Chapter 30
Mother Li didn't know how she got back to the supermarket.
During the evening rush hour, customers came and went, the barcode scanner beeped, but she remained like a puppet, mechanically repeating the movements of collecting money and giving change. The scenes in the rental house replayed in her mind: her son's stubborn eyes, Wu Ye's pale face, and the two bowls of noodles placed side by side.
"Madam, how much is this carton of milk?"
She looked up dazedly and saw a mother holding her little boy standing in front of the counter. The little boy was standing on tiptoe, staring eagerly at the candies on the shelf.
"Mom, I want some candy." The little boy tugged at his mother's clothes.
The mother smiled helplessly and bought a lollipop. The little boy immediately smiled, peeled off the candy wrapper, and offered it to his mother first: "Mommy, eat first."
Mother Li stared at this scene in amazement, and suddenly remembered Li Ruiyuan's childhood. The child had always been stubborn, but whenever he got something delicious, he would always put it in her mouth first and say in a gruff voice, "Mom, try it."
My eyes started to feel sore again.
"Boss, let's settle the bill!" the customer behind urged.
She snapped back to her senses and frantically scanned the QR code to pay. Her fingers touched the cold scanner, and she suddenly remembered Wu Ye when he first arrived at their home. Such a skinny child, standing at the door, afraid to come in.
At that time, Li Ruiyuan was living a life of idleness outside, causing trouble all the time. She brought Wu Ye home, secretly hoping that she would have a sensible child who could take care of her son. But she didn't expect...
"Mom, I'm here!" Li Xuan came running in, and when she saw her mother's face, her smile froze immediately. "Mom, are you okay?"
Mother Li shook her head and wanted to say something, but her throat seemed to be blocked by something.
"Did my brother make you angry again?" Li Xuan asked cautiously.
To be honest, at that time she just felt that the brothers had a good relationship, but now that she thinks about it, everything has a traceable cause.
"Mom?" Li Xuan shook her hand worriedly.
She remembered that it rained heavily last year and Li Ruiyuan braved the rain to go to the train station to pick up Wu Ye who was returning from the National Day holiday. He was soaked all over but held the umbrella over Wu Ye's head.
All the details that she had overlooked now appeared clearly before her eyes.
"Xuanxuan," she asked softly, "what do you think of your brother and Xiaoye?"
Li Xuan tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Brother is very good to Brother Ye. Last time Brother Ye caught a cold, brother went to the pharmacy to buy medicine overnight. And after Brother Ye came, brother rarely fought."
Yes, Mother Li thought to herself, her son had indeed changed a lot since Wu Ye came. Although he was still lazy, at least he no longer caused trouble and knew how to find a decent job to make a living.
But... two men...
"Boss lady, give me a pack of cigarettes."
A familiar voice brought her back to her senses. It was Old Chen, who often came to buy things and lived in the building across from their rental house.
Lao Chen handed over the money and said in a low voice, "Sister Li, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you..."
Mother Li's heart skipped a beat.
"My wife told me today that she saw your son Yuanzi and that Xiao Wu this afternoon..." Old Chen hesitated, "In the alley... Well, it's good for young people to have a good relationship, but this happened in broad daylight, and it doesn't have a good impact, especially since it was two men..."
Her heart sank to the bottom. Even Old Chen had seen it, so she was afraid she couldn't hide it anymore.
"If you ask me," Old Chen continued, "times have changed, and we need to change our old ideas. My nephew who works in Shenzhen said that there are many such cases there, and they call it 'homosexuality', not a disease."
Mother Li was stunned.
Old Chen sighed. "I watched Yuanzai grow up. He's been a bit of a jerk, but he's not a bad person. Xiaowu is even better. Getting into Tsinghua University was incredibly difficult. If they were really together...it would be better than Yuanzai hanging out and fighting all day, right?"
Old Chen took the cigarette and left, leaving Mother Li alone in a daze.
As night fell, the supermarket gradually dwindled. Li Xuan sorted the merchandise on the shelves, humming a tuneless song.
Mother Li took out her phone and clicked on the chat window that was pinned to the top. The last time they chatted was yesterday, she reminded Li Ruiyuan to remember to eat breakfast.
Her finger lingered on the screen for a long time, and she clicked on the video sent by Aunt Chen.
In the picture, two young people were kissing in an alley. Sunlight shone through the bougainvillea trees onto them. Li Ruiyuan's hand rested gently on Wu Ye's waist, a gentle gesture she had never seen before.
She suddenly remembered that many years ago, before Li Ruiyuan's father took to gambling and drinking, he would secretly hold her hand in deserted alleys. In that era, free love was also subject to criticism.
My heart seemed to be touched by something.
She turned off the video, opened the address book, and found Li Ruiyuan's number.
…………
The rental house was filled with smoke.
Li Ruiyuan stood by the window, having already finished half a pack of cigarettes. Wu Ye sat on the sofa, hugging his knees like a child who had done something wrong.
"Or..." Wu Ye said softly, "I'd better go back to school and stay for a few days..."
Li Ruiyuan turned around and glared at him: "Try to bring it up again?"
Wu Ye lowered his head and stopped talking.
Suddenly, the phone rang. It was a message from Li Xuan: "Brother, Mom has been crying all afternoon and is now alone in the supermarket, staring blankly. What happened to you guys?"
Li Ruiyuan gripped the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"Is it Xuanxuan?" Wu Ye asked.
Li Ruiyuan threw his phone on the sofa and scratched his hair irritably: "My mother...can't accept it for a while."
Wu Ye looked at his tense profile, feeling a pang of pain in his heart. He knew that Li Ruiyuan seemed to be indifferent, but in fact, he cared more than anyone else about his family's opinions.
"Actually, Auntie is right," Wu Ye said softly, "What we are doing... is not normal..."
"No!" Li Ruiyuan turned around abruptly, his eyes fierce. "I like you, and you like me. What's wrong with that?"
Wu Ye was stunned by his yell.
Li Ruiyuan strode over, squatted in front of him, and held his wrist: "Wu Ye, listen to me. I, Li Ruiyuan, have never taken anything seriously in my life. You are the only one I have set my heart on."
His eyes were so hot that they made Wu Ye's eyes sore.
"But......"
"No buts." Li Ruiyuan interrupted him, "I'll find a way to deal with my mother. But if you dare to run..."
He didn't finish, but the threat in his eyes was clear.
Wu Ye looked at him and suddenly smiled. It was a faint smile, but it was like sunshine breaking through dark clouds.
"I won't run." He whispered, "Wherever you are, there I am."
Li Ruiyuan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly stood up and said, "I'm hungry. Let's go cook some noodles."
He turned and walked towards the kitchen, his back still straight, but Wu Ye saw a slight blush on his ears.
The phone rang again, this time it was Li's mother. Li Ruiyuan looked at the word "Mom" jumping on the screen, hesitated for a moment, and finally picked up the phone.
"mom......"
"Yuanzi," Mrs. Li's voice was calm on the other end of the phone, "You and Xiaoye...come back for dinner tonight."
Li Ruiyuan was stunned.
"I made some soup," Mother Li continued. "Xiaoye's favorite: corn and pork ribs soup."
After a long silence, Li Ruiyuan replied in a hoarse voice: "Okay."
After hanging up the phone, he stood in the kitchen for a long time without moving.
"What did Auntie say?" Wu Ye asked worriedly.
Li Ruiyuan turned around with a complicated expression: "Mom asked us to go back and eat."
Wu Ye opened his eyes wide: "Really? Auntie...isn't angry anymore?"
Li Ruiyuan shook his head. He couldn't figure out his mother's attitude. But at least, this was a good start.
In the evening, the two walked into the supermarket one after the other. Li Xuan was working the cashier and immediately winked at them when she saw them.
Mother Li came out from the inner room, holding a pot of steaming soup. Her eyes were still red and swollen, but her expression was calm.
"Are you here?" She glanced at the two young men, "Wash your hands and have dinner."
The meal was very quiet. Li Xuan would occasionally glance at her brother and Wu Ye, but her mother stopped her with a look.
After dinner, while cleaning up the dishes, Mother Li suddenly said, "Xiaoye, help Auntie take out the trash."
Wu Ye quickly stood up: "Okay, Auntie."
Li Ruiyuan wanted to go with him, but his mother stopped him and said, "You stay and help me organize the shelves."
Only the mother and son were left in the supermarket. Li Ruiyuan stood in front of the shelves, absent-mindedly sorting the merchandise.
"Yuanzi," Mother Li suddenly said, "I've been thinking about this all afternoon."
Li Ruiyuan paused.
"I'm old, and I don't understand the things you young people do." Mother Li's voice was very soft. "But I know that Xiaoye is a good boy, and he is sincere to you."
Li Ruiyuan turned around and looked at his mother in surprise.
Mother Li smiled, a smile that was a little bitter. "In your entire life, I've never seen you care so much about anyone. Although I don't understand, but... if you insist on being together, then live a good life."
Li Ruiyuan stood there in a daze, not knowing how to react.
"Mom knows you have a bad temper," Mother Li continued, "but you have to be more tolerant of Xiaoye. He has had a hard time, so don't bully him."
"I..." Li Ruiyuan's Adam's apple rolled, "I can't."
Mother Li nodded and took out two red envelopes from her pocket: "These are for the two of you. School is about to start, and Xiaoye will be back in Beijing, so he'll have a lot of money to spend."
Li Ruiyuan looked at the red envelope in his mother's hand, and his nose suddenly felt sore. He remembered that when he was a child, his mother would also prepare red envelopes for him before school started, saying that they were "lucky money" and would bless him with peace and safety.
"Mom..." His voice was hoarse, "I'm sorry."
Mother Li shook her head and stuffed the red envelope into his hand: "Silly boy, tell me you're sorry. As long as you are safe and happy, I will be satisfied."
At this time, Wu Ye came back after taking out the garbage and stood at the door, not daring to come in.
Mother Li waved at him: "Xiaoye, come here."
Wu Ye walked over nervously.
Mother Li stuffed another red envelope into his hand and said, "Buy some food on the way back to Beijing. You're out there by yourself, so take care of yourself."
Wu Ye looked at the red envelope in his hand, his eyes instantly red: "Auntie, I..."
"Don't cry," Mother Li patted his shoulder, "Come back often for dinner..."
Li Ruiyuan stood aside, watching this scene, and quietly reached out and held Wu Ye's hand.
Mother Li looked at them, sighed softly, and turned back to sort the shelves. Her back was still thin, but her steps were steady.
Outside the window, the lights are just beginning to light up. The September evening breeze blows through the streets of the old city, taking away the summer heat.
Li Ruiyuan lowered his head and whispered in Wu Ye's ear: "See, I said I would solve it."
Wu Ye buried his face in his shoulder and nodded slightly.
My phone vibrated. It was a message from Li's mother: "Although I don't understand you, I still hope you can be safe and sound. If you insist on being together, then live a good life."
The text message is short, but it is like a ray of light, illuminating all the darkness ahead.
A text message is like a gentle rope, slowly pulling those lost in the fog back to each other. The road ahead is still long, but at least at this moment, they hold each other's hands tightly.
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