Chapter 1
Go to the alley street to eat crabs
A new partner has joined the company, and a new assistant has been placed in my position, taking away all the projects I had worked hard on for several years, effectively sidelining me. The boss did not express any opinion, so I resigned.
The other party said: "Don't be like that, it's really serious work"
For some reason, this tall and broad figure, slightly bowing its head, appeared somewhat pitiable to Ye Meng, resembling a stray dog that no one wanted.
The atmosphere was silent, the surface of the lake gently rippling, and the small town in early autumn was completely still, with not a single bark of a dog to be heard
Well, Ye Meng lightly cleared her throat. She has always been good at giving up and simply decided to be thick-skinned about it
Fang Ya'en, feeling angry, got into the car and wanted to light a cigarette. However, after searching for a long time, she couldn't find her lighter, so she tossed it back and pressed the accelerator, speeding down the road. She casually asked her, "How long are you staying this time?"
Fang Ya'en and she were high school classmates, close friends, who dropped out of high school to work in Shenzhen. After returning, she operated a suit shop in the town. The two grew up wearing the same pair of split-crotch pants. The Ye family has been the subject of much gossip in the town, and Ye Meng has been a target of discussion since childhood; it was always Fang Ya'en who chased away those children who enjoyed bullying and harassing her.
This is the norm for the youth in the small town
Do you have any matters to attend to
"Behind you," the aunt pushed aside the obstructive person and couldn't help but scold, "Crabs, crabs, all day long just knowing how to eat crabs, all their cleverness is spent on eating crabs. Go away, don't be in the way here."
The sister-in-law could not stand her pretentiousness and rolled her eyes, saying, "Then don't eat later."
He sat on the railing dressed in all black, with a black sports jacket zipped up to the top, the collar standing upright against his slender nape. He wore a black fisherman's hat, and the short hair on the back of his neck glistened in the moonlight, damp and still dripping with water, his back soaked as if he had just taken a shower and had not had time to dry off before being called to the lakeside
"Then I must be really unfortunate," Ye Meng said with a playful smile, "To be honest, after so many years in Beijing, I haven't thought much about you and grandma; I've only been thinking about you making this crab."
The early autumn rain fell suddenly and without warning.
Ye Meng sat in the car and saw several thugs, looking disheveled, squatting under the streetlight, gathered around smoking
"Bang—" Ye Meng decisively struck down with a knife, murmuring, "This is indeed a good way to save money"
Ye Meng has long grown weary of a life of laziness and lack of restraint, yet she is also extremely fatigued by the intrigues and rivalries of the metropolis
Are you planning to buy a large villa in Beijing to bring your grandmother and aunt over to live with you, even if you don't dream about it? Can't you at least make do with a three-bedroom apartment this year?
"Your leg is broken," Ye Meng said before running away.
"Fang Ya'en has broken her leg, I will go take a look." Ye Meng said, not turning his head and fabricating the story.
The Ye family's household is estimated to be worth no more than several tens of thousands of yuan. The Ye family is considered a fallen aristocracy in the town, and the gossip and secret histories could support several generations of storytellers. In the small tea house where storytelling is often mocked, the name of Ye Meng's great-grandfather is still occasionally mentioned. In short, when the great-grandfather was alive, the family was relatively wealthy and held a respectable position. However, after the great-grandfather's passing, the Ye family experienced a decline, with the absence of a capable man to support the family, leading to their current state of decay. Meanwhile, the women in the family have yet to come to terms with the glorious history of the past, especially the grandmother, who insists that Ye Meng should remain in the town as a fallen young lady rather than live as a dependent in the north.
Ye Meng entered the kitchen and began to move around chaotically like a headless fly
Fang Ya'en does not think that Ye Meng is of average intelligence; she is simply naturally carefree and too lazy to bother with such matters
Fortunately, the elderly lady does not favor sons over daughters, and the entire family takes great care of Ye Meng. After completing her university studies in Beijing, the family earnestly urged her to return to her hometown to work, get married, and have children, firmly opposing her staying in Beijing
"Indeed," Ye Meng lazily leaned against the passenger seat, "but the new partner said that my boss is afraid I might overshadow him with my achievements, so he has been keeping this in reserve."
She strolled leisurely, not seeing her younger brother along the way, but instead noticed several elderly gentlemen practicing Tai Chi sword, each push and glance reflecting the elegance and contentment of the old men in the small town
"What are you trying to flirt with girls for if you have no money?" The stray dog glanced back at her inexplicably under the pale moonlight, his eyes slightly squinting, the cold eyelids pressed down in three layers due to impatience: "I have something to do, I’m hanging up"
Ye Meng sat in the passenger seat and threw out another bombshell: "I resign"
The car suddenly came to a sharp stop, and Ye Meng unexpectedly bumped his head hard against the car-mounted photo frame that displayed a picture of Fang Ya'en's son, which was stuck to the windshield.
Ye Meng was momentarily taken aback, and then he looked around. The surroundings were quiet and still, with a few leaves drifting aimlessly, appearing somewhat forlorn. There was nothing else to engage in conversation with him; the lights were out, and not even a passing ant could be seen. Except for her
The man caught a glimpse of Ye Meng standing under the railing, turned his head, and his wet eyes were dark and heavy, filled with complex emotions, as if waiting for an unknown judgment
As dusk deepens, the road becomes dark and narrow. At this time, there are many cars entering the city, and Fang Ya'en weaves through the traffic, alternating between high and low beams, and cutting in: "From what I gather, it seems that Gou Kai intentionally instigated them to drive you away? Damn, what about your house?"
He speaks sparingly, saying a few words here and there; more often, he simply stands by silently smoking. It is evident that he is also compelled by economic pressure to agree to marry her in a manner that involves him moving into her family.
Specifically, I am just applying for a loan approval with my uncle," the man said while standing by the railing, brushing off the ash from his cigarette, his expression remaining unchanged. "After we get married, I won't need to buy a house or a car, and my uncle said he could help me apply for an employee loan interest rate. Additionally, your grandmother mentioned that the ancestral house your family has in Nantang'an can be put in both our names, but we will have to wait until we are fifty.
The time is set to five years later, at the end of October 2019
"Damn, you are quite the public relations manager," Fang Ya'en stared at her in disbelief, "How can you just resign like that?!"
"Looking again, there is a charge." The forlorn dog turned away with a cold gaze
Fang Ya'en helplessly said, "You have used all your intelligence on eating crabs. However, today is not possible; my husband is not here, and I haven't helped my son with his homework yet. Let's do it another day, my treat."
I work for others," Ye Meng slowly turned around, stretched his waist casually, and curiously asked, "How much did my grandmother promise to give you for you to agree to marry me?
The sister-in-law covered the pot and teased her, saying: "Didn’t you just tell us that the boss treats you to delicacies every day? What happened, did the crabs get expelled from the seafood category? Don’t say that my cooking tastes different; since childhood, your mouth has been a deceiver, not a single word of truth. If I believe you, I must be under a spell"
The man, who had his head buried in his collar, suddenly raised it, revealing a tight, thin chin and a jaw that was taut with moisture, along with ear studs that glimmered faintly in the pale moonlight. In this town, most of the small-time delinquents wore ear studs, but it was rare to see someone wearing them with such an ascetic and cold demeanor.
To be precise, she first noticed the crab before she belatedly became aware of the person next to her
What kind of house?
The stray dog spoke, its voice very pleasant, by the edge of the lake water that shimmered with a faint, youthful fishy scent, like clear wine under the scorching sun, carrying a distinct chill that was refreshing to hear, though the voice was somewhat hoarse, likely due to recent strain on its vocal cords
Fang Ya'en got into the car only after finishing a cigarette, rummaging through her handbag for perfume while saying to her, "Are you really not planning to leave? Have you thought it through? You spent five years studying just to get out, didn't you? It was all to take your grandmother and the others away from here, right? The Ye family has experienced so many ups and downs over the years, and just when we finally see you making progress, you revert back to your old self again"
Ye Meng blinked in astonishment; her younger brother was truly stingy and proud now
Fang Ya'en made another sudden stop
The sister-in-law came over with a cup of tea to greet the guests. Seeing her walking downstairs, she hurriedly called out to her, "Where are you going?"
What are you doing
"Mengmeng, come here and cut the onion!" A voice faintly called from the kitchen
The sister-in-law knows that she has definitely not stepped into the kitchen in Beijing for so many years, "Whatever, you can cut it into meat cubes if you like."
Ye Meng became anxious and said, "Drive properly. I have already knocked my head twice for your son. If I knock it again, should I call your mother?"
Indeed, Ye Meng's ancestors must have experienced several generations of misfortune, as all three of her aunts are unable to bear children and are now divorced and single. Only Ye Meng's father was able to have children, but unfortunately, during that era, the family planning policy was in effect. Her father, being employed in a bank, was only allowed to have one child; otherwise, he would face dismissal. Thus, the Ye family has only Ye Meng as their lively and vibrant sole descendant
The car passed by a supermarket, and Fang Ya'en got out to buy a lighter, spending a long time waiting in line to check out. The level of congestion in the supermarket was comparable to when the boss ran off with his sister-in-law, prompting the boss's wife to initiate a clearance sale, causing a mass exodus, with nearly everyone in town crammed inside.
What kind of memory do you have? My son is already in elementary school. Moreover, today's children are competing in this regard; he must not fall behind at the starting line. After all, the neighbor Wang's child can already use English to buy soy sauce.
Your son hasn't started kindergarten yet, what homework are you tutoring him on
"Looking again, there is a charge."
"Do you have anything else to attend to?" he interrupted directly
"Don't, your dad is still single, how embarrassing that would be," Fang Ya'en laughed heartily, no longer startled, "What does your boss mean? You've been at the company for so many years, even if you haven't made any contributions, you've certainly put in a lot of hard work, not to mention that you've nearly sacrificed your life for it in recent years"
To this day, there are still people who say, "Ye Meng, isn't she the daughter of the Ye family who failed her exams?" Old Master Ye is truly unfortunate; he has a son who is incompetent and timid, and his wife has given birth to three daughters, none of whom have had children. After much difficulty, they finally had a great-grandchild, but it turned out to be a girl. Her intelligence is also just average, having taken five years in high school before finally being admitted to university
At this moment, the town is shrouded in darkness, with the camel-like green hills faintly hidden in the dim twilight. A few sparse and ineffective streetlights flicker erratically, while the moon barely manages to cast a thin layer of light on the horizon, allowing her to discern the direction.
"Alas!" Ye Meng replied lazily, dropping the remote control and walking inside
The other party said: "Penny-pincher! Don't think about money all the time!"
Ye Meng stared at him for two seconds, sizing him up for a while, and after a long pause, let out a breath: "Alright, thank you. However, I believe it is more appropriate for us to remain friends. Rest assured, it will not affect your loan."
However, the Ye family has been in decline for many years and has always been the center of discussion. If the man were to truly become a son-in-law, he would become a living target for gossip, subject to much criticism. Later, after several aunts earnestly persuaded her one after another, the elderly lady finally agreed not to insist on the man changing his surname to join the family, but the child must bear the surname Ye. The elderly lady could compromise on other matters, but this issue was non-negotiable.
Ye Meng: "That is a dilapidated building; by the time you turn fifty, that house will have collapsed long ago"
"Grandma will be here soon," the aunt said, skillfully chopping ginger into small pieces and tossing them into the pot, gently reminding, "Don't argue with her. It's not easy for her to come back, so don't let the neighbors have a laugh. This man is really quite good; Grandma has done a lot of work... Xiao Liu from the Civil Affairs Bureau said he would work overtime for you tonight as long as you like him"
"What are you trying to flirt with girls for if you have no money? I have something to attend to, goodbye"
Ye Meng is preparing to stroll through the park across the street
"Alright," Ye Meng had not originally planned to take her along, "Just right, I will go by myself, have a meal and then stroll around. Who knows, I might have a romantic encounter or something. It has been so many years since I left, I wonder if the young men in this town have grown up."
After Ye Meng was expelled from the kitchen, he lay bored on the windowsill watching the raindrops fall densely from the sky, as if he could see millions of giant webs made of spider silk descending, enveloping the oppressive city and making it hard to breathe
"I won't buy it anymore. Besides, with those few young ladies in our family, even if I really bought it, they wouldn't be willing to go," Ye Meng said, looking at the sparse night scene in the town. "Moreover, this time I don't plan to go back again"
"......" Ye Meng said expressionlessly, "You don't need to be so excited. I'm not pregnant."
Fang Ya'en, feeling too lazy to persuade, finished her makeup in front of the sun visor and prepared to start the car: "Where to?"
As they stepped out, the two walked towards the parking lot. Fang Ya'en suddenly remembered to ask, "By the way, aren't you going on a blind date tonight? Why did you suddenly come out to play in the escape room?"
I can ask you for...
Until she arrived at the lakeside, she saw a person
"What are you going to the hospital for?" Fang Ya'en should have anticipated this; this girl must be trying to distract her again. Throughout her life, there have been countless reasons such as 'Fang Ya'en has a cold,' 'Fang Ya'en fell from upstairs,' and 'Fang Ya'en lost something.'
The stray dog casually removed the headphones and hung them on the upright collar. The face under the brim of the hat was somewhat pale, with a rounded and clear lip line. Sitting on the railing, he glanced at her with a lowered gaze, seemingly very accustomed to this state of being approached by girls: "Do you want my WeChat?"
Ningsui Town is small, yet it is densely populated, with idle gossip flying everywhere. Ye Meng has deeply experienced this since childhood. When she was young, a test paper on which she scored zero was posted in the auditorium, and the men of the Ye family were bullied in town for being weak and honest
It was then that Ye Meng clearly saw the black earphone wire that was coming out from his collar
What are you doing
Ye Meng smiled without speaking, as she was part of the northern migration, and only she understood the twists and turns involved. Her family did not support her decision to migrate, and Ye Meng was unwilling to share those burdens with them. Placing the onion on the cutting board, her mind suddenly went blank, "How do I cut this again?"
And that man is a bit young, possibly a younger brother
......
The old lady brought someone home again without her consent
The new partner undermined her, and Gou Kai did not say any words of consolation on her behalf. Ye Meng felt that all her years of hard work had been in vain, and even if the partner did not speak up, she would take the initiative to resign herself.
Three minutes ago, "Brother Xiaoyu."
However, the crab restaurant has relocated without posting its new address, and the entire alley seems to be preparing for demolition, with all the signs removed completely.
"Tsk tsk, you are truly persistent about relationships between older women and younger men," Fang Ya'en said with a smile, shaking her head.
Ye Meng's footsteps paused slightly as she distanced herself a bit, ensuring that Fang Ya'en could not reach her before she stammered, "I said to go to the hospital"
In this dim light, Ye Meng was still able to see that the crabs on the railing were cooked
The other party said: "Where is your computer? Lend me some software to check something out"
Ye Meng turned to look at the man who had silently appeared behind her. He was dressed in a neatly pressed suit and shirt, exuding an air of maturity and composure in his every gesture. While he was not particularly handsome, his appearance was certainly unblemished, making him stand out in this small town. However, this type of mature and steady demeanor was not her preferred style.
......
There are no lights here; the stone pillar lamps along the lake are more casual than the streetlights, and they have collectively gone on strike. The moonlight generously spills its clear radiance, making the calm surface of the lake resemble a vast mirror, shimmering with glimmers of light, creating subtle ripples that are not very noticeable.
"My grandmother is someone who would rather die here; I cannot carry her. She still hopes that I will get married and have children here, guarding the Ye family ancestral grave for a lifetime. Forget it, I don't want to go back to Beijing; I will look for a job here." Ye Meng added, "By the way, stop at the intersection ahead."
What does Miss Ye do for work in Beijing
At 8 o'clock, Ye Meng and Fang Ya'en, who had "broken her leg," shattered the records of three escape rooms at the escape room shop in the west of the city. The owner quickly took out a special player notebook to have them leave their contact information for an early invitation to try out the next room updates.
In the kitchen, the sister-in-law is tossing one crab leg after another into the pot. Ye Meng rolls up her sleeves and walks over, feigning regret as she looks into the pot, "The crabs are really suffering, aren't they"
Fang Ya'en exploded in anger: "...Are you itching for a fight again!!! Does your grandmother think that I have managed to live all this time just by hanging on by a thread?"
Only Ye Meng would dare to interrupt Fang Ya'en like this. Although Fang Ya'en, once a notorious figure, has now retired from her former life, no one in town truly dares to provoke her; she is famously unpredictable.
The man in the suit did not expect her to be so direct, and he was momentarily taken aback. The cigarette butt burned halfway, and he did not have time to flick it off the railing. He instinctively wiped it with his sleeve, and the freshly painted railing was scratched slightly by the button of his suit. Without caring about the mark left on his suit button, he gently apologized, "I’m sorry, shall I find someone to repaint this railing for you tomorrow?"
I truly thank him," Ye Meng said absently while staring at the pot, "Please add some cilantro to the crabs. Where is the chili sauce?
So he was on the phone
"No," Ye Meng, who was not particularly fond of this type, suddenly had a clever idea and denied it outright, "It is the address of this crab restaurant"