"I'm her relative, uh, I came to visit relatives," said the woman.
"So you are a relative. May I ask what relation you have with her?" Auntie Chen was a little puzzled. Wen Qian had very few distant relatives.
Her paternal grandfather's side of relatives lived far away and spoke in different accents. Her maternal grandmother's siblings had mostly passed away, and their children were around the same age as Wen Qian, but they barely kept in touch with her.
As for the next generation, they had no connection at all with Wen Qian.
There's a saying that goes "One generation are considered relatives, two generations are acquaintances, three generations are strangers."
Auntie Chen had a good grasp of this situation clear during the funeral of the elderly people.
Relatives? What relatives that Auntie Chen didn't even know about?
So Auntie Chen called Wen Qian directly and said her relatives had come but the road was not easy to walk. She asked if Wen Qian could come to pick them up.
Wen Qian was puzzled for a moment on the phone, but finally said she would come down right away. She really didn't know what relatives would come looking for her since she hadn't been in touch with any relatives for years.
In fact, ever since Grandma passed away, even her maternal uncles, aunts and cousins rarely came by.
When Auntie Chen said Wen Qian would come down, the woman quickly waved her hand, "Oh no need, I can go up myself. It's up this slope right? Ah, this place is so remote with barely anyone around."
Auntie Chen had always been very clear about people's connections and relatives around the neighborhood - who was whose cousin, aunt or in-law. She knew more than Wen Qian.
So she gradually formed a speculation in her mind.
"You are her relatives but have never been here before?"
"Ha ha, there're too many trees now and we don't recognize the way. We came before. Someone down by the river just told me to keep going this way," said the woman, seeming to want to get closer.
"Oh really?" As soon as Auntie Chen heard this, she thought of Gui Hua and felt these people were probably brought here by Gui Hua.
At this moment, the door on the driver's side opened, and a man looking in his early 20s came out, "Mom, how much longer is this going to take?" He didn't want to come in the first place, but since he was the only one in the family who could drive, he was getting impatient seeing his mother chit chatting instead of getting things done.
Why do adults always get into lengthy half an hour conversations whenever they meet someone?
Wen Qian came down quickly and looked at the man and woman, "Who are you?"
"I am, I am..." The woman's expression and emotions seemed somewhat exaggerated. Wen Qian would describe it as overacting.
Wen Qian calmly pointed out, "I don't know you."
"You don't recognize me, but I am your, I am your..." The woman again had a hesitant look.
Wen Qian just looked at her without saying anything. She had no curiosity towards this hesitant act at all. Let her act however she wanted. So Wen Qian simply observed like a bystander to see their next move.
Seeing the girl not responding, the woman dabbed her non-existent teary eyes again, "Never mind. I just came to see how you're doing and if you're living well."
So Wen Qian still didn't say anything and just stood there allowing the two to examine her, without uttering a single word.
She thought to herself: Done looking? Can you leave now?
The man frowned, feeling that guests should usually be treated very politely. But facing this girl was like facing a piece of wood - no manners or courtesy at all.
Apparently this aunt didn't know how to start a conversation with Wen Qian either, not to mention Auntie Chen was still watching by the side.
Auntie Chen's gossipy mind was getting more and more lit.
Fang Ya had been listening by the window. The more she listened, the more bizarre it got.
She had also chatted about Wen Qian with her mother-in-law, so she naturally knew about Wen Qian's background too.
"Well, why don't we go to your home and sit down to have a good talk? Doesn't seem right standing outside someone else's door like this," the woman awkwardly suggested.
The girl showed no curiosity, longing or resentment towards them, only indifference. This somehow made her at a loss of how to start.
She figured the girl probably wouldn't react even if she cried in front of her, so she thought she might as well save it till they got to her house. Plus there was a neighbor watching, and she worried about drawing unwanted attention.
But Wen Qian didn't budge at all, showing no intention of hosting any guests.
"I won't let strangers into my house. You said you came to see me. Now that you've seen me, you can leave," said Wen Qian.
"How rude! A guest is a guest. How can you talk to people like this?" The young man wondered if she already knew their purpose here, but still picked on her lack of manners wanting to call her out.
Wen Qian raised her brow, "Do I know you?"
The woman pulled her son, "Don't say anything more." They came to get on good terms, not to fight.
"If you are guests, why show up empty handed without any gifts?"
Gifts were indeed in the trunk, but the rude question irritated the young man. He rolled his eyes feeling this girl was too thick-skinned. How could she so openly ask for gifts?
As soon as the woman heard this, laugh lines appeared on her face, "Oh I brought them. They're in the trunk! I just haven't taken them out because we haven't gotten to your home yet."
Auntie Chen almost burst out laughing hearing this. Nowadays, except for gold or other valuables, Wen Qian wouldn't care much for gifts.
Wen Qian was just messing with them on purpose. She was always very courteous in front of others, reciprocating food and drinks whenever invited over.
But now facing these two strangers, she was so blunt that Auntie Chen became more convinced of her speculation.
What amused her even more was Wen Qian's next question - asking to see the gifts first.
It was as if insufficient or unsatisfactory gifts meant no hospitality.
The woman immediately went to pop the trunk, and thought for a moment whether the box of milk and apples would be looked down upon.
She wondered if she should give the girl a red packet later. The girl didn't seem easy to get along with.
And right after, Wen Qian said, "That's it? You can go back where you came from."
"How can someone complain gifts are not enough? Are you kidding or deliberately messing with us?" The young man became impatient again. What was the point of suddenly showing up! Just to get humiliated?
"Yes, I'm so rude. Now leave!" Wen Qian was about to turn and walk away.
The young man felt this was the most shameless person he had met - completely lacking manners. Why bother dealing with someone like this?
The woman patted her fuming son to calm him down.
"Looks like you know who I am, so you feel uncomfortable inside. But I understand. Over the years, it has been weighing on me, so I just had to come see you, otherwise I won't die in peace."
Her words were miserable and pitiful.
Wen Qian turned around with an official smile, "I see. Well, now that you've seen me fully intact with eyes, nose, mouth and limbs, you can die in peace."
