Chapter 10: Leaves Covering Ginger I really want to, are you dreaming?
Xiang Li was woken up by a phone call early in the morning. He fumbled over his phone and saw Jiang Cheng on the screen.
"What's wrong? So early..." Xiang Li's voice was still sleepy.
Jiang Cheng was anxious but a little embarrassed to speak: "Xiang Li, I really want to... did she go to your place?"
Xiang Li's sleepiness instantly disappeared. She sat up so quickly that she felt a little dizzy. "Miss her? No. What happened to her?"
She had a bad feeling. She had several meetings yesterday, and it was almost two o'clock when she got home. She checked on Zheng Yi, who was sleeping like a pig, and Jiujiu, who was secretly drinking the adults' water at the dining table. Jiang Hao must not be with her. She answered the phone and opened the call log, but there were no other missed calls.
"I went to call her in the morning, only to find that there was no one in her room and the quilt was untouched. It looked like her grandmother had folded it the day before. I don't know if she ran away last night. We searched the community but couldn't find her. Her grandmother was waiting for her at home but said that she hasn't come back yet. I don't know where she went! This kid! She's really outrageous!" Jiang Cheng sounded a little embarrassed at the beginning of what he said, but he became angry at the end.
"What?!" Xiang Li was now completely awake. "I wanted to run away? I didn't come back all night? You guys only remembered to look for me now?! Jiang Cheng! What's wrong with you!"
She hung up the phone first, not even bothering to put her shoes on. She swung them around as she walked, and by the time she rushed out of the bedroom, she was barefoot. She looked around her house and saw absolutely no sign that Xiang Li had been there. Xiang Li pushed open Zheng Yi's door. Zheng Yi was still curled up in the quilt.
"Wake up! Zheng Yi!" Xiang Li pushed him hard.
Zheng Yi opened his eyes and saw his mother's anxious face. He was puzzled: "What are you doing? It's the weekend today."
"I miss her so much. She ran away from home last night. She didn't come back all night! Do you know what happened?"
Zheng Yi also woke up completely in an instant and sat up from the bed: "What? Jiang Hao wants to run away? Run away from home? She's pretty cool."
Xiang Li wanted to slap him: "What's so cool about that! Is there something you haven't told me?!"
Zheng Yi's mind was buzzing: "I thought they had finally settled the matter, and she didn't come to see me!"
Xiang Li said, "What happened? What happened at the Jiang family last night? Tell me clearly!"
Zheng Yi told Xiang Li what happened yesterday. Xiang Li came home late last night, and because he was upset with Jiang Cheng and thought that the adults would always solve the problem, he didn't tell Xiang Li about the conflict in the Jiang family right away. At this moment, he wanted to punch himself!
Xiang Li's face changed when she heard this. She knew Jiang Cheng well and could guess the influence that the stepmother might have due to her unstable postpartum mood.
Looking at Zheng Yi's eyes, Xiang Li knew that he was really unaware, so he became even angrier. He was angry at the Jiang family's negligence and indiscriminate behavior, and also angry at himself for not being able to understand the whole situation in time last night.
A 7-year-old girl ran out alone in the middle of winter and has not been heard from since! How dangerous is that?
She called Jiang Cheng again, but Jiang Cheng's phone was always busy. Not long after, Jiang Cheng called back.
Xiang Li asked, "Do you want to bring some money? And what clothes should you wear?" She forced herself to calm down.
"I think he was wearing that blue down jacket. I don't know where the money is, and his schoolbag is missing too."
"You slandered her and said she wanted to strangle her brother, but she wouldn't run away from home just for this, right? Jiang Cheng, did you hit her?!" Xiang Li became more and more anxious, and for a reason. She didn't trust men's bottom line.
"How could I hit her? I was afraid that she would continue to stay at home and continue to suffer, so I said to send her to live with grandma temporarily. Grandma always thinks that she loves her, and I am thinking about your own good! If she is not happy living in this home, then go live with grandma! I am her father, how can I not do this for her? She and her brother are both my dearest ones!" Jiang Cheng explained angrily.
When Xiang Li heard that Jiang Cheng was about to send his daughter away without asking for evidence, his eyes went dark, and he felt like he was about to have hypoglycemia. He quickly ordered Zheng Yi to get him a piece of chocolate, but because they had a cat, they hadn't bought or kept chocolate in their house for a long time. Zheng Yi hurried to the kitchen, grabbed a piece of rock candy, and stuffed it into his mother's mouth. Xiang Li swallowed a few times, then took a piece of paper and spat out the rock candy.
What a crap grandma’s house! That grandma is not even willing to give milk to Jiang Haohan!
The hypoglycemia had subsided, but now she was so angry that her chest ached, as if she was about to have breast nodules. She yelled into the phone, "Nonsense! You are just being ridiculous!"
While she was still digesting this outrageous situation, Zheng Yi had already put on his sweater and coat and was about to rush out like a gust of wind.
"Where are you going?" Xiang Li grabbed him.
"I'll go find her!" He shook off Xiang Li's hand, picked up his phone, and started sending messages to his buddies' group, asking everyone to come out and help him find his sister after they woke up. He also sent a photo of Jiang Haoxiang, a photo he had secretly taken of her sleeping during the Chinese New Year. She was wearing a white sweater, her mouth open, looking dazed.
He didn't care if there was a response or not, he just opened the door and rushed out. Xiang Li watched his disappearing back, angry, anxious and worried. He quickly put on his coat, grabbed his keys and phone, and chased after him.
Zheng Yi first ran around the neighborhood to find places where Jiang Haoxiang might go, including the ventilation vents of the secret base, the convenience store they often visited, the school gate, and even the video game arcade they occasionally went to, but she wasn't there.
Zheng Yi recalled the first time Jiang Haoxiang got lost. It was in a supermarket. She was only four years old at that time and had forgotten why. She hid behind the shelves and cried quietly. He went from shelf to shelf to find her and led her out.
He remembered the night when she had a fever and was in a daze, but she still held his hand tightly.
He remembered her happy smile when she got the 99.
She was his first responsibility, ever since Xiang Li placed her in his arms and said, "Zheng Yi, this is my beloved sister. You must take good care of her." He had grown accustomed to her dependence, to her following him around like a little tail, to her turning to him first when she encountered problems.
Zheng Yi had also heard what Jiang Cheng said when he called Xiang Li just now. He couldn't imagine what his life would be like if Jiang Haoxiang was really sent away. The Jiang Haoxiang who always followed him would disappear from his life.
Several of his buddies also came over one after another wrapped in thick coats. Seeing Zheng Yi's anxious look, they also became serious.
Zheng Yi described her in detail again: "Second grade, this tall, with a ponytail, wearing a blue down jacket, and carrying a pink schoolbag. Yes, yes, that's the girl who often comes outside our class. It's her."
"Okay! Let's split up and look for it!"
Seven or eight half-grown boys formed a makeshift search party on the cold street. They shouted one after another:
"Jiang misses me so much!"
"I miss you so much! Where are you?"
"Sister! Come out quickly! Your brother is looking for you!"
The news spread far away, and the old men and women who passed by to buy groceries early looked at the group of half-grown boys curiously. After learning what had happened, some enthusiastic old men and women began to help look for them.
Zheng Yi was running in front, thinking of the lost child in the news, the bad guys, and how the bad guys all liked pretty and silly girls like Jiang Haoxiang... He didn't dare to think about it anymore.
After running for who knows how long, his throat was dry and sore from shouting. For the first time, he felt a lump in his throat and an urge to cry.
It wasn't grievance, it was fear, and also regret. She regretted leaving her alone at her house last night, regretted not telling Xiang Li right away, regretted always finding her troublesome and ordinary.
If something really happened to her...
Zheng Yi made a few "Pooh, Pooh" sounds!
"I've looked here, but nothing!"
"I looked over there too! I didn't see the little girl in blue!"
Disappointing news came one after another from friends.
Zheng Yi stood at the intersection, looking at the increasing number of people and vehicles, and for the first time felt so insignificant.
The clamor of people in all directions reminded him of the day he'd given Jiang Haoxiang the electric fan. It was nearly midnight, the air steaming, the hot wind roaring, Jiang Haoxiang's tears welling, the wind from the fan boiling, and the two children's hearts burning. Jiang Haoxiang, fervently, made a wish to the fan, hoping that summer would pass quickly.
Jiang Haoxiang likes to make wishes to all good things, make wishes to the electric fan, make wishes to Jiujiu, make wishes to chicken legs. Everything in this world really carries too much of Jiang Haoxiang's sincerity.
Her sincerity is inexhaustible, but her wishes go unanswered.
Back then, there were only the two of them in the small room. But now, the city is so big, where would that little Jiang Haoxiang go?
Just when Zheng Yi was almost in despair, his mother called Xiang Li.
"Are you still looking? Think about it and see if there's any other place you could go?" Xiang Li had obviously been looking outside all morning but found nothing.
A light bulb went off in Zheng Yi's head. There was a place that he had forgotten.
"Mom, I got it! I'll go check it out!" He hung up the phone and ran in the direction he remembered. Although a few of his friends didn't understand why, they immediately followed him.
The old town was a bit far from where they lived. Zheng Yi ran with all his might. The wind rushed into his lungs, as if inflating them. Zheng Yi felt like he was about to fly.
They ran to an old park. The park was small, with withered trees. Zheng Yi ran towards a certain place with a clear purpose.
In the corner of the park, beneath a leafless ginkgo tree, a blue figure curled up on a bench. She was asleep, her pink schoolbag beside her. It was Jiang Haoxiang.
Zheng Yi's lungs seemed to be releasing the air they had just pumped in, swelling and then emptying again. The air swayed from his lungs to his heart, filling it up. Zheng Yi shed a few tears at the feeling of fullness.
He ran to the bench, panting, and gently shook Jiang Haoxiang's shoulders.
"Jiang Hao misses you?"
Jiang Haoxiang's face was frozen blue, his lips were bloodless, and his eyes were a little dull. He had not fully woken up yet, or maybe he was frozen stupid.
Zheng Yi looked at her like this, squatted down and looked at her level, his voice still panting, he had just run too fast: "Jiang Haoxiang, are you dreaming?"
He thought she would start crying with a pout like she had done countless times before, stretching out her hands for him to hold her, and then rubbing her tears and snot on him. But nothing happened.
Jiang Haoxiang's eyes looked empty as he shook his head: "I'm not dreaming."
Zheng Yi took out a few hot packs from his pocket and stuck them on the outside of Jiang Haoxiang's autumn clothes. After that, he unzipped his down jacket, reached out, and hugged her tightly in his arms.
"Why are you here? Do you know that everyone is going crazy looking for you?" Zheng Yi said softly, but his embrace was heavy. "It's a good thing I remembered this place, otherwise I don't know how long you would have been freezing."
When Lin Ran was still alive, he and Xiang Li had brought two children here to play. At that time, Lin Ran's illness was not too serious. Under this tree, Lin Ran made a wish, saying that he hoped his life would get better and better, and that his health would improve. Just now, when Zheng Yi thought of Jiang Haoxiang's wish, an epiphany suddenly came.
"Brother Zheng Yi, I made a wish to this tree last night." Jiang Hao wanted to bury herself in his sweater and be wrapped in his down jacket, her voice lazy.
Zheng Yi looked up at the seemingly lifeless tree, feeling a pang of pain. He wanted to say, "Are you stupid? Didn't your mother's wish for health not come true? This proves that this tree is useless!" But the words were too cruel, and he couldn't bring himself to say them.
He asked, "What wish did you make to it?"
Jiang Hao wanted to raise her head from his arms: "I made a wish that I would never be separated from Brother Zheng Yi."
She didn't want to go back to her grandmother's house, but she felt like she had no other choice. So she tried to convince herself, what would it take to make her willing to go back? After a long thought, she came to the conclusion that it would be great if Brother Zheng Yi could accompany her back to her grandmother's house.
But Jiang Hao didn't seem to want to make this request, even though she had taken out her money and counted it several times. If she gave it all to Brother Zheng Yi, would he be willing to accompany her back to her grandmother's house?
But she wouldn't mention it.
She knew that the name of this request was selfishness.
She is a bit of a proud child and she would never do such a thing.
"I made a wish that I would never be separated from Brother Zheng Yi."
Jiang Haoxiang expressed this wish to Zheng Yi because she had decided to accept her fate and was sent back to her grandmother's house by her father. She felt that she had made so many wishes but none of them had been answered because every time she expressed her wish, it would not come true.
At this moment, she let out the wish she had held in for the entire night. She decided to accept it.
All of Zheng Yi's anxiety turned into a torrent at this moment. He hugged her tightly again, pressing her face into his sweater, and said, "Do we still need to make a wish for this? Isn't this an established fact?"
Never separate. This is not a wish, this is his decision.
Zheng Yi carried Jiang Haoxiang back to his home. When Xiang Lihe rushed back after receiving the news, Jiang Cheng also arrived. Jiang Cheng looked at his daughter who had been lost and found, and wanted to go forward, but was stopped by Xiang Li's eyes.
Xiang Li said nothing. He took the cold and stiff Jiang Haoxiang and carried her directly into the bathroom, running hot water for her to take a bath. Zheng Yi stood guard at the bathroom door like a door god, not letting Jiang Cheng get close.
After Jiang Haoxiang finished taking a hot bath and drank the ginger soup cooked by Xiang Li, her face regained its rosy color and she fell asleep wrapped in a blanket on Xiang Li's bed. Xiang Li then called Jiang Cheng to sit in the living room and had a conversation.
Zheng Yi didn't really listen to what was said. He kept opening the door to peek at Jiang Haoxiang. The few times he glanced sideways, he saw Jiang Cheng's face turn pale and blue. Finally, he left in a dejected state, not daring to mention sending Jiang Haoxiang away again.
Zheng Yi peeked at the sleeping Jiang Haoxiang a few more times and closed the door. He walked to the study door and saw Xiang Li inside, looking exhausted. Zheng Yi knocked on the door.
Xiang Li raised his head: "What's wrong?"
Zheng Yi walked in, closed the door behind him, and said with an unprecedented serious expression, "Mom, I want to have a mature conversation with you."
Xiang Li was a little surprised, but he nodded, motioned him to sit down and said, "Okay, go ahead."
The sincerity of young people is often the most precious thing they can give. Xiang Li never laughs at the innocence of young people, and is willing to cherish their enthusiasm.
There are thousands of rules in the world and thousands of truths in life, but those are all insignificant things that just flow by.
When a person is swept along by this flow, whether the forced posture is attractive or not—freestyle? Butterfly? Breaststroke? Dog paddle? It doesn't matter. It's all forced. There's no need to mistake it for initiative. And there's no need to overestimate initiative.
But sincerity is a basic code of youth. "I pity you," so I don't want to see you without walls and roof.
Zheng Yi sat down in the chair in front of the desk, his back straight, his hands on his knees, a very unusual posture. He also felt very unfamiliar with it.
"Mom, I really want to raise ginger." He went straight to the point.
Xiang Li thought he had misheard: "...What?"
"I said, I want to adopt Jiang Haoxiang." Zheng Yi repeated, "Can you bring Jiang Haoxiang to live with us? She can live with us from now on."
Xiang Li didn't know what to say for a moment.
Zheng Yi, however, seemed to have just finished countless rounds of opening and closing doors, already preparing a plan in his mind. Many of the games he played featured relationships based on respect for mentors, elders, and siblings. He felt that he could do the same. He also found the analogy very convincing.
He pulled his bank card from his pocket, placed it on the desk, and pushed it toward Xiang Li: "This contains all my New Year's money and pocket money from my childhood. I haven't seen the exact amount, but it should be quite a bit. I'll be responsible for raising Jiang Haoxiang from now on. I will definitely study hard and never play games secretly again. I'll get into the best high school and the best university, and when I make money in the future, I promise to support her, no, support her well! Let her live a happy life!"
The young man's oath, with its desperate sincerity, echoed in the study, circling around Xiang Li.
Xiang Li looked at his son's still childish face and listened to his mature conversation, which was full of flaws. He felt a mixture of emotions. He felt touched, distressed, and a little amused.
She didn't laugh or deny it. She reached out and gently touched Zheng Yi's head. "Okay, Mom got it. Mom will go talk to Jiang Cheng."
Zheng Yi's eyes lit up!
Xiang Li retracted his hand and turned to walk out. When he was almost at the door, he seemed to be unable to help himself and said, "I'll adopt you, are you sick?"
Zheng Yi: “…”
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