Love Entwined with Childhood Sweethearts

He was born into a poor family, with an older sister and younger brother and sister. She grew up in a happy home. Her father was the union chairman at a large state-owned enterprise, and her mother was a workshop supervisor. She had no worries as a child, was lively and spirited, and was never short of boys wanting to be around her. Their families were close, and he had watched her grow up. She had always held a place in his heart. But as the economy developed, her father's company went bankrupt and he went into business. Their residential neighborhood was also demolished, forcing them to move away. His village, too, was demolished as the economy developed. Although they still lived in the same small town, as they grew up, their social circles and jobs diverged, and they lost touch. Through his own hard work, he earned a doctorate and took a position at a university in Guangshi, eventually becoming a professor. His family’s circumstances also improved rapidly as the economy developed and people were relocated. His siblings all married and established careers, and the family became fairly prominent in town. Every year when he returned to his hometown for Lunar New Year, he heard news about her, but never saw her. He only knew that after graduating from university, she had returned to the area and taken a job at an elementary school in a neighboring town. He also knew she was still unmarried, with plenty of well-off young men pursuing her. That year, when he came home for Lunar New Year, he went with his parents, older sister, younger brother, and younger sister to pray at the town’s Gupo Temple on the fourth day of the first lunar month. As he played with his adorable nieces and nephews, he happened to look up and see the girl who had always lived in his heart walking up to the temple with her parents, carrying offerings. Their eyes met, while their parents exchanged New Year’s wishes and chatted warmly. That Lunar New Year, he knew their story was finally about to begin.