Qingqingmoshangmulberry

Chapter 18

I'm Mei Ruotang.

I am a very conflicted person.I don't have a father, or rather, I can't have a father.I didn't really understand this until I was 20 years old.

For as long as I can remember, I lived with my mother in Chinatown.We don't live well and don't care.From the perspective of material conditions, although we are not rich, at least we don’t have to worry about food and clothing. My mother does not go out to work, but there must be a remittance slip every month. Every day, my mother will take me out to eat. A meal, or go shopping to buy something that I am usually not allowed to buy.

The mother is not generous, not stingy, not gentle, nor a bitter woman, she is very good at enjoying herself.Growing up, she was not close to me, and I was more like her friend than a daughter.She always spends more time talking about philosophy, literature and art to me than talking heart-to-heart.She likes painting, and spends more time at the Met than doing chores.She usually lives frugally, but when she heard from the teacher that I have an amazing talent for painting, she generously donated money to hire a famous teacher to teach me painting.While doing all this, she looked indifferent, as if it was an obligation or responsibility, not a family relationship.

She never wastes time, energy, and emotions that she thinks should not be wasted.

including me.

From the age of thirteen or fourteen, I knew that she was beautiful. Even with a daughter my age, her beauty is still astonishing.In fact, she doesn't take care of it deliberately, but she fully deserves that sentence: peerless elegance.

Although she never cared about the admiring, envious, or jealous eyes and whispers everywhere.

At best, I can only be considered handsome, not as good as her.Whether it's appearance, or the attitude that doesn't mean anything.When I was a child, I was very short, and my appearance and personality were not pleasant. Fortunately, we have no relatives, and I don't have to worry about it.I used to be surprised that although my mother is of average stature, she is not tall, but I have grown taller every day since I was 14 years old. All my clothes must be too short after one season, so my mother has always She will not buy too many clothes for me. I expect her to be as happy as other mothers, even if it is joyful with strong complaints, but she only said a few times: "You can't grow any longer." It doesn't matter, "It's not a good sign for a girl to grow too tall."

At the beginning, I was sad for her indifference, but after a long time, I gradually became numb.And all the sorrows that all my mothers gave me are not worth what happened when I was ten years old.

I have a very good friend, Xiao Yu, who is an immigrant from Hong Kong, and her parents run a laundry shop.She looks mediocre and her grades are mediocre, but she is willing to help me with many things. I am used to her company, her gentleness, and I am used to talking to her about everything, including the relationship between mother and daughter.I am much closer to her than I am to my mother.

Suddenly one day, she started avoiding me.I realized that when I asked her directly, she murmured for a while, and finally said: "My parents won't let me play with you anymore."

I was stunned: "Why?" Her parents are typical immigrants who have no roots and roots, and are extremely humble to everyone.

After hesitating for a long time, she finally said, "They said you..." She blushed, looking unspeakable, and finally said, "It's an illegitimate daughter."

Later I found out that the two words they said were: wild species.

That day, I, who was always strong, cried all the way home.All along, my mother simply told me that my father died early.I had doubts, but her indifference made me dare not inquire further.

When I got home, there was a woman with swords drawn in the main room. She was wearing heavy makeup and exaggerated expression, and she was yelling at something. The mother was sitting on the chair in the middle, wearing a dark flower cheongsam, with her head bowed, drinking her favorite drink quietly. scented tea.She didn't even lift her head slightly.

I was frightened by the weird atmosphere. I stood quietly and listened to her scolding words such as "vixen", "shameless" and "seducing men". Seeing me, he rushed to me, word by word, viciously: "You bastard!!"

Almost immediately, the mother who was sitting aside with an indifferent expression and a slight contempt on her lips suddenly burst into flames, and jumped in front of her almost as quickly as lightning, raised her hand fiercely, and slapped her hard: "Go back and manage!" Well, your husband will come out to act wild again!!" She dropped her usual elegance and raised her voice, "By the way, tell him to complete the divorce procedures as soon as possible, and I can think about the thing he's been begging for two months!"

Hit a snake and hit seven inches.The woman was startled at first, then wilted, and finally hid her face and came out.

After a long while, I came back to my senses, looked at my mother, and said eagerly: "...she... am I... am I..."

She turned around and looked at me. I had never seen that kind of terrifying look in her eyes. She collected herself, and almost without thinking, she waved her hand and gave me a heavy slap: "From now on, if you dare to say a word again, give me try!"

This is the first time she hit me.Although she treated me coldly, she never hit me.

I was taken aback by her livid face.I retreated to my room and didn't come out for dinner all night, and she ignored me.In the middle of the night, I was so hungry that I couldn't take it anymore, so I quietly went out to find something to eat, and heard her suppressed sobbing from her room, which lasted all night.

At noon the next day, she knocked on my door as if nothing had happened: "Ruotang, Oxford Street will start to reduce prices by 50% today, come with me to see."

I went out with her quietly.

Since then, we have tacitly never talked about that topic again.Because I found out that she also has a weak side.That night, I suddenly grew up.

When I was 17 years old, I was admitted to the University of the Arts London. My mother was very happy and threw a party at home for me to celebrate.Not long after, she asked me, "Do you want to go back to China?"

I am indulging in the freshness brought by college life, the free and unrestricted environment and atmosphere, countless novel parties and extracurricular activities, and more and more new friends.Not long after entering college, my roommate told me: "They all think you are beautiful."

I couldn't help but laugh.The aesthetic point of view of foreigners is always very peculiar.Just like a Chinese model who later became popular in Europe and the United States, she received two completely different evaluations in the East and the West.However, it is undeniable that this sentence greatly satisfied my vanity, so when my mother asked that question, I hesitated: "...China?"

That strange land is too far away from me.

She looked at me and said involuntarily, "I've already booked the air ticket, you should pack your things."

I was still unwilling: "Where do I live?"

She pondered for a moment: "I have an old friend, I'll contact him, you can stay at his house."

I think that after a few years, my mother regretted that decision very much.

for sure.

I got on the plane disgruntled.I went back to China.I lived in He Yukun's house.

The whole family treated me very warmly. Uncle He and Aunt He were very kind. Uncle He especially liked me and reserved a very comfortable guest room for me. Aunt He also asked for leave to accompany me to play around. My love is beyond words. To everyone, she smiled and said, "I am a daughter, isn't she beautiful? Where is the top student who came back from England!"

I am ashamed.

The He family is a well-known family with many acquaintances. Aunt He likes to take me out to socialize and show off. I think I am ordinary, but maybe it is just because I am new, I have met many suitors. Among them, Yu Chengbang, the second son of the Yu family, is the most courteous. direct.He sent me roses in bouquets every day, and came to see me almost every day.It's just that I don't like him, and I even despise him.

It's just a boring man who is engaged in marriage but wants to get out of the wall. Moreover, I am basically pessimistic about love and marriage.

Eternity is but a moment.

Therefore, for those sudden and enthusiastic invitations, I almost completely rejected them.

Of course there are exceptions.Although I am not very proficient in Chinese, I know the difference between being polite and keeping a respectful distance.Uncle He's only son, He Linfu, a top medical student, is extremely refined and extremely indifferent to me.He never said a word to me except for necessary pleasantries.He stays in the study at home every day, and hardly takes a step forward.

Aunt He dotes on this son very much, knowing that his attitude is not good, she still excused him and said: "Linfu is like this, a nerd, he is not enthusiastic about girls at all," she said somewhat complacently, "It's all The girl came to him on her own initiative."

Yeah?I snorted, I just don't believe in this evil.

He went out of the study door, saw me, gave me a surprised look, walked around me and planned to walk away.I stop him.I waited for him for a full two hours, how could I let this opportunity go.Almost provocatively, I said, "I have something to do with you."

He was taken aback, and after a long time: "What's the matter?"

I looked at him directly: "Excuse me, am I a guest of your house?"

He frowned slightly, the corners of his lips curled slightly, and his tone was flat and slightly impatient: "What's wrong?"

I rolled my eyes towards the sky and challenged him: "Don't you know what it means to be a landlord?"

He looked at me carefully, and after a while, he said lightly, "I thought my mother and your suitor were enough for you to gain a lot." He lowered his eyes, "Besides, I'm very busy."

I blushed because of his nonchalant attitude and the seeming sarcasm in his words.I was momentarily ashamed and angry, not knowing how to react.

He didn't look at me anymore, just like that, with a smile on his lips, he walked away from me with a blushing face easily.

I looked at his back and stomped my feet bitterly.At that time, I was a bit carried away by everyone's praise, and I had never received such a cold reception.

I swear, if I talk to him again, I'm a pig!

However, the next day, I turned into a real stupid pig.

After reporting to Aunt He, I walked out of the gate, ready to go out for a stroll, turned a corner, and stood there quietly looking at the scenery not far away.

I walked over without seeing it, and just a few steps away, I heard the voice behind me: "The landlord has been waiting for you for a long time."

I deliberately pretended not to hear, but I couldn't hold back anymore, so I had to laugh.I ran back to him and poked him bitterly: "Why, aren't you busy?"

He smiled: "I am a filial son, and I am afraid that you will sue my mother."

I rolled my eyes to the sky.What a lousy reason.

However, with him walking beside me, I don't know why, but my heart also slightly swayed.

He Linfu is a very boring person.

He Linfu is a very reserved person.

He Linfu is a person who doesn't know what romance is.

He Linfu is the strangest person I have ever met.

He doesn't understand fashion, he doesn't appreciate aesthetics, he doesn't like to play, and he will always be in the thick pile of old papers.After living for so many years, his understanding of this city is not as good as me when I first arrived.We hang out and I get into that environment and atmosphere faster than he does.

He was noncommittal about my familiarity.It's just that he doesn't seem to be against hanging out with me.We tacitly carried Uncle He and Aunt He on our backs and visited all the major local attractions.

If he is dull, he has never expressed anything to me.I was a little bit looking forward, a little bit disappointed, and a little bit relieved.

After all, my world is in London, and I can't look forward to a future without a future.

A month later, I left here and left China.Until the day I left, He Linfu remained the same.I have some resentment.After returning to London, he never contacted me, not once.

Later, when I was on the phone with Aunt He, I didn't ask him.When I wrote to Uncle He, I didn't mention him.Girls' self-esteem is always subtle and strange.I resolved not to talk to him again.

Moreover, at that time, my mother was not in good health, and she always coughed in the middle of the night.I have no time for distractions.

Half a year later, I was called out by my classmates: "Someone is looking for me."

I looked over inadvertently, and was stunned.The person standing under an oak tree with a slight smile and looking at me turned out to be He Linfu.

He came over, always calm, as if he just met me yesterday: "Hello."

I glanced at him, and suddenly turned around and walked away.I hate him and don't want to see him.

He stopped in front of me almost immediately: "I have something to do with you."

I was taken aback, why is this sentence so awkward, I asked impatiently, "What's wrong?"

He gave me a slanted look, and said bluntly, "Don't you know what it means to be a landlord?"

After I was stunned for a long time, suddenly, I couldn't help laughing.

After holding my belly and laughing for a long time, I stretched out my hand and poked him bitterly: "I came all the way here just thinking about this, He Linfu, He Linfu, are you ashamed or not?" Still a man, his mind is surprisingly small.

He first looked at me and smiled, then turned pale: "Why haven't you been in touch with me?"

This is amazing.I rolled my eyes: "Why should I contact you?"

stupid pig!

He said without changing his face and heartbeat: "You have provoked me for so long, you have to give me an explanation."

I blinked my eyes ignorantly at first, and then slowly digested what he meant. I was scared, embarrassed, and ashamed. I stomped my feet and said indiscriminately: "Who is so unfortunate to provoke you ?!"

My face turned into a pig liver color and I ran away all the way.

After running back to the dormitory, I lay down under the quilt for a long time before I realized that he was unfamiliar with the place in London, and I just left him like this.

I hurried back to look for him, but there was no one under the oak tree.

I came back in dismay, still pondering all the way, what on earth is he here for?Why are you saying that to me?Is it just a joke?He Linfu, have you come all the way to make a joke?

I dare not think about it, but my heart is actually a little sweet.

******************************************************************************
For several days, there was no news of He Linfu.He seemed to be just like a bubble, fleeting.When I thought about it later, I realized that everything in the world has omens in the dark.

On weekends, my mother picked me up in the little March.As soon as I got in the car, she told me: "Uncle He is coming to London, invite us to dinner."

I was stunned for a moment: "Which Uncle He?"

She glanced at me: "'Which Uncle He?' Thanks to you, you lived in someone else's house for a month. Why, did you forget it so soon?"

I don't say anything.I have heart disease.Only now, I suddenly realized that today's mother is very beautiful.She was wearing a dark purple handmade beaded silk cheongsam that she rarely wore.In my impression, she is one of the very few women who are not very tall, but can wear a cheongsam in a variety of styles.

I blurted out: "Mom, you are so beautiful today."

She was thoughtful, as if she didn't hear what I said.At a fork in the road, she skillfully turned the steering wheel to the right, and almost at the same time, she said, "The last time you went back, how did they... treat you?"

I was taken aback.In the past, every time I accidentally mentioned it, she always got off it impatiently, and I was always angry with He Linfu, it seemed that we had never talked about such a topic.I nodded: "Very good."

She was silent.After a while, she still said casually: "Aunt He, what do you look like?"

I thought about it for a while: "Very virtuous." In terms of appearance, it's not very outstanding, compared with the handsome and slender Uncle He, it's a bit unsuitable.

I am deeply ashamed of my superficial thinking, after all, she has treated me very well.

Mother remained silent, and did not pursue further questions.The car will arrive soon.I looked outside, and Uncle He was already waiting at the door.When he saw me, he said with a smile, "Ruotang, you bad girl, you haven't contacted me for two full months."

He embraced me very affectionately and walked in, with my mother walking aside.

I answered Uncle He's question after sentence, but I felt uneasy.Sure enough, as soon as I stepped into the small private room, I saw an equally slender figure standing up with a slight smile.The mother was obviously a little surprised, looking at Uncle He, he introduced with a smile: "My son." He turned to He Linfu, "My name is Aunt Mei."

The mother looked at He Linfu very sharply for a while: "Your son is very similar to when you were young."

Uncle He was somewhat proud: "He is a nerd, he only knows how to study, but he is too reserved. He doesn't know when he can bring me a daughter-in-law back."

Mother smiled lightly.He Linfu sat quietly without speaking.I glared at him and turned to look out the window.My head was never turned directly towards him during the whole meal.

I'm just a cheapskate, what? !
He later said to me, "You have no idea how worried I am about you getting migraines."

Get beat up by me.

In fact, on the same day, when Uncle He said the sentence: "Linfu graduated from university and wanted to continue his studies, he chose to choose. The teachers here are good in all aspects, so I sent him over to have a look.", I already have the urge to do so.

After working for a long time, I just dropped by.Fortunately, I have been happy and worried for so many days.

I don't look at him, and I don't glance at him out of the corner of my eye.

That night, I heard my mother coughing from the direction of the living room, and I paid attention. She was sitting in front of the fireplace, as if she hadn't slept all night.

I got out of the car and said politely to the person in the car, "Thank you for taking me back."

My classmate, Henry with blond hair and blue eyes and slightly freckles on his face, smiled all over his face: "Christina, there is a party at my house this weekend, would you like to come?"

I also smiled back, and lied without blushing: "Sorry, the weekend is my father's death day."

Nothing is too much for this foreign devil.Who told him that he was a descendant of the Eight-Power Allied Forces.

His ancestors did everything possible to plunder Chinese cultural relics, and he tried every means to collect Chinese girlfriends.

The same shamelessness.

He was a bit reconciled, but he still maintained his rare demeanor: "You must come next time." He waved at me and emphasized his tone, "Definitely!"

I nodded, solemnly: "It must be..." No wonder!
In the clear air, my feet seemed to float forward as I walked forward.Today is a day for the art and design teacher, Mrs. Philip, who is surprisingly strict, to show her kindness. She actually gave the whole class an average score of B+ in the school year exam.She also made an exception and gave me the highest grade of A+.Everyone suggested going to a carnival, and I have no objection.It's just that, in the past, I strictly abide by my mother's prohibition against drinking alcohol, but today, I drank two full bottles of champagne, and I was considered slightly tipsy.

I took another two steps forward, and suddenly, I remembered something, and turned to walk in another direction.Walking under the oak tree, I took a look, um, the tree body is still so tall and straight, and the leaf crown is still so graceful and cool and pleasant, but today I don’t know why, no matter how I look at it, it doesn’t please my eyes.I took off my shoes and slammed them back, kicking the tree with my bare feet.

I missed the kick.Thinking about it, I was puzzled, and I was looking for shoes all over the place.

NND, I can't believe it, I can't hit it today!

There have always been two people living in my body.One is me who is taciturn and behaves in front of my mother, and the other is arrogant and willful.

I searched around, and turned around slowly twice, but I didn't find any shadow of the shoes.I shook my head, convinced that I had never practiced Foshan Shadowless Kick.Strange, where are my shoes?

Suddenly, a hand caught off guard and magnified in front of my eyes: "Looking for this?" I jumped away in fright, but I came into contact with a pair of smiling eyes, and what I was holding in my hand was my missing shoe.

He shook his head and squatted down: "Why don't you hold on if you don't know how to drink?"

I stared dumbfounded as he put the shoe on for me naturally, almost bewildered by the sudden scene.

He stood up again, with a faint smile: "Grumpy kid." He stretched out his other hand in front of me, and gently opened a small box: "If you still want to throw it, why not try this?"

A thin and delicate porcelain plate, shaped like a heart, engraves a small budding crabapple flower on it. I am a student of painting. Carved by hand, the technique is not proficient.

but……

The joy in my heart rippled gently like bubbles. I slowly held my breath, fearing that the bubbles would burst. I was about to reach out, but I raised my head: "No." I glanced at it, duplicity and simplicity ground, "ugly."

The smile on his lips slowly spread: "Ruotang, you are angry with me."

I bite my lip.Yes, I'm mad at him.I was even angrier that I would let him know that I was mad at him.

I turned my head and started to leave.Just two steps away, I heard a soft voice: "Ruotang." I hesitated for a while, but still turned my head involuntarily.His face was hidden in the smoke-like moonlight, and he walked up slowly: "I have studied for a long time."

He lowered his eyes and said no more.

I was taken aback.He means, he means...

The bubbles in my heart are getting bigger and fuller uncontrollably.I stared at him, he lowered his head, unable to see the expression on his face clearly, but his hands were clenched tightly.

I sighed.If Uncle He wanted his son to find a good wife in a foreign country, it might not be easy with his conservative and coquettish attitude.

oh, forget it...

I knew that my appearance must be very unreserved, but at that moment, I almost subconsciously said, "How about..." He raised his head suddenly, his eyes glistened at me.I clenched my hands tightly, muttering with a fever on my face, "Why don't I force myself..."

The laugh lines on his lips were damned slowly rippling again: "What do you want to force?"

Shy and embarrassed, I said incoherently: "...I... I see your poor handicraft... I want... I want to teach you how to draw..."

He leaned down: "Well, what else?"

I'm still dumbfounded as the face slowly enlarges before my eyes.After an unknown amount of time, I sighed softly from the bottom of my heart, and slowly, I also leaned forward.There is a small voice that lingers faintly from beginning to end——

Mei Ruotang, oh Mei Ruotang, I knew you couldn't escape.

From that day, from the deep sunset in that courtyard, from seeing his slender and tall silhouette, from seeing his faint smile: "Hello, I'm He Linfu", from...

Start.

After a long time, he raised his head: "Why didn't you promise him?"

I pursed my lips: "I have a cleanliness." The stain of history is tolerable or unbearable.

He shook his head and smiled: "Ruotang, you always surprise me."

I rolled my eyes: "Both each other." I smiled without a smile on my face, "Did you drop by to see me again?" I snorted, and came to take advantage of me by the way.

He smiled helplessly: "Do you want me to make the intention in my heart known to everyone without knowing whether there is hope?" He sighed slightly, "Thousands of mountains and rivers, I have come after all."

It seems so reluctant to say it.I rolled my eyes again, and said coolly, "It's still too late to go back now," I said with sour teeth, "Anyway, there are still a bunch of girls there who are willing to wait for you."

He nodded solemnly.I am short of breath.

He was still extremely serious: "My mother asked someone to introduce me to several people, and they were all very good and good."

My face turned red with anger.How can there be such a person who pushes his nose and face!

Suddenly, he hugged me: "However, there is one who is often deceived by fake beggars, blushes like a rotten apple when he is born, and likes to dangle in front of me when he is fine, with a smart face and a stupid belly." The wild girl, ran into my heart carelessly, and refused to leave." He clung to my ear, and said softly, "Tell me, what should I do?"

Does he have to speak so awkwardly?Damn it, even I got awkward: "I...I..."

He still hugged me, didn't say anything, just softly, "Ruotang, Ruotang, Ruotang..."

No one has ever called me that.

(End of this chapter)