Chapter 24 Ancient Town

Yan Yi went into the kitchen to help Bai Xincheng prepare breakfast for the family. Bai He continued to braid her fluffy side braid. Her cell phone dinged and a number 7 appeared across the screen.

"So early?"

Bai He swiped the screen, and it was indeed a message from Qi Lang—

7: "?????? You guys sent me back last night???"

Seeing his series of question marks, Bai He was also full of question marks. Her fingers were busy braiding her hair, so she simply sent him a voice reply.

Lily: "Excuse me, sir, besides us, how many good friends do you have who can provide you with a one-stop service and take you straight to bed when you are drunk and unconscious?"

7: "Excuse me, my best friend, does this one-stop service also include changing my underwear?"

Lily: "I asked Ah Yi to change your clothes so you wouldn't sleep uncomfortably. He even changed your underwear for you."

7: "[Smile][Smile][Smile]"

Lily: "As expected of him!"

7: "I need to have a good talk with him about this."

Bai He sent him a laughing emoticon.

7: “So, you were there too?”

Lily: "He and I came together to send you back."

7: "Why do I feel like you guys have given me..."

Lily: "[Kitten Smirk]"

7: "Did you see it?"

Lily: "I saw some, but not much."

She was teasing him on purpose.

7: "I'm very shy and very vulnerable, Sayuri, please don't play with me."

Lily: "I've known you for over ten years, and you still don't know that shyness exists in our Seventh Brother's vocabulary." (ω)

7: "Be careful I'll put you on the hook."

Lily: "Come on, come on. [Seduction]"

7: “I’m really here.”

Lily: "[Go away]"

7: "You got up so early too. Where are you going to play today? Take me with you."

Lily: "Let's go and pay respect to Yan Yi's father. Do you want to go?"

7: "Go ahead. I don't have any plans today."

Lily: "We're all about to leave."

7: "I'm still in bed."

Lily: "Hurry up and pack! We won't wait for you!"

7: "okk."

Bai He packed up and walked out of the room. Her parents and Yan Yi had already sat at the table and started eating breakfast.

"Let's keep it simple today." Bai Xincheng poured her a glass of milk. "Just eat something to fill your stomach. We're about to leave."

"Oh, okay." Bai He sat down at the table, picked up the small steamed bun with chopsticks, and ate it in big mouthfuls.

Seeing that his cheeks were bulging with food, Yan Yi reminded him, "Don't be too anxious. Eat slowly. There's no rush."

"Hmm..." Bai He took a sip of milk, moved closer to Yan Yi, and whispered to him, "Did you help Qi Lang change his underwear last night?"

"Hmm." Yan Yi peeled the eggshell slowly with his slender fingertips.

"You're so... considerate!"

"I just can't bear to see it." Yan Yi put the peeled egg on her plate. "If you don't change it, you'll be so dirty when you wake up today."

Bai He knew that Yan Yi was a bit of a mysophobia, but she didn't expect that he was not only a mysophobia himself, but also had the same strict requirements for his friends.

She thought to herself, I wonder how hard his wife will have to live in the future.

Yan Yi seemed to see through her thoughts, leaned close to her ear, and asked softly, "What are you worried about?"

"I'm worried about your wife. I'm afraid she has to take ten showers a day before she can get into your bed."

Translation: "You didn't even wash your feet and came onto my bed. Did I chase you away?"

Well, that's true.

Bai He is quite clean, but sometimes she would jump onto his bed in her socks, not treating him as an outsider at all.

Yan Yi never disliked her and he was very tolerant of his family.

"What are the brother and sister whispering about in secret?" Tang Xin asked curiously.

Bai He said indifferently: "Yan Yi helped Qi Lang change... mmm..."

Yan Yi covered her mouth with his hand and threatened in a deep voice: "If you keep talking nonsense, you will be in trouble."

Bai He pushed his hand away: "You are such a rebel! How dare you threaten me in front of my parents!"

"Just a threat, what's wrong?"

"Ah, Mom and Dad! Look how arrogant he is!!!"

Tang Xin smiled gently and helplessly. Bai Xincheng said, "Alright, you two, you're better than anyone else. You've fought a lot. Come on, eat. Stop dawdling."

Bai He chewed a white steamed bun and said, "When we drive out, please stop at the back door of the villa. Qi Lang wants to go too."

Tang Xin said, "You three are inseparable, and you're inviting him too?"

"It wasn't me who invited him," Bai He said. "He just had nothing better to do, so he insisted on going."

"Okay, I wish your friendship will last forever."

Tang Xin whispered to Bai He as if she had secretly found some candy, "Friendship is best. If I'm wrong, just pretend I didn't say anything."

Bai He knew her mother had seen through her thoughts long ago, and her face became red as she argued, "It's just friendship!"

Yan Yi wasn't eating, but was just peeling peanuts calmly: "Is he awake?"

"Yeah, I'm awake."

He threw a peanut onto her plate and glanced at her meaningfully: "Just woke up and we're already chatting."

"Well…"

Bai He said nothing and ate in silence with his head down.

…

The back door of Senyu Community is the main gate of the villa area. The van drove through the morning mist, and Qi Lang was already waiting on the street.

The soft light of the morning sun illuminated his sharp profile. He wore a duckbill to hold down his messy hair that had just gotten up. He carried a black and white sports bag and wore a somber black sweatshirt. Without his usual flashy accessories, his demeanor looked much more subdued and steady.

The van stopped in front of him and Bai He opened the door: "Come in quickly."

After Qi Lang got in the car, she immediately gave him the window seat.

This small van was used by the store to purchase and deliver food. There was a smell of oil smoke mixed with lettuce and garlic cloves in the car. As soon as he got in, Bai He opened the window to let in some fresh air.

Qi Lang didn't mind at all and greeted Bai Xincheng and Tang Xin in the driver's seat and the co-pilot seat warmly: "Uncle and aunt, good morning."

"Xiaoqi, don't you want to sleep in?" Tang Xin asked.

"I went to bed early last night and woke up very early today."

Bai He saw Qi Lang holding a bunch of small white wild chrysanthemums in his hand, which was simply wrapped with light-colored paper.

Originally, they planned to buy more flowers near the cemetery. Usually when they went to the cemetery, there were many flower vendors at the door. They didn't expect Qi Lang to get up so early and still have a bouquet of flowers.

"Where did it come from? The flower shop isn't open, is it?" Bai He asked curiously, "Or is it the omnipotent power of money?"

Qi Lang tapped her nose with the flower: "What's the use of money? How can I be so vulgar?"

"You are the most vulgar person in the world."

"I picked this from the yard."

"That's it." Bai He remembered that there were many wild flowers growing in his yard, and the weeds were usually not cleaned up.

Originally there was a housekeeper, but Qi Lang didn't like having a second person at home and felt uncomfortable, so he changed the housekeeper into a temporary hourly worker, who came to clean from time to time, but only when he was not at home.

"Xiao Qi is so thoughtful. Look at us, we didn't even think about buying flowers or anything in advance." Tang Xin said with a smile, "So Xiao Qi is really sensible."

"You, you just like Xiaoqi, and you are satisfied with everything he does." Bai Xincheng said.

"Is there anything wrong with me liking him? What parent wouldn't like such a sensible child?" Tang Xin looked at Qi Lang like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, liking him the more she looks. "A girl like our Bai He, who is as rough as a tactile child, needs someone who is considerate and considerate by her side."

Tang Xin's words were almost a clear indication of her intentions. Bai He blushed crimson with embarrassment and kept telling her mother to stop talking...

Besides, it really can’t be hidden!

Fortunately, Qi Lang didn't seem to think too much about it. He smiled and said to Tang Xin, "Yan Yi is more careful than me. With him around, uncle and aunt are still worried, right?"

"Ayi must be a good person. Thanks to him for taking care of his sister all these years."

"What? What do you mean by Yi taking me with you?" Bai He immediately retorted, "It's obviously me who took Yi with me, okay? I'm the older sister."

"You two are fighting over this too. Do you want to continue the fight you two had this morning?" Tang Xin tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-ed and winked at Qi Lang. "When they're on good terms, they're more affectionate than anyone else. When they fight, neither of them gives in, and they fight for every inch of ground."

"All siblings in the world are like this." Qi Lang turned around and glanced at Yan Yi meaningfully.

The translator in the back row looked out the window without saying a word.

The van was driving on the suburban road. Bai He looked at the bouquet of small wild chrysanthemums in the hand of Qi Lang sitting next to her. Even the ribbons were so exquisite and delicate.

Actually, Qi Lang is not careful. He is definitely not as careful as Yan Yi in terms of carefulness, but he has a kind of...

How should I put it? It’s a very warm power that always pays attention to places that others ignore.

When I was in the first year of high school, there was a boy in my class who had some problems with his IQ. He had yellow hair, was short and thin, and had a withdrawn personality. The whole class seemed to be isolating him.

Because he was a transfer student, he would transfer to another school soon. The teacher didn't pay much attention to him and made him sit in the last row of the classroom.

During physical education class, he often stood alone under the shade of the trees on the plastic playground and watched the boys in his class play basketball, but the boys were unwilling to play with him.

It wasn't because his skills weren't good, but... no one knew how to communicate with him. Out of self-preservation, people subconsciously avoid those who are different.

He often watched them play ball, and occasionally when the ball rolled to his feet, he would subconsciously want to pick it up, but when he saw a boy running over, he would immediately dodge away.

"What a freak." The boys often discussed this in private, in a sarcastic and harsh manner.

He only stayed in the class for half a year before he had to transfer to another school. The head teacher told him that he was going to a special school.

This guy usually has no sense of existence, so even if he is leaving, few people will notice and no one will care.

But what was strange was that he actually received a gift on the day he left.

That's right, a large gift box with extremely beautiful packaging was placed gorgeously on his desk in the last row. All the classmates came over and surrounded him with great interest, wanting to know who had given him such a grand gift.

"Isn't it a girl?"

"Fuck? He even receives gifts from girls?"

"Who else but girls would wrap a gift like this? Look at the wrapping paper, the bow..."

"Oh my god, a guy like him... can even receive gifts from girls. Think about me, I never even got looked at by a girl in the eyes during my nine years of compulsory education."

…

At first, he didn't even dare to open it, unsure if someone had put it on his desk by mistake.

Until he saw the small greeting card stuck on the gift box, with strong handwriting on it, it said -

"There will always be a time to ride the wind and waves. I wish Zhong Tong a bright future."

Some people remember his name, some congratulate him on his bright future...

Zhong Tong opened the gift, and inside was a brand new red basketball. He stood there holding the basketball, at a loss, until the head teacher came and took him out of the classroom. He still held the ball tightly.

Because of this gift, he was seen for the first time, and because of the basketball, he suddenly shone.

Maybe he doesn't care about this at all. What really makes him jealous is the phrase "There will be a time to ride the wind and waves", that his name is remembered by others, and that a person like him can actually receive the blessing of "a bright future".

Every word is so heavy, taking root and sprouting in his silent wilderness.

This incident became an unsolved case in the class. No one knew which girl had given him such a gift. However, Bai He saw the note. She was very familiar with the powerful handwriting on the note...

She asked Qi Lang privately, and Qi Lang was frank and admitted that he was the one who gave it to her.

It's very strange that the one with the best grades and the most popularity actually gives a farewell gift to the one with the worst grades and the most neglected.

"If you feel sorry for him, why don't you take him to play basketball?" Bai He asked curiously.

Qi Lang said: "I don't feel sorry for him. He doesn't need to be treated specially by me or anyone else. If I take the initiative to invite him to play basketball, he will feel uncomfortable and ashamed."

Bai He nodded.

I don’t know what will happen to Zhong Tong in the future, but that ball and the words “ride the wind and waves and have a bright future” will surely become great encouragement and warmth in his life.

So Qi Lang is such a person. When he fights with others, he can beat them half to death if he gets ruthless; but he also has a heart brighter than the sun.

Bai He has been chasing this beam of light and has been warmed by it for many years.

…

It was already ten o'clock in the morning when they arrived at the cemetery. Bai He bought a bunch of yellow chrysanthemums wrapped in black and white paper at the flower shop at the entrance of the cemetery, and the group walked in.

Bai Xincheng also brought a roll of firecrackers, but the cemetery did not allow them, so they were confiscated by the administrator at the door.

Fortunately, paper money can be burned, but you need to purchase a ceramic basin specifically for burning paper money from the administrator.

Bai Xincheng muttered, "These people are just trying to make money. If you don't buy their stuff, they won't let you burn paper. Really?"

"Okay, stop talking." Tang Xin stopped him.

After climbing a few steps, they arrived at the tomb of Yan Yi's father. This was the first time Qi Lang saw Yan Yi's father.

The man in the photo is young and handsome, and Yan Yi looks very much like him, especially the resolute and stable expression between his eyebrows, which is exactly the same.

Qi Lang looked at the photo and then at Yan Yi.

For the first time in my life, I think this guy... is quite attractive.

Although Yan Yi and he were both considered the most handsome boys in school, in Qi Lang's impression, Yan Yi was always a thin and small man, taciturn, and had a weak presence.

But when he saw the photo of his father, Qi Lang suddenly realized that Yan Yi's facial features were dignified and elegant... very manly.

When Bai He saw Uncle Yan's photo, she thought of the orange-yellow figure rushing into the fire in her childhood. Her heart trembled and she couldn't help but hold Yan Yi's hand.

Yan Yi held her tightly.

Bai Xincheng burned yellow paper money in a ceramic basin and babbled, "Brother Yan, your son has made great progress. His college entrance exam results are out, and he's the top scorer in the province in science. You can rest assured down there now."

"You risked your life to rescue Sayuri back then. Your kindness is so great that our family will never forget it. We will definitely take care of Yan Yi as if he were our own son. You don't have to worry."

"Yan Yi, come here too and talk to your dad."

Bai He was afraid that he would be embarrassed, so she quickly said, "Whatever Yan Yi wants to say to Uncle Yan is already in his heart. Uncle Yan can hear it, so there is no need to say it out loud."

"You girl..."

Bai Xincheng tore up the yellow paper money and put it into the ceramic basin: "Brother Yan, look, Xiao Baihe is a very caring sister. Yan Yi is living a good life in our family and is not unhappy at all."

After saying that, he turned around and asked, "Right, Yan Yi."

Yan Yi nodded: "Uncle and aunt are very good to me, Dad, don't worry."

Tang Xin's eyes were red. "Dad Yan Yi, we finally didn't let you down. Come, Lily, kowtow to your uncle."

Bai He walked over and was about to kneel down.

Yan Yi immediately handed over the cushion and placed it under her knees.

Bai He kowtowed three times in front of his savior.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce him. This is Qi Lang. He came to see you." Bai Xincheng introduced him to Yan Yi's father. "The three of them are childhood friends. They grew up together and have the best relationship."

Qi Lang was quite generous. He put his arm around Yan Yi's shoulders and said to the smiling man in the photo, "Uncle Yan, Yan Yi and I have been good friends since childhood. Although this kid has a bad temper and gets into trouble everywhere, don't worry. I'm older than him and I'll keep an eye on him. I will definitely not let anyone bully him."

Yan Yi awkwardly moved his shoulder away and rolled his eyes: "Whoever is causing trouble everywhere, don't forget that comic convention. Without me, you would have been beaten to death."

"How dare you mention the comic convention in front of your dad? Do you want to tell him in detail about your one-day trip to the police station?"

Bai He was shocked when he heard that and kicked them both: "Shut up, both of you!"

Bai Xincheng asked blankly, "What police station day trip?"

Tang Xin quickly said, "It's okay, it's okay. The two boys were just bickering. Let's burn the remaining paper money. Old Yan, the three children have a good relationship and will go to college together in the future. Don't worry, Yan Yi has so many of us watching over him, so he won't make any mistakes."

After coming out of the cemetery, Bai He was angry with them and didn't say a word to them.

Qi Lang stared at Yan Yi with a gloating look. Yan Yi reached out to pull Bai He, but she pushed him away again and again.

"There's an ancient town at the foot of the cemetery. I ate the water-ground tofu pudding there last time, and I'm craving some more." Tang Xin suggested, "Why don't we eat it first before going back?"

"Okay." Bai Xincheng is a man who dotes on his wife. He unconditionally satisfies any of his wife's wishes and doesn't even ask for the children's opinions. The van drives straight to the ancient town.

After arriving at the ancient town, Bai He calmed down and started chatting and laughing with Qi Lang and Yan Yi again.

When they arrived at the Shuimo Douhua shop, Yan Yi said to the couple, "Uncle and aunt, I want to go to the porcelain shop. I didn't buy anything last time I came, and I've always regretted it."

"Okay, go ahead and let's order first."

"I'm with you!"

Bai He wanted to go to the porcelain shop with him, and naturally, Qi Lang followed. The three of them walked towards the bustling main street of the ancient town.

After the three of them left, Tang Xin said, "Xiao Lang and our Xiao Baihe are so good. It would be even better if they could go to college together."

Bai Xincheng said speechlessly, "You, stop trying to match them up all the time. Seriously, they're just good friends, it's just pure friendship, and you've made it awkward."

"You only know how to cook. What do you know? Can't you see that Sayuri likes Qi Lang?"

"Then you mustn't agree with him!" Bai Xincheng was a sensible man. "How could a young girl like her, who is still wet behind the ears, control Qi Lang? What kind of family background does he have? What kind of family background do we have?"

Bai Xincheng knew what Tang Xin was thinking.

But he was not optimistic about Qi Lang and Bai He. After all... their family background was there. It was said that once you enter a wealthy family, it is like entering a deep sea. How could his daughter be able to marry into such a wealthy family?

Bai Xincheng feels that in the future it would be better for Bai He to find a boyfriend like Yan Yi who is considerate and caring. It doesn't matter whether he has money or not. What matters is that he has a kind heart and treats her well.

"Qi Lang's family and our family are not from the same social class. Anyway, I don't think highly of them."

Tang Xin frowned and said, "What era is this? As long as two people are in love, these are not a problem."

"You, please stop watching those toxic chicken soup videos."

"Humph, anyway, as long as my daughter likes it, then I like it."

…

Ceramics is one of Yanyi's few interests.

He liked to collect porcelain bowls, cups or small vases with different glazes, and filled a box with them and placed it under his bed.

If there was no place to store the money at home, Yan Yi might not have saved so much of his own money. In addition to becoming a doctor, his wish is to own a small room with a glass display cabinet to display various porcelain items.

Bai He joked that it would be better to buy a villa in the future, so that the entire basement can be turned into your porcelain exhibition hall.

Yan Yi looked at her and asked, "Would you like me to turn the basement into a ceramic exhibition hall?"

"Of course I am willing. Why not?"

Yan Yi smiled and said, "Then it's settled."

"Okay." Bai He agreed easily.

In the ceramic shop, Yan Yi chose two Langhong tea bowls.

Langhong glazed ceramics have a clear and transparent glass luster.

The entire tea bowl is bright red, as if red water is flowing by your hand, lively and agile.

"These two are a pair of tea bowls," the shopkeeper explained enthusiastically. "The smaller one is placed inside the larger one, symbolizing their eternal inseparability."

"This has a good meaning. It's perfect for us, sister and brother, to each have one." Bai He took the large tea bowl, "Ayi, pay."

Seeing that she had made such a decision without authorization, Yan Yi asked, "Is it okay to do it for free?"

Bai He smiled and said, "What's wrong with giving one to me? Other boys wanted to give it to me, but I didn't want it."

"The boy you're talking about, is that your squad leader Chen De?"

Memories of the dead suddenly attacked her, and Bai He was instantly embarrassed: "Help! Don't mention him!"

"Is it uncomfortable for you to be liked by others?"

"Because being liked by others makes me feel flattered, but... that feeling of being let down makes me feel very uncomfortable."

Yan Yi pondered for a moment, turned around, scanned the code, paid, and walked out of the ceramic shop with Bai He.

The girl looked at the red glaze of the Langhong tea bowl and said, "I thought you would like blue and white porcelain, but I didn't expect that this kind of rich and colorful porcelain is also your favorite."

"Maybe you misunderstood me."

"Yeah."

"Maybe I have a lot of bad things in my heart, and my taste is not light."

"Ah, we are still black-bellied."

"Maybe."

Yan Yi looked at her earnestly. Qi Lang strolled over leisurely. Bai He asked, "Where have you been?"

“There are a lot of little things in town, just wander around.”

"Hurry back." Bai He glanced at her phone. "My mom is urging me to come back. The food is already on the table."

The girl was walking between them. Suddenly, she felt a cold touch on her wrist. Qi Lang put something on her wrist.

Bai He looked down and found that it was a celadon bead bracelet made of Miao silver.

A dozen small beads are strung on both sides of the Miao silver ring, and the beads are covered with extremely delicate green glaze.

Her heartbeat suddenly slowed down.

Look up at Qi Lang.

His eyes were clear, with a hint of smile on his lips. He made a gesture to silence her and said with his lips -

"Don't let him find out."