The afterglow of the setting sun spreads out like brocade, and the clear river is as still as a mirror.
When Cong Nian and Yu Xinghe came out of the school gate, the afterglow of the sunset was still lingering.
The street lights are on, people are coming and going, neon lights are flashing, and car horns are honking.
The place they were going to was Xunwei Bookstore.
Hidden in a deep alley.
But before doing homework, I have to have dinner first.
This time I didn’t go to the crowded business district, nor did I go to the hot pot restaurant I usually go to.
Instead, turn left after leaving the school gate and walk straight for a quarter of an hour where you will see an ancient alley.
Xunwei Bookstore is located here.
At the entrance of the alley, there are hawkers hawking their wares, craftsmen making lifelike sugar figures, and fragrant cakes freshly baked. The playful wind blows the fragrance far away.
When the wheels rolled over the bumpy cobblestone road, the bells were shaken and jingled...
Cong Nian once heard Yu Xinghe playing the violin under this roof.
The sound of the piano is sometimes melodious and lingering, sometimes low and hoarse, like a storyteller in a teahouse holding a wake-up stick and telling stories about a small town.
The clear raindrops drip along the eaves, weaving one beautiful dream after another.
The long alleys of the city are fireworks when gathered together and the world when spread out.
Cong Nian held Yu Xinghe's hand and walked through the alleys.
The alley is wide enough for six or seven people to walk side by side.
The alley is small and can only accommodate pedestrians and bicycles.
In a city with endless traffic, there is such a small world that makes people feel as if they have come to a paradise isolated from the world.
"I feel so hungry just by smelling this."
Yu Xinghe took a deep breath in the air.
"What's better to eat?"
The alleys are full of roadside snacks and specialty restaurants.
Cong Nian pulled Yu Xinghe's hand and pointed to several small tables set up under the tent.
"Let's go have shrimp roe wontons, shall we? Hot wontons with a plate of potstickers dipped in vinegar and chili peppers~"
"Go, go, go. You're making me drool."
After ordering the meal, the two sat under a big tree outside.
It was already dark, and there was a breeze blowing through the alley, so it didn't feel very hot.
When people are hungry, they want to eat everything they see.
"There's a tofu pudding stall over there, eh? Do you like salty or sweet?"
"Wow, there are also red bean dumplings, I love them."
"Then there are also painted sugar figures!"
Cong Nian pointed to a tricycle on the side of the road, on which were stuck several malt candies in the shape of the twelve zodiac animals.
There were many children gathered around, jumping up and down happily, clapping their hands and shouting "it seems so".
Yu Xinghe reminded:
"Have you forgotten the last time you ate malt sugar and your teeth were so sticky they couldn't be separated for a long time?"
Cong Nian silently withdrew his gaze and vaguely felt a toothache.
She has a lot of dark history.
"Pot stickers are here. There's vinegar and chili peppers on the table. Add as much as you want."
"The wontons are already in the pot, just wait a little longer."
The proprietress came over with two plates of pot stickers, smiling.
The face, red from the steam, looked particularly kind.
"Thank you, Madam."
Cong Nian picked up the chopsticks, put one in his mouth first, and his brows immediately relaxed with satisfaction.
"When it comes to foodies, I'm not going to give in to anyone but you."
Yu Xinghe watched her devour the pot stickers one by one like a whirlwind, and couldn't help but want to applaud her.
"Wontons are here."
The steaming wontons were served, with thin skin and plenty of filling, filling up a full bowl.
Accompanied by the bustling hawking sounds, Cong Nian ate happily.
He finished eating quickly and sat aside, touching his stomach and burping.
"Niannian, please teach me how to be like you and never gain weight no matter how much you eat."
Cong Nian tilted his head and thought about it, and there seemed to be stars in his eyes.
Then he smiled.
"Maybe it's...genes?"
The upturned corners of his eyes and the teasing in his eyes while he was speaking made Yu Xinghe almost mistake the person in front of him for He Sui.
Someone once said:
When two people are together for a long time, they will become more and more like each other.
Cong Nian had been with her for more than three years, and apart from his personality, his expression and tone were nothing like hers.
She is so silly and naive that people can't help but love her more.
And she had been living at He Sui's house...it hadn't even been half a month, had it?!
This expression and tone already have a bit of He Sui's vibe.
“Tsk tsk tsk…”
It turns out that people who fall in love are different.
After dinner, the two walked deeper into the alley.
Under a wall covered with trumpet creepers is the gate of Xunwei Bookstore.
I pushed open the door and heard a ding-dong sound above my head.
It startled the gray cat that was sleeping soundly on the desk next to it.
With a "meow", the gray cat stretched, jumped off the table, and circled around the two people's legs.
There was also a "gurgling" sound coming from his mouth.
The boss came down from the attic holding a stack of newspapers, adjusted his glasses, and looked at them carefully:
"Here I am. Long time no see."
"haven't seen you for a long time."
After a brief greeting, everyone went back to their own business.
The two of them placed their schoolbags by the window and turned on the small desk lamp.
From here you can see people coming and going outside through the window.
The air was filled with a faint floral scent, and a record player nearby was playing retro and quiet music.
Most people who come here order a cup of coffee or milk tea and sit there for the entire afternoon.
This is a retro bookstore. The overall colors are beige and brown. There are a few green ivy plants dotted in the corners of the wall, and there are a few pots of mint on the table.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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