Osmanthus tree
Zhou Xi didn't expect that Yali would have a "hoisting" activity.
During the evening study session on June 3rd, the school radio suddenly sounded, and then everyone rushed to the podium to get their phones, and ran out to gather around the railing to watch the fun.
"Zhou Xi, let's go out and see the shouting tower—"
Zhou Xi was stunned: "Okay."
She remembered that on this day last year, the senior class of Yuxiu's previous grade was also secretly organizing a shouting match, and the news leaked to them. Unfortunately, they were reported and the teachers collectively suppressed it. She and Gao Liyang were standing in the corridor at the time. They could not see the miserable situation in the senior class, but only heard sharp whistles.
Zhou Xi was pushed into the crowd, with noisy but indistinct shouting in his ears.
Amid the hustle and bustle, she raised her hands and covered her ears lightly, but her ears were filled with overwhelming screams.
It was a grand opening.
The test papers and books flying down from the sky were like big snowflakes, but they couldn't cover up the countless faces with dark circles under their eyes, and the shouts and cheers pierced the night.
"Graduation—"
Zhou Xi followed the actions of the person next to him, took out his mobile phone, turned on the flashlight, and illuminated the opposite side.
"Come on, classmates, let's shout together——"
I don't know who it was, but he was running downstairs carrying a red couplet. The thick pile of paper scraps on the ground could not stop the boy's unrestrained footsteps.
"I wish all the seniors—"
Zhou Xi saw the words on the couplet clearly, made a trumpet shape with his hands, and followed the people around him, shouting loudly:
"Good luck in the college entrance exam, and may your name be on the list of successful candidates—"
Tonight, all the senior students tacitly put on their blue-striped school uniforms. Normally, the school does not require students to wear uniforms, so this is probably the most uniform they have ever worn, and also the last time.
The school uniforms for different grades are different. The first grade has a yellow stripe for vitality, the second grade has a red stripe for confidence, and the third grade has a blue stripe for composure.
Qi Haha was not there, and Zhou Xi's news was in the mountains. She realized later that this was an activity led by the school.
She saw some first-year high school students wearing yellow-bar school uniforms running to the open space between the third-year and second-year high school buildings. It was a performance.
A high-pitched voice came from the radio: "Seniors, good evening——"
"Now, our freshman students, please come and show your ugliness—"
“Wow—”
Everyone tacitly shone their flashlights downstairs, and a background music with strong drum beats began to sound.
Some people clapped until their hands turned red, some screamed until their voices became hoarse, and some started distributing test papers to create a good atmosphere.
After all the performances were over, the radio played songs that everyone was familiar with. It only started once, and then the people in the three buildings started singing in chorus. It was so majestic that the sound of the radio was completely covered.
Zhou Xi initially held up his mobile phone to take photos and record videos, but later he couldn't help but put it down and joined the chorus.
In the dim light, she saw the relief mixed in the tears and the longing that could not be hidden behind the smiling face.
Zhou Xi opened his eyes wide, his vision went from clear to blurry, and then from blurry to clear again - tears fell from the corners of his eyes.
She hasn't graduated yet, so why is she crying? Maybe it's because of this damn atmosphere. Her eyes are so itchy. Damn it, damn it.
She didn't know how many times she was pushed and shoved, or stepped on in the crowd. She only looked around again and didn't recognize anyone.
She lowered her head, stared at her blackened shoes, and suddenly smiled. It would be great if Gao Liyang was here to protect her.
When the show ended, the floor was in a mess. Zhou Xi realized that their high school career was over, and hers was about to end too.
——
"Hey, hey, hey, look, let me pick you up." Yang Jinyang took Zhou Xi's luggage and opened the trunk.
Zhou Xi opened the car door, hesitated in the passenger seat, and then opened the back seat: "Yes, you are happy."
"Why are you sitting in the back? Come to the front."
"The passenger seat is reserved for Sister Fu, so I won't be sitting there."
Yang Jinyang was so happy that he couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth: "Hey, what are you saying? Don't be so funny. I don't do that. You sit in the back and you really think I'm your driver."
The next day after the finals, Zhou Xi rushed back home on the earliest high-speed train possible, because...
Yang Jinyang is having her wedding tomorrow.
"You've really made it in time, and the work is almost done. You're just waiting to welcome your sister Fu as my family member tomorrow!"
When the elevator door opened, Zhou Xi saw the big word "Happy" on the door at a glance.
"I'm just a high school bitter melon, don't be so embarrassed to exploit me."
"Tsk, big bitter melon~"
"Mom, we're back!" Yang Jinyang threw the keys into the small basket and urged Zhou Xi to change his shoes quickly.
"Hey, Tongtong, you're back!"
"Aunt Zhang, Uncle Yang, Grandpa Zhong."
"Hey, I'm glad you're back, I'm glad you're back."
"Come and sit down!"
Yang Wen and Zhong Yinan were sitting and standing on the balcony, still having a passionate discussion, while Zhang Lixia was watching TV while eating melon seeds.
"You must be tired from the journey. Come on, have some tea." Zhang Lixia clapped her hands. "This is Heytea—"
"good."
"Look at you, you've lost weight again, haven't you? Didn't you eat well at your mother's?"
"I ate it, Aunt Zhang, you must be mistaken." Zhou Xi took a sip of tea to hide his expression.
I really didn't eat well.
Zhou Xi often sends He Min to dance class on weekend mornings, and then goes to the library to read. At noon, He Min eats at the institution, and she hangs out in the fried chicken and milk tea shop next door.
In half a year, she even helped He Min collect several sets of peripherals. Poor He Min always looked at her eagerly when she went to eat fried chicken, and secretly asked her to save two bites for her because Qin Ting forbade her to eat it because she was learning dance.
"Since you're back, you should make up for it. You want to go over there again..." Zhang Lixia cursed non-stop.
Yang Wen interrupted, "Tongtong, you have to eat more of the chicken for lunch today. I bought a free-range chicken specially!"
"Yes, your uncle Yang went to an old lady's house this morning to catch some, and then he came back and cooked it right away. Do you smell the fragrance?"
“I smell it.”
As soon as Zhou Xi entered the door, he smelled the three familiar ingredients: yam, shiitake mushrooms, and red dates.
"Sister, have you noticed that Grandpa Zhong has turned darker--" Yang Jinyang pressed on Zhou Xi's shoulder and spoke quietly.
"I tell you, when he takes off his glasses, the part where he wears them is whiter than the rest of his face. It's funny."
Zhong Yinan smiled and said, "Hey, you have to expose my shortcomings."
"He's become a lot darker, and doesn't look like a professor anymore." Zhou Xi grabbed a handful of melon seeds.
"I'm hanging out with tour groups every day, which is definitely not as good as lying at home before." Zhong Yinan put his hands behind his back and suddenly pointed at Yang Wen, "Look, compared to him, I'm still more energetic."
Yang Wen covered his beer belly and said, "Hey, Mr. Zhong, don't pull me up!"
Zhou Xi compared the two people. Although Zhong Yinan had been outside for the past six months and had darkened a lot, he looked very energetic and full of energy.
Yang Wen's beer belly remains as stable as ever.
Zhou Xi asked: "Grandpa Zhong, are you leaving again this time?"
"Of course, there's still half."
Zhong Yinan and Xu Shulan went south last year, but not long after they left, Xu Shulan passed away in a small town. He cremated her according to Xu Shulan's wishes and then returned.
After Xu Shulan's funeral was over, he set off again. In the past six months, he reached the southernmost point, then headed east and then north.
"Tongtong, do you want to go with me during the summer vacation?"
Yang Jinyang cracked melon seeds and said, "Grandpa Zhong, you forgot, she's going to be a senior in high school soon, and she's taking extra classes during the summer vacation."
Zhong Yinan uttered an "oh" and wrinkled his face: "Ah, yes, I'm old and confused."
"I haven't had time to tell you yet, but Yali doesn't have make-up classes during the summer vacation."
"What, no make-up classes? Are you so careless?" Yang Jinyang felt a little jealous when he heard it. Thinking back to the past, which high school didn't have make-up classes? He really didn't catch up with the good times.
Zhang Lixia was happy: "It's better not to make up for it, Tongtong, have fun during the two months of summer vacation."
"That's great, Tongtong. Come with me to the west during the summer vacation." Zhong Yinan became interested. The journey was long, and it would be fun to take a young person with him.
"Let me see, you seem to be quite energetic. Why don't you come back and rest for a while?" Zhou Xi did not agree immediately.
"Hey, Grandpa Zhong, you've made a good calculation. Your group is full of old people. My dear sister, you'd better think carefully. Be careful not to enter the Spider Cave."
"You little brat, how can you talk like that—" Yang Wen slapped Yang Jinyang in the face, "You're about to get married, and yet you're so dishonest every day."
However, what Yang Jinyang said did make some sense. When Zhou Xi saw the picture posted by Zhong Yinan on WeChat Moments, he felt something quite interesting.
How could Zhang Lixia, who was so tired from working in the lab that she was about to get infested with worms, not understand Yang Jinyang's thoughts? "Just stay in the hospital honestly. You'll starve to death if you don't go to work now."
Zhou Xi leaned back on the sofa and said, "Aunt Zhang is right, brother. You and Sister Fu should work hard in the hospital and make money."
Yang Jinyang had a sad face: "Alas, why can't we even have a honeymoon these days? It's so hard to be a worker."
After dinner, Zhou Xi took out wedding gifts for Yang Jinyang from the suitcase, including Qin Ting's. Yang Jinyang felt very embarrassed to accept them, and then took a 360-degree photo and sent it to Fu Xuanhua.
Zhou Xi held his chin in his hand and said, "Come to think of it, everyone in our Zhou family has prepared wedding gifts for you."
Yang Jin raised his chin: "No, who am I? I am the adopted son of the Zhou family. No, Uncle Zhou——"
"My dad has prepared something for you too. He's at home. Let's go for a walk."
Yang Jinyang was about to pee: "Let's go, let's go now, my Uncle Zhou——"
…
"The things your Uncle Zhou left for you are there." Zhou Xi pointed to the corner of the yard.
A 40-year-old osmanthus tree, planted by her grandfather the year her father was born, because her grandmother loved osmanthus the most.
"Osmanthus tree? Osmanthus wine!"
"Um."
The letter Xu Shulan left for her explained that her father had buried Yang Jinyang under the tree, and she didn't even have time to see it.
"I remember now, I remember now. I was joking with Uncle Zhou that year, but I didn't expect that it would really happen to me." Yang Jinyang ran to the tool room and got an iron hoe.
While digging the soil, Yang Jinyang asked Zhou Xi, "Sister, do you think this wine will go bad? It's been here for so many years."
"If it's broken, it's broken. Give it to this tree to drink."
"Please don't break it, ouch--" Yang Jinyang slipped without paying attention.
Zhou Xi hurriedly grabbed Yang Jinyang and said, "Be careful."
Yang Jinyang picked up the hoe again: "Well, I haven't done farm work for a long time, so I'm a little unsure of how to use the hoe."
Zhou Xi moved a stool and sat at the door. This was what Xu Shulan often did in the past. She never knew that every time Xu Shulan looked at the osmanthus tree, she was thinking of her son.
The wine was dug out and it was good.
Yang Jinyang's hands were covered in mud, but he was so happy that he took out his cell phone and immediately posted it in the family group.
"Wait, we'll do it tomorrow."
"You should drink less, because you have your wedding night tomorrow."
"Hey, as a minor, stop asking about adult matters." Yang Jinyang ran to the well and washed his hands and body.
"I'm going to see grandma, do you want to come?"
"Forget it, I won't go. I'll leave you some space. Remember to say hello to our grandma for me and tell her that I'll bring Sister Fu to see her later."
Zhou Xi did not come back during the Qingming Festival. At that time, the influenza epidemic in Beibin was severe. He Wenzhou and she were both infected one after another. Only He Min was safe.
Zhang Lixia asked her to have a good rest there while they went to visit the graves.
"OK."
Zhou Xi carried a sickle, a bag containing a lighter, two bottles of mineral water and some burning paper, and held an umbrella as he walked along the cobblestone path in the village towards the back mountain.
The afternoon heat was intense. Cicadas were frantically burning their very limited lives in the trees, and dogs, let alone people, refused to come out.
Speaking of which, Zhou Xi was thinking that day that he would wait for the blue sky and the chirping of cicadas in midsummer before visiting Xu Shulan, and forgot about Qingming Festival. Now it has come true.
In recent years, open flames have been clearly prohibited for worship on the mountain. Zhou Xi once saw the sign and thought that fire should be banned, but when he really wanted to go to worship his relatives, he found in his heart that he was also a double standard dog.
Zhou Xi goes up this hillside to weed every year. His hands have developed muscle memory and can remove the weeds in just a few strokes.
"Grandpa, grandma, dad, I haven't seen you for a long time. I hope you are doing well over there. If you miss me, please send me a dream..."
"Brother is getting married tomorrow, isn't it pretty fast..."
"Next year I'll be eighteen, and I'll be taking the college entrance exam..."
"Dad, I still miss you so much on my birthday this year. Why don't you send me a dream..."
Zhou Xi didn't know why, but every time he came here, he had a lot to say. Sometimes what he said was irrelevant, and sometimes he said it incoherently, and he didn't know how to continue halfway through.
Because it was too quiet around her. Everyone was listening to her but no one responded to her.
However, she was still happy to say that only here could she say whatever she wanted to say. She would only report good news and not bad news. She didn't mind letting her family hear it, whether good or bad.
"Dad, you left in such a hurry that you didn't even have time to leave me two jars of wine..."
Three little birds were flying in the sky, chasing each other's tails.
"Grandma, I love looking at the osmanthus trees just like you..."
"Dad, I'm doing well with Mom. Mom is still as passionate about her career as before. He Min is a bit like me, but not like me..."
In order to be fair and not show partiality to anyone, Zhou Xi sat in front of the three earth pits.
She is not greedy. She only burns one piece of paper money. She will not let the fire disturb her family. She will wait until one piece of paper money is burned out before lighting the next one.
"Okay, I'll come see you guys next time." Zhou Xi wiped the mud off his pants and poured mineral water on the remaining sparks.
Grandma Bai's sleeping place was not far from where the three of them lived, so Zhou Xi also went there, burned some paper, and kowtowed three times.
In the evening, Zhou Xi went to chat with Zhong Yinan for a while. When she returned to the room, she saw a man lying on his butt sticking up and looking at her door.
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