The light from two large red lanterns outside the Transportation Bureau compound was dim in the sparse bamboo forest, and the faint light penetrated into an ancient pavilion on the arch bridge in the courtyard. At the other end, "Shhh!" Fireworks lit up the garden where the trees were still lush.
Cheng Xiang, Li Yu and some younger children in the yard were setting off fireworks.
Inside the pagoda-top pavilion with glazed tiles, Fan Xin was wearing a small windbreaker, dungarees, grey cotton tights and a pair of black leather shoes. Standing in this old courtyard where she grew up, she looked graceful, but... a little out of place, or perhaps... beyond.
Among the children in my uncle's yard, Fan Xin can definitely be considered the sensible type. She has been a well-behaved girl praised since she was young. She learned the violin, attended tutoring classes, and finally transferred to Chengdu, where she studied at the key No. 9 Middle School. She is also considered a very outstanding child in the Transportation Bureau compound. Every year when she goes home during the holidays, she is the pride of her parents, being sensible and decent.
Liu Yong has a book called "Looking at Life with a Cold Eye". Fan Xin thinks that this is the most appropriate description of herself. From childhood to adulthood, when most of her peers were still ignorant, she wanted to learn the violin and played it well, which could draw warm applause from the audience at some dinner parties. When her peers were still singing "Sailor" and "Little Tigers" at the top of their lungs in KTV, she could already sing "Right Hereiting" and "Unhained Melody" with a fluent and standard accent, which surprised others.
In fact, Fan Xin did not think that she was not integrated into the world of her peers, but she always looked further ahead, as if from the beginning, she knew that there was a distance between her and the people around her. When she played with the Cheng brothers in the yard, she was always the one who knew the limits the most. When something crossed the line, she always intervened, and she was always more self-controlled and mature than them.
Of course, even though this was the case, there weren't many opportunities for Cheng Ran to play together, only a few times. But it was still very impressive.
Later, Fan Xin went to Chengdu, and there were fewer such interactions. However, my third brother Cheng Xiang often went to the Transportation Bureau, so he should be more familiar with Fan Xin.
When Fan Xin came back this time, she met the three of them again. Cheng Xiang and Li Yu were younger and still in a playful mood at this time. They went to play with a group of friends in the yard, leaving Cheng Ran and Fan Xin, two peers who should have more common language, in the pavilion.
Although Fan Xin is the same age as Cheng Ran, she is one grade older than Cheng Ran in terms of school age, so she is now a sophomore in Rongcheng No. 9 Middle School. Psychologically, she thinks she is older than Cheng Ran. And this time when she returned to her hometown, she saw that the yard where she had lived for more than ten years was still the same, and her childhood friends were still the same as before. In addition to being friendly, she, who is mentally older, had many more feelings.
But the boy beside him became even more silent. Was it because he was not used to his outfit and changes? Or was it because growth had smoothed out his previously restless and flamboyant edges
"Cheng Ran, do you still live in the yard of Huatong Company?"
Cheng Ran nodded.
Her impression of Huatong Company was before Fan Xin went out to study. The most heated discussion was about the company not being able to pay salaries. At that time, she thought of Cheng Ran. She only felt sympathy for him.
Fan Xin tried to create a more relaxed atmosphere. "Your grades are still bad? Let your parents worry less... Which high school are you attending in Shanhai City now? If I remember correctly, you are a year younger than me. Are you a freshman at this time?"
"Well," Cheng Ran, who seemed to be looking at the old courtyard like himself, said softly, "First High School."
"Oh... No. 1 High School..." Fan Xin said casually, then reacted and froze for a moment, "Huh?"
She looked at Cheng Ran again. Ever since Fan Xin was old enough to understand, she knew the importance of No. 1 High School in the education community of Shanhai City. It was even her goal at one time. But later, she wanted to go out, and her family had the conditions, so she went to No. 9 High School in Rongcheng. From the perspective of key level, one is a national demonstration school and the other is a provincial key school, so No. 9 High School is still one level higher. She doesn't look up to No. 1 High School so much now, but in her impression, Cheng Ran is a poor student. She didn't expect that he could go to No. 1 High School
But Fan Xin was also relieved, she understood where Cheng Ran's calm personality came from. No wonder... In a place like No. 1 High School, where there are so many masters, he knows how insignificant he is, so he can't be lively anymore. It must be the inferiority complex that is at work.
"The content of high school is not easy, right? Do you think that everyone is excellent and it is difficult to improve? You need to have your own set of learning methods... I will teach you a trick... For Chinese, read more books with logical thinking, which is good for cultivating your critical thinking and accumulating materials. For math, practice questions based on your weak points. For English, watch movies with original soundtracks. VCDs have the function of removing subtitles. Watch more and cultivate your listening skills. Over time, you will be able to apply what you have learned to other areas..."
When Fan Xin said this, there was actually a hint of guidance in her words.
In fact, at this time, the two teenage playmates suddenly met each other under the pavilion that carried memories. They had all grown up. Moreover, when they were left in this pavilion just now, Cheng Xiang and a group of children in the yard were still joking about the two of them, leading them to the direction of man and woman, saying things like "You guys are dating here, we won't disturb you!"
So the two of them were a little embarrassed for a while, and Fan Xin laughed like a silver bell, "Stupid kid!"
Now that Fan Xin was instructing Cheng Ran in this way, there was no such awkward feeling at all, and he implicitly put Cheng Ran in the position of a younger brother.
Cheng Ran actually listened to her "teachings" attentively, nodded from time to time, and smiled in a friendly manner.
Fan Xin felt that she was very lucky to have such a good-looking brother with such a gentle smile that made people happy.
It's possible that I haven't thought about it in the direction of men and women... But looking at Cheng Ran...
I still can't do it.
Too tender.
…
The two chatted for a while, and then Luo Youwei, whom Fan Xin was waiting for, came over. Luo Youwei's father was Luo Guangzhong, the deputy director of the Transportation Bureau. He was studying at the Shanhai Local Finance and Economics College and was the same age as Cheng Ran's older brother Cheng Qi.
Luo Youwei came from a wealthy family. At that time, the so-called Korean wave had just begun to take off in China. He was dressed in a "Korean-loving" style, wearing a large plaid shirt and loose-fitting casual pants with wide legs. He also wore a Yankees baseball cap with "YN" on it. It was obvious that he had dressed up carefully, and he walked over with his hands in his trouser pockets, looking very "cool".
Seeing Luo Youwei, Fan Xin straightened her legs and stepped on the small leather shoes with the toes turned inward, looking more ladylike. She smiled at him, "Kang Youwei!"
This is probably the inherent name between them. Although Luo Youwei is older than Fan Xin, they still treat each other like friends.
When he came over, he saw Cheng Ran beside him, and was stunned for a moment, then said, "Oh, you are here too."
Cheng Xiang and Li Yu came over and said to Fan Xin, "Sister Xinxin, we've got people here... When are we going to the music city?"
Cheng Xiang and Li Yu are very friendly to Fan Xin, but not so much to Luo Youwei. This guy is usually very aloof and a bit pretentious. All in all, he doesn't have a good impression of him.
Luo Youwei frowned and said, "What kind of occasion will that be? How can you follow them?"
Fan Xin said, "Xiao Yao is already there. I asked him to take care of the three brothers, and he said it was no problem..."
Cheng Ran stared at Fan Xin in a daze. Has he become a "cheap younger brother" now
Fan Xin winked at him.
This is a bargain...
Luo Youwei looked unhappy and said, "No, Fan Xin, that was the box reserved by Liu Jin's father, Liu Zhongping, the president of the Construction Investment Company. It was specially used for Liu Jin's reception today. It is said that the person invited today is very important... Xiao Yao, his father is a director and can't even speak in front of others, so just listen to what he says... The people who went today are all from Liu Jin's circle, and some want to use Liu Jin's relationship to make connections... The people Liu Jin invited today... In this Shanhai, the background and power that can compare to his family's are no more than ten fingers.
"I heard about it before..." Fan Xin nodded gently. With her father's relationship, she could actually accept and understand what Luo Youwei said. But at this time, she said, "It's just for fun... Bring them along... Let's see the world."
Luo Youwei was stunned for a moment, but he still acquiesced to Fan Xin's "seeing the world" statement. Moreover, after saying so much, Cheng Xiang and Li Yu of the Cheng family were not friendly to him. Although he wanted to act alone with Fan Xin, there was no need to insist on embarrassing the three brothers of the Cheng family at this time. Anyway, he had ordered what he should order. He didn't think that bringing three people would cause any trouble. Shanhai City is located in the inland, with many ethnic groups mixed. The folk customs are fierce, but also floating in the society. Li Jin, who is worth more than 10 million, was instructed by his father to treat the other party to a celebration banquet. In fact, the more people come, the more face it appears, and the host is proud of it.
"Then go ahead. I'll drive my dad's car." Luo Youwei took out a Passat key from his trouser pocket and went to the garage next door in a show-off manner.
Needless to say, Cheng Ran also knew that this was probably a gathering of the children of Shanhai City. Shanhai City is a place where wine culture prevails, so there are many specific customs. Because the place is small, the social level is relatively fixed, and interpersonal communication is extensive. Many people are connected. When someone mentions someone, the son of someone, they are often known by everyone at the same level. It is also common for a son to inherit his father's business. A family has been operating here for a long time, with deep roots and complex forces.
On the surface, many families have a connection, and people in high positions are actually consciously connected to each other. Many fathers do business together, and their children also form a circle of friends.
Therefore, the so-called "circle of children" does exist.
Cheng Ran and his friends work at Huatong Company, so of course they are not at the same level as Fan Xin and Luo Youwei. But today, it seemed that since they have been playmates for a long time, Fan Xin brought the three brothers Cheng Ran along.
While waiting for Luo Youwei to drive, Cheng Ran said to Fan Xin, "I'm not a good singer, so I won't go..."
Luo Youwei's car had already arrived in front of them and braked with a squeak. However, Fan Xin took Cheng Ran's arm with one hand, opened a car door, and smiled, "Okay, how about you treat me as your brother and help me block the wine?"
Cheng Ran was stunned for a moment. It turned out that she really regarded him as her "little brother".
Fan Xin helped her get into the car and she sat in the front passenger seat. Cheng Xiang and Li Yu squeezed in soon after. Their sole intention was to accompany Sister Xinxin to the karaoke bar to sing and have fun.
All Cheng Ran had in mind was to be responsible for looking after his two younger brothers and sending them back at night, so he had to make this trip.
The vehicle moved forward and the scenery on the roadside fell backwards. After chatting with Luo Youwei for a few words, Fan Xin, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, turned her head. Just then, the light from a lantern on the road shone through the car window onto Cheng Ran's face, making his face seem a little red.
Fan Xin laughed, "You're blushing already? How cute... Cheng Ran, be good, call me sister."
Cheng Ran gave her a bitter face.