The boy came riding on a bamboo horse, playing with green plums around the bed. Living together in Changganli, the two children had no suspicion of each other.
This time the Xu family stayed longer, for a whole month.
In midsummer, the sycamore tree in the center of the yard bloomed. There was no green leaves to decorate it, only purple flowers and buds, enchanting among the green-brown branches. In fact, the word enchanting is not accurate to describe the grand occasion of the sycamore tree blooming. The lavender flowers are simple, clean and refreshing. Looking from afar, it makes one think deeply.
A fat green caterpillar fell in the middle of the yard, crawling slowly on the ground with mottled light and shadows. Every time I passed by, I was very careful, slipped under the tree as quickly as possible, and hurriedly fled to the house. Nan Fang was not afraid. He liked to set up a small table in the evening, pull two small stools, sit under the tree, and shout with a naughty smile, "Qianqian, come and play marbles and checkers!"
"Come inside!"
"There's a cool breeze in the yard, how refreshing!"
"Come in!"
…
Grandpa Xu and grandma and grandpa often drink tea and chat in the study. Grandpa lies in an easy chair, and Grandpa Xu and grandma sit on bamboo chairs. Sometimes, Nan Fang and I sit aside and listen quietly. When we are confused, we ask curious questions. We listen to them talk about things we know and interject from time to time. Grandpa Xu has a loud voice and a hearty laugh. I can't help but wonder in my heart, what was he like when he was young? Was he extremely heroic and free and easy? Grandma naturally speaks softly. I heard from my aunt that grandma was a gentle woman when she was young. Grandpa's style is completely different. He speaks more politely and rigorously, with a strong scholarly air.
They talked about things before liberation. At that time, the Zhao family was in the hotel business and opened a big hotel in the county town. The yard was very large, and the houses were connected in a row. There were three floors and many rooms, and the floor was made of wood. The Zhao family was also considered a relatively wealthy family in the city. After the family of Grandpa Xu fell into poverty, he lived here. Grandma and them were isolated neighbors, and the three of them had a deep friendship.
Great-grandfather and great-grandmother smoked opium when they had nothing to do. It was said that it was still popular among the rich at that time. Grandpa persuaded them again and again but they couldn't quit, so they had to give up. A few years after the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, the National Government moved to Chongqing and designated it as the temporary capital. Eunuch Xu and grandfather were in high school in the city. The government came to the school to select some students to serve in the army, and it was said that they would be sent abroad to study. Eunuch Xu was eager to join the army. At that time, grandfather also wanted to go, but great-grandfather and great-grandmother did not allow it. Later, grandfather found an idle job in the county town, fell in love with grandmother, and settled down...
Nan Fang and I listened to their conversations in the study several times, and then we gradually understood the past. That chaotic era and the distant stories deeply attracted me. Sometimes when I listened to them talking about the past, I asked curiously, and grandma patiently told me about it. The scorching sun in midsummer shone through the gaps in the sycamore trees, and the light and shadows intertwined. One by one, golden circles of light jumped on the floor of the study, like naughty elves. In a trance, it seemed that time had gone back decades, back to the past. I tried hard to imagine and piece together in my mind. I tried many times to connect their stories, but I always felt that something was missing, not full, and those "memories" seemed to have turned into fragments, and some pieces were missing... .
Nan Fang asked, "Strange, do people here like gardenias?"
"Maybe. My grandmother likes gardenias. When they bloom, she often buys a bunch from the street and puts them in a vase. They are fragrant for a week. Later, when we built a building, my grandfather planted many of them in the roof garden. I grew up smelling the fragrance of gardenias! I can't help but like it."
"Oh, oh. You people here like it! My grandfather also planted a large area of it in his garden at home."
They all like it.
Nanfang and I went up Luohan Slope again. The trees were lush and green on the side of the path. We walked fast at first, and when we got tired, we found a shady place on the side of the road to sit down and rest. The mountain breeze blew over us, and our sweat evaporated immediately. It was very comfortable. That summer. On the hillside that was once full of gardenias, Nanfang gently pulled my hand. His palm was so big and his fingers were so long that he completely wrapped my little hand in his palm.
The afterglow of the setting sun shines through the dense bamboo forest onto our faces. His face is shining, with slightly upturned corners of his mouth and clear, bright and sparkling eyes, which have been deeply engraved in my heart ever since.
"Qinqin, are there any boys pursuing you in your school?"
"No."
"Oh. That—"
"That's the notorious bad student in our school."
"If he comes to you again—"
"If he comes to see me again, I'll tell him that I have a bodyguard!" I smiled and picked a piece of foxtail grass to scratch his face.
"Haha. How did I become your bodyguard?" He was a little ticklish and turned his face away.
"Don't you want to?" I used both hands to straighten his face and asked with a pout.
"I am willing to do so. But I have used all my strength to fight you. It's a waste of talent."
We both laughed. After we calmed down, he looked into my eyes lovingly and said slowly, "Xu Nanfang must protect Zhao Qinqin."
I felt compassion, and for the first time I experienced the taste of honey. When we went down the mountain, I was already holding Nanfang's arm tightly.
At my age, I didn’t dare let my family know that I was dating a boy, even if it was Xu Nanfang, who was familiar to my family. In the eyes of adults, it would be considered premature love.
I exchanged letters with Nan Fang more and more frequently. At that time, I didn’t know much about making long-distance calls, and I heard that such long-distance calls were expensive.
Qinqin, my dad is back and bought a new sports car. He looks very cool when driving on the street... I'll take some pictures and send them to you next time. Are those people still bothering you
I wrote in the letter that I heard Jiang Shuai dropped out of school, and my troubles were over. In the south, the grade was re-divided into classes, and I was in the key class. The third year of junior high school has a tight schedule, and my classmates are studying hard. I dare not slack off either, and I must be admitted to the high school of this school. However, I will take enough time to write to you, hehe...
What kind of outfits are popular among female students in the south and Taipei these days? Do any of your classmates have girlfriends? Are there any girls who like you... .
Qiuqiu, I've told you before that most schools in Taipei have separate schools for both boys and girls. The boys in my class dated girls from Taipei's best girls' high school, Taipei First Girls' High School. Taipei First Girls' High School is on the way from our school to Ximending. It is said that the school sets a school dismissal time 20 minutes earlier than their school, which is to take care of the students so that they have enough time to pick up their girlfriends from Taipei First Girls' High School after class, and then go to cram school or Ximending. Do you believe it? You don't have that, do you
Last time you asked me if there were any girls who liked me. There are many, but I only have you.
In the south, my grandfather is not in good health and has been hospitalized recently. My grandmother is busy and looks haggard. Oh! My father comes home less and less. I heard that his business in Chongqing is going well. My mother is very hard-working and complains a lot. Sometimes she gets angry at me for no reason. I understand her feelings, but I feel wronged. What do you think I should do... .
Qinqin, if you don't want to listen, just ignore it. Men are busy with business outside, and women must be hard-working. My father rarely comes home. He has been in Shanghai in recent years. Mom goes to the beauty salon and parties with a group of friends every day. It's comfortable without anyone to bother her... Qinqin, I hope that we will grow up quickly. In the future, I will pick you up in Taipei and take you out for a ride in my sports car... (To be continued)