Chapter 5, 005. If you can't handle the garbage, just eat it.
After staying at the ferry for a few days, Chenzhoudu had figured out the surrounding area and the situation in Shanfeng Lane, and gradually became familiar with the neighbors.
The houses in Shanfeng Lane are actually old houses from the 1970s and 1980s. They used to be employee housing for the railway bureau and had a glorious era.
Later, during the wave of layoffs in the 1990s, a large number of railway workers were forced to leave their jobs and had nowhere to go, so they could only do some small business in the surrounding area.
Gradually, more and more individual business owners started doing business in the area, forming a cluster of small businesses.
In previous years, there were rumors that Shanfeng Lane was going to be developed on the land it occupied.
Many residents of Shanfeng Lane were overjoyed, hoping to receive a sum of money for the demolition and move away from this dilapidated place. However, as the news spread, it eventually came to nothing.
Firstly, the real estate development in Qingshui Town is already saturated. Apart from "high-end" residential areas like Tianhewan, some low- and mid-range residential communities are already not fully occupied. Furthermore, Shanfeng Lane is close to the railway, so developing high-end residential areas would be counterproductive, while developing ordinary communities would be unnecessary. Since Qingshui is not a tourist town, it is impossible to develop commercial districts and shopping malls. It would be better to maintain the status quo.
After experiencing ups and downs, the residents of Shanfeng Lane finally sighed and accepted their fate. Some families took the opportunity to renovate their storefronts, giving the old alley a unique vitality.
Xia Chan's maternal grandmother, Xia Shengnan, and Uncle Chao and Aunt Chao, who lived next door to "Du", were all former railway employees.
Not only the Xia and Chao families, but also many young people have left Qingshui in recent years. Most of the older generation in the alley know each other and help each other out, just as Aunt Chao said before.
During the five or six nights that Chenzhoudu stayed here, Aunt Chao brought her children to have dinner for three nights, and another grandmother brought vegetables she had grown for two nights.
Chao Tianhu and Chao Tianjiao, twins from the Chao family next door to the Xia family, are seventeen years old this year and both attend the only high school in town.
The receptionist girl, Chen Zhoudu, had become acquainted with "Du". Her name was Siyi, and she was only fifteen years old. She said she was helping out at "Du" during her summer vacation.
And which house in the alley she lived in, and why she didn't go home? Siyi never mentioned the sunken boat crossing, nor did she ask.
But judging from Grandma Xia's attitude towards her, which was indeed like that of a family member, there must be another story behind it.
Xia Chan has not appeared since the day she told him, "You've given me too much."
She always seemed to leave early and return late, and sometimes even Chen Zhoudu would doubt whether she had ever really come back.
Occasionally, just as dawn breaks, the rumble of motorcycles can be heard outside the courtyard.
When Chen Zhoudu looked out the window, all he could catch was the girl's figure speeding away on the back of the motorcycle, blurry and unreal in the dawn light.
Huang Mao usually lived at "Du", but Chen Zhoudu had never heard of his relationship with "Du".
But in Siyi's conversation, Siyi only said that Grandma Xia was a good person and was willing to let her and Huang Mao live in "Du".
When he asked her again what Xia Chan meant by "giving too much" that day, Siyi stammered and couldn't speak. After an awkward silence, she finally said:
"The room you're staying in... is a double room. The usual daily rent is 80 yuan, and the monthly rent is 30 yuan per day plus a 30% discount. If you rent for three months or more, there's an even bigger discount... but you paid 2,500 yuan, which is more expensive than the daily rent... so..."
"..." It seems that she deliberately quoted an expensive price that day to try to dissuade him, but she didn't expect him to rent it. Chen Zhoudu couldn't help but chuckle.
Siyi carefully observed his expression, "Sister Xiaochan said that if you find out, she can process your lease termination, so you..."
Sunken Boat Crossing just shook his head.
That day, as evening approached, Chen Zhoudu finally finished organizing all the materials and breathed a sigh of relief.
School is about to start, and he will be a senior in high school when he returns. Although there isn't much new material to learn in senior year, he has already gotten into the habit of going through everything for the new semester before it begins.
Grandma Xia downstairs called to him that dinner was ready and told him to come down and eat quickly.
Chen Zhoudu simply responded, turned off his computer, and went downstairs.
These past few days he'd gotten used to sharing meals with his grandmother and Siyi, and had simply started paying for their food monthly. As he washed his hands at the sink and went outside, he nearly bumped into a figure and was startled.
Xia Chan actually came back for dinner today, wearing her usual work pants and white T-shirt, with her long and short hair and face slightly damp with sweat.
She seemed a little tanned after a few days, but her eyes and brows were still bright and expressive.
Perhaps Siyi had already told him about the housing prices, because when she met him face to face, she gave a subtle smile before brushing past him and going inside to wash her hands.
Huang Mao also returned, having washed his hands and sitting at the table waiting to eat.
He saw that Chen Zhoudu was still acting strangely, and before he could pick up an empty bowl to fill with rice, Chen Zhoudu snatched the bowl away and placed it in front of him.
"..."
Chen Zhoudu paused for a moment, then took another bowl and sat on the diagonal seat furthest from Huang Mao.
After the food was served and everyone was seated, the group ate and chatted while enjoying the evening breeze. However, Huang Mao deliberately targeted Chen Zhoudu.
He picks up whatever food he wants, and he can take away most of the plate with a single chopstick.
Grandma was so angry that she grabbed him and slapped him on the head, scolding, "You want me to get you a dog bowl?!"
"..." The blond-haired man grimaced and covered his head, no longer daring to cause trouble. Chen Zhoudu and Siyi involuntarily curved their lips and silently lowered their heads to eat.
Grandma deliberately pushed the two plates of food towards Chenzhoudu, "Come on, Xiaodu, eat! There's more if you're not full, don't worry."
Chen Zhoudu nodded his thanks. The blond-haired man, chopsticks in hand, sneered, "I'm Siri, aren't I!"
Xia Chan hadn't said much since she sat down at the table, but at this moment she suddenly picked up a plate of vegetables and placed it in front of him with a blank expression, saying in a toneless voice, "Here, Sogou."
"..." Upon hearing this address, the blond-haired man's expression instantly fell flat.
Siyi, holding her chopsticks, hesitated for a moment, then finally burst out laughing. The blond-haired man immediately bristled and corrected her.
"Huang Xun! My name is Huang Xun! That character is pronounced Xun! Xun!!"
Xia Chan remained unusually calm, saying, "His ID card says 'Gou'."
"...!!" Huang Mao was about to completely break down. Grandma and Siyi were laughing so hard that Huang Mao was about to go berserk.
Chen Zhoudu couldn't understand what they were laughing about. Siyi and her grandmother tried to explain, but Huang Mao tried several times to cover their mouths but couldn't. He then angrily took his bowl and chopsticks and squatted in the corner of the yard to sulk.
According to his maternal grandmother, Huang Mao's father's surname was Huang and his mother's surname was Xun, so when they were naming him, they thought of calling him "Huang Xun".
As a result, when registering his household registration, the staff member was either uneducated or too perfunctory, and wrote his name as "Gou" in a stroke of the pen, causing him to be ashamed and unable to hold his head up for more than ten years with the name "Huang Gou".
Chen Zhoudu originally didn't want to laugh, nor did he find the pun on his name funny, unless he couldn't help it...
After holding back her laughter for a long time with her lips pursed and eyes lowered, Grandma and Siyi burst into laughter again, twisting and turning in all directions.
Even Xia Chan couldn't help but smile.
The blond-haired man was so angry he almost smashed his bowl, pointing at him and yelling, "Laugh! What's so funny! You son of a bitch—"
Siyi quickly pinched a candied peanut and stuffed it into his mouth. Grandma also promptly changed the subject, "Xiaodu, why did you come to Qingshui?"
The sunken boat paused, its lips slightly pursed.
Over the past few days, Chen Zhoudu has learned a great deal about Shanfeng Lane and "Du". He hasn't told them much about his own situation yet. Thinking about it carefully, he is actually the only outsider at this table, and it should be him who opens himself up and integrates.
But I really didn't want to bring it up.
He pondered for a moment, and Xia Chan, sitting opposite him, silently glanced at him. He said, "My father used to be from Qingshui."
He spoke slowly, “So, they want me to go back to Qingshui and stay for a while.”
Grandma suddenly realized, "Oh...so you've been living in Shanghai since you were born?"
"Yes."
"How long will you be staying this time?"
"It's still uncertain, it could be... a few months, or it could be a long time."
"Oh..." Grandma seemed to understand, though she didn't know everything, but she didn't ask any more questions. Huang Mao, chewing on peanuts, smiled wryly, "People from Shanghai, insisting on coming to Qingshui... They're just making do with what they can't handle?"
Grandma glanced at him, considering how long he would be staying and his age, and asked again, "If you're staying here for so long, will you also be attending school here for a while? Are you... seventeen? Eighteen this year?"
"Yes, Seventeen." Chen Zhoudu nodded. "Qingshui Experimental Middle School. The transfer application has been completed."
Grandma exclaimed "Oh!" and slapped her thigh in delight, pointing at Xia Chan beside her and saying happily, "Then in that case, wouldn't you and Chan be able to be together? My Chan—"
"I'm full." Just then, Xia Chan suddenly put down her chopsticks and stood up.
It also quietly interrupted Grandma's words.
She glanced at him indifferently, nodded slightly, indicating that he should do as he pleased, and went straight back into the house.
Chen Zhoudu's grip on his chopsticks tightened silently. Although his grandmother hadn't finished her sentence, he could guess what it was about.
It's even clearer that she's subtly drawing a line between herself and others.
Grandma watched her retreating figure with a slight sigh, then smiled at Shen Zhoudu, "It's alright, it's alright. You can go with Panghu and Lala from next door. They're all doing experiments too! You can all go together!"
Chenzhoudu smiled and nodded at her.
After finishing dinner, Chen Zhoudu intended to help Siyi and her grandmother wash the dishes, but they wouldn't allow him to. They insisted that he was a guest and shouldn't have to do any work since he had paid, urging him to go back to his room and study.
He couldn't insist and had to go back to his room. Just as he stepped into the third-floor corridor, a light voice suddenly sounded behind him: "Hey."
Turning around, he was surprised to see Xia Chan standing behind him.
She seemed to be deliberately standing there waiting for him, her hands in her pockets, standing casually, exuding a lazy and carefree vibe.
Looking into his eyes, she still couldn't quite discern any emotion, only saying calmly, "There's something I want to give you."
Just as Chen Zhoudu was taken aback, he saw her pulling something out of a nearby room.
He opened his eyes in surprise for a moment.
That turned out to be his suitcase.
The box has been completely repaired. The four wheels are brand new, even smoother than before, and it makes no sound when it comes out.
The original scratches on the surface of the box have all been repaired.
Before he could even process what was happening, Xia Chan spoke up, "I saw you threw it outside. Everything was fine except for the wheels, so I picked it up and fixed it. Do you still want it? If not, I'll take it."
As if guided by some strange force, Chen Zhoudu asked, "Do you want it?"
Xia Chan seemed taken aback by the question for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'm not going far, what would I need this for?"
He paused slightly, then gently pursed his lips. Xia Chan waited a while, and seeing that he still didn't seem inclined to take it, she pressed down on the suitcase and was about to leave when she said, "Then I'll take it."
"Hey—" Chen Zhoudu called out to her, his gaze shifting from the suitcase to her hand, then his words became firm, "I want it."
With a push, she smoothly slid the suitcase in front of him.
"How much?"
Just as Xia Chan turned to leave, Chen Zhoudu suddenly said something.
Xia Chan stopped again and turned around in surprise.
"What?"
He pointed to the suitcase wheels, "Repair fee."
Xia Chan was almost amused by the question. A hint of amusement flickered in her eyes as she thought for a moment and said, "Aunt Chao and Huang Mao broke one, and I broke the other. Consider it my compensation, so it's free." She paused, then added with a touch of amusement, "But you could give us some compensation for emotional distress."
Chen Zhoudu paused for a moment, then actually took out his phone, looking like he was about to pay. "How much?"
"..." Xia Chan paused for a moment, then smiled and shook her head before turning away.
She took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, and then turned back as if she was thinking about something.
He glanced at the suitcase, a hint of amusement in his eyes, and asked, "Hey, what brand is this suitcase?"
Chen Zhoudu didn't know what she was going to do, and hesitated as he gripped the handle of the suitcase with his fingertips.
This suitcase isn't from a top luxury brand, but even well-known brands have considerable prices.
He whispered the brand name, his mind racing with speculation: would she accuse him of being extravagant, or mock him for wasting money...?
To everyone's surprise, Xia Chan merely glanced at the box again upon hearing this, then sneered, "Trash!"
They're gone.
"..."
A note from the author:
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Thank you "Hoshino" for the nutrient solution! [Sprinkling flowers] See you tomorrow, everyone! Goodnight! [Heart]
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