Chapter 4 I'll give it to you.
The Ye family's old house on the hillside in the western suburbs.
The old butler came out to greet you and said, "Pei Xiu, the old master is talking to a few people under the pavilion and wants you to come over."
"knew."
Ye Peixiu said.
Upon hearing this, Wang Jingzi stopped in his tracks, knowing his place perfectly, and said, "Then shall I go and pay my respects to the old lady first?"
Ye Peixiu turned around and smiled, "Follow me. Those people are all the old man's disciples and subordinates from his early years, you should say hello to them too."
"good."
The two men walked one in front and one behind. Before they arrived, they saw the people sitting under the pavilion looking at them and saying something to the old man with a smile.
As he got closer, Ye Peixiu politely called everyone uncle and aunt.
Several people praised him for his increasing progress, saying that he was quite like the old man in his past.
Grandpa Ye laughed and scolded, "Stop flattering him! He's still far from good enough."
Everyone laughed and said, "Looking around, which of our families is as promising as Pei Xiu?"
That's not entirely untrue.
Perhaps it's due to the economic prosperity, but the young men of this generation have more or less developed a habit of lamenting the passing of time and feeling helpless, not to mention those who commit crimes and are full of corruption. Ye Peixiu is a rare example of this generation who has a sense of family responsibility, doing his job well, calm and pragmatic, and resolute and decisive.
Ye Peixiu asked Wang Jingzi to recognize and call people one by one.
Grandpa Ye said, "Jingzi, you've worked hard following Pei Xiu down there for two years."
Wang Jingzi smiled, "It's not hard. I selfishly wanted to follow Mr. Ye to gain experience and learn, and I got this opportunity."
After chatting for a few more words, several disciples and subordinates said goodbye in due time. Ye Peixiu handed the crutches to the old man, and the grandfather and grandson returned to the main house.
This was the first time Ye Peixiu returned to his old home after being transferred back to Beijing, so he had to go and pay his respects to the old lady.
Although she is an old lady in terms of generation, Cheng Fei is actually only 58 years old this year.
Ye Peixiu personally served a cup of tea and sat down to chat.
The grandmother and grandson, who were not related by blood, chatted and laughed in a friendly manner. Ye Peixiu's mother, Pei Yaxian, came downstairs and said, "Peixiu is back."
Pei Yaxian and Cheng Fei are of similar age, and they get along like best friends. They have lived in harmony for decades and have never had a quarrel.
Three generations sat together and chatted. Ye Peixiu lit a cigarette and occasionally kissed him perfunctorily.
Just before the banquet started, Ye Peixiu's two uncles came with their families.
The whole family, except Ye Peixiu's father who was accompanying his boss on a business trip abroad, was present to welcome Ye Peixiu.
There was a lot of chatter and laughter at the table. Ye Peixiu's two uncles were only three or five years older than him, but they were already married and had children. When they saw him stand up and walk aside to make a phone call, a little kid who had just learned to speak stumbled over, hugged his legs and called him brother.
Ye Peixiu lowered his head and smiled silently.
A lot of people are calling him "brother" today.
After the meal, Pei Yaxian called him aside.
Ye Peixiu got straight to the point, "No outsiders live in my place."
"Is your cousin also an outsider?"
Ye Peixiu smoked a cigarette, calmly saying, "If you have anything to say, just tell me directly. It's not like I won't help you. Why beat around the bush and insist on having her live with me? Besides, I usually live in an apartment near the group, and I don't go to the garden for ten days or half a month. You know that."
Pei Yaxian thought about it and felt that it made sense, but she still snorted, "You treat Wang Jingzi better than your cousin."
Ye Peixiu was helpless, "You're talking about my cousin, and now you're talking about my cousin."
Ye Peixiu knew from the way Pei Yaxian spoke that she wanted him to support the younger generation of the Pei family. She also thought that it was for this purpose that Pei Yaxian asked her cousin Pei Meizhu to give up the offer from a famous foreign university and not come to Beijing to study.
Being in a good position.
Pei Yaxian continued to talk, pretending to be pitiful and wiping her tears. Ye Peixiu said nothing at first, but finally said, "How about this, I'll go to the school in person some other day."
Pei Yaxian stopped crying immediately and raised her head.
Ye Peixiu stood up, stubbed out his cigarette, and said, "You should get some rest."
Going back to the old house is more tiring than socializing.
After getting in the car, Wang Jingzi asked where they were going. Ye Peixiu lowered the window halfway and said, "Back to the garden."
On the way, he called Grandma Liang.
First he asked her if she had eaten, whether she had been caught in the wind since she went out, etc. Listening to the old lady's voice on the phone, he gradually lost his mind.
Ye Peixiu laughed at himself in his heart. He was so old, but when he encountered something he wanted to ask, he didn't know how to open his mouth.
He knew that he made this call because he wanted to hear his grandmother talk more about the little girl, anything related would be fine.
Grandma Liang spoke for five minutes, then suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, yes, I heard that the little girl you met today is going to a small town in the south to do field research during the summer vacation. I'm worried that she's unfamiliar with the place and is so reserved, she wouldn't know who to talk to if something happens. Weren't you in that city for the past two years? Can you find some time to send someone to help her settle down?"
Ye Peixiu was silent for three to five seconds before saying, "Her grandmother asked you for a favor?"
"No, your Grandma Xia is very strict with her. She always wants her to go out and gain experience. Judging from her attitude, she wants her to learn from the older generation and go to the countryside to learn how to plant rice. How could she possibly ask someone to take care of her? Not only that, if she knew that I secretly asked you to take care of her, your Grandma Xia would be angry with me."
"Really?" Ye Peixiu said coldly, "Then why are you rushing to do this thankless task?"
"I'm only doing this because I feel sorry for the little girl," Liang Xinwu said. "Will you help her out?"
"Please give her a call and ask her to find me."
-
Xia Qingwan was just about to go to sleep when she received Grandma Liang's call.
She leaned against the headboard, fiddling with the straps of her blindfold, listening quietly to Grandma Liang's gentle voice on the other end of the phone.
"Let's agree on this and keep your grandma a secret, okay girl?"
Xia Qingwan understood that Grandma Liang was taking care of her with good intentions.
Maybe he felt sorry for her.
"That's just how your grandma is. She never speaks softly, and she's not good at taking care of people. She only demands a lot from the younger generation. You should know how good she is."
"I know, Grandma Liang, I know everything."
Xia Qingwan said softly.
It was precisely because she knew this that she had been so obedient to her grandmother over the past two years. If she wanted her to experience hardship, she would devote herself to honing her skills. If she wanted her to go east, she would not go west. She knew that her grandmother was also suffering. Losing her son and husband in middle age, and experiencing discord between her children, a series of family changes, how could she not suffer?
Xia Huiqing could only hold on by maintaining the cold and tough demeanor of his youth.
Of course she understood.
Similarly, she also understood Grandma Liang's good intentions.
Although she doesn't need it.
"Then I asked your brother Pei Xiu to add you on WeChat?"
"Okay, thank you, Grandma Liang."
After hanging up the phone, Xia Qingwan leaned against the head of the bed in a daze.
About half an hour later, a new friend request popped up on WeChat.
The note reads: Ye Peixiu.
Mr. Ye.
She didn't need anyone to take care of her, nor did she want to trouble this stranger.
After thinking for a long time and clicking yes, I suddenly felt sleepy.
-
As exam week approached, Xia Qingwan was busier than usual. She had to submit papers for all three subjects and stayed up late for several days in a row to read literature and take notes.
In order to fully prepare for the exam, I have even skipped going home on weekends.
On Friday evening, after the last class, the professor called her and another boy to his office and gave them some guidance on the first draft of the paper they submitted.
She finished talking to the boy first, and only after the boy pushed the door open did the professor open her paper.
As the professor spoke, Xia Qingwan quickly took notes on her phone. The professor said, "No need to write it down, I've marked it all for you. Go back and follow my instructions, think about it, and then revise it."
"OK."
"The overall idea and approach of the paper are very good," the professor praised. He then asked, "I heard that you are going to do field research with Lao Zhang during the summer vacation?"
"right."
"Fieldwork is usually done during graduate school. Why did Lao Zhang make an exception and take you there?"
She's only a freshman this year.
"I won first prize in a competition last semester, and the dean said he could take me on to study in the project."
"Oh, there's this."
The professor nodded and said, "Okay, you can go back."
Xia Qingwan pushed open the door and smelled the scent of rain as soon as she came out.
This office is at the end of the corridor. To the right of the door is the window at the end of the corridor. At this moment, the window is wide open. It is dark outside and it is raining.
The crackling sound was sudden and violent.
She remembered that she didn't bring an umbrella.
This is a common thunderstorm in late spring and early summer in Beijing. It comes suddenly and goes without warning. It doesn't matter if you don't have an umbrella. Just wait for a while on a chair in the first-floor lobby.
Xia Qingwan strolled through the corridor, passing the dean's office. She heard the dean's voice coming from inside the open door. The voice gradually faded away. She walked to the stairwell and unexpectedly saw the boy who had gone to the professor's office with her earlier, leaning against the railing and smiling at her.
The boy's name was Deng Bin. He had pursued her when he first entered university last year, writing love letters, sending gifts, and staking out her dormitory. He used a variety of methods to make quite a scene. After Xia Qingwan rejected him several times, Deng Bin gave up and started posting a few sad poems about unrequited love on his WeChat Moments from time to time.
To be honest, there have been many people pursuing Xia Qingwan since she entered school, but Deng Bin caused a sensation. The reason was that he had long hair, a handsome appearance, and his gestures and conversation were very similar to those of rock poets in the early years. In addition, he was famous for writing poetry when he was young, and was considered a talented and romantic man.
There are quite a few people chasing after him.
The romantic and talented man's pursuit of the aloof beauty had attracted many people to watch the fun. However, Xia Qingwan remained unmoved, and after Deng Bin called off the fight, everyone gradually forgot about it.
What is he going to do today?
Xia Qingwan pretended not to see it and walked past him without looking at him.
Deng Bin laughed, then slowly followed her downstairs and said, "It's raining outside."
Xia Qingwan ignored it.
Deng Bin continued to speak, "Do you have an umbrella?"
After going down to the first floor, Xia Qingwan sat down on a chair at one end of the lobby, took out a book from her bag, and buried her head in her hands without saying a word.
Deng Bin followed him and said, "You really didn't bring an umbrella? I'll lend you my umbrella."
"No need."
Deng Bin sighed dramatically, "You're always like this, never giving me a kind look. Hey, Xia Qingwan, can't we even be friends?"
He simply sat down next to her, one seat away.
This was a public place, and she had no reason to chase him away. Besides, he had deliberately set aside a seat for her, making it even harder for her to criticize him.
Xia Qingwan pretended that he didn't exist, took out her computer to revise her thesis, and waited for the rain to stop.
"Eat gum?"
Deng Bin handed over a small metal box.
"Need not."
Deng Bin added, "I have absolutely no idea where to start with my paper. Could you help me take a look at it someday?"
Xia Qingwan looked out the window and noticed the rain had subsided. Without a word, she closed her computer and put it back in her bag. She stood up and quickly walked out of the double glass doors of the teaching building. Deng Bin caught up with her from behind, "Hey, don't go. It's raining outside. Can't I just stop bothering you?"
Xia Qingwan stopped.
The rain didn't seem to be getting any lighter at all. What I saw through the window indoors just now was an illusion.
I'm in a dilemma.
It's really not worth getting caught in the rain and catching a cold just to get rid of Deng Bin. But if she turns back, not to mention whether Deng Bin will continue to talk to her, even if they are only alone for a short while, given his character, he will probably write about it in a poem and post it on his WeChat Moments. Then, she and he will become the topic of conversation among their classmates again.
He had done this before, and the words in the poem were extremely vague and ambiguous, which aroused speculation among onlookers and made the person involved, Xia Qingwan, feel sick.
Hesitating for a moment, she made a snap decision and was about to run down the steps into the rain when she heard footsteps approaching from behind. Then, the person gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
She turned around and was completely enveloped by a tall shadow.
The person in front of him was Mr. Ye.
Xia Qingwan was a little stunned, "...Mr. Ye, why are you..."
"I came here to do something," Ye Peixiu took off his suit jacket and put it on her, "Are you going home?"
"No..." Xia Qingwan belatedly smelled the scent of sandalwood on him and realized that they were too close, so she took a half step back and put some distance between them. "I was going to eat."
As they were talking, an Audi slowly approached, and a man dressed in a suit and tie, looking like a secretary, got out of the driver's seat, holding an umbrella and another in his hand. He jogged up the steps in the rain and said, "President Ye."
Ye Peixiu took the umbrella and opened it, "Let's go, I'll take you there."
A note from the author:
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