Chapter 48
The mastermind behind the rumor was not difficult to find. After some investigation, they quickly found out which dormitory the rumor came from. Several girls, led by Feng Yin, were severely criticized and punished. In the presence of teachers and classmates, they apologized to Jiang Jiang one by one. After this incident, Lin Youqing and his wife became even more disappointed with their niece Feng Yin. They were only indifferent when they met, and they no longer had the close attitude they had before towards the younger generation.
On a quiet afternoon, Jiang Jiang sat in front of the window and drew clothes. His porcelain-white face was full of concentration and seriousness. Occasionally, if he was not satisfied with a part, he would immediately use an eraser to redraw it. Today was Saturday, but his parents were on duty, so Jiang Jiang was the only one at home.
"Ginger."
Xie Jinyan's voice came from the door.
Jiang Jiang listened carefully two or three times before he recognized that it was Xie Jinyan's voice. He quickly put down the pen in his hand and went out to open the door.
"Brother Jinyan."
Xie Jinyan was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt and loose trousers. The lines of her arms were very smooth. She had a simple mechanical watch on her wrist and was holding a bicycle in her hand.
"Is it convenient for you to go out for a walk?"
Jiang Jiang glanced at the bicycle behind him and nodded, "Okay."
Jiang Jiang sat on the back of the bicycle. When passing by a store, Xie Jinyan asked her to wait and then went in to buy two bottles of soda.
Xie Jinyan actually didn't have any purpose. After riding his bike around the city, he took Jiang Jiang to the Chengguan River outside the city. It was already autumn, and the grass and trees on the mountain looked a lot more desolate. Only the morning glory was blooming vigorously, with various colors such as white, red, blue and purple.
There was a breeze blowing over from the riverside, bringing a slight chill.
Xie Jinyan helped Jiang Jiang open the bottle of soda.
Jiang Jiang likes this orange-flavored soda the most. After taking a sip of the icy-cold soda, she feels refreshed both physically and mentally.
In fact, Jiang Jiang knew why Xie Jinyan asked her out. Uncle Xie was transferred to the provincial capital for work two months ago, but Aunt Huang's job had yet to be settled, so they did not go with him. Now Aunt Huang's work arrangement should have been settled as well.
"Brother Jinyan." Jiang Jiang lowered her head and kicked a stone on the ground. After a long while, she finally said, "Thank you."
"Thank me for what?"
"Thank you, Brother Jinyan, for being so kind to me and protecting me and taking care of me."
The two walked along the path for a while. When there was no one around, Xie Jinyan suddenly asked, "Jiang Jiang, can I hug you?"
Jiang Jiang agreed without thinking too much, "Okay."
She put the soda in her hand aside, tidied her clothes and hair, and then generously stretched out her arms, "Hold me."
It was obviously he who made the suggestion, but he was very nervous. On the contrary, Jiang Jiang looked natural. Xie Jinyan's body was stiff. He wiped the sweat from his hands with his clothes, then stretched out his arms and gently hugged Jiang Jiang.
In just a dozen seconds, he felt his heart being filled. He wanted to hug her tightly, but he restrained himself and let go.
His heart was beating so fast, as if it would burst out of his chest in the next second. Xie Jinyan forced a smile and said, "Remember to write to me later."
Only then did he realize that Jiang Jiang had shallow dimples on her cheeks when she smiled.
"Ginger."
"Um?"
He pursed his lips and smiled at her, "Nothing."
I like you.
The mountain breeze blows past my ears, the sound of flowing stream is heard, the blue sky and large patches of floating clouds seem to unfold a gorgeous picture of youth.
About a month after Xie Jinyan and his family left Qingjian County, one evening, Lin Youqing and He Guijuan called Jiang Jiang over.
"Jiang Jiang, mom and dad have something to tell you."
Jiang Jiang sat down next to He Guijuan, "What's the matter?"
"Mom and Dad are going to be transferred to work in the region, and they may leave this month. You should take this time to say goodbye to your good classmates and friends, as well as Master Yang and the others."
Jiang Jiang didn't expect the news to come so suddenly. She looked back at the home where she had lived for many years and felt a strong sense of reluctance to leave.
After being adopted by her parents, she lived briefly in the Lin family in Dongxi Village and then followed them into the city. Over the years, every blade of grass, every table and chair here have carried her beautiful memories.
He Guijuan patted her daughter's shoulder and said, "Jiang Jiang, there is a saying that goes, all good things must come to an end."
"My parents worked in other places at first, but were later transferred back to Qingjian County. Now they are also being transferred from Qingjian County to other places."
Jiang Jiang understood this and nodded, "I understand, Mom and Dad."
The next day was the weekend. On previous weekends, Jiang Jiang would go back to her room to read for a while after breakfast, and then go out to Master Yang's tailor shop. But this morning Jiang Jiang didn't want to read, so she went directly to Master Yang's tailor shop after breakfast.
When Master Yang saw Jiang Jiang, he hurriedly asked her to come to the kitchen to have breakfast together.
"I cooked some noodles. Come over and have some. I'll fry you an egg."
"I have eaten."
Master Yang stopped calling her when he saw this and said, "Then go sit inside for a while."
Jiang Jiang entered the tailor's room, which was the largest room in Master Yang's house. It was used as a tailor's room and was divided into a storage area, sewing table and reception area.
On the desk was a piece of almost-finished clothing by Master Yang, except for the buttons, so Jiang Jiang found a needle and thread and helped sew the buttons on.
When Master Yang came over after breakfast, Jiang Jiang had just finished sewing the buttons.
Master Yang is in his fifties, with black hair mixed with silver. Because of his job, he dresses very fashionably. Unlike ordinary old people, he looks very kind and amiable.
Master Yang smiled at her, "Why are you here so early today?"
"Master, I'm here to say goodbye to you. My parents have been transferred to work in the region, so I can't continue to learn tailoring from you."
Master Yang was not very surprised. He had met Jiang Jiang's father several times and had some understanding of her father's character. He was upright, broad-minded, studious, knowledgeable, and a truly caring person. He was only in his thirties this year, and sooner or later he would be transferred to a bigger place to display his talents.
"In fact, I have already taught you all the skills I have mastered for most of my life. You are a smart child who learns everything very quickly. Moreover, you have a unique talent in making clothes. I think you will definitely not be just a tailor in the future. The master sincerely hopes that you can go further on this road and set your sights higher."
It was the first time that Jiang Jiang heard Master Yang praise her like this. She was stunned for a long time before she came to her senses and said, "Thank you, Master."
"I promise you, I will never give up no matter what." Jiang Jiang knelt down on both knees and kowtowed to him seriously, "Jiang Jiang thanks you for your careful teaching over the years."
"Get up quickly." Master Yang helped Jiang Jiang up.
After leaving Master Yang's house, Jiang Jiang decided to walk around the city and take a walk around the county town where she had lived for several years.
She still remembers how unfamiliar and timid she felt when she first came here. Every time she went out she had to carefully remember the route for fear of getting lost. Now she is familiar with every place here and no longer has to worry about getting lost.
The smell of food in the state-owned canteen, the cart selling popsicles, the breeze by the Chengguan River, the tree-lined road that I passed by on the way to school every day...all of these are really hard to leave.
Jiang Jiang chose the basketball court of the county high school as the final destination for this trip.
The county high school and the county junior high school are not located in the same campus, and Jiang Jiang seldom comes here. The commune joint basketball game that year was held here, and she also witnessed the brilliant youth of that group of young people here.
The wind blew past his ears. Jiang Jiang chose a clean place to sit down, looking at the basketball court which had hardly changed, as if he saw the scenes of past games again.
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