring, the classmates were all stunned. But at this moment, a small piece of paper suddenly floated over, and Chen Haonan quickly opened it to take a look, only to see that it read:

  Hey, Chen Haonan! You and Teacher Xiao Nie have a pretty good relationship, huh? Haha, sorry, I was just joking. Teacher Xiao Nie needs to see you about something, she wants you to go to the office after self-study. Okay?

  "Yi Er? - Who is Yi Er?" Chen Hao Nan couldn't help but feel curious. But upon closer inspection of the handwriting, he felt a sense of familiarity... "Could it be her?" Suddenly, he thought of someone and quickly turned his head to look at Ouyang Yiweng. However, what he didn't expect was that the little girl was also looking over here, smiling away...

  Since that in-depth conversation with Xiao Nie, Chen Haonan really did what she said in many ways. Gradually, his relationship with Xiao Nie improved. While discussing study problems, Chen Haonan and Xiao Nie often talked about many philosophical aspects of life, especially when he had no one to confide in, he would involuntarily think of Xiao Nie. So, he became a frequent visitor to the Chinese department office.

  However, due to the recent SARS outbreak, people were on edge, and with Wu Hao's transfer, Chen Haonan felt a bit conflicted and guilty - he hadn't been to the language office for a while. Just then, Teacher Xiao Nie suddenly issued an order, which made Chen Haonan a bit curious, but he didn't dare delay - he was afraid that the teacher really had something urgent, so as soon as he finished his evening self-study, he rushed to the teachers' office building.

  Xiao Nian teacher has been waiting for Chen Haonan, as soon as he entered the office, she smiled and said: "Haonan, it's been a long time since you came to my place..."

  "Hehe... sorry, teacher, I've been a bit busy lately..." Chen Haonan scratched the back of his head and couldn't help but smile foolishly.

  "It's nothing, why say 'sorry'? Recently, there have been a lot of things happening, especially SARS, it's really frustrating... I stayed at home and rested for a few days, how do you feel now?" Teacher Xiao Nie said while tidying up the things on her desk.

  "It's okay," Chen Haonan said truthfully, "The first two days were still pretty good - after being cooped up in school for so long, it felt great to be back home. But after staying for another two days, I started to feel uneasy. I thought about a lot of things, my dad, my childhood friends, and many other past events..."

  "Don't think so much, it's not good for you!" Little Nie teacher said with deep affectionate eyes looking at Chen Haonan, her eyes overflowing with infinite care. After a while, she took out two draft papers from the drawer and called Chen Haonan to her side, saying: "Come, come, come, I'll show you something..."

  "What's going on?" Chen Haonan curiously walked up front.

  "Guess!" At this time, Teacher Xiao Nie deliberately created suspense and quickly hid the manuscript behind her back.

  "I have no idea... what is it?" Chen Haonan smiled slightly.

  "Alright! I won't trouble you anymore - didn't you say last time that you liked Xu Zhimo's 'Farewell Again, Cambridge'? I helped you find it and also copied all his poems for you..." As she spoke, Little Nie handed the manuscript to Chen Haonan.

  Chen Haonan happily took over the manuscript and flipped through it, suddenly discovering that in addition to "Farewell Again Cambridge" there was also a small poem attached, so he hurriedly asked: "Huh? What's this, Teacher Xiao Nie?"

  Xiao Nian teacher looked at the place Chen Haonan pointed to and said: "Oh, 'To a Japanese Girl' from 'Shayangnala', this is also Xu Zhimo's famous work..."

  "What does 'Shayana' mean?" Chen Haonan asked again while handing over the manuscript.

  " 'Sayonara' is Japanese, which means 'goodbye'. Little Nie teacher took over the manuscript and carefully analyzed it. "Sayonara" was originally a set of poems, with a total of 18 poems, but Xu Zhimo himself loved this one - he used just five short lines to depict the shy and sentimental expression of a Japanese girl when she bid farewell to her friend, which has always been admired by people..."

  "Teacher Xiao Nian, you know so much!" Chen Haonan praised with a smile.

  "Don't talk nonsense, I'm not that capable, these are the results of expert appraisal..." Teacher Xiao Nie said, handing the poem draft to Chen Haonan again, "It's getting late, you should head back to your dorm - remember to write some poetry when you have time, I've already reminded you last time, why haven't I seen you send me one or two poems?"

  "I know, I promise to write! However, I've tried writing before, but it all felt so terrible - not worth showing anyone..." Chen Haonan chuckled and shook his head.

  "It doesn't matter, as long as you write - even if your own feelings aren't good, maybe the feeling you give others will be good... Next time you come over, remember to bring the poems you've written and let me take a look too!"

  "Yes!" Chen Haonan made a funny salute!

  "Then go, don't let the dorm manager lock you out..."

  "Uh-huh, I'm going!"

  "Be careful on the road!" Seeing Chen Haonan jump and run out for several steps, Xiao Nie teacher hurriedly shouted loudly...

  Back in the dorm, the lights went out quickly. Feeling his way through the darkness to the bathroom to wash his face, Chen Haonan then crawled into bed. As soon as he lay down, he eagerly turned on his flashlight and began to admire "Old Xu's" poetry. First, he read "Farewell Again to Cambridge":

  I walked softly

  Just as I came quietly

  I waved lightly.

  Bidding farewell to the colorful clouds in the western sky.

  The golden willow by the riverbank

  The bride in the sunset

  Beautiful shadow in ripples of light

  In my heart, there is a ripple.

  Water caltrop on soft mud

  Floating and swaying in the water;

  In the gentle waves of the Kang River,

  I am willing to be a waterweed.

  Under the elm tree's shade, a pool of water

  Not a clear spring, but a rainbow in the sky

  Crushed among the floating algae

  Settling down like a rainbow-colored dream.

  Seeking dreams? Holding a long pole,

  Wander towards the greener grass

  A boatload of starlight

  Singing in the starry night sky.

  But I couldn't let go of the song

  Whispers are the flute of parting.

  Summer insects also keep silent for me

  Silence is Cambridge tonight!

  I quietly left

  Just as I came quietly

  I waved my sleeve.

  Don't take away a wisp of cloud...

  The poem is beautiful, and Teacher Xiao Nie's handwriting is also beautiful. Slowly and softly reciting the poem, Chen Haonan was intoxicated by the two "beauties", and in his heart, he seemed to have painted out again the beautiful scenery of the Kang River at sunset. As if those clouds, golden willows, and green lotus leaves, even the gentle ripples on the surface of the Kang River were right in front of him - lightly, wave after wave, rippling...

  Unfortunately, the Kang River is still far, far away... Chen Haonan soon came to his senses and, flashing a small flashlight, he softly recited another poem:

  It's that gentle bow of the head

  Like a water lily flower that cannot bear the cool breeze's caress.

  Take care, take care

  In that "goodbye" there is a bittersweet melancholy.

  Xia Yang Nuo La!

  How strange! As Chen Haonan softly recited this poem, he had a very strange feeling...

  He folded up the poem and hid it away, but Chen Haonan couldn't help but recite it again in a low voice. Repeating it over and over, he seemed to see a girl's figure appear in his mind: a head of beautiful long hair, a white and delicate face, a slightly upturned small mouth, and under those long eyelashes - a pair of beautiful eyes that shone with an intense spirit!

  "How is it... seems like Ou Yang Yi Wen?" Chen Hao Nan suddenly felt a chill. But when he slowly calmed down and tried to take a closer look, he couldn't find the girl's shadow anywhere.

  After a moment of panic, Chen Haonan couldn't help but smile again. Then, he gradually fell asleep - in his dream, he vaguely saw the girl again, with long hair fluttering and a hint of an overbearing spirit deep in her eyes...