Battle of the Rhine

Summer in Germany is hotter than expected.The flower seeds that Michael sprinkled grew some seedlings, and after unremitting watering and cultivation, several small red flowers bloomed.Michael asked Quincy to stand by the flowers for a photo, and then there was a new frame on the fireplace.

"You should smile more." Michael regretted looking at the photo, "Why are you always so sullen?"

"That's how the Germans are," Quincy replied. "And put on your clothes. You're not allowed to walk around my house topless."

"You're jealous of my muscles."

"Screw you!"

One Sunday at the end of midsummer, Michael went to the Catholic Church to pick up Quincy for dinner as usual after the service.He made a plan, not going anywhere in the afternoon, just resting in the house.Quincy worked overtime continuously, which was very hard.While Quincy slept, he cooked, made some broth or something.Michael got hooked on cooking and bought two or three new pots in different sizes.

Quincy wore a light shirt, had just shaved sideburns, and smelled good.Michael couldn't help laughing when he saw him.Just about to start the car, Charlie hurried over, "Hi, Mike, hello—"

"Hello, Charlie," Michael took out a few candies from his pocket, "Would you like some candies?"

"No, thank you." Charlie looked back, and Michael saw a lady in a black dress standing under a tree, "Do you want to come and play?"

"No," Charlie looked back, "well, that's it," she rubbed her hands together, "Well, Mike, I want to ask...you don't have a girlfriend now, do you?"

"No," Michael's heart skipped a beat, "No, I don't have a girlfriend."

"Oh...that's good." Charlie patted her chest, "Ms. Schultz—you've met her, and she's also a member of the choir. Well, Mike, Ms. Schultz asked me to ask you, if If you don't have a girlfriend and plan to remarry, she will be very happy...how should I put it?" The girl mumbled quickly, "Anyway, she is willing to be your girlfriend."

Michael looked at the lady under the tree, with brown hair neatly combed.He withdrew his gaze and subconsciously looked at Quincy, "I...I don't have a girlfriend right now," Michael swallowed, his mouth dry, "But, I'm sorry, I, I don't hate Ms. Schultz, Please believe me, it's just, I..."

"You don't want to remarry now?" Charlie blinked thoughtfully, "Right?"

"Yes, yes." Michael nodded again and again, "That's what I mean. I'm so stupid! Never know how to speak clearly. Please tell Ms. Schultz that she should find a better man. I can't, I'm not even a gentleman."

"You're so self-effacing." Charlie smiled. "I see. I'll tell her. You're welcome, Mike, by the way."

"Come on, I'm a countryman." Michael glanced at Quincy in the co-pilot again, the German was expressionless, his eyes were lowered, and his hands were on his knees, "I have to go back to the stew... goodbye , Little Charlie."

Charlie ran away quickly, Michael started the car, stared at the rearview mirror, "Do you want some candy?"

"No."

"Get a Black Forest cake later! Your favorite kind—"

"unnecessary."

"I beg you, don't count it in the account."

"Do not."

"Are you angry?" Michael let a passer-by through the intersection first, and the gray-haired old woman nodded kindly to him. "I don't know Ms. Schultz, I swear, we don't even speak Never said it!"

"not my business."

Quincy was absolutely pissed off, sulking and went to the third floor as soon as he got home.The third floor didn't even have an electric fan. Michael moved the fan up and saw Quinny lying on the west side with a book in his hand.

Michael turned the fan on and went downstairs to pour a cup of tea.Quincy was still reading the book without lifting an eyelid. "You don't like sauerkraut, but the roasted pork knuckle is too difficult...I can't get it. Just stew some meat, okay? Have some tea, are you sweating, or do you want to drink soda?" Michaela Sit down on a chair, "Do you want to take a shower?"

"I'm not in the mood to go to bed with you," Quincy said dryly.

"I didn't think so!" Michael hurriedly defended. "Your shirt is soaked, and it's very hot today. Again, I really don't know Ms. Schultz... I haven't talked to anyone in the choir!"

Quincy ignored him, turning the pages slowly.Michael pressed his hand, “What book is this?”

"You won't see it yourself?"

"If I do something wrong, just tell me, and if you're too angry, just beat me up." Michael took the book, "Don't do this to me, I'm very upset."

"I'm not mad at Ms. Schultz."

"What is that for?"

"Nothing." Quincy flipped through the book. "Sexual Psychology."

"You're reading this kind of indecent book again!" Michael really didn't understand why there were so many sex-related books on Quincy's bookshelf, "Don't read it!"

"This is fucking undergraduate science," Quincy sneered. "You're an idiot, Mike."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm an idiot, that smart college student came to tell me, what is sexual psychology? Sex sex, look at your collection..."

"Why do people have sexual impulses, have you ever thought about it? Why is there a marriage system? Why are people's sexual preferences different? Why are there homosexuals?... Who do you think masturbates?"

"Thinking of you." Michael said firmly, God, sex, he had to count how many times Quinnessy said that horrible word in one breath.Back home, if Quincy had heard these words, old Mrs. Michel would have burst into tears. "Why are you impulsive, because you have grown up; why do you want to get married, because it is time for you to get married, your wife is shorter than you, and not as strong as you. The Bible says, 'You husbands should also treat your wives according to reason. Live with her, because she is weaker than you and shares the grace of life with you, so respect her. In this way, your prayers will not be hindered.'As for what is a hobby?...What is that? What is homosexuality? ?”

Quincy rolled her eyes visibly, "What kind of sex do you like."

"You, you, it's all you. Come on!"

"Homosexuality is—"

"Okay, okay, okay," Michael put his hand over Quincy's mouth, soft lips rubbing against his palm, itching.Someday he'd have to clean out Quincy's bookcase, Michael thought. Keeping college students from being tainted by harmful thoughts was a big problem, and it was a matter of whether he could get into heaven and enjoy the blessings. "Okay, drink this cup of tea, your face has no blood at all... Hurry up and lie down and sleep, I will call you when the meat is stewed. If you are hungry or thirsty, call me. If I can't hear you Just go downstairs..."

Quincy took off his shirt and pants and lay down naked.Michael drew the curtains tight, put the sheet over Quincy's midsection, and closed the door.The meat went in the pots, the German pots were so strong he had to send Mary some.While the meat was stewing, he moved a wooden stool he made himself and sat on the porch to fix the small holes in the gauze.Yes, why do people have sexual urges?Michael had a hole the size of a finger sewn up. How old was he when he had his first sex drive? 12 years old, 14 years old?He remembered some vague fragments and the greasy crooked underwear, and the cold bodily fluids made him very uncomfortable.Marriage, marriage, he was married.No one in the small town goes to college, and if they don't get married at the age of 20, everyone has to point fingers.But why do you have to get married before the age of 20?It had never occurred to him before.

"It's all Ms. Schultz's fault." Michael sighed.The sky outside the gauze is blue and transparent, the sun is clear, and the flowers are swaying in the hot wind.Wonderful world, wonderful living room, sleeping Quincy on the third floor. "Do I still need marriage?" He sat blankly, lost in thought.