River City Story

He Zhengxi didn't know why he had to emphasize Lin Yan's small attributes.Lin Yan hates motor vehicles, and has a slight obsession with cleanliness. He is used to burying his head in the pillow when he sleeps. He always laughs first when encountering difficult problems. His fists are actually very hard...

These little secrets that He Zhengxi discovered first and most of them still belonged to the two of them, became the proof of existence that he desperately grasped and refused to let go.

—Our relationship is different, different from everyone else.He Zhengxi thought so.

"Don't keep talking about me to your family in the future." Lin Yan said to He Zhengxi in the hotel bathroom, "There's no need."

He Zhengxi didn't understand: "Why?" He had just washed his face, and there were still drops of water on the tip of his nose, and his eyes were focused on Lin Yan, with a usual innocent expression.

"No, you're staying with them today...Mid-Autumn Festival." Seeing He Zhengxi's pitiful look, Lin Yan couldn't bear to continue talking.

He Zhengxi leaned against the sink and lowered his head: "Why should I live with them? It's so strange."

"I think your family is pretty good. I haven't seen each other for so many years. I definitely want to talk to you. Tomorrow's appraisal, let Uncle Qian Sheng accompany you. I have to tidy up our yard. Weeds are growing all over the place." It's gone." Lin Yan pinched He Zhengxi's earlobe.

"Oh." He Zhengxi grabbed Lin Yan's hand pinching his ear, and moved half a step forward, getting close to his neck, "Brother, are you unhappy? I know you are unhappy."

Lin Yan took He Zhengxi into his arms, patting and stroking.It's often played like this on TV, and he doesn't know if it's useful.

"To be honest, I'm sure I can't send you away happily. These days, my brother's attitude is not very good. Don't be angry."

"Then I'm your family member. You just said that Uncle Xu is your only family member. I'm not happy..." He Zhengxi bit Lin Yan's neckline and said.

Lin Yan smiled, "Yes. When you get back there, don't bite or rub against others casually, be careful of being beaten."

He Zhengxi said loudly: "Others are not worth my bite! Who are they!"

"You're really irritable. Feng Bowen said you are a cruel little brother. You are absolutely right." Seeing someone coming in, Lin Yan pushed He Zhengxi away. Fight, you know?"

He Zhengxi: "Your brother, can I be that kind of person?"

Lin Yan patted him on the head: "It's fine if you understand it yourself, let's go, go back and eat again, and then I will go back with Brother Lu Chi first."

As soon as he heard that Lin Yan was leaving, He Zhengxi's face collapsed again, but he knew he couldn't speak up to Lin Yan, so he could only shut up and keep quiet.

After lunch, he reluctantly said goodbye, and Lin Yan sat in Lu Chi's car and heaved a sigh of relief.He is really not good at dealing with that kind of scene, his stomach is also tense, and he feels uncomfortable drinking saliva.

"In another ten years, you won't be nervous anymore," Lu Chi said.

"Ten years from now, I still won't get used to it." Lin Yan fastened his seat belt, closed his eyes and tried to catch up on sleep.

"Don't sleep yet," Lu Chi shook Lin Yan, "I have something to talk to you too."

Lin Yan closed his eyes and said, "Tell me, I won't sleep."

Lu Chi held the steering wheel, paused for a few seconds, and said, "This is mainly what my mother meant, she... wants you to live with me."

"I haven't met Aunt Xin a few times." Lin Yan opened his eyes and looked at Lu Chi, "Besides, I won't go, Brother Lu Chi, you know."

"I understand, but what happened to Uncle Xu, it's probably not going to happen in ten years. You have to be mentally prepared. You will have a hard time until the college entrance examination or even graduation from university." Lu Chi turned on the car stereo and played Playing some soothing light music, he continued: "I won't let you be separated from Uncle Xu, I just want to take care of you, and my house is close to No. [-] Middle School, so it's convenient to go to school."

Lin Yan leaned against the car window and said in a low voice: "I'm almost an adult, I have hands and feet, and I don't want to trouble others. Besides, Uncle Lu and Aunt Xin are also getting old, so what's the matter with serving me?"

Lu Chi smiled, "You don't know, don't you, the two of them are afraid that something will go wrong, and they don't have any hope for me. It's a bit busy to get you there."

Lin Yan lowered his eyes and rubbed his seat belt, "You guys are good enough to me. In fact, after He Zhengxi went back, I felt much more relaxed and didn't have any major difficulties. It's really good to live in the old ancestral hall."

Lu Chi sighed: "Okay, I understand. I like the small vegetable garden in your house. I guess I will go there often to eat and drink in the future."

"Aren't you coming too often?" Lin Yan feigned anger, "Remember to bring your own ingredients! I'm very poor!"

Lu Chi laughed and pressed his head with his hands.

"Don't mess with my hair, it's already growing!" Lin Yan moved Lu Chi's hand to the steering wheel, "Drive safely! Drive safely!"

"Go, go, go."

Lin Yan felt better after being made a fuss by Lu Chi.Although the eldest brother of the Lu family is 30 years old, he still has the same enthusiasm and enthusiasm as a college student.He looks good, is very generous in making friends, can eat everywhere, and lives a comfortable life.There are not many normal people around Lin Yan, and Lu Chi is at least one of them.

When he got near the shopping mall, Lin Yan got out of the car early, walked in with his schoolbag on his back, and looked up at the Mid-Autumn Festival promotion posters hanging around for a long time.The shopping mall was noisy, and Lin Yan felt very safe in it.

After returning home, after taking a shower and washing his hair, Lin Yan took out a small stainless steel scissors from the desk drawer, and trimmed his bangs in front of the mirror.

When school was over on Friday, Cai Xusheng stared at him suddenly and said that his hair was too long, combed behind the ears, and wearing a pair of glasses, he was a living and refined scum.Lin Yan thinks that gentleness is fine, but he can't be a scum, and he still wants to be a healthy and good young man.There were a lot of people in the barbershop, so he came back after taking a look, and decided to take care of it himself.

Lin Yan would occasionally help He Zhengxi trim his hair, when He Zhengxi was not in junior high school.

Children can't find flowers, but Lin Yan can practice his hands boldly and fearlessly.When He Zhengxi entered the first year of junior high school, Lin Yan stopped doing this.He was very worried that one day he would accidentally cut a gap and make him ugly, which would attract the ridicule of his classmates, which in turn would arouse He Zhengxi's rebellious psychology.Eleven or twelve-year-old boys actually place a lot of emphasis on appearance, even though He Zhengxi himself has never realized it.But as someone who has experienced it, Lin Yan thinks he has a good grasp of the mental state of this age.

Lin Yan's technique is very skillful now, and he can finish the cut in a few minutes, and he doesn't care what his hairstyle looks like, as long as it's not too bald.After it was over, he stared at the mirror, struggled for a long time, picked up the scissors again, and trimmed his bangs a little shorter until half of his forehead was just exposed, before he nodded his head reluctantly to himself.

On Sunday afternoon, Fang Jue called and asked He Zhengxi to stay in the hotel for one more night, but Lin Yan disagreed.Later, He Yi took the phone and talked to him in person, but now Lin Yan couldn't say a word.

"We didn't mean to embarrass you, Lin Yan." He Yi said earnestly, "You are his elder brother, and the whole family is grateful to you. However, as an elder, I selfishly hope that you can also understand and understand adults' love for children , not to mention that Zhengxi has been away from home for 7 years, and the family members just want to say a few more words to him."

Lin Yan bit his lips and trembled. He really wanted to say, you two have been separated for 7 years, but from now on, I might be separated from He Zhengxi for 7 years, or even 17 years, or even longer... why not more give me some time?

But in the end, Lin Yan couldn't tell He Yi what he said.He doesn't like being aggressive, and he agrees with He Yi's point of view.Before hanging up the phone, He Yi called He Zhengxi over to talk to Lin Yan.The two brothers didn't chat for a long time. Someone kept calling He Zhengxi to go out, vaguely sounding like he was going to the mall to buy clothes.Lin Yan didn't want to go through any more suffering, so he smiled and asked He Zhengxi to hang up the phone.

Compared to other people's 12 years old, He Zhengxi is already very sensible and mature, but he is only 12 years old after all, the age longing for affection and family.Want to wear a handsome sports suit, but can't walk when seeing the game, get together to play ball and press the road, without too much trouble, this is what Lin Yan imagined, what He Zhengxi should look like.Instead of struggling every day to improve how many meals a week, haggling with vendors in the market for a few cents, or even buying a pair of comfortable sneakers is too embarrassing to ask.

It's better to go back, study and live without distraction, study key points, enter prestigious schools, preferably all the way to get a doctorate, and go to a big hospital to be a good doctor who treats diseases and saves lives. This is the path he should take.

Lin Yanwo lay on the bed staring at He Zhengxi's pillow in a daze. After a long time, he turned around and pulled up the blanket to wrap himself in it.

On Monday evening, when Lin Yan came home from school, He Zhengxi was there, and he was reluctantly pouring tea for Fang Jue.

"Aren't you going back tonight?" He asked.

"No, not for this period of time." He Zhengxi handed Lin Yan a glass of water.

"Where's cousin?" Lin Yan didn't know how to address Fang Jue, so he could only call out cousin along with He Zhengxi, "If you don't mind, you can live in Uncle Xu's room, it's not dirty, I just cleaned it yesterday , with new blankets and pillows.”

Fang Jue said with a smile: "Then I really won't leave, I'm the only one left in the big army, so I have to rely on you."

Lin Yan opened his eyes wide in doubt: "Is it enough to get close so soon?"

Fang Jue was amused by this sentence, "You kid, it's really interesting to talk, they are much busier than me, hey, I'm actually not idle either."

"The enslaved young man." Lin Yan left a sentence expressionless, shrugged his shoulders, turned and left.

Fang Jue held the tea and laughed happily.He thinks that Lin Yan is really interesting. He is quite immature in age and appearance, and he is a little sophisticated in dealing with people, but his overall temperament is... To put it artistically, it is fresh and refined.In short, a person with complex attributes is particularly interesting.

"Your brother, he treats you very well." Fang Jue asked He Zhengxi, pointing at Lin Yan who was chopping vegetables in the small kitchen with his chin.

"Of course, he is the best person in the world to me." He Zhengxi sat on a small bench and peeled potatoes, "He can do everything, but he only does it for me."

Fang Jue smiled.He originally planned to say that this could easily cause misunderstanding, but after thinking about it, he closed his mouth again.Both children are upright, not to mention that He Zhengxi is only 12, and he is far away from enlightenment.However, when he was in the small courtyard of the old ancestral hall, he unconsciously regarded Lin Yan and He Zhengxi as adults, and even the way of thinking changed accordingly, especially Lin Yan, who was very mature.Earlier, Qian Sheng, who was also a lawyer, had talked to him about this issue. At that time, he hadn't had any specific contact with Lin Yan. Looking at it now, he was indeed a middle school student who couldn't handle it casually.

"Cousin Fang, people who don't work don't have dinner." Lin Yan walked over and put a pot of beans in front of Fang Jue, "He Zhengxi can do it, he will teach you."

"what?"

"Ah, what, you are more deaf than me." Lin Yan went into the room and took out a kitchen knife, throwing fresh meat on the chopping board, the back of the knife banged loudly.

Seeing this posture, Fang Jue trembled exaggeratedly, and quietly leaned into He Zhengxi's ear and said, "Has your brother been in the gangsters? The one with the knife in his hand is sharp and beautiful!"

He Zhengxi squinted at Fang Jue: "My brother is a tyrant in Linshui Street, even if he really went to the underworld, he would definitely be the most handsome."

"Anyway, no matter what Lin Yan does, you agree that you are his number one fan." Fang Jue said.

"It's up to you." In just two days, He Zhengxi has already gotten to know Fang Jue completely, he has such a talent.

"Hey, it's not big or small." Fang Jue poked He Zhengxi's head with a bean, but his hand was too strong, and he crushed the whole row without paying attention. A bean jumped out and rolled all the way to Lin Yan's. near the heel.

Lin Yan didn't even raise his eyes, he turned on the gas stove, set up the pot to blanch the meat, then carefully rinsed the kitchen knife with hot water, and wiped it carefully with a towel.Finally, he bent down to pick up the pea that fell on the ground, held the knife in his right hand, served the ball with his left hand, bang——!One hit hits the mark.

"Hey! What the hell!" Fang Jue rubbed his browbones and opened his eyes, looking at Pea, who had been bouncing around on the ground for a few laps and finally slowed down, "Lin Yan, what are you doing!"

"It's nothing, it's shameful to waste it." Lin Yan shook the knife in his hand at him, the blade was shiny.

"Tsk!" Fang Jue picked up the beans, rubbed them on his body, put them back in the basin, gave Lin Yan a thumbs up, and said, "It's amazing, it's a good game."

Lin Yan raised his eyebrows sullenly, "I'll give you two 5 minutes to fix it quickly, otherwise our dinner will have to be supper."

"Good teacher Xiaolin!" Fang Jue held up the beans to salute, Lin Yan smiled, turned around and left with the knife.

Fang Jue lived in the old ancestral hall for four days, during which he completed He Zhengxi's transfer procedures.On Friday, he and Qian Sheng handed over the results of the appraisal to Lin Yan, and then he will take He Zhengxi back to Yancheng first.

"You went there, don't come back for the time being, and make trouble." Lin Yan held the appraisal certificate, read it over and over several times, and said to He Zhengxi.

"Why..." He Zhengxi was puzzled, "Anyway, I don't have classes during this time, so I'll just take a test, and basically study by myself in the rest of the time, and go to school after the holidays."

"Don't." Lin Yan lowered his head and said, "I can't stand you saying goodbye to me over and over again, it's too uncomfortable."

He Zhengxi was stunned, he had never heard Lin Yan talk about such a topic.Lin Yan said that he would feel uncomfortable because of the goodbye, and He Zhengxi suddenly felt uncomfortable.

His throat was blocked for a while: "Brother..."

"Stop, don't get bored." Lin Yan interrupted He Zhengxi, "When you leave, I'll go to the class teacher, withdraw the application for day study, and live in the school, so I don't have to hurry, it's very convenient."

"……Um."

The small bedroom was very quiet, only the sound of Lin Yan kept flipping through the appraisal certificate. He Zhengxi didn't know what there was to see in this thing.

He Zhengxi couldn't figure out how to choose his words carefully so as to fully express what was in his heart.In fact, he didn't have a firm enough stand to support what he wanted to say.

After the two were silent for 2 minutes without saying a word, Lin Yan finally stopped turning those pages. He went to the yard, turned on the tap, washed his face, came back again, opened the book and started writing. Operation.

The date of departure was set, and time seemed to pass even faster.He Zhengxi hasn't made any good friends in his new class yet, except for his old acquaintance Feng Xing, the only ones left to say goodbye are those from the basketball team.But as a boy in the second year of middle school who studies well, looks good, and is good at sports, He Zhengxi doesn't need to take the initiative to do anything, as there will always be people who feel reluctant to give up on him.Especially those little girls who had a crush on him prepared gifts one by one. Although Yang Yuxin was rejected, she still said goodbye to He Zhengxi generously.

Lin Yan bought a classmate book for He Zhengxi, saying that he should not let down the little girl's heart.In fact, from He Zhengxi's point of view, this thing is not very useful, but without this form, it seems that something is missing, so it remains.Classmates can be taken apart, everyone can write and exchange, and He Zhengxi himself kept a copy.In addition to the basic data items such as name, age, and phone number, there is also a small category-favorite people.Most of the students will write about their favorite actors, singers, and football stars. Occasionally, some who love to joke will write about their classmates.When He Zhengxi filled it here, he picked up his pen and wrote "Lin Yan".He can quickly get acquainted with people, but no one can make him take it to heart, only Lin Yan is the most special one.

This square colored page was finally carefully packed in an envelope, and followed He Zhengxi over more than 1000 kilometers to that big and bustling city.

"It's the first time I go back to the airport, and I feel like I'm going to get lost." On the car back, Lin Yan told Lu Chi.

"After three years, you may also fly out from here." Lu Chi patted Lin Yan's head with a smile, "Let's go, brother invites you to have a meal."

"Eat again? There have been too many dinner parties recently, and I don't want to go to restaurants anymore." Lin Yan had had enough of the farewell banquet, and at this moment, he kept a respectful distance from any dining place.

Lu Chi laughed out loud, and said, "Why don't you go to my house? I'll call your auntie. How many times has she talked about it? Don't refuse again. If she is sad, it will be me, a son, who will be unlucky." .”

Lin Yan couldn't stop laughing, and stammered, "You, your position in the family is too precarious, when will you stand up and become the master."

Lu Chi held the steering wheel and sighed: "Hey! There is no hope!"

"Hmm... there's no hope."

Lin Yan stared at the small basketball pendant in his hand, and laughed a few more times self-consciously, tears began to fall down in big ones.

Lu Chi shut up in time.He turned on the stereo in the car and threw a pack of tissues over.

Early autumn seemed to be more obvious in Yancheng. It had just rained on the street, and the leaves of the poplar trees fell to the ground in disorder, and were quickly cleaned up by sanitation workers, leaving no trace of their existence.

The cool and damp air outside the car window fell on He Zhengxi's face.

This city has never left much deep impression in his memory, and now it is still strange when he comes back.

"When you get there, study hard. If you have any questions, you can call me." Lin Yan handed He Zhengxi a beautifully packaged box in the airport lobby, "A parting gift, cherish it."

He squinted his eyes, smiled gently, and spoke to He Zhengxi in a rare serious tone.He Zhengxi thought that time should not be used to open presents at this time, so he plucked up his courage, leaned over and stretched out his arms, but Lin Yan avoided it.

"No, save face for your brother."

He Zhengxi shrank back after hearing this, but in the end, he stepped forward recklessly and bit Lin Yan's collar.

It's only been a few hours since we separated, but my chest has already been filled with missing.What is my brother doing, is he thinking of me too?Is that dilapidated courtyard still my home?

He Zhengxi took out the box that Lin Yan gave him from his schoolbag. The wrapping paper had a pattern of basketball, and it was carefully wrapped. The edges and corners were smooth and perfect. It was Lin Yan's habit at first glance.He carefully opened the package, a letter fell on the car seat, He Zhengxi picked it up, and opened it.

"Dear Brother:

It was the first time I was so nasty. When I wrote those three words, my teeth were about to fall.

In the box is a mobile phone, which cost me a lot of money!And that little basketball pendant is also very expensive!Why does it cost 25 yuan for a pendant? !I think I'm going to call the Price Bureau to complain... By the way, the wrapping paper is worth five yuan.These all add up to a huge sum of money!You know it!Therefore, it must be cherished and not allowed to be damaged.

In fact, it’s okay if it’s broken, just don’t throw it away as trash.

Hey, I also want to buy you more expensive ones, but I can't help it, my brother's financial resources are limited.It's a pity that I can't celebrate your birthday face to face, although your birthday is also set by me casually.If we live together, we can save a cake. It's still lively, you must understand!

I kept 15 of the money given by your family, which may be useful for old man Xu's case.I won't make a move, our relationship has nothing to do with money, and you haven't spent a few cents all these years... I'm telling you this, mainly because I hope you don't think you're a money fan.

While you may be hearing cocoons coming, I have to say it.In the new school, study hard and make friends when you have time, but no matter what you do, you must have a bottom line and principles to measure good and bad.The elders in your family are quite successful and seem to have everything, but that doesn’t mean you can be an idle young master. You should put your heart into it, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself. There are many standards for success or failure.You said that becoming a doctor is not an easy goal, but I believe that you, my younger brother Lin Yan, are excellent in whatever you do.Hey, even if it doesn't work, or if you don't like it, it's okay, just let it go.

Don't think about coming back every day, think more about your parents' ideas, get along well with them, and don't rebel in adolescence, learn to be patient.If you have a temper, do a few more math problems to calm down, and if you can't, just call me.The mobile phone number is the one you used in the summer camp before, and it will belong to me in the future.

Remember, anything can lead to a dead end, but you have to know how to turn around and walk out.This is a bit of fantasy, in a few years, think about it for yourself.

I wrote it in a mess, and there is no point. I wrote it wherever I thought of, and if I didn’t write it, you can fill it up yourself.

That's about it.

You run fast, be careful not to turn into a telephone pole, take it easy, and give the masses some way to survive.

I can't stand it, my teeth are really sour by myself, no, I'm going to go to the school cafeteria to order some dumplings tonight.

Your most domineering brother Lin Yan in the universe

He Zhengxi pinched the letter paper in the box and grinned silently.

Dear brother, why don't you write more about yourself.