Chapter 7

Putting down their glasses, the young men smiled at each other, and their empty and helpless hearts that had just entered society seemed to have gained some strength. Fang Shao thought for a moment, turned around and took out wild berries from the refrigerator in the small warehouse, carefully divided out a small half, put it in a glass bowl and sent it to the guest's seat.

"Why are you sending us more gifts? I haven't even finished the fruit plate that was just delivered~" Gao Yang felt very proud of his brother's warm hospitality, but he was complaining with a tone that was not in his heart.

"This is a good thing. If you really don't want it, I'll take it back." Fang Shao picked up a wild berry and put it in his mouth with a smile, feeling a little reluctant in his heart.

"Don't take it, don't take it!" Before Gao Yang could reply, his insurance friend had already moved the glass bowl of wild berries in front of him with shining eyes. "This wild berries are rare nowadays. I haven't seen them for many years."

Gao Yang looked at the wild berries curiously. "Wild berries?"

"Yes. We often saw it in the mountains when we were young. We didn't know its scientific name, so we called it wild berry." The boy quickly put a wild berry into his mouth and immediately showed an expression of enjoyment. "This is the taste."

The others immediately started tasting it quickly, not wanting to be left behind.

“This tastes really good.”

"This is really from Yizhou, how come I have never seen it before?"

“Fruit shops and supermarkets don’t sell it either.”

Fang Shao really couldn't answer this question, so he could only smile. The boy sighed, "It's said to be wild fruit from the mountains. How could you kids who grew up in the city have seen it? It's very watery, hard to store and hard to transport. When we were kids, we picked it and ate it right away. How could we have it delivered to the fruit store?"

Fang Shao then answered, feeling a little proud. "So you are lucky. A customer brought some to me today. On another day, you might not have the same good fortune."

Everyone sighed and talked about their childhood. The boy who grew up in the countryside was aroused. His childhood was obviously more wild than those friends who grew up in the city. He described his childhood vividly, such as digging water chestnuts in the mud, turning wild sweet potatoes on the ridges, climbing trees in the mountains, and fishing in the river, which made everyone envious. Gao Yang pulled Fang Shao to sit next to him. After all, they were all young people, and there was not much distance between them after getting to know each other. Fang Shao was a good listener most of the time, and occasionally talked about his interesting stories when he grew up.

It was not until after eleven that the childhood storytelling session finally ended. Gao Yang and the others said goodbye to Fang Shao and Ju Zi, walked out of the building, and waited for an online taxi on the street. At this time, a boy suddenly said to Gao Yang, "You are still worried about her. I see that she is living a good life."

"That's right..." Another one also patted Gao Yang's shoulder. "I don't think your roommate is a career-oriented person. Maybe he just wants to be free and happy."

"To be honest, I envy his life. Unfortunately, I don't have the conditions..."

Everyone burst into laughter, with Gao Yang laughing the loudest among them.

The breeze is blowing gently and the moonlight is bright on the summer night.

"Alas, this is all I have left."

No matter how sparingly and carefully they were stored, only a few wild berries were left by the morning of the third day, and their color and fullness had obviously changed. Fang Shao lamented, "Why hasn't anyone grown wild berries commercially? What a pity."

What he didn't expect was that the god of luck began to favor him more frequently this time. In the following days, Totoro visited the bar from time to time, but the items he brought for trading were a bit random, sometimes wild berries, sometimes various nuts and mushrooms. Fang Shao accepted everything and bought them all by himself. He ate the delicious wild berries and nuts directly, and tried to put the mushrooms in the oven. He was not disappointed. Although he was just a novice in the kitchen, the baked mushrooms were still fresh and delicious, much better than those common ones in the supermarket.

The two smaller chinchillas always followed the big chinchilla closely on their short legs. They didn't dare to communicate with Fang Shao, and the smallest one was even afraid of Orange.

Fang Shao would sometimes wonder about their relationship. Father and son, brothers, or just from the same clan? The movie didn't seem to mention this either.

In such ordinary yet interesting days, Yizhou ushered in early autumn, and Fang Shao also welcomed a new guest.

It was one afternoon. Fang Shao had finished dinner and was just closing the window view, preparing to switch to the reality side when he heard the sound of wind chimes. These were the chimes he had added to the entrance door of the mystery side after Totoro came for the first time.

When the wind chimes rang, Fang Shao was a little surprised: the Totoro had never come here at night before.

As soon as the thought flashed through my mind, a small figure appeared at the door.

It was a black-haired white boy, about five or six years old. He was thin and small, wearing a baggy T-shirt that didn't fit him at all, and his pants were a good size, but obviously faded. The boy lowered his head timidly, rubbing his hands nervously on his pants.

Fang Shao immediately walked over and half-knelt down to greet the young guest. "Dear guest, welcome to my bar. Is there anything I can help you with?"

The boy raised his head, and Fang Shao saw his emerald green eyes at first sight. These eyes revealed the innocence that only a child can have. He was a little flustered, "Sir, can I sit here for a while? It's a bit cold outside."

As if afraid of being rejected, he added, "I won't cause you any trouble."

Fang Shao certainly would not refuse such a small request from the child. He gently took the child to the window seat, which was also the place where the Totoro most often stayed.

When he brought the boy some hot water, the boy looked a little embarrassed. "Sir, I don't have any money..."

"Don't worry, it's free." Fang Shao smiled, "All guests will receive the same treatment."

The boy breathed a sigh of relief. He took a sip of the hot water and found it was the right temperature. He immediately gulped down half a cup. His face became noticeably redder.

Orange went over to observe the new two-legged beast, but the little guest was not very interested in the cute little cat. When he saw the cat approaching, he immediately leaned inward and retracted his two legs that were hanging in the air.

Maybe it was the cat's bad taste, but Orange became interested. The kitten raised its head and circled around the boy's chair several times, and even tried to jump onto the table to observe this strange human up close.

Fang Shao immediately walked over and took Orange away. Orange meowed unhappily twice, but still gave face to the shit shoveler and jumped onto the cat climbing frame to observe humans.

Normally, Fang Shao would not initiate a conversation with the mysterious guest. But this time the situation was different. The guest was too young, and the way he was dressed did not look like he was well taken care of. After all, Fang Shao was a young man who had received a normal education, so naturally he paid more attention to him.

Fang Shao thought about it, heated up a pizza, brought it over and sat with the boy. Although his stomach was still full, Fang Shao still stuffed a piece of pizza into his stomach, and then warmly invited the boy. "Can you eat something with me? With someone to accompany you, your appetite will be better. I am usually too lonely."

The innocent child believed it immediately, and with his stomach growling, he blushed and accepted Fang Shao's kindness. In Fang Shao's rumbling words, the child unknowingly told Fang Shao everything about his situation.

This child named Harry is an orphan who has lived with his uncle and aunt since he was a child. However, he does not get along well with this family. His uncle and aunt only guarantee his basic living, and his cousin often bullies him. Rather than being relatives, it is better to say that they are two people who have to be tied together because of blood ties.

This time, Harry's uncle and aunt took their son to the amusement park and left six-year-old Harry with an old lady. But this time they didn't come back after the agreed time, and Harry waited for a long time on the steps outside the door. He couldn't stand the wind anymore, so he mustered up the courage to push the door and enter this strange bar.

Fang Shao felt relieved to hear that the boy was not a homeless child. Fang Shao could not comment on this kind of family problem. But wasn't it a bit too much to not even give the child the key to the house?

The boy didn't stay long and soon left politely.

I don’t know if the family has returned yet, and whether they will let the child continue to wait outside…

I don’t know if it has something to do with the child. Although there was no card, Harry appeared in the bar again a few days later.

"Sir, that's great. You are real. I thought this bar was an illusion." Harry was obviously much more lively this time. He took the initiative to greet Fang Shao as soon as they met.

Fang Shao certainly understood what happened. He probably wanted to come back later but couldn't find the bar at the original place.

Fang Shao shook his index finger, "Harry, this is not an ordinary bar, look outside~"

Harry looked over in confusion, and his green eyes suddenly widened. Fang Shao used a background picture of a winter snowy country during this period. Large flakes of goose-feather snow were floating in the air, and the branches outside the window were covered with transparent ice crystals. Not far away, there were a few round snowmen with brooms and shovels stuck on their bodies.

"Is this magic?" Harry seemed bolder this time. He was not frightened at all. Instead, he looked at Fang Shao with sparkling eyes.

Fang Shao laughed. He pulled Harry to sit down and told him about the situation here. "As long as you have the chance, you can come here. You will always be welcome here."

Fang Shao's kindness was the most tender promise. Although Harry still had doubts about the "fate", he couldn't hide the smile on his face. He rushed over and hugged Fang Shao.

"Ding ding dang dang~" the sound of wind chimes rang again.

Under Harry's surprised gaze, the Totoro family pushed the door open and walked in.

Fang Shao was equally surprised. This was the first time he saw two groups of customers appearing in the bar at the same time. But what surprised him even more was yet to come.

"Totoro~Totoro~" Harry shouted excitedly when he saw the cute plush creature. He was so happy that this was indeed a magical bar. He could actually see Totoro from the movie!

Fang Shao was greatly shocked!

You actually know My Neighbor Totoro?! Has this movie spread to another world?!

Harry let go of Fang Shao, turned around and trotted off, imitating the little girl in the movie and throwing himself hard on the warm and soft belly of the chinchilla, rubbing his head on it. The chinchilla's chubby belly was jiggling, and Fang Shao, who was watching, immediately had only one thought in his mind.

I haven't even played yet, obviously...

The attacked Totoro calmly patted the boy's head. As Harry laughed more and more excitedly, his bangs were ruffled, revealing a lightning scar.

"Crack~"

This lightning also triggered a small thunder in Fang Shao's heart.

Harry, the orphan, the scar...

He realized belatedly that this little Harry in front of him might have the last name Potter...