save the leaves

With trembling hands, Yan Datong counted the money twice, from the beginning to the end, and from the end to the beginning, and carefully put it into his shirt pocket.Then he opened the door without saying hello, and walked towards the bus stop without looking back.At 8:45 in the evening, Yan Datong got on the last bus.The carriages are empty. In this depressed industrial city, except for gangsters who are still frolicking in the supper stalls, everyone else has to go to bed early, because tomorrow will be as boring and hopeless as today.

Yan Datong sat on the seat near the back door and saw the sparse lights outside the window drifting by like will-o'-the-wisps.In fact, Wu Lulu was right.The opinion of the Ren Bureau is to enter the police academy.Before he retired, Yan Mo was placed in the bureau by means of public interests.As for the occupation, it is to give portraits of criminal suspects.Purely technical work, listen more and talk less, on your own territory, you will have no worries in this life.But Yan Datong said "no" to Ren Ju.There were two police officers who died on duty, and he was determined not to have a third one.Director Ren was very sad to hear that, so he had to ask him how to arrange it.Yan Datong said that he could do anything except the police.Ye Zi himself admires the police, but he repeatedly persuades him to apply for architectural design and theory.Although Yan Datong only stayed in the south for one year, he was deeply impressed by the bustling construction site there.Intuition made him say the word 'architecture'.Yan Mo had no objection, and the matter was finalized.Bureau Ren sighed, "Okay. I have a friend whose son is in the Second Design Institute. Please help him when the time comes."

When she got home, Mother Yan opened the door in surprise, and asked, "Son, what are you doing here now? What happened?"

"It's okay. Mom, this is 1500 for Ye Zi's school. Keep it, and deposit it in the bank tomorrow. Where is Ye Zi?"

"Inside. No, son, did you fight?"

"No. I'll go in and look at the leaves."

"Wait a minute." Yan's mother firmly grabbed the hem of his clothes and asked, "Did you quarrel over the tuition money?"

"No, Mom."

"Then why are you coming back to give money at this time? Can't you do it tomorrow? Look at your face."

Yan Datong really disliked women's intuition in his heart, but he couldn't tell the truth on the surface, which made his mother unable to sleep.Especially how to choose between grandson and adopted son, there is no need to ask.Yan Datong stopped, took his mother's hand and sat down on the sofa, and said with a smile, "Mom, this month's business is very good. Today I received a big order. He has money, so he directly gave a deposit of 1500. Lulu heard that Ye Zi passed the exam, I am very happy, let me bring it to you directly, save the trouble of depositing and withdrawing again. That's it, I will come here quickly. Mom, don't worry, your daughter-in-law and grandson are all fine."

"How is Lulu eating now?" Hearing the word grandson, Mother Yan's eyes lit up and she asked while holding her son's hand.

"Eat well and sleep soundly. Don't worry."

"Have you eaten the hen I sent over last time?"

"Eat it, it's delicious."

"That's good. Tell her to drink more chicken soup and milk, you know?"

"I know, I understand, I understand. Mom, I'll go in and say hello to Ye Zi, and I have to go there later. I have to catch up with work tomorrow morning."

"Where is the car now?"

"It's okay, walking is considered exercise."

Yan Datong got rid of his mother's entanglement and fled into his brother's room.Yan Mo was leaning on the pillow and listening to music, when he saw Yan Datong coming in, he jumped up "ahhh", the earphones flew out from both sides, but Yan Mo's head hit the railing of the upper bunk.Seeing Yan Mo covering his head, Yan Datong's mood suddenly improved. He covered his younger brother's forehead with a pair of big hands, and rubbed it pretendingly.

"Why are you in a hurry? Look at yourself. Oh, this bed should be removed. You have grown so tall, isn't it inconvenient to get up like this every day?"

Yan Mo shook his head anxiously. 【no.Do not dismantle.You come back to sleep. 】

"Hey, how many times can brother come back. Just sleep on the sofa."

【no.to sleep here. 】Yan Mo's mouth pouted again.Yan Datong thought it was funny, and stretched out his hand to pinch his mouth.Yan Mo pretended to be annoyed and turned his head away to prevent him from pinching him. At the same time, he reached out to hug Yan Datong, leaning his head on Yan Datong's shoulder.Yan Datong did not stop this childish behavior, and the two cuddled each other silently.Every time he came to Ye Zi's place, Yan Datong felt a moment of peace and relaxation.

"Okay, brother has to go back. There is work tomorrow morning. Go to sleep, don't make it too late. By the way, go out to have fun during the summer vacation, don't be bored at home. Have you used up the money I gave you last time?"

Yan Mo shook his head and said that it was not used up, but Yan Datong habitually took out another 100 yuan from his wallet and handed it to his younger brother.Yan Mo waved his hand no.

"Take it. Do you know that brother can make money?" Yan Datong forced the money into Yan Mo's hand.

[Brother, can't you stay here today? 】

Yan Datong sighed deeply, he wanted to stop, but his mother's eyes were scary. "No. Next time. I'll be back on the 18th to make drinks for you."

Yan Mo pouted, no longer insisting.He slowly got used to the days when his brother was not at home.

After leaving his own home, Yan Datong didn't want to go back to the 10 square meter home in the west of the city.Fortunately, it was August, and there was a cool breeze. Yan Datong thought that he had just handed out the last ticket, so there was nothing to be afraid of, so he walked along the familiar avenue.As he walked, he unconsciously came to the river and sat down.The river passing through the city is buzzing in the quiet night.There is no shadow of the boat on the river.When his father was young, many boats and boats passed by the city.At that time, Aohua weighing 5 catties could be caught casually from the river.Unfortunately, boats and fish are rare now.

"Brother, borrow a fire!" Someone greeted him.

Yan Datong quickly looked at the shadow, and passed the cigarette on his mouth to him.The other party took the cigarette, lit his own, but didn't return it in time, holding it in his hand and said with a half-smile, "Brother, is this your first time here?"

Yan Datong thought this was strange.This is my old site, why is it the first time?But he didn't want to cause trouble, so he nodded slightly.The visitor held the cigarette between his fingers and whispered in a confused voice. "Brother, come on?"

Yan Datong thought about it, narrowed his eyes, and said in a low voice, "I don't have any money, you can find someone else." After speaking, he was about to get up and leave the place of right and wrong.

Holding him with one hand, the other touched his thigh. "Don't worry, brother, it's all a matter of your own will. It's so vulgar to talk about money."

"I really have no money. I'm laid off."

"I really don't want money, brother." Those hands were relentless.

What happened next was like a dream, recurring in Yan Datong's subsequent dreams.I can't help it every time I wake up.

_____________________________________________________________________________

From New Year's Eve to the fifth day is Yan's mother's only privilege in a year.At noon, I have a reunion dinner at Wu's house, and in the evening I return to the east of the city to have a reunion dinner. From the first day of the new year, my son and daughter-in-law serve as hosts to receive guests from all over the world.

After eating a large plate of beef and scallion dumplings, Yan Mo couldn't wait to leave the dining table, squatted halfway beside the stroller, put his finger into the hands of three-month-old little Rarui, and whistled to tease Rarity.Rarity and the second uncle met for the first time but they didn't recognize each other, they danced and giggled.

"The uncles and nephews hit each other very well!" Yan Datong put down his wine glass and turned his head to look at one big and one small.Wu Lulu snorted softly, picked up a leek and egg stuffing, and put it in her mouth.

"Eat more, Lulu. I heard from Datong that you like leek and egg stuffing. Me, I went to buy fresh leeks this morning. Would you like to try it?"

"It's okay, Mom." Wu Lulu burped and replied, "I'm full. I ate too much at noon. Datong, you can eat it." Wu Lulu put the remaining dumplings on Yan Datong's plate.

"I don't like leeks, you eat by yourself."

"Oh, please help me, don't be so stingy." Wu Lulu leaned on her husband and said coquettishly.Yan Mo suddenly stood up impatiently, dropped his nephew, walked quickly into his room, and closed the door with a bang.Little Rarity was frightened for no reason, and stayed for a second, then burst into tears.

"Oh, what's the matter?" Mother Yan asked in surprise.

"Hurry up and coax the child." Yan Datong quickly pushed Wu Lulu away, got up and went to the bedroom.

"Can't you coax? Hmph!" Wu Lulu picked up the child and called out to her husband's back.

"Oh, don't pay attention to that kid," Mother Yan approached to persuade, "With that temper, if it wasn't for the support of Ren Bureau, I would have already--".

"Mom, can you say a few words less?" Yan Datong walked to the wooden door of the bedroom, and when he heard his mother's words, he immediately stopped, turned around and scolded severely.

"I——I'm telling the truth, even if you spoil him and lose your temper with a little baby? Will he always be the biggest in the family?"

"Mom!" Yan Datong raised his voice and shouted.He was anxious, worried that his mother would say something unfavorable to his younger brother, but he couldn't be too obvious in front of his wife, so as not to be nagged to death by her.Yan Mo's problem has always been a stalk in the family, and if it is not handled properly, it will have a bad impact, but how can you ask others to tolerate it like you do?It is about feelings between people.Mom and Yan Mo have been together for more than ten years, and they don't get along well, let alone the sister-in-law who just came in?

"What do you mean by being backed by Bureau Ren? Mom, without the support of Bureau Ren, would you be able to live in two rooms and one living room? With Dad's level, you can't live in one room like Shao Zhen's family? Mom, Ye Zi has no father and no mother, whether it's Ren Ju or his father, shouldn't everyone help him? Are we people with good conditions going to run on an unfortunate person?"

"Hey, Datong, Mom didn't run on him. I haven't abused him for so many years, okay? Don't you give him the food and drink first? Didn't I just say that he has a bad temper and told Lulu not to be with him? It's just about fussing. There's no other meaning." Yan's mother shrank back and got into her shell.She has been laid off for many years and psychologically relies more and more on her son.In addition, the Ren Bureau is close at hand, and she is dissatisfied in her heart, so she can't spread it everywhere.After finally finding a daughter-in-law as an ally, he was suppressed by his son without saying a word, and he felt quite uncomfortable.

"Okay, Mom. Don't bother with children." Yan Datong interrupted his mother's complaints, he paused, his eyes shifted from his mother to his daughter-in-law, his eyes were firm, and he said slowly, "Anyway, in our family, Ye Zi's interests The biggest, this is my bottom line as an older brother." Wu Lulu lowered her head to tease her son, without raising her eyelids, she just snorted softly.

Pushing open the bedroom door, Yan Mo was listening to music on the bedside again, with headphones plugged in, as if he didn't hear the quarrel outside.Yan Datong leaned close to him, squatted down beside the bed, and asked softly, "What's the matter? Is it uncomfortable?" While talking, he touched his brother's forehead with his hand.Yan Mo grabbed his hand and rubbed it back and forth on her cheek.Yan Mo has developed many unique body language since childhood to express his happiness, sadness and anger.Now it's sadness.Yan Datong sighed softly, and squeezed Yan Mo with his body, letting him lean in.The two big men barely sat down on the single bed.

Yan Datong stretched out his right hand to wrap Yan Mo's shoulders in his arms, and said slowly, "Ye Zi, everyone has to grow up. When they grow up, they have to form their own small family. You will also find your own partner in the future, I will have my own children. But brothers will always be brothers. At that time, our two families will often visit each other, and the relationship will still be the same, you know?"

Yan Mo leaned on his chest, flicking the buttons of his shirt back and forth with his hands, without making any gesture.

"Yezi, my brother is working on a new project recently: car beauty. If it succeeds, we will get rich. Your tuition fees will be covered. But you know, doing business is hard work. When there is no business, my brother will go and It’s almost like pulling people to work; when there is work to do, they rush to finish the work. Every day is not easy, so I can’t reply to you every day. I hope you will understand. But my brother has read every letter you wrote seriously. "Yan Datong turned Yan Mo's face and spoke face to face. "Yezi, you must insist on writing letters to your brother, because the happiest thing after a tiring day is to read your letters."

A crabapple flower slowly bloomed on Yan Mo's face.

[Sorry, brother, I shouldn't have gotten angry just now.I'm not mad at Rarity.I really like him. 】

"I understand." Yan Datong smiled tolerantly, he was smart enough not to ask Ye Zi such silly questions as "then who are you angry with?"