River City Story

Zhao Sheng drove the car and rushed all the way to Linshui Street, pushed open the gate, and saw Lin Yan curled up into a ball and crouched on the porch.

"What's the matter, do you have a cold?" Zhao Sheng walked over and touched Lin Yan's forehead, "Yo, it's hot, come on, hurry up and show me the clinic closest to your home."

"If I don't go, I just want to sleep." Lin Yan folded his arms, buried his head on his knees, and said in a muffled voice.

"The teacher won't like disobedient students." Zhao Sheng also squatted down and sat next to him.

"There is no clinic anymore, and the belongings of the doctors in the clinic are still at my house..." Lin Yan raised his finger and pointed to the gate, behind which was parked old Jiang's old bicycle.

"No way, you're quite courageous, you killed people, dumped their bodies and embezzled other people's finances!" Zhao Sheng said excitedly.

"Mr. Zhao, you are really...I refuse to communicate with you. I have a headache and sleep." Lin Yan buried his head again, he didn't want to talk to a fake teacher for the time being.

Zhao Sheng patted his clothes and stood up, "Okay, if you want to sleep, you have to sleep in the house, don't stay here, Xicheng is not too cold, but you can't bear the cool breeze for a few hours, it doesn't matter if you miss school, it's serious How much does it cost? It’s not worthwhile to suffer both physically and mentally.”

Lin Yan thought the same, so he stood up staggeringly, and walked into the room, "Mr. Zhao, you go back. I will go to class tomorrow and ask you for a leave."

"Have you eaten yet?" Zhao Sheng looked around the yard, pointed to the small shed that looked like a temporary prefab house and asked, "Your kitchen?"

Lin Yan supported the door frame and nodded, "Yes, you want to do it yourself?"

"It's impossible in this life, I'll go outside and buy you some porridge, is there any recommended shop near here?" Zhao Sheng walked over to check the kitchen utensils, "God, the exquisite life of a young single is not as clean as a human being. .”

Lin Yan smiled and coughed twice, and said, "There's Lao Li's breakfast at the end of the alley, but his house should be closed for a rest right now, don't go, I don't want to eat either."

"Okay, you go to sleep first, I'll go take a look." Zhao Sheng said goodbye to him with his pockets out, and when he walked near the wooden stand of bean seedlings, he picked a pea leaf and twirled it in his hand.

"Don't destroy my vegetables!" Lin Yan shouted through the window.

"Stingy, I'll stick it back for you when the time comes!"

"How can there be such a teacher..." Lin Yan muttered and climbed onto the bed, closing his eyes and brewing for sleep.In fact, he is not sleepy at all, he has slept all afternoon, how can he want to sleep, but he is dizzy, wants to vomit, and feels heavy at the back of his head when lying down.Anyway, it didn't go well, and I was so annoyed that I wanted to scratch my head.He took out his cell phone from under the pillow, and not long after, He Zhengxi sent a few more text messages.

"Brother, are you at school?"

"You can't see it anyway, hey, the next reply will be on Friday."

"I just want to send you some information, nothing else, I don't feel at ease..."

When Lin Yan saw this, he couldn't help but raised his hand and replied, "What do you mean being uneasy, old-fashioned?"

As soon as he sent it, he realized that he couldn't reply, maybe the child would ask why, and was about to turn off the phone, "Ding--", the text message from the other end arrived again.

"Why are you still holding your phone? Isn't there a rule in school? Didn't you go to school? Why didn't you go to school?"

Lin Yan thought for a while and started typing.

"Oh, I accidentally put it in my schoolbag, I..." Before he could finish typing, the phone rang again, this time it was a phone call.Lin Yan took a sip from the water glass, cleared his throat, and just pressed the call button when He Zhengxi's voice crackled in his ears like a firecracker.

"Brother? Where are you? It shouldn't be... Is there something wrong?"

Lin Yan replied with a smile: "It's okay, I just overslept and am about to go."

He Zhengxi didn't quite believe it, "It doesn't feel like it, your voice is wrong. Are you crying? Have a cold?"

Lin Yan smiled and said, "Crying? Are you a crybaby?"

He Zhengxi worried: "That's a cold? I knew it. I just read the weather forecast and said that you are going to cool down. It must be a cold."

Lin Yan pinched his nose, "It's almost healed, take a nap after eating, and it will be healed immediately tomorrow!"

He Zhengxi hummed, and asked uncertainly: "Really?"

Lin Yan sat on the bed and nodded straight: "Absolutely, I don't lie to you, how many days can I last with a cold. Nothing else, I hung up the phone, I'm sleepy."

"Oh..." He Zhengxi was a little bit reluctant, "I went out with my cousin today, and bought you two clothes, which will be sent by post."

"You still buy clothes for me?" Lin Yan raised his voice, "You can't spend money indiscriminately, you know, if you have money, you can buy it for yourself. Yancheng is colder than ours! If you don't buy it, save it!"

"Anyway, it's your number. I don't dress well. If you don't want it, just waste it in the bottom of the box." He Zhengxi said with a whimper.

"Tsk, you're amazing, you can threaten my brother, aren't we already about the same height?"

After Lin Yan finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something. He got out of bed and turned on the lamp, took out the photo album in the drawer, flipped through two pages, and said to the other side of the phone: "Send me two of your photos when you have time." The latest photos, just send them along with the clothes."

He Zhengxi nodded, "Okay, I'll ask Lao He to take a picture for me, and I can print it tomorrow."

"You don't call me Dad, what do you call Lao He, you don't get beaten, it doesn't matter whether you are big or small." Lin Yan said with a smile.

He Zhengxi chuckled, "He's quite useful, and as I said, I learned from you."

Lin Yan said angrily: "What does it have to do with me, destroying my image? I won't break up with you, hang up the phone."

He Zhengxi said, "Okay."

This time, they didn't play the "you hang up first" game, and the two hung up the phone neatly.

"Ouch..." Lin Yan put away his phone, gathered his clothes, and was about to crawl on the bed again. When he looked up, he saw Zhao Sheng standing at the door with a lunch box, his mouth full of white eyes, and he staggered in fright, "Mom Hey, scared my cold away."

Zhao Sheng smiled and shook his head, "You student, you are really interesting."

Lin Yan nodded with a smile, "You are a wonderful teacher."

Zhao Sheng closed the door disapprovingly and walked in, "Little wonton, just cooked, your grandpa Li insisted on coming over to take a look, I persuaded him."

Lin Yan gave him a thumbs up: "Well done, don't infect the old man."

"Then you have the nerve to infect the teacher, don't you?" Zhao Sheng sat on the edge of the bed, "Your small room looks quite cozy. This pink color..."

"Stop, stop, shut up, Mr. Zhao, dear class teacher!" Lin Yan walked to the desk, scooped up a spoonful of wonton soup and drank it, and said with emotion: "I didn't want to eat at first, um, Lao Li's cooking is so delicious. "

"It's good to be able to eat." Zhao Sheng said.

Looking at the gluttonous young man under the warm yellow light, he felt mixed feelings.Lin Yan is a very interesting student with good grades and good popularity.The experience from childhood to adulthood did not make him a mean and timid person, and even at first glance, Lin Yan seemed more at ease than anyone else.No matter what burden you have to shake with him, he can continue and return a more fun one.If you exchanged your own growth environment with Lin Yan's, would you be able to do what Lin Yan did?Absolutely not, I'm afraid I have to go in and out of the juvenile prison several times.

Thinking about Lin Yan, Zhao Sheng sighed unconsciously.

"Mr. Zhao, what are you worrying about?" Lin Yan's eyes were particularly clear amidst the hot air rising from the sky. Zhao Sheng stared at it for a long time, and a certain sense of responsibility in his heart gradually expanded again.

"Lin Yan!"

He stood up suddenly, walked over, and squeezed Lin Yan's hand holding the spoon, "The teacher will accompany you through all difficulties! In the third year of high school, you don't need to apply for liberal arts. You are in our class and keep learning! Teacher Bao You have been admitted to a good university and entered a good major safely and securely!"

"Ah?" The spoon in Lin Yan's hand fell to the sleeve of Zhao Sheng's clean and flat coat with a clatter, "You are already a very hardworking gardener, don't put too much pressure on yourself, let alone so many students across the country... ..."

Zhao Sheng shook his head with tears in his eyes, and said sincerely: "Not enough, not enough at all, you are the first class of students I brought as the class teacher, the teacher has the responsibility and obligation to send you to a wider world!"

He excitedly picked up the wonton, and took a sip of the soup and noodles, "Don't forget to come back to see the old man, donate a Taihu stone or something to the school, and remember to write the word Zhao Sheng on the recipient's place."

"...You still think about that, let me get rid of poverty first." Lin Yan snatched the wonton back.

"Hi!" Zhao Sheng pressed Lin Yan's shoulder, "Knowledge and experience make success, you are now paving the way for yourself step by step, don't worry, the teacher thinks you are fine."

Lin Yan raised the bowl in his hand, his eyebrows curved, "Thank you for your kind words, Lao Zhao."

He Zhengxi hung up the phone and sat on the sofa in a daze.In his impression, although Lin Yan was thin and picky eater, he unexpectedly rarely got sick, including minor illnesses like colds.Therefore, at any time, Lin Yan is serving him, but he rarely has the opportunity to take care of Lin Yan.

"What's wrong? I'm preoccupied." He Yi walked up to He Zhengxi and sat down, "I was on the phone with Lin Yan just now."

He Zhengxi said sadly: "My brother has a cold...he lives alone now, I am very anxious."

He Yi patted his son on the back and said: "It's just a cold, don't worry, he is very mature, he should know what to do."

"I understand, but I'm still in a hurry." He Zhengxi lowered his shoulders, "He rarely catches a cold, I'm just worried..."

"I'm worried this time it's more serious, no one is with me, right?" He Yi said.

"Well, it would be great if I was here, and I can cook for him and pour water." He Zhengxi's voice was a little choked up.

He Yi sighed and embraced He Zhengxi, "You child, why have you started to be sentimental recently? In this way, after you finish the exam, we will take him over. Even if he doesn't come, we will tie him up."

He Zhengxi immediately refused: "No! My brother absolutely disagrees! He definitely won't come..."

"Then you should concentrate on doing the things in front of you well, so that you can have enough time to go out independently with the capital, and live with Lin Yan in Xicheng." He Zhengxi withdrew the hand that held He Zhengxi, leaned on the sofa and said sternly .

"...I want to go back now." He Zhengxi said distressedly.

"Think about your mother, your grandpa, grandma, grandma, grandpa," He Yi lit a cigarette, and took a puff slowly, "...and me. We all hope that you can live in Yancheng without any worries. After completing your studies, you choose what to do next. Where to work, who to live with, who to marry and start a business with, those things are not in my control.”

He Zhengxi raised his face, "Then when can I finish all those things? Time passes too slowly, I don't want to wait, I hate waiting."

He Yi waved away the smoke in front of him, narrowed his eyes, and said, "As a middle-aged man, I envy you for having such troubles."

"What do you mean?"

"It's nothing." He Yi cut off the cigarette, "No one can tell what will happen in the future. If you devote yourself to your current life, time will naturally pass quickly."

He Zhengxi turned to look at his father: "Really?"

He Yi smiled and said, "If it's true or not, you'll know if you try it yourself."

Lin Yan experienced the longest cold in his more than ten years of life.

It wasn't until the end of the final exam that he got rid of the intermittent low-grade fever.

"Our boss Lin has become sister Lin." Cai Xusheng yawned.

Lin Yan shrank himself into his coat again and again, "It is obvious that Xicheng is extremely cold this year, it seems that the important task of protecting the earth cannot be taken lightly."

"It seems very reasonable, very knowledgeable..."

After hearing this, Cai Xusheng turned around with a smile, looked at Lin Yan from head to toe, finally pinched a corner of Lin Yan's clothes, and said with all his mouth, "Your brother's eyesight, how should I put it... is very good, I think, he is really very good." I know your figure."

Lin Yan frowned and said with disgust: "Whenever you can be serious for 10 minutes, you don't have to be hurt like you are now."

"Cut, your mouth is really poisonous." Cai Xusheng put down his clothes, "Have you found a part-time job for the holiday?"

Lin Yan nodded: "Well, in addition to the previous tutor, I also found a restaurant as a waiter."

"Wow... hard child labor."

Lin Yan poked Cai Xusheng's back with a smile, "Are you stupid? I'm already 16, and I'm still a child laborer."

Cai Xusheng poured a piece of chewing gum into his mouth, chewed and said in a deep voice, "You have more ideas, I don't care about it, but don't overdo it, your health will be overdrawn in high school, and you won't be able to enjoy a life of eating, drinking and having fun in the future."

"Why, you've become a grown-up, that's what I said." Lin Yan put his hand on Cai Xusheng's shoulder and shook it twice.He has also grown a lot in half a year, and the gap with Cai Xusheng is not so obvious, Lin Yan is quite content.

Cai Xusheng turned his face and looked at Lin Yan seriously: "I mean it, don't you think you are pushing yourself too hard? I have never seen a 16-year-old high school student who only thinks about finding a job to make money every day. matter."

Lin Yan tightened his clothes and looked at the passers-by outside the school gate, "My family's situation is quite special. I told you that if I'm not busy, I don't know what to do."

Cai Xusheng: "I didn't disapprove of your choice, but as a friend, I don't want to see you so tired. I've repeated it many times. If there is any need, I can help. If Li Si knew, he would agree."

Lin Yan bumped him with his elbow, and said, "Understood, someday I will come across a problem that cannot be solved, and I will definitely come to you."

Cai Xusheng bumped back and said, "Anyway, pay more attention to yourself."

"I know, thank you, true brother!"

"It can't compare to your He Zhengxi!"

Lin Yan said goodbye to Cai Xusheng, got on his bicycle, and set off to the part-time restaurant that he had previously booked.

This job came at a wonderful time. He originally took the leaflet and just wanted to find a place to help wash the dishes. The lady boss saw that he was a middle school student, so she didn't plan to accept him. Besides, many young people would shoot in less than a week. Ass off.Lin Yan had no choice but to dig out his past report card and show it to the proprietress, saying that he just wanted to save a little more for living expenses, his family conditions were not good, and he had part-time job experience, so he would not deal with it casually.

The temperature in Xicheng dropped sharply that day, and it was raining. When Lin Yan walked into the restaurant holding the recruitment slip from the outside, his nose was red from the cold, there were still small drops of water on the ends of his hair, and his shoes were wet. of.

"You poor child." After the proprietress refused, she listened to Lin Yan's self-introduction, and she felt a little soft-hearted. "Well, try to be a waiter first. There are many young customers in this place, and it is easy to communicate with each other when ordering food."

"Okay!" Lin Yan happily agreed.

At that moment, he suddenly understood that pretending to be pitiful is actually quite useful, not to mention that he didn't need to pretend at all, he was really pitiful.The closer it was to the trial of Xu Jialin's case, the more anxious Lin Yan became. The concentration inside his body seemed to be gradually disappearing. He had to fill every second, otherwise, Lin Yan didn't know what he would be thinking about.

"Boy Lin is out of school?" Lao Chen, the chef of the restaurant, waved his chef's hat and greeted Lin Yan.

"Well, not only is school over, but the final exam is over!" Lin Yan put away his schoolbag and quickly ran to the staff room to change into his uniform. "If you are too busy, you can ask me to help with the dishes. I will never hold you back."

"You've only started doing work in a few days, don't underestimate the work of the waiter, it's enough for you to drink a pot." Lao Chen brought a plate of fried noodles over, "I changed the ingredients today, sweet and spicy, let uncle taste taste."

"Chinese-style pasta..." Lin Yan smiled and took a bite with bamboo chopsticks. There were shrimps, sausages, and shredded tenderloin in the noodles. The taste was really good. He praised Lao Chen and said, "It's delicious!"

Lao Chen pushed the noodle soup over with a smile, "Okay, I'll talk to the proprietress to see if I can add a student meal to it. I'll leave this plate to you. It's as thin as a bamboo pole. It looks scary. My son is as old as you. , beat you two!"

Lin Yan chuckled, "I promise to eat them all!"

The size of the restaurant is average, but the decoration is quite warm, the price is cheap, the taste is good, and the customer flow is very large.There were several other little girls working as waiters with Lin Yan. After Lin Yan came here, as one of the few men, he basically took care of the daily work of serving the market.Lin Yan has long been used to doing housework at home, and he adapted quickly to the work of a waiter, and he has gained many repeat customers in a short time.

"I think Xiaolin is standing directly at our door, and it's enough to be a signboard. All the big girls love such a little boy." The proprietress said with a smile.

"Don't keep making fun of me." Lin Yan left a sentence, hurried into the back kitchen, and soon came out with two trays to rush to the guests.

"Table 3, order!"

"coming!"

"No. 6, check out!"

"immediately!"

"Waiter, help us urge the food...you are starving to death."

"Okay, the kitchen is cooking for you!"

"Little handsome guy, leave a call..."

"Our village only has postal service, you can write letters!"

Lin Yan was extremely busy during the winter vacation. After finishing Qi Xuxu's tutoring class in the morning, he rode his bicycle to the restaurant to catch up with the noon shift. He worked part-time until 8 o'clock in the evening, and basically settled for lunch and dinner in the restaurant.From 9:12 to [-]:[-] at night, I read books and did my homework unwaveringly.

Very tiring, but very enjoyable.Although there are also difficult customers to deal with, but fortunately, the colleagues are very warm and down-to-earth, and Lin Yan feels very at ease.

During this period of time, He Zhengxi's text messages and calls were also less. He participated in the school's winter camp and wanted to go further north.

"This is your brother's photo?" Yang Lin put on his gloves and walked to He Zhengxi's side, "You also bring the skis, it's enough."

"You know what a fart." He Zhengxi snorted and put the photos away again.

Some time ago, he sent photos to Lin Yan, and he also asked Lin Yan for a few.Lin Yan doesn't have the habit of taking pictures. Except for his childhood photos, there are only junior high school graduation photos and high school military training photos. The photos are so-so, dull and silly.Lin Yan felt that this was not possible, so he asked Cai Xusheng to take a few photos for him.Cai Xusheng's camera was very advanced, he took Lin Yan directly to the park, and took pictures of the memory card in a very formal manner, all of which were close-ups with large apertures.

"But to be honest, your brother is really handsome. Although you are also good, you two are not in the same style."

Yang Lin slid around and stopped in front of He Zhengxi and began to ramble, "Your brother looks... a little gentle, looks very kind, looks like a good person, much better than you, you Well, tsk."

"What the hell, I think you still look like a hooligan!"

"Although you look very enthusiastic, but as your tablemate, I can fully feel that the He Zhengxi in those little girls' hearts is basically not the real you."

He Zhengxi smiled, "Yo, fortune-telling, don't count it for me, good luck counts once and loses one time."

Yang Lin cooperatively stroked some non-existent beards and said: "Ah, according to my observation, in your heart, the most important person, the most handsome person, and the best person are probably your Lin Yan. elder brother."

He Zhengxi played with the ski poles and said, "Is it worth it? The best person I've ever met is my brother, nothing else."

Yang Lin looked at the sun above his head: "Why do I feel that even if you have photos in your pocket, I have become a light bulb?"

He Zhengxi was confused: "How to say?"

Yang Lin waved his hand and said: "You copy your brother's handwritten letter and put it in your schoolbag, and read it every day. Now, you put the photo in your clothes and read it every day. Are you really the most competent brother in China?"

He Zhengxi nodded with a straight face: "Of course, he is like my half-father. I thought I would leave all the money I earn to him in the future."

Yang Lin was startled by He Zhengxi's words. He opened his mouth and was stunned for a long time before he said, "I said...Actually, you like your brother very much, right?"

"What kind of stupid question are you asking?" He Zhengxi frowned and looked at Yang Lin, "I must like it."

Yang Lin shook his head, "I mean, the kind of liking, the kind between men and women."

He Zhengxi was stunned for a moment, then pushed Yang Lin to the ground, "Crazy, what are you thinking?"

Yang Lin sat up with difficulty, curled his lips and said, "I've read comics at my cousin's place, so it's not impossible."

"What cartoon?" He Zhengxi asked.

"Just men and men, I accidentally saw it." Yang Lin said.

"Oh..." He Zhengxi poked at the hard snow.

"I think you just like your brother. Some time ago, your brother caught a cold. I saw you were in a hurry. He was distracted in class."

"Your brother is sick, are you not worried?"

"I have nothing to worry about. He has a girlfriend who cares about him." Yang Lin said indifferently.

He Zhengxi didn't quite believe Yang Lin's words. Lin Yan was his most important family member. When a family member was sick, it was normal to get angry, otherwise it would be too cold-blooded...

"I'll just say it casually, don't take it too seriously." Yang Lin stood up, put on his gloves, and looked at He Zhengxi nervously, "Let's go skiing, it's only for one day, and we have to start tomorrow Class begins."

"Wait." He Zhengxi touched Yang Lin with a ski pole, "Lend me your cousin's cartoon if you have time."

"No, I've already been beaten once." Yang Lin refused.

He Zhengxi: "...The name, you should remember it."

Yang Lin poked his goggles and thought for a few seconds, then said solemnly: "It seems to be called "The Lovely Senior Who Imprisoned Me" or "Sweet Bondage. The Story of Him and Him". I forgot, it's in traditional characters. .You can search online, bookstores won’t have them.”

He Zhengxi covered his eyes, speechless.

What does your cousin watch every day? !