Tao Xiaman didn't say a word all the way. She was the most absent-minded Zhou Zihao had ever seen her.
He knew that at this moment, no words could compare to silent companionship.
Finally, the car entered Jihua Road and stopped in front of a five-storey Tang Building.
She passed by here … not long ago, but she couldn't go up. Zhou Zihao opened the door for her, but she sat on the chair and didn't get off.
Suddenly, Zhou Zihao reached out and carried her out of the car. He smiled and said, "It seems that it was right to keep exercising. I can still go up to the fifth floor."
"Put me down." Tao Xiaman didn't know whether to cry or laugh, "I'm so embarrassed."
This man could always find a way to calm her down.
Tao Xiaman said softly, "Help me up."
Just like that, the last time when they were revisiting the old place, they couldn't walk up the stairs. Now, the two of them could walk up the stairs. Even though it was inconvenient for him to walk up the stairs due to his injured foot, he still felt much more relaxed than before.
When Tao Xiaman saw the familiar door, she realized that she had really grown up.
"Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou? Mr. Zhou, are you there? I'm Zhou Zihao, Mr. Zhou. " Zhou Zihao continued to knock on the door, but there was no response. He couldn't help but frown and say, "Could it be that he went out?"
"Zihao, touch the top of the door, there should be a key." Tao Xiaman pointed to the left, "It should be around here."
"Okay, I'll look for it." Zhou Zihao nodded. He didn't need to stand on tiptoe. He could touch it with his hands. He touched it a few times, then smiled and said, "There really is!"
"I couldn't find it when I was a child." Tao Xiaman suddenly said in a low voice.
Zhou Zihao opened the door easily and helped Tao Xiaman into the house … but still, he didn't hear anything.
The last time Zhou Zihao came in, he had taken a good look at the living room. As for the room, he didn't want to be rude. "Well, it seems that there is no one here. Xiaman, doesn't your uncle have a family? Xiaman? "
But Tao Xiaman held the wall and walked towards the workbench … She couldn't move her feet in front of the workbench.
She reached out her hand and gently picked up a phoenix robe. The moment she touched it, she became absent-minded.
"So it's already done!" Zhou Zihao walked over. "No wonder Mr. Zhou called me yesterday. It seems that he wants you to try it on."
"Did … did he call you?" Tao Xiaman turned around and asked.
Zhou Zihao nodded and said, "Yes, now I understand why he was so nervous. But when I dialed that number again, I couldn't find the person. It was a dead number. "
Zhou Zihao also looked at the coat on the workbench and subconsciously said, "It seems that Mr. Zhou went out in a rush. You didn't even pack your clothes properly before going out?"
"Maybe …" Tao Xiaman said.
"Perhaps what?"
Tao Xiaman shook her head, "Nothing … I want to wait and see."
"Okay." Zhou Zihao nodded. "I'll help you sit over there."
"No …" Tao Xiaman said softly, "I want to have a good look here."
She turned her eyes to the corner, saying, "Help me to have a look over there."
Zhou Zihao squatted down when he saw the markings on the corner of the wall. He knew what these markings were for, so he raised his head and asked, "Whose height are you measuring for? Is it your cousin or cousin? "
"It's mine."
Tao Xiaman reached out her hand and touched the engraving that was just above her height. Her fingers gently glided in front of the engraving, as if she was touching an old man's face.
The same height.
Brand new.
"It's mine."
Subconsciously, she moved closer to the corner of the wall and pressed her body against it. Zhou Zihao saw the tears in his fiancée's eyes and heard her say, "It's mine."
"It should be engraved by Mr. Zhou when he measured your height last time."
Zhou Zihao thought for a while and smiled, "It seems that your uncle is very kind to you. But it's strange that he seems to have known me for a long time even though we haven't met each other before. But I only found this old master by following the comments on the Internet. "
"Me too …" Tao Xiaman shook her head, "I also don't understand many things."
"Well …" Zhou Zihao said softly, "Don't think about it. Maybe you can ask Mr. Zhou when he comes back. By the way, where is the toilet? Can I borrow it? "
Tao Xiaman pointed to a place … She was so familiar with this place that she could find the way even if the lights were not on at night.
She held the wall and walked to the workbench, sitting down.
She slowly unfolded the wedding dress in front of her and tidied up its corners … From the beginning of the measurement to the completion of this step, she knew that not much time had been used, but at the same time, it also meant that in such a short period of time, to compress the long process to this point, how much effort had been put in behind it?
There was a row of needles on the box with different threads.
On the trash can next to him, there was a lot of crumpled tissue paper towels with a little bit of dark red color. That was blood … How many times had he pricked his finger?
"Who … who are you?" Tao Xiaman breathed heavily.
She had a feeling … that the old man who used to sit here and pass the threads might never come back.
She seemed to have kicked something and subconsciously looked down. It was a stack of packed food boxes placed under the workbench.
There were so many of them … It seemed that he had been eating them all the time.
'I bought them for someone. I made a friend recently. He always forgets to eat because of work. I'm afraid that he can't stand it. '
She bent down and reached out to pick up the food boxes. At the same time, some words began to ring in her ears … They were the small interludes that she had encountered before.
'No matter whether the noodles taste good or not, my friend will finish them.'
…
"Xiaman, are you hungry? Shall we eat something first and then come back? "Zhou Zihao walked out of the washroom while wiping his hands.
However, when he finished looking through the entire living room and even opened the doors of the other rooms one by one, there was no sign of anyone.
Zhou Zihao suddenly picked up the phone and dialed Tao Xiaman's number … Her bag and other things were still here.
But she was gone!
…
…
Tao Xiaman limped into the noodle house through the narrow entrance.
The gray-haired noodle boss was calculating the accounts on the abacus. There was no customer in the noodle house now.
Seeing someone coming in, the boss was stunned, "Hey, miss, we haven't opened yet. It'll be late."
But seeing the girl limping, the owner of the noodle house kindly stood up and walked over to support her. "Miss, are you alright?"
"I'm fine …" Tao Xiaman shook her head and suddenly said, "Boss, can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
Tao Xiaman hesitated for a while, gritting her teeth, "Sir, do you remember the young man who often comes here to buy two bowls of noodles?"
"Uh …" The boss was stunned, "Oh, the one who sells shaved noodles and noodles with toppings?"
"Yes!" Tao Xiaman hurriedly said, "Have you seen him today?"
"Today … Not today," the noodle shop owner said casually. "I was wondering why I didn't see anyone today."
"When does he usually come here?"
"Hmm, usually it's the morning and evening meal." The noodle shop owner thought for a while and said, "Yes, it's the morning and evening meal. But he didn't come for lunch today. I don't know whether he will come for dinner or not. Miss, are you looking for this young man? "
"Sir, can I sit here for a while?"
"Ah, take a seat." The boss helped Tao Xiaman to sit down, "Miss, let me get you a glass of water."
"No, thanks." Tao Xiaman shook her head and suddenly asked, "Sir … did the young man say anything strange?"
"No, I don't think so."
The owner of the noodle house shook his head and said, "I remember that this young man rarely speaks and is very quiet. He pays and leaves without saying anything … Uh, if you don't have anything else to do, you can sit here as long as you want. I have to settle the account. "
"It's all right."
Tao Xiaman sat there alone. Only then did she remember that she had left in such a baffling manner. She had recklessly come to this place without even thinking about telling her fiancé.
But when she was about to make a call, she found that she didn't even take her mobile phone with her. Tao Xiaman couldn't help asking herself, "Tao Xiaman, what's wrong with you?"
She shook her head, thinking that she should go back. But just as he stood up, a soccer ball suddenly rolled in from outside the noodle shop. Then, a child ran in after it.
Then there was a chubby woman. She was a bit angry, "How many times have I told you not to play football on the road? You just don't listen! Now you're in someone else's shop! "
"Mom! I didn't! It rolled in by itself! I didn't even kick it! "The child complained.
"How could the ball run in by itself! How can you lie at such a young age? "The chubby woman widened her eyes and was about to hit her son.
But this child was very clever. Whenever he saw someone, he would immediately hide behind that person … He didn't even care that this big sister's feet were tied up like a dumpling.
"Chen Cheng! You're so disobedient, right? Come over here! Don't harass her! " The slightly plump woman put her hands on her waist, but when she saw that her son had harassed someone, she immediately looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. My son has always been very naughty. He didn't mean to. Are you okay … Xiaman? Feng Xiaman? You're Feng Xiaman, right? I'm Meimei! Jiang Xiaomei! "
…
Two women and a child who was drinking soda were chatting in this small noodle shop.
"You've gone abroad, no wonder …" The chubby woman called Meimei sighed, "I didn't expect to see you again after more than ten years."
Tao Xiaman also sighed. She had met Meimei once … Last time when she visited the old place, she recognized her but didn't come forward to greet her.
Tao Xiaman looked at the child hiding behind his mother's skirt and said softly, "Well, your son has grown up for more than ten years."
Meimei suddenly asked, "Do you know who's his father?"
"Whose?"
"A Mu! Chen Zimu! "
"That naughty king!" Tao Xiaman was surprised, "You two got married! My God, I didn't expect that! "
"Me neither." Meimei shook her head with a strange look, but her smile was very sweet. She sighed, "This is probably the so-called impermanence of the world. Just like how you suddenly transferred to another school one day. We didn't expect that either. "
"Nothing." Tao Xiaman shook her head.
Meimei suddenly stopped talking … She and the woman in front of her used to be very good friends, but they didn't see each other for more than ten years.
Perhaps this unfamiliarity wasn't because of the separation of more than ten years, but because it had existed for more than ten years … It was because of the prejudice of the parents back then.
"By the way, why did you suddenly come back this time?"
"I'm going to get married. My fiancé's hometown is here, so I came back to hold a wedding banquet." Tao Xiaman said softly.
"Congratulations!" Meimei subconsciously grasped Tao Xiaman's hand, but she felt it was inappropriate and withdrew her hand awkwardly.
Tao Xiaman grabbed her hand, "Will you come on that day?"
"Of course! I'll definitely come! "Meimei said softly. She suddenly lowered her head," Xiaman, I'm sorry. At that time, I … "
"Let bygones be bygones." Tao Xiaman shook her head.
Mei Mei smiled bitterly. She reached out and touched her son's head. "But I know that I hurt you. Not only me, but also your classmates … We shouldn't have done that to you at that time. It was true. The older a person was, the more they understood things and the more they understood their own childishness. Especially … "
Meimei said softly, "Especially after having this little naughty boy, I understand it more clearly. Children's hearts are very fragile. They can hear and remember a lot of things that are far beyond our imagination. There are some things that they might remember for a lifetime. "
Tao Xiaman smiled bitterly, "Let bygones be bygones. The current situation was already pretty good. I didn't even think that we would have a chance to sit down and chat. "
"Yes, maybe it's fate." Mei Mei said, "Take me for example. I got married at a young age and became a full-time housewife. I pick up my children from school at this time every day and then go to the market to buy groceries. I live here and even pass by here every day. Who would have thought that I would see you here?"
Tao Xiaman just smiled … She felt relieved.
"Oh, I remember now. In the past, Uncle Feng would often bring you here to eat." Meimei looked around the noodle house, "I really miss it. I haven't eaten here for a long time … Sorry, I said too much."
Tao Xiaman shook her head and didn't say anything.
Meimei hesitated, "By the way, Xiaman. You … Have you ever seen your father? "
"I haven't seen him for a long time." Tao Xiaman said faintly, "I haven't seen him since his accident."
"Do you … hate him?"
"Yes." Tao Xiaman looked complicated, "In fact, I didn't hate him for a long time. But after a long time … I'll be afraid. "
"Don't you want to see him?" Meimei gently grasped Tao Xiaman's hands, "I know I'm not qualified to talk about your family affairs. But to be honest, I'm also a parent, so I understand the feelings of a parent. This brat, he makes me angry every day. Sometimes, I really want to throw him out the door and not care about him anymore. But I can't stay angry for a night. If I don't see him for a day, I always feel that something is missing. I think it's the same for Uncle Feng. No matter what the previous generation had done wrong, they had received the punishment they deserved. Your mother died early, so he raised you alone and never let you suffer any grievances. No matter what his identity is outside, whether he is a tailor or a criminal, he is just a father to you. "
"Meimei …"
"Xiaman." Meimei said softly, "Don't you feel it? You've been living in happiness all the time. You had an accident when you were a child, but you met a kind person who adopted you. You grew up and met a fiancé who loves you. You've been living in happiness all the time, but you don't feel it. Why do you feel that these things are leaving you? "
"I …" Tao Xiaman wanted to say something … But she found that she couldn't say anything.
"Xiaman! Xiaman! Great! You're really here! "
At this moment, Zhou Zihao ran in panting and grabbed her hand. "I didn't see it. I asked around on the way and found this place! Great! Are you okay? Ah? Are your feet painful? "
"I'm fine. Someone is here." Tao Xiaman shook her head.
Only then did Zhou Zihao notice that there was a mother and son beside them. He asked curiously, "This is …"
"My classmate, Meimei."
"Nice to meet you." Zhou Zihao said politely.
Meimei nodded and looked at Tao Xiaman with a smile, "Am I right? A man loves you so much. Who says you're not happy? These things, do you still think it will run away? You just don't want to let go of yourself. "
…
"What did you talk about with your classmate?"
Meimei took her son to buy vegetables. In the noodle house, Zhou Zihao drank some water and asked curiously.
"Just some small talk." Tao Xiaman shook her head and sighed, "I haven't seen her for more than ten years. I didn't know she was so talkative before. "
"Well, maybe she learned to be long-winded after becoming a parent?" Zhou Zihao pretended to be serious, "Do you feel the same?"
"Do you want to die?" Tao Xiaman knocked on Zhou Zihao's head.
Who said that she wasn't already in the midst of happiness?
…
Back to the old house, Zhou Zihao hugged Tao Xiaman and sat on the sofa, waiting. It was completely dark, nine o 'clock in the evening, and eleven o' clock in the evening.
Mr. Zhou still didn't come back.
It was as if Master Zhou had never been here, because there was no electricity at night.
Unknowingly, Tao Xiaman fell asleep.
She had a very strange dream.
In the dream, she seemed to become transparent. She was still in the old house, but there was a small lamp on the workbench.
It was probably very late at night.
Everything was quiet. There was only a slightly hunchbacked figure in front of the workbench. She was squinting her eyes as she sewed slowly.
On the red silk, golden auspicious clouds floated in the air, strand by strand.
Just like that, she sat beside this figure and silently accompanied him for a very, very long time.
Suddenly, her vision blurred and she was transported to a strange place.
In a cave.
She seemed to hear some words.
It was a familiar voice.
"… This dinner, this conversation, is already very worth it. Besides, I've been outside for such a long time. It's worth it. "
"Why should I? Why should I let her live a life of happiness that she worked so hard to find continue to be a mess? I … I shouldn't appear in her life again … "
"Send me back …"
She saw the old figure disappearing little by little in the thick fog. She saw herself still sleeping in the cave.
She suddenly woke up. A ray of sunlight shone through the blinds. It was already dawn. She was still here, so was Zhou Zihao.
It turned out that the night had passed.
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