River City Story

Years ago, Lin Yan had dinner with Cai Hengyuan, Song Rui, and Feng Bowen successively in the shop where he worked, as if receiving foreign guests.

In his own words, if the fat and water don’t flow into the fields of outsiders, you will get a [-]% discount. If you don’t eat for nothing, why do you have to choose another place?Lin Yan didn't take the initiative to talk to them about Xu Jialin before, so naturally he didn't specifically mention He Zhengxi's whereabouts. Instead, Feng Bowen asked first, and Lin Yan's answer was quite simple.

"That kid has found a home. He will stay with you guys. If you have time in the future, you can take him out to play more."

When Lin Yan said this, he was busy serving food to their table, and then rushed to order the new customers at the next table. Feng Bowen saw that he didn't want to go into details, and his tone was flat and emotionless, so he had to take a photo. She patted him on the shoulder and didn't ask any more questions.

Everyone is passing through other people's lives. Sometimes, the word "come on" is really floating, so you have to think carefully about it.

On the day of the new year, Lin Yan spent time with his colleagues in the restaurant, and the chef in the restaurant cooked two tables of northern and southern dishes.At this moment last year, He Zhengxi was at home, and Xu Jialin didn't go out for long distances. The small courtyard of the old ancestral hall was still very lively.Lin Yan sat at the end of the table, looking at the dozen or so people in front of him, his heart gradually became less sad.Everyone is an ordinary person who comes to live in Xicheng, just like the migrant workers living in Linshui Street, everyone has their own stories, but they all hide the words in their hearts in Tui Cup Change the cup.On such a special day, it is enough to eat, drink and joke happily.

Lin Yan also laughed with everyone. He hadn't laughed heartily for a long time. What happened in the past half a year made him feel tired.

"Come on, boy Lin, have a toast with Uncle!" Old Chen stood up with a beer in his hand, motioning for Lin Yan to fill up the glass.

Lin Yan quickly waved his hand, "I don't know, you can drink, I have to go to tutoring class tomorrow morning."

Old Chen shook his head. He swayed and walked to Lin Yan, poured the wine himself and handed it to Lin Yan, and said, "That boy in my family can drink two bottles by himself. Come, just one glass. I won't delay your class!"

"Drink, Xiao Lin, or Lao Chen will have to grab you every time we have dinner together." The proprietress said with a smile.

"All right……"

Lin Yan picked up the glass helplessly, closed his eyes, and downed the beer in a few gulps, without lingering on the tip of his tongue for half a second.

"Hey! How great! This is considered grown up, and it's okay to drink a little during the holidays. It's okay, just don't drink at ordinary times! Hahaha!" Lao Chen patted Lin Yan on the shoulder vigorously, and began to look for the next newcomer to be Target.

Seeing him turn around and leave, Lin Yan heaved a sigh of relief and sat back on the chair to take out his cell phone.Since just now, the pocket of his coat has been vibrating, and it is really difficult for him to interrupt Lao Chen, so he can only pick it up now.

"Have you eaten yet?" Lin Yan walked to the door of the restaurant, "Happy New Year."

"It's the new year here tomorrow!" He Zhengxi muttered, "You haven't got off work yet? It's so late for the holidays!"

Lin Yan smiled and tapped the back of the phone with his fingers: "There are many people who eat during the holidays, but the proprietress closed early and is having dinner together."

"Oh……"

"What's the matter? Are you not in a good mood?"

He Zhengxi shook his head on the other end of the phone: "It's a bit."

Lin Yan found a chair and sat down, took out a tissue and twisted it, "Tell me, who messed with you."

"No, it's not..." He Zhengxi stammered.

Lin Yan raised his voice and said: "Then I'll hang up, the master cooked a table of delicious dishes for the boss today, it's a pity not to eat."

"Don't, don't, don't!" He Zhengxi hurriedly stopped, "Just... I won't be able to go to Xicheng a year ago, I have to celebrate the New Year here."

"not coming?"

Lin Yan suddenly felt a gap in his heart. He squeezed the paper towel that he had twisted into a ball, and quickly recovered his smile. "If you don't come, why don't you come? Why are you struggling? It's more lively at home."

He Zhengxi said angrily: "I want to go back now! But they don't agree, they have to let Chu Qi go again! If this is the case, I won't be able to stay in Xicheng for a week!"

Lin Yan adjusted a comfortable posture for himself, and pressed the button of the mobile phone, "How many times have I said it, understand your family members more, do you understand if you think about it? In the first year, they definitely didn't want you to go far. Be obedient Listen to my brother, I will save all the bacon and sausages for you, and when the time comes, eat them in your mouth and hold them in your hands."

"I know, I asked cousin Fang Jue to help book the ticket for the sixth day, hehe." He Zhengxi was a little complacent.

"Cousin Fang is coming too? That's just right. Otherwise, it would be too dangerous for you to be alone." Lin Yan said.

"I'll go by myself, he will send me off..."

"No." Lin Yan stood up anxiously, interrupting He Zhengxi, "What if something happens to you again?!"

"How could it be? I'm not that stupid anymore. Besides, I..."

"It doesn't matter anymore, right! I feel great again!" Lin Yan raised his voice unexpectedly, "Why are you always like this! Do you know how much traffic there is before and after the Spring Festival? Don't think of people so kindly. What will you do if you lose it again? You are indeed not a 5 or 6-year-old kid anymore, people don’t need to raise children, what if people want to harvest your kidney?!”

"Picking a kidney? Brother, you're overthinking. How can you be so evil, don't watch "Story Club"." He Zhengxi put his phone away, he didn't expect Lin Yan's temper to suddenly become so violent, "Recently If you are on fire, I think you should stop working all the time, look, you must be annoyed by customers, if you can’t do it, don’t do it, I’ll ask Lao He to give you..."

"Forget it, forget it, don't come after the next year, if you can't find someone to accompany you, don't come. If something happens on the way, I can't take responsibility for it." Lin Yan showed He Zhengxi He was very dissatisfied with his attitude, and He Zhengxi's words went in and out of He Zhengxi's ear. This feeling was very bad.

He Zhengxi became anxious, "Brother, what do you mean, is it because I couldn't go there years ago, are you angry?"

Lin Yan said: "No, don't misunderstand. Really, don't come alone after the new year. It's too dangerous. You know, the return journey is too chaotic. Besides, Xicheng is like an immigrant city. I don't feel at ease."

"I just want to go by myself." He Zhengxi's tone was very firm, "I'm already in the second year of junior high school, and you still treat me like a child. They also always say that I will do whatever I want when I grow up. I'm so annoyed. Can you stop talking about this kind of thing?" His voice became louder and louder, and in the end he was almost shouting to talk to Lin Yan.

Lin Yan's head tightened after hearing his roar.He tightened his brows, and said in a slow tone: "Did you not listen carefully to what I said? I was just worried that something would happen to you. When traveling alone, you can't take chances. It's really too late when you regret it... ..."

"I hate you guys, I really hate you, you all think I'm a fool. You used to say I'm stupid, but in your heart, I've always been stupid." He Zhengxi's words were filled with tears, he sniffed and said sadly Continued: "You must still be thinking about the coin toss. I know that you are very disappointed in me. You can understand it by looking at your eyes. Although I am only a junior high school student, since I was a child, I have never looked at other people's faces. Anyone who dares to speak, is facing you, and I am too. I am afraid that you will be angry, that you will not want me, and that you will bother me. If you don't want me to go back, then I will listen to you and not go back. "

"You...I didn't dislike you, don't be so excited, okay?" Lin Yan suppressed the anger in his heart and said comfortingly.

He Zhengxi's words shocked him, and he didn't know what to say at this moment, "I used to say that you were stupid, it was just a joke, I didn't think you were annoying..."

"Do you know?" He Zhengxi spoke again, and he said coldly: "I only thought of it recently. In fact, you don't want to come to my house because of those worthless self-esteem. But will it work? Tell us If you live here, you don’t have to work to save money. If you catch a cold, you can lie on the bed comfortably and sleep until the sun shines on your buttocks. But you just don’t come because you are too strong and self-respecting. I can’t listen to it You can't listen to my advice, and none of us can convince anyone. If you really can't pass the new year, just follow what you said. I won't go to Xicheng with no one to accompany me during other holidays... "

He Zhengxi said a lot, but Lin Yan couldn't hear the rest clearly, and his other ear seemed to be useless at all.

The central air conditioner was turned on in the restaurant, and the warm wind made Lin Yan's cheeks a little red. Not far away were noisy colleagues, and through a glass door, under the neon lights, there were pedestrians passing by in a hurry.The whole world looks messy and beautiful, but Lin Yan felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar at this moment, his whole body was cold, and his mind was in a daze.

Don't be self-respecting, don't be strong, what should you want?What else do I have?

There are many roads in the world, but there are very few left for me.I'm just a high school student, what can I do?

He Zhengxi had so many words hidden in his heart, but Lin Yan was willing to listen to none of them. Every word made him feel embarrassed and unbearable.In just a few months, Lin Yan couldn't accept that his younger brother, whom he had been with for five years, had become so strange.

Amidst the complicated and chaotic thoughts, he slapped his ears vigorously.Master Chen was greeting him again, Lin Yan raised his head and grinned at them.

Are you going to drink again?Lin Yan didn't know, he didn't know what others were saying, he couldn't hear clearly.

Because of the transient deafness in his right ear, Lin Yan took two days off work. On the third day, his hearing finally began to gradually recover.

"Can you hear me?" Lu Chi walked behind Lin Yan and spoke.

"Yeah." Lin Yan picked out his ears, "I still don't know, why don't you go forward?"

"How about this?" Lu Chi switched to the front, "All right."

Lin Yan nodded: "Okay, I don't think it's a big problem."

"You, I'm too lazy to talk about it." Lu Chi sighed, "Anxious to get angry and overworked, it's nothing, I'm too lazy to talk about it."

"Hey, pay more attention in the future, this time it must be because I didn't catch a cold not long ago." Lin Yan replied with a smile.

Lu Chi didn't know about the quarrel between the two brothers, so he repeated a lot of precautions that the doctor said, and Lin Yan nodded obediently.

After that day, he has been unhappy, uncomfortable, and a little ashamed.He didn't pay much attention to He Zhengxi's mental state before, and the matter of returning to Yancheng in September was handled too hastily, and he didn't have a thorough chat with He Zhengxi.Lin Yan didn't know if He Zhengxi really wouldn't come to Xicheng anymore, he didn't dare to think about these things now.

Lin Yan's hearing just recovered, and he went to the restaurant to stay for two days until the afternoon of the 28th of the twelfth lunar month. As a part-time minor, he could leave early, and Lao Chen and the others would stay there until New Year's Eve.

"Can you catch the bus back home?" Lin Yan asked Lao Chen while changing clothes.

"On New Year's Eve, the salary can be tripled." Lao Chen stretched out three fingers, "Besides, the chef in the store is too busy, I will come back in the first month." He lit a cigarette and squatted at the door of the locker room, puffing.

Lao Chen is about 40 years old, and has a carefree personality. He usually takes care of Lin Yan and treats him as his own son. After a long time, Lin Yan always feels as if Xu Jialin is still by his side.Lao Chen's home is in a small town on the southwestern border. He said that he hadn't been back for two years. The son of the family sent him a letter. It was said in the letter that he could drink, and Lao Chen didn't. seen.

"My son's studies are okay, not as good as yours. I'm counting on him to pass the exam, he can go here or go to the north, it doesn't matter. Go to a vocational school, learn a craft, don't care where it is, make a good home, don't worry about it. Like me, like a family non-staff."

Lin Yan looked at the wrinkles on the corners of Lao Chen's eyes and felt bitter in his heart.He hadn't seen Xu Jialin for a long time. He didn't know if old man Xu had any wrinkles. In a blink of an eye, it was almost the Chinese New Year.

In fact, New Year's Eve is nothing, it is just a very ordinary day in 365 days, reunion, eating, setting off fireworks, visiting relatives and friends.These rituals, I did, I didn't think it was very interesting, and if I didn't do it, it seemed like a gap in my life.If there were still people in the family, Lin Yan wouldn't think there was anything in these gaps, but until now, he realized that these gaps became bigger and bigger, and slowly, over time, he was about to be swallowed by that huge gap.

I still need my family, I'm really not mature, I'm not that strong, Lin Yan thought.

Since the day when he was young, He Zhengxi never called again, and the number of text messages was zero.But Fang Jue enthusiastically paid Lin Yan a New Year's greeting on the morning of the [-]th, when Lin Yan was pasting Spring Festival couplets on the gate of the old ancestral hall.

"It's too early, anyway, it's afternoon." Lin Yan put away his things, squatted on the door sill and said with a smile, "And this year, I have to worship you instead."

"There are a lot of people in the family. It will take a long time for me to finish this job. You can treat me as a businessman."

It seemed that someone was setting off firecrackers on Fang Jue's side, and there was the sound of children playing. Lin Yan distinguished for a few seconds, and felt that there was a shout that was very familiar.

"Is He Zhengxi playing with you?" Lin Yan asked.

"Yes, he is fighting firecrackers with the little ones at home. He is so good at playing that he feels that no one is his opponent. I asked him to come and talk to you..." Fang Jue's voice suddenly became farther away, Lin Yan His heart beat violently, he shook the phone vigorously, exhaled, and prepared.

Not long after, Fang Jue said with some embarrassment: "I'm crazy about playing, but if you don't come, I'll ask him to call you in the afternoon."

Lin Yan rubbed the tip of his nose and said with a smile, "It's okay, let him have a good time, I haven't played a few times here in Xicheng."

Fang Jue said: "Okay, this kid seems to have reached the stage of rebellion recently. It's difficult to figure out. A while ago he said he wanted to find you, but recently he said he doesn't want to go out. There's really nothing he can do about it."

"He's a junior high school student. He's safe if he doesn't run around. Just spend the winter vacation at home and don't worry."

"Both of you, it's hard to figure it out. I won't break up with you anymore. I have to make another call." Fang Jue said in a hurry.

"Okay, you are busy, I will continue to post Spring Festival couplets."

"Okay, let's talk later!"

"Ok!"

After hanging up the phone, Lin Yan exhaled and lowered his head in exhaustion.There are three pairs of couplets on the steps, one pair in the main room, one pair in Xu Jialin's bedroom, and another pair in his and He Zhengxi's small bedroom.The remaining two small blessings are to be pasted on the walls of the two bedrooms. In previous years, I will buy a few copies of "healthy" or "see you when I go out" and post them around.

He Zhengxi liked the work of posting Spring Festival couplets very much, and always bought as many pairs as possible within the scope allowed by Lin Yan.

"Brother! The corner on the left has to be raised up, a little bit, half a finger!"

"No, it's too high, come down again!"

"This lucky word is posted in our house!"

"I'll make the batter! I'll do it!"

"Brother, don't just paste it casually, these two pictures are flat, right..."

From the age of 7 to 12, five Lunar New Years were experienced in between. He Zhengxi also grew from a twittering boy to a junior high school student who can seriously analyze the words used in Spring Festival couplets.

Last year today, what were they busy with?Lin Yan flipped through his memory while pasting the Spring Festival couplets.He remembered that before 7 o'clock in the morning, Xu Jialin had already hung up the opening sign at the gate as usual, and it rang for a long time.It was very windy that day, and Lin Yan was sprayed with smoke as soon as he got up and opened the door.

"Old man Xu, can you collect it a little bit? If you don't know, you may think that our family has made a lot of money."

Lin Yan picked up the broom and walked out, turning his head and shouting, "Get up, He Zhengxi! Come to work! Otherwise, you'll roll the dumplings today!"

"Here we come! Immediately! Wait until I brush my teeth!"

He Zhengxi hurriedly put on his sweater, and ran out with his sleepy hair. Seeing his appearance, Lin Yan frowned and taught him a lesson: "Put on your clothes, your image is almost a broken bowl. !"

"Okay, okay!" He Zhengxi immediately turned around and ran into the room.

Xu Jialin squatted at the gate with a cigarette in his mouth and smiled cheerfully: "You two are doing well this year, hang the long ones for celebration, and there is one more tonight, you have to wait." He picked up a fallen squib, lit the cigarette butt, and threw it towards Lin Yan's feet.

Bang!

Lin Yan backed away in fright: "Can you look at your age? Junior high school students are more mature than you!"

"Hey!" Xu Jialin stood up, stretched his waist, and took the broom, "Praise yourself in a different way? Call me an old man every day, I am an old man, and you are a little old man."

Lin Yan pinched his face to show Xu Jialin in all directions: "Let's pay attention to the collagen you are proud of! Xu! Old! Head!"

Xu Jialin scolded with a smile: "I have become a real old man, and some people like it! Just wait and see!"

Lin Yan: "You are already a real old man!"

That whole day, the old ancestral hall was full of laughter and laughter.During the New Year's Eve dinner, there were eight big dishes on the table, and shabu-shabu was cooked. Xu Jialin was so happy that he drank an extra glass of white.He slept from the Spring Festival Gala to the end of the Spring Festival Gala, and then got up drunk from the bed.At that time, Lin Yan and He Zhengxi had already cooked the dumplings, Xu Jialin staggered to offer tea to his ancestors, and took out his lighter to light the firecracker fuze. no.

"What, don't order, let's eat dumplings! Heat up the shabu-shabu again, and start the second round!" Xu Jialin threw the lighter away, mumbled and wandered back into the room, tossing the Eight Immortals table.

"Let me light it." He Zhengxi picked up the lighter calmly, "Brother, stay away, this one is too loud."

"You get a paper twister, that's long, a lighter is still too dangerous..." Before Lin Yan finished speaking, He Zhengxi had already set the firecrackers with his hands and feet. The fuze burned very quickly, and Lin Yan was caught before he could react. He Zhengxi stretched his arms and ran a few meters away.

"Damn! Do you play firecrackers like this?! I really can't let you take a lighter next year!" Lin Yan covered his ears and shouted at He Zhengxi with a smile.

"Next year I'll still order this! Brother, when you go to college, let's buy one hundred thousand rings!" He Zhengxi turned his head and yelled at him, baring his teeth.

"Bah! Is it that long?"

"If you don't have us, let's set off fireworks! Buy several boxes! Put them on for an hour!"

"Hahaha! Look at you! Er Tijiao calls you the best, silly!"

I don't know what the Spring Festival is like there, Lin Yan smiled unconsciously and thought, it must be more New Year than Xicheng.He reads news about temple fairs, but Lin Yan has only been to the flower market, and has never been to temple fairs in a serious way.

Lin Yan finished posting the Spring Festival couplets, ran back to his room and sat in a daze.

What is He Zhengxi doing at this time, is he still playing sand cannon?Lin Yan remembered that he also played with that thing when he was a child, and it would make a sound when he fell on the ground.One year, he sprinkled a whole row at the door of 'Jianghu Doctor', and Lao Jiang stomped and crackled dozens of times when he went out.Lin Yan was only 6 years old at the time. He squatted at the entrance of the alley and watched Lao Jiang blow his beard and stare, and hiccupped while laughing. In the end, Xu Jialin grabbed his ears and brought him to Lao Jiang to apologize.Lao Jiang wasn't really angry, he even took out a red envelope from his pocket and stuffed it into his hand.

Almost 10 years have passed in a blink of an eye, and Lao Jiang has turned into a handful of ashes, and those who celebrate the New Year are wandering around in front of their hands behind their backs.

"I have to offer Lao Jiang a cup of tea at night." Lin Yan said to himself, "What kind of ancestors, I don't know where my ancestors are..." He shook his head helplessly.

"Who are you offering tea to? Come and serve me a cup of tea first!"

Lin Yan ran to the window and looked outside, surprised and said: "Brother Lu Chi! Aren't you at home for the New Year?"

Lu Chi smiled and pushed the door open, and sat down at the desk with two big bags, "Tell me, can I leave you alone at home for the New Year? Uncle Lu and Aunt Xin are looking forward to it." Hurry up and pack up, get in the car with me when you're done and go home."

"Wait!" Lin Yan ran out in a hurry, took an incense burner and ran back, "I'll burn incense and tea first!"

Lu Chi waved his hand: "I'll give you a quarter of an hour, so fast, oh yes," he pointed to the things on the table, "here is a gift from someone else."

"Who?" Lin Yan asked.

"Guo Fei, do you still remember?"

"Uncle policeman, remember!"

"A child who attracts people's thoughts."

"Condolences to my poor family, thank you all the leaders!"

Before Lin Yan finished speaking, he had already ran back into the yard, and the ending sound fell into Lu Chi's ears flickeringly.

The faint sound of firecrackers sounded in the distance, and this messy year finally came to an end.

Lu Chi patted his clothes and walked out.

The author has something to say:

Thank you readers for favorites, I am a little late today and just said goodbye to customers.