Lin Zhixia's cousin is named Ke Zhuangzhi.
Ke Zhuangzhi is one year older than Lin Zhixia and is a junior at a key university in the provincial capital. He is just over 1.8 meters tall, well-proportioned, with regular features, and is considered a spirited young man.
Although Ke Zhuangzhi and Lin Zhixia are relatives, they have not seen each other for many years.
One day in October last year, Ke Zhuangzhi refreshed his circle of friends and saw a piece of news shared by his college classmate - "The ceiling of the ability of a talented beauty, who solved the world's difficult problem at the age of only 19."
Ke Zhuangzhi clicked on it casually and saw Lin Zhixia's brilliant resume.
A classmate of Ke Zhuangzhi's class commented: "This Lin Zhixia is really pretty and really amazing."
That night, Ke Zhuangzhi told his parents about this.
After some discussion, the three of them agreed to restore their relationship with Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu.
In another year, Ke Zhuangzhi will go abroad to study. He plans to apply to several prestigious universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada—all of which require him to provide an Academic Referee and a Personal Statement.
Ke Zhuangzhi's undergraduate grades were not outstanding, and his internship and research experience were average. If Lin Zhixia was willing to help him connect with professors at Peking University, Tsinghua University, Cambridge, and MIT, his master's application results would definitely be much better.
He hoped that the professors Lin Zhixia knew could help him write a few "academic recommendation letters."
Lin Zhixia has already made a name for herself in the international academic circle, and the outside world is generally optimistic about her future development. When she enters university work in the future, she will definitely start as an associate professor, and her resources and connections will be incomparable. There are only benefits and no disadvantages in making friends with her.
Considering this, Ke Zhuangzhi called out to Lin Zhixia: "Xia Xia?"
Lin Zhixia didn't react at all.
Today is the 28th of Ramadan.
According to custom, Lin Zhixia's parents will close the shop from the 28th day of the Lunar New Year until the third day of the Lunar New Year.
My uncle came to visit today, and Lin Zhixia had a very subtle feeling.
Her aunt gently reminded her: "Xia Xia, your cousin is talking to you."
Uncle locked his Lexus and kept glancing at Jiang Yubai. Out of his professional habit over the years, he keenly noticed that Jiang Yubai was the owner of the luxury car. He glanced and saw that Jiang Yubai was wearing an expensive watch on his left hand. He hurriedly asked, "Xia Xia, who is that boy to you?"
Jiang Yubai revealed his identity: "Hello, I am Lin Zhixia's boyfriend, and today is the day I officially meet my parents..."
Before Jiang Yubai finished speaking, his uncle interrupted him and said, "I'm a practicing attorney at Yunshen Law Firm. I think you look familiar. Is your father one of our clients? Is his last name Zhou?"
Jiang Yubai understood that this was a relatively simple rhetoric.
When you meet a stranger for the first time and want to get information from him, if you ask him directly, he may not answer. At this time, you can deliberately make a wrong assumption and wait for him to correct it.
Jiang Yubai calmly replied: "I don't know much about family matters. I'll go home and ask some other day."
Lin Zhixia held Jiang Yubai's hand, and her uncle followed them into the house. Her uncle asked again, "Are you from the provincial capital? Or did you come from Beijing?"
Jiang Yubai started practicing Tai Chi with him like an old hand: "Listen to my accent, where do I sound like I'm from?"
"You don't have an accent," my uncle said truthfully. "You speak standard Mandarin."
In the dimly lit corridor, the cement walls were painted white, and all kinds of small advertisements were entangled on the walls like psoriasis, filled with eye-catching words such as "Professional Pipe Unclogging" and "Professional Locksmith".
My uncle kindly reminded me, "House prices have been rising across the country in recent years. Xia Xia, if you can buy a house, you should buy it early and choose a good location. Then you should plan your investment."
After saying that, my uncle put his arm around Ke Zhuangzhi's shoulders.
Ke Zhuangzhi was more concerned about another question. He turned to look at Jiang Yubai and asked, "Where did you go to college?"
This time, Jiang Yubai did not hide it: "I am Lin Zhixia's classmate."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Zhixia pushed open the security door of her house and brought in four guests including Jiang Yubai and her uncle's family.
The smell of oil smoke from the stir-fried beef wafted over from the kitchen, and the living room of more than ten square meters suddenly became crowded and chaotic.
Two brand new electric heaters were moved next to the sofa, and one seat was covered with a wool blanket - this was the seat Lin Zhixia specially prepared for Jiang Yubai.
The "Princess and the Pea" in Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales can feel a pea under twenty layers of velvet quilts. In Lin Zhixia's eyes, Jiang Yubai is almost the "Prince on the Pea".
Lin Zhixia's family had used the sofa for many years, but her parents had never been willing to buy a new one. The surface of the old sofa peeled off, revealing a light yellow sponge surrounded by a circle of rough, worn leather.
This morning, Lin Zhixia took out her most treasured woolen blanket and covered the torn hole.
Unexpectedly, Ke Zhuangzhi happened to sit on the wool blanket.
Lin Zhixia was stunned.
Lin Zhixia bought this wool blanket at a Swiss resort hotel. She usually doesn't want to use it, and only occasionally puts it next to her pillow as a quilt for her little penguin.
Lin Zeqiu knew that Lin Zhixia liked this little blanket very much.
His face darkened visibly.
He and Ke Zhuangzhi have never been on good terms.
When they were young in their rural hometown, the cousins fought all the time, and whenever they met, they would burst into a fierce anger.
Before Lin Zeqiu could say anything, Lin Zhixia said, "Cousin, can you stand up? Give me back the blanket."
My aunt opened her red lips and said with a smile, "Xia Xia is outspoken. Why are you arguing with your family about a blanket? Zhuangzhuang can sit comfortably with the blanket..."
My uncle was also trying to smooth things over. He took the opportunity to say, "Xia Xia, Qiu Qiu, how can we hold grudges against each other overnight? Blood is thicker than water. Your uncle and aunt came all the way to see you today, so don't take it too seriously."
Lin Zhixia raised her lips slightly and smiled: "If I really wanted to argue with you, I should have started more than 20 years ago."
More than 20 years ago, Lin Zhixia's mother had good grades. However, her grandfather's family could only afford to support one college student, so her mother gave the opportunity to go to college to her uncle. She worked in a factory and often sent tuition and living expenses to her uncle.
Later, Lin Zeqiu was born and unfortunately suffered from congenital heart disease and urgently needed surgery. His uncle did not pay a penny - just for this reason, his uncle should not consider himself as Lin Zeqiu's "relative".
As for my cousin Ke Zhuangzhi...
Lin Zhixia had an even worse impression of him.
When he was a child in his rural hometown, Ke Zhuangzhi often mocked Lin Zeqiu by calling him "heart disease" and called Lin Zhixia a "freak". The war between the cousins never stopped.
Ke Zhuangzhi can even make Lin Zhixia and Lin Zeqiu give up their internal struggles, and the brother and sister will become unprecedentedly united.
Recalling the past events of her childhood, Lin Zhixia's tone became even tougher: "Please get up and stop sitting on my things."
Lin Zhixia's father went to the supermarket warehouse to get drinks, while her mother was busy in the kitchen turning on the range hood.
Mom and Dad were not in the living room, so no one could control Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia grabbed a corner of the wool blanket. This made Ke Zhuangzhi extremely embarrassed. As a guest, how could he be treated so rudely by the host? He couldn't even get a better cushion?
Ke Zhuangzhi was young and full of energy. He was holding back his anger and pressed hard on the other side of the blanket.
However, the next second, Jiang Yubai and Lin Zeqiu helped Lin Zhixia, and the three of them worked together to pull away the wool blanket, and Ke Zhuangzhi almost fell off the sofa. Ke Zhuangzhi held the sofa tightly, his face flushed, and he said in shock and anger: "What's the big deal, you guys, it's just this blanket!"
Lin Zeqiu sneered: "It's just this blanket. Why don't you return it to my sister and snatch it from her?"
Lin Zeqiu didn't want to make things too awkward. He had been interning at an Internet company for almost a year and had learned some tips on interpersonal relationships. He usually tried to avoid direct conflicts with others. Moreover, it was almost the New Year, and quarrels at home would upset his parents.
Lin Zeqiu turned his head slightly, but saw an impatient look on his aunt's face. She glared at Lin Zhixia fiercely like a knife.
Lin Zeqiu was furious and didn't care about his face. He dared to say the most unpleasant words.
He looked at Ke Zhuangzhi and said, "You have grown old but not smart. I told you to return the blanket but you didn't. I told you not to come to my house but you came anyway. Tell me, what's the matter today? Speak now and get out now."
Ke Zhuangzhi was extremely angry.
It was freezing cold outside. Ke Zhuangzhi and his parents prepared gifts and ran to his aunt's house to pay New Year's greetings. However, they were not even allowed to sit down and were humiliated by Lin Zeqiu.
For so many years, Lin Zeqiu's family was extremely poor, and he could never hold his head up in front of Ke Zhuangzhi. But now, the situation has changed. Ke Zhuangzhi was so angry that he cursed: "I gave you the face, and I think you care about your blanket?"
Lin Zeqiu scolded even more fiercely: "Why don't you get out of here if you despise me?"
Jiang Yubai and Lin Zeqiu were on the same side, but Jiang Yubai's words were more polite: "I'll take you out."
Ke Zhuangzhi thought Jiang Yubai was a softer person, so he took it out on him: "Who are you?"
Jiang Yubai suddenly laughed: "I am an ordinary person. After I turned three, I would not talk nonsense when I went to visit someone else's house."
Lin Zeqiu added fuel to the fire: "Ke Zhuangzhi, how old are you this year?"
Jiang Yubai responded: "I can't guess."
Lin Zeqiu smiled brightly.
This provocative method without any dirty words opened the door to a new world for Lin Zeqiu. He and Jiang Yubai sang the same tune without any instruction, which surprised Lin Zhixia so much that she was speechless.
Jiang Yubai and Lin Zeqiu used to have a serious relationship, but now they work together perfectly, as if they have practiced for many years. Ke Zhuangzhi can't beat them both with his mouth. He was beaten repeatedly and his stomach was full with anger.
My uncle had seen many disputes among customers, so he calmly interrupted: "Alright, alright, you kids, stop arguing, sit down, how can we have different opinions as a family..." He went to the kitchen himself: "Sister, sister?"
This shout called out Lin Zhixia's mother.
Mom, wearing an apron and holding a spatula, looked at the people in the living room and frowned unconsciously. She said, "Brother, before you come to visit me, at least give me a call first."
My uncle kept smiling: "Sister, we are family. Relatives don't need to be vain. You should come to my house if you have nothing to do. I haven't been busy with work these two years..."
But the mother said, "I'm busy."
Lin Zhixia sternly agreed, "That's right!"
My uncle raised his hand and wanted to touch her head, but she dodged him.
My uncle's left hand was hanging in the air, with a look of embarrassment on his face.
My aunt also came over and soothed me, "Xia Xia, your aunt and uncle always miss you. You are studying abroad, and we want to ask someone to go visit you and bring you some food and daily necessities. We are all relatives, so we should help each other. It's only natural... Why are you so excited?"
My aunt had a leather bag slung over her shoulder.
She unzipped the purse and took out a Givenchy bag containing a tube of lipstick and a palette of eye shadow. She said, "Take it. Girls should put on more makeup and dress up more. My aunt doesn't have a daughter and wants a daughter..."
Lin Zhixia did not accept her aunt's kindness.
In front of the whole family, Lin Zhixia asked the question that had been buried in her heart for many years: "When my brother was sick, why didn't you help at all? If it weren't for my parents' insistence, I would not have a brother now."
My aunt's expression changed slightly.
Lin Zhixia kept asking: "Are you going to say, 'It's my duty to help others, but it's my responsibility not to help others'? But have you ever thought about why my mother gave up the opportunity to go to college to my uncle? When I was a child, every time I went back to my hometown, you would tell me that your family is very rich and can travel all over the world..."
My aunt flatly denied it: "You remembered it wrongly. I would never say such a thing."
Ke Zhuangzhi defended his mother: "Lin Zhixia, you must be dreaming. You are putting all the blame on my mother."
Lin Zhixia stared at him: "You are dreaming. I remember everything, including every word you said."
Ke Zhuangzhi was forced to take two steps back by her gaze: "No, Lin Zhixia, you are being too picky. Didn't you curse at anyone when you were a child? Didn't you say dirty words? The way your brother cursed at me was even worse than a shrew swearing in the street."
Lin Zhixia asked back: "So what?"
As an outsider, Jiang Yubai was not in a position to interfere in Lin Zhixia's family affairs. Except for him, everyone in this room was related to her. He listened to the whole story quietly and then shifted his focus to another direction: "Have you paid off the money you owed?"
After hearing his reminder, Lin Zhixia immediately said, "That's right! You still owe my family money! When will you pay it back?"
Lin Zeqiu said sarcastically, "Lin Zhixia asked the first question just now, why didn't you say anything? You all don't want to say it, so let me tell you, it doesn't matter if you don't pay back the money you owe me, you just wish I would die sooner and be reborn sooner."
"Qiuqiu!" Mom stopped him sternly, "Don't say such things on New Year's Day."
Uncle's voice rolled out from his throat: "I regret it, Qiuqiu, uncle really regrets it. That winter, you were just born and I had just graduated. Your grandparents had high blood pressure and needed to buy medicine. I was short of money and didn't know anyone in the provincial capital. I couldn't settle down... Your mother gave me money, a few dozen yuan, not much, just for emergency."
Jiang Yubai and Lin Zhixia looked at each other and understood.
Jiang Yubai interrupted his uncle and said, "I studied economics. A few dozen yuan in that era is equivalent to several thousand yuan today."
My uncle sighed and said, "I made a mistake in the past, but now I want to change. Even though we are two different families, your mother has the same last name as me..."
Just at this moment, the front door was opened.
Lin Zhixia's father is back.
Lin Zhixia shouted: "Dad!"
Dad was holding a few bottles of orange juice, cola, and milk, and he said, "Why are there so many people here?"
Jiang Yubai greeted him and took the heavy bottle of drink from him, acting like a gentle, polite and sensible young man.
The front door of the house was wide open. Lin Zeqiu put one foot against the crack of the door and turned to his uncle and said, "You guys should go back. Don't stay at my house. I won't be bothered if I don't see it."
His son's words and actions were so wild and violent that his father's body movements became a little stiff. He glanced at his mother, and when she did not stop Lin Zeqiu, he knew what was going on.
Dad said, "I'm sorry, uncle, we have other guests at home today."
Jiang Yubai picked up the red wine and tea leaves on the ground - these were gifts brought by his uncle's family. He handed the things to Ke Zhuangzhi, who grabbed the plastic bag. Jiang Yubai said to him, "You came to see Lin Zhixia today, are you going to study abroad?"
Ke Zhuangzhi was secretly surprised. He didn't expect Jiang Yubai to guess his intention.
It’s not hard to guess.
From the conversation just now, Jiang Yubai guessed that his uncle and aunt attached great importance to Ke Zhuangzhi's academic qualifications - only academic qualifications, not education.
Jiang Yubai kindly whispered, "Don't try to take shortcuts. Just work hard on your own. What can you talk to professors from Peking University and Cambridge about?"
Ke Zhuangzhi raised his head and met Jiang Yubai's eyes.
Ke Zhuangzhi thought: This kid pretends to be good in front of Lin Zhixia's parents, but he is actually a very annoying character. He should give the bag of green tea in his hand to this kid.
Ke Zhuangzhi took a deep breath of cold air. He carried the two bags of gifts and followed his parents out of Lin Zhixia's house.
It's snowing outside again.
Tiny snowflakes were flying everywhere, and the sky and earth were filled with mist. Lin Zhixia leaned against the door and said again, "Uncle, if you really regret it, don't contact us anymore. This is not about money. The relationship has been broken for a long time, and it's useless to repair it."
My uncle's back paused for a moment.
But he didn't look back.
He held his son in his left hand and his wife in his right hand, and walked into the bleak snow scene.
After seeing off the uninvited guest, Lin Zeqiu's mood improved. He slowly closed the door and exhaled a foul breath. Jiang Yubai asked him again: "Can I add you on WeChat today?"
Lin Zeqiu glanced at him, and remembering how protective he was of Lin Zhixia, he agreed inexplicably: "Okay, you go ahead."
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