River City Story

Even if he has three stomachs, it's just an old man and two children. Lao Jiang didn't finish the dishes he prepared.He Zhengxi was not in a high mood and had no appetite, so he just moved his chopsticks in the bowl in front of him.At the dinner table, Lin Yan wanted to speak several times, but in the end he didn't say a word.He didn't understand why He Zhengxi suddenly became unhappy, worried that he said the wrong thing.

On the way back, Lin Yan held a pot of medicinal porridge given to him by Lao Jiangsai in his hand, and while walking, he thought about how to speak, and finally simply touched He Zhengxi with his elbow, and asked, "Are you in a bad mood?" ?” It was a very straightforward question, and Lin Yan was a little nervous after saying it.

He Zhengxi stopped, put his small hands around Lin Yan's waist, put his head on his back, and shouted in a muffled voice, "Brother..."

The ending is long and sticky, as if begging for candy.

Such a rare and soft appearance startled Lin Yan. Through the T-shirt, there was a small piece of hot and humid touch from He Zhengxi's back when he spoke.He suddenly wanted to stretch out his hand and try to carry He Zhengxi on his back, but he still had the pot in his hand, so he had to bend over a few times.

"Why? This is, I guess you definitely didn't have enough for lunch."

He Zhengxi shook his head in silence, opened his mouth and used his teeth to nibble on Lin Yan's clothes.

Lin Yan sighed softly: "If you get drool, you have to wash it off for me..."

He Zhengxi snorted and did not let go.

The two returned home one after the other, and when they packed up the casserole and walked into the yard, Lin Yan noticed the clothes on the clothesline, and he applauded He Zhengxi: "It's amazing, you can wash your own clothes, He is indeed the younger brother of my Linshui Street tyrant."

He Zhengxi bit his lip and smiled, heel circled on the ground, he muttered: "I can't keep you doing it alone, it's too tiring."

"Huh?" Lin Yan came up to him and waved his hands: "I'm not tired, I'm used to it."

He Zhengxi frowned and said firmly, "Not good."

Lin Yan was delighted. He scratched the back of his head and said helplessly:

"Okay, it's summer vacation anyway, you can leave it to me after school starts. I'll help you with the big ones, and you can do the small ones, such as socks and underwear, by yourself. Underwear can't be put in the same basin with shoes and socks, understand ?”

"understood!"

"Hey, what do you understand?" Lin Yan was talking, carefully checked each item, nodded in satisfaction, then turned around suddenly, punched him twice, and said "ah".

"Did the clothes be confiscated last night?!"

He Zhengxi was at a loss: "Well, yes, I didn't do it well."

Lin Yan hugged his head in pain: "If a child's clothes are illuminated by the stars, it is very unlucky and they will lose their temper."

He Zhengxi didn't expect Lin Yan to have such a reaction, so he said seriously: "Brother, it was said on TV that feudal superstition is dross."

Lin Yan raised his hand and pressed his head, and said, "Dross? Do you know how to write these two characters? I didn't understand it. It's still dross. I think you are in a bad mood today. You must have confiscated your clothes last night. Made it."

"I haven't put on this suit yet, your belief is too casual." He Zhengxi turned around and lowered his voice, complaining.

"What are you talking about?" Lin Yan frowned, "I wonder if I can hear you here?"

"I know, I know, I didn't say anything, I said I won't hang clothes at night anymore."

"Oh." Lin Yan found a small bucket and began to take care of his vegetable garden.

The two brothers had nothing to talk about for a while, and Lin Yan didn't dare to let He Zhengxi set foot in this garden for the time being. He had an intuition that his younger brother's destructive power was amazing, but he kept it hidden and didn't use it.Children who can play jumping cars on the highway, will they be vegetarians?

He Zhengxi, who doesn't like vegetarianism, stepped back and sat on the steps of the door, staring at Lin Yan's thin and busy figure in a daze. Well, there's nothing wrong with my mood, I'm just a little homesick..."

"Homesick?" Lin Yan was stunned. He hadn't thought about that thing for many years. For him, the old ancestral hall was his home.

"Is your family very kind to you?" Lin Yan finished watering the vegetables, walked up to He Zhengxi and squatted down, staring at the flower pot in front of him in a daze.A few drops of sweat hung on his forehead, shining brightly against the sun.

"I can't remember, but it should be fine." He Zhengxi moved his butt to the side to make room for Lin Yan.

"I also can't remember what's going on at home. I don't have any impression of my parents' surnames, what my job is, how old I am, or where I live." Lin Yan sat down next to He Zhengxi, holding a vegetable in his hand. A ladybug caught on a leaf.

He doesn't like to recall anything about his parents. If he can pick a particularly difficult time in his short 10 years of life, it will be the few months after his ear problem.

"The child's ears can't be saved."

"It can't be cured anymore, how much debt we owe him!"

……

Lin Yan didn't think his parents were heartless at first. He was only five years old at the time, so he couldn't feel these things at all. The only thing he was worried about was that his family would not have a place to live.Because in the impression of Lin Yan, who was still young, during that time, a family of four left their hometown and went to Xicheng to seek work. Before the house was rented, something happened to him.

Until later, when he was lying on the hospital bed and taking a nap, he was hugged by his parents and placed at the gate of Xicheng Welfare Institute. At that time, Lin Yan finally realized in a daze that no one wanted him anymore.

He Zhengxi is a kidnapped child, his parents must be worried, it's completely different from his own situation.

"Your younger brother is still young and needs money for everything. There is really no way for the family."

"I will pick you up when I find a job. Be good here."

They left him these two sentences, in addition to an envelope containing 2000 yuan in cash and a piece of paper with Lin Yan's name and information on it.At that time, Lin Yan seemed to be in a daze, or he was frightened, and he didn't even say "Dad, Mom".His injuries were still not healed, and he fell asleep after sitting at the entrance of the orphanage for a short time. When he opened his eyes in the evening, he found himself hugged by a man who smelled of cigarettes, and that man was Xu Jialin.

Lin Yan still doesn't understand.He never thought about curing his ears, nor did he expect to see the sky, eat, drink and have fun.He thinks that his requirements for the quality of life are lower than that of most children. It is enough to have enough food and clothing, and to be able to go to school.Just because of an unreasonable reason, throwing yourself at someone's door like a bag of garbage, what is this?And for what?What the hell is going on in their heads? ?

It has been nearly five years since Lin Yan thought about it, and now he has lost his temper. He only thinks those two people are stupid and ridiculous.

This experience made him too lazy to be angry about many things, it would only make himself uncomfortable.If you do what you need to do well, you won't be afraid of people coming to make trouble; you must obey the traffic rules when crossing the road, and you can get full compensation if you have an accident.This is the principle that Lin Yan followed when he was just ten years old.

Xu Jialin adheres to a free-range policy for children, which is exactly what Lin Yan wants most.He thinks that although he is still young, he can try his best to take care of his small life.He doesn't have much needs, he just wants to hide in this small yard and live his life well.

However, He Zhengxi said that it was normal to be homesick.

Which child would not want to go home?The old ancestral hall is dilapidated and poor, and the paintings on the walls are still calendars from the 90s. It doesn't seem like a place for children to live at all.Here, He Zhengxi has no problem with food, clothing and schooling, but when it comes to enjoyment, Lin Yan really can't guarantee it, let alone Xu Jialin, he lives too casually wherever he goes and sees.

The first time Lin Yan knew the allusion of "passing along", a complete three-dimensional image immediately appeared in front of him, that is Xu Jialin, without even looking at the explanation.

The child would have to leave sooner or later, either to be adopted or to return to his hometown. Anyway, he would not stay in the old ancestral hall for the rest of his life.Lin Yan blew away the ladybugs on his fingernails, got up and moved to a nearby shade.He Zhengxi imitated his example and pushed towards Lin Yan.

"What are you doing? It's so hot." Lin Yan pinched the dog's tail grass, his hands flying up and down.

"That's right, it's so hot." He Zhengxi put his head in front of Lin Yan's hand, "Brother, what are you making up?"

"You'll know in a while." Lin Yan bowed his head and worked hard. His nails were neatly trimmed. Although he had watered the vegetables and insects just now, there was nothing dirty between his fingers.He Zhengxi looked at it for a while, and decided to wash his hands first with a basin of water.When he ran back shaking his wet hands again, Lin Yan had already finished weaving the dogtail grass.

"What is this made up for?"

"...You! This is a squirrel. Do you recognize it! Don't you look like it?"

"Like, like, I just saw it on TV yesterday. I didn't remember it for a while, hehe." He Zhengxi scratched his head, and smiled with a little guilt in his honesty.

Lin Yan stuffed "Squirrel" into He Zhengxi's pocket, yawned a long and comfortable one, turned and walked towards his own room.

"I'm sleepy, where are you sleeping today?"

"With you, I don't like sleeping by myself."

"up to you."

He Zhengxi put away the dog's tail grass, and followed Lin Yan's buttocks into the house step by step.

In the evening, Lin Yan was carrying the multiplication table with He Zhengxi, when Lu Ming came over, carrying a large net bag with two pineapples in it, He Zhengxi's eyes lit up when he saw it.It was only then that Lin Yan realized that the child loved to eat pineapples, no wonder there was no shortage of watermelons in the refrigerator.Lu Ming put down his things, didn't say much, and went back because of work, and the two remaining children lay on the table facing the pineapple and looked at each other.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier that you like to eat this?"

Lin Yan found a fruit knife and came out. He didn't pay attention to it, and he didn't peel the skin. He simply and roughly cut it into thin slices, and handed it to He Zhengxi.

"Didn't I not remember it?" He Zhengxi took one bite at a time.

"What can you remember?"

"Well, my brain is limited. I can memorize Chinese characters and mathematics, as well as you, Uncle Xu, Grandpa Jiang, and Grandpa Li. That's enough."

"That's pretty good, I'm the happiest if I'm stupid." Lin Yan took away the small dish, and didn't let He Zhengxi continue to eat, for fear that his teeth would be sore.

The next morning, Lin Yan had to get up early as usual, because it was Saturday and the departure time was later.Before leaving, Lin Yan went into the room to take another look at He Zhengxi who was sleeping in the dark.

"Well, when I fell asleep, I looked more like a fool."

He pulled a tissue to wipe off the drool on He Zhengxi's cheeks, and moved his pillow away worriedly.

On weekends, Lin Yan's small stall usually moves from the school gate to the gate of the community a little farther away.The conditions in that community were much better than the teacher’s apartment where Cai Hengyuan’s family lived. In addition to the experimental school, the apartment in the school district was next to the Municipal Education Bureau. It was only one street away from the Normal University, and only three stops away from Xicheng No. [-] Middle School.In the era when housing prices had just started to soar, the housing price per square meter of this high-rise community called "Nanyuan Mansion" was enough for Lin Yan's living expenses for two years.

Lin Yan couldn't enter such a community.He couldn't even get into Cai Hengyuan's community, let alone a high-end wealthy community like Nanyuan Mansion.But he is very smart, the young men at the gate guard eat soft food but not hard food. He sees the sky giving people buns and glutinous rice porridge.Soon, the attitude of those young brothers improved a lot.

Lin Yan doesn’t push himself too hard. He only goes there on weekends, and he doesn’t set up a stall close to the gate. He sells it near the green belt tens of meters away. There are a few trees that can block people and the sun. Residents who wake up early and take a walk to exercise must pass by.

When he was about to close his stall on Saturday morning, he saw two familiar figures walking out of the gate, and when he turned the corner, those two familiar faces also saw Lin Yan.

"I think Xicheng is really too small. It deserves to be a small third-tier city. We really don't need to look up, we can see each other by bowing our heads."

Feng Bowen greeted him with a smile.

In Lin Yan's eyes, this man and Song Rui are both connoisseurs of lip-smacking and kung fu. Their personalities are often reversed, and occasionally they are serious, but most of the time, their brains are like a disease.He was busy with what he was doing, and replied with an "oh".

"Can you go first? Don't wait for your grandpa's business. I was going to play with you." Song Rui kicked Feng Bowen and motioned for him to help. Feng Bowen rolled up his sleeves helplessly and pushed Lin Yan away. Lift up the big bamboo dustpan that was placed earlier.Song Rui is also hardworking once in a while, with great enthusiasm for doing things.

Lin Yan put the change box into his backpack and weighed it. Song Rui and Feng Bowen carried the folding table and other messes. He didn't have anything heavy on him, so he ran two steps faster to catch up with Song Rui Rui's clothes corner.

"Lifting the small table together saves effort," he said.Lin Yan could tell that Song Rui was lazy and definitely wouldn't work at home.

Song Rui turned his head and gave him a dazzling smile: "No, brother can carry it, don't worship brother too much."

"Who admires you, soft-footed shrimp." Lin Yan snorted, accelerated again, passed the two of them, and jumped to the front with his slender legs.

"Bah, you're just a soft-footed shrimp, brat..." Song Rui fell to the back alone, muttering and complaining.Hearing this, Feng Bowen sighed.He slowed down and forced himself into the bottom one.

The three of them walked a long way, and when they were almost at Linshui Street, they finally met Lao Li who was riding a bicycle.After returning the tools and handing over the change box, Lin Yan's task for today is considered complete.Song Rui is also an acquaintance, and he talked nonsense with Lao Li for a long time before saying goodbye.As a result, by coincidence, I ran into Cai Hengyuan who hadn't seen him for a few days at the door of the house.Everyone lamented that the world is as small as a sesame seed, and then pushed the door together and walked into the small courtyard.

At this time, He Zhengxi had already finished his breakfast, washed the dishes, and started his daily routine self-study on the small wooden table in front of the main room.Lin Yan reminded them to keep their voices down as much as possible when they entered the door, so as not to disturb his brother's study, but Song Rui had a gentle and good-looking face, and his personality was a complete stick.He pretended to walk into the yard, and when Lin Yan wasn't paying attention, he tiptoed up to He Zhengxi and slapped the child hard on the back, "Hey! Learn!".

He Zhengxi's hands trembled when he slapped him, and the pencil that he had sharpened so hard fell to the ground with a "click", a gap was made, and the tip of the pen broke.He stared at Song Rui angrily, without saying a word.

"If you're not careful, I'll give you a whole box of pencils tomorrow, which is better than yours, okay?" Song Rui hurriedly clapped his hands together to apologize.

He Zhengxi turned his head and snorted angrily, "I don't want your things!"

Song Rui said to Lin Yan: "Hey, you have quite a backbone, little brother."

Lin Yan smiled at him, picked up the pen on the ground, took out the pencil sharpener, and said to He Zhengxi while sharpening it: "Isn't it just a gap, it's worth making you so angry?" He put the re-sharpened pencil on the shelf. Put it into the pen box, tap He Zhengxi on the head, "The mood is so bad, don't learn it now, play for half an hour."

He Zhengxi grabbed Lin Yan's hand, put it palm down on his head, rubbed it, and ran away contentedly holding the book.

The rest of the people were dumbfounded.Lin Yan is probably not raising his younger brother, but a dog.

For the rest of the time, Song Rui visited every corner of the old ancestral hall like Feng Bowen visited the scenic spots.They didn't expect that there was such a street in the city center, and there was such an ancestral hall on this street, and they didn't expect that there would be people living in the ancestral hall, and there was even a gratifying patch in this small courtyard. Vegetable field? !

"It's amazing, Lin Yan, you are the architect with the most practical value and sentimentalism. All the masters outside have to learn from you." Song Rui took out the card machine he carried with him while taking pictures. Said, "Although the yard is old, it is brighter than the big terrace. I like it so much."

"Then come next weekend." Feng Bowen answered his words.

"If you don't want a large terrace, you can give it to me for free." Lin Yan stretched out his hand, "Don't push yourself too hard, it's okay to come here to play, my family doesn't have money to entertain you, if you want to come, you must bring your own food and drink."

Song Rui put his arms around Lin Yan's shoulders: "You are so young, how can you be so stubborn? Let me tell you, Lin Xiaoyan, you can't do this. There is a saying that you can buy sesame cakes for three cents. Look at the thickness."

Lin Yan chuckled, hung Song Rui's arm on Feng Bowen's back, and said unhurriedly: "By the way, I also have a saying, 'A tree without its bark will surely die, and a man without shame is invincible in the world'. "

Feng Bowen didn't hold back, he let out a snort, and his face was full of chrysanthemums.Cai Hengyuan also laughed a few times, but his mood was not too high. Seeing that he was not interested in this topic, Lin Yan called He Zhengxi to take everyone into the main room. He opened the refrigerator door and thought about it for a long time before deciding to serve the watermelon. Go out, leave the pineapple to He Zhengxi.

The architectural style of the old ancestral hall was ancient, Song Rui sat down and refused to get up.He likes to draw and draw, and is especially fascinated by architectural design.In the past two years, Xicheng has developed too fast, and there are fewer and fewer old buildings. Although Lin Yan's house is a bit dilapidated, it is quite interesting, and he likes it very much.Song Rui pulled Lin Yan to chat, and beside him Cai Hengyuan began to talk to Feng Bowen intentionally or unintentionally.

Lin Yan was not used to him like this, and Feng Bowen seemed quite conflicted.

Feng Bowen's mother is the head of the Education Bureau, which Lin Yan only knew recently.He didn't understand the stakes, but he could guess that Cai Hengyuan probably wanted something from Feng Bowen.Cai Hengyuan's parents are both senior teachers, aren't they much better than a bureau chief?Lin Yan couldn't figure it out. In his mind, being a teacher was already quite an amazing profession.However, Cai Hengyuan may also have his own plans, and Lin Yan will not open his mouth about it.

They chatted for about a quarter of an hour, and He Zhengxi came to ask Lin Yan what he was having for lunch, and Lin Yan was not sure about this question.These few people can eat better than himself, but the family doesn't have enough food reserves, and the new crop of green vegetables is still growing, Lin Yan is reluctant to cook, and the beans are not yet harvested.Lin Yan was very depressed, he fell into a state of thinking, habitually pouted and frowned, He Zhengxi watched for a long time, and couldn't help laughing, Lin Yan glanced at him.

"I know how to giggle every day, go, get me those goods, go to the supermarket to buy, buy whatever you eat, and people who don't spend a dime are not allowed to serve."

He Zhengxi got the order and trotted to deliver the message.

It is said to go to the supermarket, but it is not too far away, it is still the one I often go to.After entering the door, Lin Yan didn't see Lin Fei, probably because it wasn't her turn yet, Lin Yan went to push the shopping cart in a little disappointment.

Although Song Rui clamored to eat, he had no idea what to eat or how to do it.Feng Bowen knew a little bit better than him, but he didn't go anywhere.As for Cai Hengyuan, he is a nerd who doesn't stick to the sun.After studying all the way, the burden of grocery shopping still fell on Lin Yantong and He Zhengxi.

Song Rui waved his hand, saying that he wanted to reimburse Lin Yan, Lin Yan happily grabbed his hand and kissed it, leaving He Zhengxi and Feng Bowen stunned.

"Brother, how can you kiss others casually..." He Zhengxi lowered his head and whispered.

"Let me express my thanks, do you have any opinions?" Lin Yan pushed up the shopping cart and walked forward.

"That's not true..." He Zhengxi squeezed the hem of his clothes, followed Lin Yan's pace, "Then you haven't even kissed me."

Lin Yan stopped and stared at He Zhengxi for a while, until He Zhengxi's face was blushing, and then he said: "You should take good care of your personal hygiene first, and wipe your face carelessly every time you wash your face. Then if you rush casually, I won’t let it go.”

After hearing this, He Zhengxi stood there in a daze for a few seconds, wanting to dig a hole in the ground like an ostrich and bury his head in it.

Lin Yan bought vegetables very quickly. He was not familiar with complicated dishes, and he had never seen them before. After discussing with Song Rui and the others, he only planned to simply make an assorted stew pot.Beef pork belly, mutton rolls, white shrimp, scallions, tofu, kelp buckles, and shiitake mushrooms are all stewed in one go, fast, convenient, and effortless.Before leaving, he picked up a few small porcelain bowls to take back, and Lin Yan paid for it himself.The tableware in the kitchen of the old ancestral hall is not enough for the five of them, and this bowl can be kept after washing.

At noon, the clouds in the sky began to thicken and the sunlight was completely blocked. Song Rui suggested to move the lunch to the small courtyard.Lin Yan also felt that it was too hot to eat in the main room, and he was reluctant to use his old antique electric fan to work for five people.The fan is not tired, he looks tired.

The stewing pot that Lin Yan is going to make is very simple. According to the order, start from the bottom layer, put the fat ones first, then put the thin ones. The top layer is tofu and shrimp. No seasoning such as thirteen spices are needed. Soy After the pot, it is enough to fill it with water and add a little salt, which is almost a simplified version of hot pot.Maybe there are more elaborate methods, but 10-year-old Lin Yan has no interest in studying such things seriously.However, he attaches great importance to the dipping ingredients. Minced shallots, coriander, lightly salted soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and sesame juice are all essential.Speaking of sesame juice, Lin Yan would like to thank He Zhengxi for his preference. He had never tried it in the past, but now in his heart, it has become a taste that he can't let go of.

When he was at the youth training base, Lin Yan once helped the cafeteria master there.Since that time, Song Rui always said that he wanted Lin Yan to entertain him again, and today he finally enjoyed it, so he tried his best to praise him.Even though Lin Yan was used to He Zhengxi's false flattery, he was still very proud of being praised by Song Rui, even a little flattered.

After all, he is still a child, and it is indeed worth being happy to be praised by his older brother.

The three of them played in the old ancestral hall until the evening before returning home. After seeing them off, Lin Yan could finally sit down and take a breath. He Zhengxi had already gone to his room to continue his literacy work.If you can't complete the task, you will be taught by Lin Yan.

At around 6 o'clock, the thick clouds finally squeezed out some raindrops, the jasmine branches and leaves under the eaves were shining brightly, and the draft breeze swept over Lin Yan's hair, sweeping away the sultriness and depression, and the old ancestral hall finally returned to tranquility.