Chapter 16 Chapter15 Cake and Doudou at this time

Wushui Town can be regarded as a typical water town.After thousands of years of history, the flowing water is still there, and the green is still alive.The houses on both sides of the river are extremely simple, with black tiles and blue bricks, and hollow window lattices.A string of red lanterns hanging from the eaves is graceful in the wind, like the tassels in the hair of a Jiangnan woman walking into the alley with an oil-paper umbrella, beautiful and ethereal without carving. Ah Heng is used to all this, but Yan Xi is like a newborn baby who feels novelty when he sees this world for the first time.

Father Yun gave Ah Heng some money, smiled kindly, and asked her to take Yanxi to the market for a good stroll.Ah Heng took the money, although he didn't know why his father's attitude towards Yan Xi changed so quickly, but he obediently obeyed. There are still two days before Xiaonian, and the market is very lively. Yan Xi has been restless ever since she walked out of Yun's house, running around, holding the camera, seeing passers-by like monkeys in a circus, photographing people around, terrified. Ah Heng was out of breath as he ran behind him, but felt ashamed in his heart, and lowered his head, pretending that he didn't know the young man.

You look like a circus, but people look like a zoo! In the market, people carrying loads of goods walked in a hurry, and the crowd was bustling and lively. The men in the water villages are generally very honest and gentle, like water, and rarely have sharp edges; while the girls are beautiful and gentle, with batik skirts swaying gently, not to mention the charming style, which is already beautiful to the fixed Jiangnan In terms of posture: Most of the children are wearing tiger-head hats and are hugged by their parents, holding white sugar cakes in their hands, drooling from their noses and slobbers, and they are very fat and cute.

Yan Xi was also holding a white sugar cake at the moment, tore off a corner, and threw it into his mouth with a posture like throwing peanuts, laughing so big that his eyes were almost invisible. And Ah Heng held the camera and looked at the white sugar cake eagerly. Yan Xi asked her to buy two white sugar cakes just now, but when she ran back jolting, the boy hung the camera around her neck. One piece of white sugar cake in each hand, one bite to the left and one bite to the right, not even leaving any scum to her. "Me too, I want to eat." Ah Heng sniffed, feeling unhappy. "Haven't you had enough to eat after living here for so many years?" The young man didn't lift his eyes, his cheeks were bulging, and he was still swaying left and right.

Choking to death!Ah Heng was depressed. Yan Xi purposely annoyed Ah Heng. After eating, she stuck out her tongue and licked her fingers vigorously, squinting at the girl. Ah Heng was speechless. "Wushui Town, what else is there to eat?" the boy asked her with a smile. Ah Heng thought for a while and said, "Stinky tofu." "City B also has them, so it's not uncommon." The young man disagreed. "Tofu from Jiangnan is made." Ah Heng explained. Yan Xi curled her lips: "Tch! Our place is still made of northern tofu." Ah Heng chuckled: "Try it and you'll know."

She took Yanxi into the alley along the river bank, turned a few turns, and walked to a small shop with a wooden signboard, which read: Lin's Tofu Square.The five brush characters are vigorous and powerful, yet elegant. Under the eaves of the small shop is a string of dusty red lanterns, swaying gently with the breeze.There are only a few wooden tables in the store, and the few diners are eating quietly. It is completely different from the lively atmosphere in the market, but it is very warm. "Uncle Sang Zi, two bowls of tofu nao, one plate of fried rice!" Ah Heng shouted. "Okay!" A middle-aged man's honest and sonorous voice came from behind the blue curtain.

Yan Xi looked at the hut, rolled her big eyes a few times, and then smiled: "Here, it's quite funny." "What's wrong?" "The four corners of the roof are all seamed, isn't it cold in winter?" "Leave a seam to dry the tofu at night." Ah Heng explained to the boy, "Boss, I don't live here." Yan Xi nodded, took out the camera, squinted her eyes, and snapped several shots. Yan Xi is a very casual person. Many things he does do not need a reason, but it makes people feel that it should be so. After a while, a small man with a pleasant smile came out carrying a square wooden case with red lacquer on which were several rough porcelain bowls.

Ah Heng exchanged a few words with the man. "Where are you? Are you feeling better?" The man glanced at Yanxi, and found that it was not the familiar Yunzai, and greeted Yanxi gently. "I'm seeing a doctor in a big hospital now, and my mother said that the operation was a success." Ah Heng smiled, his face was gentle and sincere, and his eyes were full of relief. The owner of the shop, who was called Uncle Sangzi by Ah Heng, was also very happy when he heard the girl's words: "It's all right now, and I can go back to school now. Before he quit school, his grades were very good. You two are very competitive." .”

Ah Heng laughed, Yuan Shan's eyebrows arched. The guests at the next table urged, and the boss walked into the kitchen behind the blue curtain. Ah Heng brought a bowl of steaming tofu to Yanxi.The young man tapped lightly on the table with his long, slender fingers. He slightly raised his eyebrows, but he didn't say anything.Although in his opinion, the tofu nao from Jiangnan looks no different from what he drinks every morning. Ah Heng smiled lightly. Yan Xi took a spoon and scooped it up, and put it in his mouth. Ah Heng looked at the boy with a smile: "Is it delicious?"

"Is this... still tofu?" He widened his eyes with a dazed and straightforward innocence. Ah Heng nodded. "There is no astringency, and it is smooth and tender in the mouth, a bit like egg pudding." The boy narrowed his eyes slightly, his face was ruddy, and his expression was satisfied. Egg pudding?Hmm, is it delicious? Ah Heng was dumbfounded, but finally smiled, looking satisfied, with his thin lips raised upwards, and there were small smile lines at the corners of his lips. "Try it, this." Ah Heng handed the zucchini to the young man. The boy took a piece into his mouth and chewed it, but frowned and spat it out: "Why is it bitter?"

Ah Heng also frowned, suddenly remembered something, and said embarrassingly: "Uncle Sangzi, I didn't put in the sauce. I used to eat it with me, and I don't like sauces." Immediately, she ran to the kitchen and asked for a plate Sauce, poured on the dry seeds. Yan Xi took another small piece and tasted it in his mouth. On the tip of his tongue, the crispness of tofu and the sweetness of the sauce masked the bitterness. The fragrance was vivid and full-bodied. Seeing the young man's eyebrows stretched, Ah Heng secretly sighed.She grew up in Wushui since she was a child, and she instinctively protected this side of water and soil, and she didn't want others to have the slightest dislike for it. If this kind of thinking is used on people, it is usually called: protecting one's shortcomings. "In the east of the town, there is a sweet well in the Town God's Temple. Tofu is made from well water." Yan Xi nodded slightly, ate in small bites, looked at the food with a cherished face. Uncle Sang Zi brought out a small plate of dried bamboo shoots from the kitchen for Yan Xi to serve with.The sweet and sour dried bamboo shoots are very appetizing, and Yan Xi ate a lot. "Aheng, the signboard in Uncle Sangzi's shop is old, your aunt asked me to ask you to write another one." The man looked at the girl honestly. "Yeah." Ah Heng smiled and nodded. Yan Xi was surprised: "You wrote the words on the signboard?" Ah Heng nodded embarrassingly. "The writing is too fast, the strength is uneven, the ink is not evenly adjusted, and the last stroke is paused, not coherent enough." The boy said flatly. Ah Heng swallowed his saliva. "We, Ah Heng, have been practicing calligraphy since we were young. We are among the best in the town, and our handwriting is better than that of Doctor Yun." Uncle Sangzi said, somewhat disliking the boy's tone. "This depends on talent." The young man smiled lightly.The implication is that after many years of practice, it is useless without talent. Ah Heng knew he was telling the truth, but he was still a little disappointed.She has been practicing calligraphy with her father since she was a child, and there is no sunset regardless of the cold or heat. Now the young man said "no talent", which really hit her. "This kid has a serious tone, please write a few words and let me see." Uncle Sangzi was a little angry. The boy shrugged his shoulders indifferently, looking lazy. Uncle Sang Zi took the pen and paper, and put it in front of Yan Xi angrily. The young man casually poured ink into the inkstone, sat upright, held the pen, the fine hairs on the tip of the pen were soaked in ink, raised his wrist slightly, turned the nib, slowly sipped off the excess ink on the end of the inkstone, raised his hand, his nails were crystal clear The round, bamboo-colored pen holder is truly beautiful. "When writing the character '林', the 'wood' on the left should show its strength of character, and the 'wood' on the right should show its charm. Although the writing is majestic, the delicacy between strokes and strokes is not taken into account; the character 'Dou' is well written, but the ink color is uneven; the character 'Fu' is more difficult to write. But it lost the original ease; when you wrote the word 'shop', the ink probably dried up, so you returned the pen." The young man lowered his head and spoke plainly while writing. It is done in one go, with natural charm and sharp edge. A line of words surprised Ah Heng. Every stroke is free and easy, written casually, but full of heart, and the eyes are full of aura. "I said that, didn't I?" The young man put down his pen, held his chin, and asked her lazily. Ah Heng was dumbfounded. Uncle Sangzi was stunned, looked at the words, and smiled from ear to ear: "This kid is not bad, he has two brushes." Yan Xi nodded slightly, polite and gentle. The boss sent a lot of delicious food, the young man pretended to be reserved, but the snicker at the corner of his mouth leaked out from time to time. "Well, I wrote to the boss, we don't have to pay for it, how nice! You should have acted more shockingly just now, so as to show the value of my writing, the boss might give us more food Yes." Yan Xi whispered, her mouth full, her big eyes filled with clear autumn water. Ah Heng drank the tofu nao and almost choked to death: "I didn't pretend just now." Her expression couldn't be more serious. The young man raised his eyebrows and smiled: "Wen Heng, why are you worrying about it? I learned how to hold a pen before I could walk. Even if I have no talent, how can you compare?" Ah Heng stared at the young man, and also smiled.She thought that she and Yan Xi were no longer strangers, but every day she got to know him a little bit, she felt that he was getting more and more distant and strange. It was not as good as the impression when they first met, at least it was a direct and complete fragment. "Let's go to the sweet well you mentioned." Yan Xi was full and ready to digest. Speaking of Wushui Town, in addition to the customs of the water town, the most fascinating thing for tourists is the Town God's Temple in the east of the town.The incense in the temple is at its peak, and on the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, there are always many people who go to worship, pray for wealth, peace, and marriage. But Ah Heng said he wanted to go, but it was to see a well in the temple. Yan Xi looked at the bluestone at the mouth of the well, and touched it slightly with his hand. It was cool, and a layer of moss rubbed against his fingertips.There are many people in the temple, incense is lingering, and everyone's face is solemn and devout. "It's strange that they don't worship this well, but a few stone men." The young man sneered. "You can't be disrespectful to ghosts and gods." Ah Heng grew up in Wushui since he was a child, and he still has some respect for the city god. The boy glanced at the girl, smiled slightly, then bent down, clasped his hands together, and bowed towards the well. "What are you doing?" Ah Heng was curious. "Thank you for bringing us such delicious food." Ah Heng sniffed and kindly reminded: "Tofu is made by Uncle Sang Zi." "So, I wrote him a signboard!" The boy rolled his eyes upwards. "But, you didn't pay for your meal!" Ah Heng pointed out. "One thing is one thing! I wrote him a signboard to express my gratitude. The table is full of dishes, and others will eat them if I don't eat them. Whoever eats them is different! It's not that I don't pay, but he doesn't let me pay. .Master, I am actually very embarrassed. It is difficult to be a person, and it is even more difficult to be a good person!" Yan Xi was very righteous and heartbroken. Ah Heng chuckled, pursed his lips, and the corners of his mouth slightly raised. "Okay, I'll say bye too." Ah Heng also bent down and put his palms together seriously: Well, Gujing, Gujing, I don't ask too much, you can make the world peaceful, and it would be great if the children in Asia, Africa and Latin America could eat white sugar cake. Yan Xi stayed at Yun's house for a few more days, and it was already the end of the lunar calendar, so it was unreasonable not to go home.When he left, he told his grandfather that he would definitely go home for the New Year. Therefore, on the twenty-seventh day of the lunar calendar, the boy asked to leave. "Can't we stay for another day? Just one day." Ah Heng was a little disappointed, and Wu Shui ran out. "A Heng, don't be ignorant!" Before Yan Xi could reply, Father Yun scolded, interrupting Ah Heng's thoughts. Ah Heng closed his mouth, and looked at Mica aggrievedly.Yun Mu patted her hand, but never said a word, just went back to the house and helped her pack her luggage.She followed her mother into the room, and when she came out, she bowed her head and said nothing. Yan hoped that she would not know what to say, so his expression faded, and she said goodbye to her adoptive parents. No matter how much this kind-hearted man and woman in front of him love Wen Heng, they are not her biological parents after all; this house, this land, no matter how warm they are, they are not her belongings after all. So, what a shame. Before leaving, Yunca pulled Yan Xi aside and said something. Ah Heng saw it from a distance, but couldn't bear to look at his mother again, said goodbye to his father, and walked out of the house. When Yan Xi came out, she glanced at her, and said strangely and helplessly, "It's a girl after all." After all, for the little things in the eyes of the boys, she was silently sad. Ah Heng didn't know what his mother said to him, but it was always right not to speak, so he kept silent and silently followed behind him. She saw his back as a traveler again, with a big backpack, a tall and straight figure, and the cold and lonely butterfly bones were faintly visible. It was already afternoon when we arrived at S City Station.They waited in line for a long time to buy the tickets, and it was at six o'clock in the evening. "You sit here and wait for me." The boy handed her the ticket, turned around and walked out of the waiting room conveniently. Ah Heng looked a little tired, and she was in a bad mood. After Yan Xi left, she sat on the chair and was dazed. When she collected her thoughts and looked at the watch, it was already a quarter past five. Yanxi hasn't come back yet. She stood up and walked back and forth in the crowd, turning around with the seat as the center.Although the time for ticket checking was approaching, she didn't walk around out of anxiety.The air in the waiting room was too stagnant and dirty, she walked around, trying to get rid of some paralyzed things in her mind. And what the boy saw when he came back was exactly this scene: the girl frowned and lowered her head, walking non-stop, doing useless work around the seat. Yan Xi was a lazy person, and found this scene incredible, so he strode over and coughed slightly. Ah Heng raised his head, and the first thing he noticed was the backpack on his shoulder, which seemed to be bulging a lot.Ah Heng guessed that he might have bought some local products. It is still the steps when you come: check in, get on the bus, and find a seat. However, Ah Heng lost the interest he had when he came here, nestled in the carriage, yawned, and looked at the time, it was already nine o'clock, and the night outside the car window was getting thicker. "I'm sleepy." She looked at Yan Xi, drowsy. Chinese people's "sleepy" is equal to Westerners' "good night". "No." The boy said flatly. Ah Heng yawned, rubbed his eyes, and asked, "Why?" The boy raised his eyebrows, and tapped his fingers on the small table: "How do I know!" "Oh." Hey, no, why don't you let me sleep if you don't know!Ah Heng was thinking in a daze, and his consciousness began to slacken.She felt like a baby wandering in the mother's body, warm and peaceful. A white world, a pure world. Suddenly, the world spun rapidly, making her dizzy, and when she opened her eyes again, she saw a pair of eyes that were so big and scary. "Are you awake?" The boy let go of his hands and stopped shaking. Ah Heng looked out of the window in a daze, it was still pitch black and the sky was still dark.She looked at Yan Xi, sniffed, feeling wronged. The boy's big eyes were watery, and he seemed more wronged than her: "Wen Heng, although I don't know why you chose to be born today..." The young man broke his sentence, took out from his backpack, took out for a long time, took out a cute small cream cake, held it in the palm of his hand, and smiled plainly: "But, the young master is reluctant, I wish you a happy birthday."