Li Baolong knocked on his uncle's door. The door opened, and a kind-faced middle-aged man appeared in the doorway—it was Li Baolong's uncle, Huang Xiu. The uncle was startled at first, then his face lit up with surprise. "Baolong? It's Baolong! You've grown so much!" The uncle warmly pulled Li Baolong into the house. The interior was simply furnished but cozy. The uncle took Li Baolong's luggage while looking him over. "You must be tired from the journey, kid. You didn't even tell me beforehand so I could have picked you up."
Li Baolong smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Uncle, don't trouble yourself, I can manage on my own." His uncle gestured for Li Baolong to sit on the sofa and poured him a glass of water. "You child, how have things been in the Western Regions?" Li Baolong pursed his lips, a determined glint in his eyes, "Uncle, my father is gone. I want to come back and study hard so I can have a bright future." His uncle's eyes filled with pity, and he patted Li Baolong's shoulder, "Good boy, it's good that you have such ambition. Just stay here and relax. If you encounter any difficulties, tell your uncle. You can stay in your cousin Huang Jian's room for now. He rarely comes back; he's always running around, causing trouble, getting into fights, and he's currently in detention." "Okay," Li Baolong agreed, quickly packing his luggage.
In the days that followed, his uncle helped Li Baolong complete the enrollment procedures. At school, Li Baolong felt somewhat out of place due to his accent and his long-standing habits from living in the Western Regions, but he didn't back down. In class, he always listened attentively, and after class, he tried his best to interact with his classmates and integrate into the group. When he encountered problems he didn't understand, he would ask teachers and classmates for help. Seeing Li Baolong's hard work, his uncle often gave him extra care in his daily life, encouraging him to persevere. Li Baolong deeply understood the value of this hard-won learning opportunity and secretly vowed to succeed in his studies, living up to his uncle's expectations and his father's last wish.
After more than ten days of study and life, Li Baolong gradually got used to his current living environment. Jianzhou Middle School has six classes in total, and Li Baolong was assigned to Class Two, which was said to be full of students who were not doing well academically. Going to and from school, eating dinner at home, and reading books, his days were quite leisurely. Since he didn't have any friends here yet, Li Baolong's activities were currently limited to his home and school.
One day after school, Li Baolong dragged his slightly heavy steps to his front door. He gently turned the key and pushed open the familiar door. The moment the door was fully open, Li Baolong's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the figure in the living room. There sat a strong, handsome young man on the sofa.
Before Li Baolong could react, his cousin Huang eagerly introduced, "Baolong, come here, this is your cousin Huang Jian! He just got home today." Hearing this, Huang Jian, who had been sitting quietly, immediately stood up and looked at Li Baolong with a big smile.
"Hey, little cousin!" Huang Jian greeted him warmly as he strode towards Li Baolong. He patted Li Baolong on the shoulder and asked with concern, "How's school? Are there any naughty guys bullying you? If so, just tell me, and I'll stand up for you!"
Upon hearing this, Li Baolong quickly waved his hands and replied somewhat embarrassedly, "Cousin, thank you. But now no one is bullying me. I'm usually a homebody and don't like to interact with others, so I'm mostly alone and rarely get into trouble."
Hearing Li Baolong's words, Huang Jian frowned and sighed, saying, "Oh dear, this won't do! It's so boring staying cooped up at home all the time. Tomorrow's the weekend, how about I take you to the city for a stroll? It'll help you relax." As he spoke, Huang Jian looked at Li Baolong with expectant eyes.
Faced with his enthusiastic cousin, Li Baolong found it hard to refuse, so he nodded and replied, "Alright then, cousin, let's go out and play together tomorrow." Upon receiving confirmation, Huang Jian beamed with joy, rubbing his hands excitedly, and said, "Great! It's a deal! I'll make sure you have a wonderful time tomorrow!"
The next day, sunlight streamed through the window onto Li Baolong's face. He got up early, feeling a mix of anticipation and excitement for his outing with his cousin. After a quick wash, he went to the living room, where his cousin, Huang Jian, was already waiting, beaming. "Little cousin," Huang Jian said, "we're going to have some fun today."
The two arrived in the city, where the streets were bustling with people. Shops were overflowing with all sorts of novelties, leaving Li Baolong overwhelmed. His cousin took him to an arcade for an hour, where his cousin diligently tapped the mahjong machine to place bets and add points. While strolling around, Li Baolong spotted a bookstore and pulled his cousin inside. His cousin was somewhat surprised: "You little rascal, even on a trip you're thinking about books!" Li Baolong smiled sheepishly. Inside the bookstore, he picked out a few books he liked, while his cousin patiently waited for him. This day's outing brought Li Baolong unprecedented joy, and his relationship with his cousin grew even closer.
After studying and living in Jianzhou for several months, winter vacation arrived, and the Spring Festival was fast approaching. Li Baolong chose to take a taxi back to the rural area of Jianzhou to visit his only uncle, a wish he had long wanted to fulfill.
After a bumpy two-hour journey, they finally arrived at the Coal Cannery Commune. Li Baolong met his uncle, whose weathered face broke into a smile the moment he saw him. His uncle was an honest man, not one for many words; the two exchanged only a few simple words. Then, Li Baolong stood up and solemnly said to his uncle, “Uncle, since my parents passed away, the government has given me a pension of ten thousand yuan. I am still a minor, my registered age is under eighteen, and I cannot save the money myself. Please give me this ten thousand yuan and save it for me.”
The uncle and nephew then went to the town's savings bank. When the uncle handed a large stack of ten-yuan notes to the teller, the teller looked surprised, while a simple smile appeared on the uncle's honest and kind face. The deposit was settled at the savings bank, seemingly carrying Li Baolong's hopes for the future.
The next day, Li Baolong specially bought some cured meat and sausages for his uncle, adding a touch of abundance to his uncle's New Year celebrations. After everything was settled, he boarded the train back to Jianzhou City.
The atmosphere of the Spring Festival is growing stronger every day. The sound of firecrackers rises and falls, like a festive symphony playing in the city. Crowds throng the streets and alleys, the bustling crowds flowing like an endless river. The cries of vendors rise and fall, weaving together a lively and vibrant symphony of everyday life.
Li Baolong, carrying a bag of carefully selected fruit, weaved through the crowd. This fruit was a New Year's gift he had prepared for his uncle. When he arrived at his uncle's house, he knocked but received no answer. He then took out his key and opened the door. However, the instant the door opened, he was suddenly stunned. His heart pounded, for Li Baolong saw a beautiful young woman, around twenty years old, with a full figure, fair skin, and a lovely face, smiling sweetly at him.
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