Chapter 133, 133 Speaks
Halfway through the meal, Luo Yan mentioned that she was going to participate in the school sports meet.
It's not that Luo Hong looks down on people; it's true that his sister is healthy and rides her bicycle with great speed, but if you ask her to compete in sports, her ranking is too obvious.
He said, "What honor can you bring to the class with this?"
Luo Yan was also self-aware, saying, "There are too many projects and too few people in our class, what can we do?"
Zhou Weifang asked, "Is it mandatory to register for all slots?"
Luo Yan: "No, but if you participate in one activity, the class gets one point, and there's a final ranking."
When the topic of rankings came up, she placed her hands on top of each other in front of her stomach and said, in the tone of a TV host, "Our class monitor said that although our class is not good at music, we are still very competitive in sports."
When the music was mentioned, both men revealed a hint of unforgettable nostalgia in their smiles.
"What do you mean?" Luo Yan glared at them. "We didn't sing well, but we tried our best!!"
They worked so hard! Luo Hong felt that he would still remember their class's competition piece thirty years from now. Just thinking about it now filled his mind with the melody. He replied perfunctorily, "Yeah, yeah, keep it up."
He's the older brother, Zhou Weifang, who has no official status, can't compare. He said, "Practice hard, and you'll be much faster than you are now."
He added, "Although your class's choir performance was average, you sang quite well."
"Did you hear that?" Luo Yan raised an eyebrow at her brother.
Luo Hong chuckled twice, thinking to himself: Do I need to flatter you?
But he didn't say anything, instead remembering something serious: "How much will you give as a wedding gift to Brother Hong?"
Zhou Weifang has been so busy lately that he hadn't really thought about it. But now that he's done his calculations, he says, "They covered all my food, lodging, and travel expenses when I went to Fujian. Actually, I didn't help much; I just fend off some drinks, run errands, and looked after bags. I even made a little money from flipping watches. Do you think sixty or eighty would be better?"
Luo Hong: "I think we should go for something more generous, eighty."
Zhou Weifang was not a petty person, but seeing Luo Yan's surprised look, he said, "It's okay, he will come back later."
"Don't talk about what will happen in the future," Luo Yan said, stepping on his foot as a warning.
Zhou Weifang gasped, noticing his childhood friend smirking.
Luo Hong's laughter wasn't just a smirk; it was blatant lewdness. He even said, "Serves you right."
Zhou Weifang was speechless and changed the subject: "How much are you giving?"
Relationships between people also vary in closeness. Luo Hong: "Three to five yuan is about right for me."
In Beijing, the usual amount for a casual acquaintance is 50 cents, so he's already given quite a generous amount.
Zhou Weifang also felt: "That's good enough."
There's nothing I can do, Luo Hong said: "I didn't even know what auspicious days this month was. There are five invitations in total from Mid-Autumn Festival to National Day, and next month my two children are turning one. It's a good thing I don't work at the factory anymore, otherwise just going through these invitations would cost me half a month's salary."
Turning my head, I saw my younger sister smiling: "Only you, so happy to receive an invitation."
Luo Yan pouted: "You adults don't understand."
Adults? As long as they're not elderly.
Zhou Weifang was three years older than her, to the point that he would be rounded up to thirty during holidays, and said, "I haven't accepted less either."
They were known in the alley for their love of making friends and calling everyone "brother." They were like characters from the classic Chinese novel "Water Margin," wishing they could put together 108 heroes.
Luo Yan: "If you two yell at your doorstep, eighty guys will come running out."
Now there are eight of them, and Luo Hong can't even keep up with them all.
When he was still working in the factory, he would run around to different shops after work, playing cards and chatting when he had nothing to do. But after he opened the shop, he was almost tied down by it. Suddenly, he looked up at the sky and sighed, "When will I ever have a day off?"
Zhou Weifang: "I see your business is quite stable, and you can afford to pay salaries."
Being able to afford to send money and being able to send money are two different things. Luo Hong: "Let's talk about it after the New Year."
Zhou Weifang knew what he was saving money for: "Is the housing purchase standard about to be finalized?"
The "three-thirds system" for home purchases has been in the news for over a month, and now there's finally some progress.
Luo Hong: "About the same, I'd estimate it's 150 per square meter."
Even if the total price is adjusted according to the apartment type and orientation, it will be roughly the same.
Luo Yan also became interested in this topic and temporarily put down her chopsticks: "Isn't it supposed to be until the end of the year?"
Luo Hong: "We can't handle it. Every day, people are threatening to hang themselves at the entrance of the housing management office. Everyone is trying to pull strings and get things done. The city has given a death order: a 30-day decisive battle."
The tasks were assigned down the chain of command, and by the time they reached the housing management departments of each unit, there were only a few days left. It was a race against time, and the alley was unusually lively for the entire week.
Luo Yan was oblivious to what was going on outside of school, and she paid even less attention to it after the start of the semester. Even if she occasionally heard about it, she didn't take it to heart and said, "So, are we going to have to move soon?"
That's hard to say. Luo Hong said, "Mom wants a place with its own yard, but it's hard to find."
When her brother said it was difficult, Luo Yan sighed in response.
Zhou Weifang couldn't stand her like this, and said, "I'm also asking around."
But there's no definite answer yet.
Luo Yan knew this couldn't be rushed. Just as she was about to say something, she saw her brother put down his chopsticks, stand up, and ask towards the door, "Need car repair?"
He went to work, leaving the two of them to eat.
Zhou Weifang wasn't really focused on the food, so he lowered his voice and asked, "What do you want to eat tomorrow?"
Luo Yan stared at him intently: "Your eyes are red."
"Really?" Zhou Weifang touched his nose and lowered his head, talking nonsense: "It might be a sty."
Luo Yan burst out laughing: "Do I look like an idiot?"
Zhou Weifang coaxed her, "How could that be? Our Yanyan is the smartest person in the world."
Stop talking about yourselves, Luo Yan: "You should get some more sleep instead."
Luo Hong's side made quite a commotion, which conveniently overshadowed Zhou Weifang's words: "But I miss you."
Luo Yan didn't have his thick skin, so she kicked him and said, "Speak properly."
Now was not the time for polite conversation, so Zhou Weifang called out to her in a low voice, "Yanyan."
Why is such a grown-up still acting like a child?
Luo Yan is more responsive to gentle persuasion than force. After thinking for a moment, she said, "You can choose to rest tomorrow and come the day after, or not come for either day."
Zhou Weifang had no choice but to tentatively ask, "Can we discuss this?"
Luo Yan, being very good-natured, replied, "Sure."
Seeing her smile like that, Zhou Weifang zipped up his lips and said, "I'll do whatever you say."
Then she pulled the lever open again: "Do you prefer Li Bai or Li Shangyin?"
Who and who? Why are you talking so nonsensically? Luo Yan hadn't read many poems, but instinctively she thought, "Li Bai, I guess."
After saying that, she realized something was wrong: "Why are you asking this?"
Zhou Weifang: "Hmm... I'm curious."
Curious? Luo Yan thought for two seconds and understood: "You're not going to take the imperial examination."
Zhou Weifang: "This is more important than taking the imperial examination."
Luo Yan is now increasingly looking forward to seeing what kind of masterpiece he will write, and she clenched her fist and cheered him on.
Zhou Weifang didn't have much inspiration yet, always feeling that what he could come up with was too mundane, so he asked another question: "Do you prefer Tang poetry or Song lyrics?"
If this were to truly capture even a fraction of the charm of the ancients, it would take forever.
Luo Yan leaned back slightly and crossed her arms: "This isn't a set topic for an essay; you have to come up with your own ideas."
Zhou Weifang is overthinking things; he's even brought up figures like Tolstoy and Lavrovsky.
He said, "I will think about it carefully."
Luo Hong heard this as soon as he finished his work and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Zhou Weifang: "I'm wondering what you'll eat the day after tomorrow."
Luo Hong perked up at the mention of this: "It's been a while since I've had fried liver."
Actually, his request was very reasonable, because there was a good shop right on the way from his shop to Jiaotong University.
Zhou Weifang said okay, then turned his head and said, "But you don't like fried liver."
So, despite coming all these times, he never bought anything.
Luo Yan: "It's okay to eat it once in a while."
"Okay" sounds like "it's not okay either."
Zhou Weifang: "It's okay, I'll bring you a sandwich. You can have a bite of his if you want."
No, Luo Hong: "Do you think I'm willing?"
Luo Yan disregarded the will of the masses: "Then I must have a bite."
The "crowd" ignored her: "Go and see other people."
There are only three people here, so who else could it be?
Zhou Weifang was certainly happy to agree, nodding slightly.
Although they ate it from two bowls, Luo Yan felt embarrassed for some reason. She suddenly remembered that when they were little, the three of them had shared a candied hawthorn stick—it was bought with the money Zhou Weifang had saved by selling toothpaste tubes, because Luo Hong had lost the money that the siblings had.
That day, Luo Yan followed the two of them from east to west along Chang'an Avenue. Her two short legs were as sharp as iron rods, just waiting to buy snacks. But when she heard the bad news, tears immediately welled up in her eyes.
Zhou Weifang reacted quickly, immediately buying candied hawthorns and stuffing them into her mouth. His strength was so great that it knocked little Luo Yan unconscious.
She fell on her bottom, still biting the candied hawthorn tightly, the melted sugar dripping from the corner of her mouth, making it look like blood.
Zhou Weifang was shocked and his face turned deathly pale.
He was in a hurry to check if she was hurt, but ended up falling face-first to the ground.
Looking back now, we really did lose all face in front of each other.
Luo Yan found these memories quite amusing, as if fate had secretly tied a red thread between them, revealing a faint smile.
Does this smile mean agreement?
Zhou Weifang knew, of course, that the division was reversed, but he felt it already signified a very close relationship, and happily patted his childhood friend on the shoulder.
No, why would you hit me for no reason?
Luo Hong brushed his hand away: "If you're not in a hurry to leave, go and check out the shop for a bit. I'll go to the family compound to pick up a car."
Luo Yan still had half an hour before class, and Zhou Weifang couldn't wait to have some time alone, so he eagerly pushed his childhood friend, saying, "You're busy, you're busy."
Luo Hong was taken aback, and only after walking a few steps did he remember: "My toolbox!"
Zhou Weifang stuffed it into his hand, watched him walk away, and then looked back at him.
Luo Yan had already placed the textbook on her lap, with one hand obediently resting on the cover.
Seeing this, Zhou Weifang said, "Go read your book, I won't bother you."
Actually, he wasn't making a fuss. Luo Yan said, "I want to eat a pear."
As soon as the goods arrived in the morning, Zhou Weifang picked out six that had particularly flat heads and clean faces, which he had brought especially for her. He washed one of them and said, "I peeled the skin very well."
He wasn't exaggerating; he peeled the skin with a knife without breaking it at all.
Luo Yan pinched the whole strip of leather and said, "Wow, that's amazing. I can't do that."
Zhou Weifang cut the food into small pieces and placed the bowl in front of her: "As long as you can eat it, that's fine."
Luo Yanke has such a great appetite, her eyes crinkling with laughter: "Today's are so sweet too, my mom said the apricots from last time were delicious as well."
Zhou Weifang: "Then I'll bring some for my aunt next time."
Luo Yan knew she had made a slip of the tongue as soon as she spoke, and quietly let out an "oh".
Zhou Weifang was adept at reading people's expressions and handled interpersonal relationships well. She knew that the elders didn't actually want too many gifts—after all, it wasn't time to talk about marriage yet, and they lived in the same alley. If things got complicated in the future, it was one thing for the children to interact on their own, but the adults shouldn't get involved.
He said, "Sending them during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a tradition, after all. I sent mooncakes last year too, just like before, we keep in touch."
"Great," Luo Yan thought, feeling that he understood without her even saying anything subtly. Suddenly, she looked him up and down.
Zhou Weifang looked down at himself: "What's wrong?"
Luo Yan: "I suddenly realized how smart you are, like an adult."
What do you mean by "suddenly realizing"? Zhou Weifang: "Have I always thought I was stupid?"
"When you're listening to lectures..." Luo Yan deliberately drew out the word, then added, "You're quite smart."
Zhou Weifang let out an exaggerated sigh of relief: "That's good."
The two chatted for a while longer before arriving at Luo Yan's class time. She packed the books she needed for the afternoon and emphasized before leaving, "See you the day after tomorrow, don't come with red eyes."
Zhou Weifang saluted to indicate that she understood. After walking away, she found a small piece of mirror fragment by her childhood friend and looked at herself from side to side, thinking that her eyes didn't seem that red.
Luo Hong retrieved an old, worn-out Flying Pigeon bicycle that was difficult to move, and huffed and puffed as he pushed it into the shop. Seeing that his childhood friend showed no kindness in offering a helping hand, he said, "Hey, what are you so vain about?"
Zhou Weifang clicked his tongue and shook his head: "You don't understand."
After all, people dress up for those who please them.
Luo Hong didn't understand, nor did he want to understand, so he waved his hand and told him to get lost.
Zhou Weifang was also busy, so he swiped a pack of cigarettes from his childhood friend, saying, "I had some errands to run and forgot to bring them."
If this dilapidated car hadn't been unable to "stand" on its own, Luo Hong would have chased after him and beaten him up long ago.
But he couldn't let go, so he could only curse from behind: "Are you going to find the Jade Emperor or are you smoking Daqianmen cigarettes?!"
Zhou Weifang had just grabbed it randomly; it was only after being reminded that he realized he was making a provocative gesture with his back to people.
Luo Hong cursed again, thinking to himself: Fine, we'll see when you start calling me 'brother'.
At that point, it won't just be a matter of a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes.
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Author's note: Good night!
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