A heartbeat, a lifetime

Chapter 8
In the evening, the old man and I sat in the living room watching TV.

My aunt put a lot of food on the table, and because the floor was heated and the cashmere blanket was spread, I sat cross-legged on the ground, peeling nuts and chatting with grandpa.

I'm from the south, and I don't understand Northeast dialect very well. I was always confused when I saw some dialogues in the sketches, so I kept asking questions.The old man also watched seriously, no matter what weird questions I have, he doesn't think I'm annoying.

"Grandpa, how do you understand everything?" I asked, "Are you from the Northeast?"

"At that time, the heavy industry bases were all in the Northeast, and I stayed there for more than ten years when I was young," said the old man.

I saw the host reading the New Year greetings from various companies and groups, and suddenly remembered that the countdown clock before eight o'clock was an advertisement from Roewe, so I couldn't help asking: "Grandpa, this advertisement must be very expensive, right?"

The old man shook his head, "I haven't meddled in the affairs of the group for a long time, it's all done by Ah Jun."

"Then why don't you go to see it?" I was curious.

He chuckled, "Do you want to see it? Tell him next year and let him arrange it."

I shook my head and handed a small plate to the old man, "Grandpa, I peeled the pine nuts, you eat."

I saw the old man startled, as if touched, he was speechless for a while.

I handed over some more, "Eat it! I'll peel it after eating!"

He just took it, and I lowered my head and continued to peel it wholeheartedly, "Grandpa, I used to spend the New Year at a classmate's house, and her mother just peeled the pine nuts for us to eat."

The old man suddenly reached out and touched my head, and said in a low voice: "Since you were young, no one has peeled it for you to eat?"

I shook my head, the light at this moment was warm and harmonious, as if it warmed my heart.I have never told anyone about many things in my heart, but I want to tell the elderly all at once.

"I don't have parents, but I always think that if my mother were around, she would peel and eat them for me like this."

The old man behind him sighed softly, "Xiaoxi, it will be the same to regard grandpa as a relative from now on."

I turned around and said seriously: "Grandpa, you have to keep the fact that we know each other a secret! If people in the company know about it, they must think I'm trying to flatter you!"

The old man laughed loudly, "Good!"

Uncle Zhao Benshan has not come out on TV, but I have already started to feel sleepy.Looking back at the old man, he had already started to doze off, and his heart felt relieved, so he simply fell asleep with his pillow in his arms.

I don't know how long it took, my cheeks were slightly cold, and I don't know who it was, patted my cheeks relentlessly.

I opened my eyes and stared at the man in a daze.

Shen Qinjun just bent down and looked at me, his bright eyes were full of smiles, "Wake up quickly, it's twelve o'clock, let's set off firecrackers!"

The old man was also woken up. Seeing the stalemate between us, he said with a smile: "Xiaoxi, go! Let it go in the yard!"

I was pulled up by him, and I heard the old man say from behind: "Put on your clothes, don't freeze."

"Grandpa, I got it." Shen Qinjun turned his head and responded, took off his coat and put it on my shoulders.

I looked back at Grandpa, his eyes contained encouragement and connivance, as if looking at the two children.It was a warm feeling in my chest again. Once upon a time, I actually felt... I have had such a grandpa for a long, long time.

On the night of New Year's Eve, it started to snow.

There are still really large hexagonal snowflakes, in the dark night, like rice paper that has been torn by people, splashing wantonly.

I hugged his coat, couldn't help but sneezed, but said excitedly: "Those fireworks are ours?"

Holding a metallic lighter in his hand, he lightly pressed it, "Are you afraid? Why don't you stand far away and I'll light it."

I jumped for joy, "Not afraid! I will order too."

There was already a whole row of firecrackers on the ground, I took his lighter, trotted over, squatted down to light the first one, and then ran back quickly.

Just standing under the eaves, there was a loud bang behind him, and the smell of sulfur wafted in the air.

This is the taste of Chinese New Year.

Leaning against the eaves of the corridor, he smiled and made a "good" gesture to me.

I was happier and turned around to order the second one.

When I ran back halfway, the slippers under my feet slipped and fell behind.I was barefoot, so I didn't dare to step on it anymore, and stood there in a daze.

Just for a moment, I suddenly remembered that the firecrackers hadn't fired yet... Just as I was about to grit my teeth and run forward, Shen Qinjun had already run to my side, almost half-embracing me, turned around, turned my back to the firecrackers, and took advantage of the situation My head was in his arms.

There was a loud bang, louder and more surging than the first one.

His hands covered my ears, and I looked up, watching the firecracker soar into the sky, explode again in the air, and then fall heavily again.Following that trajectory, I saw his expression, he was looking at me intently, my own face was reflected in his dark brown amber eyes... My expression was blank, or maybe it was because it was too cold, so cold Cheeks flushed.

There is obviously no starlight or moonlight, but I read some bright fragments in his eyes, which are vaguely past events, so beautiful that it makes people heartbreak.I was intoxicated by such gazes, and he quickly lowered his head and gently kissed the center of my brow.

That was unbelievably fast, almost like a flash of lightning, and before I could react, he had already let go of me, and said in a low voice: "It's a disaster for a child to be happy, you'd better just wait and watch."

He picked up the slippers and put them at my feet. I numbly put them on and heard my own voice: "What do you mean?"

He glanced at me, and his expression had returned to his usual indifference, "It's not interesting."

I bit my lip and looked at him, wanting to cry in a daze, "You said it was just acting!"

Just acting!Why should he kiss me!
He glanced at me and didn't care, "Little girl, you think too much."

I was thinking too much... But why did he do this!Why do you want me to think too much?

I stared at him intently, but he pulled me in front of him, turned to the night sky, and behind me, stretched out his hands to cover my ears, and said softly, "Look!"

Large and large fireworks bloomed in the sky, and the brightest and most beautiful large flower, like a thick and colorful peony, bloomed in an instant.A moment later, the petals fell off, winding and stretching out a silver stream, criss-crossing, like a huge silver cross.

So bright, yet so cold, I turned around and saw the shallow smile on the corner of his lips, like a snowflake that melts at the touch of a touch, cruel and frivolous.

The eye sockets are hot and humid, but the heart is cold.

I engraved this scene in my heart, reminding myself over and over again, take the play with me and don't look back.

Back in the house, three bowls of glutinous rice balls were placed on the table.

The old man sat down and greeted me: "Xiaoxi, come, eat glutinous rice balls, reunion."

I responded, and Shen Qinjun sat opposite me calmly, as if nothing happened just now.

"Is there anything wrong with the hospital?" Grandpa ate one and put it down.

I happened to bite through a gnocchi, and the soup flowed down, making my lips tremble.

He glanced at me and said calmly, "It's nothing."

"Is Yiyi coming back?" the old man asked again.

His eyes flickered slightly, and just as he was about to answer, the mobile phone on the table rang.I noticed that this phone is not the one he usually uses, and the ringtone is also the title song of the only album Qin Mou has ever released—this is her phone, no doubt about it.

He picked up the phone and went to the other side of the living room to pick it up. I couldn't hear what he was saying, but the voice was distant and gentle, but very real.

I lowered my head and ate hard, trying to ignore the voice.The aunt came over and said with a smile: "The old man hasn't slept so late for a long time. He must be very happy to see Miss Bai today."

The old man smiled and stood up on crutches, "Go to bed too, it's getting late."

I said good night to my grandpa, went back to the guest room, and the moment I turned on the light, I saw a wrapped gift on the white and soft bed.

is it for me?
I unwrapped the wrapping paper curiously, and the letters on the box already took my breath away.

Leica-S2 model camera, truly my dream camera.

Just the feeling of holding the box in my hand makes my blood boil.

I held the box in my hand, looked at the series of foreign words on it and the smooth lines of the machine on the box, and couldn't wait to take it apart, try the machine, and see if the light sensitivity is as magical as it is said in the legend.

But gradually calmed down, I finally restrained my impulse and rushed out of the house with the camera case.

There are people in the living room.I saw Shen Qinjun sitting on the sofa, looking down at something.

Intentionally taking a heavy step, I walked up to him and handed the camera back to him.

He looked up at me in surprise, "Why? Don't you like it?"

"Give it back to you!" I looked at the camera box with some reluctance, and finally made up my mind to stuff the box heavily into his arms, "It's too expensive, I really can't take it."

He just held it in his hand, looked up at me, his tone seemed to be teasing me, "Really don't want it?"

"Really not."

Regardless of the small size of this camera, the market price can be used to buy a car, how can I get it? !
He raised his eyebrows and looked at me, "How about this, the money will be deducted from the salary. You still accept the camera."

Under the light, his expression was very sincere. I looked at him and then at the camera, and my heart was really moved.

"Here." He still stuffed it back into my hand and smiled, "It's useless for me to hold this camera anyway."

"Okay... Then you remember to deduct it from my salary." I repeated it, feeling a little more at ease.

He smiled and nodded, "Sure."

"You're still awake...what are you looking at?" I looked curiously at the thing in his hand. It was a photo of a young couple, and the mother held a small baby in her hand.

He moved to the side of the sofa and motioned for me to sit down.

I took the photo in his hand and took a closer look at the baby, pink and tender, with a red mole on his forehead, eyes like black grapes, and he smiled beautifully at such a young age.

"You were so cute when you were young." I couldn't help but praise, and looked at his parents again, only then did I realize the wonder of inheritance: Shen Qinjun looks like his mother, with gentle and beautiful eyes, but his temperament is like his father, tall and strong.

He smiled, "My Hundred Suns."

"Where are uncles and aunts?" I was suddenly a little curious. Roewe Group was founded by Mr. Shen. It seems that he has never heard of the second generation, and Shen Qinjun took over directly.

He slowly suppressed the smile on his lips, and said in a deep voice, "They all passed away."

I said "ah".

He took the photo, gently stroked the person in the photo with his slender fingertips, and said softly: "My father met my mother when he was studying abroad. They came back from their studies, and Roewe is building the country's first self-developed The pump truck base, my grandfather completely handed over this part to my father. They all studied machinery, and my mother’s grades were even better than my father’s. Sometimes she encountered technical difficulties. Rush to solve it."

I look at the woman in the photo, who has just given birth, but doesn't look bloated at all.The chin is pointed and the eyes are clear. Although it is simple, it makes people feel very good-looking.I couldn't help but say, "Your mother is amazing."

He smiled, but his expression was very bitter, "I would rather they not be so amazing."

"A few days before the completion of the base, they rushed to the handover workshop early to check the equipment. A ladle containing molten steel suddenly slipped and overturned, and molten steel poured into the room... When they died, I was just one year old."

I was too shocked to make any sound, and countless thoughts rushed through my mind in an instant.

Back then, Roewe independently produced pump trucks that did not rely on any foreign technology, which laid an excellent foundation for the later construction of National Heavy Industries, and all of this... was built on such cruel sacrifices.Shen Qinjun's parents passed away due to the accident, leaving the lonely grandfather Shen, how can he raise his weak grandson exhaustedly, and at the same time work hard to grow the company?As for Shen Qinjun, who lost his parents since he was a child, it's no wonder that he is so young and comes from a wealthy family, but he doesn't have the slightest dandyism. The burden must be heavy on his shoulders, right?
I was very sad, and I didn't know what to say, so I could only reach out and pat his arm.

He looked at me sideways and smiled slightly, "What about you? When you were a child?"

I collected myself and said simply: "I am an abandoned baby. I grew up in an orphanage without parents."

He looked at me and said word by word, "It turns out that we were all lonely children when we were young."

I nodded involuntarily, my nose was a little sore, "But at least you still have grandpa."

Thinking of my grandfather, I suddenly had an unfeeling request. I didn't know whether to ask it now, and I hesitated for a while.

But he seemed to see my thoughts, "What do you want to say?"

"Can I see Grandpa more often in the future?" I whispered, "I mean, after I play with you, can I see him more often?"

He was startled, probably because he didn't expect that I would make such a request.

Seeing him in a dilemma, I quickly said, "I don't need the camera, and I don't need the salary. I just want to meet my grandpa. I have no elders since I was a child. He is like...my real grandpa."

Perhaps it was because my tone was too humble and expectant, Shen Qinjun slightly drew his brows away, and smiled gently, "Is this the first request you made to me in the New Year?"

I nodded.

He stroked my hair and said, "Of course."

I just "laid" at Shen's house.

However, in stark contrast to my "doing nothing" is Shen Qinjun's busyness.

My aunt accidentally mentioned it to me, and I realized that because of their work, their grandparents and grandchildren seldom get together. "In the past, the old man was very busy, and the young master was studying outside. We only got together for a few days during the holidays." The aunt said while handling the dishes, "Young master is busy now. The old man has been waiting for the meal for the thirty-year-old, but he has been talking about it for a long time."

I looked at the old man who was reading a newspaper in the living room, and felt a little sad.From the first day of the new year, Shen Qinjun left early in the morning every day and came back late at night.Once I was watching a TV series in the living room, and I smelled alcohol from afar. Looking back, he opened the door and came in. He was still sober in his behavior, words and deeds, but his eyes were bloodshot, obviously exhausted, and he hit me Say hello, go straight to the shower and sleep.I finally know that people like him really don't have any holidays.

"Xiao Xi! Play chess with me." The old man in the living room called me loudly.

I responded, biting an apple and sitting opposite Grandpa, excitedly, "Okay!"

In less than 10 minutes, I surrendered. Before his last move to checkmate me, I disrupted the chess game without grace, and became angry, "Grandpa, let's play backgammon."

Although it was obvious cheating, grandpa was not angry, he laughed, "Okay."

I am really good at backgammon, and there are few opponents. Even if my grandfather is a chess master, I will still kill him without leaving any pieces.

We each won a game in our field of expertise, which is considered a happy event.Just as the aunt handed over the fruit, there was movement at the door, a very energetic voice said, "Old Shen, it's New Year's greetings."

The one who came was also an old man. He was quite thin, but he was very energetic. He yelled, "Ah Dong, come and pay New Year's greetings to Grandpa Jiang."

Behind him stood a tall young man with thick short hair, wearing a dark brown flight jacket, and cool eyebrows—Mai Zhendong!

I was taken aback and blurted out "Master".

Everyone in the living room was staring at me, and Mai Zhendong was also standing there, probably accidentally meeting me here and forgetting to say hello.

"Hey, Xiao Xi, do you know A Dong?" Old Mr. Shen asked suspiciously.

"Yes, I used to learn photography from Mr. Mai!" I said flatly, "I was scolded and cried many times."

Mai Zhendong put one hand in his pocket and looked at me with a half-smile, "Yes, Bai Xi is quite clever."

It turned out that Mai Zhendong's grandfather was also one of the major shareholders of Roewe, and he was a comrade in arms with Mr. Shen. I didn't expect that Mai Zhendong completely deviated from the family track and became a famous fashion photographer.

I greeted Grandpa Mai respectfully again. The old man looked at me, frowning slightly, as if he hesitated to speak.

"Bai Xi, are you here..." Mai Zhendong sat down on the sofa and asked me leisurely.

(End of this chapter)