dear tiger tooth boy

01

On a sunny afternoon, in the big courtyard of the Zheng family.

Under a nearly century-old tree in the courtyard, an old man with gray beard and hair is practicing calligraphy leisurely with a brush.

Historically, Korea has been deeply influenced by Chinese culture.Today, many elderly Koreans can still read and write Chinese characters.

Yunho's grandfather is such a Korean.At the end of the old year and the beginning of the new year, Grandpa Zheng will personally write the Spring Festival couplets.Grandpa Zheng's framed calligraphy works can be seen in every room of the Zheng family's old house, even in the corridors.

When the mood comes on weekdays, Grandpa Zheng will set up a desk under the shade of the trees in the courtyard, spread out the rice paper, and write like a dragon.

And it's not the first time for Yunhao, who returned to his hometown for the winter vacation, to stand aside like this, being a well-behaved little bookboy.

But today, the little book boy was obviously absent-minded.

Grandpa noticed this quickly.He stopped the pen in his hand, smiled and turned to his beloved grandson: "Yunhao, come on, grandpa will test you. See what is written on the paper by grandpa?"

Although he has heard many stories from his grandfather since he was a child, which are similar to "the humble Chinese emperor wearing a royal robe", Yunho can't read a few Chinese characters.He glanced at the black and white writing in front of him, and shook his head embarrassedly and honestly.

Grandpa didn't expect him to recognize it, but asked with a deeper smile: "Then do you know what is written on your own face?"

"My face?" Yunho was taken aback for a moment, then subconsciously wiped his face with the back of his hand, "No."

Grandpa finally laughed loudly: "Stupid boy, you have four words written on your face - sullen."

Yunho wanted to deny it, but he looked at his grandfather with a clear expression.Thinking about it, Jiang was still old and spicy, so I couldn't hide anything from him, so I didn't argue, but just gave a wry smile helplessly.

Oh, this silly boy actually smiled wryly.Grandpa was a little surprised.But there was inexplicable relief in the surprise.

The boy has grown up, and it seems that he really has something on his mind.

Grandpa put down the writing brush, sat on the rattan chair beside him, waved to the little book boy who grinds ink, and told him to sit down too: "Tell me, what happened."

In fact, Grandpa had already guessed the reason.

Boys at this age have only a few troubles, such as study, brothers, and girls.

Grandpa never had to worry about Yunho's grades, and he knew how popular he was in school, so this kid probably started to worry about girls.

And nine times out of ten, it was because of that, Yunho couldn't help but peek at them all the time when the family was having a five-grain meal together, but from the beginning to the end, there was no girl who said a word to her.

Yunho's face is not only sullen, but in the eyes of his grandfather who has eaten more salt than him, Yunho's other small emotions are also clearly visible on his face.

But grandpa still wanted to hear Yunhao say it himself.

After all, the period of youth, the slightly confused childhood, is far away from grandpa, very far away.

Master Yunhao looked ordinary, frowned slightly, and said politely: "But I don't know, where should I start."

Grandpa looked at the table in front of him.

The handwriting on the table was still wet, exuding a pleasant ink fragrance.

What I am transcribing today is the Zihan chapter of The Analects of Confucius.

"The son said on the river: the dead are like husbands! They will not give up day and night."

Grandpa smiled lovingly: "Then let's start here."

02

At the beginning, talking about Jiang Ning, talking about his own feelings towards Jiang Ning, talking about his feeling when he saw Jiang Ning and Zhao Chengbin together, Yunho was still a little bit shy and nervous.

Yunho felt very dazed.Although he himself didn't even notice his dazedness.

Grandpa used to be an excellent prosecutor, but he wasn't particularly gentle.Although during these years of retirement, he cultivated his character and cultivated his body, and gradually became unsharp, kind and amiable.But Yunho knew that grandpa didn't like it very much, a boy who would babble on about little things.

Boys cannot complain and cry in difficult situations.

Men's tears can only be shed when they are happy, and they can only be shed for the beloved.

This is almost an unwritten family motto of the Zheng family from generation to generation.

Therefore, when he finished talking about the boy's thoughts intermittently, Yunho was a little embarrassed and a little afraid of his grandpa's reprimand, so he added: "I'm sorry, grandpa, I know these are just small things. As a man, I shouldn't It’s very troublesome because of this kind of thing.”

Grandpa Zheng felt a little funny when he heard his infant grandson say "as a man", but he was also very proud.

He stood up, walked over to Yunho, and patted his head tenderly.

Grandpa seemed to have a lot to say, but he looked into the distance and fell into a long, gentle silence.

On the other side of the yard, the golden winter jasmine has begun to frolick.

In another three months, the slack peonies will also bloom.

Yunhao knew that Grandpa's eyes were not attracted by Yingchun.

Grandpa has always liked peonies the most, even though its flowering period has not yet arrived.

Yunho didn't know why Grandpa was silent, but he also kept silent tacitly.

Grandpa just explained to himself the meaning of "the dead are like gentlemen".

Time is like running water, gone forever.

But in fact, there is nothing to cherish in the thin time.

Those who are reluctant, unable to part, and unforgettable are always the ones taken away by the torrent of time.

Grandpa finally spoke, he said, how can this be considered a trivial matter.

The friendship with one's good brother and the affection for a beautiful girl are always the most important feelings of a person.

Grandpa said, Yunho, let me tell you a story.

Many years ago, in the countryside of Gwangju, there lived a beautiful girl.She likes peony flowers the most, and her small yard is also full of peony flowers.

In a neighboring village, there were two young people who were one year apart.

They read and played together since they were young. Although they have never sworn to the sky like in romance novels, they both believe that each other will be good brothers for life.

However, that year.He was 19, the year he was 20.

By chance, the two young people met the beautiful Shaoyaohua girl one after another.

The beautiful love at first sight has become awkward and cruel because of one more person.

For the first time, the brotherhood of two young men is in danger of breaking apart.

It's not that the girl doesn't have someone she likes in her heart.

It's just that in that era, ethics were still strict, and many girls couldn't belong to the same person physically and mentally.

The 20-year-old has settled down in Gwangju.After starting a career, you have to start a family.He told his good brother frankly that he would propose marriage in the season of peony blossoms.

The 19-year-old was originally scheduled to go to Seoul to study in two months. When he heard the news, he was flustered. He could only kneel in front of his parents and ask to stay in Gwangju and find a job to make ends meet.

Parents will naturally not agree. A young man of 19, made the most daring adventure of his life.

But what he didn't expect was that the girl Shaoyaohua rejected his proposal to wander the world with him...

Yunho has been engrossed in the story. Hearing this, he couldn't help frowning and asked: "Is it because Miss Shaoyaohua likes another young man?"

Grandpa shook his head: "No. Miss Shaoyaohua fell in love with this young man at first sight."

Yunhao thought for a while, and then asked: "Then, is it because Miss Shaoyaohua is afraid that after she elopes, she will suffer hardships with young people?"

Grandpa smiled, and touched Yunhao's head kindly: "No. Son, you only know that you like it now. When you grow up and really understand love, you will know that true love comes. When you are with your lover, you will not suffer."

Yunho seemed to understand, blinked his eyes slowly, and waited for Grandpa to continue.

Grandpa looked at the blue sky, as if he was recalling the events of his previous life.

"Girl Shaoyaohua doesn't leave young people, because she loves young people deeply."

"She knows that young people have their own ideals and pursuits. She loves him who has ideals and pursuits."

"If they elope, at first they must feel happy because they can stay together day and night. However, the young man is just a person who needs to rely on his parents to fund his education. If he leaves, he may never be able to realize his ideals. "

"The only lucky thing is—of course, it was unfortunate for the other young man—that the family didn't force Miss Shaoyaohua to accept an older young man's proposal."

"Although the two young people were a little embarrassed at first because of this incident, because their love for Miss Shaoyaohua was pure, and they were competing in an upright manner without any tricks. In the end, they were still good brothers. .”

"The older young man also gradually picked up his mood, and finally married a girl who was equally beautiful and kind. Their friendship lasted a lifetime, until one died, and the other still visited him in the cemetery every year."

The afternoon wind was warmed by the winter sun and brushed gently.

The mottled shadows cast by the century-old trees swayed, as if immersed in indescribable emotions because of the stories grandpa told.

Yunho seemed to understand something, but the confusion in his heart didn't seem to decrease.

Grandpa looked at his serious grandson, and patted his head again with a smile: "Silly boy, when you grow up, you will naturally understand."

No one can really understand their own life by listening to stories and truths.

"So, what happened later?" Yunho couldn't help but raised his face and asked.

Grandpa answered the question deliberately: "Later? Later, the 19-year-old went to school as planned."

Yunho was about to shake his head and say that what he wanted to know was not alone, when he heard a familiar voice not far away.

"So, what happened to that young man and Miss Shaoyaohua?"

Without turning around, Yunho knew that Jiang Ning was coming.

In fact, Yunho didn't look back either.

I haven't seen her for many days, and I can see her when I turn my head, but Yunho suddenly doesn't know how to look back at her.

Like Jiang Ning, he has thought about it many times.

It's not right to apologize, and it's not right to accept an apology.

So, if nothing happened?No, there is clearly something wrong.Yunhao also couldn't accept such a muddled nonchalant attitude.

Yunho was a little annoyed.Really, when did I become so stingy?

In just a few seconds, the grandfather who was standing aside witnessed Yunhao "writing" a whole long poem on his face.

Grandpa wanted to laugh a little.

This kid was born precocious, and always acted like a mature and well-behaved boy in front of his elders. When adults talked about him, they all praised him for being sensible and general, a typical "other people's child".

Grandpa has always upheld the educational philosophy that boys should be resolute and peaceful, but at this age, summing up the past, he feels that he seems to be teaching his son too seriously.

So seeing his grandson showing such an awkward side of a little boy, grandpa felt a little happy and a little funny.

Grandpa greeted Jiang Ning: "Jiang Ning is here."

Jiang Ning held a large sealed thermos bowl in her arms, hesitated for a while at the gate of the courtyard, and finally walked over slowly.

"Grandpa, my grandma made red bean soup and asked me to give it to you."

Grandpa smiled and thanked, and began to tidy up the pens, inks, papers and inkstones on the table, Yunho naturally wanted to help.

Grandpa deliberately chased him away: "Don't worry about this, take Jiang Ning's bowl quickly."

There was still some awkwardness in my heart, but the two children finally sat together naturally, in the mottled light and shadow of the century-old tree.

As soon as they sat down and put the bowls and chopsticks away, the two children almost said in unison: "What happened next?"

Although they still deliberately did not make direct eye contact with each other in a childish manner, such a subtle tacit understanding made both children happy.

Slowly, Yunhao could feel that Jiang Ning beside him was deliberately controlling himself not to laugh when he spoke.

Jiang Ning could also feel that Yunho's stiff back was slowly relaxing.

Grandpa concentrated on drinking the red bean soup, pretending to be unaware of the little thoughts of the two children.

later.

Children always like to ask questions.

Grandpa put down the bowl, looked at the open space surrounded by winter jasmine in the distance, and smiled: "Later..."

03

It was dusk.

The mottled spots cast by the old trees gradually become lighter and disappear.

After listening to grandpa telling stories all afternoon, Jiang Ning had to go home after packing up the dishes.

"Yunho." Jiang Ning hugged the big thermos bowl to her chest, her eyes wandered, "Today, grandma and I are going to send red bean soup to your family and Zhao Chengbin's house..."

"Hmm..." Yunhao didn't understand what Jiang Ning meant, so he just hummed in response.

Jiang Ning's eyes became more wandering, and an imperceptible red appeared on her face: "I said I would give it to your family, and ask grandma to give it to Zhao Chengbin and the others."

"Uh-huh?"

Yunho's eyes lit up.

After Jiang Ning finished speaking, she quickly turned around and ran away.

Looking at Jiang Ning's back, Yunho couldn't help but smirk.

This girl may be her peony flower girl.

Of course, or maybe not.

Yunho is not yet 19 years old.He couldn't be sure.

Moreover, many are well past the age of 19.Throughout his life, there is no certainty.

The author has something to say:

Sorry for the three-week interruption... Thank you for not canceling your favorites.

There are so many things these days, it will take two or three days before I will be free.

But I remember that I said that I would come back for an update for Christmas, although I don’t have many collections, I still have to fulfill my promise.

I haven't written for a long time, I feel that I have no touch...

Please bear with me.happy reading~