Standing Next To You

...

Grandma Bei held Bei Sangyun's hands as they walked through the village. There were still many strange and apprehensive gazes thrown at them.

Although Bei Sangyun felt uncomfortable, the pink dress, the new shoes, and her grandma gave her the courage to continue forward and ignore them.

"My Sangyun, you can't please everyone. There will be people who will look at you with unkind gaze, some people will talk about you with malicious intention. Many people will try to drag you down until you have nothing left."

Bei Sangyun looked up. Grandma Bei's side profile looked solemn. "However, it's not true that you have nothing. A person has dignity, pride, beliefs, principles, and a bottom line. You will only lose everything if you lose those."

Grandma Bei looked down at Bei Sangyun and smiled, "So don't make anyone try to take it away from you. Let them be unkind to you, let them talk about you, as long as you remain strong and unbreakable, those things will pass and won't harm you. Do you understand, my child?"

Grandma Bei had never talked this seriously before. Her grandma's gaze was firm and powerful.

Bei Sangyun nodded firmly.

At that time, she did not understand most of it, but every time she faced a quagmire, her grandma's words that day would repeat in her mind like a mantra. Only then Bei Sangyun stood up from the ditch and come out more strongly than before.

.....

"It's a pity I can't show this to everyone. They will be jealous of me if they saw my dress and my embodied shoes!" Bei Sangyun chattered lively.

She and her grandma had arrived in the town in less than an hour. Thanks to the tricycle they rented.

Bei Sangyun looked at her grandma who had been silent on the way, "Grandma, did you strike it rich? You never let me ride a tricycle before and we never go to the town to eat."

Grandma Bei forced a smile, "You are right."

Bei Sangyun stared at her grandma's face silently. Her grandma did not look happy.

"Grandma, I will work hard from now on. Although I won't attend school, I will help you sell your baskets in the market. I will find a job and I will save a lot of money. Then I will buy a store and sell many things. I'll become a businesswoman!"

Bei Sangyun read in a book that education was important but so was attitude. If one has a strong will, discipline, and dedication, one could become successful and achieve the things they want to do in life.

Bei Sangyun abandoned the 'school life' and decided to get more experience earlier.

Grandma Bei flicked Bei Sangyun's forehead. "You are too young to work. Study hard first then create a path of your own."

"But...I won't attend school anymore..."

"Bei Sangyun, grandma won't stay in your life forever. I will grow old and die. While you will remain in this world and will continue living. I will be at peace at heart if I knew you are doing well. But if you are hurting and suffering, I will be also suffering underground, do you understand?"

Bei Sangyun was taken aback by the sudden change of topic. She could not help but worry, "Grandma, are you going to die and leave me alone?"

Grandma Bei: "..."

"You brat, I am just saying 'if'!"

Bei Sangyun covered her forehead.

The two arrived at the only restaurant in town. This town was in the countryside, and there weren't many establishments here. There was only one school, one hospital, and one restaurant, among others.

If someone wanted to see more establishments, they had to go to the nearest city.

But this restaurant here was famous in the town. It was two stories high and was always crowded with people. People who could eat here were from the good families of the town and some well-off people from other villagers.

Bei Sangyun obviously had not visited this place before.

Today, the restaurant was empty and they were the only people in this place. With only a few people, this place had become much bigger.

She wanted to ask if her grandma had enough money to eat here, but all of her worries disappeared after seeing a table filled with dishes.

"This is the table reserved for you, Ma'am." The waiter was polite and kind. "Should I call for the gentleman upstairs?"

"No need. We will eat first." Grandma Bei replied.

Bei Sangyun did not notice their little conversation as she was distracted by the lavish feast in front of her.

"Wow! Grandma, you ordered all of this?" Bei Sangyun was jumping. Her eyes showed her anticipation to eat all the food on the table.

Grandma Bei smiled, "It's for us. Take a seat."

Bei Sangyun was too focused on the food and forgot her question as to how her poor grandma was able to buy so much food today.

No matter how much Bei Sangyun wanted to eat all of the dishes, her little tummy could not take all of them.

While rubbing her round tummy, she looked at half of the dishes that she and her grandma could not finish.

"Grandma, can we take them home? After we walk back to the village we will get hungry. Then we can eat this again later."

Grandma Bei ruffled her hair. She was smiling but her eyes were red with glistening tears. She stroked Bei Sangyun's head with affection. Her fingers trembled. "There is someone I want you to meet."

Bei Sangyun blinked at her grandma.

Grandma Bei suddenly hugged Bei Sangyun tightly, "Grandma doesn't have a choice. You can blame Grandma later."

Bei Sangyun was full of confusion.

Why does her grandma sound so sad? They just ate a big meal.

Her back suddenly became wet. A suppressed sob came from her grandma.

"Grandma?" Bei Sangyun panicked. "Why are you crying?"

Her grandma did not answer but hugged her tightly.

Grandma Bei's strange actions scared Bei Sangyun.

Her eyes also turned teary.

Although she could not see her grandma's face, the warm tears she felt from her back and her grandma's suppressed sobs were so heartbreaking.

She did not know the reason behind it but the fact that her grandma was crying was scaring Bei Sangyun.

Her grandma was always strong and never cried in front of her. What made her strong and stubborn grandma cry with so much heartache?

"Grandma, are you hurt?"

"I will be good anymore, don't cry."

"I won't eat a lot....huhu...grandma don't cry."

"...I will go to school. Just don't cry, Grandma."

Bei Sangyun plead. Her face was full of tears. Hearing her grandma cry was more heartbreaking than anything she experienced before.