1999

In the next few days, the two people who moved to live together refurbished the rough house.They have done that thing too many times, they have all made experience, and they are familiar with it.

In fact, it is to rearrange the existing things, clean them inside and out, wash them and dry them in the sun.But young people just enjoy the whole process for no clear reason.Even if he just watched the two people's things being put together again, cups next to cups, pillows next to pillows, slippers next to slippers, he was also happy.

In the days to come, it will be step by step.

Wu Jiusheng took advantage of the winter vacation to prepare for the next semester's homework, and Hu Da continued his work regardless of the weather. Apart from using all available energy to take care of the young man's stomach more carefully, his life did not change much.

The days passed quickly in such peace, and within a few days, it was time for the Chinese New Year.

Time really flies by like a white horse.Wu Jiusheng still clearly remembers how he and Hu Da lived together in the cold and wet countryside of Hunan last year. He remembered all the details of the time he went back to Hu Da's hometown, the lonely grave in the mountain, and the relationship with each other. When I saw Huda sadly in front of the tombstone of his relatives, I felt a dull pain in my heart.

He didn't even have time to sort out the vow he had made secretly at the time, that when Uncle Hu gets old, he must take good care of him, and it will be another year in a blink of an eye.

He was a year older, and Huda was a year older.Time has put a lot of weight on their lives, so that the two of them are no longer what they were when they first met each other.

Regarding this change, Wu Jiusheng couldn't say whether it was good or bad.He just felt that this year must be different from last year—the days are getting better day by day, and the future is promising. Every year should be better and more prosperous than this year.

However, when that vague idea was still brewing in the young man's chest, Hu Da had already found him one step earlier.

At that time, there was still about a week before the official Chinese New Year's Eve, the promotion of new year's products in the supermarket was booming, the snack shops on the street were closed one after another, and all the red lanterns in Lianhuashan Park had not yet been hung up. After getting up, Hu Da carried two urgently packed luggage bags and a key, hurriedly found Wu Jiusheng, said "Follow me" mysteriously, and pulled his arm out.Those who don't know may misunderstand that this is the rhythm of elopement with people.

But Huda seemed in the best of moods along the way.He told the young man to remember to hold him firmly on the road, while he looked down at the luggage fixed in front of the pedal of the electric car, and drove straight to a road they had never used.

When Wu Jiusheng asked him something, he just replied "I have a surprise for you", and if there was anything else, he didn't know whether it was excitement or embarrassment, so he didn't say a word.

About four or ten minutes later, Huda's small electric car stopped at the gate of a strange neighborhood they had never set foot in.

The community is secluded, not close to the most prosperous hinterland of the city, and far away from the mainstream commercial center, but it has a strong sense of life, the small vegetable market is still operating normally, old people pushing grocery shopping carts and running wildly with balloons Children are everywhere.

The skin of the exterior wall has peeled off into a gray color of cement wall tiles. Part of the building is covered with creepers, the floors are low, the house type is old, and there is no elevator on the exterior wall. , with different styles, exuding a strong and vivid pyrotechnic atmosphere.

Wu Jiusheng couldn't figure out which street this was and who lived here.He was a little nervous, and when he got out of the car and went upstairs, he hid behind Huda and grabbed the hem of his clothes, complaining in a low voice that he didn't even say hello when he brought him around before the festival.

They passed through the front gate of the complex, passed the carport with green plastic roof and the activity plaza with rusty outdoor sports equipment, got into the third building from the front, climbed five steps, and stood on the right hand side of the highest floor by the door.

Wu Jiusheng thought it was the home of one of Hu Da's friends, but Hu Da standing in front of him didn't knock on the door, but directly inserted a key in his trouser pocket into the keyhole.

The door lock was turned, and the door opened, and in front of the two of them was a warmly decorated small home with two bedrooms and one living room.

The house is hung with pink curtains, floral wallpaper, floral tablecloths and floral-colored doormats, and even the bed in the bedroom is printed with two bright red peonies.Every item in the house is carefully protected, the sofa is covered with woven cloth cushions, the air conditioner, refrigerator, TV, desk lamp, and even the remote control are all neatly dressed in small clothes.Each cloth cover is hand-knitted by hand. It can be seen that the owner of the house cherishes their nest very much, and even every small item is carefully decorated and cared for.

Standing at the door of such a room, Wu Jiusheng was a little dumbfounded.He didn't know whose house this was, nor why Huda was so eager and excited to bring him here.

"This is the house where Ah Wen and his wife got married." Hu Da happily introduced to the young man.

The Awen he was talking about was Xu Chongwen, the friend of Hu Da who Wu Jiusheng had heard of but had never met formally, but knew that he would always help the two of them when they needed help.Hearing that this was his wedding room, the young man lowered his head subconsciously, and carefully rubbed the soles of two pairs of shoes on the floral mat at the door, for fear of leaving a little dirt mark on the smooth and polished wooden floor.

Seeing his cautious look, Hu Da's eyes became hot, he took the young man's hand, and carried him into the room.

"Don't be afraid," he said to his little lover lying on his body, "this place can also be regarded as our own home now. This year's electronic accessories business is doing well. Awen said that he has made money and will take his wife and children to the Going on vacation in Southeast Asia, this Spring Festival, lend us your house and we will spend it here."

At this point, Hu Da finally explained the complete cause and effect.As if he was able to unwrap the wrapping paper of a New Year's gift with great difficulty, his face was full of red light, and the young man in his arms was excitedly going in and out of two small rooms, one big and one small.

Before leaving the house, Xu Chongwen must have ordered his wife to tidy it up. It can be seen that the bedding has just been washed, and there is a smell of washing powder and sunlight.The refrigerator was well plugged in, and there were still eggs in the crisper that had been beaten and untouched.

Although it is borrowed, it is indeed the place that Huda has stayed in in recent years, which has the appearance of a "home".

"Although it's second-hand, they cleaned it up five years ago when the ownership was just transferred, and it's still very good inside. Awen said, we only need to use the things, and you don't have to worry about it. I will clean up the place before I leave. Tidy up and clean up."

Hu Da put Wu Jiusheng down, and while arranging his crumpled clothes, he smiled and said to him,

"There is an air conditioner, a water heater, and a TV to watch the Spring Festival Gala. It is also close to the vegetable market, which is more suitable for the New Year than our place. It happens that Ah Wen doesn't need it, so I thought of bringing you here. Let's have a good time this year and have a good time." It’s a serious Spring Festival. I’ve bought all the flour, and I’ll make dumplings for you, according to your hometown’s taste, just tell me what kind of stuffing you want.”

Wu Jiusheng, who was dizzy and turned around the room twice, finally figured out the situation in front of him.In a trance, he heard Hu Da ask him what kind of stuffed sedan chair he ate, and he was dizzy, but he really suddenly found a little sense of festiveness.

It has been many years, standing on the solid floor with two feet like this, the surrounding walls are isolated from the world, sheltered from wind and rain, stable and warm, really feel like home.

And the most central, the most intense, and the one that gave him the most security and warmth, was this man standing in front of him with a slightly impatient and nervous expression on his face, anxiously waiting for him to answer yes or no.

Although it is superfluous to say so, Wu Jiusheng really felt that this was probably the closest moment in his life to the words "happy life".

He was such a wild child who lacked father and mother, ran away from home and went south to wander alone, and had no one to care about or discipline him for many years, it was rare for him to feel such emotion, and he was so moved that he almost wanted to cry.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Hu Da's eyes were shining, and he just turned around to look around the furnishings in the house, thinking that he was envious of such a room and a place.

With a little heartache and a little sour guilt, he put one hand on the young man's cheek and said, "Uncle promises that in the future, uncle will work harder. One day, we won't need to borrow, and there will be someone like this." A home of our own."

After Wu Jiusheng heard that sentence, he looked up and shook his head at Huda with a smile as if he heard some joke.

When it was just him and the other party, he didn't need to pretend to be open-minded, let alone deliberately comfort him. What he said at the moment was exactly what he was really thinking.

"I don't need my own home. Home is where you are."