Ruan Xi walked to Ling Yao, sat down on the stone, and said with a smile: "Do you miss me?"
Ling Yao did not hesitate or shy, and replied naturally: "Yes."
When she sat down, she added: "I think about her every day."
I wonder how she is doing in the city, whether she will come back, and every little moment they are together.
Although Ling Yao's tone is not corny at all, as if she is saying that she wants to eat candy every day, it is real and ordinary, and more of a sincere heart, but the cornyness in the words itself is enough to make everyone who hears it smile.
Ruan Xi's smile deepened. She lowered her head and reached out to open the cover of her schoolbag. She took out two palm-sized chocolates and handed them to Ling Yao, saying, "I went to the store to buy them before I came back. I brought them to you."
You can't eat these things in the mountains, but they are very expensive. They are not luxury items that you can eat often in the city. Ling Yao naturally did not reject Ruan Xi's kindness, but he gave the other piece back to Ruan Xi, looked at her and said, "Let's eat together."
Ruan Xi smiled, didn't say much, and directly tore open the chocolate package.
The two sat side by side on the hillside eating chocolate, as if they were still the same as before. However, after more than half a year, there were still some changes in the two of them. After all, they were at the age when they were 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've changed a lot, too."
Ruan Xi straightened up, raised his chin slightly to let him take a good look, and asked him, "Then tell me, where have I changed?"
Ling Yao looked at Ruan Xi and smiled, then looked at him carefully for a while and said, "I've become whiter, "I've become more beautiful."
Ruan Xi was very happy to hear this. She took a bite of chocolate and said, "I've been in the city for more than half a year. Xiao Jie and I stayed in the house every day and didn't go out. I didn't expect that I would become whiter. It's so white."
Ling Yao's smile was twice as big as hers. "Didn't you go to school?"
Ruan Xi said, "I couldn't understand it if I went. I went for one day and then stopped. Then we stayed at home and studied by ourselves."
Although they had exchanged a few letters in more than half a year, 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, and didn't talk about the unhappy things. Ling Yao actually didn't have much to say. Ruan Xi knew that life in the countryside was monotonous.
After eating 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 section he played just now was really sad and mournful.
Ling Yao replied: "Not really, I just played it for fun, it's my dad's."
Ruan Xi stretched out his hand and handed the harmonica to him, "Then play another one for me."
Ling Yao nodded, took the harmonica, put it to his mouth and played a section of "Love's Tribute" for Ruan Xi.
Ruan Xi sounded very familiar, so he sat next to him, shook his head slightly, and hummed along with the melody of his harmonica.
The melody was lingering and melodious, floating on the hillside and landing on the white mountain peak.
Zhou Xueyun ground the medicine powder and helped Ruan Qiuyue apply it on the wound, and then bandaged her with a bandage, telling her not to let the wound come into contact with water.
Ruan Qiuyue put on her socks and shoes, stood up and took two steps on tiptoe, then turned around and said thank you to Zhou Xueyun with a smile.
Ruan Jie looked outside the hanging building and saw that Ruan Xi had not come back 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, they saw Ruan Xi and Ling Yao come back together. When they walked into the hanging building, they had bright smiles on their faces.
Zhou Xueyun saw the smile on Ling Yao's face, and she felt warm and relaxed in her heart, but she couldn't help but feel more worried, so she curled her lips slightly, looked at him and took a deep breath silently.
Ruan Xi, Ruan Jie, and Ruan Qiuyue didn't stay in the hanging building for long. They said hello to Zhou Xueyun and left with Ling Yao.
When he was leaving, he happened to meet Ling Zhiyuan who was coming back from outside, and they exchanged polite greetings.
After watching Ruan Xi and Ling Yao walk away, Ling Zhiyuan went up the stairs to the stilt house.
After entering the house, he poured himself some hot water, sat down at the table and said, "Xiaoxi and Xiaojie are two great 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 stood at the table packing her medicine box and did not respond to him.
Ling Zhiyuan drank some hot water and noticed that Zhou Xueyun looked unhappy, so he asked, "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 the bowl of water and said nothing.
Zhou Xueyun took a breath, sat down at the table, and said, "Yaoyao has been a rather dull person since he was young. He is well-behaved, sensible and doesn't like to play tricks. I was scared of him when he first arrived at Fengming Mountain. I controlled him too much and pushed him too hard, which made his personality even more dull. Later, when he made friends with Xixi, I thought he would become a better person. As a result, you can see that he is like a normal child only 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 continued, "Xixi's father is a cadre, and she is old, so she will not return to the countryside in the future. We will probably stay here for the rest of our lives. What should we do with Yaoyao in this state?"
She regretted it again, and said with tears in her eyes, "It's all my fault. I forced him like a lunatic in those years."
Hearing this, Ling Zhiyuan felt even more guilty, "How can I blame you? If it weren't for me, you and your daughter wouldn't have to live such a hard life here, and Yaoyao wouldn't be like this."
She couldn't say any more, and she went back to the topic.
Ling Zhiyuan wanted to divorce, but Zhou Xueyun didn't want to, and she brought Ling Yao with her.
As she was talking, 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 followed Ruan Xi out to play, and met Ruan Hongjun and Ye Fan. In fact, he was not very interested in meeting new people and making new friends. He didn't say much to Ruan Jie after knowing him for such a long time, but he knew politeness and courtesy.
As long as he was willing, he had no problem with normal interpersonal communication.
He didn't talk to people just because he didn't want to.
This half day was the most relaxing half day for him in the past six months. When he returned home before dinner, his eyes were still full of smiles, and his tone was also light and relaxed when he called his father and mother.
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 came home in the evening.
Seeing Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie back, she was also very happy, and directly pulled the two girls in front of her and hugged them.
After a while, she smiled and said, "The city is different. Everything has become more beautiful."
Ruan Jie touched her face and smiled, "Is it whiter?"
Ruan Cuizhi also raised her hand to pinch her face, and continued to smile and said, "Yes, it has become whiter, especially Xiaoxi, who is as white as a snow doll. Are you both staying in the house?"
Ruan Qiuyue answered from the side, "Yes, they hide in the room every day and don't come out."
Hearing Ruan Qiuyue's words, Ruan Cuizhi realized that there were three more children she didn't know at home.
This was the first time they met, so they had to introduce themselves to each other again. Seeing that Ruan Hongjun was making a fuss for a while.
After a while, it was time for dinner, and the dinner table was more lively than at noon.
Ruan Cuizhi smiled and said, "It's better to have more children. The house will be lively all of a sudden. Without children talking and making noise, it's always the adults talking, which makes it feel a bit lonely."
These children can't be kept, Ruan Changsheng said, "Then let's have more."
Ruan Cuizhi looked at him and smiled, "Sir, let's talk about it after one."
They have been married for more than half a year, and there is still no movement.
The family talked to each other in such an atmosphere. After dinner, they sat together and chatted for a while. When it was dark, Ruan Cuizhi took Ruan Xi and the others to the tailor shop with a flashlight to sleep. Ruan
Hongjun and Ye Fan still slept in one room, and she and Ruan Xi and the other three girls squeezed into one room.
The four aunts and nieces lay down and chatted for a while. Ruan Cuizhi asked Ruan Xi about the things in the city, especially Ruan Qiuyue, because she grew up with Ruan Changfu, and there were many things that Ruan Cuizhi didn't know.
The four chatted until late at night, and then they fell asleep.
Because there were five more children in the family, the New Year's Eve was so busy that even Ruan Changsheng and Qian Chuan couldn't help. Ruan Hongjun was especially excited. He cleaned the sanitation and pasted Spring Festival couplets. He almost took the spoon to help Liu Xinghua fry peanuts.
Seeing Ruan Hongjun's spirit, Ruan Changsheng had to admit that he could only say, "You will be given 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, "But your father won't agree."
Ruan Xi took Ruan Hongjun and a few others to Fengming Mountain until the fifth day of the first lunar month. On New Year's Eve, they cleaned up the house, had a New Year's Eve dinner, stayed up all night, set off firecrackers, and got the New Year's money. On the first day of the first lunar month, they rushed around the village to visit each family and burned paper money for the old tailor. On the second day of the first lunar month, they met the family of the fourth aunt Ruan Cuilan. On the third, fourth, and fifth days of the first lunar month, they ran around the mountain every day, either drilling caves or climbing terraced fields.
These days were the most lively days for the Ruan family and the happiest days for Ling Yao.
But happy times are always short-lived, and the lively atmosphere of reunion ended on the evening of the fifth day of the New Year.
After washing up at night, Ruan Xi, Ruan Jie and Ruan Qiuyue packed their luggage in the room.
When Ruan Xi had almost finished packing, Ruan Cuizhi called her to the stove room alone.
After turning on the light in the kitchen, Ruan Cuizhi took out a black drawstring purse from her body and stuffed it directly into Ruan Xi's hand, saying: "Only you know whether you have a good life 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, but don't let yourself down."
Ruan Xi naturally didn't want it. She pushed the money into Ruan Cuizhi's hand and said to her: "My grandma gave me a lot of money when I left. I still have a lot left, and 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 country for two years. It was a very large amount, and Liu Xinghua might have added a lot to it herself. She didn't spend much money in the city, except when she took Ruan Jie and Ruan Qiuyue out to buy food or play. Most of her living expenses were spent on Ruan Changfu.
She didn't worry about money. It's no exaggeration to say that the money she had was enough to support her through college. After all, she didn't have to pay tuition fees for college in the first few years after the college entrance examination was resumed, and she also received a living allowance every month.
But Ruan Cuizhi insisted on giving it to her, saying, "We live in this deep mountain, and our family doesn't spend much money in a year. We don't have anything big to do, and we have plenty of money at home. And you are outside, so it is inevitable that you will encounter some difficulties and need money. We are not around, and you still have to take care of Xiaojie, so only money is useful. Be obedient and keep it just in case. Besides, how did I make this money? Wasn'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 took a deep breath subconsciously.
Ruan Cuizhi didn't discuss it at all, and directly stuffed the money bag into her pocket, "Keep it, Third Aunt can only do this little bit for you, Third Aunt can't help you in the outside world, you make Third Aunt feel at ease."
Ruan Xi didn't refuse anymore, took the money and said, "Third Aunt, I will take care of myself."
Ruan Cuizhi smiled and patted her hand gently, "That's right."
Ruan Xi reached out and hugged her, "You have to be fine too."
Ruan Xi smiled and said, "I will be fine."
Blowing out the light in the bedroom and returning to the room, Ruan Jie and Ruan Qiuyue had already packed up and lay down on the bed.
Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi also took off their shoes and went to bed, gathering heat in the quilt, and the four aunts and nephews chatted for a while.
They got up early the next morning, took their luggage and went home for breakfast.
After breakfast, when they were about to leave, the one who showed the most reluctance to leave was Ruan Hongjun. His eyes were red, and he looked like a loser, calling him 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 his tears and gave Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua a standard military salute.
It took a long time to say goodbye. 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 she had made enough mental preparations to send Ruan Xi off with a smile.
Ruan Xi stood in front of him without saying a word, and 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 full of tenderness, he reached out and held 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, these kids now!"
Ruan Cuizhi took her arm and laughed, her eyes couldn't help but wet.
Ruan Xi hugged Ling Yao and patted his back, "You have to learn to be happier when I'm not around, understand?"
"Yeah." No matter whether he can do it or not, he will agree to whatever Ruan Xi said.
It was just a farewell, so of course the two of them just hugged each other.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Ruan Xi picked up the luggage and took Ruan Hongjun and a few others to leave. This time Ruan Changsheng followed them out of the mountain, which was relatively easier because he could carry Ruan Qiuyue.
Ruan Changsheng carried the luggage and led them away. They almost turned back every three steps and waved to Ruan Zhigao, Liu Xinghua and others. Ruan Zhigao and Liu Xinghua kept sending him off, and they stopped on the road after a long time.
Liu Xinghua reluctantly said, "I don't know when I will come back next time."
Ruan Cuizhi supported her shoulders and rubbed them hard.
After all, they were all children, and their emotions came and went quickly. After walking along a mountain road with Ruan Changsheng, Ruan Hongjun no longer felt sad, and followed Ruan Changsheng all the time, asking him to tell his glorious past.
In order to deal with him, Ruan Changsheng talked all the way, except when he was wearing open-crotch pants.
Ruan Changsheng not only had to help carry the luggage, but also had to tell Ruan Hongjun stories about his youth, how he fought all over Fengming Mountain, and when Ruan Qiuyue couldn't move, he had to carry Ruan Qiuyue on his back for a while. He was very busy.
But because of him, they traveled much faster than when they came.
They didn't rush to leave after arriving at the commune, but stayed in the guesthouse of the commune 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 they would take the train back tomorrow morning, and he would arrange the rest.
Ruan Changfu made arrangements quickly, and the jeep had already arrived outside the guesthouse when Ruan Xi and her friends got up the next day.
Ruan Xi and her friends were not in a hurry to get on the bus, but went to the state-owned canteen with Ruan Changsheng to have breakfast first.
After breakfast, Ruan Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief
when he saw them get on the jeep. As he stood there and waved to them and watched the vehicle go away, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart - being an official is really different, and the children of officials are really comfortable. He didn't know if he could ride in a car once in his life.
This suffocating world, the sky above is still gray, when will it end?
It can't be that we really have to live like this for the rest of our lives.
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, and began a two-and-a-half-day rocking train journey, from the small town at one end to the big city at the other end.
The train whistled and started to move, and the wheels slowly turned.
After the speed stabilized, Ruan Qiuyue suddenly asked Ruan Xi, "Is the third aunt not married?"
Although they had been together for quite a while, they had never talked about many family matters. After all, the New Year was lively, and they played and had fun together every day. Besides, they were children, and many things were not suitable to be asked.
Now that they had left, Ruan Qiuyue asked this question out of curiosity.
Ruan Xi turned to look at her and kept it a secret, "I'll tell you when I have the chance in the future."
Ruan Qiuyue was puzzled, "Is it so mysterious?"
It's not that there is any mystery, it's just that it goes on and on, and this is not a topic that children would talk about. Ruan Xi really didn't want to talk about Ruan Cuizhi casually, especially to make it sound like gossip.
In fact, even Ruan Changfu and Feng Xiuying didn't know about Ruan Cuizhi's affairs. They stayed even shorter the last time they came back, and Ruan Changsheng was holding a wedding at that time. There was a heavy festive atmosphere, so they had 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, it didn't matter whether they knew about these things or not.
So Ruan Xi said, "It's not a secret, it's just that it's not convenient to say more for the time being."
Ruan Qiuyue was not a particularly gossipy person, especially since it was an adult matter, so she nodded and said, "Okay."
Ruan Xi didn't want to talk much on the train, and soon she found a position to close her eyes and rest, hoping to get through this journey quickly by sleeping so that she could get off the train to stretch her muscles and breathe fresh air.
Ruan Hongjun was full of energy. When Ye Fan was too tired to talk to him, he would chat with other passengers.
After two and a half days of swaying like this, the train whistle slowly approached the platform.
This time it was Ruan Jie who woke up Ruan Xi, patted her up and said, "Sister, we've arrived at the station."
Ruan Xi opened her eyes and looked out the window. She stood up and took her luggage with a smile. She said to Ruan Jie, "Not bad. Not only am I not as nervous as the first time I came, I also know which station to get off at."
Ruan Jie also smiled, "I've taken it back and forth several times, so I'm sure it'll be better."
The five people got off the train one after another with their luggage. Standing on the platform and taking a deep breath, Ruan Hongjun said with a gloomy face, "I'm back again. It's time to go to school and go home every day. It's boring just thinking about it. Sigh..."
Ye Fan kicked him directly, "Stop talking nonsense and let's go."
Five people carried their luggage bags to the outside of the train station. The jeep was also waiting outside. The driver was still the driver who took them to the train station before the New Year. Seeing them get on the bus, he asked with a smile: "Are you all having fun?"
Ruan Hongjun got on the bus and sat down, leaning back on the seat: "I'm so happy that I don't want to come back."
He started to brag, "My grandpa 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 grandpa said I was a sharpshooter, better than my dad. I was much more successful when I was little. My grandmother and my third aunt cooked a lot of delicious food for me. My fifth uncle was the leader of Fengming Mountain, and he taught me a few tricks. Oh, and 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 laughed - this trip back to the countryside was really fun for him.
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