Ruan Xi walked to Ling Yao's side, sat down on a rock, and said with a smile: "Miss me, right?"
Ling Yao did not show any shyness or shyness, and responded very naturally: "Yes."
When he sat down, he added, “I think about it every day.”
I wondered how she was doing in the city, whether she would come back, and every little moment they had together.
Although Ling Yao's tone was not corny or greasy at all, and it was as real and normal as if he was saying that he wanted to eat candy every day, and it was more sincere from the heart, the cornyness in the words themselves was enough to make everyone who heard it couldn't help but raise the corners of their mouths.
Ruan Xi's smile deepened. She lowered her head and reached out to open the lid of her schoolbag. She took out two palm-sized chocolates and handed them to Ling Yao, saying, "I bought them in person at the store before I came back. I brought them especially for you."
You can’t eat these things in the mountains. They are very precious, and they are not luxuries that you can eat often in the city. Ling Yao naturally did not reject Ruan Xi's kindness, but he handed the other piece back to Ruan Xi, looked at her and said, "Let's eat together."
Ruan Xi smiled and didn't say much, then she tore open the chocolate wrapper.
The two of them sat side by side on the hillside eating chocolate, just like before. However, after more than half a year, there are still significant changes in the two of them. After all, they are at the age when they are growing up.
Ruan Xi looked at Ling Yao and said, "You've changed a lot, and you've grown taller."
Ling Yao also looked at Ruan Xi and said, "You have changed a lot too."
Ruan Xi straightened up, raised her chin slightly to let him take a good look, and asked him, "Then tell me, how have I changed?"
Ling Yao looked at Ruan Xi and smiled, then he looked at her carefully for a while and said, "She has become whiter and more beautiful."
Ruan Xi was very happy to hear this. She took a bite of the chocolate and said, "I stayed in the city for more than half a year. Xiao Jie and I stayed in the house every day. I didn't expect that I would become whiter. I became so white."
The smile in Ling Yao's eyes was twice as big as hers, "Didn't you go to school?"
Ruan Xi said: "We couldn't understand it even when we went there, so we just stopped going after one day, and then we stayed at home and studied on our own."
Although they had only exchanged a few letters in the past six months, the two still talked about many of their own things. Ruan Xi and Ling Yao talked about the funny and interesting things in the city, but didn't mention the unhappy things. Ling Yao actually had nothing to say. Ruan Xi knew that life in the countryside was monotonous.
After eating the chocolate, Ruan Xi saw the old harmonica on the stone, picked it up and asked him: "Do you still know how to play this?"
The Liang Zhu segment just now was so sad and mournful.
Ling Yao replied: "Not really, I just played it for fun, it's from my dad."
Ruan Xi held out her harmonica to him and said, "Then play another piece for me."
Ling Yao nodded, took the harmonica, put it to his lips and played a piece of "Ode to Love" for Ruan Xi.
Ruan Xi found the music very familiar, so she sat next to him, nodding her head slightly and humming along with the melody of his harmonica.
The melody is lingering and melodious, drifting away on the hillside and landing on the white mountain peaks.
Zhou Xueyun ground the medicine powder and helped Ruan Qiuyue apply it on the wound. She then bandaged it with a bandage and told her not to let the wound come into contact with water.
Ruan Qiuyue put on her socks and shoes, stood up, took two steps on tiptoe, turned around and said thank you to Zhou Xueyun with a smile.
Ruan Jie looked outside the stilt house and saw that Ruan Xi had not returned yet, so she waited for a while.
They sat and chatted with Zhou Xueyun, talking about whatever came to their mind.
After sitting for a while, I saw Ruan Xi and Ling Yao coming back together. They both had bright smiles on their faces when they walked into the stilt house.
When Zhou Xueyun saw the smile on Ling Yao's face, she subconsciously felt warm and relaxed, but she couldn't help but feel more worried. So she slightly raised the corners of her mouth and watched him take a deep breath silently.
Ruan Xi, Ruan Jie and Ruan Qiuyue did not stay in the stilt house for long. They said hello to Zhou Xueyun and left with Ling Yao.
When I went out, I happened to meet Ling Zhiyuan who had just come back from outside, and I greeted him politely.
After watching Ruan Xi and Ling Yao walk away, Ling Zhiyuan went up the stairs and entered the stilt house.
He went into the house to pour hot water himself, sat down at the table and said, "Xiaoxi and Xiaojie are two really good girls. They have gone to the city to live a good life, but they came back from such a long distance to spend the New Year with their grandparents."
Zhou Xueyun was standing at the table packing her medicine box and didn't respond to him.
Ling Zhiyuan drank some hot water and noticed that Zhou Xueyun looked unhappy, so he asked again: "Xiaoxi and Xiaojie are back. Look how happy Yaoyao is today. Why do you look unhappy?"
Zhou Xueyun put away the medicine box and looked at him, "I'm not unhappy, I'm just worried."
Ling Zhiyuan put down his water bowl and said nothing.
Zhou Xueyun took a breath and sat down at the table, saying, "Yaoyao has been a rather dull person since he was young. He is well-behaved and sensible and doesn't like to play tricks. In the first few years after arriving at Fengming Mountain, I was scared of him. I controlled him too much and pushed him too hard, which made his personality even more dull. Later, he made friends with Xixi, and I thought he would become better. As a result, you can see that he is only like a normal child in front of Xixi. As long as Xixi is not around, he is no different from a piece of wood."
Ling Zhiyuan also took a deep breath, not knowing what to say.
Zhou Xueyun was silent for a moment and then continued, "Xixi's father is a cadre, and she is old, so she will not return to her hometown. We will probably stay here for the rest of our lives. What will we do with Yaoyao in this state?"
As she spoke, she regretted it again, her eyes moistened as she said, "It's all my fault. I pushed him like a lunatic during those years."
Hearing this, Ling Zhiyuan blamed himself even more, "How can I blame you? If you have to blame someone, it should be me. If it weren't for me, you two wouldn't have to live such a hard life here, and Yaoyao wouldn't be like this either."
I can't continue talking about this, and I ended up saying it again.
Ling Zhiyuan wanted to divorce back then, but Zhou Xueyun didn't want to, and insisted on bringing Ling Yao along.
As she spoke, she seemed to regret it, so she sniffed and said, "No more, no more."
She stood up and went to the stove, "Tomorrow is the New Year, help me steam the buns."
Ling Yao went out with Ruan Xi and met Ruan Hongjun and Ye Fan. In fact, he was not very interested in meeting new people or making new friends, and he and Ruan Jie had known each other for such a long time but they didn't talk much, but he knew how to be polite and courteous.
As long as he is willing, he has no problem with normal interpersonal communication.
He doesn't talk to people just because he doesn't want to, he doesn't want to.
This half day was the most relaxing half day for him in the past six months. He returned home before dinner with a smile in his eyes, and his tone was light and relaxed when he called mom and dad.
Seeing him like this, Zhou Xueyun thought to herself - don't think too much, at least he is happy these days.
Ruan Cuizhi finished a year's work and returned home in the evening.
Seeing Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie coming back, she was extremely happy and pulled the two girls forward and held them in her arms.
Lan Yichu smiled and said, "The city is different. Everything has become more beautiful."
Ruan Jie touched her face and smiled, "It's getting whiter, right?"
Ruan Cuizhi also raised her hand and pinched her face, then continued with a smile, "Yes, it has become whiter, especially Xiaoxi, who is as white as a snowman. Are you all staying indoors?"
Ruan Qiuyue answered from the side, "Yes, they both hide in their room every day and don't come out."
After hearing Ruan Qiuyue's words, Ruan Cuizhi realized that there were three more children she didn't know in the house.
This was the first time they met, so they had to be introduced to each other. It seemed that Ruan Hongjun had been making such a fuss for a while.
After a while of noise, it was time for dinner, and the dinner table was even more lively than at noon.
Ruan Cuizhi smiled and said, "It's better to have more children. The house becomes lively all of a sudden. Without the children talking and making noise, it's just the adults talking, which always feels a bit lonely."
These children cannot be kept, Ruan Changsheng said: "Then let's have a few more."
Ruan Cuizhi looked at him and smiled, "Sir, let's talk about it later."
We have been married for more than half a year and there is still no movement.
The family chatted with each other in such an atmosphere. After dinner, they sat together and chatted for a while. When it was dark at night, Ruan Cuizhi took Ruan Xi and others to the tailor shop to sleep with a flashlight.
Ruan Hongjun and Ye Fan still slept in the same room, while she, Ruan Xi and three other girls shared a room.
The four aunts and nieces lay down and chatted for a while. Ruan Cuizhi basically asked Ruan Xi and the others about things in the city. She especially asked Ruan Qiuyue more, because she grew up with Ruan Changfu and there were many things she didn't know.
The four of them chatted until late at night, then quieted down and fell asleep.
Because there were five more children in the family, New Year's Eve was so busy that even Ruan Changsheng and Qian Chuan couldn't help. Ruan Hongjun was especially excited. He was cleaning the house and putting up Spring Festival couplets. He was almost about to take the spoon to help Liu Xinghua fry peanuts.
Seeing Ruan Hongjun's spirit, Ruan Changsheng had to admit defeat and said, "I'll give you the position of the boss of Fengming Mountain!"
Ruan Hongjun was very happy: "This place suits me. I really want to stay here."
Ruan Changsheng smiled and said, "Then your father won't agree."
Ruan Xi and a few others spent the fifth day of the New Year in Fengming Mountain. They cleaned the house, ate New Year's Eve dinner, stayed up all night, set off firecrackers and received lucky money. On the first day, they ran around the village, visiting each family to wish each other a happy new year and burned paper money for the old tailor. On the second day, they got to know their fourth aunt Ruan Cuilan and her family. On the third, fourth and fifth days, they ran around the mountain every day, either diving into caves or climbing terraced fields.
These days are the busiest days for the Ruan family and also the happiest days for Ling Yao.
But happy times are always short, and the lively atmosphere of reunion ends on the fifth night of the New Year.
After washing up in the evening, Ruan Xi, Ruan Jie and Ruan Qiuyue packed their luggage in the room.
When Ruan Xi had almost finished cleaning up, Ruan Cuizhi called her to the kitchen alone.
After turning on the light in the kitchen, Ruan Cuizhi took out a black purse with a drawstring from her body, stuffed it directly into Ruan Xi's hand and said, "Only you know whether you are having a good time in the city. This is a little gift from Third Aunt. Don't say anything, just keep it with you, don't worry about what others think, and don't let yourself down."
Ruan Xi naturally didn't want it, and pushed the money into Ruan Cuizhi's hands, saying to her: "Grandma gave me a lot of money when I left, and there is still a lot left. I don't need it at all. Third Aunt, you can keep it for yourself. It's not easy to make money."
When she left, Liu Xinghua gave her all the money she had earned in the countryside in the past two years. The amount was quite large, and Liu Xinghua might have added a lot to it herself. She didn't spend much money in the city. She just took Ruan Jie and Ruan Qiuyue out to buy some food or entertainment when she had nothing to do. Most of the living expenses were spent by Ruan Changfu.
She never has to worry about money. It is no exaggeration to say that the money she has is enough to last her through college. After all, in the first few years after the college entrance examination was resumed, there was no tuition fee to go to college, and there was also a living allowance every month.
But Ruan Cuizhi insisted on giving it to her, saying, "We live in the mountains, and our family doesn't spend much money in a year. We don't have anything important to do, so we have plenty of money. You are out there, so it's inevitable that you will run into some difficulties and need money. We are not around, and you still have to take care of Xiaojie, so only money can help. Be obedient and keep it, just in case. Besides, how did I make this money? Isn't it from the skills you taught me and the shop you left behind? If you don't take it, then I will take jobs in this shop. Do you think I will feel at ease?"
Ruan Xi looked at Ruan Cuizhi with hesitation in her eyes and subconsciously took a deep breath.
Ruan Cuizhi didn't discuss it at all, and directly stuffed the purse into her pocket. "Keep it. This is all the Third Aunt can do for you. When you are outside, Third Aunt can't help you at all. You should make Third Aunt feel more at ease."
Ruan Xi did not refuse and accepted the money, saying, "Third Aunt, I will take good care of myself."
Ruan Cuizhi smiled and patted her hands gently, "That's right."
Ruan Xi reached out and hugged her, "You have to be well too."
Ruan Xi smiled and said, "I'll be fine."
After blowing out the light in the kitchen and returning to the room, Ruan Jie and Ruan Qiuyue had already tidied up and gone to bed.
Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi also took off their shoes and went to bed. They gathered heat in the quilt, and the four aunts and nieces chatted for a while.
They got up early the next morning, took their luggage and went home to have breakfast.
After finishing breakfast and getting ready to leave, the one who seemed most reluctant to leave was Ruan Hongjun. His eyes were red and he looked like a loser, calling people grandpa and grandma, which made Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua cry.
Ruan Zhigao wiped his tears and patted his shoulder, "A real man shouldn't cry!"
Ruan Hongjun held back and gave Ruan Zhigao, Liu Xinghua and others a standard military salute.
The farewell took a long time. Ruan Xi said goodbye to everyone and finally walked to Ling Yao who also came to see her off. Ling Yao's eyes were not red this time, as if he had made sufficient mental preparation to send Ruan Xi away with a smile.
Ruan Xi stood in front of him without saying anything, then opened her arms to him.
Ling Yao looked at her with a smile on his face, still without any shyness or reservation, his eyes were filled with tenderness, he directly reached out and hugged her in his arms, and said beside her head: "Take care of yourself outside."
Liu Xinghua was so embarrassed that she quickly raised her hands to cover her eyes, "Oh my, these kids now!"
Ruan Cuizhi took her arm and laughed, her eyes becoming wet with laughter.
Ruan Xi hugged Ling Yao and patted his back, "You have to learn to be happier even when I'm not around, okay?"
"Yeah." No matter whether he could do it or not, he would agree to whatever Ruan Xi said.
It was just a farewell, so of course the two of them just hugged each other briefly.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Ruan Xi picked up his luggage and prepared to leave with Ruan Hongjun and others. This time, Ruan Changsheng accompanied them out of the mountain, which was relatively easier because he could carry Ruan Qiuyue on his back.
Ruan Changsheng carried the luggage and led them away. They looked back almost every three steps and kept waving to Ruan Zhigao, Liu Xinghua and others. Ruan Zhigao, Liu Xinghua and others kept moving forward and only stopped on the road after a long time.
Liu Xinghua said reluctantly: "I don't know when I will come back next time."
Ruan Cuizhi held her shoulders and rubbed them hard several times.
After all, they are all children, and their emotions come and go quickly. After walking along a mountain road with Ruan Changsheng for a while, Ruan Hongjun was no longer sad. He kept following Ruan Changsheng and asked him to tell him about his glorious past.
In order to deal with him, Ruan Changsheng talked a lot all the way, except for the time when he wore open-crotch pants.
Ruan Changsheng not only had to help carry the luggage, but also had to tell Ruan Hongjun stories about his youth and how he fought all over Fengming Mountain. He also had to carry Ruan Qiuyue for a while when Ruan Qiuyue couldn't move. He was extremely busy.
But because of his presence, they were able to travel much faster than when they came here.
After arriving at the commune, they did not leave in a hurry. Instead, they stayed in the commune's guesthouse for one night to recuperate.
After checking in and putting the luggage in the room, Ruan Xi paid to borrow a phone at the guesthouse and called Ruan Changfu to tell him that he would take the train back the next morning and he would take care of the rest.
Ruan Changfu made arrangements quickly. The next day, as soon as Ruan Xi and the others got up, the jeep was already outside the guesthouse.
Ruan Xi and the others were not in a hurry to go up, and they went to the state-owned canteen to have breakfast with Ruan Changsheng first.
After finishing breakfast, Ruan Changsheng watched them get into the jeep and breathed a sigh of relief.
As he stood there, waving to them and watching the vehicles go away, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart - being a cadre is really different, and the children of cadres are really comfortable. He didn't know if he would be able to ride in a car once in his life.
This world is so suffocating, and the sky above my head is still gray. When will it end?
I can't really have to live like this for the rest of my life.
Ruan Xi, Ruan Jie and Ye Fan took a jeep to the train station. After getting their tickets and getting on the train, they found seats and sat down. They then began a two-and-a-half-day rocking train journey, from a small town on one end to a big city on the other.
The train whistled and set off, and the wheels began to turn slowly.
After the car slowed down, Ruan Qiuyue suddenly asked Ruan Xi, "Is Third Aunt not married?"
Although they had spent quite a bit of time together, they actually didn't talk about many trivial matters in their family life. After all, the New Year is a lively time and we play and have fun together every day. Besides, they are children and there are many things that are not appropriate to ask them.
Now that they had left, Ruan Qiuyue asked this question out of curiosity.
Ruan Xi turned to look at her and kept her in suspense, "I'll tell you when I have the chance."
Ruan Qiuyue was puzzled, "Is it so mysterious?"
It's not that there's anything mysterious about it, it's just that there's no end to the topic, and it's not something that children would talk about. Ruan Xi really didn't want to talk about Ruan Cuizhi casually, especially not in a gossiping way.
In fact, even Ruan Changfu and Feng Xiuying didn't know about Ruan Cuizhi's affairs. The last time they came back, they stayed for a shorter time, and Ruan Changsheng was having a wedding at that time, so there was a festive atmosphere and no chance to talk about such things.
They didn't know about Ruan Changgui and Sun Xiaohui's separation, nor did they know about Ruan Cuizhi's divorce.
Of course, whether they know these things or not has no effect at all.
So Ruan Xi said: "It's not a mystery, it's just that it's not convenient to say more for the time being."
Ruan Qiuyue wasn't a particularly gossipy person, especially since it was an adult matter, so she nodded and said, "Okay."
Ruan Xi had no desire to talk much while riding on the train. She soon found a position to close her eyes and rest. She just hoped that by sleeping, she could get through the journey quickly so that she could stretch her muscles and breathe fresh air.
Ruan Hongjun was full of energy, and when Ye Fan was too tired to talk to him, he would chat with other people in the car.
After swaying like this for two and a half days, the train whistled and slowly approached the platform.
This time it was Ruan Jie who woke Ruan Xi up, patted her up and said, "Sister, we've arrived."
Ruan Xi opened his eyes and looked out the window, then stood up with a smile to get his luggage bag and said to Ruan Jie, "Not bad, not only am I not as nervous as I was the first time I came here, I also know which stop to get off at."
Ruan Jie also smiled, "I've taken it back and forth a few times, it must be better."
Five people got off the train with their luggage, and stood on the platform to take a deep breath. Ruan Hongjun said with a sad face, "We are back again. We have to get out of school and go home every day. It's so boring just thinking about it. Sigh..."
Ye Fan kicked him directly, "Stop talking nonsense and leave quickly."
Five people carried their luggage to the outside of the train station, where a jeep was waiting. The driver was the same driver who had brought them to the train station years ago. When he saw them getting on the bus, he asked with a smile, "Are you all having fun?"
Ruan Hongjun got in the car and sat down, leaning back in his seat: "I'm so happy that I don't want to come back."
As he spoke, he began to brag, "My grandfather taught me how to use a rifle, a real rifle, the kind with bullets. Can you believe it? He took me to the mountains, and I killed a hare with my first shot. My grandfather said I was a sharpshooter, much better than my dad was when he was a kid. My grandmother and third aunt made a lot of delicious food for me. My fifth uncle is the leader of Fengming Mountain, and he taught me a few tricks. Oh, and there's also my fifth aunt, she can actually fight, can you believe it? I was shocked to death, she looks like that, but she can actually fight!"
Ruan Xi sat in the passenger seat and listened and laughed - this trip back to the countryside was really a great experience for him.
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