twenty two

The courier service comes to the island once or twice a day. The refrigerator parts that Jifeng ordered yesterday were delivered at 10 a.m. today.

He arranged a time to come and replace it.

Zhong Yan went downstairs specifically to buy water and fruit.

The birds and cicadas in the trees were chirping, and a few kids playing basketball walked by, laughing and joking.

Jifeng was just across the street, carrying a bag of milk tea.

Several cars drove by, and he crossed the road at the zebra crossing. He looked at Zhong Yan, who was carrying large and small bags, and said, "Starting to stock up on food?"

Then, upon seeing that it was a box of freshly cut fruit, he fell silent.

Zhong Yan asked, "Did you go to buy milk tea next to the pottery studio? How's Lily?"

"I don't know, COCO made it, and they even charged me for four cups at a friendly price," Ji Feng said.

"Huh?" Zhong Yan couldn't believe he would be "ripped off".

A shady merchant came to Zhujiaopo a while ago. He weighed out a few plums and quoted a price of one pound. Zhujiaopo sneered a few times and said he didn't want them. He then turned around and went to find the police.

The vendor yelled at him, saying he was a poor wretch who couldn't afford it and shouldn't buy it, but he didn't care at all.

The idea that someone would willingly hand over their wallet to save face, even if it meant encountering an assassin, is impossible for Ji Feng.

Many times, Zhong Yan felt that Ji Feng had absolutely no shame.

He is easygoing, carefree, and sometimes arrogant; when he's going to criticize someone, he's quick, ruthless, and accurate.

"Let's go, what are you spacing out for?"

Zhong Yan hurriedly looked away.

Today, Jifeng wore dark gray cargo pants with a white T-shirt, looking like a skilled repairman.

She couldn't help but glance at it a few more times.

In fact, Monsoon does have some skill. After sorting through the various parts in the refrigerator, it pulled out what needed to be pulled out, plugged in what needed to be plugged in, and connected the wires in an orderly manner.

Zhong Yan, with her hands on her knees, watched with great interest from behind him.

"Isn't it fun?" Ji Feng sat on the ground and looked up at her.

Zhong Yan thought for a moment, nodded, and took out a fruit box: "Would you like some fruit? We have watermelon."

There was no sofa in the small living room, so Zhong Yan tore off a piece of cloth to put on the floor so that the guests would have a place to sit.

The little petrel was performing a swimming routine in the washbasin when the monsoon mocked it for being a duck. In response, the little petrel turned its rear end towards him.

Zhong Yan sipped the milk tea that Ji Feng had brought and said, "Even ducks can find food in the water."

Monsoon: "What you said makes sense, but it was meant to fly, yet it has to become a duck. Isn't that a pity?"

“Zhuangzi said, ‘You are not a fish.’ You are not a little seagull, so how do you know it’s unhappy being a duck?” Zhong Yan’s tone became serious.

Little Seagull has been with her these past few days. Although she says she won't treat it as a pet and won't develop a relationship with it, she's actually already taking its side.

If the little petrel really can't fly anymore and can only swim in the water like a little sea duck, she doesn't want it to be ridiculed.

“You probably think that Chinese education is bad, and that the desire for your child to become a dragon is a shackle. But everything has its advantages and disadvantages. How will you know how high you can fly if you are not pushed?” Ji Feng said, “Not all children are precocious and know early on what they want to do, where their abilities lie, and where their limits are. You can say that parents’ cramming education is bad, but you can’t deny that to some extent it can send people to a higher position.”

He turned his head and looked out the window.

The sky, half of which was blocked, was an incredibly clear blue.

"Only by looking down from the sky can you see clearly what you want and what you can become, right?"

Zhong Yan was in a state of confusion after hearing Ji Feng's words.

Was her mother's education meaningless?

No, not exactly.

Her mother played a significant role in her ability to rise from an average student to one of the top few hundred in the province, thanks in large part to her encouragement, supervision, and guidance.

"It's fine before you turn eighteen, but once you're an adult, you can start thinking about what you really want and what you want to become."

Ji Feng withdrew his gaze and asked earnestly, "Don't you want to fly?"

The concentration of tea polyphenols in the milk tea might be a bit high, and Zhong Yan's heart was pounding violently in her chest.

The orderly rhythm was disrupted, and consciousness deviated from its course.

But can she make that decision herself?

Zhong Yan sat there, biting her straw, lost in thought.

Mom definitely won't allow it.

She even wanted to strip her of her surname and her given name; she wouldn't allow a single word of dissent to appear around her.

She's a mother, so she always finds a way to make her child listen.

Zhong Yan is not a particularly brave person; she is also a particularly soft-hearted person.

She had neither the courage to rebel against her domineering mother nor the ability to ignore her mother's hard work.

She could only writhe herself into a ball, scraping away all the sharp edges that would hurt others and herself.

Ji Feng never received a reply from Zhong Yan.

After finishing their fruit and milk tea, the two took Xiao Haiyan out again.

Zhong Yan remained silent throughout the journey.

Monsoon, with his hat down and hands in his pockets, walked at a leisurely pace.

The summer trees are lush and green, the sun is warm and gentle, and the dappled sunlight on the sidewalk reflects off the ground like scattered gold dust.

The two walked side by side, appearing in the view of passersby, like a beautiful scene from a movie.

Unfortunately, the main characters in the picture are not so harmonious and happy.

The two walked to the beach.

I originally intended to let the little petrel swim in the sea and observe how seabirds fly freely in the sky, thus awakening its natural instincts.

However, they discovered that the little petrel refused to go into the sea.

Normally it swims so happily in a basin, but facing the vast ocean it's like it's been to hell beforehand, swinging its two black, fan-like feet and running towards the shore with a pattering sound.

This is a difficult situation.

A little petrel actually hates the sea.

"Are you scared because you almost died in the sea?" Zhong Yan held the little petrel in her palm. The little petrel curled up, hiding its head under its wings, pretending to be an ostrich.

Because he almost died in the icy seawater, he is afraid of the ocean.

Because it nearly broke off in the dense netting, it is afraid to fly.

Even a small bird remembers the hurt it suffered.

Zhong Yan gently stroked the little seagull's feathers with her fingers.

Jifeng said, "Now I'm not only a duck, but a land duck too."

Zhong Yan raised her eyes and stared at him.

Ji Feng gestured for her to shut up, then followed her and sat back down in the shade.

A moment later, Ji Feng volunteered, "I have an idea."

"What method?"

“Didn’t you read ‘Fly with Me’?” Ji Feng said. “Although we can’t fly with the little petrel, we can accompany it to swim in the sea.”

Zhong Yan exclaimed in surprise, "But I can't swim!"

"That's easy," Ji Feng said, pointing to the side.

Following his fingertip, Zhong Yan saw a pile of colorful swimming rings, some with flower patterns, others shaped like ducks...

"Just kidding," said Ji Feng. "Actually, I can teach you."

Zhong Yan said, "Now?"

Jifeng said, "Do you need to go back and prepare yourself mentally first?"

Zhong Yan said, "Hmm..."

He then asked, "There are only twenty-odd days left in summer vacation. How many days do you need to prepare?"

Zhong Yan lowered her eyelashes.

With summer vacation over, what opportunities will she have left?

With little time left, Zhong Yan was forced to make a bold decision.

Summer is the perfect time for swimming, and there are many vendors selling swimsuits, swimming rings, and sunglasses on Niling Island beach.

After buying their gear, the two went to the changing room to change.

They were all dressed in the most conservative style, with a T-shirt on top and pants on the bottom. Ji Feng even wore a black swimming cap on his head.

You know, a swimming cap is a major weapon against bad looks, but when Ji Feng wears it, it only highlights his full, high crown and three-dimensional face. He doesn't look ugly at all; on the contrary, he looks even more handsome.

Zhong Yan tied her hair into a bun at the back of her head. Her skin was fair, and she was wearing a pale yellow swimsuit, which looked like a lit incandescent light bulb.

She held the baby petrel in her left hand and grasped the monsoon's arm with her right.

The monsoon carried her slowly toward the sea.

The waves slowly climbed onto the shore with the wind, then quietly receded, playfully rummaging through the sand and leaving behind a few small crabs that couldn't escape in time.

Children happily collect the treasures left behind by the sea.

At this moment, the sea is like a loving elder, making children happy.

Before I knew it, the water had reached above my knees. The sand, soaked with seawater, was unusually soft; once you stepped in, it took a lot of effort to pull your foot out.

"Are your hands shaking?" Ji Feng turned around.

Zhong Yan's face was tense as she said, "I can't swim."

"Hmm." Ji Feng raised the arm that was resting on Zhong Yan's hand and said, "With me supporting you, you won't sink."

He assured me.

Zhong Yan looked at the arm she was supporting.

He didn't have the exaggeratedly bulging muscles shown in gym ads; his wrist bones were just a couple size larger than hers, and his muscles were a bit more muscular.

But he stood very steady in the waves, like the Monkey King's magic weapon.

Zhong Yan's anxious, beating heart gradually calmed down.

As we ventured into the deeper water, we saw children splashing and swimming past, young people playfully splashing each other, and even swimming champions diving away like manta rays.

The seawater slowly rose to waist level.

Zhong Yan lost her footing and had to grip Ji Feng's arm with even more force.

"Are you scared?" Ji Feng asked.

Zhong Yan said, "I'm afraid of choking on water."

"Even if you're going to drown, you'll choke on water first," Ji Feng said.

Zhong Yan fell silent again.

The little petrel huddled in Zhong Yan's elbow, its head pressed tightly against her chest; it was even more frightened.

The monsoon didn't stop, and Zhong Yan didn't dare let go. The shore to turn back was too far away. Even though she was terrified, she could only let him lead her to the depths of the sea.

The water reached Zhong Yan's chest, and the little seagull stood on her shoulder, pressed against her neck, its wings tightly tucked together.

"The first step in learning to swim is to immerse your face in water," Ji Feng began his swimming lesson.

Zhong Yan asked in a trembling voice, "Are you a good swimmer?"

"You should have asked earlier. I could have seen my Level 1 swimmer certificate when we were on shore." Ji Feng laughed. "Hmm? You only ask if the scallions and garlic are ready when we're already in the pot?"

Zhong Yan knew that delaying was useless, so she handed the little seagull to Ji Feng, held his hand, and buried her face in the seawater.

"Try blowing bubbles out."

Zhong Yan was like a little fish, bubbling away.

Ji Feng didn't say when to let her up. Zhong Yan held on until she couldn't breathe anymore, then lifted herself out of the water and opened her mouth to gasp for air.

Water streamed down my face, splashing onto the water around me and creating ripples.

After she wiped the excess water off her face and cleared her vision, she saw Ji Feng's lips curving into a smile.

"How about it?"

The little seagull was standing on his shoulder, tilting its head to look at her.

Zhong Yan felt this was the time to make a new impression on Xiao Haiyan, so she said, "Not bad."

Ji Feng nodded with his chin, "Do a few more sets, and see if you can open your eyes."

Zhong Yan hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Monsoon shrugged, and Little Petrel was forced to hop a few times.

He urged, "Set an example for your children, hurry up and do it."

Now, who is the carrot and who is the donkey?

It's as if she and Little Seagull are each other's carrots and donkeys, while Monsoon is the most cunning and clever farmer in the middle, making them run around in circles!

Zhong Yan tried several more times, but she still dared not open her eyes.

Ji Feng said, "Alright, let's try floating first. Grab my arms with both hands, take a few steps back, then bend one leg and tilt your head back... Don't lift your leg yet, tilt your head back, then stretch your leg back, and you'll feel the buoyancy..."

"Monsoon!"

Zhong Yan successfully floated up, but the buoyancy was too much for her. She felt like a leaf being pushed and shoved by the playful waves, as if she might drift away at any moment.

"Hold on tight." Ji Feng pressed down on her fingers with his hand.

Zhong Yan was afraid of being swept away by the sea, so she clung tightly to Ji Feng's arm, her face covered in what looked like seawater or tears.

"If you can float, you've already learned half of how to swim."

Zhong Yancai didn't believe it.

They had been in the sea for less than half an hour when she said she had already learned half of it.

“You can slowly kick your legs and imagine yourself as a boat, and your feet are the oars. As long as the oars keep stirring the water, the boat will move.” As Ji Feng spoke, he leaned back, his toes flipping out of the water, his swinging legs gently splashing the water, and he carried the taut, lifeless Zhong Yan for a distance in the sea.

Monsoon said leisurely, "Isn't it too much trouble for you to do this? Why don't you turn over and lie down like me?"

"It will sink."

"It won't sink, I'll hold you up."

As he spoke, Ji Feng indeed grasped one of her wrists and helped her adjust her posture so that she was lying on her back on the water like him.

Ji Feng didn't let go of her hand and held it tightly, which made Zhong Yan feel very safe.

My body was half-submerged and half-floating in the water. In my peripheral vision, there was the monsoon on one side, the seawater and other tourists soaking in the seawater on the other side, and even more so, the sky above my head.

A clear, azure sky.

Birds flew among the white clouds, their wings spread wide, gliding effortlessly.

"Birds are so wonderful, they can fly in the sky so easily."

Ji Feng said, "That's the lift generated by the pressure difference between the top and bottom of the bird's wings. You can imagine it as a gust of wind constantly lifting the bird from below."

“The wind.” Zhong Yan looked at the birds in the sky for a while, then closed her eyes again. “It seems like the wind is pushing us away.”

Monsoon laughed. "The wind probably doesn't like things that are still."

Zhong Yan said, "The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease?"

“That’s a derogatory term,” Ji Feng thought for a moment. “It should be, ‘The bird wants to fly, but the wind carries it.’”

Zhong Yan smiled. "Yes, you're right."

Zhong Yan rarely smiled; at least in Ji Feng's eyes, she rarely showed a happy and carefree smile.

There were even tiny dimples hidden on her cheeks, which would shyly shrink back when she smiled.

Her smiling eyes were curved like crescent moons.

Ji Feng couldn't help but laugh along with her.

Is swimming fun?

Zhong Yan: "Not bad."

"Is it joyful?"

Zhong Yan thought for a moment, then said, "Yes."

It should be a happy occasion.

She is like a rootless duckweed on the water, going wherever the wind tells her to go, drifting freely without having to think about right or wrong.

Another voice came from the side:

Nietzsche said that happiness is a sign of recovery.

Zhong Yan was slightly taken aback, thinking that Ji Feng was talking about her, but then he said softly, "Look, the little seagull jumped into the water by itself."

Zhong Yan shifted her gaze away.

The little petrel was paddling its feet in the narrow sea area between their arms and bodies. It raised its little head, its beak pointing to the sky, like a brave king who had defeated an irresistible force and returned to its territory.

"It can swim in the sea!" Zhong Yan exclaimed excitedly, grabbing Ji Feng's hand in return.

"Mmm." Ji Feng let her shake his arm, causing water to splash everywhere, soaking Xiao Haiyan's head.

The little seagull shook its head vigorously and cried out a few times.

Zhong Yan was so happy for the little seagull that she forgot to let go of its hand.

The monsoon did not remind her.

They held hands and floated on the sea with the little petrel, gently swayed by the sea breeze.

It felt like we could live to the very end of time.

Swimming is physically demanding, so the two had a simple lunch before saying goodbye.

The monsoon said, "See you tomorrow."

Zhong Yan nodded.

/

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Today, Jifeng taught me how to swim, and it was more interesting than I imagined.

Setting an example is useful; the little petrel can now swim in the sea.

Unfortunately, I can't fly.