Chapter 32 (Second Update)
When good friends meet, time flies by as they chat about this and that, especially since Beijing is often gloomy and overcast in winter.
Before five o'clock, Luo Yan said, "Let's go home."
The mere mention of going home made Chen Yingying's legs, which hadn't stopped moving all afternoon, start to feel weak: "Okay, we'll go out and play after the exam."
The two of them took separate buses home.
Luo Yan got into the car first, waved through the window, and when they were almost in the alley, she saw her parents walking by the roadside. In her haste, she said, "Driver, I have a ride!"
Nowadays, buses in Beijing stop very haphazardly. Drivers slam on the brakes and say, "Tell me you want to get off earlier!"
Luo Yan thought to herself that she was only brave today; she would never dare to shout under normal circumstances. She quickly got off the bus with her tail between her legs.
Before she could even stand properly, the car had already sped away, leaving everyone else in the dust.
Luo Yan ran fast and darted to her parents: "Mom! Dad!"
The couple were startled when their daughter suddenly appeared.
Liu Yinfeng scolded, "You child, at least say something first."
Luo Yan stuck out her tongue and looked at the box of pastries her mother was carrying: "Why did you bring them back again?"
Liu Yinfeng said helplessly, "It's newly bought."
They were visiting the husband's former boss today, and if they were refused entry for bringing gifts from the past, they wouldn't be able to sit there all day.
Luo Yan thought about it carefully and realized it made sense. She grinned and said, "Then it must have been bought for me to eat."
As she knew best, Liu Yinfeng didn't refute it.
Luo Xinmin, however, said: "Now that snacks are free, you can eat them whenever you want."
This was news from last month; long queues formed overnight at Daoxiangcun.
Luo Yan had ridden her bike past several times but found it too crowded, and hadn't been able to satisfy her craving.
She asked, "Aren't there many people today?"
Luo Xinmin: "There are just not enough talented people today."
Every family prepares for holidays ten days to half a month in advance.
Indeed, Luo Yan smoothed her wind-blown hair and shared with her parents what she had done that day—though she omitted some details, since some things needed to be told to her brother in person.
The family of three walked home talking, but stopped at the door.
Luo Yan glanced at her parents strangely, and the couple looked at her in unison, saying, "You/you didn't bring your keys either?"
Luo Xinmin usually doesn't bring it with him; there's always someone at home when he gets there. Liu Yinfeng just happened to have forgotten to bring it today, and said with a smile, "Well, we'll just have to wait for you, brother."
Luo Yan's legs couldn't take it anymore, and she leaned against the door: "I can't walk a single step now."
It's alright if we wait a little while, Liu Yinfeng said: "Your brother won't be back until the middle of the night, will he?"
Luo Yan shrugged: "I don't know where he went this afternoon either."
Their daughter had no idea, and the couple was completely baffled.
Luo Xinmin bent down to look at the lock: "Should I knock it open?"
Liu Yinfeng slapped him: "Don't talk nonsense again. Who would smash their own house?"
It didn't sound right. Luo Xinmin said, "Yanyan, why don't you think about where your brother might be?"
Luo Yan didn't even need to think: "I'll try calling Zhou Weifang."
Liu Yinfeng: "You can even recite their street numbers?"
Making calls in the city is still relatively convenient, with a phone booth every few streets, but people usually have to look up the phone book to use it, since they can't remember the phone numbers if they're not familiar with the area.
Luo Yan: "You forgot, No. 4 Middle School is also on this street."
Students use this number to contact their teachers.
Liu Yinfeng was momentarily taken aback by her daughter's recent graduation, saying, "Okay, slow down."
Luo Yan was too weak to run; she even had trouble lifting her leg to step over the threshold.
Luo Hong recognized his sister's clumsy figure from afar and called out loudly, "Where are you going so late at night?"
Luo Yan recognized her brother's voice and, leaning against the doorframe, said, "We're looking for you! Neither of us has a key."
Luo Hong deliberately tried to scare her: "I didn't bring any either!"
He was always so forgetful, and Luo Yan didn't hesitate at all, muttering, "Now we really have to pick the lock."
But as soon as her brother got closer, she saw the keys dangling in his hand and said, "You're messing with me again!"
Luo Hong: "You're too easy to fool."
Luo Yan was so angry that she howled and complained to her parents, "My brother is going too far!"
Yes, yes, and so on.
Liu Yinfeng gave a perfunctory reply, breathing out cold air: "Everyone's so careless today, but of all people, my brother brought it."
What do you mean by "just so"? Luo Hong pushed open the door and said, "Mom, I suspect you have a problem with me."
Liu Yinfeng turned on the living room light: "No doubt about it, it is."
Luo Hong was so blunt that he had nothing to say.
He poured himself a glass of hot water, took a sip, and asked, "Mom, what's for dinner?"
Liu Yinfeng: "Your dad and I aren't very hungry. What would you like to eat?"
Luo Yan was already chewing, mumbling, "I'll have some snacks with tea."
Luo Hong: "Then let's not bother with all that. I'll just have two pieces."
Snacks are more substantial than meals, containing all the essentials of oil, salt, and sugar; they can be just as good as eating out as a regular meal.
Liu Yinfeng's only objection was: "Don't drink too much tea at night, I'll make egg drop soup."
These two dishes together look a bit odd. After eating them, Luo Yan felt nauseous and pounded her chest.
After banging it several times, Luo Hong said, "Do you think you're a drum?"
Luo Yan coughed twice and waved her hand: "I really ate too much today. Mom, could you get me some hawthorn slices?"
If you've eaten too much, eat something else to aid digestion.
Luo Hong had never heard of such a thing before, and said, "Where have you been eating all this? You're still so skinny."
Luo Yan suddenly rolled up her sleeves: "Look at my wrists, how can this be considered skinny?"
She enjoys it when people say she has some flesh on her body; it makes her feel especially happy.
Luo Hong grinned maliciously: "I'll break it for you, it'll be a piece of cake."
Luo Yan poked his face: "I'll scratch you to death."
It was late at night, and Liu Yinfeng was a bit reserved, so she tapped the table and said, "Speak properly."
Words like "almost forgot about death" are not allowed to be mentioned. Luo Yan covered her mouth, only revealing her big, blinking eyes.
Actually, my daughter would make her parents angry when she was little, but she was more lovable than other children.
Liu Yinfeng hardly ever criticized her; she simply tapped her finger in the air.
Luo Yan chuckled, "I'm going to review."
But perhaps because she had such a busy day, she got sleepy after reading only a few pages of her book. She quickly washed up and went to bed, and got up on time the next day to go to school.
Luo Yan had two advanced mathematics classes in the morning. She was going to go to the library to review after school, but then she remembered something and took a detour through the administration building.
The door to the academic affairs office was only slightly ajar, and several teachers were talking inside.
Luo Yan knocked on the door cautiously, and only opened it after receiving permission to "come in".
A female teacher took the initiative to ask, "Who are you looking for, student?"
Luo Yan: "Hello teacher, I'd like to inquire about the continuing education program."
When the topic of continuing education courses came up, the teacher's attitude became subtle: "Which organization are you from?"
Luo Yan: "I'm from the School of Transportation. I'm asking on behalf of someone else how to register."
Teacher: "The enrollment notice will be posted on the bulletin board about two weeks before the start of the semester. Just keep an eye out for it then."
Luo Yan: Are there any eligibility requirements for registration?
Teacher: "It's hard to say, it's different every semester."
If you say the attitude was bad, it seems like every sentence had a response.
Even if their attitude was good, their eyes and tone of voice were still irritating.
Of course, Luo Yan didn't take this to heart. She was just afraid it would interfere with Zhou Weifang's studies, so she made a point of passing by the bicycle shop on her way home that night.
Zhou Weifang was introducing the product to a customer at the time and mouthed to her to wait a moment.
Luo Yan stood obediently to the side, waiting for him to finish his work and then tell him what had happened.
Zhou Weifang: "Perfect timing. I'm too busy to deal with it right now anyway, so I'll wait until after the New Year."
Luo Yan, who had initially felt she hadn't been helpful, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his words: "Then I'm going home, goodbye."
Zhou Weifang called out to her, "Wait a minute."
Luo Yan was puzzled. She watched as he leaned half his body into the attic and rummaged around for two packets of milk tablets: "These are for you."
Luo Yan hid her hands behind her back: "No need, no need."
Zhou Weifang: "Here, a friend sent it to me. Your brother said you really like it."
Her brother's mouth was really loose, and Luo Yan thought it wouldn't be polite to say "I don't like it," so she took out a book from her bag: "Then this is for you."
Zhou Weifang read it aloud: "Principles of Accounting, is that your textbook?"
Luo Yan: "I bought the extracurricular books myself."
The word "bought" was specifically emphasized.
Where it came from is not important, Zhou Weifang said: "You'll definitely need it if you carry it with you."
Luo Yan: "The school library also has them; I can borrow them to read. You can keep them for your convenience."
Zhou Weifang: "Wouldn't it be more convenient to have your own?"
Luo Yan couldn't argue with him, so she could only express her firm will with her eyes.
Zhou Weifang said helplessly, "Does it really have to be a matter of handing over the book in one hand and the milk tablets in the other?"
Luo Yan nodded firmly.
"Alright," Zhou Weifang sighed almost inaudibly, "I might not be able to understand this book."
Learning is the ladder of human progress.
Luo Yan is very willing to help others improve, just like she did with Bai Ru in high school.
She said, "You can ask me if you don't know."
Zhou Weifang raised an eyebrow: "Really? You don't think I'm stupid?"
That was all a long time ago. Luo Yan defended herself: "I was annoyed that you weren't focused, not that you were stupid."
Can I concentrate on my studies now? Zhou Weifang wanted to sigh again.
He didn't know what was wrong with him these past two days, and pinched the bridge of his nose: "I'll try my best."
Luo Yan thought he was having trouble with his studies, and thought that it would be difficult to continue if he was frustrated at the beginning.
She said, "I have another notebook, but I can only give it to you after the exam."
Zhou Weifang thought to herself that it would be a disservice to her enthusiasm if she didn't study hard, and nodded heavily.
Luo Yan immediately felt she had done a great thing and waved goodbye.
She was quick and easy, while Zhou Weifang's brain was almost unable to process anything.
He tried to open the book "Principles of Accounting," and after reading only two pages, he realized that this thing was a towering mountain, or more accurately, the first one.
Given his level of education, it would be good enough if he could even recognize the words on it. He closed the book, intending to toss it aside, but then gently put his hand down again: "People can understand it."
The young apprentice happened to come and ask his master something, and couldn't help but ask, "Who is that person?"
Zhou Weifang snapped out of his daze: "Get to the point."
The apprentice pointed and said, "I can't turn that car."
Zhou Weifang: "I'll handle it, you two can go home."
He was the one who looked after the shop at night; the only sounds were the clanging of tools.
The shop is now larger, and the echoes are clearer, making the person appear even more solitary.
Zhou Weifang looked around and realized that perhaps he was just lonely.
He dismissed those distracting thoughts, but still couldn't bring himself to work, so he simply picked up the book again and started reading.
After watching for thirty seconds, all he felt was awe for learning and admiration for Luo Yan.
Luo Yan was unaware that the book would only serve this purpose in his hands for the time being. He was smugly pleased that he had done another good deed today, and even took it out to wind up his brother's clockwork: "Zhou Weifang has already started to make progress."
Luo Hong and Zhou Weifang truly lived up to their reputation as inseparable brothers: "Your book is a waste; there's no way he could possibly read it."
Luo Yan defended herself, saying, "Even reading just one page wouldn't be a waste."
When it comes to studying, Luo Hong and his sister didn't really have much in common. He just chuckled twice and didn't say anything.
But what I was really thinking was: What kind of madness is Zhou Sanfang going through?
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Author's note: Once I've saved up one chapter, I can update another.
good evening!
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