sixteen
1
The old books filled the gap in the bookcase. It seemed that the yellowing of these old books was the same as those left behind by Mr. Guo. Wen Xuan took out a book, flipped through it, and stuffed it back in. He raised his head, pulled out a dictionary, and flipped it open to search. Soon, he found it. He closed the book and walked out.
"Take a look at this book." Wen Xuan handed the book to Xi 'er and said.
Xi 'er flipped through it and stared at a page. She asked,""What is this?"
Wen Xuan turned his head to look at the rose sprout that had already grown up and did not say anything.
Xi 'er pulled out the photo from the book and shook it against the sunlight.
"Did you see something?" Wen Xuan asked.
Xi 'er put down the photo, looked down at it, and asked,""Where did you get it?"
"I took a photo for you when I took a photo for Liu Yongnian and his son.”Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er didn't say anything and put the photo back into the book. She couldn't recognize the person in the photo. The little girl stood alone on the porch, staring into the distance. At that time, she had some doubts.
The sunlight shone into the porch, making it hot.
Wen Xuan held the doorpost and looked at the surging sea. The sea was always attracting people on the shore, as if it had an indescribable charm.
"It would be great if we could go out and swim.”Xi 'er said.
Wen Xuan thought the same, but he couldn't do that. At this time, he had to accompany Xi 'er on the shore. Therefore, he did not reply. Instead, he turned his head and looked in the other direction. Thus, he saw Yongnian, who had been waiting at the side for a long time. As usual, his face was expressionless, but there was a hint of embarrassment in his expression. Wen Xuan remembered his expression. The last time Wen Xuan saw this expression on his face was not long after he came to this house.
"What a rare guest." Wen Xuan said.
Yongnian glanced at Xi 'er, who was sitting on the porch, and then turned to look at Wen Xuan. The scorching sun was blinding. He frowned and rubbed his forehead before entering the courtyard. He went to the porch but did not step on it. After a while, he put one hand on the doorpost and the other on his waist as he turned his head to look at the flowers. A portion of the flower bud had already withered, and the entire flower bud had fallen off and become moldy.
Xi 'er glanced at Yongnian, stood up with the book, and walked away.
"Are you here to pick flowers?" Wen Xuan said.
Yongnian turned around and looked at Wen Xuan, as if he wanted to confirm the source of the voice. As he was standing outside the porch, he had to raise his head to see Wen Xuan's face. Wen Xuan was leaning against the doorpost with his hands crossed in front of his chest, looking at the small piece of rose root. After the rain, the old roots had already sprouted new shoots, and the brownish-red tender leaves had also emerged.
"Should I spend more time with my wife and children when I go home? It's not good to be in a daze with an old man like me.”Wen Xuan spat into the courtyard and shook his leg.
"I need your help." Yongnian said.
"Asking me for help? I don't have that kind of ability." Wen Xuan said.
Yongnian turned his head and looked at the canoe that was stranded by the house. The wood pulp was propped up by the side of the canoe, sinking into the shadows like a pool of cold water.
"Where do you need my help? Besides, aren't you living a good life?”Wen Xuan said.
"I can only look for you for this matter. I can't trust anyone else." Yongnian said.
"I don't want to get involved in your matters.”Wen Xuan said.
"It's not about those things. That person wants to send me to Thailand." Yongnian said.
"Don't tell me. I don't want to know about these things." Wen Xuan said.
"This time, you must know." Yongnian said," Actually, I don't want to say it either. I don't want to say a word about this.”
"If it's too dangerous, you can choose not to go. No one is forcing you.”Wen Xuan said.
"I have to go. I can't choose.”Yongnian said.
"What else can I say? If you want to die, no one can save you.”Wen Xuan said.
"I'm fine with myself. It's mainly Gui and the child." Yongnian said.
"What do you want? Are you entrusting me with an orphan?" Wen Xuan asked.
"It's not that simple. It's best to bring them to the sea and wait until I return from Thailand before going ashore.”Yongnian said.
"What happened?" Wen Xuan asked.
"The boss thinks that there's something wrong with me. He suspects that I'm cooperating with the police. He had the intention of sending me to Thailand and diverting me away. Perhaps he wanted to test me. Maybe he wants to kill me there. I don't know. If he wants to mess with me, Xiaogui and the others won't be safe either. They'd better hide in the sea while I'm gone.”Yongnian said.
"What about you?" Wen Xuan asked.
"He's just suspecting, he doesn't have evidence. The person who went with me knows something. I plan to kill him on the way and bring back my own things. That way, there won't be any problems." Yongnian said.
"I don't understand. Why are you doing this?" Wen Xuan asked.
"Only in this way can I keep my life and protect Xiao Gui and the others.”Yongnian said.
"Why do you have to hurt others?”Wen Xuan asked.
"Because that person knew that I instigated underage drug users, and one of them was the son of the leader. If the boss finds out, I'm dead. It's worse than colluding with the police. Not only me, but Gui, Abu, Aren, and you won't be able to escape.”Yongnian said.
"You're only feeling fear now?”Wen Xuan said.
"Why are you laughing?" Yongnian went up to the porch and punched Wen Xuan's chin.
Wen Xuan glanced at the firm fist, his hands still crossed as he looked at the flowers.
Yongnian lowered his fist and loosened his grip. Now they were all standing on the porch, looking out. Both of them were the same height. A man was leaning against the doorpost, smiling and raising his hand as if he was about to whistle. The other person placed his hands on his waist and frowned. He was about to jump off the porch and leave angrily.
"Do you know how dangerous it is?" Wen Xuan asked.
Yongnian spat into the courtyard as if he was venting. The sunlight that slanted into the porch almost evaporated him. He felt his mouth dry and saw stars, so he licked his almost dry lips.
"I can't help you. Now I just want a few sips of tea and a few pages of a book.”Wen Xuan said.
"Not helping me. She was helping Xiao Gui and the children. They need your help." Yongnian said.
"The nature is the same. I can't do it, I can't do it." Wen Xuan said.
"Just take them to the sea. I have a boat. There was everything on it. Every once in a while, someone would send fresh water over. Watch them. I'll be back immediately after I'm done. I'll pick you up at sea. I'll give you a sum of money when it's done.”Yongnian said.
"Looks like you've made all the arrangements." Wen Xuan said.
"That's right. You just have to stay at sea with them.”Yongnian said.
"Any fisherman can do such a thing. Go find someone else. I can't do it." Wen Xuan said.
"No one can do this except you. I don't trust anyone else." Yongnian said.
"For a moment, I can't tell if you're praising me or belittling me.”Wen Xuan said.
"I'm not joking." Yongnian said.
"Does Xiao Gui know?" Wen Xuan asked.
"Part of it. Would it help if she knew?" Yongnian asked.
"No, I haven't. At least it won't affect me." Wen Xuan said.
"Now is the time when Xiao Gui needs her brother and the children need their uncle.”Yongnian said.
"Don't say such things. On this matter, let others act as the brother and uncle.”Wen Xuan said.
"There's no one else. Don't you understand? No one can give me peace except you. If this matter isn't handled properly, I won't be in the mood to deal with the matters of Thailand at all.”Yongnian said.
"Do you want me to take responsibility for the evil things you've done? Isn't this ridiculous? By doing so, I would be an accomplice, no different from a murderer.”Wen Xuan said.
"You're thinking too seriously. I'm just asking you to take good care of your sister and nephew.”Yongnian looked around the room and said. "Considering her, we can arrange for her to be transferred to a hospital in the city. There will be specialized doctors and nurses to take care of her. You don't have to worry.”
"I've already made myself very clear. There was nothing innocent in these matters. Everything was inextricably linked. I don't want to get involved." Wen Xuan said.
"You think you're innocent?" Yongnian asked.
"I never said that. I just want to keep a certain distance. Some things, once you enter, it is like a net that entangles you tightly.”Wen Xuan said.
"Now, I'm already tied down. Are you going to leave me in the lurch?”Yongnian asked.
"I've advised you more than once. That was already considered saving you. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't be bothered to say these words.”Wen Xuan said.
"Nonsense, nonsense again. There's no substantial help at all.”Yongnian said.
"I'm sorry. There is a river that I absolutely cannot cross. Even if everyone is on the other side of the river, I will not cross it.”Wen Xuan said.
"No one wants you to cross the river. I just want you to help someone cross the river." Yongnian said.
"To me, that is already considered crossing the river. You make your choice, and I'll make mine. You bear your responsibility, and I will bear mine.”Wen Xuan said.
"I'll wait for you here. No matter how long it takes, I will wait for your reply.”Yongnian said," You'll come around."
Wen Xuan ignored him and entered the room, only to find Xi 'er standing by the window. She must have heard the conversation just now. He didn't want to explain anything. He sat down at the table and poured a cup of tea. Xi 'er, on the other hand, came to the table with a thoughtful look. She sat down and looked at her.
"It's just an extra guard dog. It won't affect you, right?”Wen Xuan asked.
Xi 'er poured a cup of tea and held the teacup, swallowing the words that were about to come out of her mouth.
2
For a whole week, Yongnian waited on the porch. Every day, Wen Xuan would come out of the house and see him sitting there tiredly. Perhaps, he did not sleep all night. Perhaps, he had only gone back for a short while before rushing back. Wen Xuan ignored him and continued with his life. Xi 'er rarely went out.
"How long are you going to stay here?" Wen Xuan turned to look at Yongnian, who was sitting on the porch, and said.
"You don't understand how serious this is.”Yongnian said.
"It's useless. You'd better scram back quickly." Wen Xuan said.
"I need your help." Yongnian said.
"I have already answered you." Wen Xuan said.
"Not enough." Yongnian said.
"What a pity. We're already past the age of fighting. What was the point of two old bones fighting here?”Wen Xuan said.
"If you want to fight, then fight." Yongnian said.
"It's useless." Wen Xuan said.
"Then promise me." Yongnian said," You know that I rarely ask for help, especially you. If it really came to this. You should know how serious it is.”
"I know." Wen Xuan said," But it's useless."
"You're leaving me in the lurch." Yongnian said.
"I know." Wen Xuan said.
Xi 'er came out and stood by the door. She touched her bulging belly and looked at Wen Xuan who was squatting beside Yongnian.
Wen Xuan stood up, went down the porch, and said to Xi 'er,""Let's go outside for a walk. The sun was about to set, and it wasn't as hot anymore.”
Xi 'er glanced at Yongnian and followed him out of the courtyard.
At this moment, Yongnian put one foot on the porch, looking exhausted. He adjusted the greasy bangs hanging on his forehead and looked to the other side with a dejected expression.
They left the courtyard and walked towards the hot sand. The children who were only wearing their underpants ran around and shouted. It was as if the sand was hot to the feet as they desperately fled. When they reached the surface of the sea, they shouted and jumped into the rolling waves, laughing and laughing. Xi 'er stopped when she saw the jubilant children. The waves rushed up and hit their tanned bodies. They screamed and giggled and turned their backs on the wave. His wet body was dripping with water, and it was shiny. A few children pushed and shoved, forcefully pulling a child and pushing him into the sea. The young man screamed and crawled in the waves. Like a puppy, he ran back to the shore. The children chased, ran around, grabbed sand, and threw it around, as if there was endless fun in it. They were never tired of it.
Wen Xuan saw Aren among the children and found that other than his eyes and mouth, the rest of his body was tanned. While playing, Aren accidentally saw him and ran over with a smile.
"Did you fall into the ink pool?”Wen Xuan said.
Aren looked up at him and rolled his eyes."Uncle, is the canoe ready?”
"Done." Wen Xuan said.
"Take me to see it." Aren said.
"Your dad is there." Wen Xuan said.
"Why is he here? If you don't like him, it's better not to go." Aren said.
"I think so too. So we came out." Wen Xuan said.
"Next time, when he's not around, I'll go.”Aren said.
"Alright." Wen Xuan pinched Aren's face and said,"You brat, why are you so evenly tanned? It's as if you've fallen into a dye vat."”
Xi 'er stared at Aren's tanned face and thought of his fair face in the past. She could not help but smile.
"If only he wasn't here." Aren said.
"Next time, I'll let you try rowing that canoe.”Wen Xuan said.
"Aren, come here." His friends shouted.
Hearing his friend's call, Aren turned around and ran back.
"Very naughty, right?" Xi 'er said.
"I don't know how to describe him. He was different from that idiot Liu Yongnian.”Wen Xuan said.
At the mention of Liu Yongnian, Xi 'er couldn't help but look back at her own courtyard. The rose bush completely covered the porch, swaying in the wind and shedding some rose petals.
"He helped us." Xi 'er said.
"When?" Wen Xuan asked.
"Have you forgotten?" Xi 'er asked.
"Which one are you referring to?" Wen Xuan said.
"He saved me and you.”Xi 'er said.
At this moment, the setting sun was hanging over the sea, spewing out scorching flames. The steam evaporated and condensed at the edge of the clouds, giving off a red glow. The waves on the horizon were like a bath of blood, surging.
"If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have survived. He saved us." Xi 'er said.
"This is another matter. It was indeed very dangerous." Wen Xuan said.
"We should help him." Xi 'er said.
Wen Xuan looked at the fiery red sunset and felt a burning sensation. He felt his face covered in sweat. However, when he reached out to touch his face, he realized that it was dry and cold.
"We should help him." Xi 'er said.
"Don't be like this." Wen Xuan said.
"That child. Alan. Just think of it as helping Aren." Xi 'er said.
"It's different." Wen Xuan said.
"There's also Xiao Gui. She helped us before.”Xi 'er said.
It was the first time Wen Xuan heard her call him Little Gui and he was very surprised. Xi 'er had followed Wen Xuan's way of addressing him, and that was why she addressed him as such. Although she was much younger than Wengui, she didn't sound out of place at all. Perhaps it was because she was more mature than Wengui. Wen Xuan thought.
"Without them. We can't be like this.”Xi 'er said.
"I know that." Wen Xuan said.
"He didn't mention that. He didn't threaten you with this." Xi 'er said.
Wen Xuan looked back at her and moved his lips, but he didn't say anything.
"Originally, this was what he should have mentioned the most. He did not. Why?" Xi 'er asked.
Wen Xuan turned his face away, his gaze chasing after the gradually dimming red glow.
Half of the red sun was already immersed in the sea, emitting a faint light.
"If you wanted to keep your innocence, why did you save me back then? Why did you raise me? You can do nothing." Xi 'er said.
"These are different in nature and cannot be lumped together.”Wen Xuan said.
"You almost died. At that time, if it wasn't for him, you would really have been crippled and thrown into the sea.”Xi 'er said.
"Hearing what you said, I really should repay your kindness and protect you.”Wen Xuan said.
"Don't talk like that. Wenxuan, that wasn't your intention." Xi 'er said.
"I can't do it. Do you know what he's going to do?”Wen Xuan said," I can't go this time.”
"No one can stop him from doing anything. However, we have to help you with this.”Xi 'er said.
"Anything else is fine. As long as it involves that matter, I can't help. As long as one could distinguish right from wrong, they would know that it was wrong. It was as if you knew that he was going to kill someone, but you still gave him a knife. In addition, he did go to kill people." Wen Xuan said.
"Don't just think about him. What about Xiao Gui and the children? If these people really wanted to get rid of them, what should they do? You don't care about these things now, just like those people who passed by in the past.”Xi 'er said.
"Who are they?" Wen Xuan asked.
"Those people who heard me shout for help but walked away.”Xi 'er said.
"Xi 'er." Wen Xuan said.
"If you don't help him, I'll leave. I will leave this place. Anyway, there was nothing to miss here.”Xi 'er said.
"Why are you so persistent about this matter?”Wen Xuan asked.
"I'm not stubborn. If you don't agree, I'll leave." Xi 'er said.
At this moment, the red sun had completely fallen into the sea. The faint afterglow was still shining. The entire sea area was filled with a gentle and warm light.
"I knew you wouldn't be so heartless.”Xi 'er said.
"I can't decide on this matter." Wen Xuan said.
"So you want me to leave?" Xi 'er said.
"He's not worth it. He wasn't worth it for anyone to be like this. He's just a stupid bastard." Wen Xuan said.
"Don't think about him, Wenxuan. It's not him, it's someone else." Xi 'er said," I didn't do anything for him.”
"Don't try to persuade me." Wen Xuan said.
"It doesn't matter if he's dead, it's just Gui and the children. You are your family." Xi 'er said. "They need you. Without Liu Yongnian, they were just an orphan and a widow.”
Wen Xuan shook his head and turned his face away, saying,""Liu Yongnian always wants to drag everyone to take this risk. He didn't think of anyone else."
"Don't think about him. It's not him." Xi 'er said.
"No." Wen Xuan said," I'm a little worried about you. If I did something to make him feel at ease, it would only make me feel uneasy.”
"Don't worry. Just like he said. Besides, the conditions in the city must be better than here.”Xi 'er said.
"Let me think about it!" Wen Xuan said.
After a while, the sky darkened. The warm night arrived quietly.
3
Three days later, they set sail. Before he left, Xi 'er stood on the porch and stuffed a book into Wen Xuan's hands. Wen Xuan didn't see the cover of the book clearly and didn't even know the name, so he took it. He held the book in his hand and looked straight at Xi 'er, thinking about what to say. The ship that was about to set sail was docked in the sea behind him. The sound of seawater hitting the hull was still ringing in his ears. They waited on the boat. He kept looking at Xi 'er, his hand stroking the spine of the book back and forth.
The bottom of the canoe was smooth. The smell of paint had long since dissipated. Now, the canoe was faintly emitting the fragrance of pine wood. The newly sprouted buds on the rose roots had already sprouted tender leaves. The petals that had fallen into the soil were rotting, turning moldy and dark. All these familiar things gave Wen Xuan a sense of security. Now, he felt that he could not move his feet at all. At this moment, he finally understood why he had refused. From the bottom of his heart, he was unwilling to leave this place and Xi 'er.
Xi 'er held onto the doorpost and sat down. She put her feet on the porch and turned her head to squint at him, as if his body was emitting a dazzling light. Her unkempt hair fell from her shoulders like weeds. Wen Xuan saw that she was turning her head to look behind him and smiled awkwardly. He wanted to say something but couldn't say it. He only raised his head and looked into the room.
"You should go." Xi 'er said.
Wen Xuan pinched the book that he had already rolled up and nodded. He turned around and walked out of the garden, out of the door, and kept walking forward without looking back.
Xi 'er stood up and looked at the person who had his head lowered and was slowly walking forward. She had seen him return countless times, but she had never seen him leave.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]