twenty-ninth
1
Before Abu went home, he went to Hong Ming's house. He followed the address to the teachers 'dormitory on the university campus. It was a dilapidated old staff dormitory. The buildings from the seventies were hidden in towering trees, and the walls were moldy. It was an old seven-story building. The corridors were narrow and dark, and there was a pungent smell of mold. Abu took the note and stepped into the old building. He felt the old monster suddenly move, ready to welcome its first guest in a long time. He came to the third floor and stared at the rusted door plate on the wall. He looked down at the address again. He gently patted the rusty iron door, afraid that it would break.
Then, Abu saw Hong Ming's parents. They were looking at him through their glasses like intellectual people. The two of them let him in and continued to look at him. The room was very dark and there was a musty smell. Abu stood in the middle of the room, holding the big envelope, motionless.
"Who came last time?" The old man turned his head and asked the old woman.
"A chef." the old woman said.
"Yes, that's right. He wanted to see what kind of people Hong Ming knew when he arrived at the Ying Kingdom.”the old man said.
"You're an international student, right? What major are you studying?" the old woman asked.
"Medicine." Abu said.
"Have you graduated?" the old man asked.
"I graduated." Abu said.
"Did you get the certificate?" the old man asked.
"I got it." Abu said.
"Alright, I'll do it. You're promising." The old lady smiled and said," Old Hong, quickly pour this child a cup of tea. Child, sit down."
Suddenly, Abu realized that he had been standing for so long. He retreated to a carved wooden chair and sat down. Then, he took out the big envelope.
"What is it?" the old man asked.
"Hong Ming asked me to bring it over for you two.”Abu said.
"Humph! Could it be money? Last time, he had asked Chef to bring back money. How impudent." the old woman said.
Abu opened the envelope and poured the photo on the coffee table. The two elders lowered their heads and reached out to take a look at the photo.
"What is this?" The old lady raised a photo and asked,""He married a foreign girl? Aiya! This child was already so big. It was simply infuriating. Of all people, he had to find a foreigner.”
"Also, look at this one. It also said that he opened a restaurant.”The old man pointed at the photo and said," You're a cook instead of studying. It was really embarrassing to do such lowly work.”
"What's going on?" The old woman raised her head and stared at Abu.
Abu stood up and shook his head awkwardly. He pointed at the big envelope on the coffee table and said,""There's an address inside. There was also a phone number. I'm not sure about the exact situation. You can ask him yourself." He looked at the white light outside the window and felt that the room was dark and cold, so he took his leave.
2
After leaving Hong Ming's house, Abu immediately rushed back to his hometown.
In the past eight years, his hometown had changed a lot. The new airport was very stylish. Yongnian and Aren had been waiting here for a long time. Aren shouted excitedly. Abu looked up at him, almost unrecognizable. The dark-skinned man who was as tall as him was his younger brother. He stopped and smiled awkwardly without saying anything.
Aren took the suitcase, put one hand on Abu's shoulder, and led him to Yongnian's side. Yongnian nodded at Abu, turned around, and walked in front. Abu turned his head and saw the white hair on Yongnian's temples, but he did not say anything.
Many tall buildings seemed to have suddenly risen from the ground beside the road. There were also many brand-new cars on the street.
The car boarded the ferry and waited to return to the island.
The sound of a flute was heard on the dock. The ship started moving.
Abu looked at the familiar sea. The sunlight shone brightly on it. The gentle sea breeze blew over, as if caressing their faces. He turned around and saw his father's hand reaching out of the car window. The hand was swaying gently in the wind, as if it was fishing for something.
The ship docked and lowered the board. The small cars drove up one after another, went ashore, and entered the winding mountain road. Abu stuck his head out of the window and looked at the brand new Youbai Road and the street lamps on both sides.
The sea level at the foot of the mountain was covered with fish rafts. Someone was scattering fish feed on the sea.
"Brother, look at those fish steaks. We also have fish steaks on the sea." Abu pointed to the sea.
"Is that so?" Abu turned back to look at Yongnian and asked.
Then, Aren began to talk about fish steaks excitedly.
Abu didn't reply. He just listened quietly and watched Yongnian drive.
After crossing a few mountains, he saw a few rows of white windmills on the top of the mountain. This wind farm was also built not long after he left. The huge fan was slowly rotating, as if it was absorbing foreign objects in the air.
As the car drove past the town, there were more tourists there. They were surrounding the seafood shop on the street and bargaining with the owner. Many new ships were docked at the dock in front of the town. Someone was sailing the boat into the sea, preparing to collect the net that was cast in the morning.
The car drove straight ahead and met a group of students riding their bicycles home. They fell behind, whistling and frolicking.
The tranquil sea appeared again.
The car entered the village. All the low houses here had become multi-storey buildings. A few cars were parked at the entrance of the alley. The people who were playing mahjong in front of the shop turned their heads and looked at the car that was coming.
"Isn't this Abu? You've returned from the Ying Country?" Someone stood at the entrance of the alley and turned to look into the car.
Abu's lips moved. He was so embarrassed that he couldn't say anything.
"Yeah, I know. Yeah." Yongnian waved his hand and spoke on behalf of Abu.
After passing through a few alleys, Yongnian parked the car outside the courtyard and got out. He turned to look at the alley, absent-mindedly waiting for the children to get out of the car.
Abu sat in the car and turned his head to look at the alley. The memories of the past that had been buried in the bottom of the pool were hit by a stone. The bottom of the lake churned and surged up to his heart. For a moment, he was stunned.
"Get out of the car, brother." Aren knocked on the car window and said.
Abu got out of the car and entered the courtyard. He looked up and saw the heavy branches and leaves hanging down from the Dragon Eye Tree. Aren looked back at him, shook his head, and pulled him into the house. The old furniture in the room had been replaced with high-end mahogany furniture. There were a few cups on the wooden tea table in the living room. Abu sat down and took a sip of tea. He turned his head and saw Wen Gui in the kitchen.
Wen Gui looked up and saw him. She smiled and said,""There will be food to eat in a while." She came out of the kitchen and brought the dishes to the dining table. Seeing this, Abu stood up and walked over. Wen Gui pressed on his shoulder and asked him to sit down, not letting him do anything.
During the meal, Aren kept putting food into Abu's bowl.
"These are the sea crabs we raise. Try it." Aren said.
Abu nodded and looked at Aren's face, which had been blackened by the sun, and smiled.
Wen Gui didn't eat much and just kept looking at Abu, saying,""You've grown up after so many years.”
Abu was speechless and could only eat with his head lowered.
Yongnian remained silent. He picked up some food and ate. He didn't seem to have any special feelings about Abu's return.
After dinner, they gathered in the living room to drink tea and talked about some things in the Ying country.
"Brother, are you a doctor now? You can treat people now, right?" Aren said.
"Theoretically, yes. I have a Western medicine license.”Abu said.
"Don't you have a holiday there? Why didn't you come back after so long?" Aren asked.
"The holidays there are different. Besides, I don't have time." Abu said.
Yongnian took a sip of tea, turned his head and glanced at the brothers. He stood up and left the courtyard.
"It's good that you're back. We can be together again. We're raising crabs in the sea now. There's a big fish steak on the sea. I can bring you there to take a look." Aren said.
"Is that so?" Abu asked.
"Yes, I am. There was something else. We can go rowing." Aren said.
Wen Gui came out of the kitchen and sat at the side. He stared at Abu and said,""It's good that you're back. Let Daddy go to the city hospital to fix you up. It's not bad to work there."
"Mom, don't do that for now." Abu said," I don't need it."
"Then let's rest for a while.”Wen Gui said.
3
A few days later, Aren took Abu to see the fish steaks.
Abu stood at the bow of the ship and looked at the wooden platform. He lowered his head and spat into the sea.
"There's a cage down there with crabs.”Aren said. He stretched out his leg and was about to jump onto the wooden platform when he stood on the raft and looked back at him. The sunlight made his face pale.
"That's enough." Abu said.
"Aren't you going to take a look?" Aren asked.
Abu's fair face was wrinkled, as if he couldn't stand the scorching sun. He sniffled and covered his mouth.
"No need. It was dirty and smelly. Let's go." Abu said.
Aren turned his face away and did not say anything. He returned to the boat and took Abu away from the fish raft.
The surging surface of the sea shone with dazzling sunlight. Speckles of light reflected on their faces and burned them. There was no wind on the sea. They flew past the ship at high speed, but there was no wind. They seemed to have passed through a wall of frozen hot air.
The green leaves on the shore appeared in front of their eyes. This greenness made the returning people feel a little cold.
Aren docked the boat on the shore and turned to look at the bamboo shed hidden in the shade. The sound of cicadas came from that quiet place. A cool breeze drifted out from the darkness.
"Look who's back! Colombus?" Wen Xuan watched them enter the courtyard and said to Abu," Long time no see, Abu." Have you discovered a new continent?"
Abu came to the porch and squatted down. He looked at Wen Xuan and asked,""How did this happen?"
"It's a long story. Why don't you have a cup of tea first?”Wen Xuan said as he lifted the teapot by his feet.
Abu shook his head and sat down on the porch. He saw Aren turn around and was about to leave.
"Where are you going?" Wen Xuan asked.
"Herding sheep." Aren said.
"What a child." Wen Xuan said.
Abu took the teapot, poured a cup of tea for Wen Xuan, and handed it to him.
The cicadas chirped again. The cup of tea released steam and was placed on the wooden corridor.
Wen Xuan lowered his head and sized up Abu, who was sitting at the side, and smiled. He turned his head and looked at the blooming rose bushes. There, some insects and birds were chirping softly. By listening attentively, one could distinguish each sound.
"How long has Aren helped raise that thing?”Abu asked.
"A few years." Wen Xuan said.
"You didn't go to university?" Abu asked.
"Didn't you two brothers talk on the phone?”Wen Xuan asked.
"He fooled it and didn't admit it.”Abu said.
"He probably doesn't know how to tell you. He had only studied for half a year. After my leg was crippled, he stayed.”Wen Xuan said.
"Did he do it?" Abu asked.
"It was an accident." Wen Xuan patted his thigh and asked," How have you been in the Ying Country all these years? Were you bullied? I really admire you! It had been so many years. Returning after completing his studies would bring honor to his ancestors.”
"I still need to train." Abu said.
"Surgeon. I'm just a boor holding a fish knife, but in your generation, you're holding a scalpel. That's a big improvement.”Wen Xuan said.
"Aren said he was herding sheep. Where did he go?”Abu said.
"He's going to the fish steaks to take care of the crabs.”Wen Xuan said.
"We just came back from the fish steak.”Abu said.
"I see." Wen Xuan raised his head and looked at the sparkling sea in the distance.
"He's using Aren, right? In fact, he was doing something in secret, right?”Abu asked.
"Abu, sometimes being too smart isn't a good thing. Not everyone liked smart people, but they would 100% like idiots.”Wen Xuan said.
"I have no choice." Abu said.
"What?" Wen Xuan said.
"Like a fool." Abu said.
"Don't be misled by your own cleverness.”Wen Xuan said.
"That's right. He really did it." Abu said.
"Do what you should do, and let nature take its course.”Wen Xuan said.
Abu turned around and looked at Wen Xuan. He moved but didn't say anything.
"Now I'm finally old enough to say these words to you youngsters.”Wen Xuan said.
"It's still the same after so many years.”Abu said." It's like time has not moved.”
"Abu, don't think about these things anymore. You've left this place before, so you should know that this world is very big.”Wen Xuan said," Don't trap yourself. This was just a small fishing village. The people here were just trying their best not to starve.”
"Uncle." Abu said.
"I believe that the outside world has already made you understand. I was just giving him a slight reminder.”Wen Xuan said.
"That's not it. Uncle, aren't you also tying yourself up?”Abu asked.
"I'm old, Abu. Don't copy me. You've left before, you know what's going on.”Wen Xuan said.
"You're pursuing something else, different from the people here.”Abu said.
"I can't tell if this is praise or sarcasm.”Wen Xuan said," But regarding Yongnian, I hope you don't think about it anymore. Regardless of whether it was out of jealousy or out of kindness, don't think about it anymore.”
Abu did not answer. He turned his head and stared at the sea, wondering when Aren would come back.
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