Gu Xijue's "Warm Love" Collection

Chapter 38 I'm always by your side (5)
Unreturnable boyhood
Cheng Bai came back from get off work in the hospital, went back to the bathroom to take a shower, wiped his hair, went to the balcony to make a phone call, and saw a car driving away from the front yard, and Cheng Yuanyuan was standing by the door and waving his hands vigorously, waving After a while, she stopped and walked in with a smile.

"Yuanyuan is back?" Aunt Zhu stuck her head out of the kitchen wearing an apron and greeted Yuanyuan with a smile.

"Well, Aunt Zhu."

"I just saw a car taking you back. Is it your boyfriend?" Aunt Zhu asked.

Thinking of Fu Beichen, Yuanyuan felt respect and gratitude welling up in his heart. Just as he was about to speak, he swallowed what he was about to say when he saw the person walking down the stairs.

Cheng Bai passed by her without even looking at her, went to the living room, sat on the sofa, and turned on the TV.

Just as Yuanyuan was about to go upstairs, Dai Shufen came back. Cheng Shenghua had dinner tonight, so he left without even getting out of the car.Seeing that her daughter and Cheng Bai were at home, Dai Shufen said, "You're all hungry", and went into the kitchen to help Aunt Zhu.During this period of time, Dai Shufen felt very sorry for living in someone else's house, so whenever she was free, she would help with housework.Naturally, Yuanyuan immediately ran into the kitchen to help - mainly to avoid Cheng Bai.

"Are you tired from the business trip?" Dai Shufen asked her daughter.

"It's not tiring, it's quite fun."

At this moment, Cheng Bai also walked into the kitchen, and Dai Shufen hurriedly asked, "Cheng Bai, what do you want?"

"It's okay, you're busy, I'll make a plate of fruit to eat before dinner." Cheng Bai walked to the refrigerator.

Upon hearing this, Dai Shufen smiled and said, "You are a family of doctors, you are more particular about your food."

Yuanyuan was going to sneak out of the kitchen, but Dai Shufen called her to help Cheng Bai wash the fruits.Yuanyuan let out an "oh" very reluctantly.

In front of the sink, Yuanyuan carefully washed the apples, as long as she stood next to Cheng Bai, she would look a little petite.

Aunt Zhu and Dai Shufen were discussing the preparation of the dishes.After a while, Aunt Zhu's phone rang. Because the pressure cooker was whining, she went to the living room to answer the phone, and Dai Shufen also went outside to choose green onions.Cheng Bai packed the lychees, took Yuanyuan's washed apples, pulled out a sharp knife from the knife holder, and began to peel it skillfully.

"Did you have a boyfriend?"

"This, um..." The untruthful words blurted out, like self-defense that is automatically activated when encountering certain dangers.But lying is really not what she is good at, and she blushed after she finished speaking.Although for Cheng Bai, even if he lied to him that she was going to get married in the near future, there was no need to feel ashamed at all.What made her feel most ashamed was the feeling of desecrating Fu Beichen.

"Why do you want to sell yourself so cheaply? You are not considered a seasonal product."

Yuanyuan said angrily: "It's better than you have a price but no market." After finishing speaking, she realized: It seems that this is a compliment to him?

Cheng Bai opened the corner of his mouth and smiled, but the smile was not very sincere.

Seeing the apple that had been cut into pieces by him, Yuanyuan trembled and shut his mouth regretfully.

On the second day after returning from Jingdezhen, Yuan Yuan went to work and immediately handed over the manuscript to editor-in-chief Zhang Yueren.Zhang Yueren smelled strongly of tobacco, so he probably stayed up late last night to catch up on the manuscript.Yuanyuan had a bit of rhinitis since she was a child, and couldn't smell the smell of smoke, so she took half a step back while holding her breath.

Zhang Yueren took the manuscript and skimmed it quickly, and Yuanyuan couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, afraid that he would just throw the manuscript back and let her rewrite it.Unexpectedly, Zhang Yueren didn't give a comment, but asked: "I heard from Gao Ling, this time you went to Jingdezhen, did you meet Fu Beichen?"

Yuanyuan couldn't tell whether the editor-in-chief's words meant praise or derogation, so he could only nod his head, and added after thinking about it: "Fu Bei... Teacher, he is very nice, and he even helped me to revise the manuscript."

She was used to calling Fu Beichen, so she blurted out and almost slipped out without stopping the car.

Zhang Yueren glanced at her, and said flatly, "I didn't know he still had a second surname."

His surname is Fu Bei.

Yuanyuan froze on the spot, she was really unable to accept such a cold joke.

Zhang Yueren was not concerned about whether she would reply or not, "There are two more issues, and the column on Professor Min's calligraphy and painting appreciation is over. Next, I plan to do Dunhuang." He smiled, "Professor Fu Jiasheng is here Experts in this field. I hope you can invite Professor Fu as the lead writer."

"Editor-in-chief, who is Professor Fu Jiasheng?"

"Fu Beichen's father is a professor at the Ancient Books Institute of H University." Zhang Yue said humanely, "I need the other party's answer before next weekend."

"..."

The brief and concise mission requirements gave Yuan Yuan a headache.Before the Jingdezhen string was completely loosened, a new string had already been tied, and the tone was still that crunchy.

The traditional feature column of "Inheritance" is just thrown to her, a fledgling newcomer?Just because she knew Fu Beichen?The editor-in-chief is really relieved.

After returning to his seat, Yuanyuan sent Fu Beichen a text message: My manuscript has been handed in, thank you!

But after waiting for a long time, the other party did not reply.Yuan Yuan reckoned that he should be busy.

During lunch, Yuanyuan chatted with her colleagues who were responsible for other publications in the same big office as her, and wentssip about her immediate boss Zhang Yueren, which finally solved some doubts in her heart.

First, why is there only the editor-in-chief and her in "Inheritance" magazine, excluding the US editor and outside editors?The answer is: Zhang Yueren is very demanding, even strict, every time he recruits people, those people run away after less than two weeks.

Second, why does the editor-in-chief appreciate Zhang Yueren?The answer is: Originally, "Inheritance" had too few orders, and it was almost impossible to continue, but after Zhang Yueren became the editor-in-chief, he single-handedly turned this very small publication into a popular book for the general public. The volume soared and quickly turned losses into profits.

Yuan Yuan was thinking that he didn't know if he could survive the two weeks when the phone rang.It was Fu Beichen.Yuan Yuan signaled to his colleagues and found a quiet corner to answer the phone.

"Sorry, I've been in a meeting this morning and I didn't see the text message."

"It's okay, it's okay, I just handed in the manuscript and I want to thank you."

Fu Beichen paused, and said with a smile, "You're welcome. If you have any questions in the future, if I can help you, you can come to me."

Yuan Yuanxin said, I have something to trouble you right now.But she really couldn't speak about Professor Fu, so she said, "Then you should be busy. I'm going to hang up."

Fu Beichen replied softly, "Okay."

After putting away the phone, Yuan Yuan raised his head and let out a long sigh, he should talk to Professor Fu Jiasheng by himself.

Fu Beichen put down his phone thoughtfully, and there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

It was his assistant Lu Xiaoning who came in.

"The chapter editor of "Ceramics Collection" magazine asked when you are free? She wants to treat you to coffee and let you guide the last manuscript by the way."

"Thank editor Zhang for me, and tell her that I won't drink coffee. Please ask her to check the manuscript. I believe there will be no problems." Fu Beichen's voice was not loud, but it was emotionless and could not be refuted.

Lu Xiaoning answered yes, and then left.When closing the door, she raised her eyes to look at Fu Beichen, and couldn't help but mutter in her heart: Our expert Fu really doesn't give people a chance.

Because "Inheritance" is about to be released in July, Yuanyuan has been busy for a few days, and has been getting to know Professor Fu Jiasheng during the process.

Fu Jiasheng, born in the 40s.He has a bachelor's degree in history, a master's degree in ancient literature, and a doctorate in philology. He has studied in famous schools in China. He is currently one of the few big names in Dunhuang studies in China.

No wonder Fu Beichen was so powerful at such a young age, it turned out to be his family background.Yuanyuan thought to herself, when she was a child, her mother told her stories about Nuwa creating humans. Some people were made by Nuwa, and some people were thrown out by Nuwa with vines.It seems that the Fu family is the kind made by Nuwa, I really can't envy them.

It was past eight o'clock when I finished sorting out Professor Fu's materials and walked out of the Journal Center building.

After all, Jinghai City is a big city, and the journal center is located in a more prosperous part of the city. It is brightly lit at night, creating a scene of a city that never sleeps.

Yuanyuan was just about to go to the intersection to take a taxi - because the bus she was going to take was gone, when she saw Youdao's familiar figure walking towards her.

It was Zhang Yueren who disappeared in the afternoon.

Yuanyuan shouted respectfully: "Editor-in-chief!"

When Zhang Yueren saw her, a trace of surprise flashed across his face, "Why is it so late?"

"..."

Zhang Yueren also realized that he had put too much workload on his employees, but there was no fluctuation in what he said: "Go back and pay attention to safety."

After Zhang Yueren entered the elevator, Yuanyuan waited at the intersection for about ten minutes, but there was no empty car.At this time, Zhang Yueren's voice came from behind: "Have you left yet?"

Yuan Yuan turned around, at this moment he had no energy to smile at him, and just nodded wearily.

"where do you live?"

"what?"

"..." Zhang Yueren seemed unwilling to repeat it again.

Yuanyuan's head was a little foggy, and the air was a little stagnant for a while, until a voice sounded: "Are you going to sleep here?"

She turned her head quickly when she heard the sound——

Simple T-shirt, jeans, Cheng Bai's usual attire.Seeing him appear, Yuanyuan was naturally extremely surprised.

Cheng Bai nodded to Zhang Yueren as a greeting, and then pulled Yuan Yuan away.

Yuanyuan quickly weighed it in her heart, and compared to the editor-in-chief, it seemed more appropriate to go with Cheng Bai, although it felt like choosing between taking medicine or getting an IV.She turned around and said to Zhang Yueren, "Goodbye, editor-in-chief!"

Zhang Yueren said nothing, turned around and walked towards his car.

"Why don't you turn on your phone?" Cheng Bai put on his seat belt and didn't drive immediately, he turned around and asked.

"Ah..." Yuan Yuan hurriedly took out his phone, only to find that it was out of battery.She swallowed, and whispered back: "The battery is out. I didn't notice."

Knowing the reason, Cheng Bai frowned, stepped on the accelerator, and ignored her again.

He probably didn't want to come to pick her up, Yuanyuan thought, Uncle Shenghua must have asked him to come again.It was quiet in the car, and she didn't know why he didn't play some music or listen to the radio, at least it wouldn't be so embarrassing.

"Is it because you are not competent at work that you are so late?"

Yuanyuan murmured, "I want you to take care of it."

Cheng Bai replied: "No way, I'm bored recently."

Yuanyuan couldn't help but think of a certain saying: beat a child on a rainy day, find something to do when you have nothing to do.

"That person just now is the leader of your unit?"

"Ah."

"Not a boyfriend?"

Yuan Yuan was tongue-tied, "How is that possible?"

Cheng Bai was not surprised at all and said, "Indeed."

"..."

After that, the two went home without a word.

On Sunday, Yuanyuan took a break from her busy schedule and went back to her hometown to visit her grandmother who had been discharged from the hospital the day before yesterday.That day when she was at work, Uncle Shenghua sent her grandma and mother back home, and her mother called her to tell her not to worry and let her concentrate on work.During the period when grandma was hospitalized, she visited her several times. As long as grandma was awake, she would speak ill of her.Mother didn't want her to be wronged, so she simply refused to let her go to the hospital.

Yuanyuan's hometown is in Yuxi Town, an ancient town in the east of Jinghai City.It's about an hour's journey from Jinghai City by car.

In the past few years, Yuxi Town has become more and more famous, because the former secretary and the mayor were particularly far-sighted. They followed the tide of national tourism and worked hard to explore the characteristics of the town's ancient water town and re-plan the old street. In the end, Yuxi Town was built into a place where many artists love to rest their souls.

But in fact, the name of Yuxi Town only came after the founding of New China. It was just a village, called Princess Village.Because there is an ancestral hall in the south of the village, which is dedicated to a pair of princesses and concubines from the Southern Song Dynasty.However, the residents of Yuxi Town were all surnamed Cheng, but the enshrined son-in-law was surnamed Fu. Few people in the town knew about this.

And perhaps with the blessing of the emperor's blood, Princess Village has always had a prosperous culture and has produced many Jinshi and scholars.

Regarding these historical events, Yuanyuan has only one thought: fortunately, she was born late, Princess Village or something, telling others about this kind of home address will be very stressful.But having said that, her ancestors really knew how to choose a place and be neighbors with the emperor and grandson.

Yuanyuan's home is on the old street, and the front door is rented to a retired female teacher in the town whose children are abroad.The female teacher brought all the books in her home and opened a coffee book bar.Tourists who come and go like to come here to sit and sit, not to read books and drink coffee, but to experience a kind of leisurely feeling.

When Yuanyuan was about to get home, he saw the tall and towering red bean tree from a distance, with criss-cross branches and layers of green leaves.This red bean tree has been verified to be more than 1000 years old. It grows on the northernmost ruins of Yuxi Town, looking north and south from the ancestral hall of the princess consort.It is said that the ruins where the red bean tree is located was originally an ancestral hall in the Qing Dynasty, but it suddenly collapsed inexplicably during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.

Since then, the ruins have been rumored to be haunted, so no one built houses anymore.Up to now, there are only broken walls and ruins left there, and what kind of layout it was in the past can no longer be seen.During the characteristic transformation of the whole town, the question of whether the ruins should be rebuilt or kept was brought to the meeting for discussion many times.However, it was temporarily shelved because of persistent disputes.Only the thousand-year-old red bean tree was protected by iron railings.

Yuanyuan thought of how she loved going to the ruins when she was a child. At that time, most of the children were afraid to go there, but she had a special liking for it, especially the red bean tree. There will be red and white flowers, the flowers are in the shape of butterflies, and they will stop on the tree one by one.And in late autumn, the pods will mature and fall to the ground. When the pods are opened, there are pairs of red beans inside.

After standing at the door of the house and looking at the red bean tree for a while, she rummaged through her bag to find the key.Because there is a female teacher's shop in front, she usually goes through the backyard door when she gets home.

Yuanyuan stayed at home with her mother to wipe her grandma's body this day, and made the old lady talk a lot of nonsense...even saying that she is an ominous thing.

She obviously looks cuter than the mascot of the Beijing Olympics!After thinking about it, I also felt very cold and shivered.

Dai Shufen looked at her daughter's grievance, but pretended not to care, felt a little sad, and gently touched the child's face.

In the evening, when Yuanyuan had dinner and left, he took a detour to the ruins with the old red bean tree.At this moment, most of the tourists have dispersed, only a few people are under the tree, resting or taking pictures.A ray of sunset light slowly disappears from the western sky.It used to be barren and mysterious, unlike now, it is full of tourists and noisy all day long.

Yuanyuan looked up at the ancient tree that had lived for thousands of years, and the sky was full of green.

"I don't know who planted this tree thousands of years ago?" Yuanyuan heard a tourist behind him say.

(End of this chapter)