Chapter 8, The Forgotten Time, Qi Yi in Present Continuous (Part 2)

Where is the child who just came with you

She suddenly opened the window. Is it you? Have you returned?

A gentle kiss has already touched my heart

Full of youthful vitality, with radiant cheeks, as rosy as the apples described in a child's composition

She needs to keep Mrs. Lu company for a while. I was worried that you wouldn't have anything to eat, so I came back first

"Isn't A-Jun living on campus? Has he skipped school again?" Old Lady Lu shook her head, "I don't quite understand what his homeroom teacher said either. Let's wait for A-Hai to come back; A-Jun will be able to understand his words."

His lips were so close that she could touch them with just a slight tiptoe

It seems I can hear my own laughter again, asking: "Can you pretend to like me? I think I am quite beautiful."

Ah, everyone says that. A couple of years ago, some people also claimed to be just passing by, but after a while, they turned back, entangled in their feelings.

"Do you think I don't want to?" He Tianwei glared at her fiercely, "Who framed me, saying that I injured her foot? They keep calling me around, one moment I'm thirsty, the next I'm hungry, needing both water and noodles!"

"I really am getting old, my eyes are not enough to use." Granny Lu tilted her head in contemplation, "Ah Hai hasn't had his holiday yet, has he?"

"No one will sell you off as a mute..." He Tianwei flicked her forehead playfully.

Even after having each other, this is still a different kind of emotion

Well, Granny Lu is a Vietnamese Chinese, and she still has siblings in Vietnam

He Tianwei felt somewhat frustrated and snorted, "What kind of man is it to make a woman cry and then run away?"

That evening, I went to pick her up

"Who is hungry? I brought back some delicious zongzi." Qi Yi leaned against the door, holding three or five large square zongzi, "Come quickly, while they are hot."

Ah, Grandma is going to make rice dumplings soon and has also prepared braised pig's trotters. We will have pig's trotter noodles for dinner tonight. From now on, the kitchen of 'Missing Someone' will be entrusted to you, so why not come and learn a bit?" Cai said with a beaming smile, "Grandma Lu's culinary skills are truly exceptional.

In the night, the sound of the wind rustling through the treetops can be heard. Those howling sounds resemble a chorus of overlapping cries

It is somewhat similar to dementia; if I did not visit her often, she would certainly not recognize me. She cannot remember what she has said before and often repeats things she has said many times.

The places we have been to are indeed delicious

I miss him very much too" Cai Manxin murmured, tears sliding down, dripping from her cool cheek onto her arm

Cai Manxin patiently explained the identities of Tao Tao and He Tianwei again

"I haven't eaten this in many years." Qi Yi took it and said, "Oh, this is the Vietnamese sticky rice dumpling, right? I saw it when I was traveling there."

She turned and disappeared behind the church. Qi Yi faintly caught a whiff of the savory aroma of marinated dishes, so he followed the scent to the wooden house in the back, which had three sections.

The pig's trotters are coated with soy sauce, fried in the pan until golden brown, then seasoned and braised until tender. They are placed on a bed of resilient rice noodles, topped with a ladle of hot broth, and garnished with vibrant green scallions, exuding an enticing aroma

Do it yourself! He Tianwei shoved an ice pack into her hand and said, "You might as well sleep; you wake up with so many problems."

But he finally pushed her away: "I'm sorry, this is a different kind of feeling"

Do you think you cook very well? You can only make instant noodles

With a heart full of anticipation but unable to hear the continuation, I lowered my head and asked: "What happened next?"

The zongzi is wrapped neatly, measuring half a foot on each side and about half a fist thick. In the center of the glutinous rice is a layer of mung bean paste mixed with coconut milk, and it is also filled with chestnuts, pieces of chicken, and pork leg meat with some fat.

Oh, tears streaming down my face. Taotao continued, "The next day, I didn't dare to ask."

Cai Manxin went around to the back of the church to find Granny Lu, while Qi Yi took out the camera from his backpack and looked for suitable spots to take pictures around the small church. "Let's take the photos later!" she called out as she turned back, standing at the end of the path.

Old Lady Lu pressed the banana leaves together, wrapping the zongzi while continuing to say: "At that time, he was still a little king, always followed by a group of children climbing trees to pick coconuts and going into the water to dig for oysters. A Jun was one of them. Later, when A Jun was in elementary school, he was bullied by older classmates, and A Hai even got into a fight with them. This child is very loyal. I have always regarded him as one of my own children." Later, when A Jun was in elementary school, he was bullied by older classmates, and A Hai even got into a fight with them. This child is very loyal. I have always regarded him as one of my own children.

"Of course I have seen it," Tao Tao said defiantly. "In the days right after you left last year, there happened to be no customers in the shop, just the two of us. Someone came to find Sister Manxin at night. I was already asleep, but the sound of a guitar in the courtyard woke me up. The music was intermittent, and then Sister Manxin started to cry. That boy held her, and the two of them swayed and danced under the moonlight. Sister Manxin kept crying; I had never seen her cry so sorrowfully." "That boy held her, and the two of them swayed and danced under the moonlight. Sister Manxin kept crying; I had never seen her cry so sorrowfully."

A Jun is the grandson of Old Lady Lu," Cai Manxin explained to Qi Yi

Cai Manxin remained silent, her arms crossed, leaning in front of Grandma Lu's bed. "A Jun has called, and he will be back in a few days"

Aunt Lu, having aged, found her legs gradually becoming less nimble. After a busy afternoon, her calves felt somewhat sore and numb. Cai Manxin brought a small stool and sat in front of her bed, helping Aunt Lu massage her legs. The two chatted intermittently, and the conversation turned to Jiang Hai getting injured while fighting for A Jun against someone else. Aunt Lu suddenly stopped.

Please cut the chicken into pieces

Peach cried out in pain: "Hey, originally, you had no hope. Manxin's favorite is much more handsome than you!"

Suddenly raising my head, I met the kind smile of the old lady

Recently, there have indeed been two or three weddings," said Granny Lu as she wrapped a thin string around her hand a few times and began to bind the rice dumplings. "Later, Ah Hai went to Danzhou for high school, and now he has gone to Beijing for university. However, when I think of him, I still remember the mischievous boy he was in his childhood.

I am wondering why that guy has not returned yet

There is no need, Manxin should settle down now

Peach shouted: "Zhu Tou Wei, are you trying to freeze me to death!"

Cai Manxin was surprised: "Grandma, do you still remember..."

Have you ever eaten such square rice dumplings? Cai Manxin picked one up and said, "It needs to be steamed for a while, eat it while it's hot, it's especially fragrant and sweet, very smooth, and not greasy at all"

"No, it is not Jiang Hai," Cai Manxin replied, "His name is Qi Yi, and he has just come here to help me, so I asked him to learn a bit from Grandma."

While Granny Lu went to fetch the banana leaves for the rice dumplings, Cai Manxin shrugged and said, "The impression Granny has of me is still from three years ago, when my face was round."

Peach Peach clapped and laughed: "Ha, you are jealous! Then go chase after them."

Cai Manxin carefully peeled the cooked chestnuts one by one: "I also love to eat them. At first, I found them a bit unpalatable, feeling there was a fishy taste, but now I think the broth is truly delicious."

It should be ready soon. Cai Manxin washed her hands and said, "Let me join you in making dumplings."

Aunt Lu, who is over seventy years old, appears to be in good spirits as she is washing glutinous rice. She says, "There is no need to buy a new mobile phone; I cannot use it, and I always forget where I put it."

Tears streamed down his face. He Tianwei corrected him with irritation

Qi Yi said he would go back first, fearing that Tao Tao and Tian Wei would be hungry. They all told him to wait a moment as there would be pig's trotter noodles ready soon, but he had no appetite

In fact, I really enjoy chatting with my grandmother. With a heart full of laughter, she said, "I remember recent events quite chaotically, but the further back I go, the clearer my memories become"

Better to be the one who has forgotten the past, better to not remember anything at all

Oh," the old woman nodded, "What did A Hai say? I can't remember if I have heard from him; I miss him.

Well, the light is too strong now

The best soup ingredients in Hong Kong are from Zhu Ji, next time let A Hai take you there

Peach jumped up and hugged Qi Yi, her cheek pressed against his chest: "Look, this is the position they are in. The moon is very bright, my eyesight is excellent, and I can clearly see the boy's face, a very handsome person, I won't be mistaken."

Who told you to only sleep at noon and not get up for lunch? What time is it now? And you say you are hungry!

You should eat more. You've lost weight again recently, your chin has become so sharp.

I am purchasing a model that is easy to operate this time, as it only requires pressing the green button to answer calls. This will make it more convenient for A-Jun to call.

A Hai has been very sensible since childhood. His father passed away early, and his mother is in poor health. He manages the family orchard while attending school. However, he has always been good at business; every time at the market, his mangoes are always the first to sell out.

However, there is no gentle sound of waves outside the window, those familiar sounds of the sea that could bring her peace are faintly blocked by the thicket. She fell to the floor, sitting on her knees in the moonlight, so cold that she could only hear her own breathing. Faintly, a song drifted through the watery night, it was her voice harmonizing with Cheng Ge's guitar, joyfully singing old songs

Then, before you leave, could you kiss me once more

What should I do? Qi Yi asked

"In the dead of night, how can you see clearly what someone looks like?" He Tianwei questioned

"What do you remember?" The old woman looked at her innocently like a child, "I am confused here," she pointed to her forehead, then patted her chest, "but not here."

"How is your heart?" He Tianwei asked

"Are there any people I know?" Cai Manxin asked with great interest, "However, I estimate that many of them, if they are no longer studying, should have gotten married, and their children might be quite grown up."

I understand," Qi Yi nodded, "Rest assured, I fully comprehend and will not be impatient.

Qi Yi straightened his back and said slowly, "I am just traveling while working, with no other intentions."

Indeed, every time I mention wanting to buy mangoes to eat, he always looks quite disdainful and says, "Is there even a need to buy that?"

A deep affection has led me to long for you until now

"It’s not this one; I find that Qi Yi rather strange," He Tianwei shook his head, "I just feel uncomfortable whenever I see him"

Manxin, do you like Ahai?

Who are Tao Tao and Tian Wei? The old lady can't remember, Oh, that child just now is named Qi Yi

Aunt Lu smiled: "A Hai really likes the zongzi I make, but he lacks the patience to make anything else. Every time he helps, he only cuts the chicken. When we were in high school in Danzhou, I even brought it to school, saying that all the classmates loved it. However, his favorite is still snail noodles"

No. Taotao shrugged and said, "Moreover, she was in tears at that time..."

He Tianwei expressed his disbelief: "Ha, I would be crazy to believe you, you haven't even seen it."

Well, since you are not fully present, I warn you, do not have any thoughts of taking advantage of her

Peach whispered, "Are you referring to yourself, Pig Head?"

As they spoke, Qi Yi stood at the door, the afternoon sunlight outlining his tall figure. Granny Lu glanced over, squinting slightly, with a hint of hesitation: "A Hai?"

Brother Qi and Sister Manxin went to visit Grandma Lu and will not be back so soon. Tao Tao tilted her head and thought for a moment, Sister Manxin always takes a long time when she visits Grandma Lu.

I remember that not long ago, both of them were still little rascals, and in the blink of an eye, they have all grown up. When A Hai was in middle school, there were several girls in the town who liked him; some would always buy his mangoes, and others even made pickled bamboo shoots and mung bean cakes for him, all of which ended up in A Jun's stomach

Qi Yi asked: "Is Granny Lu experiencing memory decline"

Her nails were embedded in her palms, and Cai Manxin felt herself sobbing softly, embracing her own shoulders, her hands cold in this tropical summer heat

The sky was gradually turning to dusk, and Qi Yi and Cai Manxin had still not returned. He Tianwei felt somewhat anxious and restless, even while applying a cold compress to Taotao, he was distracted, placing the ice pack on the other foot.

He said coldly: "I do not like you, and I cannot pretend."

There is no need to be attached to him!" He Tianwei tugged at Taotao's braided hair, pulling her away from Qi Yi, and asked with a dark expression, "Did Manxin mention who that person is?"

You were just going up and down the stairs, making such a noise, how can one possibly sleep?

I accompanied Sister Manxin to visit Grandma Lu twice. The old lady often repeats the same thing several times, such as how naughty her grandson and friends are. Tao Tao propped her chin on her hand and said, "I've yawned so much from hearing it all." Sister Manxin truly has a lot of patience