Siheyuan: I just want to live

At noon, when the sun was shining in the yard, Jin Ling walked briskly back home to have lunch. As soon as she entered the house, she went straight to the dining table and sat down.

While eating, Jin Ling seemed to have thought of something, and her eyes inadvertently swept in the direction of the house of her next-door neighbor Xu Damao.

Suddenly, an idea came to her mind, so she turned to look at Chen Feng who was eating, and asked, "Husband, do you think Xu Damao next door has moved away?"

At this time, Chen Feng was concentrating on the delicious food in the bowl. Hearing Jin Ling's sudden question, he was slightly stunned, and the chopsticks in his hand that were picking up the food also paused for a moment.

He raised his head, looked at his wife suspiciously, and asked, "I haven't heard that his family is moving! Why do you think so?"

Jin Ling frowned, a puzzled look on her face, and responded: "But when I came back from outside just now, I passed by their door and found that it was empty inside, as if there was nothing left. Isn't it because of the move?"

As she spoke, she gestured with her hands, trying to help Chen Feng better understand what he was seeing.

After hearing Jin Ling's words, Chen Feng frowned slightly and thought to himself: It turns out that she had such a misunderstanding.

Then, he quickly explained to Jin Ling, "Wife, things are not as simple as you think. In fact, the reason why Xu Damao's house became empty is because he encountered thieves last night and robbed his house, not because Xu Damao moved."

Hearing Chen Feng's detailed explanation, Jin Ling couldn't help but widen her eyes and responded with astonishment: "Husband, do you mean to say that just last night, those thieves were so bold as to completely move Xu Damao's house?"

Seeing Jin Ling's astonishment, Chen Feng's face remained calm, but his eyes revealed a hint of determination. He nodded slowly and said, "Yes, that's right. These thieves are really too rampant."

After receiving Chen Feng's affirmative reply, Jin Ling still found it hard to believe what happened in Xu Damao's home. She couldn't help but murmur in a low voice.

"Oh my! Thieves are so rampant these days! Husband, it seems we have to be extra careful in the future!"

Chen Feng listened to Jin Ling's worried words, nodded solemnly, expressing his agreement, and comforted her: "Well! Don't worry, I will pay more attention to the safety of our family!"

After Jin Ling finished her meal, she hurriedly took her children out to work.

As for Chen Feng, he chose to stay at home and have a good sleep to relieve the fatigue from not sleeping the whole night.

For the next two days, Xu Damao did not return home. Chen Feng did not care too much about this matter, because he knew very well that Xu Damao was Lou Xiao'e's husband, and now that everyone in the Lou family had disappeared strangely, they would naturally go to Xu Damao to ask what happened.

Time passed quickly. Two days later, when Chen Feng was sweeping the yard in front of his house, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure walking slowly towards him from the middle yard.

Looking closely, it was none other than Xu Damao, who looked restless and extremely miserable. At this moment, Xu Damao seemed to have lost his soul and looked listless.

Seeing this situation, Chen Feng understood in his mind: Xu Damao must have failed to obtain any useful information about Lou Xiao'e from the public security organs, so he was released in such an embarrassed manner.

However, even though he knew it well, Chen Feng still pretended to be ignorant, took the initiative to step forward and asked.

"Da Mao, you're finally back! Where have you been these past two days? Have the police found any clues about the thief?"

"Oh, there's one more thing! Where is Lou Xiao'e? Why didn't she come back with you?"

As he spoke, Chen Feng deliberately revealed a hint of concern, as if he was really curious and worried about these issues.

Xu Damao listened to Chen Feng's rapid-fire questions, and he couldn't help but feel an indescribable sense of loss in his heart. He sighed deeply and said to Chen Feng in a low voice.

"Alas! Lou Xiao'e and her family have already fled far away, leaving the border of our country. Now they are no longer in this city."

Then, Xu Damao added helplessly: "Because of this incident at the Lou family, I have been trapped in the police station for the past two days, and have been interrogated by the police endlessly!"

At this point, Xu Damao seemed even more annoyed: "Originally, I was hoping the police station could help me find my stolen things."

"But now, they are only busy investigating the Lou family's affairs and have no time to take care of my case. So far, they have no clue at all!"

After hearing what Xu Damao said, Chen Feng pretended to be surprised and cried out.

"What? Lou Xiao'e actually left the country? Why did she leave so suddenly? What's even more strange is that she didn't even take you with her? What's going on?"

After hearing what Chen Feng said, Xu Damao seemed to have lost all his energy and spirit. He muttered dejectedly, "Who knows? Maybe his family never treated me as their own family member at all!"

There was endless sadness and helplessness in his words.

Chen Feng saw all of this, but he didn't show it, just secretly despised it in his heart. He thought: If you weren't out there flirting with other girls all day long, how could the Lou family leave without taking you with them?

Now, he is even blaming Lou Xiao'e! However, these thoughts only stayed in the depths of Chen Feng's mind and did not show on his face at all. And Xu Damao naturally had no way of knowing Chen Feng's true thoughts.

After Xu Damao finished speaking, he immediately said goodbye to Chen Feng: "Forget it, let's not talk about this, Chen Feng, I'm really exhausted, I haven't had a good rest for two days. Now, I just want to go home and have a good sleep. Let's talk another day!"

When Xu Damao spoke, he sounded weak, as if he was really exhausted.

Chen Feng looked at Xu Damao's somewhat miserable figure and nodded in agreement, "Okay, let's talk about it another day! You can go home and rest in peace!"

Then, he watched Xu Damao enter the room. After he closed the door, Chen Feng slowly withdrew his gaze and started cleaning the yard in front of his house again.

The Golden Crow sets in the west, and the Jade Rabbit rises in the east. Xu Damao didn't know what was going on, and stayed in the room for a whole day and night.

The sunlight outside the window gradually set in the west and night fell quietly, but there was still no movement in Xu Damao's house.

At this time, Chen Feng became suspicious and secretly wondered whether Xu Damao had not survived and died.

He finally couldn't suppress his inner worries, so he walked to the door of Xu Damao's house, and slowly raised his right hand, gently pointing towards the tightly closed door of Xu Damao's house.

With his fingers slightly bent, he was about to knock on that mysterious and silent door...

Suddenly, there was a slight noise, as if a long-sleeping beast had awakened. Then, the door of Xu Damao's house slowly opened, and a figure appeared at the door.

Xu Damao looked at Chen Feng in front of him with a confused look, as he was holding his hands high with a look of astonishment on his face. A hint of puzzlement and bewilderment flashed in his eyes.

He frowned and asked with a slightly puzzled tone: "Chen Feng, what are you doing now?"

Seeing this, Chen Feng hurriedly put down his hand that was hanging in the air, and a look of relief appeared on his face.

He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and then replied, "Hey! You finally opened the door! I noticed that you didn't step out of the room all day, and I was worried."

"I was worried that something might have happened to you in there, so I thought of coming over to knock on the door and check what was going on!"

"If there's something wrong, I can quickly find a way to help you, right?"

After hearing what Chen Feng said, Xu Damao felt as if swept by a warm torrent deep in his heart. The warm current flowed freely in his chest, immersing him in an indescribable feeling of emotion.

He never expected that even in such a difficult and desperate time, Chen Feng would still care for him so much and never leave him.

At this moment, Xu Damao couldn't help but have tears in his eyes, and he spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

"Thank you so much, Chen Feng! I never thought that even though I have fallen into such a state, you still care about me! I will never forget this friendship!"

Chen Feng listened to Xu Damao's affectionate words, a trace of embarrassment appeared on his face, and he responded a little uncomfortably: "Hey! We are brothers, why do you have to be so polite to me!"

However, in fact, the reason why Chen Feng cares so much about Xu Damao is not just out of pure friendship.

He wondered to himself, if Xu Damao became devastated by this setback, or even chose to commit suicide, then how would Jin Ming continue to live in this room in the future?

After all, such a heartbreaking thing happened here before. Anyone would probably feel fear and shadow, right?

Therefore, Chen Feng hoped that Xu Damao could get through it firmly and regain his spirits. Only in this way could he avoid bringing unnecessary trouble and psychological burden to Jin Ming.

Hearing Chen Feng's words, Xu Damao stopped the tears that were about to fall.

Then he said a little embarrassedly, "Chen Feng, you also know that my house was emptied by thieves. Can you lend me some money now?"

When Chen Feng heard Xu Damao's words about borrowing money, he was speechless. He knew that everything might have been arranged when Lou's father left.

In two days, Xu Damao will be in real trouble. If we lend him money now, what's the difference between that and throwing it down the drain?

But if I don’t lend it, I can’t do it! We were so close to each other just now! How come the brotherhood is gone when I lend money?

After a pause, Chen Feng took out a handful of change from his pocket, about two yuan, and stuffed the money into Xu Damao's hand.

Then he said, "Brother Damao! You know, all the money in my family is with your sister-in-law. This is all the money I have now!"

"This money is my hard-earned private savings. Brother, let's not talk about borrowing. Just use this money! I don't need you to pay it back, brother!"

Xu Damao looked at the handful of crumpled change in his hand, his eyes turned red again. He held the money and spoke solemnly to Chen Feng.

"Brother! Don't worry! I'll take the bus to my dad to ask for the money! I will definitely pay you back double the money later!"

After saying that, Xu Damao walked out of the courtyard without looking back!