Chapter 19: It's like watching a frenzy...
Li Jiacong picked up the letter from Li Sheng at the mailroom. The feeling of opening the envelope and taking out the letter was like opening a gift.
Upon opening the letter, he saw Li Sheng's beautiful handwriting, far superior to his own scribbled mess. He quickly finished reading, returned to his seat, and casually pulled out a piece of paper to write a reply.
Thank you for your blessings, thank you for taking care of Li Ai...
Li Jiacong frowned, feeling that this was too much like a thank-you note, too formal, too fake, and unnecessary. However, he really had nothing to say, and his own life was actually quite boring, so he wrote "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival" in large letters on the paper.
Qian He entered the classroom, and Li Jiacong waved to him: "Come here!"
Li Jiacong took out his wallet from his desk, pulled out a twenty-yuan note, and said to Qian He, "Buy me a Faye Wong album."
Qian He had run errands for him quite a bit; he had even bought the album for him before. He was used to the rich young master having plenty of money but little time, so after taking the money, he asked, "Which one do you want?"
"Whatever, buy whichever you think sounds better."
…
"Only Love Strangers." Li Sheng frowned as he looked at the cassette tape Li Jiacong had sent him. The album featured the female singer he had mentioned to Jiacong in his letter, but…
What was he trying to say? Li Sheng didn't know if there was any hint in the letter, or if he was simply fulfilling his promise to send him the cassette tape. Li Sheng emptied the entire envelope; inside was only one sentence: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival.
The timing of receiving the letter was perfect; the moon was bright outside the window, and today was the Mid-Autumn Festival. Li Sheng listened to songs on the new cassette tape while thinking about writing another letter, but glancing at the four large, flowing characters, he didn't know what to say.
It's pointless to reply.
After sitting for a while, someone called from outside the door. He heard his grandmother calling him, so Li Sheng got up and went to the door.
"Sheng'er, come on, let's go to my place for dinner!"
This is Li Sheng's first festival without a "reunion," and there will likely be countless more in the future.
Li Sheng hesitated: "Grandma...I..." Ever since his encounter with Li Jiazong, he felt ashamed whenever he faced his grandparents.
Li Jiacong's grandmother grabbed him: "Come on! Haven't eaten yet? It's just me and your grandfather at home. When Jiacong leaves, it makes me feel all cold and lonely in the house."
As she spoke, she pulled Li Sheng away. Unable to resist her enthusiasm, Li Sheng had no choice but to comply.
A large bowl of dumplings sat on the small table. Li Sheng went in, greeted Li Jiazong's grandfather, helped set out the bowls, chopsticks, soy sauce, and vinegar, and then sat down. Li Jiazong's grandmother picked up a dumpling for him: "I heard you're going to rent out the land?"
The village can't keep secrets, so Li Sheng wasn't surprised at all: "Yes, we'll collect the harvest in October and rent it out to someone else next year."
"Are the sheep being sold too?"
"Yeah, I'm going out to work, I won't have time to take care of them."
"We're leaving now. Do you know anyone outside?"
"I asked Zhao Cheng, and he said he could introduce me to someone."
Jia Cong's grandmother opened her eyes wide: "Oh my, is that believable? I think that kid looks like a scoundrel."
“He knows people. Several of my classmates from the village are hanging out with him and they all work in the city. I asked him to help me find a job. Whether it works out or not, I’ll find out when I go and see.”
"Be careful out there!"
Li Sheng nodded. Just as they were finishing their meal, the phone rang. Jia Cong's grandmother answered and immediately laughed, "Hello! Mmm! You little rascal!"
Li Sheng was stunned. For the old lady to call him that, it must be...
"Hey! Okay! Your grandpa's drinking! It's alright..." It must be because of the holiday, Li Jiacong called to say hello.
After chatting for a while, Jia Cong's grandma suddenly said, "Li Sheng is with me! Why don't you two say a few words?"
A long telephone cord was handed to Li Sheng, who, before he could react, had already blankly pressed the receiver to his ear. Li Jiacong's voice came through: "Li Sheng?"
"Um."
There seemed to be a slight chuckle on the other end, a slightly distorted voice that struck him just right: "Did you receive the tape?"
Li Sheng replied stiffly, "Received."
"That's pretty fast. Who else would you like to hear from? Tell me and I'll send it to you."
"No……"
"Alright, your handwriting is beautiful—will Li Ai still want to hang out with you?" Li Jiacong was very natural and talkative.
But Li Sheng didn't understand him. He remembered what he had written, but he wouldn't reply with more than a few words, simply saying, "It's alright, Li Ai comes occasionally."
"Don't spoil her too much."
Li Sheng smiled and said, "No."
There didn't seem to be much to say. After asking a few more casual questions, Li Jiacong hung up the phone. For a while, Li Sheng sat there staring blankly at the red landline, imagining that he could hear Li Jiacong's voice again, until he heard the sound of water being flushed in the kitchen. He was then jolted awake and helped wash the dishes.
News of the job came after the National Day holiday. Zhao Cheng invited him to his house, where a large group of people gathered every day to play cards, smoke, and watch DVDs. That group consisted of the "strongest" labor force in the entire village, and when they got together, it seemed they were always planning to do something big.
The door wasn't locked, but Li Sheng knocked and only came in after hearing a response. As soon as he pushed the door open, everyone looked at him.
"Li Sheng?" someone said, "Why are you here again?"
"Have you finished serving the young master?"
Hahahaha.
Li Sheng's expression remained unchanged as he looked at Zhao Cheng sitting in the crowd. Zhao Cheng broke the ice with a smile: "Don't talk nonsense. Li Jiacong and Li Sheng are brothers."
Li Sheng was a little tense. He wanted to say that he and Li Jiacong weren't brothers, and he wanted to get rid of that brotherly label. Before he could speak, Zhao Cheng asked him to sit down, offered him sunflower seeds and beer, and said, "I asked around for you. There's a restaurant in the Qiuhua district that's hiring waiters. They provide accommodation, so you can start working there. 9 am to 9 pm, with a two-hour lunch break. It's 800 yuan a month. Is that okay?"
The duration is too long, but 800 is not bad. Li Sheng readily agreed: "Okay. Thank you, Brother Cheng."
He had bought cigarettes for Zhao Cheng before, and this time he drank the beer in front of him as a thank you.
Zhao Cheng patted his back and nodded in satisfaction.
-
Countdown to the National College Entrance Examination: 227 days.
To mitigate the impact of the high temperatures, the 2003 National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) was moved from July 7th to June 7th. However, high school seniors still didn't seem to feel particularly acute or nervous about this date. Li Jiacong had just woken up, slept through a math class, and by the time school was almost over, his drowsiness for the day was finally gone.
Qian He walked up to Li Jiacong with a beaming smile, blocking the countdown on the blackboard: "It's Friday today, want to go rollerblading after school? I've made plans with a girl."
Every Friday is a free time that Li Jiacong's mother has secured for him, but he hesitates: "I'd rather go to an internet cafe."
"Wow, I'm impressed. How do you never get tired of this? The computer isn't going anywhere. You meet people once, and who knows when you'll see them again. You can't miss this opportunity. These girls are really pretty."
Li Jiacong wasn't buying it: "Do you want me to pay for it?"
Qian He chuckled. When he went out with Li Jiacong, Li Jiacong almost always paid; it had become a habit.
"Do I look like a rich, stupid person?"
Qian He put his arm around him and said, "Don't say that. I was just thinking about you. Besides, I can't show that gentlemanly demeanor to those three girls over there. I really don't have the ability. Can't I give you a chance to show it? The pressure of the college entrance exam is so great. Wouldn't it be good to have a girl to chat with to relieve the pressure? This is the girl I told you about last time. She's someone I met at the tutoring class."
Li Jiacong sneered. Qian He begged him again, and Li Jiacong finally agreed. It was Friday, so he could exercise a little.
After school, they started walking out one after another. Qian He kept talking in his ear, describing the types and temperaments of the three girls, and even saying which one looked suitable for him, subtly hinting that one of them was one of Qian He's own favorites.
The school gate was packed with cars, causing a traffic jam. Qian He pulled him towards the side of the road: "Let's take a taxi! I'll pay the fare!"
"Thank you?"
Qian He smiled and was about to speak when someone next to him suddenly called out, "Li Jiacong."
Li Jiacong and Qian He turned to look together.
Beside the flower bed stood a slender boy with neat short hair, wearing a gray-white long-sleeved shirt and light blue jeans. He had clear and clean features, and his proportions were as good as a model's. He had a very pure and innocent aura.
“Li Sheng?” Li Jiacong was taken aback. “Why are you here?” Li Sheng seemed to have lost weight. He had cut his hair short and was wearing the clothes Li Jiacong had given him, but he looked better than Li Jiacong.
Qian He interjected, "Who is this?"
Li Sheng walked over: "I've come here to work."
Li Jiacong's eyes widened, and after a moment, he smiled and said, "That's great!"
Qian He also asked, "Who is this?"
Li Jiacong remembered to introduce, "This is... my relative's younger brother. This is my classmate, Qian He."
Upon hearing that it was his younger brother, Qian He immediately straightened up and shook Li Sheng's hand: "Hey! Good buddy."
Li Sheng smiled, looking very handsome. Qian He casually put his arm around Li Sheng's shoulder and said, "Then let's go together."
Li Sheng looked at Li Jiacong with a puzzled expression: "Where are we going?"
"Rollerblading," Li Sheng said suddenly, but it wouldn't cause any trouble. "Want to join me?" Li Jiacong asked.
Qian He: "Yeah! There are three girls over there! Perfect! Just right!"
Li Sheng raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Jiacong. He seemed to have come at an inopportune time. Li Jiacong was looking for another girl, but the other's gaze remained calm, as if asking him, "Are you going or not?"
Li Sheng said, "I can't."
Qian He: "It's okay! Let your brother teach you, he knows everything."
At the Black Horse Inline Skating Rink, a giant rotating light ball in the center illuminated the entire rink in vibrant colors, making it resemble a dance hall. There were quite a few people there, spinning around and around.
Dance music was blaring loudly. Not long after they arrived, the three girls also arrived. Qian He immediately started chatting and laughing with one of them. The other two girls smiled and nodded at them before going to change into their roller skates.
Four wheels, two side by side, make it easy to stand still. But after Li Sheng changed his shoes, his long legs felt like they were filled with lead, and he couldn't move an inch, while Li Jiacong moved freely and slid over to help him.
"Where do you stay here?" Li Jiacong asked.
“There is a dormitory,” Li Sheng said. “I work at Yunji Hotel.”
Li Jiacong: "Oh! That place? I've been there once. My home isn't far from there."
Li Jiacong pulled Li Sheng's arm and spun around the ice rink. He smiled at Li Sheng's stiff steps and said, "Relax, I'm supporting you."
He taught Li Sheng how to move forward, how to brake, and how to turn. Only after giving him verbal instructions was he allowed to try, and Li Sheng slowly began to move the vehicle.
Li Jiacong circled around him, extending his arm for him to steady himself. When he had a moment, he asked again, "Do you have an IC card?"
Li Sheng paused for a moment, looked at him, and said, "I bought it."
After arriving in the city the day before yesterday, he first went to report to his workplace. The interview went very well, and he wouldn't start work for a few days. He quickly bought daily necessities and an IC card. He originally wanted to call Li Jiazong to let him know, but he couldn't find an opportunity to call him. Today, he just wanted to bump into Li Jiazong by chance, and he actually did.
Li Jiacong: "Okay, there are plenty of public phone booths. Next time I'll take you to an internet cafe and get you an OICQ number."
"What?"
"Contact me—oh right, it's a chat and social networking software. You can learn to use the computer, and later you'll be able to see me on the other side of the computer screen. Anyway, it's quite convenient to contact anyone."
Li Sheng nodded blankly, gradually getting used to the wheels under his feet. He could keep up with Li Jiazong's pace. He asked, "Are you happy that I'm here?"
"I'm so happy!" Li Jiacong said casually. "Isn't it great to come out and see the outside world?"
Before Li Sheng could speak, Qian He and the girl he liked slipped hand in hand to their side. Qian He called Li Jiacong by his full name, winked, glanced elsewhere, and then quickly slid away, glancing at two other girls who were also supporting each other as they tentatively moved forward.
"Am I holding you back?" Li Sheng glanced at him. "Go and teach them."
"What delay? I don't even know them." Li Jiacong squinted at them. "I think there's a meeting going on. Isn't that a legitimate religious gathering?"
Li Sheng said casually, "We got to know each other after a short meeting."
Li Jiacong frowned, wondering why Li Sheng was chasing him away. After thinking for a moment, he said, "You want that girl to teach you?"
Li Sheng was stunned: "No."
"Sure, I'll order it for you?"
Li Sheng felt like his heart was in Li Jiacong's hands. With just a few words, Li Jiacong could crush his heart beyond recognition. They had had that kind of relationship, but Li Sheng had no right to ask Li Jiacong for extra care, no right to be jealous. He smiled bitterly: "No... it's enough that you taught me."
Li Jiacong chuckled smugly, whether he said these words intentionally or unintentionally, he slid in front of him and put his hand on his waist: "Shall I take you for a spin?"
Li Sheng gripped his clothes tightly, and his feet began to slide forward with Li Jiazong, constantly increasing his speed.
High speed and thrills—that's the true experience of roller skating. With the music, they went faster and faster, so fast they couldn't see the people and things around them. Li Sheng gripped a narrow waistband, following the direction of the waist to see Li Jiacong's slender back, his shoulder blades barely visible. One wrong move, and he was about to lose his balance. In that instant of loss of balance, he let go, his whole body tumbling out with the speed, crashing into the soft wall below the outer edge of the skating ring and coming to a stop.
When Li Jiacong realized the person behind him was gone, he turned around and saw Li Sheng stuck in the wall, unable to stand up with one leg pinned to the ground.
Li Jiacong thought of Li Sheng stuck in the crack in the ground; his long arms and legs looked a bit disproportionate. He chuckled as he slid over: "What kind of pose is this?"
Li Sheng reached out to grab him, but Li Jiacong pulled him up, saying, "Why did you let go?"
"You're going to fall, I'm afraid I'll trip you up."
"You won't learn to balance until you've tripped a hundred or eighty times in this game. Besides, you can't trip me. Come on, slide again! Let's see if you can tumble me down."
Li Sheng waved his hand in refusal: "You go ahead, I'll rest for a bit."
He leaned against the wall and watched as Li Jiacong shrugged and said, "Alright."
Stepping into the pool, Li Jiacong picked up speed in a few strides, quickly weaving through the crowd. People would occasionally glance at him, smile, and then, with a quick turn, glide backwards.
Li Sheng smiled and clapped lightly. His gaze followed Li Jiazong's figure. Everything else was blurry, but he saw clearly the movement of Li Jiazong's body as he turned around with light steps. It felt like watching a passionate and free dance.
Li Sheng slid a few steps and awkwardly followed.
A note from the author:
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Shengzi is going to the city!
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