A huge warm current hit his heart again, even stronger than the bowl of hot soup just now.
He opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but found that any words of gratitude seemed pale and powerless in the face of this silent and profound kindness.
Finally, he silently placed a ten-yuan bill on the table, then steered his brand new wheelchair steadily and silently towards the door.
He stopped just inside the threshold. This time, without the previous hesitation or effort, he firmly grasped the drive ring with both hands, exerting force from his waist and abdomen, and simultaneously exerting force with both arms—
The new, deeper-tread tires with increased friction grip the ground firmly, and the bearings rotate incredibly smoothly.
The front wheels of the wheelchair were lifted easily, crossed the threshold that had troubled him, and landed on the concrete floor outside. The whole process was easy, smooth, and full of power.
The young man sat in a wheelchair, the sun bathing his body, carrying the warm fragrance of locust flowers. He couldn't help but turn around and look inside the noodle shop.
Chen Yanxiu had finished washing the dishes and was wiping the cooking table with the cloth that was always clean. His profile appeared calm and focused under the light and shadow, as if everything that had just happened had never happened.
Chen Yanbai had also washed his hands and was leaning against the door frame, with the pebble in his hand again without him noticing.
He watched the young man cross the threshold smoothly, his beautiful peach blossom eyes still without any emotion, but when the young man turned around, he nodded almost imperceptibly and very slightly, so fast that it seemed like an illusion.
Then he shifted his gaze back to the locust flowers swaying in the wind outside the door, and the pebbles on his fingertips began to caress unconsciously again.
The young man withdrew his gaze and took a deep breath of the air filled with the sweet fragrance of locust flowers.
He didn't say thank you again, but just bowed seriously and silently in the direction of the noodle shop.
Then, he pushed the drive ring steadily with both hands. The wheel turned quietly and powerfully, carrying him smoothly into the May sunshine and hustle and bustle outside the door.
With a soft creak, Chen Yanbai closed the glass door and flipped the "Closed" sign back over. The shop returned to its previous tranquility.
Chen Yanxiu walked over to the table where the young man had just sat and picked up the ten-yuan note.
He walked over to the small wooden cash box, opened it, and put the money in. Then, he picked up the empty soup bowl and chopsticks left on the table and walked towards the sink.
Chen Yanbai also walked over, picked up the rag used by the young man and began to wipe the table.
"Brother," Chen Yanbai suddenly spoke in a low voice, his eyes fixed on the ground where the wheelchair had just stopped - there was a very fine trace of new bearing grease.
"The book that fell out of his bag..." He paused, as if trying to recall the title, "Embedded Systems Principles and Applications...it's quite thick."
Chen Yanxiu turned on the faucet, and the water washed over the dishes. He hummed, indicating that he had heard it.
Of course he saw the book, and even caught a glimpse of a corner of the circuit diagram draft paper tucked between the pages when the book fell out.
"Fingers," Chen Yanbai continued to wipe the table casually with the rag, and added, "It smells like rosin and solder."
That is the special smell left by long-term circuit welding work.
Chen Yanxiu drained the clean dishes and neatly replaced them. Drops of water slid down the rim of the bowl and dripped into the sink, making a slight dripping sound.
"Yeah," he said again. His gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was calm and composed.
A young man with disabled legs who studies difficult technical books and whose fingers bear the marks of an electronic engineer.
After Chen Yanbai finished wiping the table, he threw the rag into the bucket. He walked to the door, pushed open the glass door, and leaned against the door frame.
The warm wind brought in a stronger scent of locust flowers.
He raised his head, looked at the locust flowers blooming like clouds and snow above his head, and took a deep breath.
Then, he stretched out his bony hand, which had just disassembled and assembled his wheelchair, and accurately picked off a small bunch of white and fragrant locust flowers in full bloom.
He walked back to the store and casually threw the string of fresh, green-leaved locust flowers in the corner of the cooking table that Shen Yanxiu had just wiped clean.
Chen Yanxiu glanced at the string of locust flowers bathed in sunlight and said nothing.
He picked up a clean small porcelain plate and walked over to the large pot of bone broth. He lifted the lid and a thick, white steam rose, carrying the fragrant aroma of meat.
He used a small copper spoon with a long handle to carefully scoop up a small spoonful of clear, boiling hot, oil-free essence soup from the top of the soup pot and poured it into a porcelain plate.
Then, he picked up the bunch of locust flowers, gently plucked the petals, and dropped them into the boiling broth. The tender white petals slightly swelled in the clear soup, instantly releasing a richer sweet fragrance.
He carried the dish of clear soup with only locust flowers in it, walked to the table where Chen Yanbai usually sat, and put it down.
Chen Yanbai had already curled up in his old rattan chair again, with his eyes closed, as if he was asleep.
The sunlight fell on his long silver eyelashes, casting a small shadow.
Chen Yanxiu didn't call him, but just pushed the plate closer to his hand.
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