Chapter 50 (See you at the start of the school year)

Luo Yan was unaware that her brother would react so strongly to the word "Guangzhou," because she hadn't thought about it that much at all.

Marriage is still a long way off for her; so far, she has only completed her study plan for the next semester.

Besides, plans can't keep up with changes.

For example, when Luo Yan left home this morning, she didn't know she was going to see a movie with a boy this afternoon.

But Zhou Xiuhe was prepared.

He arrived at the cinema earlier than agreed, inquired about which movie was best to take a girl to see, bought freshly popped popcorn from a stall at the entrance, and stood in a conspicuous spot where the wind blew, eagerly waiting.

However, Luo Yan didn't see him at first glance when she arrived.

She parked her bicycle and walked up the steps to the cinema entrance. When she heard someone call her name, she turned around and said, "Oh, I thought you were in the ticket booth."

Seeing his hair all messed up by the wind, he said, "It's so cold outside."

Zhou Xiuhe wasn't as resistant to the cold as people from Beijing. He had just gone back to change into some nice but not warm clothes, and he still tried to act tough, saying, "It's alright, the sun is out."

"What good is this little bit of light?" Luo Yan said. "Let's run up a couple of steps to warm ourselves up."

She hopped up two steps at a time, and Zhou Xiuhe followed her rhythm.

The two people stood at the ticket window, their faces regaining some color.

Zhou Xiuhe discussed with her: "The show that's about to start is 'The Younger Generation,' and in fifteen minutes there's 'Look at This Family.' Which one would you like to see?"

Nowadays, no more than a dozen films are released throughout the year, and the number of films shown in theaters remains roughly the same from the beginning to the end of the year.

There are only a few entertainment options on the street, and even Luo Yan, who rarely goes out, has seen these two movies.

She said, "The 'Younger Generations' program is played every day in the auditorium, shall we wait a bit?"

That way, we can chat for another fifteen minutes.

Zhou Xiuhe actually preferred the latter one, and after buying the tickets, he said, "Let's go inside and wait."

The indoor temperature rose, making it so warm that it made you want to sneeze.

Luo Yan rubbed her nose, feeling somewhat embarrassed for some reason.

Zhou Xiuhe started the conversation by saying, "The next time we meet will probably be when school starts. I wish you a Happy New Year in advance."

Luo Yan: "Happy New Year to you too."

She habitually looks into the other person's eyes when she speaks, especially when the focus is very clear, giving the illusion that her attention is entirely on herself.

Zhou Xiuhe unconsciously felt a surge of hope and said, "May I write to you?"

Hmm? It's hard to say how long it will take for a letter to travel from Guangzhou to Beijing; Luo Yan might not have received it by the start of the school year.

She hesitated for a moment but didn't refuse. She took out paper and pen and said, "I'll write down your address for you."

Zhou Xiuhe knew, of course, that she received it sometime during a certain period of time, but the first stirrings of love in a young person are inherently foolish.

He carefully put the paper away, and then patted his pocket with satisfaction.

Luo Yan looked at it and couldn't help but laugh. Suddenly, she became interested in the ceiling of the movie theater and looked up at it.

Zhou Xiuhe followed her gaze but didn't notice anything special. He handed her the popcorn, saying, "I don't know if you like it."

Luo Yan: "I'm not a picky eater."

He added, "I'll treat you to a show next time."

Zhou Xiuhe's attention was focused on the word "next time," automatically ignoring the rest and just nodding.

Luo Yan was satisfied. The two chatted casually, and both felt that time flew by while they were talking. Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it would be time to check in and enter the venue.

Their seats were in the middle, perfect for watching the movie. Luo Yan was engrossed in the film and only remembered there was someone next to her when the movie was almost over. She turned her head to take a look.

Zhou Xiuhe was absent-minded throughout, and when he met her gaze, he smiled, which contained a hint of helplessness.

For some reason, Luo Yan felt apologetic and leaned closer to ask in a low voice, "Don't you think it looks good?"

In the confined space, only the light from the curtain flickered, like some kind of signal, almost in sync with Zhou Xiuhe's heartbeat.

He said, "I used to love watching movies."

Why are you watching me instead of the movie today? Luo Yan's face flushed red. She made two "oh" sounds, pretending to be calm as she stared straight ahead, her hands on her thighs unconsciously clenching.

"I didn't say anything wrong, did I?" Zhou Xiuhe glanced at her furtively and noticed that she had quietly pressed her hand against her heart.

Why? Is her heart beating uncontrollably for someone?

Zhou Xiu was overjoyed and suddenly became very interested in the movie in front of him, but he couldn't help but glance at it from the side.

Luo Yan couldn't concentrate on watching the remaining few minutes either.

She even ignored her surroundings and only realized it was over when Zhou Xiuhe called her name. She was then swept away by the crowd and walked out.

Zhou Xiuhe asked, "Are you coming home for dinner?"

This was something her brother had specifically instructed her to do, and since it was dusk, Luo Yan rarely wandered around outside late at night.

She said, "Okay, I'll eat at home."

Although Zhou Xiuhe was disappointed, he couldn't insist: "Then I'll take you home?"

Luo Yan could imagine how much noise she would make if she walked to the alley entrance with a boy, so she said, "No need, I can go back by myself."

Zhou Xiuhe just wanted to dawdle and spend more time with her, but both of his most suitable excuses were rejected, so he racked his brains to think of a third one.

Luo Yan glanced at him, walked to the bicycle, and said inexplicably, "I'm a little full."

Zhou Xiuhe keenly realized this was a good opportunity: "Shall we walk for a while to digest our food?"

Luo Yan: "Okay, we've just reached the intersection. You go back to school and I'll go home."

The two people pushed their bicycles, walking slower and slower, though the distance was only a few hundred meters.

Zhou Xiuhe had no choice but to say, "See you when school starts."

Luo Yan: "Okay, see you when school starts."

Logically, she should have left after saying goodbye, but she didn't immediately start pedaling after getting on her bicycle, feeling that she should say something more.

Zhou Xiu waited for her to speak, but after a while there was only silence, he cautiously asked, "What's wrong?"

Luo Yan didn't know either, but she smiled beautifully: "Zhou Xiuhe, I'm leaving now, goodbye."

This must have been the first time Zhou Xiuhe had heard her call him by his full name, and every tone seemed to have a new rhythm.

For the first time, he felt that his parents had given him a particularly good name. Looking at her back, he suddenly felt that the bare trees and gray sky of Beijing had their own artistic conception.

When you're in a good mood, everything seems pleasing to the eye.

Luo Yanlian could greet Aunt Wu, the most gossipy woman, happily as she entered the alley, without worrying that she would say anything unpleasant. She rode her bicycle like a gust of wind into the No. 13 courtyard.

When Wangcai and Laifu saw people returning, they jumped three feet high and circled around the bicycle.

Luo Yan didn't take anything out of her pocket, so she squatted down and spread her hands out to show them: "I didn't bring any food today."

Wangcai and Laifu sniffed her hand, their faces showing utter despair, and walked away with their tails drooping.

"This is amazing!" Luo Yan laughed out loud, pushed open the door to her house, and breathed a sigh of relief: "Nobody's here today."

Liu Yinfeng was watching TV alone. When she heard her daughter speak, she tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the screen: "You're back."

Luo Yan said coquettishly, "Mom, look at me."

Liu Yinfeng glanced at it perfunctorily: "Wait a minute, this is the crucial part."

"See? See?" Luo Yan sighed helplessly, picking up her washbasin. "I'm going to the public bathhouse."

Liu Yinfeng responded vaguely, making one wonder if she hadn't heard clearly at all.

Alright, Luo Yan closed the door and walked out, only to be bumped into by children playing cops and robbers in the alley, causing her to stumble backward.

She wasn't in much pain, but she felt it was dangerous and said, "Slow down, slow down, don't fall."

The child didn't care about any of that and ran off, kicking up even more dust, perhaps even finding the adult annoying.

When Luo Yan was a child, she would feel wronged, thinking that everyone was "disobedient".

But as I grew up, I gradually realized that was just a child's nature, and that I was an outlier among most people, so I learned to hide my true thoughts.

She didn't want to be disliked any longer, so she kept her mouth shut and headed towards the bathhouse.

After walking a few steps, they met Zheng Sanmei and her daughter.

Li Hongyu is spoiled when she's with her mother, who wants to hold her for most of the day, as if she's afraid that if she lets go, she'll disappear.

Ugh, what a mess this is.

Luo Yan felt a pang of pity, but her expression remained unchanged as she asked, "Where did Hongyu go to play with her mother?"

Li Hongyu's teeth were stuck together with maltose: "Looking for Auntie."

She struggled to pronounce those three words, but because of her young age, she seemed incredibly cute.

Zheng Sanmei wiped the drool off her daughter's face and said, "We just went to deliver food to her aunt."

Then, out of nowhere, someone said, "Beijing is better; we're not allowed to set up stalls where we are."

New policies are always implemented fastest in Beijing. Luo Yan had also heard some classmates from other places mention this, saying, "It should be ready in two years."

Zheng Sanmei: "Our town leaders are slow at everything. What takes others two years, they take at least five years."

He added helplessly, "With just work points, I wouldn't even have enough to cover the travel expenses to Beijing."

When asked about this, Luo Yan said, "I heard that some places have started to distribute land to individual households."

Her initial impression came from a letter her mother-in-law had sent, saying that the production brigade intended to learn from Fengyang's advanced experience but was undecided. She didn't know the final decision. After all, the first person to try something new always has to take many risks.

No one in the brigade where the Zheng family lives has the guts to do that. Zheng Sanmei lowered her voice: "There are rumors, but nothing is certain."

Her mysterious demeanor suggested that this matter was unlikely to become mainstream for the time being. But Luo Yan felt it was only a matter of time, just like how the number of people applying for individual business licenses in Beijing was increasing, and there were even rumors that the restrictions on the number of employees would be lifted.

However, she wasn't one to make decisions, and only said, "I hope it will happen soon."

Zheng Sanmei chimed in with a couple more words before taking her daughter home. The mother and daughter were talking about something happy, and Li Hongyu's laughter, like a clear bell, could be heard from afar.

Of all the children in the yard, Luo Yan liked her the most. Every time she handed out candy, she would secretly give her an extra one. She would glance back at her and feel quite happy, humming a song as she continued walking.

By the time she finished showering and came out, it was already dark. The wind made her half-dry hair feel chilly, as if it was about to turn into frost.

Luo Yan was freezing, so she quickly ran home and only breathed a sigh of relief when she got inside.

Luo Hong was already home watching TV when he was startled by his sister's appearance: "What's wrong?"

Luo Yan looked at him blankly: "What? What's wrong?"

Luo Hong said irritably, "Who are you trying to scare to death by barging in like this?"

It wasn't that he was overthinking things; it's just that his sister had actually been followed to her doorstep twice.

The trauma these events left on Luo Yan was not as severe as the trauma it caused her brother.

She stuck out her tongue: "I'm just cold."

Luo Hong: "Now you know it's cold? Who was it that wore a wool coat out this morning?"

This wasn't the first time her brother had spoken in a sarcastic tone, and Luo Yan was already used to it, so she just snorted and remained silent.

Luo Hong patted the chair, gesturing for her to sit down, and asked, "Are you busy tomorrow?"

Luo Yan: "No, I'm on vacation starting tomorrow."

She only started taking her winter break after the school had been closed for more than half a month. Her dedication to learning is truly admirable.

Luo Hong: "Perfect timing, come with me to the wedding banquet tomorrow."

You don't bring people to wedding banquets unless it's a very, very close family or friends.

Luo Yan asked an unbelievable question: "Is Zhou Weifang married?"

What nonsense are you talking about? Luo Hong: "He is an overseas Chinese student."

Even more unbelievable than Zhou Weifang getting married, Luo Yan's eyes widened: "Brother Qiaosheng?"

Luo Hong: "Yeah, the post I made a few days ago, about the car dealership, I forgot to mention it to you. Qiaosheng said I should bring you along."

Luo Yan: "Then I have to go."

She was also very excited: "Is my name on the post? Should I prepare a gift?"

Having never seen anyone eagerly awaiting a red envelope, Luo Hong chuckled, "No need for you, we're both one."

Liu Yinfeng happened to be coming out of the kitchen with a dish when she asked, "What one?"

The brother and sister didn't rush to answer; instead, they asked in unison, "Why hasn't Dad come back yet?"

Speaking of her husband, Liu Yinfeng wiped her hands on her apron: "Son, go and check on the factory."

The roads are slippery in winter; be careful not to fall.

Luo Hong had also thought of this, but soon returned, saying, "I'm back."

He came back to deliver the news; his father didn't come in for a while.

Luo Xinmin hung his coat behind the door, dusted off his pants, and asked, "Yanyan, what are you doing tomorrow?"

Am I being valued so much now? Luo Yan obediently raised her hand: "Reporting, sir, I'm going to my brother's wedding banquet tomorrow night."

Luo Xinmin said, "That means there's nothing to do during the day. The department issued a voucher, so you can go to the cannery to pick it up."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yinfeng set out the bowls and chopsticks, saying, "I'll go, I'll go, she's not needed."

Luo Xinmin teased, "Isn't this because I'm afraid you'll miss the TV?"

Liu Yinfeng said embarrassedly, "I'm only interested in it these past couple of days."

As soon as he said it, the whole family laughed.

Luo Yan was quite enthusiastic: "It's okay, the cannery isn't far, I can just bring it back on my bicycle, it'll be easier."

Hearing her daughter say this, Liu Yinfeng didn't object anymore, and simply said, "Okay, let's eat."

As the family of four sat down, Liu Yinfeng couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going for the wedding banquet tomorrow night? How come you're bringing your sister along?"

Luo Hong: "Overseas Chinese students get married."

Who? This name sounds unfamiliar.

The couple exchanged a glance, and Luo Xinmin was the first to remember, saying, "Your... colleague?"

The phrase "cannot speak" was omitted, and Luo Hong didn't fill it in, saying, "Yes, he has few friends, so he asked me to take Yan Yan to boost his popularity."

There's another story: his sister once got into an argument with someone on his behalf.

Luo Yansheng rarely got into heated arguments, but the time she helped He Qiaosheng was a rare exception. She couldn't stand seeing anyone bullied because of their disability, and her legs would react before her brain, rushing over to help. However, she wasn't good with words either. Luckily, she went out with her brother, otherwise, there would have been two people crying from anger.

Although the parents were unaware of the situation, they shared the same sentiment, saying, "Since we've been invited, we should definitely go and help them out."

Luo Hong: "He doesn't like to trouble people, and he didn't invite anyone. He said he would just set up a table at a restaurant."

Just one table? Liu Yinfeng, who also had a daughter, thought to herself that she definitely wouldn't agree in her situation, and asked, "Would the woman agree?"

Luo Hong: "The bride brought a child."

It's understandable that a second marriage wouldn't be celebrated with a large ceremony.

Liu Yinfeng nodded knowingly and didn't say anything more.

Luo Yan suddenly realized: No wonder He Qiaosheng, who was always afraid of having a mute child in the future, wanted to get married. So that's why.

She said, "How old is the child? Is it a boy or a girl? I'll buy them a toy to take with them tomorrow."

That's a good idea, Luo Hong: "You buy the five-year-old boy, and I'll reimburse you."

He added, "Wait for me at the factory gate at five o'clock."

Luo Yan nodded in agreement and replanned her schedule for tomorrow. She noticed that her mother kept looking over her neck and shifting her position, saying, "Mom, why don't you just sit in front of the TV and eat?"

That won't do; we should eat at the proper place to eat.

Liu Yinfeng also had her own set of rules. After hastily finishing the last few grains of rice, she said, "I'll wash the dishes after I've finished watching this."

There's no need for her; the other three people can do all the work.

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Author's note: Goodnight~