In the morning of the next day, after the boy went out, You Xu got out of the small hole and followed him not far or near.
From the cabin to the west for about a quarter of an hour, there are more doors that can be seen, and many villagers are sweeping the snow in front of the door with brooms.
Going all the way down, you can see some stalls and shops on both sides of the road, there are shouts and clamors, this is the small market in the village.
When You Xu saw him walking over, she guessed that he was going to do something in the market, so she stopped following him, and turned to the frozen lake yesterday to have a look. No one came to fish, so she took a closer look. After going through the ice again, I couldn't find any cracks, so I sighed regretfully and walked to the market to see what the boy was doing.
There are quite a lot of people in the small market, and it is a bit lively. There are men selling candied haws, masters kneading clay figurines, as well as fabric shops and wine shops.
You Xu was not very good at walking on the ground in a crowded place, and her vision was blocked again. When there were a little less people, she jumped on the wooden fence, looked around, and found the boy.
It wasn't too far away, she could see what he was gesturing with a man selling wontons, probably because he wanted to do chores, no money, just a bowl of wontons every day, the man who looked quite honest was a little embarrassed, and finally waved his hand. rejected him.
As soon as he walked out of the wonton stall, he saw an old lady holding a wooden tub with clothes in it and a mallet on it. It was obvious that she was going to do laundry. The boy stopped her, probably because she wanted to help her wash, change food, etc. But the aunt looked impatient, turned around and walked away.
Although the village is not big, there are not too many people in the village. Everyone in the village knows him, and when they see him, they will subconsciously avoid him, with eyes and words pointing from time to time.
The boy seemed to be used to it, and there was no reaction at all.
You Xu was very inexplicable, what happened, a ten-year-old child deserved to be avoided like this
She jumped off the wooden fence, trying to walk towards him, and passed two girls and heard them talking in low voices.
The girl in the gray jacket said, "Eh? Isn't that Li Yier, I haven't seen him for more than a month, I thought he left the village, didn't he come to the market for a long time, why did he come again?"
Another girl said, "Why did you leave the village? My brother saw him swinging on the mountain a few days ago."
"His parents died early, his fields were sold, his family was sold, and his only sister dragged him until he was ten years old. He's almost thirteen now, it's really not easy."
"You are so sympathetic, can't you help him?"
"My father said that he has a suffocating energy, and he will kill those who are close to him and make others unlucky. I dare not go. My father knows that he is going to scold me to death."
You Xu was about to laugh when he heard it. The three of them became tigers. In ancient times, such remote small villages especially believed in ghosts and gods, and the law of fate. When everyone believed in a certain idea, it would become the so-called fact and truth.
She was too lazy to listen any more. Seeing Li Yier passing by a steamed bun shop with many customers, just as she thought about it, she saw a boy running past him and stuffing something into his hand.
You Xu didn't react for a while, but felt that the boy who ran over was a little familiar.
The next moment, a sneering and scolding sounded: "Oh, freak, I haven't seen you for a few days, you still dare to come to the market, haven't you learned enough from the last time, and now you dare to come and steal?"
When You Xu saw a group of boys, big and small, appearing behind Li Yier, he immediately remembered the group of people who bullied him at Li Yier's house last time, the boy who just ran over and their group.
This method of framing the blame is extremely naive and clumsy.
The leader was a little fat boy. He kicked Li Yier over, and Li Yier rolled to the ground, protecting what was in his hand.
"I told you not to come in the future and understand people's words?"
"You fucking dare to steal, you stole a few buns, and you don't want to hand them over."
"I told you to hit me once."
Fists and kicks landed on him, and he had no resistance and could only shrink to the ground.
There was a lot of noise, and many eyes turned away. Maybe someone knew that Li Yier didn't steal the buns, but no one stepped forward to stop him. Li Yier hasn't spoken to anyone for a long time, and his language function is somewhat impaired. Can't argue for myself.
Of course, the most important point is that when those people see that he has no father or mother, and no one to rely on, they are weak and can be bullied.
And they also made sure that Li Yier couldn't put down the steamed bun in his hand. Anyway, he would be beaten and scolded. It's better to be patient and stutter...
You Xu was about to go insane, so she rushed over without hesitation, and while the young boy in the lead bent down and punched Li Yier in the head, she jumped up and grabbed his eyes with one paw.
"Ah—" the boy covered one eye and shouted, "Damn, where's the wild cat, kill this beast."
The man wanted to reach out to grab her, but You Xu bypassed him, and by taking advantage of his small size and agility, he grabbed and bit all the people who had beaten Li Yier.
"Damn!"
"My hands are bleeding."
These people were annoyed by her, and they all turned their attention. They picked up the stone and wooden sticks on the ground and smashed them over. You Xu ran away and continued to run when they saw them chasing.
Li Yi'er raised his head in a daze and looked at the direction where they disappeared. Under the malicious beating and scolding, he felt protected for the first time, and it came from a kitten.
A place in my heart collapsed in an instant.
Since his last relative passed away, he has never shed a tear, and his eyes are red.
—
You Xu easily got rid of those people, and went back to the original place to have a look. He didn't see Li Yier, and he was a little relieved. Fortunately, he was not that stupid and was still waiting there.
She walked around and made sure that Li Yier had left, so she also left the small market.
On the small road outside the market, in the silver-clad world, he stood there quietly, looking too thin and small, not like a thirteen-year-old child at all.
Li Yier's eyes were full of anxiety. When he saw the gray-brown kitten walking step by step, his eyes brightened, he hurriedly walked over to pick her up, checked her body carefully, made sure she was not injured, and then heaved a sigh of relief.
He held her in his arms, touched the fur on her back, put her in the placket, raised his hand to shield her from the wind with the jacket, and then walked towards home.
You Xu pressed against his chest quietly, hearing his fast heartbeat and the creaking of the thick snow under his feet.
After walking for a long time, You Xu heard his chest vibrate, trying to make a sound.
"No...you're small, be careful...far...run."
Difficult and vague words, mixed with a light and shallow breath.
You Xu guessed that he wanted her to leave him alone in the future, be careful, stay away, and avoid getting hurt.
She felt warm and rubbed his chest.
All the way home, Li Yier didn't put her down. He took out the bun, which was trampled flat, with black footprints on it, and a lot of dust on the ground stuck to it.
He shook the bun, patted it a few more times, then peeled off the dirty outer skin and ate it, and handed the remaining clean part to her.
You Xu shook his head and pushed back with his head.
He touched the bun, and there was longing in his eyes, but he didn't eat it, he lit the fire again, and put the iron bowl with ice and snow on the shelf.
Then the water boiled, he put the steamed buns in, boiled the steamed buns with water, and then put them aside to cool, and when the temperature was just right, he handed them to You Xu again.
You Xu understood now that he thought the buns were cold and hard, and it was inconvenient for her as a kitten to eat them, so he cooked them hot and soft for her.
He lowered his eyes and looked at her gently.
A swollen and sour feeling enveloped his heart, and You Xu gestured for him to drink at least half of it.
Li Yier understood, so he drank half of it and handed it back to her. He lowered his eyelashes and gently stroked the hair on her back.
You Xu lowered his head and licked the contents of the bowl.
—
For the next half month, humans and cats depended on each other for life.
Following You Xu's guidance, Li Yier made two holes on the ice lake. You Xu squatted in one place to fish, and Li Yier fished with a simple homemade hook. Sometimes they would get one or two harvests. Good luck Sometimes there are three or four, and sometimes nothing.
Apart from fishing, Li Yier seldom took her out, but would not restrict her access because she knew she would come back.
When not fishing, he would go to the mountains to get food, and sometimes he could catch some birds and dig some yams.
Although there is often a feeling of hunger, there is no time when I am very hungry.
One cat was struggling to live alone, but the cabin was no longer dead, but warmed.
…
The skins of the melon seeds in my head fell into small piles, and You Xu couldn't bear it any longer: "Don't knock melon seeds in my head, it's still crunchy."
Qi Ba crossed Erlang's legs and ignored her at all.
There's a contrast called hurt, where she has an existential crisis on one side, and it's laid back and comfortable on the other side, and it just doesn't make sense.
"Did our mission target be wrong?" You Xu was skeptical.
Qiba: "How do you say?"
"Don't you think the name of this task object is very casual," You Xu was extremely suspicious, "The name of any cannon fodder is better than this, even if it's you, it's called a lucky number anyway."
"..." It felt insulted.
Qiba said: "His parents are both farmers, and they don't know a few words, so there is no need to take a surname. His name is the day he was born."
You Xu was stunned for a moment. On January 2, the second day of the first lunar month, that day happened to be the day Li Yier was framed for stealing steamed buns on the street. When he came back, he did not show the slightest hope or resentment, but just finished drinking the bowl with her softly. Bun water.
Today, Li Yier went out again. He should have gone to the mountains to get food. By the way, he was looking for something to use as bait.
You Xu also went out and went to the market. She wanted to look for something to give Li Yier as a present.
The market is more lively than before, and the number of people buying and selling has increased significantly. Because the New Year is approaching, many shops are hanging paper-cuts, couplets, red lanterns and other things, which are festive and red.
"How much does this red paper sell for?"
"Hey, the price of meat has risen a lot, and the price of vegetables has also risen by two cents."
"Auntie, I'll buy more, not cheaper. I'll buy it from you next time."
"How's your house doing?"
"I just cleaned it up, and I'm about to post the couplet."
You Xu walked around with the legs like wooden pillars, thinking of the gray-painted wooden house as he walked, there was no bright color at all, and it was almost New Year's Eve, the ancients were very particular about this kind of thing, why not... .
She wandered back and forth at the shop selling red paper couplets. At the very head, an old man wrote the couplets on the spot. The writing was vigorous and powerful, and it was very beautiful. Many people gathered around to watch.
You Xu squeezed into the shop through the gap at the foot of the person, and sneaked under the wooden table. She picked out a piece of red paper with a bigger slap.
After deciphering the surrounding words, it is probably that the old man was admitted as a scholar when he was young and was quite famous in the village, so he wrote the couplet and got everyone's attention and praise.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, You Xu secretly dipped a little ink on her paw, and drew a very blurred word "Fu" on the red paper. A cat's paw print was accidentally printed on it, and she rubbed it with another clean paw. , I can't rub it off, so I have to give up.
"Eh? Why is there a cat under here?"
Someone had already noticed her, so You Xu had to give up the idea of rewriting it, and jumped out with the red paper in his mouth.
You Xu ran home, and Li Yier was sorting out the bamboo strips that he got back, and wanted to use it to weave a basket or something.
As soon as she appeared, he immediately noticed her and stopped what he was doing.
You Xu handed over the red paper in his mouth, and Li Yier took it knowingly and saw that a piece of red paper with an irregular shape had the word "Fu" written on it, and there was also a cat's paw print on it.
He lowered his eyelids, making it difficult to see his emotions, and after watching it for a long time, You Xu suspected that he had spelled it wrong, but the characters for blessing on the streets were all this gesture, even if Li Yier was illiterate, he should be familiar with it. The word is right.
You Xu approached his feet and saw his slightly wet eyes, bright and clean, like falling into the moonlight.
"Meow—" You Xu cried, raised his ink-colored paws, and stuck out his tongue at him.
Li Yi'er looked back and saw that a lot of hair on her body was sticking with ink, and the white hair around her tongue and mouth was stained with red on the red paper, which looked funny and cute.
His brows widened, and the corners of his lips curled up.
You Xu was stunned for a moment. This was the first time she saw him smile. The smile was warm and pure, like a box of glass balls shone slightly by the sunlight.
Even if this box of glass balls was once buried and never seen the light of day, even if they had many cracks.
She also wants them to always have a moment when they are illuminated.
The author has something to say: Sorry for the late bird, Calvin didn't write many words today, and tomorrow will be double-shifted [make a fist and try to face.
Zaizai will grow up tomorrow, and no one will bully him anymore, only he will bully others.
Li Yier's face was indifferent: "Is that why I call this name?"
The author laughed: "You are my first male protagonist with a three-character name, so lucky boy!!!"
Li Yi Er: "...Oh."
—
Thank you to the little angel who voted or irrigated nutrient solution for me during 2020-02-03 22:24:57~2020-02-04 22:52:44~
Thanks to the little angel who threw the mines: good things peanuts, 1 magic bag of the mechanical cat;
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 5 bottles of sweet knock; 1 bottle of freshtalkm;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!