Ruan Xi put down her hand and looked at him: "Stand still, I'll go close the door."
After that, he asked him to stand with his back against the screen wall while he closed and bolted the gate to the courtyard. Then he came back and took Ling Yao to the inner courtyard. He went into the west wing, turned on the light, asked him to sit on the bed, and asked him, "Have you taken the antipyretic medicine?"
Ling Yao looked at her with drooping eyelids and said softly, "I ate it before I came back."
Ruan Xi got up to pour him some hot water, and after pouring it, she came over and put the cup in his hand, then sat down beside the bed and looked at him and said, "You're still working so hard even though you're sick? Why don't you come back soon?"
Ling Yao took a sip of hot water to warm himself up, "I didn't think I was sick."
When I left the lab, took off my anti-static suit and went to wash up, I found that I was burning hot and had no strength.
After washing up, I took a fever-reducing pill and rushed back in the cold wind.
Ruan Xi watched him finish drinking the hot water, took the cup and said, "Go to bed quickly. If the fever doesn't go down tomorrow, we have to go to the hospital."
Ruan Xi was about to get up and leave when he grabbed her wrist again.
The temperature in his palm was also extremely high, and when it held Ruan Xi's wrist, it made her skin numb.
Seeing that he was sick and listless, Ruan Xi felt sorry for him, so she didn't pull her hand away. She just looked at him and asked, "What else do you want?"
Ling Yao looked into her eyes and said softly, "I want you to accompany me."
Ruan Xi looked at him and smiled before blurting out, "Sleep with you?"
But she regretted it as soon as she said it. Seeing Ling Yao's eyes darken, she quickly put away her joking expression and stood up to leave. But as soon as she stood up and turned around, Ling Yao grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
He pulled her forward and she fell directly on top of him.
And the next second, Ling Yao kissed her mouth.
Ruan Xi was so flustered that she didn't react. By the time she reacted, Ling Yao had already pried open her teeth. She subconsciously wanted to get up, but just as she rose a little, Ling Yao grabbed her waist and pushed her back down.
Last time, his lips and teeth were cold as ice all night long, but this time, they were scorching hot.
Because she was afraid of waking up Ruan Changsheng and Qian Chuan, and her mouth was blocked, Ruan Xi didn't make any noise. She was forced to inhale and exhale his breath, fire burning on the tip of her tongue, struggling between dizziness and clarity.
While struggling, she called his name vaguely: "Ling Yao..."
When he let her go, she looked at him with a disordered breath and said: "Ling Yao... I have always treated you as my younger brother..."
Ling Yao's eyelids were still limp, and he looked into Ruan Xi's eyes with a dark color, "But I never treated you as a sister. I liked you, and you didn't reply to my letter at that time. I thought a lot and even wanted to go find you, but I was afraid of disturbing your life and afraid that you would find me annoying and a burden, so I held back. I've already missed you once and given up on you once, I can't miss you a second time."
Ruan Xi tried to hold her breath. Seeing the sadness in his eyes, she said after a moment, "You... let me think about it..."
Ling Yao's eyes flashed with a bit of light, "Okay, I'm not in a hurry."
After saying that, he looked at Ruan Xi for a while, then moved his hot face closer and kissed her lips.
Ruan Xi took a deep breath and said, "Didn't you say there's no rush... let me think about it..."
Ling Yao: "Take your time to think about it, it won't affect you."
He blocked her mouth, preventing her from thinking or speaking anymore.
When I woke up the next day, Ruan Changsheng and Qian Chuan had already taken Ruan Dabao to the store. After getting up, Ruan Xi went to the west wing first to see if Ling Yao's fever had subsided. It happened that he had just woken up and was leaning against the head of the bed with his eyes closed, dozing off.
Ruan Xi went over and touched his forehead, and felt that it was not so hot anymore, but she still handed him the thermometer and asked him to measure his own temperature. While he was taking his temperature, Ruan Xi went out and bought some breakfast.
When he came back, Ling Yao had already woken up and said to Ruan Xi, "The fever is gone."
The two of them stood by the stone trough to get water for washing, and then went to eat together.
While eating, Ling Yao said to her: "Tell me when you have thought it over."
Ruan Xi was drinking porridge and choked without noticing it. She swallowed it and said, "Oh, OK."
As the cold wind blows through and winter arrives in the north, there are not only the poplar trees with bare branches, but also the lake surface covered with a thick layer of ice. At this time of year every year, many people go to the Peking University Weiming Lake Ice Rink and the Shichahai Ice Rink to play.
Ruan Xi and Ling Yao only played at the edge of the ice rink, falling down together while hugging each other.
The two changed their skates and went home. Ruan Xi said to Ling Yao, "I fell eight times today."
Ling Yao was very satisfied and said, "Not bad, three fewer than last week."
After that, he asked Ruan Xi: "Have you considered it?"
This is all considered from autumn to winter.
Ruan Xi looked at him, smiled and said, "Not yet, I need to think about it again."
Ling Yao suddenly took her hand and put something on her wrist.
Ruan Xi raised his wrist in confusion and saw that it was an exquisite and beautiful mechanical watch. Although the dial and bracelet were made of metal, the entire watch had been warmed up by him and did not feel cold when he put it on his wrist.
Ling Yao said: "That pocket watch is too old. It slows down as time goes by."
Ruan Xi smiled at him for a while, then took off his watch and saw that the word "尧" was still engraved on the back of the dial.
She couldn't help but laugh softly, then she put the watch in her pocket and turned away.
A white mist came out from the lips and turned into frost on the eyelashes.
The story of 1983 ended in the winter when the city gates were covered with snow.
New Year's Day in 1984 happened to be a Sunday.
Ruan Xi booked a large table in the restaurant and ordered a table full of dishes. Together with Ruan Changsheng, Qian Chuan and Ling Yao, she waited for the arrival of Ruan Cuizhi's family, as well as Ruan Jie and Chen Weidong.
Ruan Jie and Chen Weidong arrived first. After entering the restaurant, they rubbed their hands and said, "It's snowing outside again."
Ruan Xi looked out of the window of the box and saw that snowflakes were indeed falling outside.
After I finished looking at it, I turned around and saw that Ruan Cuizhi and her family had also arrived. The three of them went into the house, took off their scarves and hats, rubbed their clothes, drank some hot water and said, "It suddenly started snowing halfway through the journey."
There is no need to be polite when the family gets together. It is just a small family gathering. You can order whatever you want to eat and do whatever you want. There are no extra etiquette, just like at home.
But when the meal was almost over, Ruan Xi cleared his throat and said to them: "I invite everyone to come out for dinner today, one is because it's New Year's Day, and the other is that I have something to announce."
Ruan Xi has many ideas and thoughts, and what he announced is nothing new.
But Ruan Cuizhi still chimed in and asked, "What announcement?"
Ruan Changsheng cleared his throat beside him. Qian Chuan smiled, looked at Ruan Cuizhi and said, "That's great news."
Ruan Cuizhi, Yue Haofeng, Ruan Jie and Chen Weidong all became curious and stared at Ruan Xi, wanting to know what kind of good thing it was. Seeing Qian Chuan smiling like this, it must be something very happy and festive.
Ruan Cuizhi asked on behalf of everyone: "What good news is this?"
Qian Chuan didn't say anything. Ruan Xi cleared her throat and said with a slight smile, "Today is the first day of 1984. I am here to announce that I, Ruan Xi, am officially no longer single from today on!"
The others were stunned for a moment, indicating that they didn't quite understand.
Ruan Cuizhi blinked: "What?"
Ling Yao then said, "It means I'm no longer single. Xixi and I are together now."
"What???"
Before anyone else could react, Ruan Jie and Chen Weidong's jaws dropped.
Others did not react as strongly as they did. Yue Haofeng understood and said with a smile: "It is indeed a good thing."
Ruan Cuizhi smiled even more happily and agreed: "This is really a great thing!"
They have been waiting for Ruan Xi to find a partner for a long time, and finally they have solved their lifelong issue. If this problem is not resolved any further, they will be so anxious that they will catch her on the street.
After laughing, she asked again: "When are you planning to get married?"
Ruan Xi smiled and said, "There's no rush for this, let's talk about love first."
Ruan Cuizhi said, "You should be anxious. It's not like you and Ling Yao don't know each other. You've known each other since childhood and know each other inside out. Both of your parents met when you were young, and you've been together for half a year. What are you waiting for?"
Ruan Xi said: "Being friends is completely different from being in love. Knowing each other for so many years before doesn't count. I have never been in love since I was a child. I must have a good relationship before getting married, otherwise I will lose out."
Ling Yao sat next to her and smiled.
Ruan Cuizhi blinked again, "It seems to make some sense."
Since Ruan Xi had his own ideas, they didn't say anything more.
After a lively dinner, when we left the restaurant, the snow outside had stopped and there was not even any snow left on the ground. Ruan Cuizhi and Yue Haofeng naturally went back to their hometown, and Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie also went home.
On the way home, Chen Weidong kept shaking his head and sighing while riding his bike, and then he said, "Today I finally understand that all the brothers who have no relatives or friends in the world have been plotting evil and scheming for a long time!"
Exactly the same as those sisters that men talk about!
Ruan Jie agreed with what he said and nodded, "Ling Yao is really scheming!"
The more serious and reserved they appear in their appearance and in their speech and behavior, the more scheming they are inside!
Of course, Ruan Jie was just saying this. Her inner thought was that compared to other people, she felt that Ruan Xi and Ling Yao were good together. After all, they both understood Ling Yao and knew that he was someone who could be especially good to Ruan Xi.
But Chen Weidong’s thoughts were not like that.
As soon as he got home and walked into the door, he sat down in his room, took out a pen and paper and went to write something.
Ruan Jie didn't pay much attention to him at first. After washing up and returning to the room, she realized what he was doing. So she stood behind him and watched silently for a while, then whispered in an emotionless mechanical tone -
"My dearest brother..."
"I have to tell you some very sad news..."
"Ruan Xi is already in a relationship..."
Chen Weidong heard the voice and turned to look at her.
Ruan Jie: “…”
Soon after New Year’s Day, it is almost time for the Chinese New Year.
In order to go home for the New Year, Ruan Changsheng and Qian Chuan closed the store. Ruan Cuizhi and the girls finished the last batch of work for the year and officially stopped working. They all went home to buy New Year's goods in preparation for the New Year.
Because the family raised a few chickens and no one was feeding them after everyone left, Ruan Cuizhi left the key with one of the girls, just like she did in the previous two years, and asked her to come every day to mix some chicken feed and feed the chickens, and take the eggs home to eat.
On the day when Ruan Xi and the others were preparing to go home, Ling Yao's unit had not yet had a holiday, and Ruan Jie and Chen Weidong had not had a holiday either. Of course, since they are not going to Fengming Mountain, there is no need to ask for leave or anything.
This year, Ruan Jie and Chen Weidong are going home to celebrate the New Year. By the way, they will also buy a lot of gifts to visit Ruan Changfu and Feng Xiuying. After all, Ruan Jie has lived and eaten in Ruan Changfu's house for three years, so she must always remember his kindness.
The night before going home, Ling Yao pulled Ruan Xi into his room to talk.
Outsiders had no idea what was said, but they only knew that when Ruan Xi came out of his room, there were two large dark strawberries on her neck. Fortunately, it was winter, and she wrapped her neck tightly with a scarf the next day.
When they got home, it was the day before New Year's Eve. Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua were naturally very happy to see that their son, daughter, grandchildren and great-granddaughters had all returned, and their faces were beaming with smiles.
Seeing that Ruan Jie hadn't come back, he asked again during dinner: "Did Xiao Jie go to Chen's house to celebrate the New Year?"
Ruan Cuizhi smiled and nodded, "Aren't they already married? They are waiting for you to go to Beijing so that they can have a banquet and hold the wedding. What do you think? Are you going or not?"
Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua didn't want to talk about this for the time being. They had lived their whole lives in the mountains, and they really didn't want to go out. Besides the reason of the land, they also felt uneasy in their hearts.
After all, the farthest place they had ever been to was the town. Asking them to move to such a faraway place and leave their hometown where they had lived all their lives was not possible. They couldn't accept it in their hearts and were very reluctant to go.
When people get old, their ability to accept and adapt is poor, so they are unwilling to make any more trouble.
Instead of talking about this, they turned the topic to Ruan Xi, saying to her: "Xiao Jie has been married for a year. When are you going to find a partner, Xiao Xi? You are one year older than Xiao Jie, and you are still so leisurely?"
This year, Ruan Xi no longer had to make excuses. He smiled and said, "I've found it."
Liu Xinghua's eyes lit up when she heard this, "Really? Why didn't you bring it here so that your grandfather and I can have a look?"
Ruan Xi smiled and said, "You will see it when you go to Beijing."
Ruan Zhigao & Liu Xinghua: "..."
Well, we are back to the topic again.
Regarding the matter of getting the old couple to go to Beijing, Ruan Xi, Ruan Changsheng and Ruan Cuizhi took turns persuading them from the day before New Year's Eve to the third day of the New Year. Finally, on the evening of the third day, the old couple relented and agreed.
Of course, this was also due to the efforts of other people in the village. They all advised the old couple to go to Beijing, saying that they had lived in the mountains all their lives and were about to die. Since they had the chance, why not go to the big city to take a look?
They want to go, but their children and grandchildren are not promising enough, so they can't go.
Besides, the sons, daughters and granddaughters are all filial. We have taken so much trouble to bring them over to enjoy a happy life. If they don’t accept their filial piety, wouldn’t that hurt the children’s hearts?
Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua thought about it for several days, and finally decided to agree.
When they agreed, Ruan Xi and the others breathed a sigh of relief and naturally began to help the old couple pack their luggage.
When the luggage was almost packed, Ruan Zhigao called Ruan Changgui and Sun Xiaohui to the side room and said to them, "Your mother and I are going to the city this year. I'll give you the few acres of land at home to farm. If you don't want it, I'll find someone else to give it to. I can't give you the old tailor's house and yard, but you can clean up these three side rooms and live in them."
Hearing this, Ruan Changgui and Sun Xiaohui looked at each other, and Ruan Changgui frowned and said, "Mom and Dad, you are all leaving, so are you just going to leave us here? Since you are all leaving, why can't you take us with you?"
Ruan Zhigao said: "Do you think life in a big city is that easy? Xiaoxi Cuizhi Changsheng Qianchuan and Haofeng are all working hard there! Can they afford to support so many idle people?"
Sun Xiaohui opened her eyes wide and said, "We can also work, so we don't raise them in vain."
Liu Xinghua then said, "There are no mines or fields there, what can you do there? Xiaoxi and the others are all making clothes, how can you help? If you go there, you will only be a hindrance."
Sun Xiaohui continued, "We can learn. Yuejin, Yuehua and their wives can all learn!"
Ruan Yuejin and Ruan Yuehua have been married for a long time, and Ruan Yuejin's two children are already grown up.
Ruan Zhigao snorted coldly, "Didn't Yuejin learn this back then?"
Sun Xiaohui was so blocked that she was speechless. She looked at Ruan Changgui and was really anxious.
If they leave this time, they will never come back again, and their family will have to stay in the mountains to mine and farm for the rest of their lives. We are all family, are we really going to just leave them in the countryside to suffer poverty and hardship?
Ruan Changgui was so angry that he looked at Ruan Zhigao and said in a bad tone: "This is not allowed, that is not allowed, are you just going to abandon our family in the countryside and ignore us?! I am your son, Yuejin Yuehua is your grandson, and you just don't care about us!"
Ruan Zhigao also lost his temper. He threw the pipe in his hand to the ground and said angrily: "How do you want me to manage you? How can I manage your family? I have only earned this little fortune in my life, and I give it all to you! Your eldest brother didn't take anything from the family, and your fifth brother didn't take anything from the family either! This house and this land are all our property!"
"Your eldest brother was able to settle down in the city because he has the ability to make a name for himself in the army! Xiaoxi and the others were able to settle down in the city because they also have the ability to do so! What? You still want your niece to support you and your family! I can earn a house in Beijing and give it to you directly! I can also provide you with delicious food and drinks every day, okay?! I'm asking you if you have any shame or not?!"
After saying this, Ruan Zhigao took a breath, turned around and walked out, "I'd better let someone else farm my land."
Sun Xiaohui panicked and called him again: "Dad, Dad! We want it! We want it!!"
Ruan Zhigao stopped walking, turned around and glared at them again, "Get out!"
Ruan Changgui was so angry that his face turned black, and Sun Xiaohui pulled him out.
But not long after she left, Sun Xiaohui came back in and whispered, "Mom and Dad, we don't have to go, but can you take Yuejin and Yuehua with you? The kids are obedient, so find something for them to do."
Ruan Zhigao took a deep breath, and Ruan Xi said, "There are not many jobs in the city now, and there are not many self-employed people who pay for employment. There are no decent jobs for outsiders. There are many young people with urban household registration who are unemployed. So many educated youth have gone back to the south. Why don't you let them go to the south and try."
After hearing this, Sun Xiaohui said hurriedly, "How can that be possible? How can we dare to let them go? Isn't your business doing well, Xiaoxi? Why don't you take a look and find something for them to do?"
Ruan Xi said directly: "It's just a small workshop, and we don't need any staff for the time being."
If you bring them over and give them something to do, it would be like using money to support them. Ruan Yuejin, Ruan Yuehua, their wives and children, that's seven or eight people in total, and she has nothing better to do than to support them.
If she gave them a yard in the countryside to live in, and when the house was demolished in a few years, they might think that the house was theirs because they were living there, and would make a scene and fight with her for the demolition compensation.
Why did she bring such trouble upon herself?
She didn't like Ruan Yuejin and Ruan Yuehua in the first place, so there was no need to worry about their blood relationship.
She doesn't care whether they will be poor in the mountains for one lifetime or two lifetimes.
Seeing that no one could persuade her, Sun Xiaohui had no choice but to grit her teeth, hold her breath and walk out with her head down.
She had no choice but to go out and complain again, saying that Ruan Xi, Ruan Cuizhi and the others were too cruel and hard-hearted, and had no regard for or mercy for them at all, and that they would definitely not get retribution in the future.
I packed my luggage on the third day of the New Year and left on the fourth day.
Because Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua were old and had difficulty walking, Ruan Changsheng and Yue Haofeng had to carry them for a distance from time to time, so this time it took much longer than usual to get out of the mountain.
But everything became easier when they got to the town. The family took gifts and went to Qian Chuan's home to spend a day, spend time with Qian Chuan's parents, and then stayed in the town for one night. Qian Chuan's father drove a tractor to take them to the train station.
Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua were nervous from the moment they entered the train station. The old couple did not bother anyone else. Ruan Zhigao held Liu Xinghua's hand and led her the whole time, as if he was afraid that she would get lost. In fact, he was also feeling dizzy.
They went to the platform to wait for the train under the arrangement of Ruan Changsheng and others. When the train arrived at the station with smoke coming out, the old couple got on the train holding hands, and then sat down in their seats under the guidance of Ruan Changsheng.
Knowing that Liu Xinghua was very nervous, Ruan Zhigao held her hand until the train started, and squeezed it from time to time. This way he reassured his wife and gave her a sense of security.
The couple lived in the mountains for their entire lives and never thought that there would be a day when they would be able to get out.
We feel more at ease because we have each other by our side.
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