An Shi

In late spring and March, catkins are flying every now and then, and the sun is just right.It's a good time to play.

14-year-old Sima Yan straddles the tall elm tree behind his house, stepping on a soft branch with one foot, and shaking the other foot back and forth in mid-air.He hung a cloth bag on his chest, happily stroking elm money into the bag from a tree branch, and humming an unknown tune, which sounded like "Lotus Falling" sung by a troupe who came to the city to perform not long ago. "Somewhat similar.

Let's say that the elm money in this season grows very well, the whole body is emerald green, and there is a faint fragrance when you peel it off; put a piece in your mouth, you can faintly taste a hint of sweetness, and it is delicious and pleasing to the eye.Not long after, the bag was full; so Sima Yan yelled to the tree, and threw the bag down:

"Taofu, catch it! Tonight, I will order the kitchen to make elm cakes!"

The little boy he called "Tao Fu" looked about four or five years old, and was dozing off with his head hanging down against the tree trunk.Hearing Sima Yan's order, he quickly stood up and opened his hands to take it; however, the cloth bag happened to hit him on the head, and the elm coins inside were scattered all over his head, all over his head— ——Even the ground was covered with a shallow layer, swept away by the south wind wrapped in silky catkins, and flew away in an instant.

Seeing this, Sima Yan couldn't help frowning.Standing under the tree, Taofu looked up and saw his elder brother's face turn black, and immediately his mouth shrunk and he cried.

Just as Sima Yan was hesitating whether to go down to coax his younger brother or continue with the money, he heard the familiar creaking sound of carriage wheels rubbing against the ground in the yard.

"Not good! Dad is back!"

In a panic, he tried to hide his figure in the thick canopy.However, he forgot that his father's eyes were as sharp as a falcon's, not to mention that Tao Fu was still standing under the tree sniffling and crying; so after the sound of "Woo--", he soon heard a deafening roar: "Sima Yan ! Let me get down from the tree!"

Sima Yan pushed aside the branches of the elm tree, and looked under the tree in fear.

The man standing under the tree was about forty years old, tall and handsome, with dark skin, rich clothes, and quite majestic; at this moment, he was staring at Sima Yan's hiding place angrily, and shouted again: "Little boy!" You son of a bitch didn't go to school again today, did you... come down for me happily! I'll count to three, one—two—three!"

The man flicked the horsewhip in his hand, and the sound of the whip cutting through the air was quite loud in the yard.Tao Fu on the side heard this voice, and cried even more fiercely; he raised his head tearfully, and met Sima Yan's eyes, his eyes were full of grievances.

Seeing this, Sima Yan reluctantly slid down from the tree.He drooped his head and slowly walked over, and then he was horrified to see his father raised his hand at him, as if to reward him with a five-finger mountain.

He closed his eyes and waited for the pain in his cheek, but only felt a pat on the back of his head.

"If you don't like to go to school, you don't have to go there!" The man's tone was bold and pampering, "I, Sima Zhao's son, study at home from now on! Come, I have met your new husband..."

He put away his whip and waved his hand in the direction of the carriage.The driver tactfully raised the curtain and said "please" to the people inside.

Sima Yan held Taofu's hand, silently watching the people who came down from the green covered carriage.It was a young and handsome man, about twenty years old, wearing an old mandarin jacket, and the traces of mending on the skirt were faintly visible.His complexion was slightly pale, the tails of his eyes were slightly raised, and there was a faint hint of arrogance, but his demeanor was gentle and humble.Although his figure is thin and thin, he is very upright, as plain and deep as the white birch that is common in the Northeast.

He took a step forward and bowed slightly to Sima Zhao.The wind blew the elm coins and fell rustlingly, and several pieces also fell between his temples; but he didn't seem to care, and turned to the two boys, one big and one small.

His voice was clear and bright, like the quietly flowing Ash River, undisturbed.

"Pei Xiu has met Young Master Yan and Young Master You."

***

55-year-old Sima Yan suddenly opened his eyes.

He raised a skinny hand, clenched it and opened it, and shook it in front of his eyes unwillingly, until he was completely sure that the current appearance of this hand was real.

Because he didn't wear reading glasses, the scenery in front of him was blurred, but he could still recognize the garden of the nursing home that he was familiar with.

The warm wind blows here almost all year round, bringing in the humid ocean atmosphere; the tulips in the garden are already blooming in brilliant colors without spring.However, there are no tall elm trees or falling elm trees in this garden, let alone that delicate, thin and upright figure like a birch tree.

He closed his eyes again, and all the past flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

So he finally remembered that on that spring evening, he did not eat the elm cake that he had been thinking about.