Chapter 42 Chapter Eighty-Four

Lu Xiaolong was lying on the desk and writing vigorously. The desk was against the wall, and all kinds of books were lined up against the wall like a bookshelf.He smoked cigarettes one by one, sucking and puffing smoke to give his thoughts and writing a stable atmosphere. The window shone in the pale light of winter from the left, and the hut was filled with smoky smoke.This is an empty room that Huang Hai and the others found for him in the compound of the Ministry of Foreign Trade near the zoo. There are two other families living in the room with four bedrooms and one living room. The three families share a kitchen and a toilet.He is very satisfied to have this nest to live in.He lay on his stomach among the piles of papers and books, like a pangolin digging a new cave. He wanted to drill deep, put his whole body and tail in, and then dig forward until he dug out a big mountain, on the other side of the mountain. Get out and see a new world.

Hearing the slight sound of the door handle turning, he stopped writing and listened. The door was quite old, and when it was opened, the bottom edge rubbed against the concrete floor, and then there was a louder sound.Hearing the person coming in lift the door and close it as carefully as possible, then there were footsteps coming towards his door, he knew it was Shen Li.Sure enough, the door was pushed open, and Shen Li raised the small cloth curtain that covered the middle of the door and came in with her head tilted. She was still carrying some food and vegetables, and put them on a small square table next to the door, and turned around to close the door. , said: "Are the neighbors here today?" Lu Xiaolong smiled and shook his head, and said: "I don't know." Shen Li said: "I'll go to the kitchen to wash my hands first." She picked up the soap box on the table and went to the kitchen .The door was open, and only the small cloth curtain blocked the room. The thick smoke from the room passed through the small cloth curtain and poured into the dark hallway. I heard the sound of Shen Li washing her hands, and the sound of her turning off the faucet and shaking her hands. She picked up the soap box and saw her standing outside the door with light footsteps, her legs and feet were exposed under the curtain.She opened the door curtain and came in, put down the soap box, picked up the towel behind the door and wiped her hands, closed the door, and said, "The neighbor doesn't seem to be here, so I can relax a little today and cook you lunch." Lu Xiaolong nodded, and continued to write his own stuff.Shen Li stood behind her and watched for a while, then put two boxes of "Daqianmen" cigarettes on the table.He said: "Thank you very much." Then he continued to frown, thinking.He knew that Shen Li had sat down on the small bed behind her and was looking at him quietly.He let her look at him and continued to show his hard work on the manuscript paper.

During the more than a month since returning to Beijing, he never raised any emotional issues with Shen Li, nor did he make any emotional demands, and he never even kissed Shen Li.He just called one after another symposium in a cloud of mist, involving all the thoughtful people among Beijing university and high school students. From time to time, he asked Shen Li to participate in some symposiums organized by him.Many characters in the smog waved their gestures and talked impassionedly, which undoubtedly created a new picture of the situation. At that time, he still bravely showed his awareness of action and organization. Observing and participating in these activities with a somewhat ignorant expression, this is more or less like the scene when he took Shen Li to Beihang University to participate in the meeting in the early days of the Cultural Revolution where only a lamp illuminated the faces of people in the room.After moving here from Huang Hai's family, he went to Shen Li's house once or twice, he was very generous and normal, and he also respected Shen Li's parents.He was completely engrossed in his pangolin-like burrowing.Gradually, Shen Li began to care about his life, and occasionally came to see him, and by the way played the role of taking care of him like today.At this time, there is a sense of intimacy between the two of them stirred by oil, salt, sauce and vinegar.

He worked at his desk for a long time before he turned around and stretched, and asked Shen Li, "Is it cold outside?" Shen Li had already taken off her blue cotton coat, revealing a gray-black sweater At this time, looking at the northwest wind howling outside the window, he said: "It's very cold." Lu Xiaolong said: "Your face is flushed, and you haven't recovered after a long time." It is white with red in it, and has a seductive luster. After the hair is lifted, the helix is ​​especially beautiful and moving.Lu Xiaolong stood up, gently tested the temperature on Shen Li's face with his hands, and said, "The air-conditioning is gone." Shen Li smiled and said, "No matter how cold the temperature is, it can't stay on my face for so long. "Lu Xiaolong's hand left the moisture on Shen Li's cheeks, and the breath of Shen Li's whole body and hair also evaporated. He obviously felt his impulsiveness; however, he restrained himself, and just touched it affectionately. With Shen Li's hair, she started pacing in the small room.He noticed that his touch did not alarm Shen Li, and Shen Li accepted it, however, he must not hit the boundary ball again.He walked around, stopped with his back against the window sill, and looked back out the window.The window glass cuts off the cold outside, but does not cut off the rampant winter scene. The wind blows strands of thin yellow dust like curly lions and pounces down from the air again and again. Slide over like a stave.The sun is bright, and the far west mountain is faintly shining in the sky, and the buildings are living and working in peace and contentment under the winter sun.

He turned his head and said to Shen Li: "You really can go up and down." Shen Li looked at her eyes a little dimly, then woke up a little at this moment, and asked: "What do you mean?" Cooking for me really flatters me, I didn’t expect you to be able to cook.” Shen Li brushed the hair next to her ear, and replied absent-mindedly: “What’s the matter? I want to eat myself.” Lu Xiaolong knew that this topic can stop here, and now it is best to return to the desk work, so he raised his arms and stretched vigorously, walked over and patted Shen Li's head lightly, as if someone who had no time to take care of Like the parents of the children, they sat down in front of the desk again.He rearranged the manuscript papers spread out on a table, flipping through them constantly.Shen Li knew that he was writing an investigation and analysis report on re-understanding the people's commune system. According to what he told Shen Li, this would be a program that would determine China's future destiny.In this program, he summarized his survey of more than 100 brigades in rural areas, and also concentrated all his theoretical thinking on this social issue.From the beginning of his work, he was more or less doing it for Shen Li to see, and he kept feeling the gaze from behind Shen Li, and he really entered the state of concentrating on his work while doing it.Hearing Shen Li standing up behind her, she picked up the vegetables and food she brought on the small square table, opened the door and went to the kitchen.He is satisfied with the treatment he enjoys, which somewhat reminds him of the phrase "men farm and women weave".

I heard the faint sound of washing vegetables in the kitchen, and the sound of cutting vegetables on the chopping board, and then heard the sound of lighting the gas stove, and heard the sound of the vegetables being put into the oil pan, and soon, The smell of cooking came in through the half-hidden door.He stopped writing, turned his head and looked at the door, thought for a while, then stood up, went to the kitchen, and saw Shen Li cooking.The three families shared a kitchen, each with its own liquefied gas stove, one stove with two fires, one fire was cooking rice in an aluminum pot with white steam, and the other blue fire was licking the iron pot.He walked behind Shen Li, Shen Li looked back at him, showed a obligatory smile, and was busy stirring again.Shredded pork and cabbage are being fried, and there is a pile of shredded green peppers on the chopping board. A few eggs have been beaten in the bowl. After a while, the shredded cabbage and pork are cooked and placed on a large plate.Shen Li handed it to Lu Xiaolong and said, "Take it back." Lu Xiaolong happily took it and carried it back to the room. The kitchen and hallway smelled like food.When he returned to the kitchen, Shen Li had already poured oil into the iron pan and was beating a few eggs in the bowl with chopsticks.When the oil was hot, the eggs were poured into the pan, and there was a clattering sound. The aroma of the eggs filled the kitchen. Shen Li spread the eggs and shoveled them into pieces. Stir-fried the green peppers in the pan for a while, added salt and MSG, then put them on a plate and handed them to Lu little dragon.Shen Li took the iron pot to the faucet and took half a pot of water, put it on the fire, cut a tomato into pieces and put it into the soup.When Lu Xiaolong returned to the kitchen, the tomato and egg soup was already boiling. Shen Li picked up the chopped green onion and put it into the soup, added salt and monosodium glutamate, poured the soup into a large bowl, and poured it into the soup. Turn off both gas stoves, close the main gas door, and walk out of the kitchen with Lu Xiaolong carrying the rice cooker.In the hallway, I met the housewife next door, a fat woman, who looked at the two young men with very unfriendly eyes.

Lu Xiaolong and Shen Li returned to the room and set up a lunch of two dishes and one soup on the small square table. Lu Xiaolong praised Shen Li's dexterity while eating.But Shen Li said like a housewife who is used to cooking and somewhat insensitive: "It doesn't matter what you want here, I haven't played to the level at all." Lu Xiaolong smiled and said: "This is even more difficult, and I will definitely do it in the future." Create conditions for you to perform at a super level." Shen Li smiled as she made do with the meal, and said: "I can't wait for that day." Lu Xiaolong said: "The food you cook is really better than the ones on the stove of our educated youths." The food is much better than the one year I wandered.” Shen Li picked and ate, and said: “You are quite capable.” Lu Xiaolong said: “You want to make progress in your career, but not in life. Make progress." He felt that this sentence was too dull, and said with a smile: "This is the second time I eat your food, and if I can eat your food, I will not be wronged in this life." Shen Li Puchi laughed, glanced at Lu Xiaolong, and said: "I always cook a few meals for you, do you know why?" Lu Xiaolong said: "I want to express your concern for me." Shen Li said: "No "Lu Xiaolong said again: "Show Your Excellency's kindness." Shen Li took a spoonful of soup and fed it into her mouth, saying: "That's not right." Lu Xiaolong asked: "Why is that?" Shen Li hesitated After a few seconds, he said: "This is a little obligation I should fulfill." Lu Xiaolong said: "This is quite humorous." Shen Li said very flatly: "I do have a sense of obligation." She chewed With the cabbage in his mouth, he remembered something dimly.

At such a time, Lu Xiaolong felt cautious, for fear of disturbing a very warm atmosphere.Like a sleeping baby who is afraid of waking up, the relationship between him and Shen Li is in a vague state that is hard to explain.After the meal was finished, Shen Li quickly put the dishes together.Lu Xiaolong said: "I'll go wash it." Shen Li said: "Sit down and rest for a while, and I'll wash it out right away." She put the bowls and chopsticks into the empty rice cooker and went to the kitchen with them. One or two words of entertainment by the faucet, probably because she occupied the faucet, and the pots and bowls were clanging.After a while, Shen Li opened the door curtain with a pair of dripping hands and came in. She closed the door with her elbow, took the towel behind the door to dry her hands, shook her hair back, and asked, "Do you have facial oil here?" Is it?" Lu Xiaolong pointed to the small bookshelf, and said, "You brought it last time." Shen Li opened the oil box, picked out a little grease, rubbed it on her hands, wiped her hands, and sat down by the bed, Said to Lu Xiaolong: "Aren't you going to rest for a while?" Lu Xiaolong said: "You are here, I don't want to rest." Flip the book."

Lu Xiaolong said: "Alright, I'll just lie down for a while, I didn't sleep until three o'clock last night." He closed the door, and lay down on the small bed with his clothes on.Shen Li looked at the brown sweater he was wearing, and asked: "Don't you cover yourself with something? You'll catch a cold." Lu Xiaolong said: "Actually, I didn't fall asleep, so I just talked to you for a while." Shen Li got up He unfolded the cotton coat he had left on the bed, covered Lu Xiaolong, tucked him behind his back, and sat down on the edge of the bed facing each other.Lu Xiaolong smelled the smell of Shen Li's coat, and was intoxicated for a moment. The small house looked very warm and happy. He looked at Shen Li's hands that were more moist from cooking and washing dishes, and said, "Shen Li, you It's really amazing." Shen Li lightly stroked the sleeves of the coat covering Lu Xiaolong's body, and said with hazy eyes: "What's there to admire?" Lu Xiaolong said: "You cook, let me see you The other side." Shen Li asked wearily: "Which side was I in the past? And which side was the other side?" Lu Xiaolong said: "In the past, you only made me feel proud of you. You were a noble lady who played the piano. , now is a virtuous side, a housewife who can go to the kitchen." Shen Li shook her head dimly, sighed and said: "I am doing my duty." Lu Xiaolong stared at Shen Li for a long time, He vaguely sensed a gray atmosphere from Shen Li's repeated "obligation" twice. It was inexplicable, but it heavily shrouded the relationship between the two of them.

Shen Li raised her eyes from the haze, met Lu Xiaolong's gaze, and said, "Close your eyes and sleep for a while." Then, she stretched out her hand to tuck the coat under Lu Xiaolong's neck.Seeing Shen Li's worried expression, Lu Xiaolong couldn't help stretching out his hand from under the coat, and gently held her hand.Shen Li stopped her hand there without moving, Lu Xiaolong took the hand over and kissed him lightly, Shen Li patted his cheek, pulled her hand back, and said: "Your eyes are all bloodshot, sleep Just a while. I'll stay by your side and read a book for a while, and I won't leave yet." Lu Xiaolong said: "I sleep when you are here, I think it's a waste of time." Shen Li said: "Take a rest to refresh yourself at night. How can it be a waste of time?" Lu Xiaolong said: "I cherish the time you are with me very much, and I can't bear to use it to sleep." Shen Li looked at Lu Xiaolong, lowered her eyes and said, "I don't spend all day today. Let me accompany you." Lu Xiaolong blinked like a child at a loss, and slowly closed his eyes.He dozed off for a while in a daze, opened his eyes, and saw Shen Li sitting on the edge of the bed staring at him with rather melancholy eyes, and he also stared at Shen Li, smiling thoughtfully.Shen Li leaned over to make his pillow more comfortable, and said, "Why don't you sleep?" Lu Xiaolong shook his head, feeling his nose a little sore.Shen Li said: "It's not easy for you, if only you were my younger brother." Lu Xiaolong said: "I don't want to be your younger brother." Shen Li fiddled with the sleeves of her coat absently and said: "Then What do you want to be?" Lu Xiaolong said, "I want to be your protector."

Shen Li looked at the top and bottom of the coat, and then tucked the coat to Lu Xiaolong again, saying: "It's better to protect yourself." Lu Xiaolong couldn't stop grabbing Shen Li's hand, Shen Li Pulling it back gently, he said, "Aren't you resting?" Lu Xiaolong said, "Let's go for a walk." Shen Li looked out the window, noncommittal.Lu Xiaolong said: "Let's go to the movies." Shen Li said: "Okay, it's up to you." She looked at the mountains of books and papers on the table, and asked: "Would you like to delay your business?" Lu Xiaolong said : "Don't care about this for a while." The two walked to the movie hall of the Beijing Exhibition Center not far away, and watched a "Lenin in 1918".When walking out with the crowd after the show, I met Zhu Lihong. She was fatter than before, and she was wearing a grown-up military uniform.Seeing Lu Xiaolong and Shen Li, Zhu Lihong's face flushed, and the cystic goldfish eyes sparkled.Lu Xiaolong smiled sarcastically, and asked, "Are you still at the Air Force Command?" Zhu Lihong nodded, not knowing what to say.Lu Xiaolong asked again: "Is Lin Liguo finished?" Zhu Lihong looked back in embarrassment, her parents were walking in front of the crowd, and at this moment they stopped and turned around to wait for Zhu Lihong.Lu Xiaolong said: "Okay, I won't talk much today, we will meet later." He and Shen Li slowed down, and distanced themselves from Zhu Lihong's family under the impact of the crowd. Just as he was talking about Zhu Lihong with Shen Li, someone beside him called "Lu Xiaolong" affectionately. Lu Xiaolong turned his head and saw that it was Mina. She hadn't seen her for several years, and the scars on her face had almost disappeared. There are only faint traces left.Mina looked at Shen Li beside Lu Xiaolong, and said to Lu Xiaolong: "I heard that it has been difficult for you in the countryside these past few years." Lu Xiaolong smiled cautiously, and Mina continued: "I heard that you were raped He became a '5.16' counter-revolutionary and wandered in the countryside for a year." Lu Xiaolong smiled shyly again, and introduced to Shen Li: "This is Mr. Mi from our Beiqing Middle School." Shen Li nodded , She naturally knew this tragic figure who connected her and Lu Xiaolong for the first time more than five years ago.Mina said affectionately to Lu Xiaolong: "You can go back to school if you have time." Lu Xiaolong nodded and said, "Are you doing well now?" Mina said: "My situation has been better since last year. It's gone." Mina glanced at Shen Li again, with a puzzled and discerning look on her face.She suddenly recalled some memories, and said to Shen Li: "By the fountain that year, you helped me and tried to pull me up, wasn't it you?" Shen Li nodded.Mina pointed to Shen Li, then pointed to Lu Xiaolong, and said: "You are all good people." Lu Xiaolong smiled and said: "Yes, we are all good people." Mina moved closer to Lu Xiaolong again, and said in a slightly lower voice : "That Ma Shengli is a bad guy, and he is still punishing people in Beiqing University. He beat Jia Kun to death, and sooner or later he will settle accounts with him." The three stopped and chatted for a while, and Mina broke up with them. She pointed to a person not far away and said: "There are still people waiting for me." Lu Xiaolong looked in the direction of her finger and saw that it was the platoon leader Fan of the military propaganda team who was still wearing a military uniform. nodded. After Lu Xiaolong and Shen Li walked to the street with the flow of people leaving the show, both of them were more or less caught in the memories and emotions of the past.After walking through a busy street, Shen Li said to the gate of the zoo, "Let's go inside for a walk." The two bought tickets and entered the zoo. Birds and beasts were walking by a frozen lake.The weather was cold, and there were few visitors in the zoo. Occasionally, a few people wandered in the garden, trembling and ethereal like shadows in the water.Lu Xiaolong thinks from Zhu Lihong to the scene of being tied up and beaten by Liu Renxin in the countryside more than a year ago, and from Mina to the first meeting with Shen Li five and a half years ago, time flies so fast, and his age has grown unconsciously up.They came to the monkey mountain with their own leisurely steps, looking down at the monkeys jumping up and down on the rockery in the deep big cement pool, both of them had a feeling of depression in winter.Because there are no tourists and also because of the cold, the monkeys on the rockery are deserted and lonely. Some mother monkeys hug their babies to tickle them, some monkeys look around boredly, and some monkeys lazily swing and climb on the iron chain bridge. come and go.An old monkey hobbled along with its red buttocks pouted, picked up a cigarette butt from the ground, put it near its mouth and made a pose imitating smoking, then threw the cigarette butt aside, and walked along the rocky slope of the rockery. Walking to the bottom of the pool, it crawled around on all fours, and finally, under the overlook of Lu Xiaolong and Shen Li, it simply sat there and observed these two rare tourists. It was approaching evening, and the bleak winter sun was gradually thinning out, and the gray wind smeared the park with desolate trees even more withered.Looking at the bored monkey group, Lu Xiaolong couldn't help but sigh: "They live so boring." Shen Li said: "They may still find it quite interesting." Lu Xiaolong said: "If it's better in the mountains, it's better here. It’s just such a place, it’s too boring.” At this time, two monkeys were chasing and frolicking on the rockery.Shen Li said: "Look, aren't they very energetic?" After they had had enough of walking in the zoo, Lu Xiaolong sent Shen Li to the bus stop to go home. Shen Li's face was as lonely and melancholy as the winter evening.The bus drove over, and she just stayed there for an ordinary day. When she was about to break up, she still felt a little bit of nostalgia for the boy in front of her.She turned to look at Lu Xiaolong and asked, "Are you in a good mood now?" Lu Xiaolong looked at her seriously, and said, "It's pretty good, I'm full of confidence now." Shen Li glanced at Lu Xiaolong, then looked again. Looking at the cars coming into the station, she fastened the open collar button for Lu Xiaolong, and said, "I still hope you are well." She waved her hand and ran towards the opened car door. On the cold platform, only Lu Xiaolong was left alone.