20
Xiao Jian turned around, paused for a moment, and then ran back: "I forgot everything when I was in a hurry."
Li Muqing took out her phone and handed it to Xiao Jian. Xiao Jian took the phone, quickly dialed the number, and the call was connected in a short while.
"Hello? Is this Aunt Zhang? This is Xiao Jian. What's wrong?"
"..."
"mom?"
"..."
"What!? Okay...okay...I'll go back after class on Friday, okay, I know, um, I'll go now...um...Mom, please take care of yourself and take good care of Aunt Zhang, so she won't be too sad..."
After hanging up the phone, Xiao Jian handed it back to Li Muqing: "Nothing happened at my house, but my neighbor Aunt Zhang... her son died in a car accident yesterday. She couldn't take the shock and fainted. Aunt Zhang's husband died early, and she lives alone. Now she's sick, and my parents are taking care of her. I'll have to go back this weekend."
"Your family has a pretty good relationship with your neighbors!" Li Muqing felt more at ease knowing that it wasn't Xiao Jian's family who had gotten into trouble.
“Yes, Aunt Zhang watched me grow up from childhood. She treats me like her own son. Her son is five years older than me and has been working in a private company in Beijing since graduation. We used to hang out together a lot. Who would have thought that... Brother Ning is so good to me now.” Xiao Jian said with some sadness.
"Do you want me to go back with you this weekend?" Li Muqing asked seriously.
"No, no need. I can handle it myself. I won't be setting up my stall for the next few days. You can sell fruit at my old stall first; it's more eye-catching and people will notice you there. Then..."
"If you're not going to set anything up, what am I supposed to do?" Li Muqing interrupted Xiao Jian. "It's getting late. You and Wang Youai should go back and get some rest. Tomorrow's Friday anyway, so we can contact each other if anything comes up."
"Okay, you should get some rest too." After saying that, Xiao Jian and Wang Youai walked back to their dormitory.
Seeing that the two people had walked away, Li Muqing took out her phone.
"Hey Dad, something's up..."
...
The next afternoon, after finishing his last class, Xiao Jian went straight to the train station to buy a ticket, but just as he reached the school gate, Li Muqing stopped him.
"Li Muqing, I need to go buy a train ticket home. I'm afraid I won't be able to get one if I'm too late, so I can't chat with you any longer. I have to go now..."
"Pig! You're going to buy a train ticket now? What time will you get home?! Here, I've already bought it for you. When you get home, don't just rush around, remember to drink some water. The weather is too dry, it's easy to get a sore throat." Li Muqing shoved the ticket into Xiao Jian's hand. Xiao Jian took the ticket, looking at Li Muqing with some emotion, and said, "I... I'll thank you properly when I get back! I'll be going now!" Xiao Jian waved to Li Muqing and walked out of the school gate.
Li Muqing watched Xiao Jian's retreating figure and called out to him, "My phone number is on the back of the ticket. Call me if you need anything!"
Around 8 p.m., Xiao Jian arrived home. After entering the house, he rushed to the tap, filled a large bowl with water, and gulped it down. Then, he hurried to his neighbor, Aunt Zhang's house, to check on the situation.
When Xiao Jian pushed open the door, Aunt Zhang was already awake. She lay weakly in bed, with a pile of medicine and a glass of water on the coffee table next to her. Xiao Jian's mother was helping Aunt Zhang wipe her body. Xiao Jian walked over, and when Aunt Zhang saw him, tears welled up in her eyes again: "Jianjian, you're finally back! Auntie... Auntie can't go on living..."
"Auntie, don't get agitated. Take good care of yourself first. I'll stay home with you these next few days, so don't worry," Xiao Jian said, holding Aunt Zhang's hand.
“Jianjian, I…I only have you as a child I can rely on now. How could your brother Ning…how could he be so heartless…” Aunt Zhang said weakly, tears streaming down her face once again.
Xiao Jian tenderly wiped away Aunt Zhang's tears and told her, "Auntie, don't worry. From now on, I am your son. You can tell me any wish you have, and I will do my best to fulfill it."
"Good...good child...your brother Ning can rest in peace now that he sees how much you care for your aunt..." After saying that, Aunt Zhang closed her eyes again, looking extremely tired.
Xiao Jian's mother went to the kitchen and cooked two simple dishes. Xiao Jian put all the food in a bowl, took it to Aunt Zhang, and fed her spoonful by spoonful. After feeding her, Xiao Jian washed the bowl and then asked his mother, "Where's Dad?"
“Your dad went to work out of town and hasn’t come back yet. I’ve been busy these past two days. Oh, by the way, some of your brother Ning’s colleagues are coming over later. Could you entertain them? I’m just an old woman from the countryside, I don’t know how to entertain people, so could you help me out? You’re too sensitive to take any more provocations right now, so don’t let those colleagues say anything out of line, understand?”
"I understand." Just as she finished speaking, a knock came at the door.
"Hello, I'm Shen Hai. Is this Wang Ning's house?" Xiao Jian opened the door, and a well-dressed man in dark clothing stood at the door, carrying some things in his hands.
“Yes, but Aunt Zhang just fell asleep. Can we go outside to talk?” Xiao Jian didn’t let the man named Shen Hai go into the house. He just put his things in the living room and went out with him.
"Your name is Xiao Jian, right?" Shen Hai asked as he sat on the steps by the roadside.
"Hmm, did my brother Ning mention me?" Xiao Jian turned to look at Shen Hai and found him to be very handsome.
"I mention it all the time." Shen Hai took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a deep drag.
"Is Brother Shenhai Brother Ning's colleague?" Xiao Jian asked.
"Want a cigarette?" Shen Hai offered Xiao Jian one, but Xiao Jian shook his head. Shen Hai smiled and continued, "He and I used to be colleagues, but not anymore. You don't really think I'm from the company, do you? These days, private companies don't offer that kind of treatment anymore. We worked together, we were like brothers. I was only away on a business trip for two days, and I didn't expect to come back..." Shen Hai's voice began to choke as he spoke. Xiao Jian looked at Shen Hai's furrowed brows and couldn't say a word.
He comforted Aunt Zhang, saying she was already very tired, even though he himself was also feeling terrible. He had no one to comfort him, yet he always had to shoulder all the burdens and support this family that was now left with only one person. No, now, he was Aunt Zhang's son.
At this moment, Xiao Jian didn't know what was wrong with him. He suddenly thought of Li Muqing. Li Muqing's cheerful smile yesterday afternoon was like a brand, deeply imprinted in his mind. He suddenly had an urge to see Li Muqing, right now, right at this moment.
"Brother Shenhai, do you have a cell phone?" Xiao Jian reached into his pocket, and Jin Jin grabbed the stub of the train ticket.
"Yes." Shen Hai took out his phone and handed it to Xiao Jian. Xiao Jian thanked him, then took out the ticket stub and dialed the number written on it.
"Hello?" Li Muqing's voice was like a quiet and soothing song. The moment Xiao Jian heard it, all of his fatigue vanished.
"Li Muqing, this is Xiao Jian." Shen Hai finished his cigarette and walked to the pavilion across the street, intending to buy some water. At this moment, Xiao Jian sat alone on the cold stone steps, listening to Li Muqing's voice. He suddenly felt that Li Muqing might be a fairy who could bind his thoughts and release his emotions at the same time.
"Xiao Jian?" Li Muqing's voice was anxious. "Are you alright? Something doesn't sound right. You didn't overwork yourself and ruin your health, did you? Are you an idiot?!"
When Xiao Jian heard Li Muqing scolding him, he smiled. It turned out that all along, this boy had been caring for him in this way, even scolding him. He was just too stupid to notice before.
"Li Muqing, it's so good to have... to have a friend like you."
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Chapter 021
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