Fang Wencheng fell silent and didn't say anything more, just pretending that he never mentioned this matter.
Xie Ruhe casually turned his head and lowered the window. The cold wind poured into the car in an instant, carrying thick humidity. He stared out the window fixedly, a little absent-minded.
After a long time, Xie Ruhe opened his mouth with a light voice and a slight smile.
"I'll go see him when he's dead."
…
In my impression, Xie Ruhe was beaten by his father Xie Ji not many times.
Others are spreading rumors that there is a scum in the Xie family who is addicted to alcohol, loses humanity when drunk, and only beats his wife and children. From the small house at the end, the sound of drunken men cursing, the sound of things hitting the ground, and the restrained crying of women can always be heard.
Xie Ruhe felt that what they said was correct, except for the one about "beating his wife and children".
Before the second year of junior high school, he had never been beaten by Xie Ji.
Only when Xie Ji is not around can there be a moment of peace at home.
Besides, the atmosphere is always oppressive and dull, like a suffocating cage. My father was as decadent as a piece of mud, and my mother always had a gentle smile on her face, but always shed tears behind her back.
Growing up in such an environment, Xie Ruhe's temperament became gloomy and quiet. Except for Ji Xiangning, he didn't care about anything, and he didn't think he would have any future.
He felt that it was impossible for him to escape from this hell.
The first time Xie Ruhe found out that Xie Ji was beating Ji Xiangning was the day he first met Shu Nian and came home with her umbrella.
Introduced by his neighbor's uncle, he skipped class to deliver goods to Li Hong. I have been busy for a long time, but I have not gained anything. I only saw an inexplicable girl. Small in stature, with a baby face that would be bullied at first glance, but seems to think that he can save the world.
Walking out of the residential area, there is only one street lamp installed on the secluded path. It was dark and quiet along the way, and there was no one else but him. Go all the way to the end and see a house with a faint light shining through the windows.
Xie Ruhe looked at the house, rummaged through his pockets as he walked, but only found one candy.
Only then did he remember that he went out without a key.
Xie Ruhe put the sugar back into his pocket, walked to the door, and knocked lightly three times.
Immediately, footsteps came from inside, light and hurried.
The door is opened.
Ji Xiangning stood in the entrance, holding a dry towel in his hand, his eyes were all red. Her hair was a little messy, and her body was tightly covered by long clothes and trousers.
"Ahe is back." She said hoarsely.
Xie Ruhe nodded, put the umbrella on the top shelf of the shoe rack, and took off the shoes silently.
Ji Xiangning handed him the towel, and his voice was a little more rustling than usual, with a hint of difficulty: "Go take a bath first, Mom has something to tell you later."
Hearing her tone, Xie Ruhe's eyelids moved.
The house was very quiet, except for Xie Ji's snoring when he fell asleep from the master bedroom, there was no other sound. The warm yellow light did not make the old and small house feel warm.
Xie Ruhe looked at her, as if he was thinking.
A few seconds later, he took out the mango jelly from his pocket, wiped it with his clothes, and put it in her hand. Looking into Ji Xiangning's eyes, he finally spoke.
The voice was deep and hoarse, but it had the natural moistness of a teenager, and it was very pleasant to hear.
"Please have a candy."
When Xie Ruhe came out of the bathroom, Ji Xiangning was sitting on the sofa in the living room doing handwork.
Her head was drooping, her hair was disheveled, and a few white hairs seemed to be visible in the dim light. Wearing old and torn clothes on his body, he seemed to be more than ten years older than the previous years.
There was a freshly heated meal on the table, Xie Ruhe walked over and sat beside her. He was about to pick up the bowls and chopsticks, but in the next second, his eyes froze, and he looked at Ji Xiangning's neck blankly.
When he was in the entrance just now, Xie Ruhe didn't notice that Ji Xiangning had the light behind him. Sitting next to her at a close distance at this moment, although the light is dim, he can still see clearly—
There were red marks on Ji Xiangning's neck from being pinched.
Xie Ruhe stared fixedly at her neck, and said softly, "What's wrong with your neck."
Hearing this, Ji Xiangning subconsciously covered his neck with his hands, and reluctantly said: "It's okay, you can eat quickly, it won't taste good after a while."
Xie Ruhe lowered his head, his dark eyes reflected the candlelight in front of him, flickering on and off: "Did my dad pinch it?"
Ji Xiangning forced a smile: "Your father is just drunk..."
"He's not drunk any day."
"..." Ji Xiangning shook his head and explained for Xie Ji, "He just misunderstood me, just explain it, and there will be no second time."
Xie Ruhe clenched his fists, feeling unbelievable at her understatement, got up and went back to the room.
Soon, Ji Xiangning also came in, stood beside him, and sighed: "Ahe, if you don't want to stay here, let me contact Grandpa and send you to him, okay?"
Xie Ruhe heard her mention Ji Xinghuai, and looked at her: "Are you going?"
"I don't have the face to go back." Ji Xiangning smiled wryly, "And your grandfather doesn't like your father, I can't let your father stay here alone without anyone to take care of him."
His mother, when she fell in love, was desperate and became blind and ridiculous.
She always believed that Xie Ji would wake up, it was only a matter of time. As innocent as a little girl.
Xie Ruhe lay on the bed, covering his eyes with his arm: "Forget it."
"..."
"I have to take care of you."
Probably because of hurting Ji Xiangning, after sobering up, Xie Ji realized what was wrong with him and felt guilty. He no longer drank as much as before, and gradually returned to being a human being.
Xie Ruhe didn't have to skip class to deliver goods as he did before.
Later, he heard what Shu Nian said for Xie Ji.
—"I didn't help Xie Ruhe, nor did I speak for his father. I just think that I can't jump to conclusions. This crime is very serious, and no one can bear it."
At least in Xie Ruhe's opinion.
Xie Ji is indeed a scumbag, but he would not do such a thing.
Xie Ruhe actually doesn't care much about what other people think of Xie Ji. But seeing Shu Nian being ridiculed by her classmates because of this explanation, and comforting him in turn.
He had a very strange feeling.
It was very strange, and it fascinated him very much.
Shu Nian is always alone.
Fearing that something might happen to her, Xie Ruhe began to follow Shu Nian.
He also slowly got along with her.
After finishing his sixteenth birthday with Shu, when Xie Ruhe returned home, New Year's Eve had already passed, and the early morning of the New Year was ushered in.
That night, for unknown reasons, Xie Ji drank again. He seemed to be in an extremely bad mood, and said some ugly words to Ji Xiangning.
Ji Xiangning urged Xie Ruhe to return to the room quickly.
Xie Ruhe pursed his lips, looking at Xie Ji with disgust.
Seeing his eyes, Xie Ji became angry for a moment, picked up the cup next to him and smashed it: "Damn it! Beast! What do you think of your father? Can't call someone?"
It was a sudden move by him.
Xie Ruhe didn't react at all, the glass hit his forehead and made a big cut, blood slid down his cheeks, staining his eyes red.
Ji Xiangning obviously didn't react. After a pause for a few seconds, he screamed like he was going crazy, and went forward to tear Xie Ji apart: "Are you crazy?! That's your son!"
Xie Ji waved her away and yelled hysterically: "You are fucking crazy, get out! Let me tell you! Don't fuck me with that dog man next door. If you dare to betray me! I'll kill you right away!" Kill you! I will kill you directly!!!”
His face was red, like a demon from hell.
Angry to the extreme, it seems that there is no humanity.
Xie Ruhe didn't react much, covering the wound with one hand, walked over to help Ji Xiangning up.
Ji Xiangning's tears rolled down, he stopped talking, took out the medicine box, and treated Xie Ruhe's wound. She seemed to wake up in an instant, all the excuses she had made for Xie Ji in the past were all shattered by his actions.
Ji Xiangning can endure anything.
She can bear Xie Ji's drinking all day long and not making any contribution to the family; she can bear him speaking rudely to her, punching and kicking her when he is unconscious; other men.
She can put up with anything. All, she can bear.
But when these things happened to Xie Ruhe.
Only once, she woke up from her dream.
She can suffer, but she must not take Xie Ruhe with her.
her only son.
After wrapping a bandage on Xie Ruhe's wound, Ji Xiangning looked back at Xie Ji and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. She still looked embarrassed, but she seemed to have changed back to the high-ranking rich girl she used to be, and said word by word: "We are divorced."
This is the first time Ji Xiangning mentioned divorce, even Xie Ruhe thought she was just impulsive, but her attitude was extremely firm. No matter how much Xie Ji pleaded, she did not show any sign of turning back.
Ji Xiangning moved out with Xie Ruhe and found an apartment to live in for a short time.
Worried that Shunian could not find him, she would run to his house.
Xie Ruhe took the initiative to go to Shunian's house to find her.
The wound on his head is still not healed, blood is still oozing from the bandage, and it looks serious.
Originally, Shunian was very happy because he came to find her, but when he saw the wound on his forehead, he stopped smiling and said, "Why are you hurt..."
Xie Ruhe didn't answer her question: "I recently moved to the apartment on the street with my mother. If you have anything to do with me, go to 304 on the third floor instead of my previous home."
"..." Shu Nian pursed his lips forcefully, and asked again, "Why are you hurt?"
Xie Ruhe raised his hand to touch the wound, and without hiding it, said honestly, "My dad smashed it with a cup."
Shu Nian stared at his wound, became impatient, and the volume became louder: "I heard what Chen Hanzheng said about your father's domestic violence, but I still didn't believe it. He broke the law! Hit people!"
Xie Ruhe didn't say anything.
Shu Nian had never encountered such a thing.
She had seen uncles and aunts who would beat their children with clothes hangers when they were in a hurry, but they would not be as serious as Xie Ruhe. Her tears fell as she spoke: "Should I call the police..."
Xie Ruhe said: "No, I'm moving out."
"Will he come here to beat you again..." Shu Nian let out a whimpering cry, standing on tiptoe to look at his wound, "What to do, how can there be such a person..."
Xie Ruhe repeated: "It's fine."
"What's the matter?!" Shu Nian whimpered, his voice was soft but firm, "I have to go tell your father, it's wrong for him to do this. How can you hit someone with a glass! You will die!"
Xie Ruhe felt a little strange, seeing Shu Nian crying like this, he was in a very good mood.
He stopped her: "Aren't you afraid that he will hit you?"
"I have nothing to be afraid of." Shunian sniffled, "If he dares to hit me, I will call the police. I can still ask my dad to go with me. He will definitely not be able to beat my dad."
She was still crying, and her eyeballs were like glass balls washed with water, bright and round. The circles around the eyes are red, and the cheeks are slightly puffed up, like a small rice cake.
Knowing that he would be hurt, but for him he would not hesitate.
Seeing the wetness on her face, Xie Ruhe had an inexplicable impulse. His eyes darkened, and the corners of his mouth slightly curved, soothing her softly.
There were other things on my mind.
He wanted to lick her tears away, to taste that taste.
These are the tears that Shunem shed for him.
Xie Ruhe thought about bit by bit, taking everything for himself.
It must be sweet.
It's like, it's the taste of bitterness and reward.