Chapter 2

An old wardrobe, a desk, and a bunk bed, with miscellaneous items piled on the upper bunk, while the lower bunk has been tidied up, with freshly changed sheets and blankets

The window was covered in dust and rust. He struggled for half a day, while over there, Pan Zhi had already answered the phone, yet the window remained completely unmoved

Playing cards, my luck has been terrible lately, but yesterday was not bad! You little rascal brought me good fortune!" Li Baoguo said cheerfully, then closed his eyes.

Jiang Shengzhi straightened up and glanced at him

He pulled the quilt over himself, hesitated for a moment, then tugged at the corner of the quilt to smell it. Only after confirming it was clean did he let out a sigh of relief, lacking even the mood to sigh.

Jiang Sheng watched him enter another bedroom, without taking anything off, he just collapsed onto the bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and asked somewhat speechlessly: "What were you doing last night..."

He turned his head and did not see the person clearly; first, he noticed a ground covered with scattered hair and a shiny bald head, and then he saw a pair of large eyes

"Cheng?" Pan Zhi whispered as if he were a thief trying to keep his voice down

"Once you return to the house, it will be warm," Li Baoguo said, coughing as he spoke loudly, spraying him with a face full of saliva. "I specifically tidied up a room for you."

Jiang Sheng was taken aback for a moment, recalling the little girl named Gu Miao from before; there were quite a few people skateboarding in this broken city

In the end, he had no choice but to return to his room to drag out the suitcase, from which he retrieved a folding bucket. Wearing only his underwear, he carried bucket after bucket of water into the bathroom, going in and out, half rinsing and half washing, struggling to take a shower.

Jiang Sheng frowned, feeling a bit embarrassed after finishing his morning routine. He realized that his attitude yesterday was not very good. Li Baoguo had invited him to drink without any ill intentions; it could only be attributed to differing habits. However, he had stiffly refused. Could it be that Li Baoguo did not return all night because of this matter?

After closing my eyes, I fell asleep as if I had lost consciousness

"Is it cold in the cold room?" Li Baoguo turned around and asked, coughing a few times, "Is it much colder than it was over there?"

As soon as you go out, there are many places selling breakfast, you should go eat, " Li Baoguo said, " I am extremely tired, I will take a nap first, if I don't wake up by noon, you can eat by yourself.

Jiang Sheng wandered back and forth on the street twice, and finally entered a bun shop, ate a few buns, and drank a bowl of tofu pudding. He felt that the soreness in his body had not eased; instead, it seemed to have awakened something, making him feel even worse.

Jiang Sheng locked eyes with him for a moment, then pulled down his mask and said, "Don't pat my back."

Are you ... ... there?" He walked into the living room, genuinely unsure of how to address Li Baoguo

Jiang Sheng was unable to respond to him. The two slaps were delivered with considerable force. He had already inhaled sharply and wanted to cough, but upon hearing Li Baoguo cough, he felt an even stronger urge to cough. After receiving two more slaps, he bent over and began to cough violently towards the ground, nearly bringing tears to his eyes

I said I would come to see you," Pan Zhi said, "Isn't there still a few days until school starts? I will also bring the things I bought for you.

Unable to continue singing, after turning around twice to confirm that there was no water heater in the room, he felt a sense of frustration in his heart and struck the faucet: "Damn."

He took a glance at it; it was a message sent by Pan Zhifa

"... I can't..." Jiang Sheng was somewhat at a loss for words, "I don't want to drink"

Li Baoguo entered the house wrapped in a chill, his complexion dark and his expression extremely weary

Dressed, I walked out of the room, and everything in the house remained as it was last night, even the empty bed in the other bedroom.

"Damn you, Jiang Sheng, can you have some decency!" Pan Zhi shouted.

"What do we need to thank each other for?" Li Baoguo said with a cough, laughing as he patted him on the back twice, "We don't need to say thank you!"

He took out his phone to check the time, which was still relatively early, just past 8 o'clock

"Are you up?" Li Baoguo exclaimed in a loud voice upon seeing him, "You are up quite early, how did you sleep?"

There is no hesitation, and being displeased does not conflict with it. Jiang Sheng exhaled a puff of smoke

The agitation in my heart is like a storm; just a mere ten cents more of dissatisfaction could lead me to sing a song of furious battle.

"Hey, it's not like I brought you here," Pan Zhi clicked his tongue and said, "What are you unhappy about here? Back when your mother said 'the consent of the adoptee is required,' you didn't hesitate at all, and now you're upset!"

Hmm. Jiang Cheng leaned against the windowsill, gazing at the dark street outside

After wandering outside for a whole day, he simply cannot fall asleep without taking a shower

Jiang Sheng remained silent, gazing at a light bulb wrapped in cobwebs in the corridor, feeling as though the bulb was struggling to catch its breath

Later, his mother said something else, but he found it somewhat magical and did not hear it clearly. This is his skill; he can truly block out things he does not wish to hear.

"Damn it." Jiang Cheng's finger was pricked by something, and he frowned as he cursed, abandoning the idea of opening the window

As soon as he entered, the few people who were chatting stopped, turned their heads, and stared at him in unison

He probably has a cold; after finishing his breakfast, he went to the nearby pharmacy to buy a box of medicine

"I don't want to drink," Jiang Cheng interrupted him, "I want to sleep"

Wandering aimlessly, he walked from the small street to the main street, then turned a corner and entered another small street that ran parallel to the previous one. Jiang Cheng wanted to see if there was a way to turn back directly on this street.

Suddenly, a small figure darted out from the empty street outside, gliding past at an astonishing speed on a skateboard

"Oh," Li Baoguo entered the room and turned on the light, "You are really spoiled, speaking to your elders like this. Let me tell you, I never spoiled your brother or sister. If you had grown up at home, I would have disciplined you long ago... Come, you can sleep in this room with the books... This room used to be your brother's..."

As the warm air infused with the scent of lemon enveloped him in the store, he paused at the entrance, feeling a desire to turn back and leave.

This house is very small, and from the living room, one can see all the doors to the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom at a glance. Li Baoguo is no longer in the house

"Go." Li Baoguo patted him again.

"Do not be stubborn with me. You haven't told anyone else about this matter, and now I am the only one who can offer you some warmth," Pan Zhi sighed. "Let me comfort you."

Li Baoguo did not return for one night

"In these past ten years, we have never treated you poorly at home. Your father and I have never let you know that you are adopted, have we?" Mother’s voice carried its usual sternness

I do not feel that way," Jiang Cheng said

However, even if this state persisted from his middle school years all the way to high school, even if he often thought about not wanting to go home, not wanting to see his parents, and especially not wanting to see those two identical faces... When such moments descended upon him as if his wishes had been fulfilled, he still felt completely dazed.

"Wine, huh?" Li Baoguo looked at him, "We haven't seen each other for over ten years, how can we not have a drink to celebrate!"

Li Baoguo's home is located on an old, narrow street, flanked by various small shops that are both dilapidated and full of life, offering food, clothing, and daily necessities. Above the shops are low-rise buildings.

There is no water heater in the bathroom

Wanting to take a shower, Jiang Cheng got up and opened the door, glancing into the living room, where no one was present

In the small space in front of the cash register, four people are squeezed together, each with a chair, either sitting or leaning.

During the day, the small street is more vibrant than at night, with people, vehicles, and the sound of firecrackers. However, when everything becomes bright, the decay that could be hidden in the darkness is fully revealed

Jiang Sheng did not speak, bent over and extended his arm, giving him a thumbs up.

The conditions are certainly not as good as before," Li Baoguo said while opening the door, "but what is mine is yours!

Jiang Sheng looked up through the various crisscrossing wires and surveyed the surroundings; the exterior walls were unrecognizable in their original color, and he could not tell whether it was getting dark or if it had always been this way

Hmm? Jiang Sheng did not react.

The snow has stopped, and a biting cold sweeps through the air

"Do you have something to say?" Jiang Cheng said, "I don't want to talk right now"

"Shall I go?" Pan Zhi suddenly said

Li Baoguo, wrapped in a strange odor, fell asleep immediately, which made him feel quite annoyed. He did not even know what he could do once he returned.

Jiang Sheng originally thought that he would be unable to sleep under such circumstances, but after lying down on the bed, the previous torment of sleeplessness vanished. He was somewhat surprised to find himself feeling drowsy, not just drowsy, but also fatigued, as if he had been cramming for exams intensively for half a month.

This feeling is difficult to describe. Jiang Sheng is certain that he has not yet begun to miss his home and family, which are several hours away, but he has genuinely started to miss his room intensely.

As he exited the restroom, a cockroach scurried past his feet, causing him to jump and nearly collide with the door

"Not necessary," Jiang Cheng said

In his teenage years, his parents and family were the only ones that mattered, regardless of whether their relationships were good or bad. His mother was simply the woman named Shen Yiqing, his father was the man named Jiang Wei, and he had two twin younger brothers... Now, however, there suddenly appeared a set of names, Li Baoguo and... several names he had already forgotten.

He stopped when passing by a grocery store that was actually just a small convenience store, pushed the door open and walked in, intending to buy a bottle of water to take his medicine first

The tidied room... should not have been cleaned much; one can tell just by the nose without using the eyes, as the smell of dust is mixed with a faint musty odor

"Let the things be for now, we will tidy up tomorrow," Li Baoguo said, "Let us have a couple of drinks first."

"Oh?" Li Baoguo was taken aback, staring at him with wide eyes, "What?"

Jiang Sheng took the keys he had placed on the table, turned around, and walked out the door, feeling that his previous sense of embarrassment was truly naive

Very confused

Do not forget, during the New Year, your father has already been angered into the hospital! He still has not been discharged!" Mother raised her voice

After buying the medicine, I stood by the roadside feeling somewhat lost, should I go back

Most of the time, he did not experience much discomfort or pain

According to my mother, ... Jiang Cheng suddenly found this title a bit strange, and his train of thought was oddly interrupted, as he could not recall what was said in that moment.

It is indeed a bit difficult to manage.

Have you had breakfast yet? Li Baoguo took off his coat, shook it, and the smell became even stronger. The small living room was filled with a strange odor.

I closed my eyes for about half an hour, and my eyes felt sore from being shut, yet I had no inclination to sleep. Just as I was about to sit up and smoke a cigarette, my phone rang once.

When I woke up in the morning, the first sensation was that my whole body ached. As I got out of bed, Jiang Cheng had the illusion that his true identity was actually that of a dockworker carrying heavy loads, as if he hadn't worked enough for a week.

His mother's stern and hollow accusations, along with what he deemed completely ineffective communication methods, were the triggers for his breakdown

After standing at the entrance of the pharmacy for a few minutes, he decided to take a stroll nearby to familiarize himself with this place, the duration of his stay in which was uncertain.

It is just a guess

While dialing the number, the sound of keys came from outside the door, and the door lock followed with a series of sounds, ringing for a good twenty to thirty seconds before the door was finally opened

"Don't touch me." Jiang Sheng frowned

Anyway ... ... '' he continued to sing, glancing back at the kitchen connected to the bathroom, but he did not see the water heater; he only noticed an electric heater on the faucet, `` anyway ... ... wwwhetushucom .com ''

Starting from when my mother said, "There is something I need to tell you," the months of cold war and the processing of formalities have led to the present, where everything feels like a dream that I cannot fully grasp.

Jiang Sheng did not listen to what Li Baoguo was saying, but dragged his suitcase into the inner room. This apartment is a two-bedroom unit, and it is unclear how this entire family used to live here.

The phone rang, and he took it out to take a look; the number displayed was "Mom." He answered the call

Come on—let's play cards—after all, we have plenty of time, " Jiang Sheng sang a line, pushing open the bathroom door, " Come on—let's take a shower—after all ... ... "

His relationship with his family is indeed very tense; whether it is with his parents or his younger brother, a slight touch ignites a spark, and upon seeing fire, it explodes. He has not spoken to his brother for almost a year, and even his usually calm and composed mother has exhibited various lapses in behavior.

They must have gone to play cards, even taking the time to pick someone up at the intersection before heading off to play a few hands.

No, it is a good bird

He cleared his throat and coughed a few times, but no one responded

Jiang Sheng lit a cigarette, dialed Pan Zhi's number, and walked to the window with the cigarette in his mouth, intending to open the window

He followed Li Baoguo into a corridor, feeling completely unsure of what he was experiencing, and after passing through several piles of clutter and vegetables, he arrived at the door at the very end of the first floor

Just hesitating whether to turn around and leave or directly go to the nearby shelf to get some water, Jiang Chengyu caught a glimpse of three people surprisingly crowding in front of the shelf

As soon as the door opened, he was taken aback by a wave of camphor ball scent. A two-door wardrobe stood there, half filled with quilts, blankets, old cotton clothes, and a towel blanket whose fringes were almost as long as tassels.

No," Jiang Cheng said

Sleep?" Li Baoguo was stunned for a moment before waving his hand and turning to leave, hoarsely saying, "Alright, alright, you sleep, sleep.

When the call ended, he could no longer remember what had been said before, what his mother had said, or what he himself had said, all of it had slipped from his memory

He did not want to listen, nor did he wish to argue in this unfamiliar environment that made him feel uncomfortable all over.

Very sudden

- What the hell, have you left? What is the situation now

A strange and distressing environment, strange and distressing "relatives"

When Jiang Cheng returned to the room to turn off the lights and prepare to force himself to sleep, he finally noticed that there were no curtains in the room, and the reason he had not seen the view outside was that the glass was too dirty

What exists is merely deception

Hmm," Jiang Cheng replied from behind his mask

Have you already passed? asked Pan Zhi

Have you arrived? " came the voice of my mother from over there

How to comfort, Jiang Sheng said, "Will you give me a kiss?"

"Your health is not very good," Li Baoguo looked at him and said, "You need to exercise. When I was your age, I was as strong as a bear."

"What is mine is yours!" Li Baoguo opened the door, turned back, and patted his shoulder heavily twice, "What is yours is mine! This is just like the relationship between a book and its owner!"

"What should I drink?" Jiang Sheng was taken aback for a moment, glancing at his phone; it was nearly 10 o'clock

But I now know, said Jiang Sheng, and I have already been driven out

I did not have a single dream throughout the night

"I told you not to touch me," Jiang Cheng said irritably

He casually took out a few pieces of clothing from the box and hung them in the wardrobe, while the rest were placed in the suitcase and stuffed under the cabinet. He then took out a bottle of perfume and sprayed it about ten times into the wardrobe before closing the cabinet door and sitting on the edge of the bed

"Don't want to drink?" Li Baoguo's eyes widened significantly, and after staring at him for two seconds, he finally relaxed his gaze and smiled, "You can't be someone who has never drunk before, can you? You're already in high school..."

He threw the cigarette butt inside and closed the lid, at that moment feeling as if he never wanted to smoke again in this lifetime

"You are so enthusiastic about sending me off a thousand miles, why should I care about my dignity? I must hurry to cooperate with you." Jiang Sheng turned around the room with a cigarette butt in hand, found a congee can filled with ash, and opened it only to be nearly overwhelmed by the stale smell of smoke before he could even see the contents clearly

The conditions are not as good as at home, "Mom said, "It may take some time to adapt"

On this small street, he saw a tiny musical instrument store and a delicately decorated ice cream shop in soft pink. However, apart from these two shops, the others were not much different from those on the previous street

What is going on with you?" Pan Zhi still lowered his voice, "I heard from Yu Xin today that you have left? Didn't you say you would inform me when you were leaving? I even bought a bunch of things waiting to give to you!

Thank you, Jiang Sheng replied, raising his hand to adjust his mask

"Hmm." Jiang Cheng responded.

Jiang Sheng looked at these four individuals; from their appearances to their expressions, from their attire to their demeanor, each person's face seemed to bear a single character.

Li Baoguo laughed happily: "Exercise! I will still rely on you to take care of me in the future!"

He hesitated for a moment, took out his phone intending to call Li Baoguo, as it was not a problem to have breakfast together in the morning after not drinking together in the evening

Mother paused and said, "Xiao Cheng, I still hope you don't feel ... ... "

Jiang Sheng did not speak; he could not understand what his father's hospitalization due to pneumonia had to do with him

"... not bad." As Jiang Cheng responded, he caught a strong smell of smoke emanating from him, mixed with some inexplicable unpleasant odor, reminiscent of what one could smell on the old red and green trains.

Send it to me. Jiang Cheng put on his coat, held a cigarette in his mouth, walked to the living room, opened the door intending to go out, took a step and remembered he didn't have the keys, so he had to retreat, opening the window in the living room instead

Jiang Sheng closed the door to the room and stood in the room for nearly five minutes before finally opening the wardrobe door

How is it? How is your biological father?

No," Jiang Cheng said, "How about we ... ... "

Sleep or daydream