River City Story

The 7 or 8 people at the dining table looked at each other in blank dismay, none of them quite understanding what was going on in this weird and tense atmosphere.In two large shabu-shabu pots, scallions and red dates are rolling up and down, and a large table is filled with raw and tender beef.Cui Chen held the bamboo chopsticks in his hand, lifted them up and put them down, put them down and lifted them up again, hesitating endlessly.Through the window, he looked at the two brothers who were still talking outside, and his heart was full of worry, worrying that if the meat was not cooked, the meat would dry out.

Zheng Qifeng glanced at the wall clock on the wall, and said awkwardly: "Let's eat first, and leave them alone."

Cui Chen: "That's right, just add more food when the time comes!" Reason can no longer overcome instinct.

Yu Li hesitated for a moment, and raised his chopsticks. He wanted to greet Su Lihang who was sitting nearby, but when he turned his head, he had already eaten it...

"That person surnamed Zheng is definitely not a good person." He Zhengxi said to Lin Yan holding back his anger.

Before Lin Yan came over, he had stood at the door of the store for a long time.Zheng Qifeng grasped Lin Yan's ankle, massaged and flirted with him, and he basically saw the whole process.

"I've said what I need to say just now, and I'm too lazy to continue. Besides, why do you sound like you're jealous." Lin Yan raised the corner of his mouth and smiled, poking He Zhengxi's cheek, "You look like a little daughter-in-law .”

He Zhengxi looked angry, he was puzzled by Lin Yan's joking attitude.

"I mean, don't you think he's very abnormal?"

Lin Yan crossed his arms and shook his head helplessly, "I don't know him, and I don't intend to. But you, are you normal?"

"Here we go again." He Zhengxi looked at Lin Yan, "What's wrong with me?"

Lin Yan: "You understand."

He Zhengxi: "It's normal to like men, there is no difference between men and women."

Lin Yan: "It's not normal to like your brother."

"We are not blood brothers!" He Zhengxi raised his voice and shouted, "You said you will accept it after five years, are you normal?"

Lin Yan felt his head was going to explode, he put his pockets in his pocket and sighed: "You are in a state of arguing again, let's eat first, it's a big festival, don't lose your temper."

"I'm not losing my temper. I'm reminding you that the person surnamed Zheng has something wrong with you. Don't think I don't know about someone sending you love letters and chocolates for three consecutive years. Just him. Are you moved?" ? Maybe he gave gifts to many people outside. He has a face of domestic violence, are you sure you want to make friends with him?!"

He Zhengxi spoke clearly and logically, with a complete and rich amount of information, and his tone was extremely serious, but Lin Yan laughed.Apparently, his bright little brother really thinks too much.

"The intelligence network is very powerful." Lin Yan said with a smile, "Do you think the world is one? You are playing with two men in love? Besides, I have already rejected it. I don't plan to do anything. The chances of contacting in the future are probably very small. few."

He Zhengxi turned his face away, gritted his teeth and said, "It's impossible for that person to simply leave."

"Forget it, forget it, big brother calm down, aren't we here to eat meat? Fill our stomachs first." Lin Yan grabbed He Zhengxi's arm, intending to get him into the shop first.

"I'm not going!" He Zhengxi broke away from Lin Yan's hand, "Why do you want to eat with him? It's a Mid-Autumn Festival dinner! What does it have to do with him?! Go and eat by yourself, I'm going home."

After speaking, he hailed a passing taxi and was about to dive in when Lin Yan grabbed his upper arm.

"You're in good spirits, aren't you?" Lin Yan dragged He Zhengxi out of the car with a rare stern voice, "If you don't agree with two words, you're going to leave? You're so angry!"

When he was really angry, he felt very oppressive, and the strength in his hands was not small. He Zhengxi exerted all his strength, but did not dare to break free.

"What's wrong with this today? I've told you everything I need to say, what else do you want to do? I don't like to eat there, so we can just find a shop by the side of the road!" Lin Yan forcefully Throwing He Zhengxi to the wall of the aisle at the back door of the hot pot restaurant, pointing at He Zhengxi's face with a straight finger, "But! I really hate that you educate me with that high-spirited attitude, you are not qualified yet !"

"I didn't intend to educate you..." He Zhengxi bowed his head and said, "I just hope you don't get along with that man."

"What a fart!" Lin Yan *screamed, "You fucking think life is a TV series? Or some kind of graphic novel? I really want to open your brain and see, He Zhengxi, the first grader, is this cerebral cortex? There are so many ravines!" He kicked the trash can next to him, and a few shriveled apples rolled between the two of them, and the more Lin Yan looked at it, the more annoyed he became.

"Damn! You like me, I don't say anything, you can like me as much as you like, but this has something to do with me? I'm your brother! I'm not a woman! I'm not gay! Don't treat me as a Your property! I can make friends with whomever I like! You want to control?! It is impossible in this life!"

After the messy shouting, the blood supply to Lin Yan's brain was somewhat insufficient. He let go of the hand that had been holding He Zhengxi, swayed his body and squatted down, hugging his head.

"Go back, go home, remember to send a text message when you get home." Lin Yan said in a muffled voice.

"Brother, you... don't be angry, I'm impulsive again, I apologize, I'm sorry."

He Zhengxi stood against the wall the whole time, and only dared to speak when he saw Lin Yan speak, "I won't go back today, I will go directly to school tomorrow morning."

Lin Yan stretched out a hand and waved, "As you wish, as you wish. Anyway, you don't see me as a brother, so you don't have to worry about what I say, you can stay wherever you want."

"Why didn't I treat you as a brother?!" He Zhengxi yelled anxiously, "I was wrong, I apologize, brother, can't we talk properly?"

"Speak well?" Lin Yan raised his face to look at He Zhengxi, and suddenly smiled, "You have to think about this question carefully. Who the hell is always keen to make trouble for no reason."

After finishing speaking, he stood up leaning on the wall and walked towards the street with weak steps, "I have to go to the store to say hello, otherwise it's not a big deal. This alley is really a good stage, plus two actors. Hysterical, bumbling, funny."

He Zhengxi didn't reach out to stop him, he stood on the spot, staring blankly at Lin Yan who disappeared around the corner, feeling completely bewildered.He lacks empathy by nature, only for Lin Yan, he is willing to try hard to understand.But He Zhengxi is only 16 years old, the age of recklessness and extreme egotism, he always tries and makes mistakes unconsciously, and waits anxiously for approval.

Very contradictory, don't know what my position is.

He stood in the alley for a long time, until the waiter of the hot pot restaurant came out to take out the trash, He Zhengxi moved his feet again and walked out slowly.Vaguely, he seemed to understand what Lin Yan wanted to say, but he couldn't do it.

The store was filled with mist, and it was extremely lively. There were many people going out for the holidays. Everyone gathered in their circles, chatted and toasted, smiling all over their faces, but Lin Yan was extremely disappointed and uncomfortable.He couldn't figure out why the Mid-Autumn Festival would be like this, he thought that with He Zhengxi by his side this year, maybe the Mid-Autumn Festival would be more like a festival.

"I guess it's my fault. Why do I have to agree to the dinner party? I have to quit this crappy part-time job. Anyway, the salary has been paid, so it doesn't matter..." He muttered a few words in the bathroom, and suddenly remembered the old man who was far away. Xu Jialin of Xicheng.It was the third Mid-Autumn Festival in prison, how did he spend it?In previous years, the two would talk on the phone or meet in person, but this year they didn't have time.Lin Yan's fingertips were trembling slightly, and he fumbled for his phone, ready to call Lu Chi.

"Forget it, no, in the current state, you can't make calls."

Lin Yan put the phone back in, took out a few pieces of toilet paper to wipe off the water on his face, opened the door and walked out of the bathroom.

"Are you done crying?"

It was Su Lihang's voice.

He looked back and forth, left and right, and finally saw Mr. Su squatting and smoking at his feet.

"What's the matter, you don't want to eat? Swallowing clouds and savoring life here?" Lin Yan also squatted down, "Besides, I didn't cry."

"It's up to you." Su Lihang didn't delve into this topic, instead he swears and said sadly: "Damn, I wanted to destroy this rundown store, but I was helpless, everyone who came here has limited ability."

Lin Yan was amused by this sentence, "Didn't you decide this one? It was so vicious at the beginning, but now it has become annoying?"

Su Lihang smoked two cigarettes alone in silence for the rest of the time, and finally said dryly: "The owner of this store is my ex-brother-in-law, divorced, cheating, looking for Saner."

"……Um"

For a moment, Lin Yan didn't know whether to comfort or follow the indignation, so he could only say: "Then you still come to eat?"

"He is ashamed of my sister. Our family doesn't need to spend money to eat here, and it's the same for you to eat here. If you come more in the future, eat him!"

This is not a lot of money to him, but it will increase his popularity... Lin Yan thought embarrassingly.What's more, it's all like this, aren't you afraid of stumbling each other?The idea of ​​this family is amazing enough.

"It's weird, isn't it? I think so too, but my sister and brother-in-law are reconciled as before, and recently we've been playing the game of passionate love. It's really hard to figure out." Su Lihang said as if he could see Lin Yan's slander, "Forget it, don't mention it, let's go, and order some more hanging dragons!"

"Still eating?"

Su Lihang turned his face, "You don't want to eat?"

Lin Yan stood up and rubbed his numb calf, and said, "I don't want to eat anymore, I'm not in the mood, I'll leave first, you guys play."

"Argued with your brother?"

"That's it."

"Every family has its cupboard"

"The truth."

On the way back, Lin Yan didn't ride his bike anymore, and walked for less than 20 minutes while pushing, which was very close.It's just that at this moment, there are only a few pedestrians walking alone on the road, which makes him feel a little pitiful.

Why is it that bad things happen every day? I obviously feel that I have worked hard enough, but good luck is still so far away.

Lin Yan raised his face and looked at the huge full moon above his head. In the dark and deep night, the corners of his eyes flashed for a moment.

When he put away the car and walked downstairs to the dormitory, he received a message from He Zhengxi.

"I'm sorry, brother. I've said this many times this year. Does it sound like a wolf story? This time, I swear, I will definitely try my best to control my emotions in the future. So I won't mess with you for a while. I got angry and devoted myself to practicing. I didn’t regard you as a woman, I regarded you as someone I like. There are two boxes of moon cakes on your dormitory table, your favorite stuffing. And, no matter what Zheng Qifeng does, he looks really Not like a nice guy. - your brother"

Lin Yan held the phone with a smile that was not a smile. He couldn't even find a suitable expression for a while, so he had to wash his hands and started to open the moon cake box.

He ate two mouthfuls of rice at the event site at noon and was called away. In the evening, he quarreled with He Zhengxi again. Hunger made his stomach flattened, but anger made his stomach swell again. The experience can be described as rich.

Lin Yan counted out twelve mooncakes and left them for the roommates who did not come back, and put the remaining four into the cabinet by himself.His stomach was so angry that he dared not eat no matter how hungry he was.

After cleaning the dormitory and reading for an hour, the people who ate hot pot still haven't come back.It's really not too late, it's only 9 o'clock, and the nightlife has just begun.But Lin Yan felt that he was already very sleepy, sleepy in various senses.

He took a shower casually, climbed onto the bed and spread out the thin quilt, and fell asleep within a minute.

He Zhengxi said that he would devote himself to cultivation, but he disappeared for a long time.Lin Yan didn't have time to think about it, and he was too busy to touch the ground.Taking advantage of the National Day holiday, he went back to Xicheng, had a quick look at Xu Jialin, and then rushed back by train. He still had a few part-time jobs to do.The two brothers didn't meet until the end of October because of the parents' meeting.

In front of outsiders, He Zhengxi's messy little problems are basically hidden, his morality, intelligence, physique, art and labor are fully developed, and his appearance is even more impeccable.The head teacher likes such children the most, and pulls Lin Yan to praise him.This made Lin Yan feel that it didn't matter whether he came or not, but if he didn't come, He Zhengxi would definitely make a fuss.Considering the physical and mental health of both parties, Lin Yan still wants to come.

Autumn in Yancheng is beautiful and suitable for going out. At the beginning of November, Lin Yan and his roommate went to climb the mountain once, but it was already past the season for viewing red leaves, and the mountain wind was chilly, which made people feel cold all over.

Lin Yan stepped on the red, yellow and brown withered and withered leaves on the ground, and the sound of neat and crisp cracking came to his ears.There are stacked mountains in front of you, and Cui Chen next to him is chatting about the gossip in the department, Yu Li listens happily, and even Su Lihang is taking pictures with his camera.Although the temperature is not warm enough, the atmosphere is harmonious and beautiful.

It's just that this harmony and beauty didn't last long. When Lin Yan stretched out his head to study the flying insects lying on the tree trunk, he suddenly felt a palpitation, and the sense of loss of strength quickly spread to his limbs.He stood on the spot and swayed a few times, his body began to lean forward involuntarily, only the whistling wind remained in his right ear.

"Hey!"

Su Lihang quickly freed his hand and grabbed Lin Yan's arm, "Don't die? Even if it's not a grand canyon down there, you'll die if you fall down. What are you thinking!"

Lin Yan shook his head, turned his head, and his eyes were filled with confusion for a moment, "Maybe I have a cold, and my head is dizzy."

"Really?" Su Lihang's tone was suspicious.

"Yeah, I'm a little tired recently."

Lin Yan held the leaf and played with it over and over for a while, and finally threw it far away along the wind direction, and the leaf quickly disappeared.

After returning, Lin Yan secretly went to the hospital for a physical examination. The examination result was fine, but the doctor reminded him to pay attention to regulating his emotions and advised Lin Yan to take a depression test.He was stunned when he heard this.

Depression test?Depression?How can it be?

After thinking for a long time alone, Lin Yan finally called Cai Xusheng who was far away in Xicheng.Cai Xusheng has a cousin who does psychology research, and Lin Yan feels that he probably needs some consultation and help.

He has always thought that his attitude towards most things is fairly positive.From the age of 5 to the present, 13 years have passed since my life was forcibly changed.During this period, he met Xu Jialin, was adopted by him, gradually became self-reliant, and had an inseparable intersection with He Zhengxi for five years.Just when Lin Yan thought he could almost be happy, these two people gradually moved away from his life, and even Linshui Street became depressed.He really can't accept it, but it's understandable.

Xu Jialin deserved to go to jail, no matter what the reason was, he committed a crime.

He Zhengxi has his own home, and there is nothing wrong with him returning home, this should be blessed.

Then what?Haven't I convinced myself already?Why are there still so many problems?

When Lin Yan was less than a quarter of his 18th year, he suddenly seemed to be haunted.He thought about some irrelevant and meaningless things over and over again. He knew that it was hypocritical and unnecessary, but he couldn't help but entangle and care about it.

In the first autumn and winter when he came to Yancheng, there was heating, lively classmates and roommates, and endless part-time jobs, but Lin Yan still felt lonely and difficult.He began to be out of breath frequently, as if someone had been pinching his neck, dragging him into a vortex from which he could not turn back.

"The temperature may just be a trigger for you to have these kinds of emotions. You don't realize that you have accumulated too many negative states without knowing it, and you have been hiding those things, or deliberately ignoring them. Maybe it is The completion of the staged goal of the college entrance examination allows you to relax temporarily, or the special environment makes those things more obvious. So now, you can only be forced to see them." Cai Xusheng's cousin Su Wen talked to him in a video call He said.

"Then what should I do?" Lin Yan asked while pinching the earphone.He was sitting in the corner of an Internet cafe outside the school. After several phone calls, Su Wen hoped to have a face-to-face chat with him.

"I suggest you go to the hospital. Believe me, this is not a simple emotional problem. Your body is sick and you may need to take medicine. However, there are also some people with mild symptoms who can be relieved by exercise or psychological intervention."

"I go out by bike every day to do a part-time job, does that count?" Lin Yan asked.

Su Wen shook his head, "That's work for you. If you can spare time, it's best to go out for a jog every day. When you run, your brain will secrete endophenolphthalein, which will make you happier." After Su Wen finished speaking, he adjusted his Turning off the camera, he said with a smile, "Or, you can also develop a relationship with the premise of getting married. You are more handsome than my cousin, and you should have many suitors."

"I don't have the idea of ​​falling in love for the time being, and I don't want to harm others because of this kind of thing." Lin Yan refused.

Su Wen suddenly made an exaggerated breathing movement, and said, "You and Cai Xusheng are worthy of being friends."

Lin Yan was amused by him.

"The smile is great." Su Wen said in a timely manner, "So, remember to go to the hospital, no matter what the situation is, I can help. I hope that when we meet next time, your smile will still be so handsome."

Lin Yan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "It must be handsome."

On the way back, the cold, dry north wind blew unscrupulously.When he walked to the school gate, a small piece of water suddenly fell on the tip of Lin Yan's nose. He raised his face, and there was a lot of snow in the gloomy sky.Lin Yan has seen snow, but only rarely.This is the first snow in Yancheng this year, and the students passing by are cheering softly.Probably because of being infected by such an atmosphere, Lin Yan gradually felt some warmth in his heart.

The school's final exam was scheduled for early January. After the exam, the dormitory slowly quieted down.During this period, Lin Yan received a call from the proprietress, asking him when he would return to Xicheng. The part-time position was always reserved for him, and she said that he had a big project to do.When Lin Yan asked what the big project was, the proprietress only said that she would know when she got back, and she was very mysterious.

Lin Yan didn't ask any further questions. In short, he knew that he would not be idle during the winter vacation, so he felt at ease.

Before leaving, he stayed at He Zhengxi's house for two days.He Zhengxi's winter vacation was late, and when Lin Yan left, He Zhengxi skipped class and came out to see him off.

"Are you still going to Xicheng during the holiday? I won't stop you this time." Lin Yan squeezed He Zhengxi's arm, "It's firm."

"I said I want to cultivate, wait for me to finish my cultivation." He Zhengxi said.

I don't know whether it's due to his age or the effect of his practice. Lin Yan felt that He Zhengxi seemed to be calmer in his dealings with others, and his whole temperament was also changing, not as frizzy as before.

"Then you practice, and I will come back a few days early after the new year to celebrate the Lantern Festival with you." Lin Yan said.

"Okay!" He Zhengxi hugged him vigorously, "Brother, you are so kind!"

"Be diligent during the Chinese New Year, your parents are busy, don't ask too much from them." Lin Yan whispered in He Zhengxi's ear with this hug.

In fact, this action couldn't be more normal, but our classmate He Zhengxi, who was in his prime, was instantly set on fire.He crawled along the pole and rubbed against Lin Yan, then immediately took a step back, and said embarrassedly: "Hey... there is no way, young man, the firepower is great."

Lin Yan rubbed He Zhengxi's hair, and said, "It's nothing, it's normal. I have to get in the car, so hurry back."

"Well! You go first." He Zhengxi stared at Lin Yan intently.

"Where is the parting station, you, withdraw!"

Lin Yan dragged his luggage and turned around, holding up the ticket and shaking it.

"Call home!" He Zhengxi shouted.

"you too."

Lin Yan walked into the crowd, and He Zhengxi looked at it for a few minutes on his feet, and turned around until he could no longer see it.

Although there were people chatting in the car, the sound was like hypnosis. Lin Yan leaned against the back of the chair all the way and fell asleep, woke up and fell asleep, and repeated this cycle several times, and the boundary of Xicheng was reached.The warm air slowly overflowed into the passenger's nostrils. Some people around him said that the air here is better. Lin Yan also tried to take a deep breath. He felt that the surroundings were still full of the smell of the train station, nothing special.

"What do you smell? It's like a puppy." Lu Chi stepped forward and said, "I'm back, are you hungry?"

"It's okay to eat instant noodles." Lin Yan walked around behind Lu Chi, and jumped hard, "I miss you so much!"

"You've been in college for a few months, and you're still younger?" Lu Chi stretched out a hand and dragged Lin Yan's butt, "Have you lost weight?"

"It's okay." Lin Yan jumped off Lu Chi's back and squeezed his waist.

"This year's Spring Festival is at my house, and your place has to be cleaned up. I have a spare room at my house, which is just right." Lu Chi said.

"Okay!" Lin Yan replied crisply.

Lu Chi turned his head to look at him, with an unbelievable expression on his face, "I promised so quickly? It's not like you."

Lin Yan opened the trunk, threw the luggage into it in one go, and said, "Let's have fun with you, I'm cold by myself."

"That's the truth." Lu Chi applauded approvingly, "We still have to celebrate the New Year together, otherwise what's the point of guarding the ancestral hall?"

"Yeah, it's so lonely." Lin Yan said with his head down.

Lu Chi's house is very close to the proprietress's restaurant, and he has plenty of time during the winter vacation. He can work all day, and the proprietress readily gave Lin Yan an hourly salary increase.

As long as there is still money to be made, he is full of confidence.

"How are you and our old Master Chen?" Lin Yanwo was at the counter, tapping the keyboard cracklingly.The store recently changed its financial software, and he got started quickly.

"You brat, you're not very old, why do you think about being old every day!" The proprietress took out a cigarette and rubbed it a few times, "Whatever, I don't have the time to think about it."

"Then what are you thinking about?" Lin Yan asked.

After hearing this, the proprietress smiled secretly, and hooked her fingers at Lin Yan, motioning him to come closer.

"I'm not selling myself!" Lin Yan said, holding his chest.

"Would you like to hear it or not! It's a big deal to make money!" The proprietress threw the cigarette into the trash basket.

"Then you can listen to this." Lin Yan lowered his head and leaned forward.