every breath

The torrential rain in Yongchuan lasted for two days before gradually subsiding.

The water level of the small river in the town soared, and it didn’t drop slowly until the third day. Some bold children ran to the river beach to pick up the fish washed ashore by the heavy rain or stranded in the small mudflat. They wore shorts and carried small buckets, happily Take home a bucket full of fish.

There are also some people who lived in old tile buildings whose roofs were damaged by heavy rains. They took advantage of the rain to climb up the ladder and began to repair the roof tiles.

In the evening, the Yuan brothers and sisters, who had been bored for two days, invited Zhuang Yu to go for a walk together, and took him to visit Yongchuan by the way.

The sky after the rain was extraordinarily high, and the sunset covered the entire sky. The orange glow cast a layer of warm color on the faces of pedestrians.They went out from their distant homes and walked slowly along the stone path. The stone road was still slippery, so they had to be careful when walking.

The three of them walked lazily and aimlessly, and every time they passed a family's yard, if someone happened to be busy in the yard, they would greet them warmly.

"Oh, Yuanchen Yuanyang, let's go for a walk. Who is this handsome guy next to him?"

They briefly introduced: "A guest."

Zhuang Yu smiled at them, and then the three of them walked forward slowly together.

There is no scenery worth mentioning in Yongchuan, and there are no cultural relics that can be specially mentioned.The blue tiles and white walls in the town are all in the old style, and the green trees and red flowers are the scenery of the outskirts of the village. If there is anything unique, there is nothing unique. If there is any difference, it is not different.

But seeing the gardens carefully prepared by every household, as well as the carefully cultivated vegetables and flowers in the gardens; seeing the sweaty and muddy boys running home with red buckets full of small fish and laughing with them Passing by each other; hearing the leisurely chatting and laughing of the old people selling ice cream and watermelon on the road; hearing strange and friendly greetings and calls, walking leisurely through this road, which is nothing special While walking, Zhuang Yu felt the uniqueness of Yongchuan from the bottom of his heart:

This quaint town still retains the warm human touch that has disappeared in many cities and villages today.

Yong Chuan, who can take in a stranger without doubt, expose his shortcomings bluntly and frankly, and accept everyone who lives as he pleases, has his unique charm.

No wonder Qin Xuanyang has been obsessed with it.

They walked all the way to the quiet river. The heavy rain had just passed, and the water level of the river was still a little high. The bushes in the outskirts were more green, and the wildflowers on the roadside seemed a little listless after two days of torrential rain.There were a few children by the river catching fish with their trousers on their legs. They walked along the river, and there was a sound of a harmonica not far away.

The vicissitudes of the deep bass, melodious and sweet, the dragonfly flies by in the evening, and in the sun, a girl is playing the harmonica under the tree.

Seeing that figure, Yuan Yang quickened his pace and walked over there.

Yuanchen smiled knowingly, and poked Zhuang Yu: "Hey, that's the little Yaoyao I told you about."

Zhuang Yu followed her gaze and saw that under the tree playing the harmonica was a girl about the same age as Yuan Yang, wearing a plain knitted sweater and a floral skirt, looking delicate and clean, her eyes Looking at the willows on the other side of the river without squinting, melodious tones floated from the piano and flew into the distance.

Zhou Chuyao, 19 years old.Yuanyang has been secretly in love with the girl for seven years since the sixth grade of primary school.

After she finished playing the song, Yuan Yang dared to go forward, but it could be seen that Yuan Yang was still a little nervous, and the voice of greeting was different from usual: "When did you come back?"

The girl glanced at him lightly: "A few days ago."

"Why does your school stay so late every time you go on vacation? I've been back for half a month. I'm so tired of being together with my sister." Yuanyang had nothing to say, and he could see that he was still very reserved.

Zhou Chuyao looked over his shoulder to see Yuan Chen behind him, waved her hand, then went straight around Yuan Yang, and came to Yuan Chen with a harmonica.

"Ms. Chen."

"Xiao Yao seems to have grown taller again." Yuan Chen smiled and patted her head.

Zhuang Yu noticed that Zhou Chuyao's expression remained unchanged.

"Sister Chen, I read your latest novel. The main character is haunted by ghosts and causes schizophrenia, then falls into the river and drowns for ten years before the bones are found." Any expression, "I love it."

Yuanchen's eyes lit up instantly, and she hooked her shoulder happily: "I knew you would like it. Next time, I plan to make the characters in the book die even worse. Can you give me some advice?"

"Of course, it's a great honor."

The two of them walked back while chatting, and Yuan Yang, who was left out in the cold, followed behind them with Zhuang Yu in a somewhat dejected manner.

Zhuang Yu looked at Zhou Chuyao's back, and asked Yuanyang in a low voice, "Did you steal her homework when you were in sixth grade?"

"Ah."

"Your sister seems to have a good relationship with her."

Yuanyang sighed: "She is my sister's number one fan, and she especially likes the horror novels written by my sister."

It's really unexpected that such a pretty girl would be so keen on horror novels.Moreover, it is still a facial paralysis.

"She doesn't seem to have any expression."

"Oh, she's been like that since she was a child. But don't look at her facial paralysis, in fact, she has a lot of inner activities, but she doesn't show it on the surface."

Zhuang Yu nodded, and took another sneaky look at Yuan Yang, "Have you ever confessed your love to her?"

He shook his head quickly: "I didn't!"

"Aren't you going to confess in the future?"

Looking at the backs of the two people in front of him, Yuan Yang sighed again: "She doesn't seem to be interested in me."

"When you strive for opportunities, you should show more performance. If you are sincere, gold and stone will separate. Sometimes there is no harm in being sloppy."

Yuan Yang looked at him: "Do you have experience?"

Zhuang Yu thought for a while: "Rather than saying that I have experience, it is better to say that I have the experience of being stalked by others."

Yuan Yang's eyes lit up instantly: "Did that person succeed?"

He smiled: "Successful."

"Then you're together?"

"That's it."

"And then what? Are you still together now?"

Zhuang Yu sighed, "Then he left."

"Ah?" Yuanyang looked confused, "Why did she leave after finally catching up?"

"It's a long story." Zhuang Yu patted him on the shoulder, "Anyway, from my experience, it can be proved that stalking is sometimes useful. So you work hard."

It was too late to say it, and Yuanchen in the front turned around and waved to them both: "Xiaoyao said that there is a night market in Yezhishan Square tonight, do you two want to go with us?"

The two of them looked at each other and nodded without hesitation.

"Of course!"

Yezhi Mountain is a mountain to the west of Yongchuan Town. At first glance, it looks no different from other gently rolling mountains, and it is very likely that it is not different in fact.The reason why it became a special mountain all stems from a legend.

According to the saying passed down from generation to generation by the old people in Yongchuan Town: After death, the soul will return to the place it was most attached to during life.

And the place where Yongchuan receives these returning souls is Ye Zhishan.It is said that every soul that returns to Yongchuan will become a new sapling in the mountains, which will grow again with the passage of time.

Therefore, Yongchuan has an unwritten rule for generations: no matter what, the new saplings on the Zhishan Mountain cannot be pulled out.

But with the passage of time, the older generation gradually passed away, and more and more young people left this slow-paced small town to seek more opportunities and material stimulation in distant cities. These people also slowly forgot many legends of this small town.

A few years ago, Yuanjing specially interviewed many old people in the town in order to search for writing materials, so he learned about the various legends of Yongchuan.As for Yuanyang, he has always been particularly interested in supernatural events and supernatural abilities. He naturally pays close attention to Ye Zhishan, who has been legendary for generations.

He felt that Ye Zhishan was very suitable for UFO landing.

Zhuang Yu also heard Qin Xuanyang talk about the night market in Yongchuan: Every quarter, in order to revitalize this town that has been deserted day after day, the town will hold a simple night market.Shops in the town will sell discounted goods at their stalls or plan various interesting entertainment activities to attract customers.At this time, the children will be extraordinarily excited, and Yongchuan, who has always shown others with a quiet face, will also be extraordinarily lively.

The place where the night market is held is in the small square under Yezhi Mountain.

When they finished their meal and arrived at the foot of Yezhi Mountain from their homes far away, the night market was already very lively.Not only are the small event booths hung with various colored lights, but even the trees around the square are hung with retro little red lanterns, and the little lights shine in the night wind and the stars in the sky.

The various stalls have attracted many children of different ages, some selling cute toys, and some making elaborate delicacies. There is also a music booth on the other side of the square, with karaoke audio equipment on it, ready to entertain Customers provide a venue for karaoke, and after singing a song, there will be a system score.When they passed by, several plump aunts were already waiting beside them, eager to try.

This is the first time for Zhuang Yu to see the lively Yongchuan. When he arrived a few days ago, he felt that Yongchuan was quiet, like a lake of still water. Now, he saw that under the quiet appearance, It's fun and vibrant.

No matter where the Yuan brothers and sisters go, someone greets them: it is not the uncle of the neighbor, or the aunt who often meets in the market, or the partner who once went to elementary school together and is now studying in a university in a different city.

Here, no one seems to be a complete stranger.

Except Zhuang Yu.

However, even though it was his first time to participate in the night market in Yongchuan, he still had a feeling of familiarity.

Perhaps it was because he had heard too many times about the night market in his childhood memories from Qin Xuanyang.So much so that every plant and tree today is so kind and natural in his eyes.

Looking at the crowds of people on the booth in front of him, Zhuang Yu couldn't help but said, "It's the first time I know there are so many people in Yongchuan."

"Almost everyone will come to the night market for a stroll, so you can always meet acquaintances here." Yuan Yang looked around and asked him, "Tell me, will Qin Xuanyang be here?"

"Him?" Being reminded like this, Zhuang Yu couldn't help but also pay attention.

Yes, Qin Xuanyang likes the night market in Yongchuan so much, maybe it's here.

Yuan Chen, who was walking ahead, heard their conversation and stopped: "Yes, maybe he came to the night market too, maybe he can find it if he looks for it."

Zhou Chuyao, who had been expressionless all the time, had a flash of light in her eyes: "Qin Xuanyang?"

"Yeah," Yuan Chen explained to her, "Didn't I just tell you that Xiao Zhuang came to Yongchuan to find someone, and that person lived in our Yongchuan before, and his name was Qin Xuanyang."

Zhou Chuyao stared straight at Zhuang Yu: "Is it Ri Xuan's Xuan, Yang Shu's Yang?"

They were taken aback: "You know?"

She nodded: "he used to live next door to my house."

Yuan Yang slapped his head: "Oh right, I forgot, your house is in the old street!"

Yuanchen held her hand overjoyed: "Then you must know where his home is. Is there anyone else in their home? Has Qin Xuanyang come back? Have you seen him recently?"

"He moved away when I was seven years old, and their house has been empty since then, with no one living in it."

"Okay Xiaoyao, I can remember everything from the age of seven so well." Yuan Chen happily patted her on the shoulder.

Her tone of voice remained unchanged: "I used to like him quite a bit."

Yuanyang on the side turned into petrification.

Yuanchen glanced at her younger brother, as if she could hear his heartbroken voice, she couldn't help but gloated and asked again: "So, this Qin Xuanyang is Xiaoyao your first love?"

Zhou Chuyao thought for a while: "I don't know if it counts or not."

Yuan Chen's smile couldn't be concealed even more: "Now, I want to see this Qin Xuanyang even more."

Zhuang Yu on the side was also very surprised. He never expected to meet Qin Xuanyang's former neighbor, so the tone of the question was a little eager: "Do you know where his house is? Can you take me there?"

"Now?" She glanced at the late sky.

Yuanchen patted Zhuang Yu's shoulder: "Okay, it's a bit late now. We'd better go there tomorrow if we want to find someone. Anyway, we all know where the old street is. Xiaoyao will point us to Qin Xuanyang when the time comes." Just wherever home is."

Zhou Chuyao said lightly: "There is no one in their house now, and you can't find anyone if you go."

"That is to say, Qin Xuanyang didn't return to Yongchuan?" Yuanyang felt a burst of joy, but then a burst of disappointment, "Then Brother Xiaozhuang won't be able to see him?"

"It's okay, I still want to visit his house." Zhuang Yu was still persistent.

Yuanchen looked at him in puzzlement, with a thoughtful expression on his face: "...well then, let's go again tomorrow."

It was getting darker and darker, and on the way back from the night market, Zhuang Yu fell silently behind them.

Zhou Chuyao also walked slowly in line with his pace expressionlessly, and the two brothers and sisters of the Yuan family got a little far away unconsciously.

"Are you Qin Xuanyang's friend in college?" she asked, "Is he okay?"

"I don't know either." Zhuang Yu's voice was weak, "I haven't seen him for a long time."

"how long?"

He looked up at the stars and took a breath of the cool night wind: "It's been a year."

"Why do you think he has come back to Yongchuan?"

"He told me a lot about Yongchuan, and he likes this place very much." He felt a tightness in his chest and a little pain, "I think he will come back here."

Zhou Chuyao stopped and looked at his slightly pale face in the night wind.

Zhuang Yu was silent for a while, and continued to walk forward against the night wind:

"I want to see him. I have something to tell him."