The next day, Pei Xi got up very early and went out early.
After taking the bus for a few stops, Pei Xi got off and looked at the familiar alleyway next to the bus stop. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
She has a very good memory; she can remember the way to any place she's been to once.
The alleyway was uneven, and Pei Xi carefully avoided several puddles and piles of garbage before finally reaching the alleyway he was looking for.
As soon as she turned the corner, she heard a burst of intense cursing coming from inside.
"I don't know what sins I committed in my past life to have neighbors like you! I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes! Even murder and arson in my past life weren't this unlucky!"
“Every time these gangsters come to collect debts, I don’t even dare to open the door. Let me tell you, if I ever die of fright, you’ll be the murderers!”
It was a woman's voice, and it sounded somewhat familiar.
Pei Xi slowed his steps and walked slowly into the alley, the woman's insults growing clearer.
"You two should just die already! I really don't know what kind of trash you are, still living every day! It would be so much more peaceful if you were dead!"
"You piece of trash, worse than a pig or a dog! Get the hell out of here!!"
The woman became increasingly agitated as she cursed, using vulgar language that Pei Xi had never heard before in her life, which sent a shiver down her spine.
As she drew closer, she finally saw the woman's true face.
It was very crowded here, with the courtyards of the bungalows right next to each other and the walls very low. A middle-aged woman stood by the wall, hands on her hips, yelling furiously at the neighboring courtyard.
One sentence after another, like a machine gun, was more of a curse than an insult.
The person being scolded remained quiet, as if they couldn't hear it, and silently cleaned up the mess in the yard.
The broken iron gate, the paint buckets spilled all over the ground, and the clothes racks scattered on the ground and the clothes trampled in mud.
Everything spoke volumes about the chaos and violence that had just transpired.
Jiang Cheng's face was expressionless. He simply bent down and picked up the clothes on the ground one by one, then shook off the dust and sand.
When he picked up the last item, a pair of hands suddenly appeared in front of him and picked it up for him.
Jiang Cheng paused, looked up, and saw an unexpected face.
A rare expression, almost one of astonishment, appeared on his face.
The woman next door, seeing someone arrive or perhaps feeling bored due to a lack of response, uttered a curse and went back into the inner room.
Only two people remained in the courtyard, and everything around them returned to tranquility.
Jiang Cheng looked at Pei Xi, his hand tightening around the dirty clothes.
Pei Xi handed him the clothes in her hand without asking what had just happened.
Without even asking, it's obvious that the same group of debt collectors from last time have come again.
"Why didn't you talk back?" Pei Xi asked.
The woman next door used extremely vicious language, far exceeding the scope of a normal verbal argument.
Based on her understanding of Jiang Cheng, he was not someone who would always give in.
But he didn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
Pei Xi was somewhat puzzled.
“When I was little, she gave me a bowl of porridge,” Jiang Cheng suddenly said.
Pei Xi was taken aback, only then realizing that the "she" he was referring to was the woman who had just been standing there cursing loudly.
Jiang Cheng silently shook the dust off his clothes and didn't say anything more, which was considered his answer to Pei Xi's question.
When he was very young, that woman gave him a bowl of plain porridge.
Jiang Jin hadn't been home for several days, and he was so hungry that he knocked on the door next door, begging someone to give him some food.
It was that woman who opened the door. When she saw Jiang Cheng, she cursed loudly, but still turned around and went to the kitchen, bringing back a bowl of white porridge while grumbling.
The porridge was cold and had little flavor.
Or perhaps he drank it too quickly and didn't taste anything.
But he always remembered that when he was about to faint from hunger, it was that woman who gave him a bowl of porridge.
Pei Xi watched his movements in silence, and for some reason, a sour feeling suddenly rose in her heart.
She remembered that dream again.
The little boy was covered in blood from the beating, his dark eyes filled with stubbornness and indifference.
Regardless of whether that dream was real or not, looking at the messy yard now, you can tell that he must have had a very hard childhood.
Pei Xi let out a long breath, a barely perceptible emotion flashing in his eyes.
Everyone says Jiang Cheng is unapproachable, and that he is gloomy and aloof.
But she discovered that it wasn't like that at all.
She felt that he actually had a soft heart.
He remembers every kindness others show him very well.
Even after many years, even after being hurt, that kindness will not be erased.
“Let me help you,” Pei Xi stepped forward and said to Jiang Cheng.
She picked up the clothes racks scattered on the ground, but Jiang Cheng immediately came over and stopped her.
He frowned and said, "Don't touch it, it's dirty."
Pei Xi smiled at him and said, "We can wash it again if it gets dirty. It's always faster for two people than one."
Jiang Cheng's hand, which was stopping her, froze in mid-air.
Then he heard her say, "Besides, there are conditions to my help."
Jiang Cheng was taken aback. "What?"
Pei Xi took a step closer to him, a gentle breeze ruffling the hair at her temples. She asked, "You said you'd take me to that amusement park last time, do you still mean it?"
Jiang Cheng paused for a moment, then nodded, "Of course it counts."
"Can you take me with you later?" Pei Xi asked expectantly.
Jiang Cheng nodded and then hummed in agreement; there was no reason for him not to.
"Then let's hurry up and pack," Pei Xi said with a smile. "The sooner we finish packing, the sooner we can go."
After she finished speaking, she squatted down and began to tidy up the clothes hangers scattered on the ground one by one.
Jiang Cheng lowered his eyes to look at her.
Pei Xi wore a pale yellow coat, which made her face look even whiter. She had her hair tied in a low ponytail, and when the wind blew, a few strands of hair fell down unruly. Her soft, black hair looked so lovely that one wanted to tuck it behind her ears.
The surrounding scenery was dilapidated and bleak, and she was the only bright and warm color in it, like a beautiful flower adorning a mottled and old rag.
Their vibrant and beautiful nature seemed out of place here.
Jiang Cheng's gaze darkened, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes, and his hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into fists.
One day, he will break free from his current life and never let her set foot in such a place again for him.
must.
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