The pretty girl walked past her and left before Song Qingchun understood what had happened. Do I know this girl? How did she know my name? And she even gave me her blessing…
Song Qingchun turned around with confusion to look at the girl’s retreating shadow. Before she understood what happened, someone patted her on her back. Song Qingchun turned around and saw two little girls waving smilingly at her. One of them said, “Song Qingchun, I wish you happiness for every minute and every second.”
The other girl immediately followed it up with, “Song Qingchun, I wish you joy for every minute and every second.”
Just like the earlier young woman, the two girls ran away happily after that. Not long after, a middle-aged couple came forward and said in unison, “Song Qingchun, I wish that good luck accompanies you forever.”
After the couple left, it was a young man wearing a cap, with headphones hanging around his neck, who stopped before her and stepped down from his skateboard to say, “I wish for you to always be safe.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll find a good home.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll get better every year.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish the world will treat you kindly.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll never lose your path.”
After the young man left, many other people continued to accost her. They all gave her a blessing before walking away. The street was filled with many different people from various backgrounds and regions around China. Some of them had such strange accents that Song Qingchun strained to understand what they were saying.
Song Qingchun stood where she was as if petrified for some time before the reality dawned on her.
“Song Qingchun, I wish you have both high heels and running shoes.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you have both wine and tea.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish fate spares you from misfortune.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you have a stupendous life.”
Eventually, the different Chinese accents changed into foreign languages; there were Japanese, English, French…
Each blessing was completely different. Some made her laugh; others warmed her heart.
“Song Qingchun, I wish you a lifetime of love.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll be treasured for life.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll end up with the one you love.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish the glow in your eyes will never dim.”
Song Qingchun finally was so touched that she raised her hands to stop the tears from falling. The people kept coming to give her their wishes.
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll never be disappointed.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll have a fulfilling life.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll never miss the things that you want in life.”
“Song Qingchun, I wish you’ll turn around at this moment.”
Song Qingchun had been counting in her heart since the first young woman approached her; this was the 99th blessing.
After listening to the latest wish, Song Qingchun quickly turned, and as she expected, underneath the tallest tree was Su Zhinian, shrouded by the shimmering light.