Years are warm

The rhythm of the small city is slow. I wake up naturally in the morning, wash up slowly, go to the end of the alley to eat a bowl of wonton, and then start busy with the work at hand. It seems that no matter how big the matter is here, I can let it go.The magnolia tree in the courtyard had lush branches and leaves. When Xie Zhiyao was free, he simply moved the easel down together, and drew two strokes of the scenery in the courtyard.

When grandma was taking care of the flowers and plants, she saw her holding the easel and painting on it with concentration, so she walked over curiously and took a look.

She is actually better at oil painting, but she thought it was troublesome and didn't bring all the paints. She felt that the effect of the painting was not satisfactory. She couldn't bear the old man's opinion that the younger generation could do anything well, which made her blush a little.

Sometimes Xu Huai'an would accompany her downstairs, take a book to read by himself, or help her pass the paintbrush, but more often the two of them did their own things, and they didn't find it boring.

After a few days like this, before Xie Zhiyao had almost traced the flowers and plants in the yard, Xu Huaian helped Grandpa clear out the woodworking tools from the storage room on the first floor.

After the old man retired, he couldn’t stay idle. He would go out for a walk from time to time, and then he would take some wood from old acquaintances and come back to make some gadgets by himself. Carpenter, after watching it for a long time, I can learn a little bit under the influence of my ears and eyes.

However, the old man's health has not been as good as before in the past two years, and these tasks are naturally put down.

"Take it out for you two's amusement." The old man shook his fan, left behind these words and went out to play chess.

Xie Zhiyao poked his head over halfway through the painting to see Xu Huai'an squatting and picking wood, "How do I do this?"

"See what you're doing." Xu Huai'an dug out a small bag of bodhi seeds from a pile of wood, she spread her hand and poured out one, then turned around and said, "Carve one for you?"

"Okay."

The handicraft work is time-consuming and laborious, and it was late in the evening when this little thing was carved. Xie Zhiyao finished applying the last paint, threw the paintbrush and went over to watch her polish it with sandpaper.

The mold is facing Gesang, and it is not too difficult to carve.Even Xu Huai'an is at a half-baked level, and the finished product is pretty good-looking.

"Huai'an, your hands are really clever." Xie Zhiyao watched her toss the last point, took it over and praised, put the bodhi seed in the palm of his hand and looked at it carefully, as if he couldn't put it down.

She can toss a painting for several days and still have enthusiasm, but she has no patience for this kind of woodworking.

In the end is too troublesome.

Xu Huai'an lowered his head and was about to pack his tools when he heard her voice replying, "There are people who say Bodhi seeds are safe, if you want, I'll punch holes for you and get a rope to thread them on."

"Okay."

Jewelry is not allowed in school, so they ended up wearing a keychain with the bodhi seed.

Xie Zhiyao conveniently hung it on the key chain, and said with certainty that he would not change the keyhole again.

Xu Huaian asked back: "You won't change it if it's broken?"

"Aren't you still in Huai'an?" She leaned closer and blinked her eyes, and said softly, "Master Xiaobao, do you have a warranty period for this thing?"

Ever since I heard my family call me Xiaobao, this person has been calling him that from time to time, so what is this new...strange name?Xu Huai'an was cleaning tools by the sink, when he heard this, he raised his head and gave her a glance.

"How long do you want?"

"Of course, the longer the better." Xie Zhiyao put the things in the past to help her tidy up, "Do you think my 'guest' is very difficult?"

Water droplets splashed on his cheeks, Xu Huaian turned his head sideways, rubbed his sleeves, and replied calmly: "It's quite difficult, but there is no way, I will not return the goods, and I can only trade at a loss."

"But Huaian, you always say you don't know anything, but in fact you know a lot." She pretended to shake her head.

"It's limited to knowing, not really a special feature." Xu Huaian put the carving knife and file back into the wooden box, clapped his hands and said, "Let's go, go back to the house for dinner."

"I'll take you out for a walk tomorrow morning."

It is said to go out for a walk, but in fact there is no place to go shopping around here.Early the next morning, Xie Zhiyao was stunned when he saw the bicycle parked at the gate of the courtyard.The car should have been pushed out of the house in the morning, and Xu Huaian was still checking it.

She didn't bring a drawing board, but brought the Polaroid that Xu Huai'an brought over earlier.Originally, they wanted to take it out and use it, but the two of them stayed at home for two weeks, and only now remembered to take it.

"It's a bit far away. I'll go there by bike, but there's only this one." Seeing her coming out, Xu Huaian threw her bag into the basket in front, "Sit in the back seat, I'll take you."

"Are you okay?" Xie Zhiyao smiled teasingly.

"You're not heavy." Xu Huai'an knew what she was thinking, she patted the back seat, "Come on."

Xie Zhiyao followed his advice and jumped into the back seat of the car.They seldom ride bicycles in Shenning. After all, the transportation is very convenient, and it is faster to ride a bicycle than to take the subway or bus.At first, she was worried that Xu Huai'an would not be able to maintain balance while carrying the rider, but in fact, the other party rode very steadily except for a few wobbles at the beginning.

The cool breeze in the morning slaps on the face, the sun has not yet fully risen, and the heat has not yet diffused.Rows of magnolias were planted by the roadside, and the dense branches and leaves covered the sunlight in the early morning. The bicycle passed by, bringing a gust of wind, and rolled up the fallen leaves by the roadside.

There is not much traffic on the road at this point, only some people who work early in the morning buy breakfast at various early morning stalls on the side of the road.

"How long will it take?" Xie Zhiyao observed the surrounding roads and scenery, "I feel like you are quite familiar with this place."

"It's okay, let's ride for half an hour. I walked by it once or twice before, and then I remembered it." Xu Huaian turned left at the intersection, "Who is like you, like a road idiot, who walked the road several times I can still forget."

After the left turn, there was a slope, Xie Zhiyao stretched out his hand to wrap around Xu Huai'an's waist naturally, and protested dissatisfied: "Don't blame me! I really can't remember! And..."

"And what?" There was a whistling wind in his ears, and Xu Huai'an couldn't hear what she said in the second half of the sentence.

"Why do I have to remember the way when I go out with you? You are here." Very confident.

Xu Huai'an was stunned for a moment, the girl's hands were wrapped around her waist and abdomen, the warmth of her palms pressed against her skin through the T-shirt, it was a natural movement, but she suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

"Huai'an?" Xie Zhiyao called out to her probably before waiting for her answer.

Xu Huaian's eyelashes twitched, and he changed the subject a bit abruptly: "You have to remember the way when you go out by yourself."

The wind lifted the hem of the clothes, and the coolness dispelled the little heat.But what remained was like throwing a stone in a calm lake, causing circles of ripples.

The people behind him were unaware of this slight change, they put their arms around his waist and hummed softly.

The scenery on both sides retreated quickly, and slowly, the field of vision gradually widened. At a glance, there were rolling mountains and vast fields, and the sound of the river flowing echoed in my ears.

This is out of town, right?Xie Zhiyao guessed like this, watching the passing scenery without blinking.

I don't know how long it took, the bicycle stopped at the intersection.

Xie Zhiyao jumped out of the car and asked curiously, "Is it there yet?"

"Not yet, just wait here for me." Xu Huaian pushed the cart to the small building he built on the right.Next to it is the wharf, and several small boats are parked on the shore, with fishing nets on them.

Xu Huaian parked the car outside the door, went up and knocked on the door.The response inside was quick. The old man looked about the same age as his grandfather, with deep wrinkles on his face.

When she saw the girl knocking on the door, her muddy eyes seemed to light up suddenly, and she held her hand while talking and gesticulating.

The two spoke the Huaichuan dialect, and Xie Zhiyao didn't quite understand it, so he could only stand there and wait.

The weather today is fine, the sun is not strong, and it is not like the gray haze in the city. From a distance, the mountains are green and the river is blue.

She took a picture with her phone.

About ten minutes later, Xu Huai'an came back with a bamboo basket.

"Let's go."

Xie Zhiyao was carrying her bag, holding her hand and following behind, "What are you carrying?"

"For food, there is also a pot of self-brewed sweet-scented osmanthus wine." Xu Huai'an pulled the small boat by the pier a little closer, and motioned for her to go up first, "That grandma is an acquaintance of grandpa and the others. She is not married and has no relatives, so she has always It is especially kind to the younger generation. Grandpa and grandma are inconvenient now, and they will call me to come and see her every year when they come back."

Xie Zhiyao nodded knowingly.

The boat swayed lightly, disturbing the river water, Xu Huaian pulled the bamboo stool at the bow to give people a place to sit, and then went to grab the oars.

"You can punting?" Xie Zhiyao's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes, but I'm not proficient." Xu Huai'an exerted strength in his hands, and the boat floated out wobbly.

Xie Zhiyao sat on the boat with his legs crossed, and looked at her seriously for a while.The two of them grew up together, but she never asked about these things, so Xu Huai'an naturally wouldn't say it, probably in her eyes, this is not a rare thing.Children who grew up in the city are unfamiliar and curious about this kind of rural atmosphere.

Many times, Xie Zhiyao would feel that this person is more like a child from a scholarly family than himself, with a sense of distance and bookishness always on his body. She is associated with the summer cicadas in the small town.But now watching her punting, Xie Zhiyao felt that all of this was actually a matter of course.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Xu Huai'an raised his eyes to meet those smiling eyes, "Want to learn?"

Xie Zhiyao clapped his hands and stood up, carefully moving towards her, "Of course I will!"

Xu Huaian was afraid that she would fall because of the instability of the boat, so he hurried forward and grabbed her wrist and pulled her over.

The willows on the shore trembled, and the river wind gently brushed his cheeks. Xu Huaian narrowed his eyes, held Xie Zhiyao's hand from behind, and taught her when to use force and how to turn around.

She spoke seriously, unaware that the distance between the two of them was very close, and because of the height difference, heat sprayed on the tip of each other's ears when she spoke.

Xie Zhiyao couldn't help shrinking his neck, and the hand being held suddenly felt hot.The scent of the young girl and the scent of soap left on the clothes surrounded her, and the voice in her ears was soft. She turned her head slightly, and what caught her eyes was the girl's clean and handsome side face and those dark eyes.

The eyes are serious and gentle.

The wooden boat went down the river, and Xie Zhiyao saw himself in those eyes.