Chapter 71 (A Coincidence)
Zhou Weifang came today to help his sister replace the glass.
The old piece was already cracked, with fine, dense cracks like a spider web. He was worried about making a mistake when disassembling it, so he said, "Luo Yan, stand a little further out, be careful not to bump into anything."
Luo Yan was very safety-conscious and retreated almost all the way to the gate of the courtyard.
Zhou Weifang couldn't stop laughing: "Weren't you just going to lend me a hand?"
Luo Yanduo had a valid point: "You let me out."
Okay, Zhou Weifang got her a stool: "Sit down, you can get some sun."
The weather was nice today, and even the shadows were clearly visible. Luo Yan swung her legs freely and took out a book from her bag to read.
Zhou Weifang glanced at her before carefully reaching out to remove the window.
He was just about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking of smashing the glass completely in the yard, when one of the corners hit something and shattered into pieces all over the ground.
Upon hearing the sound, Luo Yan instinctively lunged forward a few steps to try and help, but her hands fumbled in mid-air, unsure where to begin, stuck between the threshold and the doorway: "Are you alright?"
Zhou Weifang: "It's okay, just hand me the broom."
Luo Yan looked around and found the broom at the door, so she stretched out her hand and handed it to him.
Zhou Weifang took it, scanning it as he said, "Don't you have class this afternoon?"
Luo Yan glanced at her watch to confirm the time: "There's still more than an hour before we go up."
"Did you have lunch at school?"
"Okay, let's eat at the cafeteria."
What did you eat?
"Fried chicken leg."
"Is it tasty?"
“Okay…” No, why has he been asking questions all along? Luo Yan felt a little unfair. “Now it’s my turn to ask you.”
Zhou Weifang just wanted to find something to talk to her about, and it didn't matter who asked whom: "Okay, ask away."
What should I ask? Luo Yan: "What did you have for lunch?"
"Dumplings, with zucchini filling."
When he mentioned it, Luo Yan also felt a bit hungry for dumplings, thinking that she would have them for dinner: "Is it good?"
"Generally speaking, this place has a thick skin, but it's relatively close to the store. There's a newly opened place in Sitiao Hutong that makes pretty good ones, have you tried it?"
Luo Yan usually stays at home or at school: "No, I'll try next time."
Zhou Weifang's heart suddenly skipped a beat: "Going with your male classmate?"
Luo Yan thought he was making a suggestion, and after thinking about it, she said, "Never mind, it's too close to home, I don't want to run into acquaintances."
Zhou Weifang felt much better and casually inquired, "Where do you young people go to play these days?"
"You know this better than I do, I don't go out to play."
Zhou Weifang emptied the swept-up glass shards into the trash can: "So he likes the library as much as you do?"
Luo Yan felt that the question was a bit too much, and thought that it would be better to just talk about what to eat and drink, so she gave a vague "hmm".
She thought she was hiding her emotions well, but they were actually written all over her face. Zhou Weifang could read her expression, so he changed the subject and said, "I've finished reading the book you borrowed for me from the library last time."
Luo Yan: "When my brother passes by tomorrow, have him bring it back for you."
Then he asked, "Is there anything you don't understand?"
Zhou Weifang thought that she probably liked the type who was good at studying, and said, "She can understand."
Luo Yan praised him, saying, "You've made rapid progress."
After exchanging a few more words, Zhou Yuying and Li Jianhong returned together.
After greeting them, Luo Yan said, "I've come to see if there's anything I can do to help."
Li Jianhong: "No need, no need, it's just a tiny space."
They rented a south-facing room, which was divided in two. People lived inside, and there was an octagonal table outside. All the furniture could be seen at a glance.
Zhou Yuying knew they weren't after her, so she exchanged a few pleasantries with her and pulled her younger brother inside to install the bunk beds.
Luo Yan sat down and chatted with Li Jianhong for a few minutes. Seeing that there was nothing she could do for him, she said, "Then you two go about your business. I'll come visit you again next time."
She took out two bars of soap wrapped in oil paper. Li Jianhong didn't refuse, and said with a smile, "I'll call you over for dinner after I've cleaned up. You're not allowed to not come."
Luo Yan nodded twice and said goodbye to the Zhou siblings.
Zhou Weifang was tightening a screw when he stopped to wipe the sweat from his forehead: "Slow down."
Even after everyone had left, he was still staring at them.
Zhou Yuying raised her hand and waved it in front of her younger brother: "You're back to your senses."
Zhou Weifang withdrew his gaze, noticing his second sister scrutinizing him, but pretended to be nonchalant.
Zhou Yuying is the kind of person who doesn't say anything but knows everything. She's very perceptive and asked, "Is it Luo Yan?"
Zhou Weifang feigned ignorance: "What?"
He was indeed experienced in deceiving people since childhood, and Zhou Yuying didn't see any further clues. She thought about it herself and realized it was unlikely: "It's nothing."
Zhou Weifang also tried to distract her: "Hold me here for a bit."
While he was busy here, Luo Yan had just sat down in the classroom and opened her book.
Before class even started, the class monitor took advantage of everyone being present to hold a short meeting and said, "Our class is going to organize a spring outing. Everyone, please raise your hands and vote on where we want to go."
Spring outing? Luo Yan looked out the window and thought to herself that this was not a good season for going out for a spring outing in Beijing.
But she never voiced much opposition, and at times like this, she simply followed the crowd, only withdrawing her hand when she saw that more people were voting for the Great Wall climbers.
However, even without her, the team's determination to overcome difficulties remained undiminished, and they ultimately decided to climb the Great Wall, though the date is currently unknown.
Luo Yan touched her two thin legs through her pants and whispered, "You're going to suffer."
Most people were still discussing it with great interest.
Luo Yan sometimes feels that she is quite strange.
Although she doesn't talk much to most of her classmates, she never misses group activities. She enjoys lively atmospheres, even if they often don't concern her.
That evening, on her way home, she tried to describe her feelings to Zhou Xiuhe.
Zhou Xiuhe: "Going together as a group is also a kind of memory."
That's right, it's about memories. Luo Yan: "But why does it have to be the Great Wall? My arms and legs are so small."
Zhou Xiuhe: "When are we going? I'll organize our dorm to go too."
Luo Yan: "No, what if someone notices?"
Zhou Xiuhe deliberately asked, "What did you figure out?"
Luo Yan gripped the handlebars with one hand and patted him on the shoulder with the other: "Speak properly."
Zhou Xiuhe laughed: "Anyway, I definitely won't be able to hide it once I see you."
"Who asked him?" Luo Yan said, embarrassed. She stomped her foot twice and said, "Go back now. See you tomorrow."
Zhou Xiuhe turned back to school, while Luo Yan turned right into the alley. She was startled by a rat running past and, still shaken, gestured to her family as she entered the house, "It's so big!!"
Liu Yinfeng chuckled and said, "What kind of rat is a meter long?"
Luo Yan narrowed the distance between her two hands: "It's at least this long."
Luo Xinmin: "Only in the South can you find one this big."
What?! Luo Yan got goosebumps all over her body, shook her head, and suddenly felt uneasy about the way to the bathhouse. She turned to look at her brother while holding the basin.
Luo Hong resignedly said, "I'll take you there."
Luo Yan laughed heartily and went outside to share what had happened that afternoon with him.
Luo Hong frowned: "Why are all three parties here?"
Luo Yan said, "I can detect a hint of disdain in your voice."
Luo Hong replied dryly, "It's surprise."
"Nonsense!" Luo Yan didn't understand at all, and stroked her chin: "Did you two have a fight?"
He then denied it himself: "It's unlikely."
Luo Hong felt awkward because of their close childhood friendship, which was so good they were practically inseparable.
He sighed inexplicably, raised his chin, and said, "Go inside. I'll come pick you up in an hour."
Luo Yan hummed in agreement, took two steps, then looked back and said, "Just you wait, next time I'll also keep something from you."
"You little brat, so arrogant," Luo Hong replied dismissively, "Mmm, I'm so scared."
Enraged, Luo Yan rushed back to beat him before finally re-entering the bathhouse.
Luo Hong: "Don't run around inside, be careful not to fall."
He didn't say it, and Luo Yan wouldn't dare either.
She was a coward, so she walked in cautiously, rubbing herself until her forehead was red, before drying her hair in the changing room.
This place is the news station for the entire alley; even if everyone tries to keep their voices down, they can't avoid scattering.
Luo Yan overheard people discussing Zhou Weiping's upcoming marriage and quietly pricked up her ears to listen—she was mainly curious about how people could get married after only meeting once.
But that's not their focus; instead, they started discussing things like houses, the "three turns and one sound" (a metaphor for a revolving door, a watch, a radio, and a telephone).
Luo Yan grew angry as she listened, thinking, "Why should my sisters have to move out just because Zhou Weiping is getting married?" She even worried about Zhou Weifang, wondering where he would live after his wedding.
However, Zhou Weifang is capable, and he will definitely be able to buy a courtyard house after saving for a few years.
Thinking this, Luo Yan picked up her dirty clothes and headed home, looking around for her brother at the entrance of the bathhouse.
Luo Hong arrived a little late and said to his sister, "We have guests at home. Would you like to take a walk outside?"
Luo Yan: "Who could it be so late?"
Luo Hong: "Uncle Chen."
Uncle Chen was a heavy smoker, and Luo Yan could almost smell it. She wrinkled her nose and said, "Let's go get something to eat."
Hey, Luo Hong: "Are you treating?"
Luo Yan showed him her empty pockets: "I'm here to take a shower, can I bring money?"
Alright, Luo Hong: "What would you like to eat?"
It was almost ten o'clock, and there were only a few shops open on the street. Luo Yan didn't hesitate: "Sesame seed cakes."
The sesame seed cake is sprinkled with a thick layer of sesame seeds, and crumbs fall off when you take a bite.
The brother and sister stood by the roadside to eat after buying the food, and kept sucking in cold air because it was so hot.
Zhou Weifang glanced at them as he passed by, then slammed on the brakes and stopped: "Are you two having a late-night snack?"
In such a large city as Beijing, what a coincidence! Luo Hong: "What are you doing here?"
Zhou Weifang asked, "Can't I go home yet?"
Luo Hong had genuinely forgotten that his home was also in Fengshou Hutong. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Alright, let's go back."
Zhou Weifang: "Does he even know how to behave? He didn't even offer to treat me to a meal."
He jumped off the bus, bought the pancakes, and joined the line of people eating them.
Luo Hong finished his meal in a few bites, and seeing his younger sister still taking small bites, he said disdainfully, "She's like a chick pecking at rice."
Luo Yan roared, "It's hot!!"
"Alright, alright," Luo Hong thought, not daring to provoke her, and instead asked, "Are you sleeping at home tonight?"
Zhou Weifang shook his head: "My sister said she left a few things at home and asked me to come and get them. I'll go back to the shop later."
Luo Hong: "Have they finished packing? I happen to be free tomorrow since I don't have to work."
Zhou Weifang: "My sister and Jianhong both have boyfriends, so they don't need to."
He was only busy for a short while in the afternoon.
Luo Hong: "Then I'll lie down for a day, and I'll have to work the night shift again next week."
Huh? My brother's work schedule should be regular. Luo Yan: "Why are you on the night shift?"
Luo Hong: "A colleague of mine has a wife who is about to give birth, let's switch."
Luo Yan nodded knowingly, then gently blew on the sesame seed cake and brushed the crumbs off her scarf.
Zhou Weifang struck up a conversation with her: "Is it good?"
Luo Hong rolled his eyes inwardly at her for making conversation, saying, "There's nothing she doesn't like to eat."
Luo Yan nodded in agreement, then turned her head and sneezed.
Using this as an excuse, Luo Hong said, "It's windy, don't catch a cold, let's go back."
With a pancake in one hand and a cart in the other, Zhou Weifang walked with his siblings into the alley, discussing some simple "academic issues" with Luo Yan along the way.
Luo Hong couldn't stop him, and in a fit of despair, he looked up at the sky.
Luo Yan assumed her brother was feeling powerless in the face of knowledge, so she pretended not to notice and only spoke to Zhou Weifang.
Zhou Weifang didn't care about him at all; he wished he could stretch those few hundred meters into a length of several kilometers.
But the road was only so long, and soon they reached the entrance of No. 21 courtyard, so Zhou Weifang had no choice but to go home first.
The brother and sister continued walking, and Luo Yan couldn't help but say, "Look at them, how eager they are to learn now."
Positive? Eager to learn?
Luo Hong now felt that his childhood friend's initial intention to study was impure, and he sneered twice.
His sinister smile was accompanied by the swirling, chaotic winds.
Luo Yan felt uneasy: "Hurry up."
Luo Hong was dragged along by his sister. When they got home, they found that the guests were gone and his parents had gone back to their room.
The brother and sister chatted for a few more minutes before going to sleep.
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Author's note: See you tomorrow! [kissing emoji]
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