River City Story

Lin Yan tried his best to comb his bangs down, trying to cover up the scar that hadn't faded away.After combing, it feels greasy and dull, so I can only mess it up with my hands and continue to comb again.After tossing and tossing several times, He Zhengxi couldn't bear it anymore, stretched his arms, and took him to the barber shop.

"This brother's hair color is so natural, has it been dyed before?" The stylist brother pressed Lin Yan's head and looked back and forth.

Lin Yan has always resisted going into the barber shop since he was a child. It feels so uncomfortable to have his head in the hands of others.

"I haven't dyed my hair." He stared at the person in the mirror and said, "I don't like dyed hair either, so you can just give me a casual repair, and I don't need hair care."

The little brother immediately closed his mouth about selling products and services, and quietly waved the scissors.

"Don't make it too short, it should naturally cover the scar on your forehead." He Zhengxi sat on a chair near Lin Yan, watching and commanding.

"Be careful, aren't these scissors too close to your face? It's a bit dangerous..."

"Don't make your sideburns look like leeks, it's not suitable for my brother."

"The nape of the neck can be refreshing."

"Turn down the hair dryer and don't blow hard on your ears."

"Is there hair residue on the chin that hasn't been blown out?"

Half an hour later, the little brother took off the cloth and towel from Lin Yan's body, and asked He Zhengxi in tears, "Do you think it's okay?"

He Zhengxi walked around Lin Yan twice seriously, and commented: "Well, yes, my brother's face has no flaws, no matter how you do it, it looks good."

Lin Yan got up with his ears out, limped to the mirror, and plucked his hair with his fingers: "Your mouth is really... not enough, are you thirsty?"

He Zhengxi was puzzled, unaware of his fault-finding just now, "Huh? Not thirsty."

Lin Yan: "It's nothing, I'll go to Linshui Street later? There's nothing important right now, I'll see Uncle Xu tomorrow morning."

After paying the bill, He Zhengxi went out and pushed the bicycle to the door, patted the seat and said, "Okay, let's go."

They have been back to Xicheng for two days.After He Zhengxi received the notice, he continued to work as an intern during the day, and attended all kinds of celebration parties organized by his relatives one after another at night.Not long after this went on, he began to feel bored, and he always found fault with Lin Cong when he returned home.Lin Yan couldn't bear it anymore, so he directly asked him to apply for a few days of vacation, took people to flee early, and ran to live in Xicheng for a while.

Lin Yan straddled He Zhengxi's bicycle, and was talking on the phone with Zhao Sheng in high spirits.

Their class is still having a class reunion with great enjoyment, but Lin Yan has an injury on his body, and he doesn't really want to be a real treasure with a limping leg, so he refuses.However, after getting off the train at noon the day before, they still had a small gathering with Zhao Sheng alone. Lin Yan hoped that Zhao Sheng could listen to him and talk about his studies.Zhao Sheng was very patient and caring for this student who was single-handedly brought out, and the two of them have always kept in frequent contact.But He Zhengxi didn't like Zhao Sheng very much, and thought that Lin Yan got too close to this mature man in his thirties, who was above average in appearance, and even a little too dependent.He instinctively hated everyone of the same sex who could talk to Lin Yan, including Lu Chi occasionally.

Whether it's Zhao Sheng, Lu Chi, or even Fang Jue and Cheng Qi, they are all men with rich life experiences. Lin Yan usually likes to get close to such people, and He Zhengxi is very unbalanced.Now that Cheng Qi is married, He Zhengxi hoped that the others would also speed up and hurry up to find someone to live with, preferably without even half a minute of chatting time.

After talking on the phone with Zhao Sheng, Lin Yan became very happy, and his calf shook unconsciously.

"Brother, don't play like this, it's too dangerous." He Zhengxi reminded.

Lin Yan smiled and asked, "Am I too heavy?"

He Zhengxi shook his head: "Not sinking, you are only 120, I am just afraid that you will touch your legs again."

Lin Yan nodded his head, lowered his head and took out his mobile phone to send a message to Zhao Sheng, and the two continued to chat.

After riding for a while, He Zhengxi felt that his lower back was empty, and said again: "Brother, you can support me."

"Huh?" Lin Yan raised his face. He looked at the back of He Zhengxi's head and thought for a few seconds, then stretched out his fingers to poke the slightly flustered back spine in front of him, and said with a smile, "Why? Have an idea? What's the idea?"

"How can I, am I that kind of person?" He Zhengxi shook the handlebar a few times, but Lin Yan was still as steady as an old dog, and he held on to the back seat calmly and never let go. Finally, he admitted defeat and said: "Brother...just give me a hug..."

Lin Yan laughed a few times behind him, raised his hand to grab He Zhengxi's T-shirt, and asked, "Are you satisfied?"

He Zhengxi hesitated at the front: "Not too satisfied."

Lin Yan had no choice but to replace grabbing the clothes with hugging the waist: "Is this all right?"

He Zhengxi pursed his lips and smiled, cleared his throat and said, "Get closer."

Lin Yan leaned his upper body against He Zhengxi's back: "Ancestor, do you think it's okay?"

He Zhengxi Dayue: "Okay, okay! Brother, you are so kind to me!"

Lin Yan withdrew his hand with a sneer, and pinched He Zhengxi's ribs hard. After hearing a scream, he poked his head out and asked with a smile, "Are you satisfied?"

He Zhengxi took a few breaths: "Satisfied, so satisfied, I am in pain and happy!"

The two of them meandered all the way, and it took a quarter of an hour to ride to Linshui Street.The old alley has been surrounded by huge public service billboards, and three hanging towers stretch into the sky.Lin Yan circled half a circle, walked slowly to the gate of the construction site where people came in and out, and stood at a distance of more than ten meters away, leaning his body to look inside.The camphor tree is still there and is well protected, but the old tube building is gone, and the new foundation is being built, so it is impossible to estimate its appearance for the time being.He took two steps forward, wanting to take another look at the location of the old ancestral hall, but he seemed to be unable to find it.The doorman looked over questioningly, Lin Yan smiled at him, and turned his face to seriously look at the publicity map hanging at the door.

"It seems to say that the old ancestral hall needs to be preserved and renovated." He Zhengxi said.

"No matter how good the renovation is, it's not ours." Lin Yan limped into the back seat of the car, "Let's go, go to the proprietress restaurant, oh no, go to the mall, buy some fruits for Aunt Xin and the others."

He Zhengxi rang the car bell and said cheerfully: "Then you have to hold on to me!"

Lin Yan helplessly patted He Zhengxi on the back: "Ride well, you, Gouhuan is no good!"

When she arrived at Lu Chi's house, Xin Huihui saw Lin Yan's walking posture, her hands and feet became tense, and she asked what happened. Lin Yan only said that she fell while playing ball and broke her bone accidentally.

"So serious?" Xin Huihui took Lin Yan's hand and sat on the sofa, "You don't play basketball!"

Lin Yan and He Zhengxi looked at each other and touched their noses: "This is not just trying to be handsome, it's not like the way is wrong."

Xin Huihui wanted to rub Lin Yan's hair distressedly, but when she was avoided, she was immediately displeased, "What? I haven't seen you for half a year, and you are like this with Auntie?"

"How is it possible! Don't make trouble with me!" Lin Yan hurriedly waved his hand in denial.

Xin Huihui smiled and said, "Then you are still evasive? Are you shy?"

Lin Yan smiled and pressed his bangs, raised his face and gave He Zhengxi a wink, He Zhengxi immediately squeezed into the sofa understandingly, and pressed Xin Huihui's shoulder: "Aunt Xin, you are so patronizing to greet my brother, Don't ask me?"

Xin Huihui grabbed Lin Yan's hand and turned around, looked at He Zhengxi's whole body for a long while and said, "Well, it's still that brat!"

He Zhengxi pouted dissatisfiedly: "I'm going to be a freshman at the beginning of school, am I still a brat?"

Xin Huihui looked at him: "You are a freshman, just like your brother's freshman, you are far from dealing with people and things."

He Zhengxi felt wronged on purpose: "That's right, there is no limit to learning, I will learn more from him."

Xin Huihui: "Look at you, you have too many eyes." She squeezed He Zhengxi's face with one hand, and then praised: "But you are also very good, who can keep up with Lin Yan , you are already much more sensible than many children!"

He Zhengxi's enthusiasm for massage instantly increased, "You are also younger than many people, just like my aunt!"

Xin Huihui couldn't help but smile from ear to ear: "Thankfully, it's not like the little cabbage that time, that idiot still calls me sister."

He Zhengxi keenly captured the key information: "Little cabbage? Is it Cai Xusheng?"

Xin Huihui seriously recalled it for a while, nodded and said: "Yes, what is it called lifelike, your brother calls him Bai Cai, what a funny nickname! That's what he always calls!"

He Zhengxi looked over Xin Huihui's face, stared at Lin Yan and gave a meaningful oh.

Lin Yan stared back: "Press Auntie's shoulder well, and know the severity of the action."

He Zhengxi raised his eyebrows, and said in a strange tone, "I'll give you a push when I get home at night."

Lin Yan: "Don't tell me, my arm is just right, so don't worry about it."

Xin Huihui, who was sandwiched between the two, closed her eyes and enjoyed He Zhengxi's handicraft for a while. At the end, she smiled and said: "It's really good that you two brothers are still on such a good relationship. When you get married and start a business, you should keep in touch more often. Lin Yan When I was in high school, Xiao He never came back, so I was a little worried." She grabbed the two hands together, folded each other, and said: "Even if there is an unpleasant situation, it will be fine if we both give in. , brothers have no overnight feud, you know?"

Both of them nodded in unison, Lin Yan was just about to speak, but He Zhengxi took the lead and said first: "In those years, I really made my brother angry, now I know I was wrong, and I will never make such a bad face again in the future. bug."

Lin Yan met He Zhengxi's gradually turning eyes, smiled slightly, and said to Xin Huihui: "When a family is together, bumps and bumps are inevitable. Everyone has edges and corners, and there is nothing we can do about it. I have a lot of problems, but I usually pretend to be good, and you don't know it."

"Yo! It's rare!" Lu Chi interrupted suddenly.He flicked the car keys to the living room, leaned on the edge of the sofa, pointed to Lin Yan and said to He Zhengxi with a smile: "The day you returned to Yancheng, this kid kept crying in my car and gave me Terrified!"

He Zhengxi looked at Lin Yan in shock,

"elder brother……"

His heart suddenly seemed to be grasped tightly, and it hurt a little.

"I don't know any of this..."

Lu Chi pressed He Zhengxi's shoulder and said, "There are so many things you don't know, let's chat while having a drink."

Lin Yan: "Except for this, he knows everything about me."

Lu Chi smiled: "You bastard who pretends to be."

He Zhengxi was restless after a meal, he repeatedly struggled with Lu Chi's words, and planned to find a chance to ask clearly.

Lu Chi also had a lot of questions. At the dinner table, he kept asking Lin Yan why he became lame all of a sudden. He also put down his chopsticks and joined the interrogation team.The old couple didn't know about Lin Yan's illness, but Lu Chi knew that he thought it was another injury caused by Lin Yan himself.

After the meal, He Zhengxi went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, and Lu Chi followed him in and closed the door with a probing expression on his face.

"Don't look at me like an interrogator." He Zhengxi said, "We brothers have been getting along very well recently." Although 4 months ago, he threw Lin Yan's brother into the hospital...

"Did Lin Yan accidentally drop it?"

"Want to hear the truth?"

Lu Chi looked like you were teasing me: "Of course, after all, he has too many lesions. Anyway, I can be considered your elder brother, so don't you care more?"

He Zhengxi rinsed the foam off the dishes, put them back on the dining shelf, looked at Lu Chi and said, "Then I also hope that you can talk more about his high school days." He poked his head out and glanced at the table in the living room. Lin Yan, who was chatting with Xin Huihui, shrank back and said: "When my brother was in high school, as a younger brother, I was a bit confused. I didn't do a few things to make him happy, and I missed a lot of opportunities to confide in my brother. .”

Lu Chi handed over a few sheets of paper, and said with a smile: "People may not be willing to confide in you now."

After He Zhengxi wiped his hands and rubbed his fingertips, he unconsciously wanted to smoke a cigarette. He hadn't touched that thing for over a year.He Zhengxi twisted the paper towels into rolls and played with them for a while, finally rolled them up, threw them into the trash can, and said, "My brother's injuries were caused when he was saving his mother."

Lu Chi: "Why is this still unclear?"

He Zhengxi sighed and nodded: "Indeed, my brother has always been very clear about his parents, but Bao Buqi has a younger brother on the other side. This little brother always gets angry with the family, and because he knows about me Brother’s business, he doesn’t like to stay at home, and usually lives with us. The mother of the two of them went crazy in the neighborhood where we lived, and almost fell down the stairs when he couldn’t stand on his feet. My brother, you know, is too kind If I met someone like this, I wouldn’t even be able to stretch my hands, but my brother can’t.” He clicked his tongue, spread his hands and feet, and said helplessly: “Besides, the neighborhood is quite old. , upper arm contusion, stayed in the hospital for 4 days, and then clamored to be discharged from the hospital for an exam, and went to work in the restaurant, but the result has not been able to heal up until now.”

Lu Chi walked to the window, took out a cigarette and lit it, "Aren't you quite capable?"

He Zhengxi was a little frustrated: "Don't mention it, I was shocked at the time. Fortunately, I didn't fall into a big problem, otherwise I would have to regret it now."

Lu Chi waved away the smoke, and patted He Zhengxi on the shoulder: "It's okay, you are only a young man, there is no need to be like your brother. Sometimes people ask you, mostly because the reference objects around you are too good. Excellent, my mother has something to say today, so don’t take it to heart.” He stared at the cigarette for a while, and finally stifled it out, and said, “However, I think Lin Yan is in a good mood when he comes back this time. , It’s all quite normal. But he’s good at acting, so I’m really not sure.”

He Zhengxi said: "The clinical manifestations of this disease are relatively complicated, but I have accompanied him to the hospital and talked to the doctor. My brother's condition is relatively good." He went to the door again, through the gap After taking a look, he stood back with confidence and said, "Besides, how should I put it, he doesn't like being told that he is sick all the time. You see, he doesn't even take medicine, and I don't mention it in front of him. What should everyone do? Whatever it is, I’ll just pay more attention.”

"It's not easy." Lu Chi looked at He Zhengxi thoughtfully, and commented after a while, "You really... have grown up."

He Zhengxi asked sincerely: "You see, I have grown up, so can I continue talking about my brother's high school topic?"

"In the kitchen?"

"Why don't you go out and talk about it?"

Lu Chi laughed: "You're pretty good."

At this moment, the kitchen door opened suddenly, Lin Yan stuck his head in and said, "What skewers are you eating?" He glanced at He Zhengxi, "Clean up the kitchen and prepare to go back."

The two people inside the door were startled. Lu Chi reached out and turned on the range hood, and said to Lin Yan with a smile, "You still walk without making a sound, new skill?"

Lin Yan's face was gloomy: "Don't break those old sesame seeds and rotten millet, it's boring."

Lu Chi raised his hands: "Okay, okay, let Xiaohe go and find out by himself, I promise I won't say anything, anyway, it's just like what you said, it's already boring."

Lin Yan looked at He Zhengxi again: "Let's go, say hello to Aunt Xin and Uncle Lu, and then go home."

"Oh..." He Zhengxi replied blankly.

It was already 7 o'clock in the evening when the two walked out of the gate of Lu Chi's house.The lights in Xicheng are just coming on, reflecting half of the sky that is about to darken in the distance. Everywhere in the street is full of scorching wind, but the crowds of dancing and singing have gathered together early, as if they don’t know what the tiresome heat is.

Lin Yan was on the back seat of the car, and was slowly pushed forward by He Zhengxi.Xin Huihui forced him to eat a lot of dinner, and his brain was on strike at the moment. After walking for a long time, he actually started to feel sleepy, his head bobbing back and forth following the rhythm of He Zhengxi pushing the cart.

"elder brother."

"Ok?"

He Zhengxi turned his head and took a look: "It's okay, we have to pass a few traffic lights before arriving."

Lin Yan opened his eyes, looked around, and suddenly laughed to himself: "It's amazing."

"what happened?"

Lin Yan pointed to the building that was being demolished not far away and asked him: "Do you still remember that you used to like to eat steak in it, and it's going to be demolished?"

He Zhengxi followed his eyes to look at the past, carefully identified it for a long time, and asked in surprise: "Which shopping mall?"

Lin Yan nodded and said, "Maybe come to see it at this time next year, and it will look different."

When the red light came on, He Zhengxi stopped, turned his head and asked, "Reluctant?"

Lin Yan shook his head in denial: "This place should only get better and better. Song Rui's studio undertook part of the exterior architectural design. Actually, I'm quite looking forward to it."

He Zhengxi asked again: "Do you have an idea?"

Lin Yan's drowsiness disappeared, and he stood up excitedly, "I really want to recommend the proprietress to open a store here, or I can save some money and open it together."

"Your grades are so good, don't you want to take the postgraduate entrance examination?" He Zhengxi felt a little wary.

Lin Yan nodded: "I want to take the postgraduate entrance examination, but no matter where I study, I still have to go back to Xicheng in the end, and I have to have a career."

He Zhengxi muttered: "Everyone goes to higher places..."

Lin Yan was stunned for a moment, then explained: "For me, my hometown is here. But for you, my hometown must be Yancheng."

"……yes."

He Zhengxi was quiet for a long time. Before the second green light came on, he lowered his head to find Lin Yan's hand hanging by his side, grasped it tightly, and said in a calm voice: "Actually, wherever you are, my belonging is right here. where."

He lowered his voice, and said it while standing next to Lin Yan's left side. In the neon-filled night, these words swirled in the air before they fell into Lin Yan's ears.He Zhengxi said many affectionate and elegant sentences, and Lin Yan always listened to them casually, but this time, his heart suddenly had some different ripples.Lin Yan's hand was dragged by He Zhengxi over the car beam, and he walked across the zebra crossing with a blank mind all the way. When he turned into the next intersection, he suddenly realized that his hand was trembling slightly, and the palm was covered with fine sweat.

"It's hot?" He Zhengxi turned his face to the side and asked, "Did I hold you too tightly?"

Lin Yan withdrew his hand, unnaturally shook it twice in the air and said, "Yes, a guy with excess energy."

"Hey." He Zhengxi pressed himself in front of Lin Yan familiarly, bending his eyes: "When can you help me get rid of my excess energy?"

Lin Yan patted his head and sighed: "Why don't you run to the outskirts of the city tomorrow to see Uncle Xu?"

He Zhengxi shouted: "Be nice to me, brother!"

Lin Yan was numb all over when he was called "Brother". He shook like an electric shock and kicked the rear wheel of the car, "Hurry up and go!"

Lu Chi's old house is far away from the downtown area, and it is rare to hear the sound of cars on weekdays.The two fell asleep after returning home, and the night passed peacefully, and it was already past 9 o'clock when they opened their eyes in the morning.The two brothers had no choice but to rush to catch the city-country bus with their heads dazed. They swayed on the bus for more than two hours. They didn't wake up until they got off the bus and saw the towering prison wall.

Xu Jialin had a good relationship with the prison guards. As soon as the Lin Yan brothers entered the gate, the visitors greeted them warmly, as if they were receiving children returning home...

"Uncle, didn't our family cause trouble for you recently?" Lin Yan bowed and asked with a smile.

"You kid can really talk, Lao Xu is about to become the big brother of their group!"

The middle-aged prison guard was kind-hearted, but every time Lin Yan met him, his words were still full of flattery.Lin Yan was worried that Xu Jialin would suffer in prison, and also worried that no one would lend a hand to help him.

He Zhengxi followed Lin Yan, watching him limping and speeding up to keep up with the prison guards, and trying to please and chat with a smiling face, even knowing whether the other party's son was looking for a partner Chu.

He Zhengxi didn't feel very good in his heart.Whether it's Lin Yan's right or left, whether it's tactful, or even a little low-key, these are all normal means of communication, and it's nothing.But He Zhengxi, who is not yet an adult, is still not used to it. He doesn't want Lin Yan to do this, and at the same time feels frustrated by his own powerlessness.

The two walked outside the meeting room and waited for Xu Jialin to come over. Seeing Lin Yan bending over and rubbing his legs, He Zhengxi immediately became nervous.

"Does it hurt?" He squatted down, trying to roll up his trousers for a look, but Lin Yan stopped him.

"Don't stay here, it's not good to be seen by old man Xu." Lin Yan straightened up and said.

He Zhengxi raised his head to meet Lin Yan's eyes, and lowered his voice: "Are you afraid that he will know that you are hurt, or that he will know... I want to date his adopted son?"

"Neither of these two." Lin Yan said without hesitation. Then, he quickly changed his smile, waved to the person walking across, and picked up the phone.

He Zhengxi got up, smiled together, and greeted Xu Jialin who was sitting inside.

From the reflection of the glass, he could vaguely see Lin Yan's expression.Vivid and pure, as if still a teenager.