River City Story

In September, He Zhengxi and Lin Yan started school.Lin Yan needed to change his dressing on one hand regularly so that it wouldn't get wet, and He Zhengxi consciously took care of the cooking and washing. The two of them seemed to have returned to their lives when they were eleven or twelve years old, harmonious and tacit.One day, He Yi took the time to come over to inspect. He looked up and saw a big boy in an apron on the balcony who was focused on watering the flowers and plants. He was stunned for half a minute before realizing that it was his awkward and rebellious son.Before leaving, he gave Lin Yan a thumbs up full of admiration.

In fact, He Zhengxi did better than when he was a child by more than 01:30, Lin Yan knew it best.It's just that there are no audiences in Yancheng's house on weekdays, and He Zhengxi's skills have no place to show off.Or, He Zhengxi's client picks someone.

"Is it true that I can't work part-time in your restaurant?" He Zhengxi graciously sandwiched ribs for Lin Yan.

"Really can't."

He Zhengxi frowned, pouted and pretended to be pitiful: "Let's save money to buy a house with you, buy our own house."

Lin Yan said solemnly: "It's a waste of time for you to worry about this. It's the fifth time I talked about it. There is no sixth time, understand?"

He Zhengxi immediately felt dizzy: "Understood! I will pick you up by bike tonight!"

Lin Yan sighed helplessly: "I know, my hand is almost healed, and you can study at home with peace of mind next week."

"I can learn well without worrying about it."

"Quickly apologize to the teenagers across the country who are studying hard!"

"Okay, okay!" He Zhengxi clasped his hands together to show weakness, "Blame me for having a brother who is too wise."

"What does it have to do with me?" Lin Yan put down the bamboo chopsticks, "Don't eat, I'm going to do my homework."

"Well, leave it to me, you are busy." He Zhengxi's mouth was full, and some sweet and sour sauce was smeared on his cheeks. In Lin Yan's eyes, this appearance was quite an illusion of turning back time ten years ago.

He habitually took out a tissue, motioned He Zhengxi to raise his face, and said while wiping, "It's shocking that a fool like you who leaks juice from eating can still be a study committee member."

He Zhengxi looked up at the handsome face that fascinated the elementary school girls, and shook his shoulders shyly: "You don't understand, according to the recent popular saying, I am called Contrast Meng."

Lin Yan rolled the paper towel into a ball and smashed it on He Zhengxi's head, "You can enjoy yourself here alone, I really have to leave, and you are not allowed to knock on the door for two hours."

He Zhengxi nodded: "Go and go, leave the phone to me, and help you pick it up."

Lin Yan pointed to the coffee table: "I leave it to you."

For two people, this can be regarded as an extremely stable cohabitation life.The weather is calm, and the brothers and friends are respectful, as if any troubles have never existed.

As soon as Lin Yan's bedroom door was closed, the corners of He Zhengxi's raised mouth quickly returned to the horizontal line. He drank Lin Yan's remaining half bowl of porridge in one gulp, tidied up the dining table neatly, washed the dishes and mopped the floor.Half an hour later, with two clicks, the living room and kitchen were plunged into darkness again.He Zhengxi shook the water droplets from his hand, walked to the balcony, and had a routine to blow the air.After playing for 5 minutes, he returned to his own bedroom, and there were three test papers waiting on the desk.He Zhengxi instinctively felt that in Lin Yan's eyes, only grades could be regarded as faultless, so he paid special attention to it. If he couldn't keep this advantage, he would be completely uncompetitive.

He Zhengxi is in the simple and pure stage of immersing himself in learning, but Lin Yan has to start thinking about the future.The counselor recently called him into the office to talk, hoping that he could devote as much energy as possible to his professional work.It is said that Lin Yan is already a sophomore, his grades are good enough, and he doesn't make trouble. As long as he doesn't go too far and works harder, he is very likely to get a place in the insurance research institute.

The counselor came to Lin Yan because of a chance encounter.That day, he took his relatives to eat at the restaurant where Lin Yan worked. The restaurant was busy at the time, and Lin Yan happened to be greeting customers, but unexpectedly he would greet his teacher.Although the people in the store had a good time with Lin Yan in private, they were very obedient and respectful during working hours. They spoke to each other, and the counselor was stunned.These people all looked older than Lin Yan, why did they call him brother.Before leaving, he grabbed a clerk and asked him to find out that this rookie restaurant, which has been booming recently, was actually run by his students.The counselor was shocked, and summoned Lin Yan to the office the next day, and spoke earnestly.

"Your family situation is known to both the department and the school. You didn't apply for a bursary, and the teacher also expressed his understanding." The counselor said earnestly, "It's just that you are both talented and hardworking. The road ahead must be more than what you have in front of you. It doesn't matter if you have a part-time job, but you have to think about whether it can be used as a career..." He knew that Lin Yan was really short of money, so he couldn't say too much. The topic said: "You are young, but you can make a fuss. The restaurant is doing well."

"You go to eat in the future, and you can get [-]% off by swiping your face card." Lin Yan wiped off the cold sweat on his forehead, and said honestly.

"You students, one by one." The counselor sighed, "You are really much bolder than we were back then."

Lin Yan didn't speak, just laughed.

The counselor had nothing to do with him, and finally left a sentence "Remember to regulate the operation", and waved Lin Yan helplessly to leave.

Lin Yan knew in his heart that the counselor had no malicious intentions in talking to him about these things, it was purely from the perspective of a teacher, he was thinking of the students, but as the restaurant got better and better, he didn't want to spend all his time on postgraduate entrance examinations and further studies. On, he wanted to try a different way of life.

When he first chose his major, Zhao Sheng hoped that he could get a PhD all the way, and then apply for the opportunity to spend two years in a foreign research institute, and then return to teach in a domestic university.In a sense, this is a perfect and decent life plan. If it goes well, life in the future will definitely not be too bad.Zhao Sheng is not a person who makes judgments casually. He knows Lin Yan's ability very well and has confidence in it.It’s just that in Lin Yan’s opinion, studying a Ph. D. and going abroad are not choices worthy of his enthusiasm. What’s more, no matter how talented you are, you have to devote a lot of time to it.He didn't want to leave Xu Jialin too far away for too long. Xu Jialin was already on the road of getting old. His parents were still there, so Lin Yan didn't have a place in his heart that belonged to his biological parents. He left this place to Xu Jialin.

In August, in the prison, Lin Yan said that he would go back for the National Day, but Xu Jialin refused on the spot, saying that he should stay in Yancheng well and not delay doing business.Naturally, it was impossible for Lin Yan to listen to it. Although the Golden Week store was busy, Cheng Qi was there to take care of her, and the proprietress was also there. Lin Yan smoothly took three days to run back and forth.This time He Zhengxi didn't follow, he still had school activities to attend during the holidays.

Lin Yan had been busy all the way. He had just returned to Yancheng, and his ass was still hot. He Zhengxi's news had arrived, and he had to start the video no matter what.

"Your place still allows students to surf the Internet? What kind of money-swindling organization is this?" Lin Yan wiped his wet hair and sat down at the computer desk. The camera was a little crooked, and he stretched out his hand to straighten it. "Is that all right? Can you see it?" .”

On the other side, a phantom appeared in He Zhengxi's head: "Yes!"

"Don't be fooled, the network card is stuck." Lin Yan took out a professional book and put it on the table, "I'm going to get down to business. You have a lot of people over there. This is obviously not some kind of training."

He Zhengxi: "Only half a day's time to play, I'm sluggishly doing my homework in the dormitory. If you don't believe me, take a look!" He raised a stack of papers in his hand, "I'll do the questions later."

"That's fine, you do it, I'll turn off the video." Lin Yan said.

"No, no, no!" He Zhengxi stopped anxiously, "Just drive it like this, let's learn from each other!"

Lin Yan laughed: "It's pure waste, do as you please." He put the towel on his neck, put on his coat and bowed his head to focus on the research topic.

He Zhengxi stared at the half face hanging down from the camera in a daze. He had already finished his homework, and he played the video just to see Lin Yan more.

"Damn, this is your brother?" The passing boy from the next class came over, looked at the video frame back and forth, then pinched his chin and said thoughtfully: "No wonder the girls in your class were restless during the parent-teacher meeting. Well, yes, very handsome, although from this angle...you can't see the whole face."

He Zhengxi pushed him aside: "Keep your voice down, my brother is working hard."

Boy: "It's worth it, two brothers who love each other."

For the next few days, no matter whether Lin Yan was at home or in a restaurant, as long as he had a computer, He Zhengxi would always find time to play videos with him.

"I said, my brother is...in the office?" The boy walked over again, "Wow, my brother has raised his head. He's really handsome. He's definitely prettier than you."

He Zhengxi frowned: "Who is my brother with you? That's my brother. My brother must be good-looking. Use your nonsense!"

Lin Yan fiddled with the form over there, and laughed after hearing it: "You guys are quite lively, you are not afraid of the teacher looking for you."

He Zhengxi sat upright and said: "It's not as lively as you, I can go back tomorrow morning, miss me?"

Lin Yan sent him a little heart and said, "Study hard, don't delay my earning money."

He Zhengxi: "Then I'm off, I'll send you a message later."

Lin Yan waved the back of his hand at the camera: "OK."

Soon, the prompt box of video hanging up came out, he stopped typing, closed his eyes, and leaned back in the chair.

He Zhengxi hadn't had any trouble with him for more than two months, which made him feel relieved.After a while, he will go to the hospital for another examination. Lin Yan hopes to get a good result.In terms of his physical condition, he has always been like a bystander. No matter his ears or mental state, compared to too many people who start to go crazy and flustered after receiving the medical certificate, he is so objective and calm that some things have nothing to do with him.He even thinks more and more that people live in this world and only have a clear mind for a few decades, so why should they care about these not-so-lovely stumbling blocks?Besides, Lin Yan believed that he could get over it, and he still had old man Xu to take care of him, so he couldn't just settle it casually.

After He Zhengxi finished dropping out of school, there were only two days left for the holiday, and as soon as he came back, he nestled next to Lin Yan and didn't go anywhere, even completely ignoring the phone calls between He Yi and Fang Ximin.There is really no way, the couple can only come to the door in person with big bags and small bags.

"There are vegetables, meat, and two squids in the crisper." He Yi called Lin Yan who was about to go out with the key, "There is no need to go out and buy them."

Lin Yan nodded, and called He Zhengxi to bring the box into the kitchen together.

"Stir-fried chicken leg mushrooms with broccoli, stir-fried squid, pork ribs with yam, boiled pork slices." Lin Yan took a post-it note and counted while writing, "Will it be too little?"

He Zhengxi held down the pen in Lin Yan's hand: "A lot, there are salted fish and sweet and sour garlic in the refrigerator, when the time comes, put them on, six or six will go well."

"Can this be called hospitality?!" Lin Yan patted He Zhengxi's back with a smile, "Go to the living room, make tea for your parents, and then chat for a while."

He Zhengxi curled his lips: "I'm not going, there's nothing to talk about, why don't you go?"

Lin Yan hugged the rice cooker and said helplessly: "I really don't understand you. Then classify the things you can't eat and put them in the refrigerator. I'll steam the rice first."

He Zhengxi was happy now: "Understood! Boss Lin!"

Lin Yan: "Don't learn from Cai Xusheng!"

The two were happily busy in the kitchen, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.The He family's parents on the sofa in the living room looked at each other, looking a little embarrassed.Fang Ximin kicked He Yi while eating melon seeds, "Look at those two kids, they are better off than us, you study and study!"

But He Yi asked: "You asked Lin Yan to hold the parents' meeting?

Fang Ximin nodded: "Xiao Lin can teach that kid better than the two of us, and the head teacher said there is no problem."

"You are quite relieved." He Yi said.

"I have nothing to worry about. If there is such an award as the Top Ten Outstanding Brothers, Lin Yan can definitely take the No. 1." Fang Ximin spoke, and turned his eyes to the kitchen again.He Zhengxi was playing tricks on Lin Yan with a smirk all over her face. She watched in silence for a long time before continuing with an unnatural expression: "But, how should I put it, our son is too dependent on Lin Yan. Outside He is a very clever child, and when he comes to Lin Yan, he looks like a three-year-old child."

He Yi glanced at her, "I'm afraid it's not as simple as relying on it." Taking advantage of the two brothers not paying attention, he got up and went to the bathroom, reached out to pick up the toothbrushing cup that was exactly the same as the two, shook it at Fang Ximin, and pointed at the tea table from a distance Let Fang Ximin take a look at the same style thermos on the phone.

"I don't quite understand what you mean." Fang Ximin frowned and looked at He Yi who sat back on the sofa.

"I can't find the right words." He Yi said, "I just feel that their way of getting along is different from that of ordinary family brothers. Even though there are childhood experiences, they are too close, just like..."

- lover?

Two words suddenly popped up in He Yi's mind.

"Like what?" Fang Ximin asked.

He Yi rubbed his face: "It's hard to say."

Fang Ximin clicked his tongue, "I know what you're going to say, they are like a young couple."

He Yi frowned: "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Fang Ximin signaled him to lower the decibel, and whispered, "Don't yell like that."

He Yi pretended to be calm: "You are a university professor, you have ruined your brain by doing scientific research, what kind of young couple."

Fang Ximin turned on the TV, turned up the volume, and said teasingly: "Okay, you, the dean, didn't you mess up your mind and think about it?"

He Yi ignored his wife's words and looked at the kitchen again.He Zhengxi sat on the ponytail and concentrated on handling the squid with an extremely docile expression. He even lifted the squid up from time to time and asked Lin Yan if it was okay to wash it this way.

"Old Fang, I guess..." He Yi turned his head and said slowly, "You may not be able to hug your grandchildren."

Fang Ximin didn't turn his head, stared at the TV series intently, and said, "No one of us has a say in this matter except Lin Yan. Even if I don't accept it, there's nothing I can do. Anyway, if you want to be a feudal parent, you Go, I won't go."

He Yi: "How could it be me? I haven't even said a word to stop me."

Fang Ximin: "You look like the kind of father who beats mandarin ducks with a club."

He Yi: "You still look like an evil mother-in-law!"

Fang Ximin turned off the TV with a snap, and turned his head: "Who do you call an evil mother-in-law?!"

He Yi: "You, a wicked, educated mother-in-law like you is the most difficult to serve."

Fang Ximin's anger came very quickly. She stood up and pointed at He Yi: "You still talk about me, and I don't know who can't see the sky. The hospital is the hospital every day! The hospital is your home!"

He Yi pushed back without showing any weakness: "I have to return this to you intact! I think Zhengxi lacks maternal love, so she clings to Lin Yan like a mother!"

"It's obviously a lack of fatherly love!"

"Missing you!"

"Missing you!"

Lin Yan peeled the garlic by the door frame, he wanted to go up to fight, but He Zhengxi said it's okay, just listen.He had no choice but to sit at the door with a Mazha in case of emergencies.But after listening for a while, Lin Yan found that the content of the quarrel was quite childish.

"As expected of an intellectual, he scolded and scolded without a word of foul language." Lin Yan said with a smile.

He Zhengxi spread his hands: "That's how they are, there's nothing wrong with arguing."

Lin Yan: "But the main point of their quarrel is what you lack."

He Zhengxi thought about it seriously, and smiled at Lin Yan: "I'm missing you."

Lin Yan: "Use your skill to tease the little girl."

He Zhengxi: "Little girl can't be more interesting than you."

I'd better go and have a look at the pot, Lin Yan pinched the garlic and thought.

The two in the living room kept arguing until the food was served, and it didn't stop. The content had changed from "He Zhengxi lacks love" to "I knew you were having an affair with that one".The two of them are busy with work, and they get together less often and leave more, so it's normal to have such questions.Lin Yan sat at the dining table, biting his chopsticks and listening with relish.

"You two." He Zhengxi knocked on the table, "Stop arguing, just like children."

Fang Ximin scratched his messy hair and said angrily, "Your son said stop arguing."

He Yi said angrily, "That's your son too!"

This debate without any nutrition consumed a lot of energy for the two of them, so that no one spoke at lunch time, and everyone was buried in eating.Lin Yan felt a little embarrassed, but He Zhengxi's attitude was indifferent. He had saved a lot of things about the training camp to tell Lin Yan.As for the petty fights of his parents, he didn't care at all.

He Yi and Fang Ximin ate in silence, watching their son try their best to make Lin Yan happy like a dog, and they felt sour in each other's hearts.

The two of them are not qualified parents, but Lin Yan made his elder brother very competent.

After dinner, He Zhengxi and Lin Yan went to clean up the kitchen, Fang Ximin had time to sneak into their bedroom.

He Yi blushed at his wife's behavior, "Can you respect their privacy!"

"What's the matter." Fang Ximin lowered her head and carefully rummaged through the trash basket. There was nothing but draft paper, and she went to the bedside table without giving up. "Hey...it's all books, old man's breath."

He Yi stood at the door to watch out for Fang Ximin. After Fang Ximin searched Lin Yan's room, he went to He Zhengxi's again, but still found nothing.

"No, I have to go to the bathroom to take another look." Fang Ximin insisted.

He Yi thought of the two of them who were in their forties and still had to do this kind of thing secretly, and he refused wholeheartedly, "Calm down, I just watched it earlier, there is nothing you think about."

"Nothing? What are you doing?" He Zhengxi came over suddenly, wiping his hands.Seeing Fang Ximin rummaging around in his room, he immediately said angrily, "What are you two looking for in my room?!"

It was also the first time for Fang Ximin to do this kind of thing. When his son yelled at him, he immediately became a little nervous: "No...no, I'll see if I need to clean it."

He Zhengxi sneered: "You nonsense, even a dog won't believe it." He pointed to the trash basket on the ground, "Would the cleaners cause such trouble?"

He Yi said in a deep voice, "Why did you talk to your mother? It's upbringing."

He Zhengxi's eyes dimmed in an instant, and he went straight past the two of them, walked back to his bedroom, sat on the edge of the bed, and said, "Teach? Who taught? Who raised?"

He Yi: "You're talking up an argument."

He Zhengxi shouted loudly: "Yes! I'm talking about it! Don't like it? There's no way, I'm just this kind of person!"

Fang Ximin didn't know what to do.She knew that He Zhengxi was a little uncertain, but she had never seen such a violent side of her son, so she could only turn her eyes to Lin Yan outside the door for help.

Lin Yan accepted this important task, and asked, "Why is this noisy again?" He glanced at He Zhengxi, who was furious, and shouted, "What are you doing, who are you showing it to? The kitchen floor , don’t forget to drag.”

"...Oh, I see." He Zhengxi muttered, stood up, straightened the chair and the trash basket silently, and followed Lin Yan out.

He Yi gratefully took advantage of He Zhengxi's time to wash the mop, and dragged Fang Ximin out of the house.

"I haven't finished searching yet!" Fang Ximin was very unwilling.

"If you search again, that child will fight you desperately." He Yi reached out and handed over a pack of wet wipes, "Wipe the sweat off your forehead, ma'am!"

"Your son is almost eighteen and matures precociously. Do you believe he didn't hide a safe or something? Or, do you believe he won't harass Lin Yan?" Fang Ximin was still thinking about that matter.

If He Yi was not driving, he would have raised his hand to cover his weather-beaten old face, "You should be less fanciful! They are still young! Besides, it is not certain whether the two children are right or not!"

Fang Ximin wiped his sweat carefully, rolled down the car window and exhaled, his eyes gleaming, "Lin Yan is a steady and down-to-earth boy, and he is easy to defend but difficult to attack. I believe he is fine. Our son... "She sneered, "It's really hard to say, a stomach full of bad water, just like you."

He Yi said innocently: "I'm wronged, my wife, what does it have to do with me, you said 20 years ago that I'm a nerd who only knows how to do medicine."

Fang Ximin brushed his hair: "You also know that it was 20 years ago."

He Yi had no choice but to turn on the stereo and start listening to music.He also had very limited opportunities to communicate with Fang Ximin, and besides, he was no match for his wife, so if he continued talking, he would have to waste the whole day in arguing.

Fang Ximin was always ready to go, and when He Yi finished speaking, she could catch up.After waiting for a while, He Yi didn't speak, but she couldn't help herself.Fang Ximin poked He Yi's leg and said, "Why are you silent? You can't beat me, you can't just admit defeat like this! Show your energy to hold a conference in the hospital, I believe you can do it."

He Yi sighed and said: "I admit defeat, do you think it's necessary for us to quarrel over our son's affairs? As long as it's not out of line, let them toss it. What kind of mind are you doing?"

Fang Ximin also sighed: "I'm not worried about our son, I'm worried about Lin Yan being bullied, he is too tolerant of Zhengxi."

He Yi frowned and thought for a while, then seriously replied: "I don't think Lin Yan is a vegetarian either, haven't you seen that bastard is more obedient? From now on, you have to pray that Zhengxi won't be beaten often!"