muddy boy

There are quite a few old men and women coming and going at the entrance of the Cultural Palace, and the three young men standing there like telephone poles are particularly conspicuous.

Chen Linhu stood in front of Zhang Cheng with full defense, frowning, and didn't say a word, but his expression alone could scare a lot of people.

Zhang Cheng had never seen such an unreasonable little gangster before, and he stopped for a while, almost thinking that his brother had found a Taoist gangster this time, with a scar on his face, but he took a second look and found that this person was very tall. His facial features are handsome and young, he doesn't seem to be as old as his brother, he didn't expect to mix in the society at such a young age, he is still... Zhang Cheng paused in his heart, and mixed up with his brother.

The atmosphere was stalemate, and Zhang Xun had already recovered. He was already uneasy because of the circle with Chen Linhu in the snow. He couldn't tell whether he was more panicked or more annoyed, and he rushed to his sky cap, making him dizzy and dizzy.

All the bad things are crowded together, Zhang Xun thought anxiously, the timing is really bad.

He took a deep breath and patted Chen Linhu on the shoulder: "Okay, it's okay, it's really my brother."

Chen Linhu turned his head to look at him, doubtful.

"Let me say a few words to him," Zhang Xun smiled, his tone was normal, "You go back first."

Although Chen Linhu didn't know what was going on, he felt that the two brothers really had nothing to say, and with Zhang Cheng's words, he was unwilling to leave, and stood still with his brows knotted.

"I'll come back later, really," Zhang Xun tried to persuade, but seeing Chen Linhu's stubbornness again, he slowed down his tone, "If you have anything to ask, I'll talk to you when I get back. ?"

No matter how good the persuasion came to Chen Linhu, it became nothing. Chen Linhu's awakened sixth sense seemed to be all on Zhang Xun, and he recognized that this was sending him away, so he stood still without saying a word, Zhang Xun I pulled it a few times and it didn't move.

Zhang Xun had nothing to do with Chen Linhu, but Chen Linhu stood in front of him, and his heart was very hot. This enthusiasm was fleeting, and Zhang Cheng's appearance brought him back to reality. It hit the ice and made his stomach hurt.

"Just be mad at me, you," Zhang Xun scolded Chen Linhu in a voice only the two of them could hear, stuffed all the things he was carrying into his hands, and pointed at the stone lion at the door, "Forget it, if you don't want to leave, just leave." Wait for me, wait for the head office next to me, and then I will really cut you, believe it or not?"

Chen Linhu's gaze rested on Zhang Xun's face for a few seconds, and after confirming that this was Zhang Xun's bottom line, he pursed his lips and picked up the things. He glanced at Zhang Cheng in warning, and reluctantly moved aside to be with the stone lion. .

It didn't stop moving over, and stared at it with folded arms, staring at it, as if it could come up and bite someone at any time.

Zhang Cheng looked at Chen Linhu, then at Zhang Xun, and suddenly admired his brother's coaxing skills.

"Where did you find such a tempered kid?" Zhang Cheng said, "Is it you... the one?"

"No." Zhang Xun took out another cigarette and lit it. Hearing Zhang Cheng's words, he frowned subtly, "He's not a child anymore, don't say that."

After finishing speaking, he coughed in a concealed manner. He usually said that Chen Linhu was fine, but Zhang Cheng said that he was a little unhappy, and asked instead: "How did you find it?"

"When a former colleague of yours sent you the miscellaneous things you put in the office, you gave the address," Zhang Cheng didn't hide it, "I checked it out."

Zhang Xun smiled mockingly: "Why don't you change your career to be a paparazzi?"

These words were very rude, Zhang Cheng's expression was a little stiff, and he was silent for a few seconds: "If you didn't answer the phone and go home, I wouldn't check you either. Mom is sick and wants to see you."

"Forget it," Zhang Xun grinned, "You should shut me up if you see me."

"It's true this time, I've already been hospitalized," Zhang Cheng knew what he meant, and didn't want to take the trouble, "Dad is also in poor health, rheumatism, and can't walk, let me come to you and call you back. You are here It’s a small place, it’s not easy to find a job, and it’s not good to live in, so let’s go back, my dad and I can make arrangements for work and so on.”

"I came here just because I don't want to go back," Zhang Xun said, "What are you doing when you go back, so as to get angry with the old man again."

The two brothers spoke in a low voice, and Chen Linhu could vaguely hear a few words as he stood in the downwind.

Zhang Cheng's facial features looked like Zhang Xun's, but Chen Linhu still didn't like it.When he heard the words "Let's go back", he almost pounced on Zhang Cheng and chopped up Zhang Cheng before destroying his body.

Chen Linhu's heart was tormented like it was being roasted on the fire. He suddenly realized that Zhang Xun would not always be with Baoxiang. Everything seemed to be like a kiss that did not fall in the snow. Zhang Xun, lest the other party say a word "good".

Fortunately, Zhang Xun didn't like Zhang Cheng too much.

"You're angry with Dad, I know. But Mom never treated you badly," Zhang Cheng's voice was so low that Chen Linhu could only make out some words from his mouth, "She used to... "

"Yeah, she used to think I didn't exist," Zhang Xun blew out a smoke ring, and smiled lightly, "My dad scolded me, she listened, my dad beat me, she watched, the beating was so hard, I lay on the ground and crawled When she couldn't get up, she couldn't stand it anymore, so she closed the door. What I'm most grateful for is that she didn't pass the belt to Dad."

Zhang Cheng couldn't continue, he stomped his feet awkwardly, biting his lip subconsciously.

This is the expression he often has when he is nervous and overwhelmed. Zhang Xun's observation of him in the past few years has confirmed this point.

To be honest, the relationship between Zhang Cheng and him is not close, but it is not bad enough to the end, the most is not to provoke each other.

"I know it's not easy for you, Dad forced you to come, right?" Zhang Xun understood, "The relationship between our brothers is not up to this level, so it's hard for you."

Zhang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief: "Not all of them, I always feel that I still need to talk to you."

"What are you talking about?" Zhang Xun flicked the cigarette ash, calm in his heart, and suddenly he could say something, "Brother, when I was just brought home when I was young, I really wanted to talk to you. Even for a day I was happy just chatting for 5 minutes, but you didn’t want to. I followed you and watched you close the door of the room. This scene was repeated seven or eight times. Seven or eight times, brother, you never looked back at me. "

Zhang Cheng felt a little uneasy on his face, and said in a shy voice, "At that time, I didn't know how to get along with you."

"I understand, the extra wild boy out of thin air," Zhang Xun nodded, "I never blame you, I think we just don't know each other well, and sooner or later we will be like other brothers."

He paused, then chuckled: "So I didn't expect my dad to see you at the door when he took me to that correctional institution that day. Do you know how I feel?"

"I," Zhang Cheng's face was ashen, and he said forcefully, "I also talked to Dad, but Dad said that as long as it is corrected—"

"Zhang Cheng," Zhang Xun interrupted him, looking him in the eyes and asked, "I've always wanted to ask you, have you ever endured the beatings I suffered?"

After a long while, Zhang Cheng's avatar seemed to be unable to withstand it. He nodded very slightly, and said with a tired expression: "When I was very young. But you also know that he is for our own good. Don't you see that you have also become very good?" It's the same now, as long as you change it, you go back with me and talk about your girlfriend getting married—"

Zhang Xun couldn't tell how he felt. For so many years, he always thought that it was because Zhang Cheng didn't like him that he didn't care about his skin and flesh.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Cheng took these things for granted.

"You go back, go back by yourself." Zhang Xun said, "I'm really scared of you, Zhang Cheng, I'm not bothered, I feel horrible and cold when I see it."

Zhang Cheng was anxious, and raised his voice and said: "Really Xiaoxun, I have already agreed with my parents. When you go back, you just need to be down-to-earth, make more blind dates and get to know people, and you will know it naturally. Your parents will forgive you." .”

"No need," Zhang Xun put out the cigarette, "I don't need anyone to forgive me in the future, my father is old, he can't touch me anymore."

"Zhang Xun!" Zhang Cheng frowned and said loudly, "At that time, you had such an ugly fight with that man, Dad was so angry, you ruined yourself, you know?! Come back with me, and change slowly later. It's... that's your home after all!"

Chen Linhu was furious when he heard that, and was about to step forward when he saw Zhang Xun turn his head and look at him.The usual calm expression on his face was completely broken, revealing the embarrassment and despair underneath.

Immediately afterwards he heard Zhang Xun's angry voice: "That's not my family. My family was gone when my grandma died. I lost my family when I was ten years old!"

Chen Linhu's heart felt like being hammered with a knife and stick, and he couldn't tell which side hurt more.

The look in his eyes made Chen Linhu realize that Zhang Xun's hidden pain existed for a long time, and it was exposed to him, an inappropriate person, at this inappropriate time.

Almost instantly, Chen Linhu regretted insisting on staying and became a bystander who witnessed Zhang Xun's secret.

But in his selfish corner, he was glad that he stayed and stood here.

These complicated thoughts flashed by, and when Chen Linhu realized it, he had already walked towards Zhang Xun. He didn't want the two pockets of snacks he bought, and grabbed Zhang Xun's wrist to go to the family courtyard.

Zhang Xun flinched instinctively, and Chen Linhu held it tighter.

"Don't pay attention to him," Chen Linhu said, "It's just a dog|shit."

Zhang Xun thought very inappropriately, then I am his brother of shit.

And then extended a conclusion, his "home" is the septic tank.

After Zhang Cheng came back to his senses, he subconsciously tried to stop him, but was pushed back by Chen Linhu.

"You..." Zhang Cheng was taken aback by Chen Linhu's strength.

"What's the matter?" Chen Linhu's eyes were like knives, "Would you like to be beaten and rolled?"

Zhang Chenghu has always been very polite at such a young age, he couldn't swear, and he didn't even dare to think about fighting, for fear of tarnishing his mind, he looked at Chen Linhu in disbelief, as if he was looking at some alien species.

Seeing him like this, Chen Linhu became furious immediately. He was originally a dog tempered person, but now he stepped on a thunderbolt and was about to explode. His sleeves were ready to be rolled up, but Zhang Xun held his wrist tugged.

"No," Zhang Xun said, it took him a little effort to suppress the bitterness in his mouth, he brushed his bangs, and smiled consolingly at Chen Linhu, "Everything is on the ground, pick it up and go."

Chen Linhu looked at him with incomprehension and distress in his eyes.

Seeing that Zhang Xun was shaking all over: "Hurry up, I'm freezing to death."

After speaking, he let go of Chen Linhu, and walked back to collect the things scattered on the ground.

Chen Linhu stood there for a few seconds before pushing Zhang Cheng away, then picked up a bag of snacks, and left the north gate of the Cultural Palace with Zhang Xun without looking back.Zhang Cheng did not catch up again.

The journey from the Cultural Palace to the family courtyard was about 6 to [-] minutes. Chen Linhu stared at Zhang Xun's back, opened and closed his mouth several times.

There are two forces in his heart, one clamoring for him to go up and pull Zhang Xun, and asking the other party to make it clear, talk about the kiss that was about to fall in the snow, and talk about whether Zhang Cheng's words mean what he understands, if Yes, can that kiss fall?

The other party was sticking to him softly, wrapping his heart sourly.From the conversation between Zhang Xun and Zhang Cheng, he pieced together a piecemeal summary of the previous situation, just an outline was enough to make him uncomfortable.

He thought of the shitty incident in high school, Zhuo Wenxing, and suddenly understood why Zhang Xun left his hometown and quit his job.

Such a person who is good at observing words and expressions, he can almost feel all the malice and alienation around him at a glance.So Zhang Xun escaped and left his original life behind, dragging his mind full of ruins to a strange place, trying to rebuild himself.

But the past didn't give him a chance to rebuild.

Chen Linhu didn't dare to ask Zhang Xun anything anymore, he really didn't want to force Zhang Xun to crush Zhang Xun's self-esteem at the moment when Zhang Xun was forced to reveal everything.

The strongest and loudest side in the young man's heart retreated steadily, and was gradually swallowed up by the soft and patient side. The two sides merged into one place to piece together a complete love.

The complicated and indigestible feelings made him restrain his temper without anyone comforting him, but he just wished he could hug Zhang Xun again.

Zhang Xun was holding the plastic bag dumbly, not knowing what to think.He has observed Zhang Cheng for many years, and from the expression and attitude of the other party, he knows that this time his mother is probably really sick.

It's interesting to say that Zhang Xun's memory seems to be damaged. When recalling his youthful life, his mother's face always seems to be buried in the depths of the fog, or it seems to be hollowed out from the photos.

The mind was separated from the body, and Zhang Xun went the wrong way several times, but Chen Linhu gently dragged him back to the original place.

Chen Linhu, who is usually like a firecracker, was very quiet at the moment. Zhang Xun didn't know what he heard and how much he heard.

It doesn't matter anymore, Zhang Xun thought desperately, I'll just leave it at that.

The two of them went back to Unit [-] of Building No. [-] without a word, and the card game with old Chen Tou started.

The old man with the braised egg head opened the door and was arguing with Uncle Liao who had just entered the door. He saw two frost-beaten eggplants walking into the corridor, and said strangely: "Hey, you two are freezing cold and hard, your brains are so cold. Didn't you let the freezer shut down?"

Zhang Xun smiled habitually: "Well, your eldest grandson asked me to fight a snowball fight, and almost buried me in the ground."

Chen Linhu looked at Zhang Xun, frowned and said nothing.

"Okay, why did you recruit him." Old Chen was straight-up, thinking of another problem, "By the way, just stand here and wait."

Without giving Zhang Xun a chance to refuse, he took out an insulated lunch box from the house.

"I made rice wine and put goji berries and red dates in it." Old Chen proudly found a space in the plastic bag in Zhang Xun's hand, stuffed it in, and patted it, "Nursing your rotten stomach, Don’t see Tian’er stomach ache when you’re young. It’s specially reserved for you, if you can’t finish drinking it, put it in the refrigerator, and tell me if you want to drink it.”

Before Zhang Xun had time to speak, the two old men from Ding Yule's house opposite also came downstairs to play mahjong.

"Hey, there are so many people," Mrs. Ding said hello to Zhang Xun, and then looked at Chen Linhu, "Your grandson alone makes your house seem small, old Chen!"

Old Chen has no other hobbies, but he likes to hear people say that his eldest grandson is good, so he happily let people into the house, and asked Chen Linhu to help deliver Zhang Xun's things upstairs, and then he closed the door and went back to the house to play mahjong.

Before the door closed, chatter from old men and women floated inside: "When you bring another girl back in the future, your house won't be able to accommodate—"

Chen Linhu kicked the door to help his grandfather close the door faster, but the old head Chen scolded him several times through the door.

Zhang Xun glanced at him and smiled, said nothing, and went upstairs with his things.

The two of them were relaxed when they went out, but when they returned to the second floor, except for the orange cat inside the door who was still waiting for dinner, the two humans couldn't find a suitable mood.

"Just at the door." Zhang Xun first put the insulation box given by Old Chen on the cabinet. "The plastic bag was placed on the floor several times, and it was quite dirty."

Chen Linhu said "oh", put the plastic bag he carried on the entry mat, and bent over to change his shoes.

"Don't change," Zhang Xun's voice sounded again, "you can go back today."

Chen Linhu froze for a few seconds, then slowly straightened up.

He was a little dazed and flustered, not knowing what Zhang Xun meant: "I want to stay here."

"Another day," Zhang Xun said in an orderly manner, as if nothing happened, "I'm quite tired today, and it's hard enough to roll around. I need to take a shower."

"I'll wait," Chen Linhu said stubbornly, "Let's talk."

"I don't want to talk about it. It's already embarrassing enough. I don't want to talk about it today." Zhang Xun felt helpless and exhausted like never before, pinched the bridge of his nose, and said patiently, "You go back first, change your clothes and take a shower, don't catch a cold. "

He threw the key on the locker casually, waved at Chen Linhu to signal him to leave, and turned to go into the house.

Chen Linhu grabbed his wrist, slid down a little bit, and directly grabbed Zhang Xun's hand.

The body temperature of the two came into contact, and Chen Linhu held it very hard. He couldn't read Zhang Xun's expression, nor did he understand Zhang Xun's thoughts. He just subconsciously thought that letting go was a concession, and a concession left a gap that he couldn't fill. .

"I really want to say something," Chen Linhu was so hot-headed that he forgot all his rationality earlier, and his mouth moved by itself, "Zhang Xun, can I tell you—"

"I beg you, Chen Linhu!" Zhang Xun's voice became louder, and the ending sound changed accordingly, "Don't say anything, can we talk later?"

Chen Linhu was stunned, and only then did he feel Zhang Xun's hands trembling. The shaking brought Chen Linhu back to his senses like a bucket of cold water, and realized that Zhang Xun's mood was very unstable. to myself.

"...Okay," Chen Linhu was silent for a long time, and then slowly let go of his hand, like a miser letting go of the key of the vault, still looking at Zhang Xun, and whispered, "I'm downstairs, You stomp your feet and I'll come up."

These words were a joke when the two first met, but now Chen Linhu was eager for the joke to come true.

Zhang Xun didn't reply, just tugged at the corners of his mouth, and gently closed the anti-theft door on the second floor after Chen Linhu walked out.

Chen Linhu stood outside the door for a long time, and then went downstairs step by step.

The footsteps outside the door gradually disappeared. Zhang Xun stood there and listened until the door slammed on the first floor. Then he raised his stiff legs and entered the room. Open the insulation box given by Old Chen.

The steaming red dates and rice wine smelled sweet. Zhang Xun took two sips and pressed his eye sockets.

He couldn't stop thinking about what Chen Linhu wanted to say just now, but subconsciously he didn't want to hear it.

His own life trajectory was in a mess, and he felt that he was too bad to show others, but Chen Linhu took a look at it.While Zhang Xun was afraid that Chen Linhu would regard him as a different kind, he was also afraid that the other party would really kiss him when they rolled together on the snow by the river.

Thinking of this, Zhang Xun smiled for no reason——Chen Linhu was born with a reckless temper that is not afraid of anything, if he really wants relatives, then he has learned to test and slow down without a teacher.

This bit of sweetness mixed with the boundless sourness disturbed Zhang Xun's peace.

He is not Chen Linhu, he is not reckless or dog-tempered.

Zhang Xun knew that at least one thing was clear.

They could no longer get along so easily as if nothing had happened.