Chapter 19 Chapter Nineteen

When I woke up in the morning, I realized that it was snowing. The snowflakes are light and soft, melting as soon as they hit the ground, and everything outside the window becomes wet.Two plum blossoms are in bloom, and the faint fragrance is refreshing. She stood in front of the window for a while, Ruan Zhengdong came downstairs at some point, and there was his faint figure on the glass window, she didn't look back, just smiled, and he also smiled in the glass, and then told her: "These two plants Plum blossoms have been around for decades, one is Xinkou, and the other is sandalwood."

The old house has imprints of the old times everywhere. On the wall of the side hall, there is a beautifully framed running script banner, which says "the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold". But still recognized whose handwriting it was. "I practiced calligraphy when I was a child, but I practiced badly. I had to read the inscriptions at home when I was on vacation." Ruan Zhengdong told her, "How could I calm down to write big characters at that time? I was thinking about slipping out to play all day long. I was forced to write a letter to my family every week, but my father criticized my words in the first sentence of the reply letter to me."

In fact, his handwriting is very good. Jiaqi has seen him write in lower case. The handwriting resembles his grandfather's handwriting. Jiaqi said: "When I was young, I really liked calligraphy classes. At that time, I often used old newspapers to practice big characters. I bought a few sheets of rice paper. I had to carefully pinch out the rice-character grids and wait for a long time before I dared to write on them." Ruan Zhengdong said: "For a while, I often wondered what you were like when you were young." Jiaqi asked: "Why?" He smiled instead: "I don't understand why - but I always feel that I know too little about you, so I just want to know more. I want to know what you were like when you were young, and how you were doing well. In the past twenty years, I don't know when you are happy, and I don't know when you are sad, so I always feel regretful."

Jiaqi slowly reached out, held his hand, and said, "When I was young, I was actually no different from other people's children. Sometimes I was naughty and ignorant, which made my father troubled." He laughed: "I really can't see that you can still be mischievous." Jiaqi said: "Children, of course there are times when you are ignorant. It's winter vacation, Dad has to go to work, and I am alone at home all day long. I finished my homework in the first few days and wanted to be with the little girls next door. Jumping rubber band. One day I played for too long and forgot to go home to seal the stove. When my father came back in the evening, the briquettes in the stove had been extinguished. You don’t know if you have never used a coal stove. It takes an hour or two to rebuild the stove. Seeing It was getting dark, and I couldn't make dinner yet. I was scared, but my father didn't blame me a word, but took me out to eat wontons instead."

There is a small restaurant at the corner of the bridge in the town, and Jiaqi remembers being taken by her father to eat wontons.On a winter night, the bluestone streets are wet, and the shop doors on one side cast dim lights, and on the other side is a silent river, and there are late returnees tying the cables of their black boats under the pier. Yao Yao greeted his father in the dark: "Master You, have you eaten yet?" My father replied politely, "Not yet." She was far behind her father, with her head lowered in anxiety. Although her father didn't blame her, she knew that she had done something wrong.Hearing the patter of his rubber shoes on the bluestone slab, his father turned around and stretched out his hand to her from afar.

Her father's fingers were slender and soft. She didn't know what her mother's hands should look like, but her father's hands were always so warm and reassuring. Ruan Zhengdong listened to her very carefully, until the end, he still held her hand.His fingers were slightly cold, because of the drip, although he did not go back to the hospital, but the nurse lived in a room downstairs, and the doctor would come on time every day, and the drip was always given every morning.There are many kinds of potions, and it often takes a whole half a day to hang one bag after another. Jiaqi gave him hand warmers under his palms, but his elbows were always cold, and he had to take a bottle of pills after the IV drip. He laughed and said, "There are so many kinds of medicines." , I don’t know if the medical insurance will reimburse me.”

He kept his word, and watched many old movies with her after the drip was finished every day. They are all literary films produced in Hong Kong. Although they are tacky and boring, the two of them also enjoy it. The old-fashioned sofa is wide and big, and the two of them nestled in it. She ate potato chips and drank a good drink. , the fragrance of tea is overflowing, she brings it with potato chips, chocolate and even cookies, Ruan Zhengdong said that she would never waste anything. She was not convinced: "Potato chips are best served with green tea, try it if you don't believe me."

Immediately regretting the words, because he can't drink tea, let alone eat potato chips, so he took the kiwi juice that his aunt had prepared for him and gave it to him: "This is delicious too." He took two sips from her hand, frowned and said, "Sour." Jiaqi ignored him: "You don't want to lie to me to kiss you again." He smiled and approached her with malicious intentions: "How do you know that I want to kiss you?" Jiaqi was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly turned away and said, "Let's watch a movie." Today I watched "Little Things in Big Towns", starring Liming and Faye Wong.

Breaking up, meeting by chance, handsome men and beautiful women, beautiful pictures, beautiful soundtrack, because they are in love so they will never leave, search, and look back in a big city.Even if the plot is a little weak, the ending is so sweet. The fireworks in the big canopy are in full bloom in the night sky of Shanghai, like a smooth black satin night curtain cut by thousands of bright glass, each of which is gorgeous and incredible. Get a fulfillment. Jia Qi likes this movie: "No matter how boring the content is, as long as the ending is good, it is a good story." Ruan Zhengdong said: "It's far worse than "Sleepless in Seattle"."

She admits that the two films are very different, but she insists on this: "I like this one, you see, standing in the Jinmao Tower overlooking the fireworks, the fireworks illuminate each other's faces, making people feel that it really lasts forever, a lifetime .” He didn't take it seriously: "The fireworks are gone in a blink of an eye, how can they be considered as a lifetime?" Jiaqi said: "But it is so beautiful that people will never forget it, and will never forget it for the rest of their lives. How can it not last forever?" He smiled and didn't say anything else, just rubbed her hair.

Finally, he said, "Jiaqi, let's get engaged." "If I could, I'd like to marry you. Someone once told me that the greatest sincerity a man can show a woman is to propose. I'd love to marry you, but I'm worried about the future. So let's get engaged, even if it's not formal Marriage, I want everyone to know that I want to marry you, if possible, I want you to be my wife in the future." Mr. Meng in the movie is asking Dr. Zhou to listen to an old song on a vinyl disc. The voice in the gramophone has a rustling sound of years, and the sweet voice seems to penetrate time and space. Many people spend their lives remembering a relationship. The movie didn't say why the separation, flashy to dreamy scenes, yellowed memories, fragments of love are just embarrassing, and until the end of his life, he didn't wait for the person he was waiting for. Ruan Zhengdong smiled: "Look, I don't want to be like him and miss that person until I'm eighty years old." Jiaqi felt sad and finally said, "I don't even have a diamond ring." He seemed to suddenly realize: "So it's because of this depression? If I knew it, I would have gone to buy a very, very big diamond ring." He stretched out his hand, already holding a delicate ring between his fingers, and took her hand to put it on her middle finger. The ring was exquisitely carved and slightly worn, and it could be seen that it was an old thing that had passed through the years.The ring just fell under the second knuckle of her ring finger, not too big or too small, just right. "My grandmother's ring. It is said to be a relic of my great-grandmother. She has been wearing it all the time. When she ran away from home and went to Yan'an, she took nothing but this." He gently rubbed Jiaqi's finger, "Grandpa died only two years ago, and she left too. Before he died, give this to me. I really hope grandma is still alive. She will definitely say that I did not pick the wrong person." Jiaqi has seen large and small black and white photos above the fireplace, the once green temples and beauties, such beautiful eyes.There are also many photos after liberation, group photos with family or friends, wearing a gray military uniform, with short hair cut to the ears, which is the simplest attire of that era, but bright eyes and bright teeth, as if time has stopped forever.There are also a few group photos of old age, the two old people are already gray-haired, and they are sitting on wicker chairs, calm and leisurely.Behind me are pear trees in bloom and piling up snow, and the spring is as deep as the sea. Jiaqi couldn't help but feel curious: "They really never quarreled?" Ruan Zhengdong laughed loudly: "There is no couple in this world who doesn't quarrel. My grandmother's temper is really amazing. When these two people get angry, they ignore each other, so they always let Xizi ask grandma to eat. Well, if grandma is willing to have dinner with grandpa, the fight will be over." I really love it very much, so I can do this. I have never left for decades, even in the most difficult years, I always hold my son's hand, and finally grow old together with my son. One of Jiaqi's favorite old photos is a bust, with eyes like lacquer, sitting upright, with clear and clear eyes, which can almost be felt through the lens.A sixteen-year-old girl from a superior family, with short black and soft hair, dressed in a foreign dress, carefree, demure and beautiful old lady, no half can remind people of the turbulent future of life. She said: "Grandma must be very disappointed. You pick and choose, but you finally choose me. I am neither beautiful nor smart. Many times I am stupid. Compared with her old man when she was young, she is far behind." "I like you like this, what can I do?" She finally smiled. "Hey, I finally laughed. It's so hard. If I had known I would buy a big diamond ring, I might be able to smile brighter." "Slick tongue." He complained: "You haven't kissed me today, how do you know I'm glib?" She lifted her face tenderly to kiss him. After a long time, she suddenly remembered: "Where is the oracle bone inscription? Why didn't I see it today?" "It's in confinement." She laughed: "What are you doing locking it up?" "Ask knowingly." He didn't let go and continued to kiss, she pushed him: "The phone is ringing." He was almost discouraged: "Can I pretend I didn't hear it?" After dawdling, I finally went to answer the phone, walked back after a while and told her, "Xizi is coming to Shanghai tomorrow." After a pause, he said, "Pingping will also come tomorrow." After a while, he said: "Why don't you meet them." Jiaqi was taken aback for a moment, but shook her head and said, "It's okay, anyway, we have to meet sooner or later." He said, "That's fine." The next day, Jiaqi woke up very early. After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she went back to bed and was dazed for a long time. Then Ruan Zhengdong knocked on the door and came in: "Why haven't you woken up yet?" She hastily pulled off the quilt: "I haven't changed my clothes yet." It made him feel awkward for a while, but in fact, she was wearing a tight set of pajamas and pajamas with a pattern of small checkered teddy bears, she looked like a child. She really hadn't made up her mind what to wear.Because she came in a hurry, she didn't bring any luggage at all, and only added a few extra pieces when she arrived.And the Ruan family has used a master tailor for many years in Shanghai. It was the first time that Jiaqi ordered clothes. After measuring the size, they were delivered within a few days. They were just a few sets of homely casual clothes. The styles were simple and the materials were ironed. Jiaqi felt very comfortable. comfortable. Ruan Zhengdong walked over and opened the door of the cloakroom, took a look inside and said, "You are still a woman, you don't even have any clothes like this." Jia Qi said, "I'm not a beauty, so I don't need to dress like Sheng Zhi." He became angry for a while: "Stingy, you little vinegar vat, you only like to turn over old scores." She retorted: "Big flower heart, big carrot, don't let people tell you about your guilty conscience." He came over to hold her down and kissed her. Jiaqi felt that she couldn't breathe, so she pushed him, but the more he pushed, the tighter he pressed, the breathing of both of them gradually became heavier, his hand was dishonest, and slipped onto the quilt Underneath, Jiaqi only felt that his palm was terribly hot, his hot breath sprayed on her neck, itching, his hand was already like a fish, slipped into her wide sleeve, and ran along her elbow. Sliding down, Jiaqi was flustered, feeling that the army was defeated, and in a moment of desperation, he kicked him desperately, just in time to kick him, he groaned, finally stepped aside, and bent down in pain. Jiaqi knew that she had kicked hard, so she quickly got up in fright: "Is it okay?" He still didn't say a word, Jiaqi panicked: "Where did you kick?" It took him a long time to squeeze out a sentence between his teeth: "It's okay." Boss Jiaqi felt very sorry. She used to play with her roommates, and she kicked someone by mistake in a hurry, which made Juanzi's calf black and blue. It can be seen that the kick was heavy, Jiaqi said: "Let me see, where did the kick go?" He blushed all of a sudden, threw his hand and ran away, leaving Jiaqi there.This is the second time Jiaqi sees him blushing, and she suddenly wakes up, her cheeks are burning like fire, her bare feet step on the ground, the old teak floor is black and shiny, and the soles of her feet are icy and cold, she really wants to dig a hole in the ground Get in and hide and can't come out. After a while, when I went downstairs to see Ruan Zhengdong again, I still felt embarrassed, and I was too embarrassed to talk to him, until I came to Jiangxi. Jiangxi is still so beautiful, and hugged Jiaqi lively: "I told the director that if I don't let me take vacation again, I will complain to him, and he approves my annual leave. It happened to be a peaceful business trip, so I dragged him along." Immediately noticed the ring on her hand, "Ah...this ring..." Holding Jiaqi's hand, she turned her head and smiled, "Brother, you are too mean, you didn't tell us such a big thing. " Ruan Zhengdong just laughed: "Don't you still invite relatives and friends to tell the world?" "Of course I want it," Jiang Xihui smiled slyly, "You don't need to tell the world, just invite all your relatives and friends in Shanghai, especially your ex-girlfriends, to have a gathering, that's enough." Ruan Zhengdong squinted, his red phoenix eyes were even more cold and handsome, Jiang Xi was not afraid of him at all, and made faces at him childishly. Meng Heping stood there all the time. Jiaqi found it difficult to smile, but she tried very hard to smile: "Do you want tea? Coffee?" He said, "Thank you, no need." Jiang Xi said: "Don't pay attention to him, he is a bit weird, he only drinks plain water, just like Chairman Jiang." Jiaqi paused and said, "I'm going to pour tea." Ruan Zhengdong said: "Ask Aunt Li to do it, besides, Xizi and Heping are not outsiders." Jiaqi still went to the kitchen to help Aunt Li make tea. Aunt Li said, "Xizi likes lemon honey tea the most." So she helped cut the lemon. The soreness was unbearable, and I couldn't open my eyes immediately.Aunt Li groaned, and hurriedly brought a clean towel to her. She pressed it on her eyes and said with a smile, "It's really useless, I can't even do such a small thing." Aunt Li said: "It hurts the most when it splashes in the eyes." It hurt so much, I couldn't help crying. Returning to the living room with the tea tray, his eyes were as red as a little white rabbit, Ruan Zhengdong saw it immediately: "What's wrong?" She rubbed again involuntarily: "The lemon juice splashed into my eyes." He said: "I told you not to do it, you still have to show off." Jiang Xi added to the confusion: "Chui Chui, brother, it won't hurt to blow Chui for Jiaji soon, really." Ruan Zhengdong made a gesture to give Jiangxi a shock, she flinched and hid behind Meng Heping, just smiling. Because of the addition of two people, the empty big house seemed to be lively all of a sudden.Even Aunt Li was very happy, busy preparing dinner, Jiaqi was helping Aunt Li in the kitchen, Jiang Xi poked her head at the door of the kitchen, "Do you want me to help?" Come with peace." Jiang Xi still went into the kitchen: "He is playing chess with my brother, those two people, who is still in their eyes when they play chess?" Jiaqi didn't let her do it, Jiangxi smiled: "I really turned my host into a guest this time." On the contrary, Jiaqi was a little embarrassed, so she pretended not to care and asked her to help her pick up the cabbage. Feeling that Yu Yong is good, he helped peel the lotus seeds.Watching Jiaqi chopping vegetables, she felt almost adored: "Oh my god, Jiaqi, your movements are as professional as Aunt Li's." Aunt Li smiled and said, "I'm about to be laid off, and Dongzi likes to eat side dishes fried during the festival." Jiang Xi said: "I haven't eaten it yet, my brother is really lucky." Jiaqi smiled, and Jiangxi suddenly sighed: "Actually, it has been many years. When I was a child, I envied other people's homes. The whole family talked and laughed in the kitchen and cooked a meal. That's how it looks like a home. Fireworks. I didn't expect it to be like this today. Jiaqi, you should marry my brother as soon as possible, and I will go to your place every day for dinner in the future." Aunt Li said, "Really, Xizi, you're going to marry Heping soon. Why don't you go to your elder brother's and sister-in-law's house for dinner after you get married?" Jiang Xi said: "Meng Heping is busy, how can I have time to eat at home, so I will have a lot of opportunities to go to my brother's house for dinner, right, sister-in-law?"