Endless Silver Machine

Chapter 6 Past Memories (4)

"We're here, this is the village chief's home."

At first glance, it looks no different from ordinary houses around it.

Aunt Sophia and Xiao Ling entered the house first.

"You guys can come in too, you're welcome."

Xiao Ling's figure disappeared into the house, and Aunt Sophia was waiting for Aika and Ling to enter the house at the entrance. Although I have returned to my own home, can this place still be called Ling's home?

Aika glanced sideways at Ling's face. She gritted her teeth for a moment, then walked past Aika and took off her shoes at the entrance.

"excuse me……"

She said softly to the room, then turned to look at Aika, urging him to follow quickly with her eyes.

"B-disturbance..."

I thought Ling would resist entering this house, but her mind was much stronger than Aika imagined. Aika had no special feeling about stepping into this house. Since Ling had no problem, there was no need for him to hesitate.

Through the entrance, there is a bright restaurant and cooking room that can accommodate a family. Xiao Ling, who had just entered the house, was not sitting at the dining table. Now there was only a middle-aged man reading a newspaper at the table.

Will newspapers be delivered to such remote areas? The Aika family never received a newspaper.

"Oh, you are here."

The middle-aged man noticed the footsteps, put the newspaper in his hand on the table, and stood up.

Only then did Aika realize that this middle-aged man was a full head taller than him, and too tall from a male perspective.

Feeling some pressure from his body, Aika swallowed and deliberately straightened her waist.

"Sofia just told me about you. I didn't expect to find you so soon."

"Let them live in our village during this period. Is there any easier work that can be done for them?"

"Work? Is that what you asked for?"

The middle-aged man's gaze was so sharp that Aika even felt that his lie would be exposed in the next moment.

Even though they now live in a small village in a remote area, they are still the Heinz family, which was once known as the "Twin Towers of Bis" together with the Chise family. With this kind of childish trick, Aika has no confidence that she can get this man. recognition.

"Yes, yes, if I can get a job, I will feel more comfortable."

Ling was a little different from the beginning. She always avoided conversations, but now she actively started to exchange opinions with her family.

"You are……"

The middle-aged man looked up and down at Ling who stood up, holding his chin as if thinking about something, and then nodded to himself.

"Now even I can only agree..." The middle-aged man scratched his hair in confusion, "Okay, wait a minute and I will go see where there is still a shortage of manpower, and you can go and help. Don't be too busy." Force yourself, I don’t want there to be rumors that the child collapsed from exhaustion while working, otherwise my position as the village chief will be worthy of everyone’s questioning.”

Speaking jokingly, the middle-aged man stretched out his hand to Aika.

"What's the matter? Why don't you come and shake hands?"

He raised the corner of his mouth towards Aika. For some reason, seeing the man's smile, Aika felt uneasy.

"Please, please give me more advice..."

He stretched out his hand hesitantly, the man's lips raised higher, and he suddenly held Aika's hand.

"Ah, please give me some advice, young man."

Aika felt a heavy pressure on her hand. For a middle-aged man of that size, this is probably just his ordinary strength.

The pain as if the bones in his hands were cracking made Aika's smile distorted. He arched his palms desperately to create a gap between the two palms, and the pain was relieved a lot. This little skill of comparing hand strength was learned by Aika and Shun when they were young. No matter how hard the opponent exerts his strength, the strength he feels will not increase.

There was surprise in the middle-aged man's eyes, mixed with some other emotions. But that look was fleeting, and Aika didn't notice this detail.

"Yes, I agree." He laughed and let go of Aika's sore hand, patted Aika's shoulder affectionately, "My name is Lehman, I am the mayor of this village, you have just met Is she my daughter?"

By the way, what did he approve of? Aika was a little confused about what he was talking to himself. It seemed like he had no intention of testing Ling, so why did he only target himself? Because they are all men? This reason seems to make sense.

"Ling, come here too, we're getting ready for dinner."

Aunt Sofia came out of the cooking room and said this towards the two of them. Suddenly hearing his name, Ling took a step out reflexively. But she immediately realized that this title did not belong to her now.

"OK."

Xiao Ling, who was behind her, responded to her mother's call, walked up to the two of them from behind with her long pink shawl hair swaying, bowed her head slightly to greet them, and then walked to the dining table.

"Let's go there too."

Aika patted Ling's back gently.

"Um……"

The current self is cool, not cold.

She repeated this sentence several times in her mind, adjusted her somewhat disappointed mood, and then walked to the dining table where she once existed.

…………

The village chief did not have any spare guest rooms in his home, so he could only lend the two people an unoccupied house in the village. Because no one had used it for a long time, a thick layer of dust accumulated in the room. Fortunately, there are only the necessary furniture in the house, otherwise it would take a whole day to clean and organize.

Aunt Sophia and Xiao Ling joined the house cleaning team.

"This place was originally intended to be a warehouse, but nothing was put in it, so it has been sitting idle here. I have long wanted to find time to clean this house, and it will be easier with your help."

Obviously, Aika and Ling, who were staying here, should all clean up, but Aunt Sofia treated them as helpers and thanked them. While I felt a warmth in my heart, I also felt a sense of melancholy when I thought about what would happen next.

Aika looked at Xiao Ling. She was wearing an ill-fitting apron and clumsily cleaning the dust on the cabinet with a duster. Those hands can draw such beautiful paintings, but they don't seem to be very good at housework.

Speaking of which, at the beginning of the year, Ling and Luoluo cleaned the administrator's cabin together. When they came home, it felt very clean. Luoluo couldn't have done it alone.

Now Ling is sorting all the things he doesn't have into the paper boxes prepared by Aunt Sophia, and his movements are much more skillful than Xiao Ling's.

"You never said you could draw."

Aika came close to Ling and started sorting out the clutter with her.

"There's no need to say it. It's a useless skill anyway."

Ling continued his work without looking back, seeming to have little interest in the topic.

Aika couldn't just accept her words.

The painting I saw at that time was a work that could only be created by being very serious. From the delicate brushwork, you can see how much energy she put into the painting, but now it has been conveyed by her own words.

Aika couldn't tell the true feelings hidden in her words. Perhaps it was true that she had lost interest.

"When you go back, try to draw one."

"Why? Painting supplies are very expensive. Don't let Luo Luo worry."

"Luoluo will definitely support me, and so will Wei Xi."

"You really dare to say something so sure."

"Because it's them."

Ling must also understand this, so Aika’s words stop here. The work on Ling's hand was almost finished. He stood up with his knees supported. The dizziness caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain lasted only a moment.

Xiao Ling's work is still continuing. Aunt Sophia has polished the originally slightly dull glass and started cleaning the wooden floor.

"So this is ah."

Aika suddenly understood.

"What 'so that's how it is'?"

"It's nothing, I'll just say it casually."

Aunt Sophia is so good at housework, Ling must also have this talent, but she has never had the opportunity to exercise it at home. After leaving home, you have to do everything by yourself, and you will naturally become more proficient.

He picked up the bucket that needed to be changed and walked out of the house.

"Is the cleaning going well?"

Uncle Lehman had arrived outside the house without knowing when, but he never went in.

"With the help of Aunt Sophia and Ling, it will be much faster."

"Um."

"Uncle, don't you have any work this afternoon?"

"Why did you suddenly call me uncle? Are we that familiar to you?"

"Then what do you want me to call you..."

"Called 'Dad' or something?"

"Why do I use this title! And don't you find it disgusting..."

"When you say that, it seems like there is no reason for you to call me that. The only person who can call me 'dad' is my daughter."

In the past, Ling used to call this uncle "Dad", and Aika snickered in her heart. Will she also act coquettishly to her family?