River City Story

He called back several times in a row, but the line was busy all the time, so he had to hang up and wait, and soon He Zhengxi's cell phone rang.

"Brother Lu Chi?" Lin Yan pressed his forehead wearily.

He Zhengxi looked at him worriedly, and Lin Yan said again: "I'm fine, you pick it up quickly."

He Zhengxi nodded.

Lin Yan guessed that the two groups of people probably said the same thing, so he didn't plan to make any more calls.He turned off his phone directly, looked around, and found a slightly dry open space on the side of the road to squat down.At this time, the snow had completely stopped, and the white sunlight fell on his face. He squinted his eyes and looked across the street, with an expression that could not tell whether he was in a daze or in a daze.

He Zhengxi chatted with Lu Chi for a long time, and when the clouds in the sky thickened again and the sun gradually faded, he hung up the phone in a hurry and went to pull Lin Yan to stand up.

"What happened to Uncle Xu?" Lin Yan asked calmly.

He Zhengxi hugged his shoulders tightly, and said, "It's just that I didn't feel well and fell down, and I'm currently staying in the hospital."

Lin Yan curled his mouth and stretched his arms, turned his face to He Zhengxi and said, "Then let's go to the park."

"Not going home?" Lin Yan's reaction made He Zhengxi stunned, "...Brother, don't think too much about it. You won't know until you go back tomorrow."

"I understand." Lin Yan blinked his eyes vigorously, it was astringent and painful, he took a few steps forward with his coat pocket, saw that He Zhengxi was still in place, turned around and urged: "Are you still going? "

He Zhengxi followed immediately, "Go."

Xu Jialin had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage. When he fell down, he hit the ground on the back of his head. He was in a deep coma, and he was still in the intensive care unit. The results of the doctor's preliminary examination were not very optimistic.He Zhengxi didn't tell Lin Yan about these things, but Lin Yan is an extremely intelligent person. At this age, in this season, and with the history of high blood pressure, he can fully guess that Xu Jialin's condition may be bad, so he didn't talk to He all the way. Zhengxi asked for more details.

It wasn't until he finished walking around the artificial lake in the park that he let out a long breath, lowered his head and said in a low voice, "This is the only person who can choose his time. When he gets old, he should be a good elder."

He Zhengxi hugged Lin Yan into his arms, pressed his back tightly and stroked him up and down. He knew that any comforting words would be useless at this moment, but Lin Yan needed someone to accompany him.

That afternoon, they stayed together quietly. Lin Yan didn't have any external emotional ups and downs. He ate and took medicine as usual, packed his luggage and cleaned up step by step.It's just that when the street lights on the street came on and the snow started to fall again, he had already fallen asleep early.

At 8 o'clock in the evening, He Yi called and asked when they were leaving the next day. He could drive over to drop them off when he was free. He Zhengxi simply told him about Xu Jialin.

"I'll see if I can buy a plane ticket tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. If it's not possible, I'll drive there." He Yi said after a long silence, "You are all children. In this case, it's best to have adults around you."

He Zhengxi thought that Lin Yan would definitely not accept this kindness, so he said: "There are acquaintances over there, you can just go about your own affairs, and go back in a few days, don't worry."

He Yi said: "You have to be mentally prepared. Remember, if there is any problem that cannot be solved, you must speak up. Don't be brave, understand?"

He Zhengxi clenched his phone tightly and nodded, "Well, thank you Dad."

He Yi smiled lightly, then sighed, "Okay, take a good rest, take care of yourself, and... take care of your brother."

He Zhengxi: "Definitely."

The next morning Lin Yan got up at 4 o'clock in the morning, and He Zhengxi dared not open his eyes until he walked out of the bedroom and closed the door.The sound insulation of the old house was not very good. Lin Yan was making breakfast in the kitchen, and the clanging sound reached He Zhengxi's ears, which really made him a little terrified.After rolling on the bed for a long time, He Zhengxi changed his clothes and went out.

Lin Yan was restless. He felt empty when he didn't do anything. This feeling of nowhere made him unable to calm down no matter what.He imagined countless possibilities about Xu Jialin in his mind, but no matter which one, the result seemed to be bad, so he panicked, flustered and at a loss.

"Brother, you didn't give me a chance to make breakfast." He Zhengxi appeared at the kitchen door, looking at him with a smile on his face.

"I sleep too much. If I don't get up again, I will have a headache." Lin Yan rinsed the stainless steel knife under the tap, and pulled out a few pieces of kitchen paper to wipe it. Grab that thing.

"Do you need help?" He Zhengxi leaned over and asked.

Lin Yan shook the knife in his hand, bent his eyes, smiled and said to him, "Are you afraid that I will commit suicide with the knife?"

The corners of He Zhengxi's eyes twitched, and he hesitated, "Huh? I... I'm just scared."

Lin Yan inserted the knife neatly into the wooden frame, raised his finger and pointed to his temple: "I have a very clear mind, really, I have said it many times, and I will never do that kind of thing again."

He Zhengxi went over and took off the apron Lin Yan was wearing, put it on himself, and said, "Go and wait outside, I will do it."

They had a simple breakfast, and under He Zhengxi's forced request, Lin Yan went to the bedroom to sleep for more than an hour. It was after 7 o'clock that the two of them went downstairs with their luggage and prepared to take a taxi to the high-speed rail. stand.

When they reached the gate of the community, a familiar car stopped on the side of the road. He Zhengxi waved his hand in surprise. He Yi also saw them through the car window and flashed the car lights twice.

"You two young masters, are you done eating and drinking?" he shouted.

He Zhengxi ran over: "Dad! Why are you here!"

He Yi spread his hands: "I can still do this." He also shouted to Lin Yan who was not far away: "Why are you in a daze? Hurry up and get in the car!"

Lin Yan bowed apologetically to him, and hurried over dragging the suitcase.

He Yi sent them to the high-speed rail station and left without asking any questions, which made Lin Yan heave a sigh of relief.During the nearly 10-hour drive afterwards, He Zhengxi also picked up other topics to talk about, and after talking enough, the two of them would eat or rest.Overall, it's relatively easy.It's just that when the car arrived at the station in the evening, Lin Yan walked out of the station hall and saw Lu Chi waiting outside, he couldn't be calm anymore.

Lu Chi didn't have any extra greetings, so he picked up the host and drove directly to the designated hospital on the other side of Xicheng Prison.His eyes were blue and he was very tired. It looked like he hadn't rested for a long time. Lin Yan was sitting in the back row, his heart getting heavier and heavier.

"I didn't ask Xiaohe to tell you too much before, because I was afraid that something would happen on the way back." When the car was halfway through, Lu Chi finally spoke.

Lin Yan answered with a choked throat, unable to say anything else.He can't say anything more, should he say "I'm fine, I can bear it", or "I believe he will be fine, I have confidence in him"?Lin Yan understood that these seemed to be no longer realistic, so he could only remain silent, gathering the thoughts floating in the air back to his body little by little, making himself look like a living person.

Lu Chi clenched the steering wheel and sighed fiercely. He hesitated to speak a few times, but finally swallowed it back.

The silence in the car was incomparable, Lin Yan hunched his back and thought, no matter how much mental preparation he had made, he could only come up with two words - it's over, whether it's Xu Jialin or himself.

Lu Chi's car drove directly to the gate of the hospital ward building. After Lin Yan got out of the car, he saw the person from the prison in the lobby. It was the very familiar uncle.They took the elevator to the intensive care unit upstairs. There were two prison guards and an attending doctor outside the intensive care unit. When they saw Lin Yan approaching, they all got up and shook hands with him one after another.It was as if some kind of ritual made Lin Yan's mind confused.

The visiting hours had passed, but he was still allowed to put on a protective suit and go in to stay with Xu Jialin for 10 minutes.This is different from ordinary hospitals, and there are no other patients in the intensive care unit.He Zhengxi was waiting outside. From the monitor hanging on the wall, he saw that Lin Yan was just standing in front of Xu Jialin's hospital bed, neither doing nor saying anything. As soon as the 10 minutes were up, Lin Yan came out with no sadness or joy on his face.

"Just tell me here, the worst outcome." He cast his eyes on the attending doctor, "... I can still, how many times can I visit him like this? If it is completely hopeless, can you give me more visits? time?"

There was some pity in the doctor's eyes. He looked at Lu Chi hesitantly, and said to Lin Yan and He Zhengxi: "The patient's cerebral blood vessels have ruptured, and his brain stem has been damaged. Now he can't breathe on his own, and he can't respond to any stimuli. Response... We will conduct another appraisal tomorrow, if the situation does not improve by then..."

Lin Yan took a deep breath and said, "It's hopeless, right?"

"Usually, yes." The doctor said, "Based on your... father's physical condition and previous experience, we predict that he will have systemic organ failure in about half a month; the current treatment is for him, As you can see, it's actually very painful, but he doesn't feel it."

"Then let him live for another half a month." Lin Yan said forcefully, "As long as he can live, treat him as long as possible."

He stepped back, leaned against the wall, and looked at the ceiling of the hallway.I can't tell what I feel in my heart, even the sadness is a little illusory, and my head is empty, like a wind-blown wasteland, barren and lifeless.

Later, in the hospital office, Lin Yan listened to the prison guards talk about what happened that day, but no matter what they said or how detailed a document they planned to give, Lin Yan didn't want to listen or think about it anymore. , It doesn't matter if the prison can't make a report.Xu Jialin had already turned into this look of waiting to die, he didn't have the heart to delve into the details, and it was even more impossible for him to be critical and blame someone.

Before leaving at night, Lin Yan stood outside the monitor in the corridor for a long time, until He Zhengxi came to hold his hand, and he turned his face as if he had suddenly woken up.

"Let's go back and take it easy." He Zhengxi said, "Come over early tomorrow morning."

Lin Yan did not refuse.

They settled for dinner at the 24-hour convenience store near the hospital, but Lin Yan just stared at the simple meal in a daze the whole time, without eating a single bite. Naturally, He Zhengxi and Lu Chi had no appetite, so the three of them cleaned up the tableware and started to eat. Pick up some daily necessities in the store that you will need in the hospital later.

The cashier at the convenience store may be used to this kind of scene, so she comforted the patient at the checkout: "Come to accompany the patient? Hey, if you want to open it, don't worry about minor illnesses. Serious illnesses depend on luck. It's really not good, and you can't be fooled." !” She babbled while scanning the QR code, “You are all young, you will have a long time to come!”

Lin Yan smiled politely at her, and left the two of them to go out alone. He sat on the steps and breathed into his palms. He breathed a few times without any white mist. Frustrated, he took out his phone again and went to play in the forest. Small game recommended to him.After playing for less than a minute, He Zhengxi and Lu Chi finished paying and came out.

On the way Lu Chi sent the two of them back to their residence, he hesitated to speak several times, but he still held back. Before getting out of the car, Lin Yan said to him: "Brother Lu Chi, just say what you want, don't worry too much .”

Lu Chi stretched out his hands to brush his hair, and said, "It's okay, you and Xiao He remember to go back and eat something to fill your stomach. At this time, it's useless to think too much."

"I feel like I'm bothering you every time." Lin Yan said to him, "Be careful driving on the road, Xiaodouzi must be waiting for you."

Lu Chi smiled: "That kid? He probably fell asleep early."

He talked to Lin Yan, chatted with He Zhengxi a few more words, and drove away quickly.Lin Yan watched from the side of the road until the car disappeared completely, and he still stood there motionless.

"Brother, let's go." He Zhengxi went over and whispered.

Lin Yan turned around and buried his face on He Zhengxi's shoulder, He Zhengxi also stretched out his hand and hugged him tightly.

The next afternoon, after the second consultation and testing, the doctor solemnly informed Lin Yan that Xu Jialin had entered a state of brain death, and the future treatment would all depend on their choice.Lin Yan was still very persistent, he still had some money in his hands, and he was willing to let Xu Jialin continue to live here.

The ICU of the hospital gave them half an hour of visiting time every day. In the past, Lin Yan could only sit on the sidelines and watch. Most behaviors were not allowed. Occasionally, under the guidance of the nurse, he could wipe Xu Jialin's hands and feet.

Xu Jialin's body is full of pipelines and equipment. If his heart is not still beating, he is now almost like a quietly running instrument.It's just that this instrument is really not exquisite and good-looking. Xu Jialin had a handsome appearance when he was young, and he was not decadent in prison. Even though his personality was sloppy and his work was out of tune, he was still an attractive person in Lin Yan's impression.Now, Xu Jialin's face, which was always smiling wantonly, was swollen and even deformed.Lin Yan didn't dare to watch it, but he had to watch it, and he had to keep it firmly in his heart.

Outside of visiting hours, Lin Yan seldom went home. He spent most of the day in the corridor outside the monitoring room, not talking much.He Zhengxi was not in the mood to look for topics to make fun of. Although the relationship between him and Xu Jialin was not very deep, there was still a family relationship. This elder who once brought home the wandering self, now unexpectedly It is a lie to say that it is not uncomfortable to die.What's more, He Zhengxi still felt a little guilty. If he hadn't persuaded Lin Yan to change his contract before, would the situation be different?He was very distressed, but Lin Yan didn't say anything to him, neither blamed nor complained.

This state lasted until the tenth day, when Xicheng began to cool down, and the cold rain continued to fall.Lin Yan went out in the rain and did not let He Zhengxi follow him. When he came back, he brought two shopping bags with clothes in them.Some expensive brands have good texture and tailoring.

"Uncle Xu used to wear clothes from this family." Lin Yan said with a smile, "But that was when he had money occasionally."

At this time, He Zhengxi had already understood what Lin Yan meant, that the last set of clothes on his deathbed should at least be decent.

"When I came back last month, I was still thinking, when he gets out of prison, I must buy enough clothes for him. He has a good figure, and he must be a handsome old man in clothes."

"The edema is so severe that I don't know if I put it on for him, whether it will look good or not."

"I don't even have a single photo of him at home. The one-inch photo when he was in prison is too ugly, and his hair is shaved so short."

"...He can't talk to me anymore...I don't know what to do if he is still so casual in the end."

Lin Yan clutched the clothes tightly in his bosom, and as he spoke every sentence, tears kept streaming down his face.

This was the first time Lin Yan directly expressed his sadness after Xu Jialin's accident. He knew that Xu Jialin had no hope, but he was so reluctant and unwilling.

No. On the 11th day, someone from the hospital asked if he wanted to make a donation, but Lin Yan directly refused.This is a good deed, but Lin Yan is unwilling to do this kind deed.He just wanted Xu Jialinan to live in peace and stability for a few more days, and finally leave this world intact.Donate to people or places?what is it used for?How will Xu Jialin's body be treated?Lin Yan refuses to think about these things. Other people's eyes and evaluations are nothing now.

That evening, He Yi and Fang Ximin rushed to the hospital together. Lin Yan didn't have the energy to greet them, so he simply greeted them and continued to sit quietly.As for He Zhengxi, because of the presence of his parents, his heart was a little more relaxed.After all, he is a 17-year-old boy. It still takes time to be independent and strong.

Xu Jialin slept unconsciously in the ICU until the afternoon of No. 13, and his life came to an end ahead of schedule. At this time, there were only ten days left before the Spring Festival.

Lin Yan made all the preparations for the funeral, he refused anyone's help, and he organized Xu Jialin's things and appearance in an orderly manner, and contacted the funeral home and the cemetery.But he doesn't plan to decorate the mourning hall anymore, because Xu Jialin doesn't have a home that really belongs to him in this city. Lin Yan thinks that doing this kind of thing in Lu Chi's old house is causing trouble for others, and he doesn't want to. auspicious.

Xu Jialin lived in a daze and died in a hurry, like a real passer-by in life.In the past, he made friends, found women, and mixed in various circles, which can be described as lively and unrestrained, but now that he has come to such an end, he doesn't know whether to sigh or sigh.

Six years in prison made Xu Jialin's social relations very simple. Lin Yan directly omitted the process of reporting the funeral. After finishing all the matters in three days, he went back with He Zhengxi's family.When getting off the plane, Lin Yan stood in the dry and bitter wind of Yancheng, feeling as if it was yesterday, but this time, no one will be waiting for him in the prison in Xicheng.

Two days before New Year's Eve, Lin Yan's account suddenly received a cash transfer of 35 yuan, and then a phone call came, saying that he had just learned about Xu Jialin's affairs, which made Lin Yan's grief change, and the money was for Xu Jialin. Let him collect the payment and interest.Lin Yan thought about it for a long time before he remembered that this was the bearded uncle who had a good relationship with Xu Jialin in the past.He didn't have much impression of the bearded man's name, because Xu Jialin liked to name everyone after their appearance, even introducing them to Lin Yan, he only said that this was your bearded uncle.

35?Lin Yan knew exactly how much money Xu Jialin had in his pocket and how much money he could lend out.He left 5 yuan and returned the remaining money to the bearded man.He didn't want to take advantage of Xu Jialin, and he didn't have the energy to think about it.

After returning to Yancheng, Lin Yan often felt tired and sleepy. He spent almost all his time sleeping in bed, not communicating with others, and he didn't even bother to eat.

On the third day of the new year, Shen Han also made phone calls.It's just that He Zhengxi answered the phone call.Lin Yan suddenly passed out in the bathroom while taking a shower the night before, and when Shen Han called, he just woke up.

Lin Yan couldn't eat, and he had nutrition injections in the hospital every day. He Zhengxi felt pain in his heart when he saw the needle holes on his body.He couldn't heal the scar in Lin Yan's heart. This wound would never heal. Xu Jialin was turned into ashes and buried in the ground, and it was impossible for him to be resurrected.

"Brother, you are torturing me..." He hugged Lin Yan's hand and murmured, "Be nice to me, okay, I'll be 18 soon, let's have a good relationship then. Me and The project made by the senior is about to go online, and I can make a small profit, why don't you come and praise me?"

Lin Yan tilted his head, looked at him blankly for a while, and asked, "What project?"

Seeing that he was interested, He Zhengxi immediately said: "A small app developed for aesthetics lovers and professional designers, it's very beautiful!" He took out his mobile phone and showed it to Lin Yan, "How about the aesthetics? ?”

Lin Yan watched him draw a few pages, and closed his eyes again, "When dealing with people, you must be careful and protect your own research results."

He Zhengxi locked the screen, squeezed Lin Yan's hand, "You don't know me yet?"

Lin Yan pursed his dry lips and smiled: "Well, you've always been smart, so I don't need to say anything."

He Zhengxi took the opportunity to lift the thermos, and said to Lin Yan, "Since we don't say anything, shall we eat now?"

Lin Yan turned around and shook his head.

He Zhengxi put the thermos back in frustration, and whispered, "Then I won't eat it anymore."

Lin Yan laughed a few times, turned his back and said, "I'm not in the mood, I can't eat, why are you joining in the fun?"

He Zhengxi replied resentfully: "You are my most important person, if you are not in the mood to eat, do I have it?"

But Lin Yan didn't speak again immediately, he was silent for a long time, so long that He Zhengxi thought he had fallen asleep again.

Lin Yan on the bed was just thinking, so far, he has no most important person in this world. This importance is completely different from He Zhengxi's, because Xu Jialin is the father he identified, and it is for him to The ones who survived.Now that his father didn't exist anymore, it was impossible for him to yell "Old Man Xu" at Xu Jialin with a smile on his face.Lin Yan's goal in life was to buy a house for Xu Jialin's retirement, but this goal has no chance to be realized.

He has known Xu Jialin since he was 5 years old, and since then, no matter how well Xu Jialin, an elder, has done, at least Lin Yan has relied and belonged to him.This patchwork family has stumbled and messed up all the way to the present. After a few more years, they will be able to live a happy and stable life. Why must they stop here?Lin Yan couldn't figure it out.The more he couldn't figure it out, the more he had to think about it, until his brain almost exploded and his headache was splitting.

Lin Yan was not only thinking about these things, he was also always repeatedly guessing Xu Jialin's experience at the moment when he fell down.

pain?Are you desperate?Are you willing?Or do you think it's finally easy now?

He slept for so long every day, but he never dreamed of Xu Jialin. He really hoped that he could talk to Xu Jialin in his dream, or just meet him.He asked Xu Jialin to live unconsciously in the intensive care unit because he wanted to show his filial piety in the end, but looking at it now, he was just looking for some inner comfort.

Xu Jialin completely disappeared from his life.

Thinking of this, Lin Yan suddenly felt a burst of fear, and his body shook involuntarily.