paddock

Yuan Ning got out of the car and caught up with the young man who had already walked a few steps forward.He shouted, "Mr. Reporter!"

The young reporter was slightly surprised, and turned to look at Yuan Ning.Thinking of that boy's excellence that day, the young reporter felt relieved.The environment in this area is good, the law and order are good, and the people living here are either rich or expensive. It is very normal for the brothers to live here.The young reporter said: "It turns out that you live here, what a coincidence!"

Yuan Ning asked: "Mr. Reporter, do you also live here?"

The young reporter said: "I can't afford to live in such a place." He was a little surprised after speaking, "Don't you know? The classmate you mentioned lives near here, right there."

Yuan Ning looked in the direction pointed by the young reporter, and found that it was the villa that he and Zhang Xiuyan passed by during their morning jog that day.Yuan Ning nodded suddenly: "So they were the ones who moved in."

The young reporter said: "Yes, I heard that I thought this place is suitable for self-cultivation and moved here a few years ago."

Yuan Ning understood that the shadow that looked at her from upstairs that morning was Shen Jingjing.Maybe Shen Jingjing had noticed him a long time ago, and also noticed how good Zhang Xiuyan was to him, so she decided to use him to attract others' attention.

Yuan Ning asked, "How is classmate Shen's younger brother? Are you okay?"

The young reporter said: "The level is not particularly deep. If you are guided well, you can take care of yourself and live a normal life." He paused, "Although it is still impossible to compare with people who are not sick, at least you don't need others to help you feed and dress. .”

Yuan Ning fell silent after hearing the young reporter talk about autism.

Seeing Yuan Ning's sad expression, the young reporter didn't say anything to comfort him: "I helped them contact the rehabilitation center in St. Lorenzo, the rehabilitation program there has been verified for a long time, and it seems to be very effective so far. It just so happened that after a while the experts over there were going to come to China for an exchange, and the experts agreed to come and take a look at the child." He had a heartfelt joy on his face, "Don't worry, it will get better."

Yuan Ning said: "Mr. Reporter, you are really a good person!"

The young reporter said: "I just try my best to help some things that can be helpful." He sighed, "When I was studying abroad, they all said that I should not go back to China after studying this profession. But I still think I should Back, I’m just an ordinary person, and this is the industry I can think of where I can put my influence the most. In the past, because of my grandfather’s superstition, my younger brother died at a very young age..." the young reporter finished Afterwards, he froze for a moment, looked at Yuan Ning who was quietly listening to him, and wondered why he said this to Yuan Ning.He paused, then reached out and touched Yuan Ning's head, "At that time, my younger brother was about your age, and he was very obedient and cute."

Maybe this is why he confides the past to Yuan Ning?

Yuan Ning didn't know what to say, so he could only say, "Is that so?"

The young reporter nodded and said, "Let's not talk about it, I have to go to the customs. One of my international postal packages was detained, and I have to get my ID card to get it back."

Yuan Ning bid farewell to the young reporter, got into the car and went home.

It began to rain lightly the next morning, and the spring rain always lasts like this, and it can't stop all day long.Seeing that there was no way to go out for a morning run, Zhang Xiuyan was in a bad mood, and took Yuan Ning to stretch on the balcony, thinking about whether to transform a downstairs room into a gym.

This idea was strongly endorsed by Yuan Ning, and Yuan Ning said happily: "In this way, mothers and the others can also exercise together!"

Zhang Xiuyan nodded.

Shen Jingjing turned away, but there was no time to sit next to Yuan Ning. It turned out that other people discussed taking turns to sit with Yuan Ning every day, and Yuan Ning would never be allowed to sit by herself for a long time.It is said that in order to compete for the order of being at the same table with Yuan Ning, the class had quarreled several times, and finally they went to the teacher to make a decision, and finally decided on the rotation method: according to the seat number.

Zhang Xiuling and Zhang Xiuwen were afraid that Yuan Ning would not get used to it after changing classes, so they quietly ran over to take a look during class breaks, only to hear others talking about Yuan Ning being able to change deskmates every day.

Zhang Xiuling was dumbfounded: "Xiuwen, you've never been so popular, have you?" What's more, the teacher let them mess around—how can anyone take turns being at the same table with the whole class?

Zhang Xiuwen didn't know what to say.

He had a hunch that this well-behaved, obedient and sensible brother might have a bunch of bees and butterflies chasing after him in the future.But, everyone is still young now.Zhang Xiuwen said: "Isn't this good? We don't have to worry that Ningning is not used to it, and we don't have to worry that Ningning will be bullied."

Zhang Xiuling looked at the little girl who was sitting next to Yuan Ning, talking to Yuan Ning with a cheerful face, and said worriedly: "But we may have to worry about Ning Ning being abducted."

Zhang Xiuwen said: "What are you worried about, Ningning is smarter than you."

Zhang Xiuling glared at Zhang Xiuwen: "What did you say?"

Zhang Xiuwen smiled: "I said you are stupid, Ningning is smarter than you."

Zhang Xiuling made a gesture to hit Zhang Xiuwen.

Zhang Xiuwen ran away in a flash.

Zhang Xiu stood vigorously for a while, and when she saw that Zhang Xiuwen had really disappeared, she returned to the classroom angrily.

After the second class, Zhang Xiuling was about to settle accounts with Zhang Xiuwen when she saw a pink ice cream sticking out of the window.She turned her head to look, but only saw an ice cream in one hand.The man outside was standing against the wall, only a corner of his school uniform was exposed.The familiar little voice sounded outside: "This beautiful and smart girl, guess which handsome young man brought you ice cream?"

Zhang Xiuling snatched the ice cream, stood up and grabbed the hand: "Zhang Xiuwen, you are all boring!"

Zhang Xiuwen looked at her with a smile: "This tolerant girl will definitely not care about what she heard in class."

Seeing that everyone else was looking at them with a smile, Zhang Xiuling said angrily, "Go back to your classroom!"

Zhang Xiuwen left obediently.

The other girls immediately gathered around and started chattering: "Xiuxiu, your brother is so cute!" "Nonsense, he's not cute, he's handsome!" "Yeah, yeah, like a little prince!" " I heard that he will have a solo piano program at the party tomorrow night!"

Zhang Xiuling: "..."

It seems that her two younger brothers may be snatched away early.

It's so annoying!

Zhang Xiuling unwrapped the ice cream package and licked the ice cream exuding a faint milky fragrance.The weather is not hot yet, but she just loves to eat it. On a semi-cold day like spring, the ice cream melts softly in her mouth, making the whole world feel cool and sweet.

It rained until school was over in the afternoon.When the children rushed out of the teaching building, the sky turned clear. The children who were about to take out their umbrellas to play in the rain were disappointed. They could only step on the puddles with their small rain boots to make up for not being able to hold an umbrella. sorry.

Yuan Ning and Song Xingchen walked out of the school together, touched the small animal wood carving in their pockets, and prepared to talk to Ye Lao.Unexpectedly, Hao Xiaolan pointed at the place where Driver Li often parked and said, "Ningning, that's your elder brother!"

Yuan Ning looked over, was taken aback for a moment, and said, "Yes."

Zhang Xiuyan was wearing the uniform of Yuying Middle School, and stood leaning against the car door.Both Zhang Xiuling and Zhang Xiuwen went to the interest class, and the time to go home was different from his. Zhang Xiuyan was obviously waiting for him

Yuan Ning felt that what he did was probably caught again.

Yuan Ning ran over and shouted, "Brother!"

Zhang Xiuyan glanced at him, opened the car door and let him get in.

Yuan Ning got into the car and glanced at Driver Li.Driver Li looked a little helpless. Although he didn't speak, "I'm sorry for revealing my secrets" was written on his face.

Zhang Xiuyan sat next to Yuan Ning.

Yuan Ning said, "Brother."

Zhang Xiuyan looked at him.

Yuan Ning said, "Why did you finish class so early today?"

Zhang Xiuyan said: "The last class is a practical class. You can leave first after you finish it." If he hadn't dismissed the get out of class early, how could you tell something was wrong from Driver Li's expression?Zhang Xiuyan looked at Yuan Ning, "What? Don't you like me coming to pick you up?"

Yuan Ning shook his head again and again: "No!"

Zhang Xiuyan said, "Did I hinder you? Where did you plan to ask Uncle Li to drive you?"

Yuan Ning could only honestly explain everything to Zhang Xiuyan, then grabbed Zhang Xiuyan's hand and said, "I didn't deliberately hide it from elder brother, I just wanted to prepare a birthday present for elder brother."

Zhang Xiuyan originally thought that Yuan Ning was asking Driver Li to take him outside to play, and he also felt that he had a problem with Yuan Ning.After listening to Yuan Ning's words, Zhang Xiuyan watched Yuan Ning quietly.

Seeing Zhang Xiuyan, Yuan Ning panicked, and held Zhang Xiuyan's hand even tighter: "Brother, don't be angry!"

Zhang Xiuyan said, "I'm not angry."

Yuan Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Xiuyan said: "Since you have agreed with Mr. Ye, let's go."

Yuan Ning's eyes lit up: "Is the elder brother going too?"

Zhang Xiuyan said: "I'll wait for you in the car." Ye Lao didn't chase Yuan Ning because Yuan Ning was still young.He is not too young, if he goes in with him, Mr. Ye will definitely drive people away mercilessly.

Yuan Ning nodded, and reached into his pocket to touch the small wooden sculpture Luo Yuanliang had given him.When they got to the courtyard, Yuan Ning got out of the car alone.The door was not closed, Yuan Ning called inside, but no one answered, thought for a while, ran in, and found the place where Ye Lao carved the inkstone.He was about to call out again, but he heard Ye Lao's angry voice coming from inside: "Get out!"

Yuan Ning was taken aback.

A middle-aged man came out in a state of embarrassment. The suit on his body was splashed with ink. It looked pitch black, and it must not be washed clean.The middle-aged man q cursed angrily: "Ye Wenqing, don't be ashamed! Do you think that you are still the director of the Sihai Inkstone Factory, and we all have to be your grandchildren? You are no longer! Just you Who else would buy the Feng Yan that has been outdated for a long time? Without Xue Wencheng's paintings, you have everything! You think everyone is Xue Wencheng, and you have to bear it with a smile Your sarcastic remarks!"

Rumble.

There was a muffled thunder in the sky.

Yuan Ning grabbed the door frame and stood aside, carefully looking inside.The sky was a little dark, and Ye Lao stood there alone, his expression was full of anger, and his temples were slightly bulging.

The middle-aged man was afraid that Ye Lao would splash ink on himself again, so he turned around and left quickly.

Ye Lao sat down on the chair, his expression was a little bit wrong, and his lips were a little blue.

Yuan Ning ran up, stretched out his hand and patted Ye Lao's back to cheer him up.He stammered, "Where's big brother? Why isn't he here?"

Facing Yuan Ning's concerned eyes, Elder Ye couldn't utter any curse words, so he could only reply coldly: "I'm not disabled, do I need him to accompany me every day?"

Yuan Ning hurriedly asked: "Do you have any medicine with you? I'll get it for you!" He had seen someone with a bad heart before, and his lips would turn blue when he got sick.One time when no one in the family was paying attention, the old man went away.

Ye Lao stretched out his hand to take out his pocket, but his hand trembled a little. The medicine bottle fell to the ground halfway, the bottle cap was loosened, and most of the pills in the medicine bottle rolled out.Yuan Ning immediately squatted down and picked up all the pills, but he didn't know if they could still be used, so he turned around and filled them with a white paper on the table, looked at the dosage on the medicine bottle, and poured three pills for Ye Lao.

Yuan Ning said: "Hurry up and eat, I'll get you some water!" Yuan Ning had short hands and feet, but his movements were quick.Ye Lao looked at Yuan Ning while swallowing the pills, and saw Yuan Ning picked up the big kettle, carefully poured half a glass of water into the cup, and ran back with it, saying, "The water is too hot to drink."

Ye Lao took the water, put it aside, and picked up the tea on the table to drink.Yuan Ning said again: "You can't drink tea after taking medicine, it will be cold after a while!" He thought for a while, "How about I help you cool it down, my mother used to be like this!"

Ye Lao sullenly said, "No need." He looked into Yuan Ning's dark eyes, "You said there are nine more wood carvings, have you brought them all?"

Yuan Ning said obediently: "Bring it." He took out all the small wood carvings in his pocket and put them on the table for Ye Lao to see.

Ye Lao stretched out his hand to take the wood carvings one by one and looked at them carefully. He felt that every part of the carvings was wonderful.The young man Yuan Ning was talking about seemed to have met a very good master. Seeing him was a bit itchy, and he wanted to come over to discuss with him.Sculpture skills are common, whether it is wood carving, stone carving, jade carving or the inkstone he has been immersed in for ten years, they are all branches of carving skills.The woodworker obviously has nothing in circulation, or he would have noticed.

It is rare for Mr. Ye to take the initiative to ask: "Where is that pasture?"

Yuan Ning said happily: "Do you also want to go to the pasture to play? Now the snow is almost over, the grass has grown again, and the whole pasture is green and tender. My brother said that he will take me there when the school is on holiday!"

Ye Lao frowned.

Yuan Ning realized that he hadn't answered Ye Lao's question, so he quickly took a piece of paper and spread it out on the table, and wrote down the address of the ranch and the phone number of the ranch.When he went to the ranch for the first time, Zhang Xiuyan asked him to memorize all these.

Ye Lao took the address from Yuan Ning, and before looking at the specific location of the ranch, his eyes were caught by Yuan Ning's words.Although Yuan Ning was still young and lacked wrist strength, and the characters he wrote were tangible and boneless, Ye Lao recognized them at a glance: this is learning Xue Wencheng's characters.

Ye Lao looked at Yuan Ning: "Xue Wencheng personally taught you how to practice calligraphy?"

Yuan Ning was taken aback for a moment.He asked blankly, "Are you talking about grandpa?"

Ye Lao remained silent, as a tacit consent.

Yuan Ning said, "Brother taught me." He paused, "I only came home last year, and my grandfather was gone by then."

Ye Lao was stunned.

After a while, Ye Lao suppressed the disbelief on his face, clenched his fists and said, "You mean he's dead?"

A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky.

Rumble.

The thunder sounded muffled again.

Yuan Ning stared blankly at Ye Lao's expression, feeling that he had said the wrong thing again.He quickly reached out and patted Ye Lao on the back.

At this time, Ye Lao's grandson came in from outside, wearing a raincoat and carrying a food box in his hand.Seeing Ye Lao sitting there with blue lips, not even taking off his muddy shoes, he ran over and said, "Grandpa, what's wrong with you? What about the medicine? Why don't you take the medicine?" He put his hand into Ye Lao's pocket dig.

Ye Lao finally recovered his voice: "Eat it, you can't die!" He turned his head to look at Yuan Ning, "Xue Wencheng is only 65 years old! How could he die! You should be more reliable when you lie!"

Yuan Ning said, "I, I didn't lie!"

Ye Lao's grandson quickly winked at Yuan Ning.

Ye Lao noticed his grandson's actions, and his heart sank.He asked sharply, "Ye Tao, do you know something?"

Ye Lao's grandson and Yuan Ning stretched out their hands to cheer for Ye Lao, and shouted: "Grandpa."

Listening to his grandson's tone, Ye Lao suddenly understood that what Yuan Ning said was true.

Ye Lao suddenly thought that when Grandpa Xue came to the door for the last time, he still didn't let him in, and asked his grandson to fasten the bolt and lock the door firmly, so that he wouldn't be allowed to step in.

Grandpa Xue sighed outside the door and said, "I don't know how many more times I can come."

I didn't expect it to be the last time.

Old Ye slowly calmed down.

He said, "When did it happen?"

"It was more than two years ago," Yuan Ning said. "It's hard to remember that at the beginning of July, there was a flood at my grandfather's side. The flood came so quickly that my fourth brother was thrown into the flood. The eldest brother said that my grandfather was already sick. Once my brother was lost, he couldn't hold on anymore, and he died in August."

"Early July?" Ye Lao was lost in thought thinking about this time.At the end of June more than two years ago, the grandfather of the Xue family came here.After that time, the grandfather of the Xue family never appeared again. He thought that the two of them had finally ushered in the end of never seeing each other. It turned out not to be the case. It turned out that the grandfather of the Xue family was no longer around. He was the only one left with those kind and grudges in the past.Old Ye's lips trembled, he gritted his teeth and cursed, "Good death!"

Yuan Ning was stunned for a moment, and finally got angry: "How can you say that!"

"Xue Wencheng is dead, why are you here?" Old Ye was trembling, "He should have died a long time ago!" He turned to his grandson, "What are you still doing? Get this guy out! Your grandma and your uncle It was Xue Wencheng who killed him! He ruined our Ye family, how could he still show his face! He should have died a long time ago!"

Ye Lao's grandson hurriedly grabbed Yuan Ning's hand and pulled Yuan Ning out of the house.When he got to a place where Mr. Ye couldn't hear them, he said, "Don't take it to heart. Grandpa has been like this since grandma passed away. He has a bad heart, and we tried not to stimulate him. Originally, I thought he I like you very much, and I thought he could untie his knot this time, but I didn't expect it to become like this."

Yuan Ning remembered Ye Lao's expression just now, and already understood.In Ye Lao's heart, grandpa is very important.But why did he say that grandpa killed his wife and son?

Yuan Ning thought of the grandfather Zhang Xiuyan was talking about.

He was a very kind grandfather. My grandma would take Zhang Xiuyan to grab my grandma during class. When spring and autumn came, he would draw kites for the children in the village.How could such a person harm someone?

Looking at the gray sky outside, Yuan Ning felt heavy in her heart, but couldn't explain why it happened.

An umbrella was placed over Yuan Ning's head.

Yuan Ning looked up and saw Zhang Xiuyan holding an umbrella.Without saying a word, Zhang Xiuyan picked up Yuan Ning and took him into the car.Yuan Ning couldn't help but look out of the car window.

Outside, the rain was pattering down, falling on the green bamboo leaves, and then slowly converging into water droplets and sliding down from the bamboo leaves, making the bamboo shells on the ground rattle.The rainy weather made the courtyard house hidden in the bamboo forest hazy, as if it did not belong to this world at all.

Yuan Ning turned his gaze back to Zhang Xiuyan, wondering if he should speak.

Zhang Xiuyan frowned: "Speak up if you have something to say."

Yuan Ning said: "He doesn't know that grandpa is gone." He looked at Zhang Xiuyan, "Were he and grandpa once good friends?"

"Rather than a friend, we should say a relative," Zhang Xiuyan said. "He lost his parents since he was a child, and he doesn't like to talk. He is often immersed in his own world. Rice to eat. Grandpa often helped him share tasks, or gave him his own rice. After discovering that he was talented, he encouraged him to develop in the direction of engraving inkstone. At that time, the price of inkstone was not so high. There are inkstones everywhere in my hometown, which can be used for practice. Later, my grandfather started to learn painting, and often gave him his own paintings to engrave. He entered the Sihai Inkstone Factory, and his inkstone became more and more popular. Grandpa hasn't made a name for himself yet."

Yuan Ning looked at Zhang Xiuyan quietly.

"It wasn't until grandpa got to know grandpa that no one noticed grandpa's paintings." Zhang Xiuyan paused, "Grandpa really became a leading figure in the painting world after he was invited to paint the murals of Huaxia Conference Center."

Yuan Ning listened carefully.

Zhang Xiuyan said: "Later, it was because of this mural that my grandfather encountered trouble. At that time, the country was in chaos, and no matter whether there was any problem, he might be bitten. Even the standing committee members were in trouble. The higher authorities asked my grandfather to modify the mural. Alright, let’s get rid of a few of them, and we must wipe out all those who are ‘wrong’. Grandpa has a stubborn temper, so if he doesn’t want to go, something will happen.”

Yuan Ning was confused and understood.

These things are too complicated for him.

Zhang Xiuyan didn't want to let Yuan Ning understand, he just wanted to tell these things.

"At that time, something happened to the Ye family. Mrs. Ye was pregnant and came to my grandfather's house for help. At that time, someone had already found my grandfather's house. My grandfather was afraid that his affairs would hurt Mrs. Ye, so he put on a cold face and drove her away. " Zhang Xiuyan's eyes darkened, "As a result, Mrs. Ye gave birth prematurely not long after leaving grandpa's house, and then encountered dystocia, and finally the child was not kept by adults. So he always felt that grandpa hurt Mrs. Ye, and grandpa has always felt guilty about it. "

Yuan Ning said, "But grandpa didn't mean to harm her!"

Zhang Xiuyan calmed down.They all understand, and they all believe it, but what can Ye Lao do if he doesn't believe it?Suspicion from someone who is like a brother is like a sharp knife quenched with poison. If you stab you unexpectedly, it may kill you.

In the last days, what kind of mood did grandpa get through?First, the old friend refused to see him as usual, and then the grandson was thrown into the flood. He had self-blame, pain, and regrets and expectations that he didn't want to tell anyone.All the way to the end, there was no turning point in sight.

Yuan Ning stood up, held Zhang Xiuyan tightly with open arms, and comforted him softly: "Brother, don't be sad."

Zhang Xiuyan reached out and hugged Yuan Ning into his arms.

Before this, he never knew that he needed someone to say "don't be sad" to himself so much, and needed to find the motivation to move forward from the comfort of others.Maybe Mr. Zhang disclosed Mr. Ye's address to Yuan Ning, not because he really wanted Yuan Ning to ask for that inkstone, but to give him a chance to speak out what was in his heart.

It's exhausting to remember these things alone.

Saint Lorenborg.

Pullman family.

The man in the wheelchair put down the invitation letter in his hand.

The boy asked curiously: "Is it another boring banquet?"

The man said, "That's not true. It's from the Cairns family. You can go there."