Pandora's Box

From autumn to winter, I did not leave Z Town.

There are still a lot of unfinished work at hand, and it feels like there will never be a moment when I can safely feel "done".

We all know that no matter how high the popularity on the Internet is, it will disappear at any time. If we don't seize the time to operate well, these precious opportunities will be short-lived.

The town has just shown signs of revitalization, and everyone has just begun to look forward to life here. If the sudden prosperity quickly turns into yesterday's flowers, that is unacceptable to us.

So after bringing Su Jianyu into orbit completely, before he can completely replace me, it is difficult for me to let go with peace of mind.

And I'm also used to life in Z town, used to listening to Sister Wang's trivial family stories, used to the kindness that almost everyone knows on the road, used to the air here that makes my rhinitis heal without cure, and used to overlooking The green mountains and green waters in my field of vision, I am used to shaking the skipping rope for Xiaohua and the others when I have time, and my arms are sore amidst the children's bird-like laughter.

Leaving and going back are actually not that easy.

The new year is coming again soon, and this is another New Year's Eve that I spend in Z Town.

This is also a year of enrichment and harvest for everyone.

As far as Zhao Ziyue was concerned, his goal was clearly overfulfilled.

Su Jianyu has also grown very rapidly. In this short period of time, he has edited a lot of well-received videos, and on the basis of retaining the original style of official media, he has made his own characteristics.

And after Z Town became popular as a holy place for punching cards, Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao's hotel management became more standardized and mature, and they also recruited people to help, which can be regarded as contributing to the provision of jobs.

As for Zhao Zichao, at such a young age, he has made rapid progress in game after game and played many amazing moves. Now everyone is full of expectations for his performance in the upcoming spring playoffs .

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, when lights and festoons were everywhere, we came back from a routine visit to relatives and friends, and we met Zhao Zifei, the eldest brother of the Zhao family, at the gate.

This is the third time, and I no longer make a fuss about it, I just feel that he is really persistent, after all, it is said that he has been like this every year before I came.

Uncle Zhao still ignored Zhao Zifei, opened the courtyard door without paying attention, and urged everyone to enter.

However, I don't know if Uncle Zhao forgot that he didn't close the door when he finally entered.

Zhao Ziyue and Zhao Zichao and I couldn't help but exchanged glances crazily: "There's drama!"

We silently pushed Zhao Zifei into the door, and Zhao Zichao asked, "Dad, what are you having for dinner tonight?"

Uncle Zhao said: "Didn't there be so many dishes left yesterday? Your mother cooked so much in a wasteful way. It's just right for dinner."

"Is it not enough? Let's add a few more dishes."

"Why not enough?"

I also echoed: "It doesn't seem to be enough, why don't you add another fish? By the way, I learned how to braise lion's head a while ago, so I can show you my skills?"

Uncle Zhao didn't say anything.

If he didn't refuse, it was tantamount to agreeing, that is to say, he acquiesced in the fact that the increase in the number of people required additional food.We hurriedly hit the snake with the stick, and entered the kitchen in full swing.

There was one more person at the dinner table than usual, and Zhao Zichao and his brother kept picking up food for the eldest brother, Aunt Zhao looked around cautiously, and Uncle Zhao ate and drank by himself.

I courteously said: "Uncle Zhao, I made this lion head, would you like to try it?"

Uncle Zhao still gave me face, so he took the bowl naturally and said, "Oh, it's such a big one." After taking a bite, he said, "There's still a whole egg yolk in it?"

"what about the taste?"

"Very good, very good," Uncle Zhao nodded approvingly, "Your craftsmanship has improved a lot, it's no worse than your aunt."

"That's good," I said taking advantage of the situation, "Eat more if it tastes good, it's a good intention, reunion, reunion!"

"..." Uncle Zhao didn't answer, just continued to eat his meal.

We didn't dare to be too arrogant, and then we just said some auspicious words for the New Year, trying to create an atmosphere of "New Year's Eve", "It's coming" and "It's not easy", so that Uncle Zhao will not be angry.

When we looked at each other, Zhao Ziyue and I showed tacit smiles.After all, it's a good thing not to drive people out. This small step for Chinese New Year is a big step for the Zhao family to reconcile.

After another two months, I left Z town and went to T city.

This time, I accompanied the second elder of the Zhao family and Zhao Ziyue to watch Zhao Zichao's game.

The GLX team entered the finals this time, and Zhao Zichao was in the starting lineup.

He is really going to compete for the national championship position.

Zhao Zifei also rushed over.This is the first time since the year, everyone gathered together again, except for Zhao Zichao on stage, and we were sitting in the audience watching the big screen nervously.

I found that although Uncle Zhao didn't really understand the game, he didn't understand it at all. He was obviously doing his homework quietly.Cooperating with the surrounding atmosphere and everyone's expressions, he can roughly understand the tense and stalemate situation on the field.

Originally, many times the words of indifference were not really indifference.

Uncle Zhao kept asking his second son, "Is Zichao going to win?"

Zhao Ziyue only said: "There is a chance, there is a chance!"

It was a cold night outside, but the air in the stadium was hot late at night. When the GLX team logo and the words of victory jumped out on the screen, in the completely boiling stadium, we also howled and jumped up, and hugged each other indiscriminately, including Zhao Zifei.

I saw Uncle Zhao took the tissue from Zhao Zifei and wiped his eyes. Finally, he stopped turning a blind eye to the eldest son.

Zhao Ziyue turned his head to look at me, his eyes were slightly moist and glowing, he smiled and said: "Lin Jing, look, everything you said has come true. Isn't it amazing?"

"Hahaha……"

"Thank you."

I was really moved by his sincerity: "Thank you too."

Zhao Ziyue smiled and asked in a low voice: "So, are you going home?"

"..."

"You wanted to go home, didn't you?" he said. "I saw you with that backpack on."

"..."

The venue was very lively and the noise was deafening, but I could still hear his voice clearly.

He said softly: "Go."

"..."

"If you still can't find the correct answer, Town Z and I welcome you back at any time," he smiled again, "after all, we can't find a better temporary worker than you."

"Hahaha……"

Then he hugged me.

At noon the next day, I checked out of the hotel and walked to the street with my black backpack on my back.

I wandered aimlessly for a long time alone, as if I was wandering.

It wasn't until I was a little tired from shopping that I finally took out my mobile phone, clicked on the car-hailing app, and entered the address I was very familiar with.

After driving steadily for a while, the taxi stopped at the gate of the community.I entered the community naturally, and the road was unimpeded, just like in the past.

I am very familiar with how to walk this section of the road, and my physical memory is still very vivid.When I stopped in front of the apartment door, I took the key out of my pocket.

The key would fit in, so I turned it tentatively.

The door actually opened.

My heart was pounding.

They didn't even change the locks.

I held my breath, and after a while, I mustered up the courage to push open the door quietly.

The room was very quiet, and the curtains were closed, so it was dark.

In the dim light, there seemed to be no life here, the lights were not turned on, and there was no one.

My heart suddenly sank.

Have they moved away?

I took two steps forward, reached out and fumbled around the table in the living room.

No dust.I hurriedly went to open the kettle next to it, which was half full of water and still warm.

I finally let out another breath.

They didn't move out, they just weren't home.

But so what?It may not make any difference whether to move or not.

I'm ashamed of myself for panicking the first few seconds.

I walked around the house and everything still looked familiar.

Living room, kitchen, Cheng Yichen's bedroom, Zhuo Wenyang's bedroom, Ke Luo moved out before, but his room was still kept, after all, he would occasionally come to have a meal at that time, bringing LEE with a stiff smile on his face.

The rest is the bedroom that once belonged to me.I stood at the door for a while before reaching out and pushing the door open.

I have guessed the various possible appearances it will have now, but I have never thought of this one.

It's the same as it was when I left.

The room is clean, just like when I was still living, the posters on the wall are intact, the bedding on the bed is very neat, and there is even a warm smell from the sun that has just been dried.

The books on the table are neatly stacked, and there is an orange next to it.

Cheng Yichen usually likes to let us eat oranges, because he thinks oranges are nutritious and can prevent colds, and usually put one on the table when there is nothing to do, the room smells fragrant, and it is not so easy to spoil.

Cheng Yichen doesn't like buying flowers, after all it's a pity that flowers wither, but oranges are different.So basically every day we have an orange on our table.

I picked it up and looked at it.It is fresh.It may have been stored for a day or two, but it is still fresh, full of juice, with the aroma of the familiar memory.

I sniffed it lightly, and for some reason, the smell made my eyes water.

Suddenly there was a slight movement outside, and I was caught off guard and startled.

Then I heard a man's voice, it was Cheng Yichen's.

Cheng Yichen said while changing shoes in the hallway, "Wen Yang? Did you go to Xiao Jing's room again?"

"..."

When I entered this bedroom just now, I didn't close the door.

He seemed to sigh: "Hey, I told you, don't rummage through things. What if Xiao Jing really comes back someday?"

He paused, and after a while, he said again: "Will Xiao unexpectedly come back?"

I didn't make a sound, and he seemed to be used to not getting a response, so he went straight to the living room, opened the curtains, put things on the table, and said, "I bought another orange. You eat the old one first." Well, I'll get a new one later."

I quietly watched his back.Busy, thin, defenseless.

I called him softly: "Uncle Chen."

He turned around almost in a panic.

The sky was blue and sunny outside the window.