Retreat

Later, Bai Xiaoqi approached Li Tang, saying that a sister from her hometown wanted to apply for the front desk job in Dihong, and hoped that Li Tang could help.

This is indeed a handy help, although Li Tang was a little surprised that Bai Xiaoqi would find him, but he still did not refuse.

After that, Bai Xiaoqi invited Li Tang to dinner in the name of gratitude. Bai Xiaoqi said it was still early, why not go to the movies, there is a new movie released recently, she has always wanted to watch it.

Li Tang recalled what Bai Xiaoqi meant.

In fact, at Li Tang's age, work and life are stable, and it's not that he hasn't considered finding a suitable woman to form a family.But what is suitable, Li Tang has never thought about it carefully.

The sudden appearance of Bai Xiaoqi made Li Tang feel that it was not impossible.In terms of status, both he and Bai Xiaoqi came to this city from outside to work for a living. Compared to other girls that Li Tang had the opportunity to meet, Bai Xiaoqi might be more suitable for him.

So Li Tang did not reject Bai Xiaoqi, and later met several times one after another, which was considered to confirm this relationship.

Hong Minhang didn't know all this. After he took over Dihong, he wanted to build a business empire in his mind, so he made drastic adjustments and reforms within Dihong.

Many old brothers who used to follow Hong Xiangfeng in the rivers and lakes now have nothing to do and rely on Di Hong to support them. Hong Minhang waved his hand and asked them to go back and rest.

So many people made trouble to Hong Xiangfeng and complained to Hong Xiangfeng.

Hong Xiangfeng called Hong Minhang and Li Tang back together, and told Hong Minhang to restrain himself and not go too far.

Hong Minhang sat on the sofa, facing Hong Xiangfeng, "Dad, you said you gave Di Hong to me."

Hong Xiangfeng said: "Those are old brothers who have been with me for decades. When they fought with me, they put in a lot of effort. Now you think they are old and useless, so you drive them all away. This is inappropriate. .”

Hong Minhang said: "I'm doing it for the good of Emperor Hong. Those people will tell me what to do except for idle food. Young people are oppressed by them. They dare not let go of what they want to do. If this is the case, let Is it okay for them to go home and have a casual meal? I will still pay them their monthly salary, what's the problem?"

Suddenly, Hong Xiangjun's voice came from the gate, "Min Hang, you are doing it wrong. According to what you say, we old people are all useless? If there is no us, there will be no Di Hong today. What's the matter with you kid?"

Hong Minhang and Li Tang stood up, looking at the brothers Hong Xiangjun and Hong Xiangguo who came in from the door.

Hong Xiangjun called out, "Brother."

Hong Xiangfeng looked up at them, "Are you here?"

Hong Xiangjun and Hong Xiangguo sat down on the edge of the sofa together, and Hong Xiangguo said, "Brother, many brothers have approached us, and I also feel that Min Hang did not handle this matter properly."

Hong Xiangfeng raised his hand, "Okay, don't say any more, I have the final say on this matter."

Hong Minhang said: "Father—"

Hong Xiangfeng interrupted him, "You don't need to say anything."

Hearing this, Hong Minhang turned around a little irritably and walked upstairs to the room.

Hong Xiangfeng said to Li Tang: "Go help me persuade him."

Li Tang nodded, "Okay."

Li Tang followed up to the second floor, and saw that Hong Minhang's room was partially covered, he knocked on the door anyway, and only went in after Hong Minhang said: "Please come in."

Li Tang saw that Hong Minhang was changing clothes, he was a little surprised, "Going out?"

Hong Minhang had already changed into a gray casual sportswear, and was changing his pants. He didn't stop when he saw Li Tang coming in, but continued to take off his trousers, and then put on the sweatpants. He said, "Go out for a run." .”

After speaking, he knelt down and put on his sneakers.

Li Tang approached a little closer and saw that he had taken off his glasses, and the side face with his head buried seemed to have returned to the dull and shy Hong Minhang back then. He was a little dazed for a moment, and then said, "I'll take you out for a walk." Relax."

Hong Minhang looked up at him and asked, "Where are you going?"

Li Tang said, "Go climb the mountain."

Hong Minhang stood up and said without asking where he was going, "Let's go."

Hong Minhang's driver's license has not yet been obtained. During this period of time, Hong Xiangfeng's driver is taking him to and from get off work. Today, he went out with Li Tang, so naturally Li Tang could only drive.

Hong Minhang didn't know whether it was on purpose or he forgot, he didn't wear glasses when he went out, and when he got in the car, he silently turned his head and looked out the window.

There are no mountains in the urban area of ​​Chongfeng, but if you drive north for more than two hours after leaving the city, you can gradually see low hills.

Hong Minhang didn't ask Li Tang until he got on the highway, "Where are you going?"

"Go to my hometown," Li Tang told him.

Li Tang's hometown is actually not far away, Chongfeng City is all the way north, not counting the time spent in the urban area, it only takes two hours to get there.But Li Tang never went back after he left his hometown, because his parents are gone, he has no brothers and sisters, and he is alone.

It was just a sudden idea to take Hong Minhang back to his hometown, because it was also the hometown of the Hong family, but they were not in the same county, and they were fellow villagers who went out from the same city.

Unlike Li Tang, Hong Minhang was not born there, he has never been there, and naturally he has no feelings for it.

The longer the car drove, the bigger the surrounding mountains became. Hong Minhang looked out of the car window in silence, and it was really steep mountains and continuous high mountains.

It was after one o'clock in the afternoon when they left home, and now five hours have passed, and the sky is getting dark gradually.

Hong Minhang asked him, "Where do you live at night?"

In fact, Li Tang didn't think about it, he has been away for more than ten years, he doesn't even know if their old house is still there, and whether their former relatives are still there.

It's rare for him to be so impulsive, just to take Hong Minhang out to relax.

Along both sides of the Panshan Highway, there are many families scattered or gathered together. They are not as dilapidated as Li Tang remembered. Many of them are two-storey concrete buildings. The old houses with yellow mud walls have disappeared. Not much to see.

Li Tang stopped the car halfway to ask for directions, then continued to drive for half an hour, and stopped in front of a two-story building next to the road.It was time for dinner, and the door on the first floor of the family was open, and the family was sitting around eating inside, Li Tang walked over and knocked on the door, "Excuse me, is this Tong Ding's family?"

The people in the room looked at him, and he said, "I am Ding Jiang's son—Li Tang."

Ding Tong is Li Tang's uncle. Li Tang's father passed away early, and his uncle took care of him and his mother. Later, Li Tang's mother also passed away, and Li Tang went to work in the city with his fellow villagers. The key to the house was left behind. For Ding Tong.At that time, there were no mobile phones, and people in the mountains did not have telephones. As time passed, they lost contact.This is Li Tang's first time back.

The Ding family was very enthusiastic, and Ding Tong even put his arms around Li Tang and wiped away his tears. When the family saw Li Tang driving a nice car, Hong Minhang looked more like a rich man from a big city, and immediately greeted Li Tang with embarrassment. They are afraid of neglecting the guests.

Two more seats were added to the table for them to eat together. They felt that there were too few dishes, so Li Tang's aunt hurriedly cooked some bacon and sausages and served them.

Ding Tong has a son and a daughter. The daughter is married. The son has gone to the county for business and will be back in a few days. There is also a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters at home.

It takes more than an hour to drive here from the nearest county seat. They are all mountain roads. Most households have no cars and can only take buses. Usually, everyone rarely goes down the mountain unless necessary.

Both Li Tang and Hong Minhang felt hungry. Although the food was not very tasty, they still ate two big bowls of rice.

In the evening, only one guest room could be packed up for them to live in.

The hot water is boiled on the gas stove, then put into the kettle and taken up to the second floor.

Hong Minhang frowned watching Li Tang pour hot water into the plastic basin.

Seeing the slight change in his expression, Li Tang smiled, "Just wash it off."

Hong Minhang has no obsession with cleanliness, but the plastic basin is obviously not new. Thinking that it was used by a stranger, he still feels uncomfortable.

But Li Tang didn't have such scruples, he took a towel and put it in the basin, and said to him: "You don't need to take a bath, just wash your face and feet."

Fortunately, the towel was still new. Hong Minhang took it, wrung it dry, wiped his face, and asked, "You grew up here?"

"That's right," Li Tang said, "I still have to go up along the path over there. On the mountainside, the old houses are gone now."

After Hong Minhang washed his face, Li Tang washed his face with the water he had washed his face with.

Hong Minhang sat by the bed and looked at him quietly.

There is only one pot of hot water, and it is not easy for Li Tang to ask Ding Tong for it, the two of them can barely wash, and then lie down on the bed and go to sleep.

Li Tang couldn't sleep, he lay quietly, unwilling to keep turning over and disturbing Hong Minhang so much that he couldn't fall asleep.

There are no curtains on the windows, and there are no street lights outside the windows. The night in the mountains is really dark, and you can't see anything.At this moment, there was no sound of insects, and the surroundings were completely silent. The only thing that could be heard was Hong Minhang and his own breathing.

Hong Minhang turned over slowly, Li Tang originally had his back to him, at this moment, he suddenly felt an arm around his waist, and at the same time his warm breath gently patted the back of his neck.

Hong Minhang was so close to him that Li Tang held his breath for a moment. He wasn't sure if Hong Minhang hadn't fallen asleep, but after waiting quietly for a long time, Hong Minhang didn't move, and his breathing was slow and long. He felt that Hong Minhang was indeed asleep.

Li Tang also closed his eyes, and he didn't know how much time passed before he fell asleep in a daze.

Early in the morning, Li Tang and Hong Minhang woke up.

Li Tang said: "Aren't you going to climb a mountain? Let's go."

The two of them walked along the path up the mountain, and gradually walked to the depths of the sparsely populated mountain. In the end, there was no path at all, and they could only climb by grabbing the plants on the hillside.

Originally, I felt cold when I went out in the morning, but now I was covered in hot sweat.

Hong Minhang climbed up the mountain in silence, while Li Tang followed behind him, watching him all the time, afraid that his feet would slip.

It was almost ten o'clock in the morning when we climbed to the top of the mountain, and the sun came out, bright and dazzling.

Sweat dripped down Hong Minhang's head, and he narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the foot of the mountain in the distance.

Li Tang leaned against a tree, gasped for breath, took out a cigarette and lit it, and took a deep puff.

"Brother Li," Hong Minhang called him suddenly.

Li Tang looked up at him.

Hong Minhang said: "Thank you, you have taken care of me so much since I was a child, and I don't know how to repay you."

Li Tang laughed when he heard the words, "What silly things, aren't we brothers? Isn't it natural for an elder brother to take care of a younger brother?"

Hong Minhang raised his head, and sweat slid down his neck into the collar. He didn't speak, but said silently in his heart: I still can only keep you by my side, and spend my whole life slowly repaying you, whether you need it or not.

After going down the mountain and returning to Ding's house, after having lunch, Li Tang and Hong Minhang were ready to go back.

Before leaving, Li Tang gave Ding Tong 1000 yuan, but he didn't have much cash on him, so he couldn't afford more for a while.

Ding Tong declined.

But Li Tang insisted on letting him accept it, and left him a phone number, saying that if there was any problem at home, he could call him.

Then Li Tang drove away with Hong Minhang.While the car was still driving on the winding mountain road, Li Tang received a call from Bai Xiaoqi asking him to watch a movie with her at night.

Li Tang said softly: "I don't have time tonight, let's do it tomorrow."

Bai Xiaoqi is a very sensible person, she never chases after Li Tang, so she immediately said: "Well, you have something to do, but pay attention to your body and eat on time."

Li Tang smiled, "I know."

Hong Minhang kept listening to him talking on the phone. Although he didn't know who was on the phone, Li Tang's voice was very gentle and his tone was very familiar. He silently raised his hand and put his finger on his lips.