Chapter 109

The slums are one of the characteristics of the capital.

Dashanyuan are generally converted from siheyuan. Due to the overall planning of the capital city, government offices and commercial facilities are concentrated in the old city, resulting in the old city carrying too dense a population and activities per unit area.

As time went by, one house per household became one house for multiple households. The impact and damage of the past decade have caused many courtyards to become old and damaged. Today's slums are mainly dilapidated and dangerous houses.

Jiang Xuezhu's family of three is one of the households in the slum.

After the policy was opened up, Jiang Xuezhu gave up her job of pasting paper boxes at the street office, used the family's remaining savings to buy food, bought some materials at a low price from the scrap yard, loaded up a small stall cart with her own hands, and became a small vendor.

When Jiang Xuezhu made this decision, many other people in the compound laughed at her, saying that she had nothing better to do than to sell things. This was nothing more than speculation and profiteering, undermining socialism.

People who have a good relationship with her come to persuade her not to do such illegal things, otherwise she will be arrested by the red armbands.

The mother-in-law even came to the house specifically, pointed at Jiang Xuezhu's nose and scolded her, and strictly forbade Jiang Xuezhu to do business, fearing that something would happen and implicate their family.

Even though so many people opposed it, Jiang Xuezhu gritted her teeth and persevered.

As it turned out, her decision was correct.

Jiang Xuezhu started her stall selling breakfast, sticky rice, at the entrance of an elementary school. Despite the constant flow of people, Jiang Xuezhu still faced a cold reception during her first two days. Although many people came to watch, few dared to buy.

Seeing that she was losing money, her mother-in-law came again and mocked her.

Jiang Xuezhu said nothing and continued to persevere.

However, her persistence was effective. After a week, the situation began to turn around and business gradually improved. In the following days, it became even better and better.

In less than ten days, Jiang Xuezhu successfully recovered his investment.

In order to make more money, Jiang Xuezhu increased the number of times she set up her stall. Fearing that customers would get tired of the food, she also spent time thinking about new flavors.

In the morning she sells glutinous rice at the school gate, and in the afternoon she sells wontons on the street.

Seeing Jiang Xuezhu's business growing, more and more people followed suit. Meanwhile, the neighbors living in the same courtyard were envious. To show off their superiority in front of Jiang Xuezhu, they brought up the past stories of Jiang Xuezhu's family.

The silly son who could only walk at the age of two and still couldn't speak at the age of five, and the disabled husband who was paralyzed in bed.

It seems that only by attacking Jiang Xuezhu's weaknesses can they regain their face in front of Jiang Xuezhu.

After working all day, Jiang Xuezhu's underwear was soaked with sweat. Exhausted, she finally arrived home before dusk.

Pushing the stall cart under the eaves, covering it with yellowed plastic tarpaulin, and wiping the sweat off her face with the towel hanging there, Jiang Xuezhu smiled relaxedly before opening the door of her home.

There are about thirty rooms in the slum, housing more than a dozen families, each with five or six people. There are nearly a hundred people living in one yard.

To put it nicely, it's lively, but to put it bluntly, if something trivial happens in someone's family, everyone in the yard will know about it.

Seeing Jiang Xuezhu coming back, several women who had disliked her for years opened the windows and secretly looked at how much Jiang Xuezhu had earned today.

Their eyes met those of the neighbor across the yard. They smiled awkwardly at first, and then immediately started talking about Jiang Xuezhu's family in tacit understanding.

Jiang Xuezhu had long been accustomed to hearing the discussions outside and had learned to ignore them.

Of the many rooms in the courtyard, Jiang Xuezhu's family only had one less than ten square meters. The room was extremely simple. At the back of the room lay a pale, unconscious man on a 1.8-meter bed, with a nutrient solution still dripping from his arm.

Outside the wooden bed was another simple bed made of planks and bricks. This was where Jiang Xuezhu and her son slept. Now, squatting on it was a little boy with fair skin and a delicate, yet very quiet face. He sat on the bed, a sketchbook on his knees, and in his hands, he was drawing something in the book.

When the little boy saw Jiang Xuezhu coming in, he didn't react at all and was completely immersed in his own world.

Looking at the two people, one big and one small, in the room, Jiang Xuezhu suddenly felt an unbearable bitterness in her heart.

"Xiaohao, mom is back."

Shi Lihao remained indifferent.

Jiang Xuezhu's eyes were filled with tears, and she rubbed her nose with the rough back of her hand to suppress the sourness.

She walked over and held her son in her arms, then held the hand of her unconscious husband in bed, massaging him while telling him about what happened outside today and the interesting guests she met.

"...Okay, that's all for today. Let me tell you, Liang, I earned thirty yuan more today than yesterday. In a few days, I'll be able to send you to the hospital for specialized treatment. And Xiaohao, I'll take him to see a specialized doctor, he'll definitely get better—"

Tears fell in big drops, leaving a dark mark on the quilt.

"What are you going to do to wake me up? I'm so tired——"

Shi Lihao's little hand that was drawing suddenly paused for a moment.

Ding-ling-ling——

The school bell rang for the end of the day, and soon, Ulala's heads swarmed out of the teaching building like ants and headed towards the school gate.

Xixi and her friend held hands and mingled in the crowd until they reached the school gate, where they let go of each other's hands.

After Xixi started elementary school, Meng Wanqiu and Pei Xingzhi only sent her off for half a month. Because there were many children in the neighborhood attending Xixi's school, both in lower and upper grades, and they were used to walking together, Pei Xingzhi and Meng Wanqiu didn't interfere with the little one's social interactions, not wanting her to be isolated. After ensuring there were no safety issues, they let Xixi go on her own.

School ends at 3:45 pm, which is not too late. So Xixi has plenty of free time every day when she gets home from school, but there are only Aunt Pang and Xiao Hui at home.

My parents and grandpa are not at home. My parents are studying a second major this semester, and my grandpa is very busy at work, so they spend very little time at home.

So, Xixi learned to pass the time on her own.

Today, she is going to do something big and go to a roadside stall with her friend Lele.

Her parents wouldn't allow her to eat at street vendors because it was unhygienic. But when she heard from Lele about that little shop that made her want to swallow her tongue, she was tempted.

"Lele, where are you?"

After walking out of the school and wandering around for a long time, Xixi still hadn't found her destination. She was a little doubtful whether Lele knew the location of the snack stand.

Lele scratched his head, looked around, and nodded. "We're almost there. My cousin told me it's on the street behind our school."

Xixi was skeptical.

But Lele did not let her down. After walking for another two or three minutes, the two little guys found the snack stand.

The snack stall is placed on the sidewalk in front of the alley entrance, with the main road in front. Many people riding bicycles pass by and can't help but stop when they smell the food.

The snack stall seemed to have just been opened. The tables and chairs around it had not been set up yet, but people who came to buy things had already surrounded the snack stall.

"Hurry up, Xixi, my cousin said this stall is doing very good business and he hasn't been able to buy anything several times. Let's hurry up and line up."

Seeing the small stall blocked by the crowd, the tall people, and then looking at the size of her, Lele and Luobo Ding, Xixi decisively pulled Lele around behind the boss.

Jiang Xuezhu wrapped all her hair with a headscarf, and to ensure hygiene, she even sewed several masks for herself.

There were too many customers, and Jiang Xuezhu was the only one who had to do everything, including collecting money, making change, and serving wontons. She was so busy that she didn't even have time to take a break.

Suddenly, Jiang Xuezhu felt something on her legs. She looked down and found two very cute little girls.

"Auntie, we want two bowls of wontons."

Jiang Xuezhu nodded and said softly, "Okay, wait a moment, okay?"

Xixi hummed, "Don't worry, Auntie, take your time."

Faced with such a cute little girl, Jiang Xuezhu's tense nerves relaxed a little.

After placing the order, Xixi looked at the small stools that were not placed around, and took the initiative to prop up the table and place the small stools around it one by one.

When my little classmate Lele saw it, he was stunned for a moment and then came over to help.

"Xixi, are we doing something good?"

Xixi thought about it for a moment and nodded: "That should be it."

"Will the teacher give us little red flowers after we go back?"

Little red flower?

Xixi scratched her head and tilted her head to look at Lele, "But aren't red flowers only given out by kindergarten teachers? We're already big kids in the first grade."

Lele sighed like a grown-up, "It's because the first-grade teacher didn't give me red flowers. In the past, as long as I collected ten red flowers, my dad would give me a gift. Now the red flowers are gone, and my gifts are gone too."

After setting the table, Xixi and Lele put down their schoolbags and sat down. "I think you can take the initiative to talk to your father and change the little red flower reward to something else, such as exams or something."

"Oh, right!" Lele laughed. "Why didn't I think of that? This is my benefit. I can't just give it away like that."

Listening to the two first-grade kids talking seriously, the adults next to them smiled knowingly.

Jiang Xuezhu, who was busy nearby, also noticed the two little guys helping her set the table, and put some more dried shrimps in their bowls.

"Thank you, kids, for helping Auntie set the table. The wontons are ready. They're a little hot, so be careful!"

“Thank you, Auntie!”

Smelling the tempting fragrance, Xixi knew that this trip was not in vain, and her voice was particularly loud when she expressed her gratitude.

Jiang Xuezhu smiled and continued to work.

Xixi and Lele ate the wontons slowly. The wontons were large and plentiful. The two little ones had small mouths and blew on them while talking and eating. By the time they finished a bowl, the people around them had already dispersed.

Jiang Xuezhu didn't rush the two little ones. There were fewer customers now, so she finally had a chance to rest for a while.

After standing for so long, her legs were almost numb. Jiang Xuezhu found a stool to sit down, but she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder again.

Jiang Xuezhu couldn't help but hissed, attracting Xixi's attention.

When the boss lady brought the wontons, Xixi noticed that their bowls had more wontons than others. She immediately understood that the boss was taking care of them. As a chivalrous woman who must repay a favor, Xixi felt that it was time to repay the kind lady.

After finishing the remaining bone soup in the bowl, Xixi stood up and walked to Jiang Xuezhu. "Auntie, do you have shoulder pain?"

Jiang Xuezhu was stunned for a moment, then admitted, "Auntie often lowers her head, which is why she has shoulder pain. You guys should not imitate her. Keep your backs straight during class, otherwise you will end up like her."

Xixi nodded and said, "Auntie, let me help you with the massage. I often massage my grandfather at home and it's very effective."

Jiang Xuezhu smiled, but still refused, "Thank you, little friend, but Auntie is much better now, so there's no need to bother you."

"Auntie, please let me try. It really works. I learned it from my mother. My mother knows Chinese medicine. Believe me." Xixi was a little anxious. She liked this aunt very much and wanted to help her.

Having dealt with more adults with complicated minds over the years, Jiang Xuezhu prefers children with simple minds and pure personalities. She doesn't need to think too much when talking to them, which is a waste of energy.

Seeing the anxiety and seriousness in the little guy's eyes, Jiang Xuezhu softened her heart, thinking that the child was eager to prove himself, "Okay, then you try. Thank you in advance, Auntie."

Lele finished eating, her belly was round, and her little hands were on the small table. She couldn't stand up yet.

"Xixi, you can massage, can you teach me later? I will go back and give my dad a massage. He will definitely be very happy then. There is hope for my love for toys."

Xixi said unhappily, "Your dad must be very touched."

A filial son.

Jiang Xuezhu burst out laughing.

The conversation between the two little guys is really interesting.

But Jiang Xuezhu thought of her own child, and wondered how great it would be if Xiaohao could be like them one day.

Jiang Xuezhu is taller than Xixi, and even if she squats, Xixi can't touch her shoulders.

So Xixi stepped on the bench and said, "Auntie, I'll clean it for you later."

"It's okay, it's okay. Be careful and don't fall."

Jiang Xuezhu originally wanted to cooperate with the little girl to play, but when the other party started, she didn't know where she touched, and the strength was not very strong, but she just felt that her sore shoulders suddenly relaxed a lot.

The feeling was so comfortable that Jiang Xuezhu even felt a little sleepy.

"Auntie, are you married?"

Lele, whose stomach was as fat as a ball, stood up, walked slowly to Jiang Xuezhu, and suddenly started chatting with Jiang Xuezhu about family matters.

The question in a baby voice made Jiang Xuezhu wake up instantly.

"Oh, I'm married."

Lele nodded and placed her small, fleshy hand on Jiang Xuezhu's leg. "Are you married? Do you have children?"

It's so weird that such old-fashioned words came out of the mouth of a six-year-old kid.

Jiang Xuezhu thought awkwardly.

"Yes, I have a son. He is five years old this year. He should be a little younger than you. He is not in school yet."

"No school?" Xixi, who was massaging diligently, jumped out and said, "Auntie, we were already in the senior kindergarten when we were five years old. If my brother doesn't go to school, he will fall behind in his studies."

Lele nodded in agreement. "It's okay for parents to work harder, but they can't delay their children. This is a lifelong event."

Hearing what the two said, Jiang Xuezhu was stunned.

Hearing Lele's words, Xixi instantly gave him an admiring look, "Lele, the way you speak is so, so amazing."

Lele waved his hands, "No, no, I just read a few more books and gained some insights."

The admiration in Xixi's eyes was about to overflow.

Jiang Xuezhu was silent.

Neither Xixi nor Lele disturbed her. The two smart little guys knew that their aunt was thinking.

"That?" Jiang Xuezhu didn't know what to say, but after meeting the curious eyes of the two little guys, she sighed and said, "My younger brother is different from other children. He doesn't like to talk. Auntie is worried that he will be bullied at school."

Hearing this, Xixi and Lele looked at each other, and then Xixi asked, "So your brother doesn't go to school and stays at home every day?"

Lele asked, "Is anyone home?"

Xixi asked, "Does my brother have any friends?"

Jiang Xuezhu became more and more silent. She didn't know what to say and began to recall what she had done over the years.

Xiaohao couldn't speak to begin with, and in order to protect him, she had isolated him in that small room over the years, with only his unconscious father to accompany him.

Xiaohao is five years old and still can't speak. Is it her indirect cause?

Jiang Xuezhu's face became paler and paler, and her whole body trembled.

Xixi and Lele's faces froze, and they immediately apologized: "I'm sorry, Auntie."

Jiang Xuezhu recovered and met the cautious eyes of the two little ones. She forced a smile and said, "No need to apologize. It was you who woke me up. I should thank you."

Xixi thought for a moment and said, "Auntie, my brother doesn't like to talk and doesn't like to meet strangers."

Based on the questions just now, Xixi roughly guessed the situation of this younger brother.

He has no friends and may not even be able to speak. He is a lot like the one his mother talks about, the one or the other.

Oh, it seems to be called autism.

Jiang Xuezhu nodded sadly.

"Then how about this, Auntie, you can bring your brother out tomorrow. I'll come over after school every day to talk to him and play with him. Let him practice for a while first, and once he gets used to it, I'll be able to send him to school."

——

At night, looking at her son sleeping in her arms, Jiang Xuezhu didn't realize how she had promised that little girl.

Is it really okay for Xiaohao to be in this situation?

Whenever such concerns flashed through my mind, the words of that little girl would ring in my ears.

"Auntie, running away won't solve the problem. Overprotection will only backfire. My brother needs to step out of your protective circle. Little birds always leave their nests, their parents, and venture into the vast sky on their own. That's what my father said, and I think it makes a lot of sense."

Her fingers brushed across the child's face, and Jiang Xuezhu looked at her husband beside her. "Go and explore the vast sky, Aliang. If it were you, you would definitely agree, right?"

The silent man did not respond to Jiang Xuezhu. She seemed to have gotten used to it. She closed her eyes, hugged her child and fell into a dream.

After school, when Xixi, who was carrying a small schoolbag, saw the quiet little boy with his back to her next to the stall, the corners of her mouth raised and even her eyebrows were filled with smiles.

"Auntie, we are here."

Xixi came with Lele. Originally, Xixi planned to come alone, but as a good classmate, Lele said that he couldn't be so disloyal and expressed his willingness to go through fire and water with Xixi.

Actually, I just wanted to eat the wontons made by Jiang Xuezhu.

"Xixi and Lele are here, please sit down."

There were guests nearby at this time, and Jiang Xuezhu was not in a position to entertain them. She glanced at her son who had his head down and shoulders hunched, and was emitting anxiety all over his body. She gritted her teeth and endured it without paying any attention.

Xixi saw it and ran to sit down opposite the child, and Lele followed slowly.

Xixi stretched out her hand. "Hello, my name is Pei Jingxi. What's your name?"

“…”

Jiang Xuezhu, who was busy with her work but had been listening to the noise, couldn't help but answer for her son: "His name is Shi Lihao, Xiaohao."

Lele made a prohibiting gesture.

Jiang Xuezhu shut up silently.

Xixi had already discussed this kind of situation during class today.

Their goal was to let Xiaohao speak for himself, so Jiang Xuezhu's interruption ruined their plan.

Xixi continued to look at Shi Lihao's round head. He kept his head down, so she couldn't see his face.

"Your skull is really beautiful. My mother said that people with beautiful skulls must also have beautiful faces. Let me see your face, okay?"

“…”

Lele scratched his face. Why did Xixi's words feel so strange? It felt like Ximen Qing in his grandfather's opera.

Lele didn't know many characters in the drama, and the ones he remembered most were Ximen Qing, Pan Jinlian and Wu Dalang. His cousin said that Ximen Qing was so bold that he even dared to cheat on Wu Song's elder brother.

She didn't quite understand what it meant, but she remembered this person.

Xixi tried several more times, and it turned out that little Shi Lihao was determined and was not tempted by the enemy at all.

When Xixi saw the picture book in the other person's hand, an idea flashed in her mind.

"Do you like painting?"

Shi Lihao paused, and a strand of hair on his head shook.

Xixi curled her lips.

"I can draw too. My grandpa taught me Chinese painting." As she said that, Xixi took out rice paper, ink and a brush from her schoolbag.

There happened to be an art class today, and Xixi brought some drawing tools.

As a grandfather who dotes on his granddaughter, Pei Zhongyuan will take time out every week to talk to his precious granddaughter on the phone no matter how busy he is. When he learned that Xixi had started learning Chinese painting, he specially found a small ink block, a brush and an inkstone in the shape of a little tiger.

It is convenient for Xixi to take her to school.

Now, it is also convenient for Xixi to show off in front of Shi Lihao.

"Let me draw a puppy. Dogs are my best drawing. I have a dog at home named Xiaohui. He's older than me and more capable than me. I secretly call him Big Brother..."

Xixi kept talking and her hands didn't stop either. She poured a drop of water from the cup into the little tiger inkstone, and then Lele next to her took the ink block and started grinding ink for Xixi.

Their movements were quite skillful, because this is how they cooperated in art class.

In the blink of an eye, the outline of a puppy gradually appeared on the flattened rice paper. Then Xixi slowly added details, fluffy fur, erect ears...

The image of a puppy chasing butterflies in the grass comes to life on the paper.

When Xixi finished painting, she found that the child, who had been keeping his head down, had raised his head at some point and was staring at the puppy on the rice paper without blinking.

The little hands placed on the edge of the table scratched the surface again and again, as if ready to move.

But Xixi didn't notice any of this. She was completely stunned by this familiar little face.

This face is the little boy in the photo hanging on the wall of my grandparents' house. The similarity is 99%.

Xixi grew up to be four years old on July 15. During these four years, she spent almost half of them at Feng's house. She was familiar with every corner of Feng's house.

Not to mention that photo that appears very frequently.