cat alley

July 2018.

In the old city of Yotsuya City going north to the end, a long river with no bridges and quiet green water runs between residential areas and tourist attractions.

There is a saying nearby that the river is not a river, but an eye.

Witness the changes of the times, stubbornness against flexibility, conservativeness against pioneering eyes.

20 years ago, all the families living at both ends of the river were content with the status quo and stuck to the rules. Later, with the development of the tourism industry in Yotsuya City, the developers offered high compensation for demolition and relocation and expropriated houses door-to-door.

No one wants to struggle with money. The small town of Yotsuya is seriously aging, and the economy is backward and needs to be driven by tourists, so most residents agree to demolition.

Slowly, one end of the river was demolished one after another, and scenic spots full of quaint features were built to attract foreign tourists.

On the other end, a few companies led by them resolutely fought with the developers to the end. They did not agree to demolition. They lived in the ideal township of deep alleys. They enjoyed being able to respond to their neighbors by shouting anything. The stories that happened in the alley, unknowingly, the mind and body age together with the blue bricks and gray tiles of the courtyard.

...

After three days of autumn rain, the brick walls at the entrance of the alley were covered with small advertisements with smudged handwriting, and the intertwined antennas blocked the square sky, just forming a net cast by the sun.

The breakfast stalls are crowded on both sides, and the stall owners serve hot tofu nao, selling the favorite taste of the neighbors for ten years.

After eating, the old men walked leisurely with the birdcage in one hand. When they met acquaintances, they stopped and greeted with a smile, "Are you eating?" or "Send your child to school?".

The student who hadn't woken up was patted by the parent, put down the fried dough sticks quickly, tried to open his eyes and shouted obediently, "Good morning, grandpa."

The bicycle had to make a "ding ding" if it wanted to pass through the crowd, and he was more used to yelling "give way" than electric bikes.

People were talking and laughing, spreading out and gathering again to avoid traffic.

The bustle is from near to far, and the early risers of the courtyard open the door when walking inside.

Several old ladies took out round stools to chat with each other, and they chatted happily, not forgetting to tell the children who were playing around beside them not to run away.

There are also old people with inconvenient legs and feet who simply like to go out and sit, looking at the narrow red brick aisle in front of them, looking up from time to time just to catch the cooking smoke floating in the air.

No one knows what they are thinking. Time here seems to be deliberately slowing down, allowing people to live a comfortable life while managing daily necessities.

...

Martin boots, jeans, and a light brown long coat. The woman is holding a bun in her right hand, and lowering her head while holding a mobile phone in her left hand.

She was willing to slow down only after hearing what the two women were talking about.

"Lao Wen's granddaughter is coming back."

"Wen Qiyue?!"

"Yes, that's her! Unfilial daughter!"

"Who did you hear from?"

"Isn't Lao Li's daughter-in-law an intermediary? Wen Qiyue called to inquire about the house price of our courtyard house. It seems that she is going to return to China to sell the house."

Wen Qiyue... Chewing the three words around her mouth, Fu Yining subconsciously clenched her phone tightly. There was clearly a voice in her heart urging her to continue walking, but her legs refused to move.

After a moment of hesitation, she was stopped by one of the women, "Ningning?"

Fu Yining's heart skipped a beat, she quickly adjusted her mood, smiled on her pale pink lips, turned her head and greeted politely, "Aunt Qiu, Aunt Zhu, long time no see."

The two women hurriedly stood up with surprise on their faces. The woman called Aunt Qiu looked Fu Yining up and down, and asked after a long time, "Why are you back?"

The slim Fu Yining in front of her looked completely different from the girl who grew up in the alley. Aunt Zhu's complexion was not very good-looking. When she thought of her mediocre daughter, she couldn't help saying in a strange way: "Why do you want to come back? Talk to Wang Man about the rent." .”

There are two sets of courtyard houses in Wang Man's house. One set has been demolished on the other side of the river, and the other set is next door to Aunt Qiu's house.

Catching up with the strong momentum of the tourism industry, Wang Mantuo was looking for connections. She used the money from the demolition to buy two front-end houses in the scenic area.

Fu Yining did not shy away from it, and generously admitted: "Yes."

The atmosphere became awkward for a while, the two women didn't speak, but murmured in their hearts at the same time, Fu Yining came to Wang Man to discuss the rent last fall, why did he come again this fall?

"Ningning, your cat..." Aunt Qiu was stuck, unable to think of how to describe it for a long time.

"Is it a cat coffee?" Fu Yining smiled, and the layer of silkworms in his eyes was very docile.

Aunt Qiu and Aunt Zhu looked at each other, and asked contemptuously, "Is the cat cafe business good? Can't you earn rent?"

The women in the alley are old-fashioned. They don't know why people outside like to drink coffee, and they can't understand why Fu Yining wants to become Wang Man's tenant and open a coffee shop with cats.

From the beginning to the end, Fu Yining did not put away her polite smile, she avoided answering, "Auntie, I'm in a hurry." If you don't want to answer a question, just ignore it.

The two elders didn't care about her.

They take pleasure in other people's dissatisfaction, there is no need for Fu Yining to say any more, and the current situation of Maoca is not optimistic, she has no confidence to brag about her busy career to her aunts.

"You, you haven't given up the habit of not eating breakfast at this age?" Aunt Qiu saw the bun in Fu Yining's hand and changed the subject.

Aunt Zhu also expressed her concern in a symbolic way: "Young people are busy, and their health is important."

"Thank you aunts for your concern." Fu Yining had an obedient face, she thanked her and turned around to leave, just after walking a few steps, a voice called her to stop her, "Ningning, Qiyue is coming back, do you know? "

Some people, you don't want to hear, she insists on talking.

The strength of fingers holding the phone suddenly increased, and Fu Yining didn't turn her head. Aunt Zhu followed behind her with a deliberately raised voice, and she didn't completely quiet until she turned the corner.

"What's the use of a good relationship? People are happy and happy abroad, and they don't remember us for a long time."

...

Wang Man's courtyard is not big, it is far worse than the one Fu Yining lived in.

She was sitting in the living room with a cup of untouched tea in front of her, her face seemed to be pale due to hypoglycemia.

"Sister Man, last year we agreed not to raise the rent this year."

The fat woman wore gold ornaments on her wrists and neck, and said with a graceful and rich smile, "Ningning, do you know how many people want to rent my house?"

Without waiting for Fu Yining to answer, Wang Man said by herself: "The location of Cat Lane is a prime location. Several hotel chain owners approached me, and their rent is much higher than what I gave you."

When the contract was about to expire, the other party backtracked and used excuses to increase the rent to exert pressure. Fu Yining gritted her teeth, "Sister Man, you know very well that Mao Lane is my painstaking effort."

Wang Man saw that Fu Yining was angry, she picked up the cup and took a sip of the tea, and persuaded her earnestly, "Ning Ning, you are a talented student who graduated from a prestigious school, why do you want to follow others and resign and go back to your hometown to start a business?"

Two years ago, Fu Yining came back from other places to find Wang Man, took out all her savings and asked her family to borrow a sum of money to open a shop in the scenic spot.

Passed from person to person in the alley, one after another expressed shock and incomprehension.

What is Fu Yining planning?

Yes, Fu Yining is caring. She liked cats and dogs when she was young, but can her hobbies support her family?Can you fill your stomach?Wang Man couldn't bear to speak too seriously, she patted the back of Fu Yining's fair hand and said, "Ning Ning, Sister Man advises you to think carefully, don't regret it in the end when you lose all your money."

Fu Yining licked away the dryness of her lips. She looked at Wang Man neither humble nor overbearing, and asked with a rare serious voice: "Sister Man, I won't regret it. Is the rent not negotiable?"

Wang Man sighed, "You child...I have had friendship with your father, for his sake I can give you a few months, give me the money after the Chinese New Year next year, and I will continue to rent the house to you."

...

What is other people's 27 years old like?

Leaving the alley where she grew up, Fu Yining took out the steamed buns, she leaned against the guardrail by the river and took the first bite without noticing it.

She promised Wang Man to raise money, and the reasons were repeatedly related to Qiyue, and also closely related to her 20-year-old self.

The distance of a river separates two old alleys.

It doesn't look that far away, Fu Yining has a nostalgia for revisiting the old place.

That strong desire drove her to learn from herself when she was a child, slowing down and walking along the river.

When I walked to my head, I came back to my senses and accepted the sense of loss that there was no one beside me.

...

Mao Lane is a cat cafe operated by Fu Yining. It opens at 10 am and closes at 9 pm.

After get off work, Fu Yining took the last bus to the terminal.

After a busy day, she often fell asleep in the car, and the kind driver knew her and kindly woke her up to get off the car and go home.

On the way home, Fu Yining received a text message.

[Ning Ning, shall we have a meal together? 】

Fu Yining closed her eyelids, typed with her fingertips and replied [Busy. 】

The other party replied in seconds [Oh, go to bed early, thank you for your hard work]

It doesn't matter if you are really busy or not, that person will go to Cat Lane on weekends.

Rain or shine.

Came here a few days late in time for a business trip, and specially sent a text message to inform Fu Yining that he was out of town, just like reporting.

Arriving home around 10 o'clock, Fu Yining was physically and mentally exhausted. She opened the door, and her father was amused by the content on TV.

"Dad, I'm back." Fu Yining put on the slippers.

When Father Fu heard his daughter came back, he immediately turned off the TV, coughed a few times and said, "Ningning, come here."

He took out his mobile phone, and was not very proficient in calling up the WeChat chat history.

"Where's my mother?"

"She went out to play mahjong." Father Fu explained, he turned his head and held up his phone to show his daughter the photo, not forgetting to carefully observe her face and said, "How about this?"

Long-haired beauty in a suit and leather shoes, Fu Yining glanced at her and frowned slightly.

She restrained her disgust as much as possible, and said in a low-interest manner: "Dad, I don't want to fall in love for the time being."

Dad Fu was not in a hurry, and according to his wife's introduction: "Oh, you should understand first, this girl works as a supervisor in a state-owned enterprise, with an annual salary of 70 to [-], a strong woman, older than you, is the type you like!"

Here we go again...Fu Yining raised his forehead, "Dad, what is my favorite type?"

"Just..." Father Fu paused for a second, "Like Xiao Zhao!"

The daughter's brows suddenly tightened in front of Father Fu, he smiled awkwardly, put down the phone and put on a flattering expression, "Don't you like it? It's okay, we will help you find another one, you are not young..."

Fu Yining was in a state of disarray. This was her 27-year-old, rough day, or every day that didn't go well.

Rent rises, ex entanglements, parents urging marriage, all over the place.

"Dad, you should go to bed early, I'll go back to the house first." Fu Yining explained many times that they broke up, and they kept in touch after breaking up, it doesn't mean that parents can use her ex as a reference for a blind date.

...

A room of about 20 square meters is a small world where Fu Yining is willing to relax.She didn't turn on the light, she sat on the edge of the bed and slowly lay down into a ball.

The darkness made her no longer hide the entanglement in her eyes that had plagued her all day.

Turning on the screen of the phone and finding WeChat, her heart was beating in anticipation, Fu Yining took a deep breath and flipped through the chat history with her fingers.

Fall...summer..spring...winter.

The names of the people who were in frequent contact skipped in front of her eyes, and after turning to the bottom, Fu Yining found Wen Qiyue among the names of the people who wished for the New Year.

The note she gave her on WeChat has not changed, it has always been the moon emoji.

On New Year's Eve, Wen Qiyue sent me the words Happy New Year, without even an expression... Fu Yining wanted to be angry, so she bit her lips lightly to relieve her anger.

That sentence you are coming back?Repeatedly enter and delete, delete and can't help but enter.

What Aunt Zhu said during the day was replaying in her mind, Fu Yining swallowed a lemon, the bitterness was like a needle piercing her heart.

Press the lock screen and throw away the phone in one go.

Fu Yining laughed at herself, she didn't know as much about Wen Qiyue as outsiders.

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