The scenery outside the window gradually transitioned from mountains to plains.
The clouds in the sky seemed much lower.
This was the first time Xiaoqi had ventured so far from home, witnessing a completely different landscape.
The outside appeared flat and vast, unlike Lushan City where a building or a river in the distance would be obstructed by mountains.
But here, in front of her, everything was level and there were no mountains in sight, only clouds.
It felt incredibly expansive, yet at the same time, the sky seemed lower, and the clouds appeared so close that if she jumped a little higher, she might actually touch them.
This starkly contrasting scenery filled Xiaoqi with astonishment, prompting her to silently observe for a little while longer.
She then put away the book she had just finished reading, "A Day in Edo," and took out another one, "The Three Prime Ministers of the Abe Shinzo Family and Hereditary Politics in Japan," which was a gift from Teacher Zhou.
Unbeknownst to Xiaoqi, Zhou Meiling had casually grabbed three books, and since she hadn't read them for a long time, she decided to give them to Xiaoqi.
Xiaoqi had been quite busy lately, but she was a dedicated reader who always took her time to read books. She hadn't had a chance to read this one thoroughly, so she decided to bring it along.
She had heard that university life would be leisurely with plenty of free time, so reading more books wouldn't hurt.
Before opening the book, Xiaoqi took a sip of water and pulled out a tomato. She packed some snacks in her bag because she felt it would be better to eat them during the journey instead of carrying them around, worrying they might get squashed. Besides, eating them would also lighten her load a bit.
The tomatoes grown at home were large, and their skin was still firm. Her mother specifically picked this type, where once you bite through the outer layer, the inside would be filled with tangy and sweet juice, truly appetizing.
Xiaoqi would take a bite, slurping the juice, and if she didn't finish it, it would dribble everywhere.
She hadn't received any formal training in dining etiquette, so her way of eating was somewhat casual. However, being a young girl, her casual manner didn't make her appear untidy.
Meanwhile, Cheng Minguang wanted to talk to this young girl about calligraphy, but the current situation felt a bit awkward. He was an experienced civil servant and yet he couldn't find the right words to start a conversation.
Moreover, the young girl had already put her notebook away.
As an avid calligraphy enthusiast, he had profound insights into his own writing, and he couldn't tolerate the fact that nowadays children preferred using computers and neglected the art of handwriting. Therefore, he always nagged his daughter, insisting that she should practice writing.
However, his daughter had a carefree personality, and her calligraphy skills were only passable.
But the characters this young girl had just written seemed, in his opinion, better than his own.
The sensation of being caught off guard by someone's talent made Cheng Minguang feel a bit uncomfortable. However, seeing her now pick up another book to read, he couldn't help but envy his own daughter. He thought it would be audacious if he were to ask someone if they wanted to share a bag of potato chips. His daughter could do it without any reservations.
Xiaoqi had no idea that the gentleman next to her was interested in her handwriting. She was fully engrossed in her book.
The young girl next to her had already started playing a card game with someone else, a game where each person held seven cards.
Xiaoqi glanced over and had a rough idea of what was going on.
Because Gu Mu La Village had a tradition of playing card games during the Lunar New Year, which was considered inappropriate.
From the first to the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, almost everyone takes a break from work and gathers together to play cards.
Some play just for fun, while others play for money. The stakes can be as low as five cents, but those who play aggressively can lose all the money they earned in a year within these few days of the New Year.
Xiaoqi doesn't like playing cards, and her parents don't allow her to play either. Their family is considered poor in Gumula Village, so they don't join in these festive activities.
Glancing at the card game, Xiaoqi continues to read the book in her hands. She still has one unused study card, and she plans to finish reading her current book before using it.
The book she's currently reading is mainly about the customs and lifestyle of the people in Edo in "A Day in Edo." It covers topics such as Japanese bathhouse culture, food and dining prices, customs, and even the peculiar hairstyles of Edo residents. Xiaoqi worries that if she uses the study card, she might end up learning about a bald warrior or maybe even sumo wrestling.
"The Three Prime Ministers of One Family" is a two-volume book. The first volume introduces the Abe family, while the second volume focuses on the hereditary politics of Japan.
Xiaoqi has a habit of first looking at the table of contents and then reading the introductions before getting an overall impression of the book. Only after that does she delve into the actual content.
In the first chapter, the book introduces Nobusuke Kishi, the grandfather of Shinzo Abe.
Upon reading this title, Xiaoqi thinks of her own grandfather. Surprisingly, she doesn't know his name. She has always known him as "grandfather." If someone from Shexiang Village were to ask her who he is, she wouldn't be able to say she is his granddaughter because she doesn't know his name, only the names of a few uncles.
Moreover, if she were to write a biography about her grandfather, it seems like there wouldn't be much to write about. Her grandfather was a farmer through and through. He never fought in a war or worked as a laborer for a landlord. Her grandfather had three sons and two daughters.
On the other hand, Xiaoqi knows her grandfather's name because she has seen his photo since she was born. It is displayed prominently in the living room of their house. The photo shows a young man named Su Xiulun wearing a military uniform and a military cap. It was fashionable to have a photo taken in military attire during that era, and that photo is her grandfather's memorial picture.
Perhaps her grandfather's story is a bit more interesting. He was said to have attended school but had poor health and passed away due to illness.
In summary, Xiaoqi was born into an ordinary family without any significant background or heritage.
Looking back and forth, there probably isn't anything remarkable in her family history.
Looking ahead, Xiaoqi is currently on a high-speed train heading to an ordinary university.
On the other hand, the book she is reading introduces the Abe family, and each member mentioned is quite astonishing.
Shinzo Abe's grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, lived to the ripe old age of 91 and served as the 56th and 57th Prime Minister of Japan.
Shinzo Abe's granduncle, Eisaku Sato, lived to the age of 75 and served as the 61st, 62nd, and 63rd Prime Minister of Japan.
Shinzo Abe's father, Shintaro Abe, passed away at the age of 67. He came from a prestigious family and married into the Kishi family. At the time when he was expected to become the next Prime Minister, he passed away due to illness.
Shinzo Abe himself is currently serving as the 90th Prime Minister of Japan.
The first part of the book provides an overview of these four individuals.
At first glance, it seems like the position of Prime Minister is passed down within their family, with each member taking turns.
In Xiaoqi's family, being a farmer seems to be the hereditary profession. Her family has always been farmers.
In the novel, Abe Shinzo's grandfather and his generation have fallen from their once prestigious position as wealthy brewers of sake and soy sauce, a prominent family lineage in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
At a glance, it may seem that changing one's circumstances ultimately relies on marriage in reality. Abe Shinzo's father's generation faced a tragic fate, as he became an orphan after losing both parents, only to coincidentally be chosen by An Xinjie as a son-in-law.
It was like changing the family's fate and being reborn.
Little Qi thought about her own family, who had been farmers for generations. The highest-ranking official in their ancestry was supposedly a deputy minister during the Song Dynasty, and their ancestral shrine still held his portrait.
For seventeen-year-old Little Qi, the path of marriage and betrothal seemed like a distant world.
Thinking about her cousin's marriage, she realized that even though she married an ordinary person, they said her family owned a small factory, which meant her conditions were somewhat better. However, it was still far from changing her family's fate and social class.
Little Qi didn't know why, but when she saw these things, she thought about the different social classes.
Her current life seemed disjointed from the world portrayed in books, as if they were separate and disconnected realms.
Perhaps she was overthinking it, but Little Qi had encountered more people during this summer break than she had in her three years of high school.
There was Zhou Meiling, the Japanese language teacher and leader at the cultural center, Mrs. Liang, a successful businesswoman, Guan Jingzhi, who came from a well-off family, and Coach Wu, who worked hard to buy his own house...
She couldn't even measure up to the status of these people, let alone the world depicted in books.
Reading books was the most straightforward and simple way for her to explore and connect with the world.
Just because she hadn't encountered it didn't mean this world didn't exist.
At that moment, it seemed as though a tiny seed had been planted in her heart.
This seed was so small, and she didn't know if it would have a chance to sprout. Wrapped in a thick shell, it quietly nestled in a corner of Little Qi's heart.
Little Qi looked up and gazed out the window, and suddenly, the plains leaped, revealing a vast sea.
A wide expanse of ocean, as far as the eye could see.
It was the real sea, not something seen on television, but right before her eyes.
The high-speed train swiftly traversed the sea, and the waves had an indescribable grandeur...
