Chapter 8, Chasing the Wind (01)
Xu Tang was taken aback
Xu Tang had approached and stopped at a position three steps away from Fang Ju, asking, "Is there something you need?"
Fang Ju twisted the throttle, and the motorcycle turned a corner, heading east, with Zhou Xian closely following behind. Xu Tang's palms were drenched in sweat, the warm wind rushed towards him, and his breath was caught in his throat
Xu Tang fell silent for a moment, unable to discern the intention behind Zhou Xian's actions
"Get on the car of the insurance brother."
Xu Tang looked at the cream in the paper plate, a mixture of red, green, and white, and said, "... ... Thank you."
A group of people laughed and chatted as they finished the cake, and Xu Tang felt her throat turn bitter from the overly sweet cream. However, under Zhou Xian's "concerned" gaze, she still forced herself to finish it.
Zhou Xian helped her sit down on the sofa. Before Xu Tang could settle herself, she saw Fang Ju carrying a huge cake over and placing it on the coffee table
The siblings stood silently for a while, their emotions subdued. Xu Tang turned to tidy up Xu Yang's room, while Xu Yang went to Xu Tang's room to pack his belongings. Xu Tang noticed a set of clothes belonging to Zhou Xian still hanging on the balcony, which he had not had the chance to take away. After quietly observing for a moment, she picked up the clothes rack and took them down. She smoothed and folded the clothes, placing them into a black plastic bag, thinking that when she set up a stall at the bridge, she would eventually run into Zhou Xian, and at that time, she would return them to him.
The young girls who frequented the shop found her clothes to be more stylish than those of other vendors, often lingering a bit longer to admire the garments while seeking her advice. Xu Tang dressed elegantly and was patient, which attracted more and more customers, leading to a swift turnover; selling around ten sets in a single evening was not a problem.
Students who are admitted to a first-tier university will receive a monetary reward from their school. Xu Tang calculated that with a little extra added to this reward, the capital for setting up a stall would be just right.
Oh, is that Xian Ge's girlfriend
Xu Tang, feeling helpless, could only clasp her hands together in a symbolic gesture and briefly close her eyes. After taking a breath, she opened her eyes and began to blow out the candles. Her breath was a bit short, and there were still three or four candles left unextinguished. Fang Ju stepped forward to help her blow them out, then pulled out the candles and started to cut the cake. He thoughtfully cut the decorated center piece for Xu Tang, saying, "Sister-in-law, you should have this biggest piece."
Xu Tang was bombarded by countless "Hello, brother-in-law" greetings, leaving her dazed, until Zhou Xian turned around and quietly said, "Get out of the car," which finally brought her back to her senses
Before I had the chance to call out Zhou Xian's name, the convoy had already driven far away, leaving only a cloud of dust in the air, mingling with the hot and noisy atmosphere filled with the scent of barbecue smoke
The banquet finally began, yet she had to go table to table to toast, and in the end, she didn't get to eat a single bite of the hot dishes, but ended up drinking a bellyful of beverages
She no longer hesitated, walked to the side of Zhou Xian's car, and mounted it.
In previous years, birthdays were celebrated at home, but this year, Xu Tang has turned eighteen and has been admitted to a prestigious university in the city. Therefore, it is essential to hold a grand celebration. To save time and effort, Xu Tang's birthday will be combined with the graduation banquet.
Fang Ju smiled and continued, "Today, Xian Ge played billiards with us. Every time a firecracker went off, his ball would go off course once. In the end, he threw down the cue and walked out. I asked him what he was doing, and he said, 'To pick up your sister-in-law.'"
He raised his leg and swung onto the motorcycle, saying, "Get on the vehicle."
Fang Ju parked the car and shouted towards the wide-open rolling shutter door: "Sister-in-law is here!"
Xu Tang neatly packed the clothes and handed them to the customer. After completing the transaction, she finally spoke up, saying: "I don't know."
The cake was quickly removed, and various skewers were brought out again, with the sound of beer being opened echoing continuously.
The first floor features an exceptionally large living room, furnished with four tables. Adjacent to them are a sectional sofa and a coffee table, all in black. A television is placed against the wall.
In Duhhe Town, both joyous and solemn occasions are held at home with a flowing banquet. A few specialized chefs are invited to manage the feast, along with several workers. Preparation of the ingredients begins the night before, with the fire starting at 4:30 AM, ensuring that the dishes are ready to be served by noon
As they quickly approached the edge of the bridge, Zhou Xian made a sharp turn, causing Xu Tang to be so frightened that she immediately reached out her hand and held him tightly.
After that, Xu Tang encountered Zhou Xian and Zhang Xue three more times, each time in the same scenario. The black bag containing clothes remained pressed at the bottom of the cardboard box, with no opportunity to take it out. She also repeatedly thought about using that phone to call Zhou Xian, but this idea ultimately did not come to fruition
How can we take action without Brother Xian's instructions
Xu's mother and relatives were sitting in the living room discussing accommodation, and Xu Tang said while drying her hair: "Mom, my deskmate invited me to sleep at her house"
Xu Tang shook her head, "It's nothing."
Fang Ju smiled, "The firecrackers in Qiaonan have been set off all day, and you didn't go to set up your stall again today. It was obvious as soon as I asked."
After eating for a while, Zhou Xian got up to go to the restroom. Xu Tang quickly seized the opportunity to catch Fang Ju, asking, "How did you know it was my birthday today?"
Behind him, under the chestnut tree, stood another person, their figure obscured in the shadows, with only a flickering spark of light visible.
Zhou Xian's expression was indifferent, his gaze unwavering. Sitting behind him was Zhang Xue, who reached out to tightly wrap her arms around his waist. As they passed her stall, she turned her face and raised a slightly provocative smile.
Xu Tang digested this answer, "Are these two words not the same meaning"
Zhou Xian parked the car and reached out to grasp her arm as they walked inside. As if jolted by electricity, Xu Tang couldn't help but shiver slightly, following Zhou Xian into the house amidst the raucous laughter of everyone.
May you grow old together in harmony
Xu Tang was packing clothes for a customer when she heard a sound and immediately looked up, just in time to see Zhou Xian in the middle of the convoy
Xu's mother, enraged, lost all desire to go out and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower. Xu Yang silently picked up the butterfly knife from the floor, and seeing Xu Tang standing alone under the light, he couldn't help but walk over and gently wrap his arm around her shoulder, "Sister, are you alright? Did Zhou Xian say something unpleasant?"
Fang Ju and Zhou Xian were already waiting at the entrance of the alley. Upon seeing Xu Tang's figure, Fang Ju immediately whistled.
Once the sharp turn was behind them, Xu Tang suddenly realized, her gaze fixed on the hand that was tightly wrapped around Zhou Xian's waist, her ears instantly burning with a deep crimson.
Xu Tang immediately turned her gaze to Zhou Xian, who had remained silent. He had also mounted his motorcycle, holding a cigarette in one hand and gripping the throttle with the other, quietly watching her.
Xu's mother began to arrange accommodations for the relatives. Xu Tang was so exhausted that she was nearly fainting. She first went back to take a shower, and while she was changing clothes, she suddenly heard something hit the window glass.
Xu Tang wore a light-colored dress that fell above her knees, her hair freshly washed and still damp, cascading down her back. A faint, delicate fragrance lingered in the air. As she walked over, her calves, revealed from beneath the dress, were fair and well-proportioned, each step exuding a sense of graceful elegance.
In the alley, there lingered the scent of gunpowder from the firecrackers, filling her nostrils with each breath. An indescribable emotion choked her heart, causing a sense of bitterness and infinite grievance, yet after such scrutiny, even the grievance seemed trivial.
The cream cake, adorned with red and green flowers, was haphazardly topped with eighteen candles
It is best to promise to grow old together with our brother in danger
Xu Tang could not help but ask: "What is that Zhang Xue?"
Fang Ju seemed to find her question utterly incomprehensible, staring at her with wide eyes, "Of course not. Can a girlfriend and a wife mean the same thing?"
Xu's mother knew that Xu Tang's deskmate was a girl, living to the east, and it was only a ten-minute walk from here. She was worried that the bedding for the floor was insufficient, but upon hearing Xu Tang say this, she immediately nodded in agreement
Xu Tang was startled and immediately put on her skirt, staring blankly at the window. After a while, the window was hit again.
This appearance is simply like a different person compared to the first time he saw the "bean sprouts". Fang Ju couldn't help but be taken aback for a moment, and he immediately turned to glance at Zhou Xian.
Xu Tang had not yet had the chance to digest this shocking title when seven or eight people surged out of the house, standing in unison at the door and loudly greeting Xu Tang.
Xu Tang immediately walked over and opened the window, catching sight of a familiar red-haired figure outside the wall. Fang Ju smiled and whistled, "Come out!"
Xu Tang glanced at it and immediately averted her gaze, truly unable to bear looking at it a second time
After a whole day of hustle and bustle, by 10 PM, all the guests had finally dispersed, except for the relatives on both sides.
Although Xu Tang is the main character of the banquet, she is extremely busy, constantly on the move. At one moment, she needs to greet relatives from both sides of her parents, and at another, she has to attend to her classmates and teachers. Whenever something is lacking, it is also her responsibility to address and inform.
Xu Tang then returned to her room, slinging a light pink shoulder bag over her shoulder. She took out the black bag and held it in her hand, thought for a moment, and then placed it back as it was.
Are these all the instructions given by Zhou Xian?
The night wind whispers in her ears, and Xu Tang feels as if she is a kite, breaking free from its string and soaring towards the high sky
Xu Tang seemed to be pricked by a needle, and her breath momentarily halted
Sister-in-law, make a wish!" Fang Ju shouted loudly
Make a wish, make a wish! The person next to me immediately responded
A group of motorcycles roared swiftly from the south of the bridge, heading towards the east bank of the river, and just passed by Xu Tang's stall. Fang Ju, leading the way, caught sight of Xu Tang at a glance and shouted loudly, "Miss Xu!"
Before she started her stall, she spent several days at Boss Zhao's bookstore looking for some old fashion magazines to study, gaining some insights into clothing coordination. When she purchased clothes, she specifically chose styles that were different from those of other stalls. Although she was just over 1.6 meters tall, her slender figure suited the clothes very well. Every day, she wore outfits that she had coordinated herself, standing in front of her stall like a moving advertisement
It was only after she had been setting up her street stall for half a month that she finally saw Zhou Xian again
After driving for approximately 15 minutes, the car turned into a small road and continued for another 5 minutes, stopping in front of a four-story building
Xu Tang felt her heart swell slightly, taking a long breath, "Wait a moment."
In Xu Tang's courtyard, four tables were set up, and six more tables were arranged under a plastic sunshade in the alley. There were a total of forty tables for the banquet.
After going to school to receive her reward and filling out her application, Xu Tang's night market stall officially opened at the bridgehead. She chose a location near a milk tea shop at the bridgehead, so that the girls who came by for milk tea would also visit her stall.
Soon it will be July 28, Xu Tang's birthday
Jiang Hehua's final exam has ended, and with nothing to do, she set up a stall next to her selling the shoe soles made by her mother. At this moment, she heard Fang Ju greeting her, and couldn't help but be curious: "Sister Xu Tang, do you know them?"
In the following week, Xu Tang was in contact with clothing wholesale factories. During this period, the college entrance examination results were released, and her score exceeded her estimated score by fifteen points, just enough to gain admission to a first-tier university in the city. Due to the limited teaching resources in Duhe Town, the local high school could only produce about five students who were admitted to first-tier universities each year.