single stab

It snowed on the New Year's day, and the family was busy making dumplings in the kitchen. Yuan Peipei was earnestly learning from Jiang's mother, and Ke Shuo, who was next to him, saw the need for help, even though his dumplings were equally ugly.

The sound of fireworks outside was loud, and after all the dumplings were wrapped and put into the pot, Jiang Xue, who had washed her hands clean, found out that there were several missed calls on her phone.

He glanced sideways at the people around the kitchen, walked to the balcony with his mobile phone in his hand, closed the glass door, and called back.

The dark night sky is blown up by colorful fireworks into a bright, bright as day, at a glance, the depths of the slowly flowing night are reflected with mottled and fleeting light shadows, and there are cheerful young people three or five on the street Crowds, young and flamboyant laughter pierced the air, seeming to become warm and kind.

The phone rang once and was quickly picked up. The joyful voice came to my ears from a foreign country, like a dull drum hitting my heart.

"Daughter-in-law! You actually called me!"

"I didn't hear the phone ring just now."

Jiang Xue supported the edge of the balcony with her elbows, and the icy surface soaked the outer layer of her clothes, but he didn't notice it absent-mindedly.

"I just said you wouldn't deliberately not answer my call, I almost flew back to question you!"

Li Zheng looked like a kid who took advantage, he seemed to be walking, Jiang Xue could also hear the sound of vehicles driving over there and the indistinct voice of others talking.

Obviously the fireworks never stopped, but the world seemed to be separated into a completely still world. Li Zhengci's magnetic laughter was heard clearly in his ears, rolling up huge waves.

Jiang Xue curled up her fingers and spoke slowly.

"If nothing happens, I'll hang up."

"Hey don't! I haven't told you Happy New Year yet!"

Someone over there said "Hurry up" loudly to Li Zheng. It was a young and clear voice, with a soft smile and intimacy. It was almost conceivable that he was a handsome boy. Li Zheng covered the microphone and called The man cursed fiercely, "Shut up", and then hurriedly complained pitifully.

"Daughter-in-law, I can't eat well or sleep well here every day. I just think about you. It's Chinese New Year, and you don't say anything nice to make me happy."

His heart seemed to be stuffed in an airtight iron pot, his voice echoed in all directions for a long time, Jiang Xue's eyelashes trembled twice, and the words that came to her mouth could not be uttered, as if being sealed by something. Live in general.

Li Zheng waited for half a minute, and then naturally changed the subject.

"Daughter-in-law, what do you like, I'll buy you a gift and take it home!"

Jiang Xue finally spoke.

"Nothing to like."

Li Zheng let out a sigh of disappointment, and then said on his own.

"Then no matter what I buy back, you have to accept it!"

He didn't listen to Jiang Xue's answer, he smiled in self-satisfaction, seemed to have said a few more words to others, and then lowered his voice and said hastily.

"Daughter-in-law, I still have some things to deal with. I won't tell you now. Happy New Year! Remember to miss me!"

Jiang Xue suddenly opened her eyes wide as if someone was choking her throat, and wanted to say something, but the impatient half of her voice was cut off in her throat. He listened to the beep that was hung up, and his face was like a rapidly decaying weeping flower .

The surrounding sounds flooded in again in an instant.

Ke Shuo knocked on the balcony door, then opened it, and muttered to Jiang Xue, who had his back turned to him.

"It's been too long on the phone. Mom told you to go to dinner."

Jiang Xue woke up like a dream, turned around slowly, and walked into the house without saying a word.

He was originally white, but after staying for a while in the open-air snowy night, there was a thin layer of frost between his brows, coupled with his indifferent expression, he looked like a delicate iceman.

Ke Shuo was shivered by the cold air wrapped around his body, and said angrily in astonishment and anger.

"You are stupid! It's so cold outside and you don't wear a coat. No one cares about you if you get sick!"

Jiang Xue's dark eyes fell on him, and she remained silent for a while.

Ke Shuo felt uncomfortable being looked at by him, and asked awkwardly after hanging his neck for a long time.

"Why is your face so ugly, you don't really have a cold, do you?"

Jiang Xue smiled at him and shook her head.

"I am fine."

He seldom smiles, but when he smiles, it's like melting ice and snow, spring flowers blooming, his originally cold expression suddenly becomes vivid, his eyebrows are so bright and charming that people can't move their eyes away.

Ke Shuo stared at him blankly for a while, then cursed in a low voice, turned around and ran away angrily and jealously.

Did he just think that Jiang Xue's appearance was a little sad just now?

After dinner, Yuan Peipei and Ke Shuo quarreled to go downstairs to set off fireworks, and Jiang's mother, who was worried, followed. Jiang Xue was afraid of the cold, so she simply stayed at home and played chess with Ke's father.

The two people who were absorbed in each other did not speak. In the quiet living room, only the vague sound of firecrackers and cheers outside the window, and the crisp sound of chess pieces hitting the chessboard could be heard.

Papa Ke is very good at chess, but Jiang Xue can only be regarded as reluctant. After a few games, Papa Ke killed every piece of chess, he smiled helplessly.

"Uncle should find someone more powerful to compete with. I can only be a warm-up."

"No, you are too soft-hearted to let me, an old man."

Papa Ke shook his head, took a sip of the fragrant tea, and asked suddenly.

"Xiaoxue, do you still blame us?"

Jiang Xue froze violently, her fingertips stopped on the chess piece that had just landed, as if stuck by something, and she couldn't pull it back no matter how hard she pulled.

Papa Ke also played a game calmly, waiting patiently for his answer.

It took a long time for Jiang Xue to speak in a hoarse voice.

"No complaints."

He lowered his eyes, continued to play chess with a calm expression, and his tone was gentle as if he was simply chatting with a friend.

"I was ignorant at first, and I got too deep into the horns. It was not easy for my mother to raise me alone. How could I interfere with her private affairs so capriciously. You have treated my mother well and me well all these years. I am very happy." Thanks you."

Papa Ke didn't show his face after hearing this, but sighed.

"Since having Ke Shuo, the relationship between you and your mother has become more and more distant. She always wipes her tears and cannot sleep at night. She is worried that you will not have enough food and clothing when you are studying outside. She is always looking forward to you Go home, but when you really go home, she doesn't know how to get close to you, you are good at everything, but you are too sensible."

Jiang Xue raised her head in astonishment, and looked at him blankly, the chess piece clenched tightly in her palm was gradually wet with sweat, those once sensitive, self-pitying emotions seemed to sneak out from under the cracks in the boulder, and reappeared.

Father Ke's kind and worried expression made his heart ache, his eyes were slightly hot, and his hoarse voice was mixed with suppressed sobs.

"I thought Mom would ignore me. After all... After all, Ke Shuo is your child. No matter how innocent you are, it will be different after all."

Compared with the gentle and friendly father Ke, his vicious and violent gambler biological father is a past that Mama Jiang doesn't want to look back on. How confident is he that Mama Jiang can give him when he faces the flesh and blood with the one he loves? The same amount of love.

As a young man, he was greedy and self-respecting. Without giving Mother Jiang a chance to make a choice, he insisted on walking on a lonely road that he thought was the beauty of an adult. However, the longing deep in his heart was condensed under the tempering of time. Knot.

"Silly boy, there is no parent in the world who doesn't love their own children. Besides, you are so outstanding, and you are the greatest pride of our family."

Rough and generous palms rubbed his head gently, with the relief and love he had been away for so many years, Jiang Xue lowered his head and stared at the chessboard, when the turbulent water mist covered his eyes in an instant, he stood up suddenly, his voice was unsteady He said "I'm going to the bathroom" and strode away in embarrassment.

It wasn't until the bathroom door was closed that the tears accumulated in his eyes fell silently. He covered his mouth hard and squatted down slowly, like a hasty child who was depressed and finally healed.