Entering April, the weather is gradually warmer, people who have been dormant for a winter are tempted by the sun, outdoor activities have increased, and the "year of water" has finally survived the off-season for a few months, and business is heating up, from the beauticians in the store to the customers who often go in and out of the beauty shop, they have become accustomed to the Land Rover lying in front of the store every day. But one day, everyone felt that something was missing today. After thinking about it carefully, it turned out that the black Land Rover, as well as the man who loved to wear a white shirt, were absent.

Rigor went to Tianjin, which was the reason why he had to be absent.

He is nominally the boss of "one-third", but in fact there are not many opportunities to come to Tanggu every month, except for a weekly inspection, there is no major event and he will not show up easily. Once the staff in the store saw Rigor appearing, they knew that an important person was coming to dinner, and they had to quickly pick up their spirits and deal with it seriously.

The "third" occupies the convenient location, far away from the city, and if necessary, the gangway outside the cabin is removed, and the independent water is a country of its own, and no one has many eyes to bother, so from time to time there will be mysterious people who use this place as a place for intimate conversations. When coming, most light cars are simple, and how low-key they should be. This time, the pomp and circumstance of the diners who came to the door were a little special.

More than a dozen people entered the door, a black suit and white shirt, and the one who started the door, the black trench coat was open, revealing the white turtleneck inside, the scalp was shaved brightly, and he still refused to take off his sunglasses when he entered the room.

There is no one else who can make such a special spirit and pomp, it is the former comrade-in-arms of Rigorous, Feng Weixing and Boss Feng.

Rigor is very unhappy, because he sees the person he doesn't want to see again, the underworld boss who looks like a middle school teacher - "Little Beauty".

Feng Weixing greeted him and said that he would bring someone to dinner, looking at the faces of his comrades-in-arms and friends for many years, and strictly instructed the chef to serve him well. But he didn't mention that the "little beauty" also came, and in front of this person, he was very awkward in his heart. But no matter how unhappy it is, in the end, I have to go into the box to say hello in the way of face.

As soon as I entered the door, there were more than a dozen people at a large table, more than a dozen hula people stood up, "Brother Yan" was long and "Brother Jin" was short, toasting, greeting, and hugging, all in a mess.

Only three people were calmer and sat still all the time, Feng Weixing was one, the "Little Beauty" was one, and the third person was sitting on the right hand side of the Little Beauty.

Rigorous eyes swept over, and because the target that appeared in his sight was too unexpected, he was stunned for a moment - the one sitting next to the little beauty was actually that KK again.

As if it was telepathy, KK also raised his eyes to glance at him and smiled at the same time as he locked onto his target.

This smile made Rigor chuckle in his heart, as if something had moved.

Although he didn't want to see KK at all, he felt that a woman with a pointed chin was delicate, and a man with such a chin ran all the way to the gloomy one, but he had to admit that this little "duck" was indeed beautiful, and his smile could definitely be described as brilliant, like the sun suddenly jumping out of the night.

After a rigorous mistake, the "little beauty" had already stood up and sat down in the vacant seat on the left side of his shoulder, and the gentle and affectionate energy, as if he had sent someone to smash the store a few days ago, had nothing to do with him.

Seeing "Little Beauty" and KK at the same time on similar occasions twice in a row, Rigor had vaguely understood what was going on, and when he saw the hand of "Little Beauty" on his shoulder, his slender pale fingers, he suddenly felt a wave of nausea. He quietly changed his position and took the opportunity to avoid physical contact with the "little beauty".

The "Little Beauty" did not notice his disgust at all, and called two of his subordinates to toast Rigor to apologize.

Without waiting for a serious excuse, the two stood up and poured wine, although they said respectfully, but the posture was provocative at first glance. One of them has a mouth, and two black holes at the front teeth. It turned out that these two people were the masterminds who smashed the shop and hurt people last time, and they were beaten up by someone rigorously, and one of them still has four missing teeth in his mouth that have not been filled.

Strictly look down, each person with three glasses, sixty-five degrees of liquor poured into the glass, at least three taels per glass, it seems that today is clear, the "little beauty" is to avenge the brother, if you don't pour yourself under the table, it will be difficult to cross this hurdle today.

Everyone's eyes were staring at the strictness, he just smiled, asked the waiter to take a big bowl, rolled up his sleeves and poured three glasses of white wine into the bowl, and then in the surprised eyes of everyone, he raised the bowl and said: "In the past, there was a place where I couldn't live with my brothers, but now I will pay for my sins with wine." I'll do this bowl, and my brother will be casual. Without waiting for the other party to answer, he had already raised his face and drank it all, without taking a breath, nearly a pound of liquor, and it was really dry in one gulp.

The smell of wine is so hot that it can be wiped on the wound to disinfect, and it flows down the throat and eyes into the esophagus, like a burning blade, rubbing out a trajectory of sparks, hissing and burning all the way into the body.

Strictly put down the bowl and said that he was offended. Several people on the "Little Beauty" side were shocked by his actions, and no one spoke out for a while. Rigor slammed the door and left. Everyone watched him go out, and there was no sound in the house, only the afterglow of closing the door rigorously and vigorously echoed in the room.

KK stared intently at his back, his eyes flickering on and off, as if he was thinking about something.

Rigorous and strong heroes go out. It didn't take a few steps before it felt like things were not good. No matter how good he is, he can't resist such a fierce way of drinking. After all, it is nearly a pound of liquor, not a bowl of boiled water. At this moment, the boiling blood rushed to the heart, the heart seemed to beat at the base of the tongue, and the liquid that had just been swallowed swelled in the stomach, not only the throat and eyes were hot, but the skin was also as uncomfortable as burning, as if the air around it suddenly became thin and hot. The outline of the object in front of me began to blur and sway, as if standing on a jolting steamer.

Rigidly leaning against the wall, sweat trickling down his forehead. Someone stepped forward to help him, but he pushed him away. Facing the panicked and surprised eyes of the waiters, he tried his best to pretend that he was fine, and staggered into the bathroom.

Everyone says that the amount of alcohol is unfathomable, and he has been smiling since the age of seventeen, but no one knows that in recent years he has been extremely sensitive to everything that stimulates the nerves—wine, coffee, tea, and cola. For more than five years, in order to keep a sniper's heart and hands stable, he strictly refused all of the above foods that affected human concentration and judgment, even cough syrup. After the strict taboo, the ban was opened again, and the original amount of alcohol was still there, but the consequence was that his body's reaction to alcohol was more intense than that of ordinary people.

Spit violently on the toilet, and the tumbling stomach is finally relaxed. Drain the water to wash away the filth, staggered out rigorously, saw the pale face in the mirror, simply put his head under the faucet, rushed a happy rush, and then closed his eyes and shook his head, and there was an "ouch" behind him.

Rigor Huo Di raised his head, and the person in the mirror who was wiping the water stains all over his face with a tissue was KK.

The two were too close, so close that they made Rigor uncomfortable. He thought that he had drunk too much, and he didn't notice that he was approached so closely, and he lost even the most basic reaction. Because in a normal state, there is almost no possibility for ordinary people to approach rigor from behind.

With a look of disgust, he asked KK, "What are you doing?" ”

KK lowered his head and wiped the water stains on his body with a tissue that had wiped his face. The paper towel was already crumpled, and he was still wiping his head, again and again, serious and persistent, and the white confetti was left on the black shirt, as if dandruff, which looked eye-catching and dazzling.

The last thing I want to see on weekdays is a sissy man, especially this man is suspected of being in the skin and meat business. Impatient, he ignored KK, threw the paper towel into the waste cardboard box, and walked to the door.

But KK suddenly made an unexpected move. He took a few steps forward, and when he opened the door, he brushed his body and slammed the door with his knees.

Rigorous has drunk alcohol, and his reaction is much more sluggish, but he is still different from ordinary people. Almost subconsciously, the body was completely uninstructed by the brain, turned sideways, buckled, and at the moment when KK's body touched him, he had already thrown KK face down to the ground, and twisted KK's arms back to his back, pressing his arms with his knees.

KK's face instantly turned red, and the sharp pain in his shoulders made him dare not struggle at all, and he scolded with a crying voice: "× your uncle!" ”

"Scolding what? Scold me again? ”

"× your uncle!"

"Hey, the little bunny has a pretty hard mouth!" Rigor knees down slightly with a little force.

KK's face was squeezed on the cold floor, tears were completely uncontrollable, flowing down the corners of his eyes, his arm hurt so much that his voice was out of tune, but he still shouted: "× your uncle!" × your uncle! ”

Unexpectedly, his tough attitude prompted Rigor to let go of his legs. He straightened up and kicked KK hard: "It's your luck to not waste your arm, get up!" ”

KK hummed and chirped and got up, rubbed his shoulders and rubbed his buttocks, as if possessed by a repeater, and his mouth was still the same: "× your uncle!" ”

The eldest uncle, who was repeatedly greeted by others like this, laughed instead of being angry. He said: "It's too cost-effective for you to scold people like this, really, it's easy to make people doubt your sexual orientation, and you know that it belongs to the scolding method of killing 800 enemies and losing 3,000 yourself, right?" ”

As if poked in the sore spot, KK's face changed suddenly, he closed his mouth and stared at Rigor fiercely, a word choked in his throat, and he couldn't make a sound for a long time.

Rigor folded his arms and looked KK up and down, "Say, what do you want to do?" ”

KK squinted at him and asked in a stunned voice, "I'll go to the toilet, okay?" ”

Rigor replied calmly: "Okay, you can do anything." But let me tell you, I'm in a good mood at this time, and I'm willing to talk to you more, and there won't be this shop in this village. ”

KK's face was momentarily dull, and the gaze was fixed in the bright light of the bathroom. He quickly lowered his head, and then raised his face to change his expression, from his eyes to his tone, he relaxed from his eyes to his tone, Chu Chu looked at Yan Yan pitifully, his eyes were slightly red, and his voice was weak: "Brother, you help me, help me once, is it done?" ”

If it weren't for the connection between nerves and blood vessels, Rigorous's eyeballs would have almost fallen off. KK's change in attitude is too drastic and dramatic, compared to the sharp teeth and sharp mouth just now, it is like two people.

"What did you say?"

KK knelt down with a thud: "Brother, Liu Wei, they all look at your face, you tell me about ......"

Rigorous was startled, and before he could speak, he heard someone outside clicking and twisting the door lock, "Damn, ×, who's inside?" What do you do when you lock the door in broad daylight? ”

Listening to the voice is none other than Liu Wei. Looking at KK rigorously, KK also looked at him pitifully, his eyes full of begging.

Outside, Liu Wei was still shouting: "Open the door!" Don't open Lao Tzu and kick the door again! And then there was a loud bang, and he really started kicking.

Pondered for a moment, then shook his head resolutely, turned his back to face the mirror and straightened his hair. KK behind him closed his eyes in despair, and when he opened them again, he was already full of determination, he stood up and forcefully opened the bathroom door.

Liu Wei crashed in, pulled down the zipper of his pants and rushed to the urinal, still scolding in his mouth: "What the fuck are you messing with?" It's itchy again, isn't it? ”

KK ignored him and walked away without looking back.

Rigor leaned against the sink for a while. KK's expression when he was leaving, as desperate as if he was on the execution ground, like a frozen photo, kept shaking in front of his eyes.

He frowned, not liking his sudden compassion.

When I returned to my office, I slept for more than five hours with the door closed, and I was able to evaporate most of the alcohol in my body, and I could barely drive back to Beijing.

Feng Weixing and the "Little Beauty" had already left, and they had not settled the bill, and the restaurant manager came with the bill to ask for rigorous instructions.

Glancing at the bill rigorously, seeing that the money is not too much, I didn't take it seriously. Pull open the drawer and pull out a cigar, then lift his chin at the manager, "Point it." ”

The manager hurriedly put down the bill, took out a special match from his jacket pocket, stepped forward and lit it, and asked with some curiosity: "Boss, I've known you for so long, I haven't seen you drink high, what's wrong today?" ”

Rigor didn't speak for a while, stilted his two long legs onto the table, and spat a cigarette towards the ceiling before he spoke: "I'll tell you a story." ”

"You say."

"Once upon a time there was a sea turtle, and everybody said he was a heavy drinker, but one day he got drunk, and they asked him, 'Why are you still drunk?' This buddy replied: Alas, it's all to blame on the grandson of the octopus, I have to fight with Lao Tzu, I have so many hands, I can't see it, it's really a miserable loss! ”

The manager choked with laughter, coughed for a long time, and finally gave a three-word evaluation: "Count you ruthless!" ”

It was past two o'clock in the morning when I drove home from Rigorous.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't a home, just a permanent base for him. A split-level apartment near Chaoyang Park is not particularly large, but it is easy to access, well-equipped, and far enough away from my parents' house, so I put some simple furniture and want to stay alone for a few days.

Although the alcohol in his body has basically been decomposed, when he got out of the car, his steps were still a little staggering, and his usually upright back was a little rickety.

He felt a pain in his back. It's been nearly ten years, as if to warn him, and every time he eats and does nothing, he has to endure the same torture. A bowl of liquor in the afternoon seemed to trigger an old injury, and a jujube kernel called "pain" seemed to be hidden in the crack of the bone in the lumbar vertebrae, and the dull pain radiating from it was like a rhythmic horse's hooves kicking and trampling him, which could make him unable to move at any time.

The first thing he did when he entered the door was a bathtub full of hot water, and he carefully slid in, closing his eyes as if asleep, and only when he got closer could he see the almost stiff muscle lines on his face. It hurts so much, the little steel nail of the alloy seems to have life, and it can run around in the body at will.

I don't know how long it took, maybe it was the residue of alcohol, maybe it was the soaking of hot water, and he felt his heart beat fast...... When did the surroundings become pitch black, violent shaking, extremely violent, the roar of the hippopotamus helicopter...... It's too windy...... Comrades-in-arms, watch out for crosswinds, hold on! Hold on! No! …… The rain poured down, and there was no light in sight, only the sound of the noise in my ears, and the cold rain poured on my face, pouring people breathlessly, cold, really cold......

Rigor suddenly woke up, and he found himself asleep in the bathtub, and the water beneath him had become cold. He staggered out of the bathtub, wiped it off, turned to the mirror, and at the second lumbar vertebrae, a gray scar was still visible after ten years.

For the remaining three or four hours of the night, he didn't feel a trace of sleep. How long has it been since you've had a dream like this again? Others only know that this person is very arrogant and heartless, but no one knows that he often has insomnia and often has nightmares. In his dreams, there were always gunshots, the roar of helicopters and the fires in the jungle, and he was trudging alone on a mountain road, falling off a cliff or falling into a river and being washed away, trying to catch something, but he couldn't catch anything, and he often struggled to wake up. When you wake up, you can't sleep again.

At this moment, memories of ten years ago came flooding back, accompanied by a thick darkness that seemed to never pierce. With his hands flat on his knees, he watched quietly for a long time, until the south-facing window, the milky white morning light spilled through the edges of the tightly drawn curtains, and everything in the bedroom gradually took on a soft white outline.

Carefully open the curtains, outside the window is a blue-gray sky, there is no sunlight, and it is a thin and cloudy day. The cool morning breeze of spring hits people's faces, and it feels familiar year after year. It was mentioned by his deceased son Jiayu, who said that a Russian poet named Pushkin once recited, and that feeling of recalling an incomplete youthful past many years later.

The season has entered the late spring, and the business of Ji Xiaoou's beauty shop has become more prosperous. She goes out early and returns late every day, so busy that her feet don't touch the ground, and she loses weight when she sees people.

Along with the increase in temperature, there are also housing prices.

How hot is the topic of housing prices? It was so hot that the guests were lying on the beauty bed, receiving massage from the beautician, while exchanging information about the skyrocketing housing prices, so hot that Ji Xiaoou received more than a dozen calls from intermediaries a day, asking her if she sold the house. Whenever he receives this kind of call, Ji Xiaoou always replies lightly: "Can you give me a villa?" Give me the villa and I can sell the house. The other party immediately died down and would never harass her again. One day, Ji Xiaoou was in a good mood, so she chatted with an agent a few more words, and the agent told her that the house left to her by her grandmother was only worth 500,000 yuan three years ago, and now it can be sold for at least 2 million or more.

Ji Xiaoou's mouth suddenly opened into an O-shape: Two million! That's the sum of her profits for nearly a decade!

When she got home, she couldn't help but show off her wealth to Zhao Yamin: "Mom, now I am barely a little rich woman, with more than two million fixed assets!" ”

Zhao Yamin glanced at her vigorously: "You should be a little more restrained, such a big person, you can't hold a little bit of things in your heart." Let your second aunt know, maybe there will be some kind of moth. With your father's abusive temper, maybe he will pay to make up for other people's losses. ”

Ji Xiaoou was full of excitement and was hit to the freezing point, and went back to his room with a snort.

Although the house price has risen outrageously, but if you don't sell the house, two million is a virtual meaningless number, just for Ji Xiaoou to count the banknotes in her dreams, and she has to get up to take care of her beauty shop at dawn, and be a small shopkeeper who doesn't have much interest, this is Zhao Yamin's original words.

On rainy days, cold and humid, most people are reluctant to go out because of the trouble, and the number of customers in the beauty shop has plummeted, which is often a rest day for Ji Xiaoou and the beauticians in the store. Boss Ji, who has always been a fan of money and harsh, announced a half-day holiday for the first time, and several beautician girls cheered and quickly disappeared, leaving Ji Xiaoou alone to watch the store.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the rain became heavier and heavier, and the sky was dark and dark as it was at six or seven o'clock in the evening. In order to save electricity, Ji Xiaoou did not turn on the lights, made a cup of hot tea and sat in front of the window, just about to enjoy a rare leisure, Zhan Yu came in the rain. Standing on the floor in front of the store, his hair drenched against his forehead, his trouser legs dripping and dripping.

Ji Xiaoou jumped in shock, and then remembered that today was the day when Zhan Yu worked and paid off the arrears. Since the two agreed to deduct medical expenses by part-time jobs, this is the fourth time Zhan Yu has come to the store. To be honest, he couldn't do anything in the store, but Ji Xiaoou didn't want him to feel guilty for more than 2,000 yuan, so he tried his best to find some work for him to do.

Seeing Zhan Yu's embarrassed appearance, she couldn't help but blame: "How did you do it?" Make it like this! ”

Zhan Yu said that he forgot to bring an umbrella when he went out, and when he got off the subway to catch up with the heaviest rain, he ran all the way to the "year like water", and he was still drenched.

Ji Xiaoou didn't say a word, pulled him up and went to the bathroom, Zhan Yu's hands were cold.

"This kind of weather is still running out, Zhan Yu, are you stupid or what's wrong?"

"I've made an appointment, I'm afraid my sister will wait for me." Zhan Yu has always been concise and to the point.

"Can't you just make a phone call?"

"The dorm phone is broken."

Ji Xiaoou sighed, pushed Zhan Yu into the bathroom, took out a set of men's sportswear that he wore as pajamas, and forced Zhan Yu to change into it. I found two more packets of instant ginger tea and brewed a cup of piping hot ginger syrup. Zhan Yu was holding the teacup with both hands, and his body was draped with a thin blanket, still shivering with cold.

Ji Xiaoou took a closer look at him and found that his complexion was very ugly, his face was pale from lack of sleep, and there were touching bruises at the corners of his mouth and eyes.

"What is this?" Ji Xiaoou gently touched the corner of his eye with his finger.

"Playing ball, accidentally bumped into it."

Ji Xiaoou glanced at him, obviously not believing what he said: "In the three-dimensional world we live in, what is the chance that the corner of the left eye and the corner of the right mouth will be hit at the same time?" You've fooled me, haven't you? ”

Zhan Yu lowered his eyes: "It's really hit." ”

"Got into a fight?"

"Nope."

"Liar!"

"I didn't lie to you."

The two were talking in a low voice, when they heard the sound of brushing outside, and a black "Infiniti" broke through the rain curtain and stopped on the side of the road in front of the store. Ji Xiaoou said "Huh", surprised that there were still guests coming to the door in this bad weather. She was just about to get to the window, but Zhan Yu had already reached out to wipe the gas and mist from the glass for her. When the shawl accidentally fell, his hand immediately reached over and helped her pull it together, covering her bare shoulders and neck.

Ji Xiaoou felt a little inappropriate, how did Zhan Yu become a continuation of her movements? And his movements are so well connected with her, is he constantly observing her? After thinking about it, she opened her mouth and slowed down her voice as much as possible, so as not to be ashamed of Zhan Yu: "Zhan Yu, let me tell you, forget it with me, girls of your age, you have to be boring to people, but don't do this kind of small action with people." ”

Zhan Yu turned his head and seemed to be puzzled: "Why?" ”

Ji Xiaoou picked the right words to explain: "You have a face that can be called a scourge, you should pay attention to your words and deeds." You see, if you are a little gentle, I can't hold back and I'm about to lose my soul, where can those little girls withstand such a blow? Afraid that you won't be able to give the soul on the spot? ”

Zhan Yu was amused for a moment: "Sister, you don't know the current girls too well!" On the weekend, you can take a look, there are luxury cars outside the girls' dormitory, and any owner of the car has a slightly flat head and a straight face, which is worthy of the audience. Poor students like me, they don't look down on them. ”

Ji Xiaoou immediately complained: "Are you sarcastic about me?" Say that I, a post-80s generation, are so old that there is a generation gap with you? ”

Zhan Yu was about to speak, but was blocked back by Ji Xiaoou's "shhh". She pointed out the window, allowing Zhan Yu to concentrate on the scenery outside the window.

I saw the front door of the Infiniti open, and a man in a dark gray raincoat walked out with a black umbrella, and then walked to the other side to open the door, and helped out a woman, tilting the umbrella to escort her up the steps. At a low temperature of seven or eight degrees, Ji Xiaoou couldn't wait to find the winter padded jacket and put it back on, but the woman was wearing a light chiffon dress and a small leather jacket, and everyone else felt cold for her.

The woman walked in the rain, the man covered most of the umbrella on her side, and the two walked under the eaves, the man put away the umbrella, pulled the coat for her, and then brushed off the drops of water on her bangs. A series of actions are careful and gentle, and the heart of care is overflowing, in front of the gloomy rain background, it seems to be staging an idol drama, which makes the onlookers feel angry.

Ji Xiaoou saw that his upper and lower lips were split apart, and he couldn't close his mouth for a long time.

When the woman turned her head and revealed a small bun face with compact facial features, Ji Xiaoou was even more surprised, this woman who was not afraid to look at death as if she was at home was Fang Niya.

Ji Xiaoou was still guessing the identity of the man, and Fang Niya had already pushed the door in on her chatter, "Honey, dear, baby, where are you?" Why are you so lonely today? ”

Ji Xiaoou hurriedly greeted him: "Sister Nia, didn't you go to Hong Kong?" When did you come back? ”

Fang Niya swept over like a gust of wind, hugged Ji Xiaoou madly, and kissed her cheek left and right: "Honey, heart and liver, dear baby, dear girl, I want to kill you!" ”

Ji Xiaoou hurriedly dodged: "Sister, you spare me." ”

Fang Niya Gege let go of her with a smile, turned to the man by the door, and snorted: "Husband, come here, this is what I often mention to you, the proprietress here, Ji Xiaoou." ”

The man who was called her husband by Fang Niya was not tall, with plain facial features, and a face that was unforgettable, the only thing that left an impression on Ji Xiaoou was the door of his brain - the hairline receded in middle age, and the door of the brain was even more eye-catching. Seeing Ji Xiaoou looking at him, he just nodded at Ji Xiaoou, his expression was very reserved, he didn't even have a smile on his face, and his body was full of indifference.

Ji Xiaoou lowered his smile to the faintest level, and only said a polite greeting: "Hello." ”

Fanya went over and pulled her husband: "Come in!" What are you doing at the door? ”

Ji Xiaoou hadn't said anything yet, and someone opened his mouth coldly first: "Please change your shoes and come in again, okay?" ”

Ji Xiaoou turned her head and saw Zhan Yu standing behind her with a mop, looking at the wet footprints all over the ground, her face was angry, and her mouth pursed into a straight line. She hurriedly rounded the field: "It's okay, it's okay, just wipe it." Sister Nia, you sit down first. ”

Fang Niya stared at Zhan Yu in a daze and asked, "...... is he?" ”

Ji Xiaoou said: "My brother. ”

Zhan Yu hurriedly replied: "Part-time work." "The word is very clear.

Fang Niya pouted: "Yo, the part-time worker is also so good?" ”

Zhan Yu glared at her: "Part-time workers also have professional dignity!" ”

Fang Niya suddenly covered her mouth with her fingers, and smiled: "Ouch, such a beautiful and personalized part-time worker, Ji Xiaoou, which housekeeping company did you dig from, and introduce one to my sister too." Hey, boy, do you buy one get one free? ”

Seeing that Zhan Yu's face was completely dark, Ji Xiaoou hurriedly snatched the mop from his hand, pushed him and said, "Go and help me turn on the kitchen water heater, hurry up, I'll use it later." ”

Zhan Yu threw down the mop, twisted his face and left. Ji Xiaoou smiled at the other party Nia and his wife and said, "My brother is not sensible, don't mind!" ”

Fontia pursed her lips and complained, "Why is this brother of yours a little bit two hundred and five?" I can't afford to make a joke! ”

Ji Xiaoou said: "Child, you are as knowledgeable as him. ”

Fang Niya shook her husband's arm again, "Are you familiar with Xiaoou's brother?" Why do I feel so familiar? Is he like an actor named Joe...... What's going on with Joe? Hey, why can't I remember all of a sudden? What is it called? ”

Her husband, however, stared ahead, his expression frozen, as if he had not heard her.

"Husband? Husband? ”

Fontia's husband was silent, pulling his arm from her palm, pushing open the door and walking out.

"Hey, Chen Jianguo, stop me!" Fanya chased him outside the store and crossed her waist to block his way: "What are you nervous about?" When will you pick me up? ”

He stopped, looked up, and became a gentle and considerate model husband again, "Six o'clock, I'll be on time." ”

Fontia gestured to her cheek. He lifted his eyes, as if to look around, and kissed her on the cheek like a dragonfly.

Ji Xiaoou pursed his lips and smiled, turned his back to avoid.

Until lying on the beauty bed, with a mask on her face, Fang Niya was still worried about her husband's attitude: "It's so good that I suddenly had a nervous breakdown, what did you say I did wrong just now, and he treated me like that?" ”

"Be content, sister!" Ji Xiaoou comforted her while making a hand mask, "Do you know what kind of goods are on the market today?" A man like your husband, successful in his career, considerate and dedicated, everything is focused on his wife, and it is difficult to get a slap in the face of three feet into the ground in Beijing, how lucky you are! ”

"Am I lucky?" Fang Niya opened her eyes, looked at Ji Xiaoou for a while, and suddenly smiled, but there was a bit of reluctance and bitterness in her smile, "Niu'er, sister will tell you something from the heart, marriage matter, you must not be wronged for the brand of those shoes, even if it is hung with a Prada or Hermes brand, don't believe it, you must put your feet in it and try it, the brand is for others to see, and only your feet know if it is comfortable." Tens of millions of people in front of the scenery, went home and took off their shoes and were full of blood blisters. ”

Ji Xiaoou laughed and didn't answer, she knew that Fang Niya had always looked down on her husband and always called him Phoenix Man. Fang Niya said that she looked down on her husband Chen Jianguo at all, he was wooden and silent, a poor and white surgeon, and he only knew how to work and didn't know how to eat, drink and have fun at all. It was her parents who chose for her and made a difference, saying that he would have a future and gave them a two-bedroom house when they got married. When Chen Jianguo resigned from the hospital and opened a medical device import and export company, Fang Niya's father also helped a lot, and in the past two years, Chen Jianguo's talents have become more and more prosperous, and the business has become bigger and bigger, and their home has moved from a two-bedroom apartment of 100 square meters to an independent luxury villa.

Seeing that Fontia's shots are getting more and more generous, her temper is also getting more and more eccentric. I used to be a little nervous, but now I'm getting more and more vitriol. Every time she came to the store, several beauticians stayed away, so they had to drive Ji Xiaoou to go out in person.

Ji Xiaoou has repeatedly laughed at himself, he is not only a beautician, but also often plays the role of a psychiatrist. Not only Fang Niya, but other guests also seem to be willing to talk to her as a confidant, including mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts, husband and wife relationships, love experiences, and even office ambiguity and marital cheating. Maybe they think that Ji Xiaoou is far away from their life circle, and it is harmless to tell her. But after listening to too many tangled stories, Ji Xiaoou felt that he was about to have a psychological disorder, and he couldn't wait to hang a sign in a conspicuous place in the store, which said "100 US dollars per hour for chatting" to put an end to this kind of emotional garbage.

Under the hypnotization of soft gestures, Fontia finally got tired, her eyes slightly closed, and her breathing gradually deepened, as if she was asleep. Ji Xiaoou was afraid that she would catch a cold, and just wanted to add a bed blanket for her, but Fang Niya suddenly sat up and said, "I remembered, no wonder your brother looks familiar, I have seen him." ”

"Really?" Ji Xiaoou helped her shoulder and asked her to lie down, "I've seen it, I've seen it, you don't need to be surprised!" ”

Fang Nia raised her face, as if she was thinking hard, and then shook her head: "No, how is it possible?" Ji Xiaoou, what does your brother do? ”

"Students. What else could he do? ”

"So I remembered wrong?" Fang Niya looked extremely confused, "Do you remember this year's Valentine's Day, when we met your Hu Jun who drove a Land Rover in the hotel elevator, wasn't there another person opposite him?" ”

"Well, what's wrong?"

"That man looks like your brother." Speaking of this, Fanya suddenly realized that her words were extremely inappropriate, and hurriedly made amends, "I mean, they are all beautiful." ”

"I didn't see it." Ji Xiaoou frowned, a little unhappy, "However, is there a comparison between you and you?" What kind of person is that, can you compare with Zhan Yu? ”

Fang Niya smiled: "Yes, my sister said something wrong, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." But such a beautiful child is really unforgettable. ”

Ji Xiaoou was even more unhappy: "Sensei has made up for it, and the more he paints it, the darker it becomes." ”

"Yes, yes, yes." Fanya didn't dare to speak again, closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep, and after a while, she really fell asleep.

Only then did Ji Xiaoou take a breath, cover her with a blanket, and rub her sore wrists to look for Zhan Yu.

There is a small north house next to the kitchen behind the store, separated from the front store by Japanese-style sliding doors, which is usually a warehouse, and Ji Xiaoou has a bed, a small desk and a computer to stay temporarily for the night in case the weather is bad or the store is too late to go home.

When she found Zhan Yu, Zhan Yu was lying on his stomach in front of the computer desk, his head resting on his arms, and he seemed to be asleep.

Alarmed by Ji Xiaoou's footsteps, he sat up straight, and his pale face was shocked, which frightened Ji Xiaoou: "What's wrong with you, Zhan Yu?" ”

Zhan Yu's face was snow-white, but there was a touch of pink around his eyes, and his eyes were wide open, but his eyes were scattered, only a little light in the depths of his eyes, like two pieces of broken ice in a cold pool, cold and hard with light.

Ji Xiaoou reached out and touched his forehead, the temperature was not high, but he felt a cold sweat on his hand.

"Are you feeling unwell?" She asked anxiously.

Zhan Yu seemed to shiver, pushed her hand away and wanted to stand up, tried unsuccessfully, and lay back softly, his voice was weak: "It's a little disgusting." ”

"You're having a bad stomach again? What did you eat for lunch? ”

Zhan Yu shook his head: "I didn't eat it." ”

"And what did you eat in the morning?"

Zhan Yu still shook his head: "I didn't eat it." ”

Ji Xiaoou glared at him: "You haven't eaten anything since morning?" ”

"I didn't eat last night."

"What?" Ji Xiaoou immediately became angry, "What did you do?" You can't skip a meal! Is it addicted to playing games in Internet cafes? You speak! ”

Zhan Yu was silent, and finally spit out two words after holding it for a long time: "Overtime." ”

Ji Xiaoou's anger was reduced by a few points, but he was still angry because he was distressed: "I said Zhan Yu, what kind of work is worth your hard work?" If you want to be a model worker, you have to weigh your little body and bones first! ”

Zhan Yu looked up at her and smiled weakly: "I'll eat when I go back to school." ”

Ji Xiaoou ignored him, turned around and went to the kitchen, and after a while, he came out with a bowl of instant noodles with two eggs and put it in front of Zhan Yu. There were still customers in the store, so she couldn't say much, so she only handed the chopsticks to Zhan Yu and said, "Don't do anything today, you go to bed and sleep for a while after eating, and then go back to school." ”

When Ji Xiaoou sent Fang Niya in again, Zhan Yu had already quietly left through the back door, and the noodles were not moved. Her tracksuit was neatly folded and placed next to the bed. There was a note on it, which read: "Sister, I'll go back to school first, and next time I come if it's sunny to help you wipe the light box." The boy actually changed back into his own soaked shirt. Imagining him shivering in the wet and cold rain and mist, Ji Xiaoou felt that the sound of rain outside the window seemed to hit her heart directly every time, and it hurt one by one. She felt a sense of responsibility and felt that she had a responsibility to do something for this family and this child.

That day she wrote in her blog:

Sometimes I want to ask God, how can you stand idly by and do nothing about the poverty, hunger, disease, and injustice of this world? But I'm afraid God might ask me the same question. I certainly don't have what it takes to save the world, but I can at least reach out and save what I can.

When he went home in the evening, Ji Xiaoou asked his father how much it would cost to replace the femoral entrance joint. Ji Zhaolin said that the surgery fee needs to be prepared at least 50,000 yuan. After the operation, if the patient is not in good condition, he may need to change the imported drugs, and the patient needs to stay in bed for a long time to recover after the operation, and needs to be taken care of by a nurse or nanny 24 hours a day, which should also be considered.

So Ji Xiaoou sorted out Li Meiqin's condition and current situation, and wrote a post and posted it on a famous BBS with a lot of traffic, asking if there was a channel to apply for medical assistance for this situation.

Soon someone replied to the post, in addition to expressing shock at the words SARS again, most of them advised her not to work in vain, and some people showed up with examples around them, saying that even if the application is approved, charitable assistance such as the Red Cross is a drop in the bucket, and you will be given a one-time hardship subsidy of 800 or 1,000, what problem can it solve?

Ji Xiaoou did not give up, and then replied to the post to ask if he could apply for other private charity funds. This time, some people questioned it, saying that the Beijing municipal government also has a policy of free medical treatment for patients with SARS sequelae who are not infected on duty, so why not go to the designated hospital to register? also said that Ji Xiaoou's post was suspected of cheating money.

Seeing this reply, Ji Xiaoou grabbed a life-saving straw, and he didn't care about reasoning with that person, so he closed the webpage and went to call.

Because she was afraid that Zhao Yamin would instigate her, she didn't dare to find her parents, but found the resident doctor Xiao Gao brought by her father to help. The teacher's daughter asked for help, but Dr. Xiao Gao didn't dare to slack off, so she hurriedly asked her classmates who worked in the designated hospital to inquire about the news, and called back after more than half an hour.

However, the information brought by Dr. Xiao Gao made Ji Xiaoou extremely disappointed.

It turns out that there are standards for patients with sequelae of non-work-related infections to receive free medical care, and the symptoms must be severe enough to meet the standards. After the patient is registered, it is necessary to be evaluated by a specialist from time to time to determine whether it meets the standard of free medical care. And that line is quite harsh, and so far in Beijing, only more than 100 patients who have not been infected on the line of duty have received free medical care. All in all, with Li Meiqin's current situation, she can register first, and there is no hope of passing the assessment, but the probability is quite small, and I don't know when the assessment will be conducted.

Ji Xiaoou put down the phone, his face was full of frustration, and he sat on the sofa without making a sound for a long time. The heat that surged up with excitement just now was instantly cold, and she was at a loss, this matter could only be put aside for the time being, and she would find another way in the future.

A week later, Zhan Yu came back to "like a year of water", the trauma on his face had recovered, and he talked and laughed with Ji Xiaoou, and he couldn't see any emotional abnormalities. He made good on his promise, borrowed a ladder from the hardware store next door, leaned the head of the ladder against the door, and climbed up with a rag.

The four big characters on the light box "like water flowing years" have not been carefully scrubbed since the beginning of the store, and at this moment the dust is full of frost. The light box was hung at a height of four or five meters above the ground, and the aluminum alloy ladder was extremely thin, barely supporting Zhan Yu's weight, swaying in the wind, making people sweat for him. The little sister who helped him hold the ladder screamed, so frightened that Ji Xiaoou's face turned white, hurriedly said sorry to the guest, and ran out with two hands stained with massage cream.

"Zhan Yu, be careful!" She threw her head up and shouted.

"It's okay!" He lowered his head and smiled at her.

The twilight sun was shining down directly, and behind him was the clear blue sky after the rain and the sun at ten o'clock in the morning. His smile was as dazzling as his teeth, as if there were waves surging on the surface of a calm lake, shaking so much that Ji Xiaoou felt faintly dizzy.

Zhan Yu didn't complete the task in the end, and halfway through the wipe, he accidentally got his finger cut by a raised iron sheet in the dark, Ji Xiaoou said that he wouldn't be allowed to do it anymore, and forced him to climb down the ladder.

Wrapping the wound with a band-aid, Zhan Yu wants to go back to school. Ji Xiaoou asked him not to go, and when she was done, she would have something to find him. I didn't expect Ji Xiaoou to be so busy, and he couldn't spare time until lunchtime. In the back room, Zhan Yu was using her computer to chat with people on QQ, and when she came in, she quickly turned off QQ and stood up, looking a little uneasy. seemed to be afraid that Ji Xiaoou would blame him and use her computer without permission.

Ji Xiaoou didn't mind, took out two handbag paper bags from under the desk and put them in front of him.

"You should go home today, right? Take it to your mom along the way. ”

A paper bag was full of packets of Chinese medicine, Zhan Yu turned his head to look at Ji Xiaoou, and there was a clear question mark written on his face.

"About a month's amount to improve femoral osteonecrosis." Ji Xiaoou explained, "The old Chinese medicine doctor introduced by my mother, your mother is inconvenient to go out, so I will prescribe some medicine, eat it first and try it to see if it is useful." In addition, tell your mother that you can recuperate with peace of mind and adjust your body before you can have surgery. As for the cost of joint surgery, there must be a way, and you must not be in a hurry. ”

Zhan Yu hummed and went to look at another paper bag.

In the other paper bag, there was a gray-green rainproof windbreaker and two new clothes: a plaid shirt, a wool vest, and cotton slacks, all of which were the safest and most normal student outfits.

Ji Xiaoou said: "The teachers in our school are too conservative, so they don't dare to buy you too fashionable, even if anyone looks at you and doesn't like you, they will directly let you fail the course." ”

Zhan Yu was silent. He slowly took his gaze away from Ji Xiaoou's face to look at his own hand, and then began to rub the edge of the band-aid on the injured finger. After a long while, he said slowly, "Thank you!" ”

"Don't like the clothes?"

"It's not." He said, "I'm mentally calculating how many more hours I have to work for my sister this time." ”

Ji Xiaoou was happy, and even his voice was laughing: "Well, if I buy your whole life, can I give a preferential price for packaging?" ”

Without the slightest warning, Zhan Yu suddenly blushed. A little blush rises from the cheekbones, expands and grows, until it reaches the base of the ear, and finally burns the pinna red.

Ji Xiaoou was stunned, not knowing that his joke had such a deterrent effect. Think about it, in the face of a boy who is six or seven years younger than himself, this kind of almost frivolous rhetoric is indeed a mistake, and it is quite suspicious of eating human tofu.

She lifted her face, embarrassed, and felt as if she was feverish.

Of course, Zhan Yu didn't work for Ji Xiaoou for these two sets of clothes. After the ninth part-time job, and symbolically paid off the medical expenses owed last time, Ji Xiaoou announced that it had been cleared twice, and the two parties were no longer creditors and debtors.

Zhan Yu asked her rhetorically: "Then what is our relationship?" ”

Ji Xiaoou replied seriously: "You are my brother, I am your sister." ”

Zhan Yu's eyes darkened, and he muttered in a low voice: "I won't be your brother." ”

The voice was too quiet, Ji Xiaoou didn't understand, and went to do something else. Zhan Yu's eyes followed her figure and watched quietly for a long time, and then he left silently without saying goodbye to Ji Xiaoou.

As soon as Zhan Yu left on the front foot, there was a phone call on the back foot to find Ji Xiaoou, it turned out to be her father Ji Zhaolin.

Ji Zhaolin said that the family bought a new LCD TV, and it turned out that the old Konka, and asked Ji Xiaoou if he had a place to deal with it, otherwise it would be sold to the collector of old electrical appliances.

Thinking of Zhan Yu's old TV more than 20 years ago, Ji Xiaoou hurriedly said: "Keep it for me, keep it for me." ”

Ji Zhaolin said, if you want to, pull it away quickly, otherwise there will be no place to put the new TV in the door at night.

Ji Xiaoou agreed, but when she put down the phone, she bit her fingers and made it difficult. How did she get the TV set to Zhan Yu's house? Take a taxi, taxi drivers don't necessarily like to pull this job, find a moving company, a TV, and can't do it, ask a friend, most people are at work at this time, and the average family car, whether the trunk can be stuffed with a TV box is not necessarily.

Flipping through the business card holder of her mobile phone, she looked over one by one, and finally saw a person, a person who had enough space for a TV in his car and didn't have to go to work.

Preciseness.

It's been a long time since I've looked for her. Ji Xiaoou thought that he was finally tired of this game that was destined to be fruitless, so he retreated. But the two are acquaintances after all, and it should be okay to ask him for a favor.

Rigorous spent a very happy time, so happy that he almost forgot Ji Xiaoou. Because Cheng Ruimin, who has been separated for nearly a year, has returned to Beijing, and he came back with his fiancée, Tan Bin.

The first thing Cheng and Tan did when they returned to China was to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get a marriage certificate, and they ended their lifelong events without any ceremony. Next, Cheng Ruimin prepared to register his new company, and Tan Bin applied for a new position in China, and after the marriage leave, he was busy taking office, and Cheng Ruimin was often left alone at home. In this way, the problem of rigorous eating has been settled. A few years ago, on Chinese New Year's Eve, he ate sea delicacies and seafood, and the whole child was injured, causing him to gradually become disgusted with eating outside, and he had a soft spot for homely meals. Of course, Rigor Mom wants him to go home for dinner often, but every time he goes back, Rigor is forced to accept a bunch of blind date requests, in contrast, he would rather stay at his brother's house to eat.

Cheng Ruimin stayed abroad for a year, and the elite temperament that did not eat fireworks in the world disappeared completely, and he actually practiced a good cooking skill, several good home cooking, potato roast beef, fried crab with green onion and ginger, etc., and even the person who is picky about food in this way is full of praise. According to him, Cheng Ruimin has been floating in the clouds for many years before, but now he is finally grounded and somewhat popular.

However, after a full meal, he also expressed anxiety about his brother's future: "Xiaoyi, are you so willing to be a housewife? Your Tan Bin is not a fuel-efficient lamp, aren't you afraid that she will dump you? ”

"If there is such a thing, it will rain and my mother will get married, so let her go." Cheng Ruimin said it lightly.

Rigor suddenly became suspicious: "Your relationship is already in trouble, right?" ”

"Nope."

Rigor didn't believe it: "We've known each other for 20 years, and I know what you're pulling when you pout your tail." If you're okay, I'll write it upside down. ”

Cheng Ruimin was forced to have no choice, so he had to reveal a little more: "Tan Bin said that I asked too much emotionally, which made her psychologically burdened too heavy." I think she thinks too much about herself and too little about others, and both of them have problems and are adjusting. ”

"What?" Rigorous was shocked and quickly grabbed the main information, "What do you mean by Tan Bin?" Don't you think you're a burden? ”

Cheng Ruimin smiled: "The matter of our husband and wife, don't get involved as soon as you are unmarried, you don't understand." ”

"Hey—"

"Really, solve your own problems first, and then take care of other people's business! At least let Mom worry less about you. ”

Similar topics will always poke at the heart of the rigorous, and when he mentions it, he has countless emotions: "I want to too, brother." I can't wait to bring my daughter-in-law and a big fat boy to show our mother tomorrow. But it's not my fault. The main thing is that the girls are too realistic now! The little abacus sounded one by one, and the calculation was terrifying. ”

"There are always good girls."

"But I can't touch it."

"You don't want to touch it yourself."

Rigor frowned, and then nodded thoughtfully: "You're right." Every time I want to develop a relationship deeply, I will think of the second child, I think that one day I will fall to that point, is there anyone who can follow me without abandoning? ”

Cheng Ruimin was silent, and then sighed softly: "It's too demanding." Rigorous, such a request of yours is simply challenging the bottom line of human nature. ”

"I don't know what human nature is inhuman, I just know one, if you can be my wife, no matter what happens, you have to be with me. If you can't do it, forget it. Need money, I give, as long as it makes me happy. More more, sorry, gone! ”

Cheng Ruimin shook his head, "You have been like this for so many years, and when you meet a girl you like, you will only use money to smash it." You don't reflect on it, think about why your money is thrown out, and people still can't keep it? ”