Suddenly, she heard a voice outside the door. "Xiner, you're home."
That voice was so sexy that it was intoxicating.
Tian Xiner quickly stood up. "Brother, you're back so early."
As soon as she finished speaking, the door curtain was lifted and a man walked in slowly.
Mi Xaing 'er only took one look at him and was stunned by this man's temperament.
She never thought that a simple little girl like Tian Xiner would have such a handsome and elegant "brother."
The man looked to be in his early thirties. He was tall and well-proportioned. His facial features were almost perfect, and he looked a little like a mixed-race. His hair was neat and naturally curly. Just by looking at his appearance, it was unforgettable. Coupled with his noble and slightly melancholic temperament, he was like a crane in a flock of chickens. He was exceptionally outstanding, and basically belonged to the kind of handsomeness that could not be ignored no matter where he went.
The only regretful thing was that the corners of his eyes were a little weathered. It was the kind of helplessness that came from seeing thousands of sails. It was the kind of loneliness that came from settling down and not knowing where to start.
Yun Jingting was also handsome, but he had the domineering look of a man and was straightforward and arrogant.
The person in front of him, on the other hand, had the gentle and aristocratic aura of a well-read scholar. It was completely different from Tian Xiner's simple and rustic aura. No matter how one looked at it, the two of them didn't look like siblings.
Mi Xaing 'er stood up politely. "Hello."
The man looked at her face. "You … Why are you here?"
Mi Xaing 'er was stunned. "You know me?"
Tian Xiner's gaze wandered between the two of them. "You know each other."
The man smiled faintly. When he smiled, a small canine tooth on his right side added a layer of playfulness to his melancholic face. "Your surname is Mi, right?"
"Yes."
Mi Xaing 'er didn't need to "expend" any effort to search her memory. She knew in her heart that no matter who it was, as long as they saw this man once, they would never forget him. Why was he so handsome? He was so handsome that it was on the level of a star.
The Tian Xiner blinked her big eyes and held the man's arm intimately. "Brother, brother, her surname is really Mi Xaing 'er. Have you seen her before?"
The man dotingly tapped her forehead. "You must have gone out to cause trouble again."
Tian Xiner shrank back with a guilty conscience. "I … I caused trouble. I'm not that kind of person. If you don't believe me, you can ask Mi Xaing'er."
"Ah, you're asking me." Mi Xaing 'er could tell at a glance that the siblings were very close, so she deliberately teased Tian Xiner. She dragged her voice and looked up at the sky. "Did you cause any trouble? What should I say?"
The man purposely pulled a long face. "See, Xin 'er? How many times have I told you? This place is different from the mountains. You can't do things as you please in the future. Do you understand?"
Tian Xiner nodded. "Got it."
She suddenly clapped her hands and said, "I'll go make some tea. We've just agreed to invite Mi Xaing 'er to try our Myriad Flower Tea."
She turned around and left.
The man bowed slightly to Mi Xaing 'er. His actions were very gentlemanly. "Comrade Xiao Mi, please have a seat."
Seeing her curious expression, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up beautifully. "You must be wondering how I know your surname is Mi. To be honest, I've seen you before. At the wedding in Siyuan Village, you were Tiger's new daughter-in-law."
Ah
Tiger?
From his tone, it seemed that he was quite close to Yun Jingting.
Mi Xaing 'er smiled politely. "I don't think I've seen you before."
"No, I didn't enter the courtyard. I went to the banquet on the third day, but I didn't see Tiger. I only saw you. Later on, I asked around and heard that Tiger was out on a mission."
Oh!
He was already here. Even if Yun Laohu wasn't around, he could still come in and say hello.
Mi Xaing 'er sat up straight. She didn't ask any more questions and waited for him to continue.
The man coughed lightly. "Let me introduce myself first. My surname is Tong Che."
Tong?
That meant that he and Tian Xiner weren't biological siblings.
Tong Che seemed to be able to read her mind. "That's right. I'm not Xin 'er's biological brother. I used to live in the provincial capital. The Tongs and the Yuns are old friends. I'm eight years older than Tiger. I practically watched him grow up."
Old friends.
It seemed that this Tong family had some background.
Mi Xaing 'er didn't continue and waited for him to continue. "Later on, the world was a little chaotic. Our family background wasn't good. I won't go into the details. Anyway, I was sent to Guizhou. Then, I got to know Xin' er's parents. They were the ones who tried their best to take care of me over there."
Such a short sentence, but there were thousands of words behind it.
Mi Xaing 'er didn't delve into it. In that era, everyone had some secrets.
However, there were some things that she couldn't hold back. "Since you're old friends, even if Tiger wasn't around at the wedding, you should have come in for a drink. Second Sister was still around. You two should be familiar with each other, right?"
At the mention of Yun Jingqi …
A hint of sadness flashed across Tong Che's eyes. He quickly lowered his eyes and hid it without anyone noticing.
This man was very good at controlling his emotions. No matter what he said, his face was calm and collected. It probably had something to do with his upbringing and experience. "Yun Jingqi? It's fine if she doesn't want to see me. She might not want to see me anyway."
Mi Xaing 'er sensed something, but she didn't dare to ask. The room was silent for a while, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.
She coughed lightly and tried to find something to talk about. "I heard that you work in the county library."
"Yes. The issue of my background was investigated. The organization decided to let me return to the city temporarily. However, there was no place for me to work, so I was assigned to the county library."
Tong Che's eyes had a hint of a bitter smile. "Cleaning."
Ah …
Cleaning.
Mi Xaing 'er had seen countless people. With one look, she knew that this person was definitely a knowledgeable person. His temperament didn't match that of a cleaner.
However, this couldn't be helped. It was hard to explain in a few words in that era.
She deliberately played it down and comforted him. "There's nothing wrong with cleaning. There's no distinction between jobs. It's all about serving the people."
After saying this, she felt a layer of goosebumps appear on her own skin.
Tong Che laughed. His self-restraint was good. He didn't tease or complain. With a serious face, he said, "Yes, you're right. It's about serving the people."
At the mention of the library …
Mi Xaing 'er was talkative. She quickly changed the topic. "Brother Tong, I want to ask if you have any books on Chinese medicine there."
Tong Che nodded. "Yes. Although the scale of our library can't be compared to the big cities, the classification is quite comprehensive. You can take a look. Why are you interested in Chinese medicine?"
Mi Xaing 'er laughed. "I want to borrow two Chinese medicine books to compare the differences between the prescriptions."
"Which two books?"
"Compendium of Materia Medica and Thousand Gold Prescriptions."
Tong Che said calmly, "We have both of these books. It just so happens that we haven't checked them out today."
Oh!
She could remember this so easily.
Mi Xaing 'er had an IQ of 180. She knew that some people were talented and had super good memories. She didn't particularly mind. "What time does your library close? I'll go borrow them today so that I don't have to make a trip here again."
"Do you have a library card?"
"No."
"That's okay. It's fine if you have a card. I can get one today."
She stuck out her tongue. "I didn't bring my card either."
Tong Che looked at her mischievous expression. A hint of a smile flashed across his eyes. "Tiger has been mature since he was young. He seems to have found a lover."
He clenched one hand into an empty fist and placed it by his mouth like a gentleman. He coughed lightly. "He found a lover, but he complements him."
Complements?
What did he mean?
Mi Xaing 'er pouted. "Don't think I can't tell. You're saying that I'm young and childish in a genteel manner."
Tong Che's smile deepened. "I finally know why Xin 'er likes you. The two of you are too similar. Both of you hate evil as if it's your enemy. You can't keep things to yourself."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Xiner came in with tea. "Hmph. Brother, what did you say about me again?"
Tong Che hurriedly waved his hand good-naturedly. The curve of his lips was particularly charming, vaguely revealing his small canine teeth. He was calm and mischievous. He was so handsome that people couldn't take their eyes off him. "How would I dare to say that? Give me some more drugs later."
Tian Xiner quickly put down the teapot in his hand and went over to cover his mouth. "You're still talking about it? You're still talking about it?"
The "brother and sister" both laughed. That kind of relationship was particularly natural, as if they were real family.
It was no wonder.
As the saying goes, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
During the most difficult years of Tong Che's life, the Tian family had always taken care of him. Of course, he would look at them in a new light.
Mi Xaing 'er suddenly had an idea. "Why don't I borrow Tian Xiner's card to get a library card? Is that okay?"
Tong Che pondered for a moment. "If you're in a hurry to borrow a book, there's no problem."
Tian Xiner was also very enthusiastic. He hurriedly turned around and took out his household registration book from the kang cabinet. "Is this okay?"
"Yes."
"Then let's leave after drinking tea," Tian Xiner said with a hint of regret. "It's a pity that I haven't made fried papa yet."
As he spoke, he poured Mi Xaing 'er a cup of tea. "Try this. If you like it, I'll bring some back for you. This is a flower tea that my mother personally made. She added a few ingredients that are not commonly known. Its effects are to clear the heat, brighten the eyes, and whiten the skin."
She patted her cheeks with her hand. "Look, my brother and I are white, right?"
Then she lifted her eyelids. "Look at my bright eyes."
She was naive and romantic.
Mi Xaing 'er really liked her. She didn't have any ulterior motives. She was as transparent as a pool of clear water, and one could see the bottom of it at a glance.
She pretended to be serious and nodded. "Yes, you're quite white, and your eyes are quite dark."
Tian Xiner smiled happily. "Right? Let's drink. Then let's go to the library. I've been here for a few days, but I haven't been to my brother's workplace yet."
Tong Che hurriedly said, "What's there to read there? There are only books, and there's no lively atmosphere. You should be quiet there. Don't cause trouble."
"Don't worry."
Tian Xiner was also impatient. As soon as Mi Xaing 'er put down the teacup, he immediately pulled her out of the door.
Tong Che was very well-mannered. With his hands behind his back, he followed half a step behind the two girls. He didn't speak much, but when you turned around, you could see his smile. That smile inexplicably gave people a sense of security. Although it wasn't as domineering as Yun Laohu, it had the gentleness of a mature man.
The library wasn't far. It was only a ten-minute walk.
Mi Xaing 'er looked up and was a little surprised. It was a two-story red building, and it wasn't small either.
She went in and took a look. The floor was made of marble. The office building was upstairs, and the library area downstairs was as big as a basketball court. Rows of heavy bookshelves were filled with books, and a few staff members were sitting in the lobby, chatting softly.
Tian Xiner's eyes couldn't take in all the books. She whispered, "Brother, there are so many books. I can't even count how many books there are. It's like the stars in the sky."
Tong Che put a finger to his lips. "Shh, quiet."
Just as he finished speaking, he heard someone call his name loudly. "Tong Che, Tong Che, come here."
Mi Xiang 'er frowned. Who was this? Making such a big fuss in the library was simply impolite.
She turned her head and saw a man in his fifties standing behind the desk at the library area. He was wearing a blue uniform with sleeves on his arms. He pointed under the desk. "Tong Che, come here and empty this trash can."
His tone was indescribably arrogant, and his expression wasn't very friendly either.
Tian Xiner saw him and immediately put one hand on her waist. She didn't hold back. "Hey, who are you? My brother is already off work. What right do you have to order him around? Besides, it's just emptying the trash. Don't you know how to do it yourself? Do you not have hands, or are your legs broken?"
Mi Xaing 'er almost laughed. This girl wasn't someone to be trifled with.
The middle-aged man choked. "You, you're ridiculous. Tong Che is in charge of the cleanliness of our stadium. What's wrong with me asking him to do some work? Even if he's asleep, he'll still have to hurry up and empty the trash can if I ask him to, let alone after work."
Yo!
These words weren't very pleasing to the ears.
Tong Che wasn't angry. He smiled slightly. "Director Wu, my sister is still young and doesn't know any better."
After he finished speaking, he turned around and glared at Tian Xiner. He whispered, "Stop talking."
He really went to empty the trash can. However, his back was exceptionally straight. His shoulders were perfectly straight, and even his waist was arrogant and didn't bend.
Mi Xaing 'er sighed inwardly. A person who knows when to yield and when to stand tall is a great wisdom.
Tian Xiner sneered and pulled Mi Xaing 'er. "Let's go over there."
She walked directly in front of Director Wu and didn't say much. She rubbed her household register on her pants and handed it over. "Please apply for a library card for us."
Mi Xaing 'er felt that the way she rubbed her household register was a little strange. She couldn't help but look sideways at her, but she couldn't figure out what was going on.
Director Wu took the card, sat down, and started to register. In the blink of an eye, his hand began to twitch. He looked down and saw a green line starting from the nail of his middle finger. It quickly traveled up his blood vessels to his wrist. At a glance, it looked as if there was a worm crawling in his blood vessels. It was a frightening sight.
He immediately stood up and spoke in a slightly different voice. "Xiao Wang, Xiao Li, quickly take a look. What's wrong with me?"
The staff beside him hurriedly ran over. "He was probably bitten by a venomous worm."
In just a few words, the black line returned to its original path from his wrist. In the end, drops of blood dripped from his fingernails onto the marble floor, emitting a strong stench.
Director Wu gasped for breath and collapsed into the chair. It looked as if he had a cerebral hemorrhage.
Everyone was flustered. "Hurry up and send him to the hospital."
They carried Director Wu out of the door and bumped into Tong Che.
Tong Che stepped aside and glanced at Tian Xiner. He shook his head helplessly.
Tian Xin 'er raised her chin and pursed her delicate lips tightly. She looked like she was ready to do anything she wanted.
Mi Xaing 'er finally understood. Tian Xiner must have used some unknown method to poison Director Wu when she was rubbing her household register. Then, she passed it to him.
Slowly …
The hall returned to silence.
Only the pool of blood on the floor seemed to remind everyone of what had just happened.
Tong Che walked over slowly. He didn't blame his little sister. He just glared at her. "Didn't I tell you to be quiet and not cause trouble?"
Tian Xin snorted. "Who told him to bully you for no reason? Serves him right!"
Tong Che ignored her and turned to Mi Xaing 'er. "Go and look for the book. If I remember correctly, the Compendium of Materia Medica you want should be on the eleventh shelf, the second column, the third column. The fifth book on the right-hand side should be on the tenth shelf, the third case, the topmost column, and the fourth book on the left-hand side."
Mi Xaing 'er was stunned.
Ah …
Are you kidding me?
He remembered it so clearly?
There were at least tens of thousands of books on this bookshelf. Brother Tong knew where they were as if he was counting his family's treasures.
Tian Xiner seemed to have noticed her disbelief and smiled proudly. "My big brother has a good memory. No matter what it is, as long as he reads it once, he can remember it. Also, the most amazing thing is that there are more than ten dialects in our area. My big brother just has to go to the tribes and listen to them. In less than ten days, he can speak even the most difficult dialects."
Ha!
Mi Xaing 'er's eyes widened.
Not only did this person have a good memory, he was also a language genius. "Brother Tong, how many foreign languages do you know?"
Tong Che smiled. "Well, I'm afraid I can't count them all at once."
“”
As the saying goes, there is always someone better than you.
Today, Mi Xaing 'er was completely convinced when she saw Tong Che.
In the past, it was others who were envious, jealous, and impressed by her. Now, their positions had changed. She was like a little "fan" and was amazed by this person's ability. "Brother Tong, can I ask what your original major was?"
"Ah," Tong Che sighed softly. "Why are you still talking about that? It's been ten years, and I've already forgotten who I am."
Since he did not want to talk about it, Mi Xaing 'er did not ask anymore. She raised her head slightly and looked at him with sincerity. "Brother Tong, I believe that as long as a person has the ability, he or she will be successful sooner or later. Let me say one more thing, but the current policy will change sooner or later. In a few years, the emphasis on family background will be bullsh * t. When that time comes, you will definitely achieve great things."
Tian Xiner listened to her praise of her big brother, which seemed to be more sincere than her praise of herself. She pursed her lips and smiled. Her big eyes narrowed into crescents. "Xiang 'er, you have a good eye. My mom always says that she has seen many people, but there are only a few people in this world who are as smart as my big brother. She also said that if my big brother's physiognomy was placed in the past, he would be a prince who would lead a country and achieve great things."
Tong Che poked her. "This girl, aren't you just spouting nonsense? Xin 'er, if your words reach the ears of someone with ulterior motives, you will get into trouble."
"Yes, what did I say wrong?"
Mi Xaing 'er smiled disapprovingly. "He's just a prince. He will be thoroughly criticized. However, Brother Tong, Xin' er is so smart. She just said it in front of me, so she knows that I'm harmless."
Tong Che raised his beautiful eyebrows, and the smile on his face deepened. "Mi Xaing 'er, I didn't expect you to have such a high IQ. You praised all of us with just one sentence."
The three of them laughed softly.
The atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.
After Mi Xaing 'er finished borrowing the books, she walked out of the library and stood on the steps outside.
The summer sun shone through the leaves, and the shadows of the leaves danced. The three of them already had outstanding looks. When they stood together, they looked like the most beautiful painting, and passersby stole glances at them and secretly praised them.
Tong Che gracefully put his hands in his pockets, and his head was slightly lowered into a graceful arc. That lazy posture of his made it seem like he had practiced it in front of a mirror a thousand times. He had a graceful bearing. "Then, Xiao Mi, we'll meet again if fate wills it."
Mi Xaing 'er nodded seriously. "We'll meet again if fate wills it."
Tian Xiner hugged her shoulder affectionately. "When you come to the city next time, you must come and visit me."
"Yes, when Tiger comes back, I'll come and visit you with him."
When Tiger comes back?
These words came out of her mouth so naturally.
Tong Che narrowed his eyes and said leisurely, "There's nothing wrong with Tiger's character. In fact, you can say that he's almost perfect. In this chaotic world, he's one of the few outstanding people I know. You're not bad either. I wish you both happiness forever."
At the mention of Yun Laohu, Mi Xaing 'er felt a spring water ripple in her heart.
She turned her gaze to the trees by the street. The sunlight seemed to have painted every leaf with a golden color. When the breeze blew, the leaves made soft sounds, just like the whispers of Yun Jingting.
Just when Mi Xaing 'er was missing her husband.
Yun Jingting was also missing her from a thousand miles away.
----- Digression —
Thank you to Beauty Zhou and Book City for your tips.
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