Chapter 3 third chapter

In an instant, everything returned to silence, as if nothing had happened. However, the crashed sports car was still stuck on the door, which proved that the riot just now was indeed not a dream. Yuan Sheng stretched out his hand and called her: "Ming Xin, come back to the house." She smiled, "I'm not afraid of the dark." "There are wolves." Ming Xin couldn't look up to her smile. "And vampire bats." Ming Xin raised his hand, "Alright, I'll come in." Yuan Sheng poured her a glass of wine, "My elder brother said, thank you for your help."

Ming Xin was stunned, "Your elder brother?" "Yes, that person just now is my elder brother Yuanzong." Ming Xin blurted out: "He lives on the third floor, plays the violin, and loves going to the library, but this?" "Have you met him?" Ming Xin shook his head, took a sip of brandy, "I saw you for the first time just now." Yuan Sheng let out a breath, "If you hadn't stopped, I would have killed that Chen." "It's not worth it," Ming Xin said softly, "He wants to go, let him go." "You have guessed the truth."

Ming Xin was silent. "Yuan Hua wanted to get married very much, but Chen Huilin made things difficult on purpose. Today, he proposed to break up. Ming felt sorry for it, and could vaguely hear Yuan Hua crying. "Everyone rest." Tonight must be very long. Back in the room, I saw a large bottle of jade hairpin on the coffee table, oh, it was sent by my good mother Lu. Ming Xin jumped onto the bed, fell into the mattress with a bang, and closed her eyes. Hearing someone's robot all night long, she didn't know who it was for a while, Ming Xin didn't like to cry, because she had no one to cry with, she would just silently get bored when something went wrong, she would sleep and sleep, waiting for her mood to improve.

It was daylight. Birds flew out in flocks and chirped. She poked her head out and saw that the broken car had been towed away, which was very efficient. After Ming Xin washed up, she went to the kitchen to make breakfast, and met Lu Ma. She thanked: "I saw the hosta." Mama Lu just smiled, "Just as long as you're happy." Ming Xin felt that the old man seemed to have something to say. "Miss Xia, when that man was courting the eldest lady, he waited in the reception room all day long, but suddenly stopped coming, and then broke up again. Will there be retribution for hurting a girl like this?"

It shouldn't be easy to answer this kind of question, but for some reason, Mama Lu asked the question directly, and Ming Xin answered it straightforwardly, she said: "Yes, there will be retribution." Mama Lu nodded, "There is a kind of retribution for this world, which can be seen in this life." Sighing deeply, she quietly walked away. Ming Xin fully thought that no one would attend class today. However, the pale-faced Yuan Hua was the first to come in. Ming Xin was greatly surprised, without any expression on his face, "Please sit down." Yuan Hua sat down gently, she was like a shadow, so vain that she seemed to have no substance.

After a long while, she suddenly asked: "In the future, what should I do?" Ming Xin also has a ready-made answer: "Stay like Miss Zhuo Yuanhua, you should study, do things, dance, whatever you like." Yuan Hua put a blank face on his face, "When will we go?" Ming Xin was secretly surprised. She suddenly smiled, "I was born as Zhuo Yuanhua, and died as Zhuo Yuanhua. Last night, I dreamed of my mother. When I was a child, I hugged her lap tightly." Ming Xin knew that listening to her talk was already the greatest help. Yuan Hua said in standard Mandarin: "Last night, I was lucky to have your coat to hide my ugliness."

Ming Xin raised an eyebrow, "No wonder you didn't come to class." Yuan Hua said, "Father forgot, he had asked someone to teach us a few years ago." Ming Xin nodded. "Father rarely sees us." Yuan Hua stood up and walked out of the library. Soon it was Yuan Xin's turn to walk in. She asked Ming Xin: "Did you sleep last night?" Ming Xin said yes. "I've been crying all night," Yuan Xin said listlessly, "I hope my mother is still alive." Of course Ming Xin understood, "Losing a mother is the most frustrating thing in the world."

Yuan Xin rubbed her face with her hands, "Let's have a good class." It is also good to be distracted, Ming Xin concentrates on teaching. Teaching a student like Yuan Xin is a kind of enjoyment. She draws inferences from one instance and is clever, and her progress is smooth. "Which university will I go to after the summer vacation?" "Brown, English Literature." Ming Xin nodded, yes, that kind of degree is indeed set up for girls like Zhuo Yuanxin. After class, Yuan Xin spread out the newspaper for Ming Xin to read. Mingxin was curious. It was an important economic news. The headline said: "Taiya Huamei Company saves Daming with 1.3 billion", the original competitor Taiya Huami Enterprise announced yesterday that it had reached a joint agreement to cooperate with the rescue company, which has been suspended for nearly a year and a half. The Daming Organization...

Yuan Xin said softly: "My father is Zhuo Shiguang, the chairman of Huanya." I see. "You have to read the newspaper to find out what's going on with him." Ming Xin nodded again. "Brother originally helped him with errands, but later, he fell ill and lived with us." Ming Xin raised his head. sickness, what kind of sickness?She didn't want to make stereotypes in the mouth of this older child, if she wanted to ask, she could ask Zhuo Yuanzong himself. Yuan Xin sighed, "Did it frighten you? Look at our family." Ming Xin said softly: "Which family doesn't have any troubles."

"Ming Xin, you are so kind." Yuan Sheng leaned against the door, "Lieutenant, how about going out for a meal?" "Yuan Xin, you go too." Yuan Xin stretched, "I've made an appointment with Gan Deqi." Ming Xin cleared the table and left with Yuan Sheng. Yuan Sheng suggested: "It's better to go out to sea and have lunch on the boat." Ming Xin replied, "I have something to do this afternoon." "Paint the old man's house again?" "Guess right, this time I'm helping the elderly knit woolen quilts."

"Ming Xin, your spare time activities are full of surprises." "You can come too." "Me, do knitting?" "Why not, my volunteer students, male and female, each donate an hour to weave small squares four by four inches, and I will sew them into blankets and send them to nursing homes." Yuan Sheng refused to obey, "I would like to donate money." "Donations are also welcome." He eats French food with her. Ming Xin said: "The dishes at home are better." "The atmosphere at home is dull: one patient, one broken-hearted, one young and old... I would rather go out to eat." "I don't think so." "Your personality is like sunshine." Ming Xin was suddenly moved, "You are warm and clear." "I knew what attracted me the first time I saw you, your vitality, your heart, and your burning power." Ming Xin smiled, "Aren't they my big eyes?" Yuan Sheng pretended to have just discovered, "Oh yes, you do have beautiful eyes." He sends her to the community center. "I'll pick you up later." "I will go back to my hometown by myself." Yuan Sheng said softly, "By the way." An hour later, he came back and saw Ming Xin squatting there listening to an old lady in a wheelchair complaining. After a long time, she realized that he was standing at the door, so she comforted the old lady and concluded the conversation. She walked towards him smiling. Yuan Sheng said in a low voice: "You are such a strange woman, I never see you getting tired." "I eat a lot." "Be kind to the elderly, do you think of your mother?" Ming Xin replied: "My daughter will grow old too, I hope there will be people willing to listen to her talk in the future." "Wow, the time and space are suddenly pushed forward by a hundred years." Ming Xin smiled, "Fortunately you understand." Yuan Sheng looked at her, "I'm pretty smart." "Let's go back to our hometown." "I know a good place..." "I have to get ready to report to the Navy tomorrow morning." Yuan Sheng was discouraged and had to go home together. Yuan Xin ran out first, "Ming Xin, please help me zip my back." Ming Xin took a look, "The skirt seems too narrow." "Don't be afraid, I will take the king's breath, and you will draw it immediately." Ming Xin ruthlessly tugged at the zipper to close it. Yuan Xin waved her hand, and hurried to the next date. Yuan Sheng looked at his sister's back and said regretfully, "As boring as you want." Ming Xin disapproved, "Why not, if I had the conditions, I would go out to play every day when I was young." Yuan Sheng laughed: "I didn't expect you to be so understanding." Ming Xin went back to the room and took out the uniform and ironed it. Chenxi was leaving the next day, and she went to bed early that night. In the middle of the night, I suddenly woke up. Ming Xin felt that the hairs all over her body stood on end, someone was in front of her bed!She forgot to lock the door. Oops, who is this person? She sat up with a huff. The man said: "I'm sorry, Ming Xin, for waking you up." Ming Xin heaved a sigh of relief, "Yuan Sheng, why is it you?" His voice was extremely nervous, "Brother asked me to invite you, follow me quickly." "What's up?" "Yuan Hua is sitting on the canopy on the second floor and wants to jump down." Ming Xin put on his trousers and shirt without saying a word and immediately followed Yuan Sheng. "It's most convenient to go out from the eldest brother's room." The lights in Zhuo Yuanzong's room were not turned on, and Ming Xin saw a black figure sitting in a corner. In a crisis, who still has the mind to look at the furnishings, Mingxin asked: "Where is Yuanhua?" Yuan Sheng hissed and pointed to the top of the small balcony. Ming Xin saw the two bright legs shaking uncontrollably, and the weirdest thing was that Yuan Hua was still wearing blood-red high-heeled slippers. More than thirty feet high, if you fall, you will be injured or killed. Ming Xin immediately said, "Hurry up and call the police." Yuan Sheng replied, "I have already consulted my father, and the police must not be called." Ming Xin was very surprised, "It's important to save lives." "If this matter is publicized, Zhuo Yuanhua will be nicknamed a crazy girl from now on. What future will she have?" At this time, Zhuo Yuanzong who was sitting in a corner said: "Miss Xia, please persuade her to come down." Ming Xin's back was covered with cold sweat, she was still hesitating, Yuan Hua, who was sitting on the eaves, suddenly shook her legs, a pair of slippers slipped down, and with a puff sound, the silence of the night was broken. Ming Xin had no choice but to bite the bullet. She stepped out of the terrace gently and stood by the railing, pretending to be looking at the scenery. Looking from the small terrace on the third floor, it seems that you can see the other side of the Pacific Ocean. She pretended to talk to herself: "This summer is very hot, I don't know how many hummingbirds come to drink honey water." Mingxin is sure that Yuen Wah can see and hear her. She raised her head slightly and saw Yuan Hua's whole body. The eldest lady had already changed into her pajamas, her expression was not excited, but a little confused, she was also looking at Xia Mingxin and smiling. Ming Xin went on talking to himself: "The honey water bottle needs to be washed frequently, the honey water will go bad, and it will poison the hummingbird to death. At that time, loving it will turn into hating it, don't you think so?" Then she raised her head, "Hey, Yuanhua, why are you here?" Yuan Hua nodded to her. Ming Xin asked softly: "Do you want to come down and chat?" Yuan Hua shook his head. "How did you get up there?" The eldest lady was silent. Ming Xin said calmly: "It's too willful, and I don't even think about how sad my mother will be if she finds out." Yuan Hua suddenly dropped his head and wept. "Brothers and sisters love you very much, and don't think about them." Yuan Hua must have taken medicine, sitting in such a lonely place without fear. "Come on, slide down slowly, Yuansheng and I will catch you." Yuan Shengjin walked out slowly. Yuan Hua finally spoke, his voice trembling and erratic, "Don't tell father." "He doesn't need to know." Yuan Sheng stretched out his hands. At this moment, Yuan Hua didn't dare to move anymore, his limbs trembled like fallen leaves. Ming Xin said, "I'll go to the roof to help her." "There is an iron ladder behind the house." What a Xia Mingxin, who has received military training, it is rare for her to be as tall as the third floor, and she crawled to Yuanhua's side like a monkey. She hugged Yuan Hua tightly, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid", then took her arms, and slowly lowered her down on the small terrace, Yuan Sheng's two hands held her legs like iron clamps, and she was safe. Mingxin breathed a sigh of relief. Yuan Hua needs to see a psychiatrist, otherwise, if she tries bravely like her, she will succeed one day. Ming Xin sat on the roof for a while, just as he was about to get down, he heard someone asking anxiously, "What are you still doing up there?" "Is it Yuan Sheng?" "I am Zhuo Yuanzong." "Ah, I'll go right away." "Miss Xia." He stopped her. "yes?" "Thank you." "You're welcome." Ming Xin climbed downstairs, Yuan Sheng waited for her underground. "Look at you, you scratched your palm." Ming Xin just asked, "How is Yuan Hua?" "The doctor has been called to see her." "Where's Yuan Xin?" Yuan Sheng was annoyed, "I haven't come back yet." Ming Xin went back to the room and found that it was already dawn. She changed into her uniform and set off. Yuan Sheng drove her off in a jeep, and he couldn't help applauding her look. That day was just a general practice, and it happened that the TV station sent reporters to visit, and the colleagues on duty explained some facts to the reporters. Ming Xin felt that she was extremely tired and lacked concentration, others might not be able to see it, but she thought she was not up to standard. Secretly, the young male reporter became very interested in the beautiful Chinese-American naval lieutenant, and kept asking him endlessly. "Theoretically, in case of war, you also need to be called to fight?" "What prompted you to join the military?" "Is there any phenomenon of patriarchy in the military?" "Is there any similarity between you and Mulan?" Xia Mingxin was exhausted. At the end, he also left a business card, "have a cup of coffee when you are free." Ming Xin suddenly understood why some celebrities wanted to beat and scold reporters. Ming Xin breathed a sigh of relief after the team closed after eight hours. Returning to the hometown by truck, Mingxin dozed on the seat, suddenly heard a scream, ah, it was Zhuo Yuanhua, Mingxin didn't hold her tight, she slid down from the roof, fell to the ground like a broken flower, blood splashed out. Ming woke up with a startled heart, breaking out in a cold sweat. "Here we are," said the driver. Ming Xin hurriedly thanked him and jumped out of the car. The servant opened the door to her graciously, probably having heard what happened last night, and his attitude was different. The butler greeted him, and said in a low voice, "Yuan Hua, take a nap, it's all right." Ming Xin nodded while rubbing her eyes, walked upstairs, took off her boots, and wanted to talk to Yuan Sheng, but when she saw the mattress, she couldn't express her nostalgia, so she fell on the bed involuntarily, with her face facing Down, and soon lost consciousness. In the middle of half-brightness, I also feel a little regretful. There are many things that I can’t do in time. Let’s count when I wake up. If I can’t wake up, I have to count. She sighed and closed her eyes. Ming Xin didn't hear someone coughing lightly outside the door. "Miss Xia." The man waited for a while, but there was no reply, the door was ajar, he could naturally see her lying on the bed with all her clothes, already asleep, her boots splayed cutely on the ground. Ah, so tired that I fell asleep like a child. He leaves gently. Then, Zhuo Yuansheng came, he was not so polite, he opened the door and walked in while calling: "Ming Xin, Ming Xin." Seeing her lying on the bed, he didn't shy away from it, and simply sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her tanned cheeks. He smelled salt, or was it sweat? For some reason, he began to speak Mandarin to her, "What a girl, she went to serve as a soldier and came back like a refugee." Although the words were not good, they were not difficult to understand. It turned out that he would say a few words, and he came to class just to get close to Xia Mingxin. Seeing her hand fell on the side of the bed, he helped her up. "See you later." He kissed her fingertips lightly. Xia Mingxin didn't feel it at all, and continued to look for her dream. Zhuo Yuansheng walked through the study and heard someone calling him: "Yuansheng, come here." "yes, Sir." He went into the study and sat down. "I talked to my father." "How did he say?" "Tell Yuan Hua to go back to him." Yuan Sheng was in a hurry, "Yuan Hua has already suffered from the effects of stimulation, why not leave her here to recuperate." "That's what I say too." "Did your father accept your opinion?" "Don't you know him?" Yuan Sheng stamped his feet. "Yuanhua will leave in the day after tomorrow." "Yuanhua is more difficult to recover under high pressure." "Also, my father suggested that Hu hire Miss Xia." "what?" "Knowing too much to an outsider is not a good thing." "I've been here for less than a month." Yuan Sheng protested. "We'll make it up to her." Yuan Sheng said angrily, "You tell her yourself." There was a long silence in the study. Yuan Sheng asked, "Is there anything else?" "Father told you to watch your expenses." Yuan Sheng sneered, "This is the only joy of being the son of the Zhuo family. If he doesn't even want to give alms for this, then I might as well run away from home." He left the study without looking back. On the first morning, Ming Xin was waiting for her students in the library. There was a light knock on the door. She raised her head and didn't recognize the thin face for a moment, but then saw his crutches, ah, it was Zhuo Yuanzong. Ming Xin stood up. He didn't see her clearly until this time: curly sideburns, hair that seemed to be naturally curly, a pair of big shining eyes on a small round face, wearing a white shirt and khaki pants, which was different from ordinary fat and vulgar powder. Her warm smile is like the first ray of sunshine in the morning, I believe this is the reason why Yuan Sheng came to class. "Hi, please sit down." Her voice is very crisp and lively. He sat down gently, and was about to talk to her about his dismissal, and the compensation check had already been written and put in his pocket, but suddenly he couldn't open his mouth. Why tell her to go, she is a rare breath of fresh air in the hometown. He also coveted her laughter. Zhuo Yuanzong changed his mind. Suddenly Xia Mingxin asked him: "Are you coming to class too?" "I want to learn idiom stories." Ming Xin was slightly surprised, "How is your Chinese level?" "Can speak and listen, and can understand newspaper headlines." "Same as the vowel." "Really!" He smiled, "Won Sheng said that?" Yuan Sheng's lazy voice came from behind: "Don't talk about people's faults in small talk." Everyone laughed. Zhuo Yuanzong suddenly felt embarrassed and left with an excuse. Ming Xin looked at the back of the ground, he was obviously sick, but she wouldn't ask if he didn't tell him. Yuan Sheng was a little nervous, "What did he tell you?" "Just a word or two and you're here." Yuan Sheng was relieved, and he moved his face closer to Ming Xin, "Lieutenant, you are the cutest woman I have ever seen." "I'll be promoted to captain next month." Ming Xin was just about to tease him for his narrow eyesight when he saw a figure flashing outside the door. Zhuo Yuanhua stood outside the door, hesitating, and Yuan Xin was beside him. The library was suddenly full of people. Yuan Sheng spoke first: "Yuanhua, if you don't want to go back, don't go. You are an adult, and you can be independent." Hey, is it a family meeting? It's inconvenient for Ming Xin to interrupt. Yuan Hua did not intend to resist. "Huh, it's a big deal to leave the family." Yuan Hua finally said: "I voluntarily go back." "In this way, you will have no freedom." Yuan Hua smiled wryly: "Maybe what I need is not freedom." Yuan Sheng held her hand, "Fight for freedom first, then you will know what you want?" Yuan Hua looked at his elder brother, "I'm afraid." "What are you afraid of?" Ming Xin wanted to hear it too. Yuan Hua's voice was as soft as a gossamer, "Outside, the sky is so high, the land is so big, I have no income, I don't want to cook and clean up..." Unexpectedly, Zhuo Yuanhua has everything, but lacks courage. Yuan Sheng still persuaded the eldest sister: "You see, Xia Mingxin takes good care of herself, so can you." "She—" Yuan Hua's tone seemed to treat Xia Mingxin as another creature. Ming Xin didn't know whether to be angry or funny. At this time, the butler came in and said, "Yuanhua, come and see, what else needs to be cleaned up." Yuan Xin accompanied her sister upstairs. Yuan Sheng was melancholy, "Elder Sister is really too cowardly." Ming Xin is still noncommittal. Yuan Sheng scolded: "Captain, you should draw your sword to help." "It's good to go home and recuperate." "You know what," going back is tantamount to grounding. " "Didn't you always object to Yuan Xin not returning at night?" "Yuanhua is different. Since her mother died, she has been in a trance and has been treated for a period of time." Ming Xin understood. "And you," he turned his head, "are you worried about life?" "Anyone will feel pressure, but there is no unparalleled road. There are scholarships for studying, and finding a job after graduation." "Aren't you afraid of falling?" "Scared! It hurts and looks ugly, but there is nothing I can do. I have to fall down and get up." "Well said." Zhuo Yuanzong also heard these words, he just passed the door. In the afternoon, Yuan Sheng went out to do errands, Ming Xin went to the garden and saw him sketching with watercolors. Just about to step down, Yuan Zong said, "Would you like to be a model?" "I?" "Yes, please sit on the stone bench and turn your body half sideways." Ming Xin simply carried his back. She told a story: "A certain wife had an old photo of her grandparents hanging in her home. One day, the frame was dirty. She took it off and wiped the glass. Unexpectedly, the bottom of the frame fell away. She found that the plywood at the bottom was an oil painting on the inside. , the painting is ugly, she was curious and took it to an antique shop for appraisal." Even Zhuo Yuanzong was curious, "Is it a famous painting?" "Yes, it's a Braque worth half a million dollars, and the lady got it for nothing." "It's a blessing." Ming Xin suddenly reminded him, "This morning, you seem to have something to say to me." "I have already said." Ming Xin asked: "You don't want to fire me, do you?" Zhuo Yuanzong remained calm, this woman is ice and snow intelligent. He just replied, "You care too much." "I'm not a talkative person." "I can tell." For a moment, Ming Xin felt her shoulders were a little stiff, and she asked, "Can I move?" "The drawing is finished, please advise." Ming Xin went over to look, and saw her in the blue tone watercolor painting sitting alone on the stone bench, surrounded by bright red and purple colors, but the person in the painting was infinitely lonely. Ming Xin was surprised, he really didn't expect her to be so lonely, Zhuo Yuanzong captured her mood at that moment. "How about it?" Keep silent. "Next time, I hope I can draw your front face." "You play the violin too?" He was surprised, "Hey, you heard me practice in the storage room." Ming Xin smiled. She patted her clothes and went back inside. Mama Lu is arranging flowers. She said, "Missy is going back." Ming Xin nodded. "Yuanhua was smart since he was a child, so he was very troubled." Ming Xin was silent. Luma continued: "A rough person like me, who only knows how to live day by day, accepts what comes and goes, and never thinks about fighting." Ming Xin sat down and rested his chin on his hand, "Mama Lu, you are right, my mother passed away, I feel sad since I was a child, and I have to work harder to be a human being, so don't make her miss me." Mama Lu was amazed, "Miss Xia, you are a scholar, yet you are also resigned to your fate." Ming Xin recalled: "At that time, I was discriminated against and bullied by relatives and friends, as the world should be like this, I was not particularly sad." "What now?" "There is no contact, and there is no chance to get angry." Lu Ma suddenly understood, "You are called open-minded." Ming Xin sighed, "Who knows, maybe it's because of stupidity." Yuan Xin asked behind him, "Are the poor especially offended?" Ming Xin smiled, "Why are you asking this?" Mama Lu also said, "You'll never know." Yuan Xin sat down, ate ice cream and said, "If a person is poor, he will suffer." Ming Xin smiled, it's not that the young lady is ignorant of the ways of the world. Mama Lu had already left with the vase in her hand. Yuan Xin asked naively: "The next stop, are you going to teach in another family?" Ming Xin couldn't help teasing her, "We poor people are very cautious. Tutors are just temporary workers. I have officially applied for a job offer, but I will come to your house to make the transition during my spare time. You don't have to worry about me." Yuan Xin only said: "Oh." She also heard that Xia Mingxin was mocking her. Ming Xin said: "Come to class quickly, what are you waiting for?" In the next week, Yuan Hua left, Yuan Sheng complained a lot, and Yuan Xin went out to dance every night. Under such difficult circumstances, Xia Mingxin taught Yuan Xin to speak ordinary conversation. "How are you, the weather is not bad", "You look great, we have time to have tea together", "The air in the Legislative Council is tense, what do you think", "I'm too busy with homework, I don't have time to play ball"... Every evening, Ming Xin had an irresistible urge to go to the garden to watch Zhuo Yuanzong's sketches.