Three or Two Things about Rebirth

Throughout October, Fei Yuanhang went to the library almost every day.

Many colleagues teased Qiu Luming about this, and Sister Wan said with a smile, "The principal and the dean's family are in-laws, so they are a perfect match!"

Uncle Li also praised Fei Yuanhang as a good guy, "You can tell at first glance that he is a serious person, with a straight body and a straight look in his eyes!"

Chen Xingchen hadn't come to the reading room to show off for a long time since she was provoked by Qiu Luming last time. She came again after hearing about Fei Yuanhang's matter. "Qiu Luming, let me tell you, don't be displeased by what I say... People should have some self-knowledge. Even if there is a relative like your second sister-in-law, a doctorate student can't possibly want a junior high school graduate like you! Don't be silly and take it seriously. When his arm is healed, he will pat his butt and go back to Beijing to find a partner. You won't have time to cry!!"

He Manshu was also a little worried. "How could I forget this? If they really get together, can Yuanhang still go back to Jiayang? If Youyou goes to Beijing, she will be out of work again. She can't just be a housewife!"

Qiu Jiye said directly, "That boy is too educated. There is a huge gap between you two. If his mother doesn't tell you now, she will definitely dislike you in the future."

"It's not even a start yet, why are you so anxious? He just has nothing to do during his recovery so he went to the reading room to read a book."

He Manshu sneered, "Do you believe this?"

"Didn't you and Principal Fei arrange this?"

"What do you mean by arranging everything for me? ... Well, I was fooled. I got carried away and let old man Fei fool me!" He Manshu turned to look at her daughter, "What do you think?"

"What am I thinking about? I'm not thinking about anything!" Qiu Luming turned around and went back to his bedroom.

Qiu Jiye looked at his old wife, "What does she mean?"

"What do you mean? Your daughter must have fallen for him!" He Manshu said, "No wonder. After all, there is no better guy than Yuanhang in the whole county."

"So, has she completely let go of that Xie Zhi?"

"This happened in a different lifetime, and you still remember it. Can't you see that your girl has moved on long ago?"

"She has never found a partner..."

"How did you become a father? That's because there's no suitable one. Yoyo was busy with classes so she didn't find a partner. Only you guys always think you have unlimited charm and are a disaster for the country and the people. Any girl would cry and shout to throw herself at you. If you can't get the love you want, you will never forget it for the rest of your life. Forget it!"

"You're talking about girls, why are you bringing this up with us guys? I don't even have an ex-girlfriend, unlike some people who had a boyfriend in middle school!"

"He's not really a boyfriend, but without him, I can't compare how good you are!" He Manshu suddenly snorted again, "Speaking of which, after marriage, I've been very decent, without any gossip, unlike some people, who don't have ex-girlfriends, but have fascinated young women in half of the county to go to the hospital for treatment, whether they are sick or not. Are they going to the hospital to see a doctor? They are going to see a person! And that Liying, who speaks in a delicate and coquettish way, always comes close to you and asks you to feel your pulse. You were almost beaten by your brother-in-law. Don't you remember that? If I hadn't stopped you, you would have become famous!"

"You are so heartless to say that. Their legs are on other people's bodies. What can I do if they need to go to the hospital? Just tell me, in these decades, have I ever had any shady thoughts? You are a very smart person, but you use your brain to remember these trivial things, right?

******

In early November, there was a light snowfall in Jiayang, which reached a thickness of about one centimeter and then stopped.

The cultural center has a new boiler operator this year. Since the heating was delivered after National Day, it has been more than a month now, and the heating has been lukewarm and not hot at all.

Liu Qi leaned against the heater, covered her hands on the hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, and continued to weave the little fish in her hands. Recently, it has been very popular in Jiayang to use infusion tubes to weave handicrafts, such as prawns, small fish, and butterflies. Some people even dye the infusion tubes, and the woven small pendants are more beautiful. If you look carefully, you will find that almost every car key dangling on a bicycle has such a pendant.

She glanced at the two people sitting opposite each other by the window: these two people sat there, either discussing a novel or playing checkers. Fei Yuanhang always brought some food and toys, and yesterday he brought a white cat, which made Qiu Luming like it very much. When playing checkers, she kept holding the white cat. In the end, she lost again, and laughed and threw the white cat onto the chessboard, disrupting the game.

Liu Qi sighed inwardly. What was so good about Qiu Luming? Fei Yuanhang, the best graduate of No. 1 Middle School, a top student of Beihang University, and a doctoral student, shocked the whole county. How could he have a special liking for a junior high school graduate? How could this be justified!

Today, Qiu Luming and Fei Yuanhang were playing Gobang. Since they didn't have any chess pieces, they drew grids on the manuscript paper. One used a black pen and the other used a red pen to draw circles as chess pieces.

Fei Yuanhang drew the grid with his bare hands, and it was straight and even. Qiu Luming was surprised and asked, "How did you do that?"

"Practice makes perfect." Fei Yuanhang smiled, "Just practice more."

The two of them played five games in a short while. In the fifth game, Qiu Luming finally won. She laughed happily and threw the ballpoint pen in her hand, "No more playing! The previous ones don't count. The last game will be the final one!"

Fei Yuanhang smiled as he watched her fooling around, "You win!"

The door of the reading room suddenly opened, and Ma Zhenyi walked in. He silently glanced at the smiling Qiu Luming, then glanced at Fei Yuanhang, handed the reading card to Liu Qi, and then walked towards the bookshelf.

When Qiu Luming saw Ma Zhenyi, she remembered that he hadn't come to read for more than a month. She put away her smile. It would be inappropriate to chat with a reader.

Fei Yuanhang looked at his watch and stood up to say goodbye. The hood of his down jacket was too big, with a drawstring on the edge, and he definitely couldn't tie it with one hand. Qiu Luming waved her hand, and Fei Yuanhang lowered his head obediently. She pulled the drawstring hard, and Fei Yuanhang made a sound of strangulation. Qiu Luming couldn't help laughing again. She loosened the rope, quickly tied a bow and said, "Let's go, be careful on the road!"

"Well, I'm leaving then!"

"Let's go!"

Qiu Luming sent him to the door of the reading room and whispered, "If it snows again tomorrow, you should stay at home. It would be bad if you get bumped into something."

"Okay, if I can't come, I'll call you." Fei Yuanhang also lowered his head and said in a low voice.

Qiu Luming returned to the reading room, and regardless of Liu Qi's teasing smile at her, she put away the paper, pen and water cup on the table by the window and leaned against the heater to warm her hands.

Ma Zhenyi sat quietly in the corner reading a book while Liu Qi’s fingers flew as she weaved small fish. Qiu Luming also learned how to weave small fish and prawns, but not as good as Liu Qi’s. Her weaving was too loose and looked like it would fall apart at any time.

She pulled a half-finished sweater from her backpack and sat down in her seat.

The entire reading room was so quiet that only the sound of bamboo needles rubbing, IV tubes colliding, and pages turning could be heard. After an unknown amount of time, Liu Qi threw the newly woven fish onto the table with a sigh, "It's almost time. I'm going to the boiler room to get my lunch box!"

"Bring mine back too!"

"Okay, give me some of your delicious food!"

"necessary!"

Liu Qi put on his hat and went out. Once the door of the reading room was closed, the room became quiet again.

But with one person missing, the atmosphere became inexplicably awkward, so Qiu Luming had to put down his sweater and make some noise by drinking water and tidying up the table.

"Qiu Luming, are you dating him?" Ma Zhenyi suddenly spoke up, startling Qiu Luming.