Life

16.

It was already dark when the two returned home, and the food was cold as expected.

Zhao Jiu said with some guilt: "You wait for me, I'll heat it up before eating."

Jiang Yuan waved his hand, "Don't be so troublesome, it's not as delicious as the one just made when it's hot, I'll give you a good taste of my cooking next time."

He turned around and went to the kitchen, and brought over two bowls of cold rice.

"I made fish soup just now. Before I went out to find you, I put a fire on the stove and it's still hot. Let's eat it with rice."

Jiang Yuan brought out the fish soup, it was still steaming as expected.

The two sat down to eat, and Zhao Jiu stopped his chopsticks belatedly and asked, "Where did you get the fish?"

Jiang Yuan stuffed his mouth full of vegetables, and replied vaguely: "The one in the river behind the house, I caught it for a long time before I caught it."

Zhao Jiu tilted his head and thought about it, and there will be something that can be sold for money in the future.

"Choice, eat fish, eat fish, this fish is fat and fresh, and it's amazing when paired with my cooking skills."

When Zhao Jiu heard this, he twitched his chopsticks to save face.

Noticing Zhao Jiu's actions, Jiang Yuan complained dissatisfiedly: "It's just a small amount? It's not enough to fit between the teeth. If you really don't eat more, you will suffer."

It wasn't until Zhao Jiu's chopsticks were still unmoved that Jiang Yuan asked, "Do you not like fish?"

Zhao Jiu swallowed the food, then raised his head to look at Jiang Yuan, a little embarrassed, "I will choke when I eat fish."

Jiang Yuan chuckled, and the rice grains in his mouth almost spit out.

"Such a big person can still choke, really capable."

Saying so, Jiang Yuan stretched his chopsticks towards the pot of fish soup, picked a piece of fish with only big thorns and put it in Zhao Jiu's bowl.

"Eat, this is not easy to choke."

Zhao Jiu was taken aback for a moment, but he still didn't move his chopsticks.

Jiang Yuan blinked at him, jokingly said: "You still don't eat? Wait until I pick your thorns?"

Zhao Jiu knew it was a joke, and was about to set down his chopsticks, but the bowl was snatched away by Jiang Yuan.

So he reacted a little slower and watched Jiang Yuan pick off the thorn, then handed the bowl to himself.

"Here, there are no thorns anymore. If you don't eat it, I will chew it up and feed you."

This time it was really a joke, Zhao Jiu hurriedly buried his head in chewing, but his ears turned red involuntarily.

Jiang Yuan also continued to eat, but his eyes kept falling on the top of Zhao Jiu's head, and there was a vague smile on his mouth.

17.

The weather is getting colder and colder, today is New Year's Eve, and the new year is about to usher in.

The two of them changed into the new clothes they bought last time in advance, and they also put on new red couplets in front of the house, which seemed a bit of a new year.

The two had a simple reunion dinner, then leaned against the window, listening to the lively sound of firecrackers in the distance.

"This year, it hasn't snowed yet." Zhao Jiu stretched out his hand, and the cool wind blew by, wrapping him in a bone-chilling cold.

Zhao Jiu looked out the window, but Jiang Yuan was looking at him.

"Do you like snow?"

Zhao Jiu nodded, bent his eyes and smiled, "It's beautiful when it snows, you can build a snowman."

"Then when it snows, let's build a snowman, it will be very big."

The scene of the two of them making a snowman came to Zhao Jiu's mind, and he nodded happily.

"Today is New Year's Eve, you have to watch the year, don't fall asleep." Jiang Yuan said so, but he yawned.

When grandma was still there, she would cook tea eggs for herself on this night, and she would pack money for herself on the first day of the new year.

Thinking of this, the smile on Zhao Jiu's face deepened.

Jiang Yuan propped his chin, "It's Chinese New Year, it would be nice if we have some snacks now."

Hearing this, Zhao Jiu suddenly realized that he hadn't finished eating the sweet-scented osmanthus candy he bought last time, so he ran to the cabinet and took it out, and put it in front of Jiang Yuan.

Jiang Yuan was a little surprised, raised his head and asked him: "I haven't finished eating yet, why haven't I seen you take it out?"

Zhao Jiu sat down again, opened his mouth and pointed to his teeth, "Tooth hurts, I can't eat."

Jiang Yuan leaned on the table and leaned over, "Let me see what's wrong, rotten teeth?"

"Ah, open your mouth." Jiang Yuan said like coaxing a child, Zhao Jiu didn't realize there was any problem at all, so he opened his mouth obediently to show him.

With the faint light of the candle, Jiang Yuan really saw the black tooth in Zhao Jiu's mouth.

The rotten tooth is the innermost one on the right side, and it is a big die.

Taking advantage of Zhao Jiu's unpreparedness, Jiang Yuan picked up the opportunity and poked Zhao Jiu's slightly swollen cheek, teasingly said: "Does it hurt? I didn't notice it before. If you look carefully, your face is getting bigger and smaller at the same time."

Zhao Jiu's eyes were dark, he closed his mouth and didn't say a word.

"You can't eat candy anymore, this bag is mine now."

Jiang Yuan pretended to take the candy, and smiled awkwardly, "Oh, I'm going to get tired of eating today."

Zhao Jiu's mouth moved, but he still didn't speak.

Jiang Yuan twisted a piece and planned to put it in his mouth, but Zhao Jiu followed the piece of candy in his mouth with resentment.

With a laugh, Jiang Yuan brought the candy to Zhao Jiu's mouth, "I see you are greedy, open your mouth and eat half a piece, it's fine."

The scent of sweet-scented osmanthus at the tip of his nose was really hard to resist, Zhao Jiu opened his mouth and took a bite, chewing contentedly.

Jiang Yuan suppressed a smile and withdrew his hand, and stuffed the remaining half mouthful into his mouth. Apart from the sweetness of osmanthus, there seemed to be a sweeter taste in his mouth. He bit the tip of his tongue and narrowed his eyes satisfied.

After the two finished chewing the sugar in their mouths, Jiang Yuan folded the sugar packets and put them back in the original cabinet.

Zhao Jiu asked him suspiciously: "Don't you eat?"

Jiang Yuan gritted his teeth and replied, "I'll eat after your teeth are healed."

At the end, he added another sentence: "You get half and I get half, that's only fair."

Zhao Jiu nodded without knowing why, but Jiang Yuan was secretly complacent about taking advantage of himself.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Jiang Yuan secretly took out the firecrackers hidden under the bed, and smiled triumphantly: "Let's go, let's take you to set off firecrackers, this is called Chinese New Year."

Zhao Jiu looked very happy, his eyes sparkling.

"How did you buy it?"

Jiang Yuan couldn't help showing off to him: "I caught fish before and went to the village where you often go to change it. I knew you would definitely like to play with this."

After speaking, he couldn't wait to drag Zhao Jiu to the yard in front of the house, and lit the fireworks and firecrackers together. The gorgeous fireworks soaring into the sky and the crackling firecrackers on the ground complemented each other, creating a particularly lively feeling.

Zhao Jiu covered his ears and smiled, his eyes reflected colorful fireworks, which were very bright.

Jiang Yuan was also laughing, approaching Zhao Jiu inadvertently, bumping into Zhao Jiu who was concentrating on watching the fireworks, his voice was soft in a different way.

"Happy New Year! Here's to your pocket money."

Zhao Jiu turned his head to look at him, and saw Jiang Yuan leaning against him, looking at him very seriously, with a warm smile on his face, and holding a copper plate in his hand.

"It's not much money. Let's symbolize it. I'll keep you safe and happy in the new year."

Zhao Jiu was stunned, a warm current surged through his heart, and a different kind of throbbing that he had never experienced before began to germinate.

Although it is winter, the smile on Jiang Yuan's face is like the warm sun in March, warm and attractive.

"I also got a red string, I'll tie it around your neck for you, and wear it well."

Zhao Jiu's nose was a little sour for no reason, and he nodded with his drooping head.

The two got very close, and Zhao Jiu could faintly hear the fast beating heartbeat in Jiang Yuan's chest, bang bang, bang bang, he couldn't tell whether it was his own or the other's.

"It's ready." Jiang Yuan smiled, picked up the opportunity and rubbed Zhao Jiu's head, which was shorter than him, "Don't you have anything to say to me?"

"Happy New Year." Zhao Jiu raised his head, and the two looked at each other, "In the new year, you must always be safe and sound."