"I'm the chicken frame, so you're the old chicken?" Wang Muman retorted, a rare occurrence that surprised Wang Mujin, who had expected her sister to quietly accept the chicken piece.
Wang Mujin didn't reply, focusing on her meal. She could sense that her sister had changed significantly.
Wang Muman finished her last bite of rice and put down her chopsticks, watching the other three eat. The uncle beside them was recounting a story of perseverance. Wang Muman listened intently; it was quite amusing, especially with the uncle's dialect adding to the humor.
Hearing people's life stories always captivated many, much like a class where a teacher might digress and share personal anecdotes. Some saw this as an opportunity to slack off, while others listened with rapt attention. It was perhaps a form of leisure amidst their busy lives.
"Shall we go for a walk in the park later to help digest our food?" Wang Mujin suggested as everyone finished eating, proposing an activity suitable for the elderly.
The city was vast, with numerous parks. Wang Mujin chose one with a large lake.
The park was bustling with children. Various kites dotted the sky, and on the lawns, many picnickers enjoyed themselves, running around with great joy.
"I'll go buy a kite. Will you two fly it?" Wang Mujin asked the two youngsters, spotting a kite seller by the roadside.
Yan Cheng looked at Wang Muman, thinking, *If she flies it, I'll fly it.*
Wang Muman picked out a kite with a normal design, resembling an ancient paper kite.
"I'm not very good at flying them. Yan Cheng, are you?" Wang Muman realized too late, after Wang Mujin had paid, that she hadn't flown a kite much.
Yan Cheng nodded. He'd even participated in a kite-flying competition in primary school; he was familiar with it.
Wang Mujin asked Yan Cheng's grandmother to sit on a chair under a shady tree, intending to chat with the elder and relax.
Yan Cheng's grandmother took a sip of water, watching the two children fumbling with the kite.
"Maman has changed a lot. She was quite introverted when she first came here."
"Yes, she used to not even laugh with me at home." Wang Mujin found each meeting with her sister a new experience. It hadn't been like this in primary or middle school. She wondered if it was the more vibrant environment of the new school.
"Little Cheng has changed too; he's even developed double standards now," Yan Cheng's grandmother chuckled.
Meanwhile, Wang Muman watched Yan Cheng fiddle with the kite, unsure of what to do.
"You stand over here and hold the kite. I'll go over there. When I tell you to release it, you toss the kite upwards," Yan Cheng instructed, looking at her earnestly.
Due to the height difference, Yan Cheng always looked down when speaking to her. He always spoke to her with great seriousness, never joking, yet his voice was soft, giving her a feeling of both sternness and gentleness.
"Okay, I'll listen to you," Wang Muman replied, meeting his gaze and nodding.
She was so compliant. The sunlight perfectly illuminated her face, her eyes squinted, yet she could clearly see him looking at her.
"Later, I'll start running. You stay put and watch me."
Wang Muman smiled and nodded again, "Got it!" *Watching you.*
Yan Cheng moved to a suitable distance. When the wind was just right, he called out, "Release!"
She lifted the kite in her hands, and it soared forward. Yan Cheng ran in her line of sight. She didn't watch the kite, only him.
It felt as if, like the kite, he was soaring in the sky, flying far away from her.
Wang Muman lowered her head. She could no longer see him and a sense of loss suddenly welled up. Would it always be like this?