Chapter 19: The Light of Mobile Phones (7)
As soon as Uncle Li heard that Aunt Li was open-mouthed, he immediately said, "Bah, Bah, Bah! Don't talk nonsense! You're talking nonsense in places like this. β
"Feudal superstition." Aunt Li put away her mobile phone and glanced at Uncle Li, completely ignoring her previous series of statements about "burning paper money" that kept pace with the times.
"Alright, alright. You two stop arguing. Let's go back. The son became a peacemaker and helped the two of them out.
They spent a day outside, ate, and then came home.
Aunt Li went home and nestled on the sofa and continued to play with her mobile phone. I've run out of opportunities for today. She looked at the videos and articles.
Uncle Li ignored her and entered the study.
The new notebook was still spread out.
Uncle Li sat down at the table, as if it was a ritual, turned on the lamp, and put on reading glasses.
He wrote today's date in his notebook, and wrote that he had gone to worship Jiang Longchang today.
Turning the page, he wrote down the date for next year, followed by the words "80th birthday banquet".
Back to the previous page, Uncle Li thought about it, wrote down tomorrow's date, followed by the words "go to the bookstore, buy new books", and started again, without writing the date, only wrote "reading plan", leaving three book titles. He wanted to read three books a month, which was just right. After a few blank lines, write down the date of the next month, followed by "Make travel plans". He remembered that there was a faΓ§ade opened by a travel agency at the entrance of the community, and there were many tour groups posted at the door, and there were old men and old ladies around there every day. There are also people in the community who organize that kind of tour to the new countryside in the suburbs. He's going to see it and then go on a tour. When he retired, he said that he was going to Huangshan...... He must not be able to climb now. But there is a ropeway in the mountain...... Uncle Li thought about it and wrote "Yellow Mountain" in his notebook. Oh, and the "sea". When he was young, he went to Hainan once on a business trip. Now, he wants to see again, to see the sea, to see the sunrise.
And fishing.
After the old dragon stopped playing, he hadn't gone fishing for a long time.
Uncle Li wrote down "fishing" again. But when it came time to fill in the date, I encountered a little difficulty. He hesitated for a moment, then drew parentheses at the end, filled in "look at the weather", and added "look at the weather forecast tomorrow".
Just keep adding content, and Uncle Li wrote to the second page.
Looking at the words "80th birthday", his hand paused, and wrote "go see the old dragon" on the next line. Burn some paper money for Lao Long, put on a stick of incense, and tell Lao Long that he has lived a very fulfilling year.
"Old man, I'm going to sleep!" Aunt Li shouted outside.
Uncle Li put down his pen with satisfaction and walked out of the study.
Aunt Li had already finished washing, holding her mobile phone and walking towards the bedroom.
She turned off the lights in the living room. The light of the mobile phone shone on her face, which made Uncle Li startled.
Aunt Li didn't notice anything, and looked at the popular science articles on the screen seriously.
Uncle Li shook his head, turned off the light in the study, and went to wash. When he entered the bedroom, he saw Aunt Li still looking at her mobile phone with the bedside lamp on.
"Didn't you sleep?"
"Wait until I'm done with this."
Uncle Li snorted, got into the quilt, pointed the back of his head at Aunt Li, and soon fell asleep.
Uncle Li was unable to buy a new book the next day.
Originally, there was a Xinhua bookstore next to the elementary school in this neighborhood, but I don't know when it turned into a supermarket. Uncle Li thought he remembered the wrong place, walked along the road for a while, and was so tired that he leaned on the side of the flower bed, and was asked by a kind young man if he wanted to call his family. He shook his head and refused, walked and stopped by himself, and slowly returned home.
The plan didn't go well at the beginning, which made Uncle Li a little depressed.
He rested at home for a while, and waited for Aunt Li, who came back to cook at noon.
"What's wrong with you? This face is white. Aunt Li asked in surprise, "Did you lose too much today?" β
"Didn't play cards." Uncle Li replied.
"Where did that go?" Aunt Li asked, tied her apron, and went into the kitchen.
"Where's the Xinhua bookstore next to the elementary school?" Uncle Li didn't answer, and asked himself.
"What Xinhua Bookstore?"
"Isn't there a Xinhua bookstore next to Wenwen Elementary School?" Uncle Li thought that Aunt Li had forgotten, so he elaborated, "I picked him up from school at that time and went with him to buy his papers." I also buy books, books, pens...... The table lamp was also bought there. β
"Isn't that closing early? How long ago was Wenwen Elementary School? Aunt Li said.
Wenwen is their grandson, and when he was a child, he lived with his daughter and son-in-law, and attended primary school here. Wenwen is now almost graduating from college.
Uncle Li felt even more depressed. He didn't even know that the Xinhua bookstore was closed.
In this way, he will have to ask his old neighbors later where there is a bookstore in the neighborhood.
"What are you looking for Xinhua Bookstore for? Running out of notebooks and pens at home? Aunt Li yelled in the kitchen. She knew that Uncle Li had been writing and painting all this time. "Wenwen had so many books at that time, and they were all gone?"
"No, I'm going to buy a book."
"What books did you buy?"
Uncle Li didn't answer, he turned on the TV and watched the news.
He and Aunt Li have no common topic on the matter of reading. When he took his grandson Wenwen, his daughter and son-in-law were busy, and it was also his homework to keep an eye on his grandson. When he was a child, his three children read books, and he also taught them by his side. Aunt Li is only in charge of the family's food, clothing, housing and transportation, and trivial matters in life.
Aunt Li didn't hear the answer, but when Uncle Li didn't hear it, she asked in a louder voice.
"Just see." Uncle Li replied helplessly, "Buy some new books and read them." β
"Let your son buy it for you."
"What does he know? He doesn't read. Just like you, you know how to look at your phone. Uncle Li said disdainfully.
Aunt Li snorted and stopped talking.
She made lunch and called Uncle Li.
Uncle Li pulled a face and sat down at the dinner table.
"If you're looking for a bookstore, I'll find it for you." Aunt Li took out her phone and opened the map.
"Do you know where the door to the bookstore opens?" Uncle Li picked up the dishes and chopsticks.
"I know the Xinhua bookstore is closed." Aunt Li squinted at Uncle Li and drew words on her phone.
Uncle Li was silent.
Aunt Li smiled triumphantly.
"Eat, stop playing with your phone."
"Didn't I find you a bookstore?" Aunt Li said, staring at the screen of her mobile phone, pointing one by one, "The nearest bookstore...... On Yamashiro Road. β
"Shancheng Road?" Uncle Li raised his head.
Aunt Li showed him the screen of her phone.
Uncle Li narrowed his eyes.
"You presbyopia, forget it. I told you about Shancheng Road, and I want to take a car to get there. What books are you going to buy, let your son buy them. β
"I don't read how do I know what books to buy? Hey, you check, where is the book fair? Didn't the news say two days ago that there was a book fair......"
"It's the Shanghai Book Fair, why are you still going to Shanghai?"
"It's not the Shanghai Book Fairβ"
"BJ's?" Aunt Li rushed to answer.
Uncle Li said patiently: "No, it's us here." Evening news talks. β
Aunt Li checked it with her mobile phone, "In the city exhibition hall." β
"Where's the City Gallery?"
Aunt Li skillfully clicked on the address on the screen, and the map popped up directly on her phone.
"On Tianshui Road."
"Where is Tianshui Road?"
"By subway...... It's more than an hour. β
Uncle Li was a little discouraged.
"If you're looking for a book, you're looking for it on the Internet. You can also watch it online. "Aunt Li gave Uncle Li an idea, opened Taobao, and searched for books for Uncle Li.
Uncle Li wanted to get reading glasses, but was stopped by Aunt Li.
"Look at it after eating. I'll take a nap and I'll use my phone for you. I'll get up later and play cards with Building 4, so you'll have to give me back your phone. Aunt Li advised.
"Got it, got it." Uncle Li agreed to come down.