In the blink of an eye, it was early September, the season for grape harvest.
Every year at this time, Chen Xi and Fan Mingsu would go to Chen Mei’s orchard to help pick grapes.
This year, Fan Mingsu wanted to take Grandpa Guan to the orchard to lift his spirits.
Early in the morning, Qin Lie’s car was parked at the courtyard gate.
Chen Xi pushed the wheelchair out of the courtyard, bent down, and said in Grandpa Guan’s ear, “Grandpa Guan, today we’re going to Yang Guan Town to pick grapes and have barbecue tonight.”
Grandpa Guan was like a bundle of dry wood piled in the wheelchair, but his eyes were unusually excited.
He murmured, “Going on a trip, a trip.”
Fan Mingsu carried Grandpa Guan’s thermos and medicine, casually adding, “Let’s go to Beijing, to Shanghai.”
Qin Lie opened the rear car door and bent down to lift Grandpa Guan.
But Grandpa Guan looked up at him for a moment, then suddenly spoke with some unfamiliarity, “When did you come back?”
Qin Lie was momentarily confused. “What?”
Grandpa Guan murmured, “You’re busy, don’t worry about me.”
After saying this, he looked at a poplar tree by the gate and ignored Qin Lie.
Qin Lie looked at Chen Xi in bewilderment, but Chen Xi suddenly understood.
Grandpa Guan had mistaken Qin Lie for his son.
Fan Mingsu also heard it and patted Grandpa Guan’s shoulder.
She said loudly, “The child took the train all night to see you and hasn’t even eaten yet.”
Grandpa Guan stared at the poplar tree under the clear sky. After a moment, he couldn’t help but feel distressed and struggled to get out of the wheelchair.
He muttered, “I’ll make you yellow noodles.”
Qin Lie also belatedly understood and quickly supported Grandpa Guan’s shoulders.
He lowered his head and said, “Dad, sit still. I’m not hungry.”
Grandpa Guan sat back down properly, looked up at Qin Lie, and asked, “Is everything well at home?”
Qin Lie nodded, “Everything’s well.”
Grandpa Guan lowered his head and pondered for a long while, then slowly said, “This time, when you leave, take Sensen with you.”
Chen Xi’s heart ached, and she held the car door, saying, “Let’s go, it’s getting late.”
Qin Lie bent down and carefully lifted Grandpa Guan, placing him in the back seat.
They set off in the morning light.
Chen Mei’s family had ten acres of orchard, all planted with seedless white grapes.
Under the sunlight, clusters of green grapes hung from the vines like crystal-clear emeralds suspended overhead.
Chen Mei settled Fan Mingsu and Grandpa Guan under a grape trellis, then led Chen Xi and Qin Lie deep into the orchard.
Fan Mingsu and Grandpa Guan sat in lounge chairs with a small square table between them, holding grapes and tea.
She ate a grape – it was incredibly sweet. She thought this year’s grapes had grown better than in previous years.
Fan Mingsu suddenly said, “Sensen should stay with me from now on.”
Grandpa Guan became confused again, looking around and asking, “Did Shuping leave?”
This morning, he had mistaken Qin Lie for his son Shuping, and he was still thinking about it.
Fan Mingsu pointed to the endless grape orchard.
She said with a smile, “Shuping is picking grapes for you. Try one and see if it’s sweet.”
Grandpa Guan looked at the grapes on the small table, his eyes showing delight.
He plucked a grape and carefully put it in his mouth.
One bite, and the sweetness reached his heart.
Chen Xi stood under the grape trellis, smiled at Qin Lie, and said, “Watch carefully.”
She supported a heavy cluster of grapes with one hand and used small scissors to cut the vine with the other.
With a snip, a complete cluster of grapes fell into her hand.
Chen Xi squatted down and carefully placed the grapes in a plastic crate.
Qin Lie imitated Chen Xi and cut down a cluster of grapes.
“Is it fun?”
Chen Xi asked him with a smile.
Qin Lie glanced at Chen Mei’s figure in the distance, then quickly lowered his head and kissed Chen Xi’s lips.
He had been so busy these past few days, working almost non-stop, and hadn’t seen Chen Xi for several days.
Chen Xi smiled and nudged him with her elbow, “Get to work.”