River City Story

He Zhengxi was really not used to living in a dormitory, he couldn't bear being head to toe with people other than Lin Yan, it didn't matter if the bed was small, but the bed was too close to each other.Several roommates have poor sleep habits, talk in sleep, grind their teeth, read secretly under the covers with a flashlight, and even run to the bathroom three or five times at night.People who are used to dormitory life will think it is quite normal, but He Zhengxi has never experienced it, and it is simply annoying.He thought they were a bunch of weirdos, and refused to chat with them the whole time.

A week later, he finally returned to the old ancestral hall with two huge dark circles under his eyes, and complained to Lin Yan for an hour.Lin Yan laughed while listening, helpless.

"You still pick on other people's faults? There used to be a time when you would suddenly get up from the bed in the middle of the night and run around like a girl, and I couldn't stop you." Lin Yan remembered that He Zhengxi often sleepwalked in the first year when he came here. things.I have to say that the first time he experienced sleepwalking with an acquaintance, he was really taken aback.

He Zhengxi didn't believe that he was such a weirdo: "It's fake, I don't even remember it." His body has no memory of this at all, and he felt that Lin Yan was looking for him to have fun.

Lin Yan chuckled, looked sideways at him, and said, "No sleepwalker would say that he was sleepwalking. Do you think he sleeps peacefully? Thinking about it, my kidney hurts, and I have to step on me several times a week."

He Zhengxi scratched the back of his head and said depressedly: "Then am I still running at night?"

Seeing him like this, Lin Yan immediately felt that he was being mean, so he quickly shook his head, patted He Zhengxi on the shoulder, and comforted him: "It's alright, I guess you weren't used to the new environment at that time, and you were quite nervous. .”

It made me very nervous too... Lin Yan thought to himself.In the middle of the night, sleeping soundly, the people around me suddenly sat up and yelled, as if fleeing for their lives.This kind of thing, anyone would be afraid, let alone he is still young.

He Zhengxi was obviously shocked by what he did in the middle of the night, and felt embarrassed, stupid and stupid.

"No wonder I feel tired after waking up. It's like finishing the physical examination class. I thought I was getting old before I got old." He lowered his head and pinched his fingers, thinking about the reason for sleepwalking in his head.

When he was 7 or 8 years old, he did often have nightmares. He dreamed that he was being chased by someone on the highway, or he was inexplicably trapped in the deep mountains and old forests. Dreaming about being attacked by dinosaurs at home... are indeed dreams in which you must flee for your life.Fortunately, this is no longer the case, especially after entering junior high school, He Zhengxi has to concentrate on his studies and also play basketball, which consumes a lot of energy, and he often falls asleep as soon as he touches the pillow.

Lin Yan smoothed He Zhengxi's slightly longer bangs, and said with a smile: "If I knew it earlier, I wouldn't have told you. Seeing your low mood, it's not a big deal. I sleepwalked when I was young. Could it be that now? Isn't he a healthy young man?"

He stood up and rubbed He Zhengxi's head again: "You have already sleepwalked into age No. 1, and I am not bad. You see, sleepwalking is good for IQ development. I can't get up yet."

Lin Yan is not very good at comforting and persuading, the chicken soup boiled, he stuttered, it didn't seem serious, he put together a little bit of self-expression, but he felt very sincere, and He Zhengxi loved it the most. His way.When Lin Yan talked nonsense about something, he immediately felt calm.

He Zhengxi lay down on the desk, resting his chin on the back of his hand, and said happily, "You're right, I'm well fed and sleeping soundly now, and I don't really have any worries."

"That's right. After thinking so much, can it be compared to a meal of meat? No. Concentrate on studying and work hard to generate income. This is the serious thing." Seeing that he was happy, Lin Yan gradually felt relieved, and opened a book. Ben was a freshman in high school math, biting the cap of his pen and began to preview.

He borrowed this book from Feng Bowen, not only mathematics, but also the main subjects.It's a pity to waste more than two months of summer vacation. You can learn as much as you can.However, just the preview during this period, he already felt the pressure doubled, and he was afraid that he would lose his ranking at the beginning of school.Lin Yan doesn't care whether he can get No.1 or not, but if he doesn't get the expected result, he will panic.He is eager to change the future through some things he is good at.

This is the same as his obsession with working to save money.He could have no pocket money, but he definitely couldn't have no savings, that was the confidence for Lin Yan and He Zhengxi to live alone.

Xu Jialin is no longer young and middle-aged, so in a few years, will he still be running long distances every day?He Zhengxi has just entered junior high school, so he is not sure what will happen in the future.Lin Yan has to work hard for another three years, get into a good university, find a job that is stable enough after graduation, and end his current life.

As the saying goes, you can't be poor for three generations, and Lin Yan doesn't know how many generations Xu Jialin has been poor. Anyway, in his generation, he can no longer be poor.He even tried, without hope, to heal his own ear.This broken ear affects the mood too much, especially when the English listening position is not good, it sounds quite uncomfortable.

Hey... Lin Yan stopped writing and sighed in his heart.It is estimated that when he is in his 20s, his thinking will be different from now, but based on his current life experience, he can only think of so much.

It's just that people's luck and encounters are sometimes very fucked up. You think that you are already positive enough to face this unlucky day, but there are always more fucking things waiting on the road.

In the current life, Lin Yan does not feel a sense of security.

In early August, Lin Yan received a notice from Xicheng No. 8 Middle School, and He Zhengxi said that he wanted to celebrate for him.Lin Yan thought that if he was promoted to high school, there was nothing to celebrate, but He Zhengxi insisted, and even said that he would use his private money to treat him to a big meal.

"Private money? Can you still save private money?" Lin Yan was shocked.

He gave He Zhengxi a considerable amount of pocket money every month, just enough to eat, at most he could buy a few packs of spicy sticks and drink a bottle of soda, nothing more.It's unbelievable that He Zhengxi can still save money from his private house just like this.You must know that children of their age don't care about spending money, and spend as much as they give, and it is normal to have a monthly overdraft deficit.But no matter what, Lin Yan was already content with He Zhengxi's intention to save money and treat him to dinner.

He Zhengxi didn't have much cash in his hands. Every year, the New Year's money that was visible to the naked eye was handed over to Lin Yan with both hands. He saved enough integers and then deposited them in the bank together. The working capital hidden in the pillowcase was more than 200 yuan.He said that he wanted to invite a big meal, but it was not too big, but a seafood buffet was just right.Lin Yan felt that it was too expensive from the bottom of his heart, and his flesh hurt, but when He Zhengxi's big innocent shining eyes looked at him, Lin Yan tried his best to swallow the words of refusal.

It's the first time my younger brother wants to invite his elder brother to dinner, can he refuse?Absolutely not!

The day the two went out to celebrate was Saturday, and Lin Yan didn't have to go to Qi Xuxu's class. The two brothers got up very early, and they each sat down on their desks to finish the morning's study tasks quietly, and then carried their schoolbags. Set off with a smile.

On the way, Lin Yan kept leaning on the back of the bus seat and tilting his head to look at the scenery. The sun was not very good, but the wind was very cool, with a moist smell, which could make people sweep away the boredom of the weather.

When the car drove for five or six stops, there was a sudden gust of wind outside, and after a while, thin lines of rain began to rush in from the car window.Lin Yan was going to close the window, but the moment he stood up, he vaguely saw a very familiar figure, it was Xu Jialin.

He is arguing with someone.

It was raining heavily, and Xu Jialin didn't open an umbrella. He seemed to be yelling something, and his movements were a bit exaggerated, making him extremely embarrassed.Lin Yan thought the person opposite Xu Jialin looked familiar, but he couldn't remember the name.

He struggled to recall in his mind for a long time, and when the bus had left the two people on the street far behind, Lin Yan suddenly remembered an old incident.

When he was about 6 years old, that person went to the old ancestral hall.He used to be like Xu Jialin, that person was also a gangster, but later... he started skating, he was very depressed at one time, and there was no news about him, now, he was so thin that he lost his original appearance.

Lin Yan didn't know what "skating" was at the beginning. Once when he came home, he accidentally ran into Xu Jialin smoking with a friend while chatting.The man spoke with a bit of evil spirit, and Xu Jialin even teased him - less skating, beware of nerve breakdown.The man in turn laughed at Xu Jialin and said, you had more fun than me when you were young.Xu Jialin just waved his hand, saying that he still has a sense of proportion.

Lin Yan was only 5 or 6 years old at the time, so he didn't know anything about "skating". He foolishly thought that there was an ice skating rink in Xicheng, a southern city with zero winters.It wasn't until he was in junior high school, when he lit the stove with gossip tabloids, that he accidentally saw the new meaning of "skating".

The more details he remembered, the heavier Lin Yan's heart sank, and his eyes dimmed little by little.Xu Jialin should be out of town, why did he suddenly appear on the street in Xicheng, and quarrel with an old acquaintance like that in the heavy rain?

problem occurs.

"Brother, what are you looking at?" He Zhengxi leaned over and followed Lin Yan's gaze to look out. Lin Yan came back to his senses, quickly closed the window with all his strength, turned around and sat down.

"Look at the rain, it's quite cool." He smiled at He Zhengxi, took his schoolbag to block his body, began to tear the thread of the cuff with his fingers, and slowly withdrew all the strength in his body, he panicked.

Xu Jialin'an has been driving a truck steadily for several years, but since June this year, his time spent in the old ancestral hall has decreased significantly, and his life rhythm has become more and more abnormal. Time is more erratic.

Lin Yan had inquired with Shen Han in private, and Shen Han didn't know about Xu Jialin's affairs, he only knew that he had asked for leave for no reason several times for no reason, and no one knew what he did.Last week, Lu Chi went to find Lin Yan and said some inexplicable things, all asking about Xu Jialin's current situation. Lin Yan was still puzzled at the time, but he was busy with tutoring and previewing lessons, so he didn't have time to think about it.

But now, he seemed to realize why Lu Chi hesitated to speak.

Xu Jialin's shoes were finally wet, probably not just wet, maybe, this time, something serious happened.

Lin Yan was flustered, but he didn't let He Zhengxi see it on his face.The seafood buffet that He Zhengxi chose was delicious. Lin Yan focused on killing three swimming crabs, a plate of scallops, two oysters, and a few shrimps.I even picked up a few chopsticks and sashimi. In the second half, I ate a piece of sushi, a bowl of seafood porridge, and an ice cream at the end.

He Zhengxi had never seen Lin Yan eat so much, and said in fear: "Brother, eat less ice cream, it's too cold."

"Such an expensive buffet, I can't afford to pay back." His voice was a bit cold, making He Zhengxi feel chilly.The elder brother seemed to be in a bad mood, and as the younger brother, He Zhengxi didn't continue to persuade him, but silently ate his straw on his seat.

They sat near the large floor-to-ceiling windows of the cafeteria. The thick layer of glass completely isolated the world from the pouring rain.Lin Yan lowered his head and ate the sweet and greasy mixture of the box of milk and milk powder in his hand one bite after another. Small teardrops slid down his cheeks along his eyes, and the saltiness spread in his mouth.

Lin Yan has always naively believed that at least Xu Jialin will be with him until he becomes an adult. Now that he is 16 years old, he will soon become a real adult. He can find some part-time jobs that he could not do in the past. He thought that life can be Even better, when I go to high school and take the university entrance exam, life should be full of hope...

Shit and Chicken Soup really should be seen less, Linshui Street's bully and cruel little brother are going to become street children again.Lin Yan thought.

Between He Zhengxi and Lin Yan was a pile of crab shells, shrimp shells, and oyster shells. When Lin Yan lowered his head and shed tears, He Zhengxi couldn't notice it unless he looked carefully, but he could feel that Lin Yan was today. in a bad mood.Later, when Lin Yan couldn't restrain himself and began to cry, He Zhengxi realized the seriousness of the matter, and he was a little at a loss.

He Zhengxi didn't dare to go forward, his instinct and intuition told him, at this time, don't talk nonsense if you can't speak, just stay with An An.He waited for about a minute, but it felt like half a century had passed, which was very painful.Then, Lin Yan suddenly raised his head with a smile, his whole body was trembling with laughter, his eyes were bent into crescent moons, and there was a handful of water in them.He Zhengxi felt that this was his brother's most insane smile, a bit penetrating.

After Lin Yan finished laughing, he picked up a glass of iced orange juice and poured it down, and said in a rough voice: "It's so stupid, I accidentally took a mouthful of mustard just now, damn it, the stamina is too strong, this tearful and snotty nose, don't be blind anymore What a try."

"...Oh...that's what happened." He Zhengxi stood up in a daze, planning to get Lin Yan another cup of cold water, but Lin Yan stopped him.

"Don't be busy, let's go, do you still eat?"

He Zhengxi shook his head. He pointed to the weather outside and said, "It's still raining heavily. The fourth floor of this store is a bookstore. Let's go upstairs and read a book before leaving."

Lin Yan nodded, picked up the tissue on the table: "I'm going to the bathroom first, why don't you go." His voice seemed to be blocked with something strange.

He Zhengxi picked up his schoolbag: "Go." In fact, he had already been there once, but Lin Yan didn't pay attention.In the past, no matter what He Zhengxi wanted to do, Lin Yan had to ask clearly, including things like eating out and going to the bathroom, but today Lin Yan's attention has been drifting, and his whole body is floating in the air in a state of weightlessness.

After Lin Yan washed his face and rinsed his mouth, he lowered his head and calmed down in the toilet cubicle for a while before he felt that he had come back to life.He quite despised himself for the moment when he lost his soul. Let alone whether Xu Jialin would fold in, even if he did, it would be fine. Anyway, Xu Jialin has always been like duckweed since he was a child. got used to.As for He Zhengxi, this kid is smarter than himself, and he can figure out everything.

After thinking through these things symbolically, Lin Yan immediately felt refreshed.He has always believed that he has many advantages, but if he wants to talk about the best point, it must be broad-minded... Thin.Is there anything more ridiculous than seeing your parents throw you into an orphanage?Absolutely not.So everything else is side dishes.

"Hi!" Lin Yan embraced He Zhengxi's shoulder happily, "Let's go, let's go buy two exercise books and have a good time!"

"Ah?" He Zhengxi's brain didn't match Lin Yan's band for a while.

"Ah, what! Knowledge is wealth. Do more papers and earn more money, you know?!" Lin Yan raised his hand and began to scratch He Zhengxi's hair, and he didn't let it go when he entered the bookstore.He Zhengxi's entire face was flushed, and he walked to the row of tutorial books with a messy bird's nest head on his head, feeling like he was short of black-rimmed glasses.

Lin Yan has always been quick and precise when visiting bookstores. He walked all the way, and put everything he should pick into the basket. When it came to the cashier, He Zhengxi saw that he was still holding the "Criminal Law" in his hand, and he couldn't help being a little confused.

"Brother, why are you buying law books?"

"Oh, I'm going to be 16 soon. Don't accidentally commit a crime by then, study it in advance." Lin Yan took out the money to pay the bill, without changing his face.

The girl at the cash register laughed after hearing this: "Yo, a rebellious teenager, smart."

"He is, I am not." Lin Yan pointed to He Zhengxi who was standing stupidly beside him.

My brother is a real god, He Zhengxi, who was forced to become a rebellious boy in advance, thought so.

Although he ran into Xu Jialin on the street, Lin Yan still didn't take the initiative to contact him.He went to tutoring classes step by step, and when he came back, he strictly followed the schedule and supervised He Zhengxi to do the homework. He could not go out to play for less than 8 hours a day.Because it is a holiday, this kind of arrangement is actually not very tiring, and the originally boring holiday days have become more fulfilling.

In the middle of the month, the two parents of Qi Xuxu's family finally had free time. They wanted to take their children to travel at the end of the summer vacation. Lin Yan took advantage of the situation and ended his part-time job ahead of schedule.

He was worried that his salary would be discounted because of this, but Lin Yan was lucky. In the end, he was still paid according to two full months, and an extra 200 yuan red envelope was included.Lin Yan was embarrassed to accept it, Qi Xuxu stared at him aggrievedly for a while, and then lay down on the ground and rolled him silently.

"Okay, okay, classmate Qi, why don't you accept it!" Lin Yan was shocked, dragged him up from the ground, and took the red envelope.

This child is usually quite obedient without saying a word, but when he suddenly played this game, Lin Yan didn't know what to comment.Qi Xuxu's parents stood beside him, smiling very dotingly, with "my son is so cute" written all over his face.

Lin Yan covered his face and started laughing too loudly, not daring to look at them anymore.

He likes this family very much. He has a good temper, less demands, and is very patient with the children. Qi Xuxu is very happy.After staying for a long time, Lin Yan was almost envious.

If he and He Zhengxi had parents like this...

etc!That's impossible, classmate Lin Yan.Put down this dangerous idea, your parent is old man Xu!Have a house and a car!The old ancestral hall was a building built hundreds of years ago. The car it drives costs about a million yuan, and it can pull several tons of things!No matter how bad it is, he still looks good, even though he is old.

After Lin Yan finished the routine psychological training for himself, he immediately recovered his vitality.He also wanted to take He Zhengxi out for a while, but the budget in his pocket was limited.I called Feng Bowen and Song Rui to ask, and it turned out that those two were more enthusiastic than him. Feng Bowen even printed a plan full of A4 paper and brought it with him.

"You two have plenty of time."

Lin Yan pinched the piece of paper and looked carefully. It was basically recommended attractions for cheap two-day trips in the outskirts of the city, places that can be done without too much money.

"It's okay, anyway, I'm going to college soon, hurry up and play." Feng Bowen glanced at the yard, turned to Lin Yan and said, "Can you take care of the cruel little brother, who dares to tease the senior at the age of 12."

"Ah?" Lin Yan followed Feng Bowen's gaze to the outside, and the smile on his face couldn't hold back immediately.

Song Rui was learning from He Zhengxi to catch worms on vegetable leaves. He was afraid of that thing, but insisted on trying.He Zhengxi thought it was fun, and kept putting worms on Song Rui's body. He never got tired of it, and Song Rui screamed in fright.Seeing that the little pink tomatoes at their feet were about to suffer, Lin Yan seized the opportunity and shouted:

"Comrade Xiaohe, let Song Rui off, let me do it again, I'll let you add protein!"

He Zhengxi wasn't afraid of that, but obediently threw the bugs away, and one accidentally landed on Song Rui's shoe, causing another burst of earth-shattering screams.He Zhengxi picked out his ears, ran back to the house, took a Maza and sat beside Lin Yan.

Feng Bowen thought that He Zhengxi was amazing, there was no boy of his age who was as obedient and clingy as him.But looking at the two brothers who leaned their heads together to discuss where to play, he was also very emotional.They are obviously not blood brothers, but these two are closer than those who are related by blood, and they have their own bright atmosphere enchantment, which cannot be entered by outsiders.

Song Rui washed his hands in the yard, ran into the house noisily, and jumped onto Feng Bowen's back.

Feng Bowen's knees softened under his pressure, and he almost knelt down to Lin Yan, "Damn it, be careful, what if you fall, do you want to use crutches on the first day of school?"

When Song Rui heard that school was starting, his originally excited face suddenly became unhappy. He pinched the back of Feng Bowen's neck and said, "That way you can come to our school often..."

"Our school is in the same city. Except that we are not in the same class during class, everything else is the same." Feng Bowen helplessly dragged him off his back and placed him on a chair.

Song Rui was still unhappy: "Then let's rent a room, three meals can be exchanged for the cafeteria, and we will live together at night."

Feng Bowen has always had nothing to do with Song Rui. He sighed and said, "Okay, but freshmen are not allowed to live outside, so you have to be prepared for your credits to be deducted."

Song Rui laughed mockingly: "Master can graduate without any credits."

After listening, Feng Bowen said: "What do you rely on to graduate? Face? Or bank card?"

When Song Rui heard this, he stood up angrily and wanted to pinch Feng Bowen.

"Two brothers, calm down for a while!" Lin Yan pulled them away, "Society people, don't lead my brother badly."

He listened to these two talking, his ears itched, and the more he listened, the more tired he became.It felt very strange, not like buddies, but like a young couple.Lin Yan was so shaken by his own thoughts, he turned his head and refocused on the A4 paper.The number of times he has gone out to play can be counted on half a hand. This kind of experience still depends on those two social people.

What Feng Bowen means is to find a place with mountains and water, where you can fish, which is more leisurely and better than going to man-made attractions.

"Oh, I also like farmhouse music, which is more similar to our ancestral hall." Lin Yan agreed very much.

"What kind of farmhouse music, why is it like Song Rui, why can't you be more advanced?" Feng Bowen made a gesture to knock Lin Yan on the forehead, but was glared at by He Zhengxi, so he had to withdraw his hand resentfully.

Lin Yan thought about it seriously, and asked, "What's that supposed to be called?"

Feng Bowen replied: "B&B."

Lin Yan: ...um.