River City Story

Cheng Qi and He Zhengxi kept talking on the balcony, their voices fluctuated high and low. Lin Yan was woken up several times, but he couldn't hear the key point, so he had to turn over and get up.

"You two, it's buzzing, it's endless, isn't it?" Lin Yan picked up two bottles of water and threw them over there, "Aren't you talking about eating hot pot? Haven't started yet?"

"It's not waiting for you." Cheng Qi caught it firmly with both hands, handed He Zhengxi a bottle, turned her head and said: "Tonggu hot pot, don't sleep after you finish eating, come with me to the store " After twisting the bottle cap, he glanced at Lin Yan, "Just relax."

"Don't do this, it's disgusting." Lin Yan stretched his legs, squatted on the sofa, poured down half a bottle of water, and picked his chin at Cheng Qi, "Is the store okay during this time?"

Cheng Qi came over, and also sat on the sofa, "A few days ago, there was a troublemaker. The elder brother I met at the vegetable market scared me back."

"Take it easy, let's set up the cooking classroom when I get better. After the holidays, rich and idle people will come out to have fun." Lin Yan twisted his arms as he spoke, leaning on the pillow and going to sleep again.

He was dressed more casually at home, with big pants and a white vest. When he lay down with his legs bent, his flexible thighs and the two breasts on his chest were faintly exposed.Although Cheng Qi is a confidant brother who understands things in the industry, he is straighter than a square, so in his eyes, this kind of scenery becomes "Hey, don't sleep here, the draft will blow, otherwise it will still be Sit up and let's eat hot pot."

But He Zhengxi was different, younger brother He's gaze, from the balcony all the way across mountains and ridges, zigzagged and circled, and fell on the person who fell into the sofa in a whirl, his mind was infinitely active, and his mind was spinning wildly.Until the next second, the bandaged hand fell into his sight, and He Zhengxi's fiery emotions immediately cooled down.

On the balcony just now, Cheng Qi guessed speciously that Lin Yan might have a psychological problem, so let him observe more at ordinary times, and don't wait until something happens to pay attention.He Zhengxi said it was impossible, and Cheng Qi scolded him for avoiding medical treatment. He Zhengxi thought that was not the case, and he was also worried, but he couldn't accept that such a thing would happen to his always active elder brother.

He tentatively asked Cheng Qi if the restaurant had hired a consumer counselor, and Cheng Qi said that he did, a man in his 30s with glasses.He Zhengxi tried his best to recall Su Wen's appearance when they met a few days ago. He didn't know if he was in his 30s, but the man with glasses was real.Why did Lin Yan meet a psychological counselor when he was free?He is not a social butterfly like Chinese cabbage.

He Zhengxi has limited experience in life, but he is not stupid, and his mobility is not bad. He quietly sent a text message to Cai Xusheng, saying that he hoped to have a chat with Su Wen at night.Cai Xusheng hesitated for a long time, and finally sent Su Wen's contact information, and added a note: Don't let your brother know.

Although he hadn't communicated with Su Wen in depth yet, when he straightened out the logic one by one, Cheng Qi's guess seemed to become a fact, clearly placed in front of him.

Then what?what to do?Lin Yan consciously went to a psychological counselor for counseling, probably because he already knew his situation. If I mention it again now, will it lead to bigger problems?When the two quarrel again, it is not impossible for Lin Yan's blade to move up a few inches.

He Zhengxi looked at his elder brother who was on the sofa with Cheng Qi and chatted about work, his head was full of sadness and self-blame.He has never carefully explored Lin Yan's heart, and he has enjoyed most of it in the past ten years.In front of Lin Yan, he was shrewd, cunning, provocative in every way, even said wrong words and did wrong things, and then waited shyly for Lin Yan's forgiveness after a helpless smile.He Zhengxi had never seen Lin Yan in distress and collapsed before, but in the slow passage of time, these changes seemed to have really happened quietly, without anyone noticing.

"Are you standing under the sun and treating yourself like a teppanyaki?"

He Zhengxi followed the voice and turned his head to see that Lin Yan, who was still nestling on the sofa just now, had already put on his apron and yawned, and was about to go into the kitchen, "Go and tidy up the things you brought with Cheng Qi, I'll go get them." Bottom of the pot."

"Ah? Oh! Let's go!" Shocked by the shout, He Zhengxi withdrew his wandering thoughts, exchanged glances with Cheng Qi in a hurry, and went to cut potatoes.

As soon as Lin Yan touched the small thick-bottomed saucepan, the vague sense of steadfastness slowly returned.

What are you upset about?Just do what you should do.He quickly took out the induction cooker, set up the pot, and boiled hot water to remove the blood and foam from the bones.There is nothing special about making the bottom of the pot, and there is no need to prepare broth. Cut the onion into sections and shred the ginger, smash two cloves of garlic, grab a few peppercorns, remove the bone, add a spoonful of coarse salt, fill it with water, and boil it , and then pile up other ingredients one after another.Simple, fast and delicious.Although it is a bit difficult to handle with one hand, but with help, it went smoothly.

"I cooked it myself, it's just different." Cheng Qi told Lin Yan and He Zhengxi to quickly fish out the floating meatballs, and poured a plate of beef into it, "I won't let it, you two can do whatever you want. "

Lin Yan picked up the bamboo chopsticks helplessly and said, "This doesn't seem to be your home."

Cheng Qi raised her eyebrows: "Yo? Treat me as an outsider." He concentrated on stirring the sesame sauce, millet pepper, and peanuts in the porcelain bowl. After stirring, he took a sip and said, "We are on the same rope now. The grasshoppers here are going to make a lot of money together, and they have to be comrades-in-arms in the same trench for three to five years, and I will often come here with meat, eggs, vegetables and milk for inspections! You have to do a good job of reception in time!"

Lin Yan said with a smile: "You should watch less episodes of prime-time TV dramas from local TV stations!"

"No, no, no." Cheng Qi shook her chopsticks, "You don't understand, the luxury and money-losing season dramas are not suitable for me at all, I just like watching Firewood Stack and Da Tian Ye!"

"Although my home in Xicheng doesn't have a big field, there are firewood stacks if you work hard. If you have the opportunity, you can go there to play." Lin Yan said.Cheng Qi is also a mixed creature of childishness and maturity. He is very pure and rarely says 'no'. He likes to hand over the action plan directly, and Lin Yan gets along very comfortably with him.

Although He Zhengxi across the table was depressed that Lin Yan kept talking to Cheng Qi, Lin Yan seemed to be in a good mood, and he also breathed a sigh of relief.

It's just that from the beginning to the end of a hot pot meal, the three of them ate their own food. I don't know whether it was intentional or not. Lin Yan didn't even give He Zhengxi any cabbage with his chopsticks.It's not convenient, He Zhengxi comforted himself.

"Hey..." He Zhengxi sighed while cooking.He was wilting, not so long ago the meat on his plate was on the tip.

Cheng Qi leaned against the door of the kitchen, watching and laughing: "It's your own fault, pretend to be big, and don't invite people to see you." She couldn't help but gloat.

He Zhengxi groaned and didn't refute, he didn't do it himself.

"It's quite normal when eating, why are you in the bedroom again now." Cheng Qi looked outside and said in a low voice.

He Zhengxi sorted the tableware into categories, wiped his hands, went out to take a look, and came back and said, "I'll ask someone who understands it later, I'm really scared..."

"Now I know I'm afraid, so I won't bother you anymore." Cheng Qi patted He Zhengxi on the back, "I remember when we first met, you asked me to take care of him, hey." He clicked his tongue a few times, "It is said that when your brother was your age, he was already able to support the family. You should also consider when you will really grow up."

"I'm different from those high school students who don't work hard." He Zhengxi said stubbornly.

"You still say such things now, which means that you are still far from maturity. You are much better than your peers, but no matter how good you are, you must first learn to be considerate and have a conscience." Cheng Qi looked up at the clock , and said again: "Lin Yan would not say these words to your brother. Although he seems to have high demands on you, in fact, he has been doting on you, doting on you, a brother who is only three years younger than him, I You all find it incredible. You have to think about it, what is worth paying for yourself." He poked his head out to look at the bedroom again, then turned his head and lowered his voice and continued: "I have nothing to do with you. , I'm afraid ten years later, I may just be a passer-by, but now, I can talk to you as a big brother."

He Zhengxi nodded seriously, "I'm listening, you speak."

"Don't be so formal, I'm just talking nonsense." Cheng Qi waved her hand, "You, remember, no matter what you do, don't play heroism blindly, this is also called respect. Before showing off your ability, first confirm whether you are adding trouble or adding flowers. "

After Cheng Qi said this, she was so ashamed that she fanned herself. In fact, he simply wanted to say: He Zhengxi, you are a half-old child, just be a good younger brother. A long head does not have a long brain.

He Zhengxi listened attentively, but Cheng Qi didn't know if he listened or not, and he didn't want to delve into it.

"But you are already pretty good, don't put too much pressure on yourself, your brother, he actually understands quite well in his heart." Cheng Qi said again.

"Oh, I see."

After taking a shower, Lin Yan lay on the bed in the bedroom for a few minutes, and found that he couldn't fall asleep after eating too much, so he simply changed his clothes and sat in front of the window to watch the scenery. He opened the door and went out after the two people outside had almost finished chatting.

"The relationship between you two has really improved by leaps and bounds, so to speak."

Lin Yanxiu's long straight legs were wrapped in black slacks, and when He Zhengxi turned his head to look over, his heart missed several beats.

Cheng Qi clapped her hands and praised: "I think we can get you to be the head chef in our cooking classroom. The performance will definitely increase gradually. Hue is productivity."

Lin Yan folded his arms and laughed, and said generously, "You will open a duck shop in the future, and I will be the top brand."

As soon as he said these words, He Zhengxi was stunned.Open a duck shop and be the top brand?Are you kidding me?

Cheng Qi said calmly, "I can't afford tens of millions of dollars in salary." He shook the car key, "Let's go, at this point, the restaurant is going to be filled, let's go to town."

The two walked away talking and laughing, shoulder to shoulder, leaving He Zhengxi standing there alone, dumbfounded.

He hurried downstairs, finished throwing out the garbage, wandered around the neighborhood twice, organized his words, returned to the rental house and sat on the sofa, and started calling Su Wen.

Su Wen's voice sounded soft and seemed to have no temper. He Zhengxi was a little overwhelmed when he really talked - he was too good at circling around to fool people.Moreover, he didn't believe that He Zhengxi was Lin Yan's younger brother, so he had to submit a proof before he could continue talking.He Zhengxi had no choice but to take photos of his student ID card, ID card, and report card for him to see, and then contacted Cai Xusheng to make a guarantee, so he only had to pay the deposit, so Su Wen reluctantly agreed.

"I have nothing to say." Su Wen said reluctantly on the other end of the phone, "According to the rules, I can't chat with you here, anyway, Lin also has privacy."

"Please, I'm really worried about him..." He Zhengxi said anxiously, "My brother, the situation is not very good recently, he seems to be very tired, and we are not sure, just a guess, he may... self-harm Propensity."

"Self-mutilation?" Su Wen laughed directly after hearing that, "It's already remarkable that he didn't commit suicide. Isn't self-mutilation normal?"

"Sorry, can you explain more clearly." He Zhengxi's hands gripping the phone began to tremble, "What about suicide?"

Su Wen sighed inaudibly, struggled for a while, and started talking in a rambling manner.

"The first conversation between the two of us was probably in the late autumn of last year. I just got to work at noon that day, and a strange call came in. It was a very clear boy's voice. He said it was introduced by Shengsheng. Psychological counseling... He was very frank and talked a lot about his experiences from childhood to adulthood, some people and things he met. I think he is a very calm and objective young man, not flustered. After chatting a few times, I suggest He went to the hospital for a depression screening." Su Wen rustled the computer on the other end, his voice flickered from far to near, "The result can be imagined, but according to his personality, the medical certificate may have been lost long ago. I have a scanned copy from him here, leave me an email later."

"...Okay." He Zhengxi replied with a choked voice.

"Hey, hey, don't be so sad." Su Wen said with a smile, "It's not very serious yet. Even if he refuses to take medicine, he still insists on exercising. However, it is best to go to the hospital for regular check-ups and follow-up. treat."

"It's not serious?! He's already in that state! Is it really a misdiagnosis?" He Zhengxi was very emotional.

Su Wen: "What kind of state is that state? No matter what state it is, didn't you only know it after a year? However, as his family, you should pay more attention to this speed of development."

"Yes," He Zhengxi said guiltily, "I just feel regretful and sad. If I had noticed earlier, I would definitely not have made him angry."

Su Wen: "No one is perfect, and everyone has a temper. Besides, he didn't tell you about this, which proves that he doesn't want you to know, and he doesn't want to be looked at with pity. As for you, do Just do what needs to be done.”

"En." He Zhengxi nodded, and then asked anxiously: "Then what should I do? I don't know what to do now, and I'm afraid that I might say the wrong thing in the process of communicating with him."

Su Wen was silent for a few seconds before speaking: "Your brother has strong self-control. He is working, studying, and living smoothly. I think you'd better treat him as a normal person." He paused After a pause, he comforted with a hint of reminder: "Brother, you need to support each other. Take your time, your brother will recover."

Will it heal?He Zhengxi didn't know clearly, and he didn't dare to open his mouth casually.

Su Wen noticed his hesitation, and asked a few words in passing, but didn't say anything more.

After hanging up the phone, He Zhengxi was silent for a while in the dark, then got up and walked to the balcony.Dusk falls outside the window, hot wind blows everywhere, this is the end of summer in Yancheng.The neighbors downstairs walked in twos and twos, waving cattail fans and playing chess. The market was bustling and noisy. Not far away, the place where colored lights were lit up was the corner of the restaurant where Lin Yan worked, and several bright and lovely glass lamps hung.He Zhengxi rubbed his fingertips back and forth, and not long after, he took out a stick of chewing gum from his pocket and chewed it slowly.

The neighbor in the old alley of Linshui Street praised Lin Yan as a very inspirational kid who never made people worry.Study well, don't cause trouble, get started with housework, be diligent and thrifty to the point of almost nothing.No matter who evaluates Lin Yan, he is extremely perfect and excellent.In the past when He Zhengxi heard this, he would proudly raise his head and say, my brother is amazing, but now, he only feels bitter.

It is said that "the harder you work, the luckier you get", but the reality does not seem to be the case.I have worked hard to the limit, why doesn't luck always come to my brother?

Standing in the deep twilight, He Zhengxi heaved a long sigh.

"To be honest, this big window is really nice. It's a pity to be a cooking class." Lin Yan stood by the window on the third floor of the restaurant and looked out. Cheng Qi was behind him, a little nervous.

"Let's see when the decoration is finished, and I will have to trouble your senior architect again after a while." Cheng Qi walked over and dragged Lin Yan back a few steps indiscriminately, "However, he can still do interior design, really. very nice."

Lin Yan moved to the bare bar and leaned against it, and said: "He has been doing those since junior high school, and we don't have strict requirements for the design. He loves to take on this kind of work, let him do it, you won't be disappointed. .”

"You are young, but there are many gods and men around you." Cheng Qi said.

Lin Yan proudly said: "Hey, praise yourself in a different way."

Cheng Qi: "That must be."

The two were chatting, and the phone in Cheng Qi's hand rang, saying that there was a visitor, and they went downstairs together.

Lin Yan is the youngest of the 20-person team. He is worried that he will not be able to hold back his momentum. In order to show his stability, he usually comes to the store with shirts and trousers.It's rare to wear casual clothes this day, and my age has suddenly become a lot younger.A table of familiar diners whistled at him a few times, and Lin Yan casually raised his fingers and blew them a kiss, and there was an uproar in the restaurant.

"Handsome Lin knows he's back!"

"Brother Lin's legs are so straight!"

"My sister won't do her summer homework unless she says she won't see you! Hahaha, it's a pity she's going to the bathroom right now!"

Lin Yan laughed for a while, and said, "Then tell her, the mid-term exam will advance five places, and my brother will accompany her to lunch, and the final ten places will advance, and I will send her a gift home!"

The other party laughed loudly and said, "You are going to let her hang on the beam!"

When Cheng Qi came out after chatting about things, she saw Lin Yanzheng looking happy and going to the dining table to take care of the guests one by one, she couldn't help but feel a lot more relaxed.

"It's just right to have you here. I'll requisition for two hours. Don't go home yet." Cheng Qi pulled him to her side.

Lin Yan tilted his head and poked Cheng Qi's shirt pocket, "What are you doing out there? The 108th blind date?"

Cheng Qi snorted: "It's not 108 times at all, okay, I'm going to see the training partner of the cooking classroom."

Lin Yan: "Is it a girl?"

Cheng Qi: "It's impossible for me to fall in love with a partner!"

Lin Yan pushed him out: "Hurry up and go."

Cheng Qi turned her head while walking: "I'm really not here to fall in love!"

Lin Yan stood at the door and waved at him: "Don't be fooled by beauty, remember, be a profiteer."

Cheng Qi cut and drove away.

Not half an hour after Cheng Qi left, the restaurant became overwhelmed on time, and Lin Yan began to shuttle upstairs and downstairs with several jobs.Ordering, passing food, collecting bills, taking care of the children, cleaning the table, a whole set of procedures are done, and the complexion is as usual, which is smoother than the clerk.After being so busy until 8 o'clock, I have time to catch my breath.He sat at the vacant small table for two at the door and looked out.The kebab shop across the street slowly became lively, and the scent seemed to squeeze in through the door.Lin Yan squinted his eyes and sniffed, mutton, fat and thin, was He Zhengxi's favorite taste.

Thinking of He Zhengxi, he suddenly felt sad.Two days ago, he was angry and didn't want to control anymore, but now he calmed down, and he felt that he still had to take care of this troubled boy as much as possible.

Are you born cheap!Lin Yan laughed at himself.

It was almost 9 o'clock when Cheng Qi came back in a hurry with a happy expression on her face.

Lin Yan walked over and asked, "How is it? Does she have a house? After all, you don't."

"Your mouth!" Cheng Qi rolled his eyes halfway, realizing that he was already 30 and couldn't be as knowledgeable as a 19-year-old boy, so he tried his best to roll his eyes back, and said happily: "See you tomorrow One, this time it will be used as an alternative, the main person is more down-to-earth, with light makeup, and looks not disturbing."

"This description..." Lin Yan chuckled, "I feel like you're a scumbag."

Cheng Qi spread her hands together: "Laugh, laugh, laugh, I'm honest that I'm not kind enough!"

"To be honest, your career is pretty good now, why are you in such a rush to find a partner? It's hard work, hard work, and hard work." Lin Yan counted on his fingers.

Cheng Qi relaxed his shoulders, took a sip of tea, closed his eyes, and spoke with fantasy: "I just want to have someone to complain with or share happiness with after busy work."

"Then people want a house because they want to live in a down-to-earth way. When they live in their own house, complain, or share happiness, they have a bottom line in their hearts." Lin Yan said.

Cheng Qi sighed: "That's the truth..."

At 10:[-] in the evening, the restaurant saw off the last customer. Cheng Qi set up chairs with the waiter in the lobby to clean up the wine bottles, and Lin Yan stayed in the back kitchen to help mop the floor and wash the dishes.The street is still noisy, and the life belonging to another group of people has started like a relay.

When Lin Yan returned home with two bags of skewers, the headlights were still on in the living room, and several suitcases, large and small, were scattered all over the place.He put the skewers on the dining table, stepped on the limited space and moved to the door of another bedroom with difficulty, "What are you fussing about?"

He Zhengxi hugged the quilt and turned around, his head was tightly blocked, "Brother? You're back, I'm here to take care of things." He tried to stretch out half of his face, his small eyes sparkling, "Don't say Will you move here when you come back? Let me speed up."

Lin Yan put his hands behind his back, nodded and said: "Speed, what's the speed in seconds."

He Zhengxi smiled and asked, "Then what?"

Lin Yan: "Righteousness, integrity and shame."

He Zhengxi pretended to be enlightened: "Oh! Got it."

Lin Yan: "What do you know?"

He Zhengxi: "I understand you."

Lin Yan: "Deadwood!"