paddock

Although the bedding in the hotel was soft and clean, Zhang Xiuyan still frowned.The strange air, strange breath and everything made him turn over in his dream.

Zhang Xiuyan faintly heard a teacher giving a lecture, and when he looked up, it was Mr. Xu, the head teacher of the third year of high school.Mr. Xu wears black-rimmed glasses, his nose bridge is a bit flat, his mouth is a little suffocated, and he has a sharp mouth that can tell the dead people alive. He has asked everyone in the class to talk alone, and he can tell whoever wants to do it with a frown. What.Even for a quiet person like him, Teacher Xu could tell at a glance that he was not in the right condition, and asked him to go to the school infirmary to take his temperature and take some medicine.

Zhang Xiuyan had a headache and tried his best to hear Teacher Xu's lecture clearly, but found that he could only see Teacher Xu's deflated lips opening and closing, and he couldn't hear any sounds clearly.Do you have a fever?Zhang Xiuyan wanted to touch his forehead, but his other hand covered it ahead of time.

Soon, the person next to him stood up and reported to the teacher: "Teacher, he is sick. I will help him to the school infirmary."

The voice was a little strange, as if it came from far away.Zhang Xiuyan followed the sound and saw the slender figure of the person beside him, whose face was shrouded in bright sunlight, so he couldn't see clearly.This is not his deskmate.Who is this?He always felt that the clearer and brighter voice sounded familiar.

With the permission of the teacher, the person next to him stretched out his delicate hand to support him.Obviously so slender, so thin, but firmly supported his body.Zhang Xiuyan turned his head to look, but he still couldn't see clearly, he just felt that the clean and gentle aura on this young man was so familiar that he was nostalgic for it.

Who on earth is it?

Walking along the school road, the trees on both sides have just sprouted new shoots, and they are all very fresh, only the occasional green pines appearing a bit old.The wind blows slowly, as if bringing the moist, fresh floral fragrance of spring.Zhang Xiuyan said, "I'll go by myself."

The person next to him smiled and said, "Okay, okay." The hand holding him didn't show any sign of letting go.

The road ahead became very long, and Zhang Xiuyan couldn't help speeding up his pace, wanting to hurry to the school doctor's office to see if he had burned his head, but he actually thought it would be good to keep walking like this.This is not normal.Abnormal thoughts should be corrected.

Perhaps because of his urgency, the school infirmary finally appeared in front of him.He breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a little lost, and couldn't help turning his head to look at the young man beside him.The boy's appearance is still unclear, only the clean and beautiful aura of the boy surrounds him, making every breath he takes be enveloped by it.

Zhang Xiuyan frowned slightly, not quite understanding what the dense and hazy thing was growing in his heart.

The young man's voice was gentle and clear, like the tinkling spring water in the mountains: "Don't worry, I won't leave. I'll take you in and read a book next to me. I'll go back with you after you have taken the medicine or injection."

He wasn't afraid that the boy would leave.

Zhang Xiuyan said in his heart, and walked into the school doctor's room filled with the faint smell of medicinal materials.

The small ward in the school infirmary is narrow but clean, with large windows, very bright, not gloomy and uncomfortable like ordinary wards.Zhang Xiuyan turned his head to look, wanting to take a closer look at the young man beside him, but the bright light could not scatter, enveloping the young man, making it impossible for him to see the picture of his extremely A face that longs to be seen.

Sure enough, the young man accompanied him until the injections and medicines were finished.

After this semester, they will graduate.Seeing the young man reading a book quietly, Zhang Xiuyan suddenly asked, "What university do you want to go to?"

The boy closed the book with a slight smile on his face.He said: "Me? I'm the same as you. I also want to take the entrance examination of Capital University. Maybe we can continue to be alumni in the future."

Zhang Xiuyan was inexplicably happy.

The two returned to the classroom for class.

The afternoon wind lulls one to sleep.Unknowingly, the young man next to him lay down on the table, his two slender arms were slightly bent, into the most suitable posture for pillowing, his face was hidden inside, and only his soft black hair was visible.The hair is so beautiful, black and soft, when the wind blows, they will flutter slightly with the wind, sweeping into people's hearts like little feathers.

Can I still be an alumnus in the future?

Zhang Xiuyan thought secretly in his heart.

That's great.

Teacher Xu's footsteps approached from far away.Zhang Xiuyan suddenly came back to his senses, and quietly stretched out his hand to push the young man beside him.

The young man woke up, raised his head slightly, his eyes were still blurred, and there was a bit of sleepiness in his eyes, and he looked at him in a daze.It was obviously a different face, obviously several years older than the person he recognized, but Zhang Xiuyan recognized the boy all at once.

Zhang Xiuyan suddenly stood up.

Everyone else looked at him together.

In his eyes, only the sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy remained.

Although the young man has grown up by several years, his innocent face is still there, and he smiled happily at him, which suddenly made those boring and cold years tinged with beauty and warmth.

How—how could this be? !

How could he have such a dream—? !

Zhang Xiuyan's heart was beating violently, faster and faster every time.How could he feel that it would be nice if this wasn't a dream—if it was real—that someone would be by his side when he was a teenager, and then they would take the college entrance examination together, go to university together, and start working together—together Solve every confusion and difficulty encountered in life.It would be nice if it was true.

"Brother." A soft voice rang in his ear.

Zhang Xiuyan opened his eyes.

It became very quiet all around.

There is no more senior year, no more teenagers, no more promises.

His sixteen or seventeen years had passed—completely.

But the sixteen or seventeen years old of the boy in the dream is still far away.

Strong longing and strong loss intertwined in his heart, making Zhang Xiuyan unable to truly wake up for a long time.

Yuan Ning sat nervously in front of Zhang Xiuyan's bed, tightly grasping Zhang Xiuyan's sweaty hand.He knew that his eldest brother must have had a nightmare, and he used to do this often. Whenever he dreamed of something terrible, his palms would be wet and covered in cold sweat after waking up.Yuan Ning tried his best to comfort Zhang Xiuyan: "Brother, don't be afraid, dreams are all fake!"

Zhang Xiuyan finally regained his composure.He turned his head sideways and fixedly stared into Yuan Ning's concerned eyes.In the past two years, Yuan Ning has made many friends, and has become a lot more independent at ordinary times, spending less and less time sticking to him.Dreams are all reflections of reality. Maybe after hearing Yuan Ning say "I really want to go to college with my eldest brother", he kept it in his heart, and finally refracted it into his dream.

Zhang Xiuyan found a reasonable explanation, and he relaxed.He shook Yuan Ning's hand back and said slowly, "I know, don't worry."

A dream is a dream, it can never come true.He is just too eager to be needed, too eager to be close to people.This little stutter broke into his life when he needed comfort the most, so it moved into his heart so quickly and took root.

It's just that such a desire is not normal after all.Now everything is back on track, Zhang Xiuming is back, Ms. Xue has recovered from her illness, and everything is fine at home.He will have his own family in the future, and Yuan Ning will also have his own family in the future. It is impossible for him to be like this for the rest of his life—to want the other party to have an unusual dependence on him, to have an unusual closeness to the other party, A child should not be allowed to have such thoughts when he grows up.

What's more, he is a person who is about to grow up.

Zhang Xiuyan let go of Yuan Ning's hand, sullenly sent Yuan Ning to brush his teeth, and got out of bed to change clothes suitable for going out.After Yuan Ning came out of the bathroom, he opened the curtains to let the dazzling sunlight fill the room.

It was very early in the morning.

Yuan Ning squinted his eyes slightly under the sunlight, and after adapting to the sunlight, he could see Zhang Xiu's serious side face clearly.Big brother seems to be a little different.Yuan Ning had an inexplicable feeling that Zhang Xiuyan was far away from him all of a sudden.

Seeing Zhang Xiuyan brushing his teeth in the bathroom, Yuan Ning opened his backpack, searched for a while, and found two masks, one large and one small.This is an urban area, there is a lot of car exhaust, and the air in the morning is not very fresh. When I came out, my fourth brother told him to remember to wear a mask when I went out for a run in the morning.When Yuan Ning prepared his luggage, he also prepared Zhang Xiuyan's mask.

Yuan Ning quickly put it on for herself.

Hearing the bathroom door being pulled open with a click, Yuan Ning ran over wearing the little slippers prepared by the hotel, raised his head and said to Zhang Xiuyan, "Brother, I'll help you put on a mask! Fourth brother said you should wear it here!" He stood on tiptoe, trying to hang the mask strap behind Zhang Xiuyan's ear.

Zhang Xiuyan felt that Yuan Ning would throw himself into his arms at any moment.

When this thought flashed by, Zhang Xiuyan took two steps back abruptly.Seeing Yuan Ning looking over in a daze, Zhang Xiuyan paused, and reached out to take the mask from Yuan Ning's hand: "I'll just wear it myself." He saw Yuan Ning's face was a little disappointed, and he was more sure that he must be strict. Yuan Ning is more independent.No one can take responsibility for another person's life, and neither can he.So he can't pamper himself, let alone Yuan Ning.

Zhang Xiuyan put on the mask under Yuan Ning's gaze.

Yuan Ning was confused.He found that something between himself and Zhang Xiuyan was quietly changing, but he didn't understand what it was.He can only understand Zhang Xiuyan's meaning by feeling. Zhang Xiuyan doesn't want him to be as clingy as before, and doesn't want him to be as dependent on him as before.Yuan Ning felt sore in his heart, but he also knew what Zhang Xiuyan meant.He has grown up, he is no longer a child, and he can no longer be so weak and coquettish.

Yuan Ning also felt that this was wrong.He shouldn't want to get closer and closer as soon as he sees his eldest brother.He smiled: "Brother, let's go for a run! When Brother goes to college, we won't be able to run together often anymore!"

Looking at the smile on Yuan Ning's face, Zhang Xiuyan caught the reluctance and bitterness hidden inside.His heart also twitched, but he just said "hmm" on his face, and led Yuan Ning out the door.

Yuan Ning watched Zhang Xiuyan's tall back as usual.He has only been in Zhang's house for two or three years, but it feels like two or thirty years have passed.He listens to everything the elder brother says, and he will be more independent if the elder brother asks him to be more independent, as long as the elder brother is still his elder brother.

Yuan Ning and Zhang Xiuyan ran around the long bridge in front of them one after the other. The golden sun jumped out of the water, illuminating the river brilliantly, and the early morning mist also dissipated.The coolness of early autumn has quietly infiltrated into the wind, making Yuan Ning feel cool and comfortable on his face.Yuan Ning happily talked to Zhang Xiuyan: "The air is not as bad as the fourth brother said." Through the mask, his voice sounded muffled, but he still couldn't hide the joy in his words.

Zhang Xiuyan responded with a "huh".His legs are longer than Yuan Ning's, so he should run much faster than Yuan Ning, but in the past two years or so, he has already developed a habit, and Yuan Ning's pace is just right for Yuan Ning to keep up with.

"Brother." Yuan Ning shouted.

Zhang Xiuyan turned his head to look, and saw Yuan Ning's face was full of vitality, and his rosy skin was rosy and elastic, which could arouse everyone's love.

"I really want to grow up right away," Yuan Ning felt conflicted, "but sometimes I don't want to grow up at all."

"It's normal." Zhang Xiuyan slowed down, looked at the beads of sweat oozing from Yuan Ning's forehead, and resisted raising his hand to help Yuan Ning wipe it off.He wanted to hug Yuan Ning, but he remembered the resolution he had just made, so he stood still, his eyes glued to Yuan Ning's innocent and ignorant gaze, "Sometimes I also want you to grow up all at once—but sometimes I want you to grow up again." Don't want you to grow up. It's all the same."

Yuan Ning felt a little sad at first, but when he heard Zhang Xiuyan say "they are all the same", the pain and sourness in his heart were instantly swept away.

Yes, it's all the same!The eldest brother also wants to get close to him, but people have to grow up and learn to move forward on their own, and can't think about relying on others all day long.

"I know!" Yuan Ning grabbed Zhang Xiuyan's hand, "I was also very sad when Luo Yuanliang put the little wild boars up the mountain, but Luo Yuanliang told me that the little wild boars should learn to live in the mountains, or else they will grow up. The birch forest can't hide them anymore, they will be captured and eaten. So they must learn to use their sharp claws, must learn to use their sharp teeth, must learn to catch prey and avoid enemies. If they rely too much on our help , will only eat the food that we helped to process, they cannot survive on their own.”

Zhang Xiuyan patiently listened to Yuan Ning's words.

"Brother, don't worry!" Yuan Ning promised earnestly, "I will become more independent like the little wild boars, and I won't let my brother worry about me all day long!"

Zhang Xiuyan met Yuan Ning's firm gaze, and his heart trembled slightly.This little stutter was still so sensitive, he didn't say anything, he just showed a slight alienation, this little stutter figured everything out by himself, and even found the best reason for him.

How could he be willing to distance himself from such a younger brother?

Zhang Xiuyan was in a mess in his heart, but nodded on his face, raised his hand to touch Yuan Ning's head, and made a rare joke: "Little wild boar."

Yuan Ning stared and retorted seriously: "I'm not a little wild boar!"

Zhang Xiuyan nodded again: "Okay, you are not a little wild boar." He continued to ruffle Yuan Ning's hair, "Little stammer."

Yuan Ning said: "I stopped stuttering a long time ago!"

Zhang Xiuyan ran forward and said, "I used to stutter."

"But I don't stutter anymore." Yuan Ning caught up with Zhang Xiuyan and tried to emphasize.

"I still stutter when I'm nervous." Zhang Xiuyan dismissed.

"...It's wrong to call people random nicknames."

Zhang Xiuyan's footsteps paused slightly, and he changed his words politely: "Ning Ning."

Yuan Ning's heart was pounding.Everyone called him that, but Zhang Xiuyan called him differently—it was the first time that Zhang Xiuyan called all of them by their full names.He looked up at Zhang Xiuyan's face illuminated by the sun, feeling extremely happy.Yuan Ning did not express this inexplicable happiness, but pointed to the tall building in front of him and said, "Brother, we seem to be running back to the hotel soon!"

Zhang Xiuyan looked at his watch: "Let's go to the cultural center after breakfast."

The Cultural Center is located in the Eastern District of the capital, about 10 minutes drive from the Capital University, but very close to the hotel, and you can see it within a 10-minute walk.Yuan Ning had already visited with Zhang Xiuyan yesterday, but he still felt that the cultural center was beautifully built. The design of the entire cultural center was very simple. If you carefully identify it, you can see that countless cultural elements have been integrated into the eaves and walls. Read more flavorful books.

Zhang Xiuyan led Yuan Ning inside, and many parents had already brought their children here. Generally speaking, those who can enter the finals are middle and high school students, so some of them came here by themselves.Zhang Xiuyan scanned around and found that Yuan Ning was the youngest among the participating students.

Just as he was thinking, there were comments from around: "I heard that a primary school student was shortlisted this year, and that primary school student was only eight or nine years old. Is this the first time in so many years that he was shortlisted at such a young age? This is the National Youth Calligraphy Competition , who hasn't practiced for ten or eight years! The years of practicing calligraphy are longer than his age!"

"No way? There are elementary school students shortlisted? Now there are more and more competitions, and people's hearts are getting more and more impetuous, hey."

"Yeah, I used to be honest and practice calligraphy, but now people are thinking more and more." The speaker lowered his voice, but it was still just enough for everyone around him to hear clearly, "I heard that In order to gild their children or add points, many people secretly work hard in secret."

"Really?" the people around interjected, "I just said, how could the guy next door to my house who was able to make a mistake in buying soy sauce win the second prize in a physics competition last time, even these competitions have shady scenes. This is the way of the world!"

The children entered the arena one after another, and the parents waiting outside all got together, and the topic turned around, discussing the social atmosphere and social laws inside and out, most of them felt that if their children did not win the prize, others would There are many shady scenes in the competition where the children won the prize.

Yuan Ning looked at Zhang Xiuyan cautiously.Were these people talking about him just now?

Zhang Xiuyan's expression remained unchanged, he took Yuan Ning's hand past the parents in front of him, walked to the gate of the competition field, and let Yuan Ning go in by himself.

Everyone else noticed such an outstanding young man, and then looked at Yuan Ning, who was much shorter than Zhang Xiuyan, and his heart skipped a beat. You look at me, I look at you, and you want to know the meaning of what you just said. Not heard by the brothers.For a while, everyone was a little embarrassed, and no one started to gossip.

Yuan Ning walked into the competition venue, took out his participation certificate, found his seat under the guidance of the staff, and sat there obediently waiting for the competition to start.

The contestants who entered the final all looked at Yuan Ning.

There is no way, Yuan Ning is too young.Although the calligraphy competition is not as popular as the mathematics and physics competitions, because it is a national competition, there are not few people participating.Such a young child can make it to the finals, no matter if it is real material or through the back door, people can't help but look at it more.

After a glance, I couldn't move my eyes even more.

Yuan Ning wore exactly the same clothes as Zhang Xiuyan. This set of clothes had a mature feeling on Zhang Xiuyan, but it was completely different on Yuan Ning.It is obviously also a white lining and a dark gray coat, but it is much cuter because of the small badge pinned to the chest.

Of course, when everyone saw him, they didn't pay attention to what clothes he was wearing, but were more attracted by his eyes, which were so bright that people couldn't move their eyes away.Noticing that Yuan Ning was waiting quietly and earnestly, the others could not help but follow him to become quiet and peaceful.

That's right, this is the final. They waited so hard to get here, thinking about what to do with so many people who don't have it?It's better to stabilize your mood and come to the exam in the best condition.

The person in charge who came to host the competition on behalf of the Calligraphy Association arrived soon.The person in charge was very satisfied to see the quiet and orderly venue. He has presided over the competition for several years and has never experienced anything.In recent years, the economic development has become faster and faster, and the fluctuation of people's hearts has become more and more serious. Parents have become impetuous, and their utilitarianism and purpose have become stronger and stronger, which has also affected their children.As a result, more and more students participated in the competition, but fewer and fewer people really love calligraphy.

The person in charge glanced around, and when he saw the youngest Yuan Ning, he was stunned for a moment, remembering the words he had seen when he was reading the works of the preliminary competition.Although this child is young, his handwriting is already very good. It can be seen that he has practiced seriously and steadily.It's just that it's very easy to fake this kind of cross-provincial competition, even if someone guarantees it, he still has some doubts in his heart.

The person in charge couldn't help but look at Yuan Ning more.

Yuan Ning noticed the person in charge's gaze and felt a little uneasy.Just now, when he heard the comments from the parents outside the door, he knew that he was the youngest, and he also knew that because of his young age, he would be suspected of being shady in the game.Does the person in charge feel the same way?

Yuan Ning couldn't help thinking of Yuan Bo. Yuan Bo is also like this. He is young, his family is poor, and his conditions are not good. To be able to win a place in the final of the National Mathematics Competition, he must have encountered a lot of suspicion and criticism along the way.

Thinking of this, Yuan Ning felt uncomfortable.

Yuan Bo is even more difficult than him!Yuan Bo worked harder than him!Yuan Bo squeezed forward with all his strength, he has everything, how could he fall behind!If someone doubts it, just show them the proof, what a drum in my heart - he didn't go through the back door!Yuan Ning had nothing else but stubbornness hidden in his bones. Instead of the initial apprehension, he became calmer and his eyes became firmer.

After the person in charge announced the start, Yuan Ning flattened the white paper on the table, conceived it in his mind, picked up a pen and raised his wrist to write.

Seeing that Yuan Ning was the first to pick up the pen, the person in charge was a little surprised. He moved a little closer, and his eyes fell on the words written by Yuan Ning.

Taking a closer look, the person in charge's gaze was fixed on it.

Yuan Ning's handwriting is exactly the same as that of the preliminary competition.

No, no, it is better than the preliminary works.

That indescribable aura that no one can express seems to be able to see through the paper!Although the eight or nine-year-old child lacks wrist strength, and the child does not look like he has practiced for many years, the words he writes are not only tangible - but also divine!Is this talent?The person in charge looked at Yuan Ning's calm and childish face, and felt that his suspicion just now was really inappropriate.

When Yuan Ning finished writing a whole line of the poem, the person in charge paused slightly, with bitter smiles in his heart.

——Since I was a child in the thorny grass, now I gradually feel the basil.

As a core member of the Calligraphy Association, the cultural quality of the person in charge is still passable, and he is naturally familiar with the last sentence of this poem-people at the time did not know Ling Yunmu, and they waited until Ling Yunshi became the master.

This is "Little Pine" by Du Xunhe, a poet of the Tang Dynasty. It is clearly about pine, but it is actually about people. It seems that my doubtful gaze was discovered by this child. This child wrote it to stab him!Unexpectedly, this child looks soft and cute, but his temper is not small.It might be unhappy if it were someone else, but the person in charge is different. He likes such a child from the bottom of his heart.

Children should have a little temper and a little vigor!

The person in charge didn't look any further, and walked over to the other contestants with a smile to see how they were writing.

Yuan Ning finished writing in one go. Looking at the poems on the table, she suddenly felt a little inappropriate.But there was not enough time to rewrite it, so Yuan Ning could only put down his pen, read it carefully, and then sat down with his hands down, waiting for the game to end.During breakfast, the eldest brother said that Yuan Bo will only have the train back to the south this afternoon, and after the game, he can go to Yuan Bo to have lunch and hang out with Yuan Bo!