Chapter 679

Hearing Dai Qing's question and answer, Wei Xiaozhu also looked over.

Wei Xiaozhu thought to herself: Song Yu is a match for Shihe in terms of looks and temperament, but Shihe's family is very powerful. If it were a man with a strong sense of utilitarianism, he would generally consider prioritizing marrying Shihe, right?

Later, she thought again: Yu Shuheng also has a special fondness for the person in front of her. Marrying Yu Laoshi would also be more helpful to his career than marrying Song Yu. Would he really disregard everything and marry Song Yu?

With these thoughts, Wei Xiaozhu looked at Li Heng with a more serious gaze, very much wanting to know how he would answer Qingqing's question.

However, it was destined to disappoint the two women. Li Heng just smiled and didn't give a bottom line, "Graduation is still far off; I've never thought about these things."

Hearing this, Wei Xiaozhu and Dai Qing exchanged a look; women's intuition told them that Li Heng was being evasive.

But both women were perceptive, and both tactfully didn't ask any further.

This meal was eaten in a standard manner. Without Li Guoyi, it lacked a bit of liveliness, but several people still got drunk, and the atmosphere was still quite good.

Supporting each other as they entered the school gate, Wei Sisi suddenly asked Li Heng, "Great Writer Li, when are you going home?"

Li Heng said, "Leaving on the 28th. Comrade Sisi, do you have something going on?"

Seeing everyone looking over in unison, Wei Sisi was a bit shy, trying several times before gathering the courage to say, "I can't buy a train ticket. I've been trying for a long time and haven't been able to get one. You have wide connections; do you have a way? I'll treat you to a meal later."

Don't look at the fact that this is the end of the eighties and there are fewer people traveling, but the number of train schedules is also relatively small. Every winter and summer vacation, and during holidays, train tickets are hard to come by in any era.

They were friends who had been together for two years, so within his capabilities, he replied very readily, "Done, I'll help you ask. Wait for my news."

Wei Sisi appeared excited, "Thank you."

Li Heng waved his hand, "What are you thanking me for? You're being too much of a stranger."

When they were about to part ways, Wei Xiaozhu walked over and said to him, "I'm going to Lushan Village with you; I have something to discuss with Shihe and Mai Sui."

Li Heng said happily, "That's great, at least I'll have company."

He asked Dai Qing, "Want to come over and sit for a while?"

Dai Qing shook her head, "No, I have to hurry to the train station."

Li Heng was surprised, "Leaving so soon? What time is the train tonight?"

Dai Qing said, "8 o'clock tonight."

Li Heng asked, "How many people are going together? Is it safe?"

Dai Qing said, "There are four or five fellow villagers; we always go together every time."

Hearing this, Li Heng casually offered a blessing, "Have a safe trip."

Dai Qing said thank you, hugged Wei Xiaozhu, and walked straight away.

Hu Ping, not far away, looked at Li Heng and then at Wei Xiaozhu, and then said to Zhao Meng beside him, "Let's go, let's go ice skating to sober up."

Zhao Meng immediately beamed, "Alright."

On the way back to Lushan Village, Li Heng asked Wei Xiaozhu, "When are you and your aunt going home?"

Wei Xiaozhu said, "My aunt still has to invigilate and grade papers, so she has to go a bit later. Currently, we've tentatively bought tickets for July 2nd."

Li Heng nodded, "Then if you're bored these few days, you can come and play with Mai Sui and Manning."

Wei Xiaozhu smiled and said, "Then I'll ask them later."

Then she asked curiously, "You've already finished your exams. You're waiting for Xiao Han to go home together, right? Aren't you afraid that Xiao Han and Mai Sui will fight when the time comes?"

Li Heng was very confident, "No, don't you understand Sui Sui's temperament? She wouldn't get into a conflict with anyone."

Wei Xiaozhu thought about it, and it was indeed so, sighing, "I really envy your good fortune! To be able to be entangled with so many great beauties at the same time."

Li Heng patted his forehead and didn't answer, looking up at the sky and thinking: You only see me laughing, you don't see the bitterness in my smile.

These women, not one of them is a pushover; not only are they smart, but they all have their own methods. Sometimes, hey, he can't openly favor anyone, so he can only pretend to be a fool.

Mai Sui, Sun Manning, and Ye Ning returned. Upon asking, it was indeed because they attended the Student Union meeting in the afternoon.

Seeing Wei Xiaozhu come over, Zhou Shihe's icy face finally revealed a long-lost smile.

Alright, when she noticed someone's gaze projecting over, Zhou Gu Niang slowly restrained her expression and led Wei Xiaozhu and Mai Sui into the small building at No. 27.

Leaving only a silhouette for someone to be left in a mess in the monsoon.

Ye Ning urged from the side, "Big Wealthy Man, are you a fool? Go in too, why are you blowing in the wind outside?"

Li Heng smiled and turned back to his own home.

Ye Ning was confused and asked Sun Manning, "What's this all about? I bet he's definitely thinking of Shihe in his heart, craving Shihe, yet he's standing here pretending to be noble?"

Sun Manning reached out and patted Ye Ning's shoulder, "Little girl, you're still green. Would you go and hit on Shihe in front of Mai Sui?"

Ye Ning curled her lips, "And what's wrong with that? Don't Shihe and Sui Sui know it clearly?"

Sun Manning said, "Knowing it clearly is one thing, but one still has to save face... Damn it! Forget it, I'm not going to talk to a novice like you. If you don't understand, go to the side of the road and find a wild man; after a few times of intercourse, you'll get the hang of it."

Ye Ning stomped her foot fiercely, so angry! She chased and beat her all the way out of Lushan Village.

Returning home, taking a shower, and drinking two cups of herbal tea, Li Heng went to the small building at No. 25 across the way later.

To call Yu Laoshi.

"Ding-a-ling..."

"Ding-a-ling..."

The phone connected after two rings, and Yu Shuheng's voice came from the other end, "Hello."

"Teacher, it's me." He announced himself.

Hearing it was him, Yu Shuheng held a fountain pen, checking documents while signing them, and asked, "Little brother, what's the matter?"

Li Heng talked about Wei Sisi buying train tickets.

Yu Shuheng said, "I'll have Zeng Yun send it to you later."

Li Heng asked, "Are you going to look for Wang Laoshi this time when you go to Shaoshi?"

Yu Shuheng pondered slightly and reacted, "Runwen is looking for you?"

Li Heng didn't hide it, "Wang Laoshi wants me to go over during the summer vacation."

"Oh."

Yu Shuheng said "oh" with interest, "She's looking for you, why tell me?"

Li Heng asked back, "Are you really unaware?"

Yu Shuheng smiled, and after a while said, "I had a guess; Runwen also invited me."

Li Heng thought to himself, sure enough, one test and it was revealed. Fortunately, he didn't run over there happily by himself, otherwise, who knows how Yu Laoshi would have teased him afterward. He asked, "What day are you going over?"

Yu Shuheng asked him, "What arrangements do you have?"

Li Heng said, "Isn't Teacher going to Shaoshi on July 1st? We'll just stop by Wang Laoshi's house on the way that day."

Yu Shuheng pondered for a moment and then agreed, "Alright."

Tacitly, the two of them didn't discuss what Wang Laoshi was looking for them for.

Because there was no need; in a few days, when they saw Wang Laoshi, everything would be clear. Thinking about it, Wang Laoshi calling them both over must have something to discuss.

After finishing the call with Yu Shuheng, Li Heng dialed the landline number of the Li family in the Drum Tower of the capital, mainly to mention again that Yu Laoshi was going to their home, to avoid his mother forgetting.

Tian Rune said, "Such a big thing, your father and I both remember it. The tickets are already bought, and we'll go back to our hometown tomorrow morning."

Afterward, she asked, "Manzai, when are you and Hanhan coming back?"

Li Heng said, "Leaving on the night of the 28th."

Tian Rune asked again, "What about Mai Sui?"

Li Heng said, "That day too."

Tian Rune frowned upon hearing this, "That's not good. Can't you stagger them?"

Li Heng said shamelessly, "Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh; I can't easily send the other one away, so let it be. Mai Sui loves your precious son, nothing will happen."

Tian Rune felt that was the logic, and couldn't help but sigh with worry, "Sigh! If I had known you were so good at causing trouble, when I gave birth to you, I would have used incense to burn a few scars on your face."

Li Heng's mouth twitched, "Then you'd definitely regret it; I wouldn't be able to find a single daughter-in-law, and you'd be even more worried then."

Tian Rune countered, "Are you saying that these girls like you because of your face?"

Li Heng felt dizzy and changed the subject, "Where is Zijin? Is she there?"

Tian Rune said, "She's at school. Your second sister said she hasn't finished her exams yet and will be on vacation in two days."

He had wanted to talk to Zijin for a while, but hearing this, Li Heng gave up the idea, planning to find an opportunity to go see Zijin alone and accompany her for ten days or half a month.

Regarding the visit to Xiao Han and the matter of Yu Laoshi going to Qianzhen, the mother and son discussed it for over half an hour. By the time they hung up, the sun had already set, and it was getting dark.

After the second call was finished, Li Heng dialed Wang Ye's number, but unfortunately, no one answered, likely busy.

Coming out of the small building at No. 25, he stayed in the middle of the alley for a while, but in the end, he didn't go to the small building at No. 27, returning to the study to read books and newspapers.

After 9 o'clock in the evening, Mai Sui opened the study door on tiptoe.

Before he could react, a blood-red cherry had already been stuffed to his lips.

Li Heng opened his mouth to bite the cherry and turned to ask, "You bought it?"

"Un, finished exams this afternoon, went shopping with Shihe for a while, thought you loved eating this, so I bought some back."

Mai Sui fed him another one and asked, "How does it taste?"

"Quite sweet, delicious." Li Heng reached out, wanting to hold her in his arms, but was nimbly dodged by Mai Sui.

He was stunned, looking at her.

Before Mai Sui could explain, laughter had already come from outside the door.

Well, no need to ask, it must be Sun Manning and Ye Ning peeking outside.

Seeing Li Heng look over, Sun Manning simply pushed open the door and shouted, "Hey! Exams are over, and you haven't written a new book, want to play cards? Three missing one."

Li Heng asked, "Isn't Comrade Shihe there?"

Ye Ning said, "Don't call her, playing cards with her is boring. Watching her perform every day, we have absolutely no fun to speak of."

Li Heng said, "Then we can't just leave her alone next door, right?"

Seeing Sun Manning about to play a prank, Mai Sui chimed in in time, "Shihe is over, she's reading the newspaper on the sofa."

Li Heng was surprised, very surprised.

Ever since the Dragon Boat Festival, this Zhou Gu Niang hadn't come to the small building at No. 26 again. She actually came today? The sun must be rising from the west.

Seeming to know what he was thinking, Mai Sui whispered the reason in his ear, "I made a bet with her; Shihe lost, so she followed me over."

Li Heng asked, "What bet?"

Mai Sui smiled mysteriously, "I won't tell you, but it won't harm you."

Li Heng really didn't ask anymore, followed the three women to the living room, and started playing cards.

The women originally wanted to play "Upgrade," but Li Heng said, "Let's change the way we play today."

Sun Manning asked, "What are we playing?"

Li Heng said, "Guan Dan."

Ye Ning asked, "What is Guan Dan?"

Li Heng explained, "It's similar to traditional 'Upgrade,' but a bit more complex..."

Spending a few minutes explaining the rules, the three women immediately agreed with great interest.

That night, the four of them played cards happily, especially Sun Manning and Ye Ning, who would often shout and scream, bragging that they had successfully paired a straight flush, bragging that they had caught four kings, a heavenly bomb, bragging that they were resisting tribute!

That night, Zhou Shihe never came over to join the fun. First, she read the newspaper on the sofa for a while, then turned on the TV, and later fell asleep without knowing it.

After two in the morning, the four-person card game was finished.

Sun Manning came to Zhou Shihe's side silently, lowered her head to check, then made a gesture, and ran away giggling with Ye Ning, without any intention of helping.

Mai Sui also said at this time, "I'm going to take a shower."

A simple 5 words, without any follow-up, Mai Sui really hugged her pajamas and went into the shower room.

Li Heng: "..."

He came to the front of the sofa, looked down at Zhou Gu Niang for a while, had the urge twice to carry her to the secondary bedroom, but in the end, he held back, just standing there with his hands behind his back, motionless.

Don't know how long passed like this.

At a certain moment, Zhou Shihe's long eyelashes suddenly trembled, then she slowly opened her eyes. The moment her clear, bright eyes met Li Heng's, it was as if the world had stopped. For a time, you looked at me, I looked at you, neither breaking this sudden encounter and silence.

After staring at each other for about half a minute, Li Heng spoke, "It's very late, go back to your room and sleep."

Zhou Shihe's eyelashes drooped, and she remained quiet without making a sound.

After another stalemate, Li Heng turned around, left the living room, and went to his own master bedroom.

Hearing the sound of the master bedroom door closing, Zhou Shihe opened her eyes again and looked at the ceiling, her expression calm, but her eyes unfocused, not knowing what she was thinking.

That night, Li Heng slept very soundly, sleeping until dawn.

That night, Mai Sui, who came out after showering, accompanied Zhou Shihe to the small building at No. 27 next door.

The next day, 7 o'clock in the morning.

When Li Heng got up to prepare for a run, he suddenly discovered a note on the coffee table.

It read: Today Shihe, Manning, and I are returning to Shao Yang, the 8 o'clock flight, take good care of yourself here.

Signed: Mai Sui.

Staring at the note and reading it twice, Li Heng almost suffered internal injuries. Wasn't it agreed to go home together?

What's up?

Starting to hide things from me? Left without even saying hello?

Putting down the note, he actually understood clearly in his heart: whether it was Mai Sui or Zhou Gu Niang, they probably didn't want to travel with Xiao Han to avoid embarrassment.

Thinking this way, he opened up again. Mai Sui's character was the same as Song Yu's, considerate, generous, and understanding.

Mai Sui left, leaving silently.

Li Heng suddenly lost his energy for his morning run, inexplicably feeling as if half his soul had been sucked away. On the playground, he met Wei Xiaozhu again, but this girl was already running her last lap, almost finished.

He chased after her to strike up a conversation, "I thought Dai Qing had gone home, and you wouldn't run alone."

Suddenly hearing a voice behind her, Wei Xiaozhu was startled. When she turned around and saw it was him, she smiled and said, "Running in the morning has become a habit. If I don't run, I always feel like something is missing in my heart, and I don't have any energy all day."

Li Heng chimed in, "That's how it is, I often have this feeling too."

Running 200 meters forward, he asked out of the blue, "Did you know Mai Sui was leaving today?"

Wei Xiaozhu brushed her hair with her right hand, "I only knew last night too. I thought Mai Sui would tell you."

Li Heng said "ai."

Wei Xiaozhu laughed, "What are you sighing for? You're not lacking confidantes. One left, aren't there still two in Shanghai?"

Li Heng smiled and didn't reply, accompanying her to finish the last lap.

After one lap, this girl went offline on time, then sat on the steps to rest, watching him run.

His physical state today was okay; he ran 16 laps in one breath, sweating all over.

Wei Xiaozhu handed him the water bottle, "What arrangements do you have today?"

Li Heng said, "Xiao Han is still taking exams, I have nothing to do for the time being."

Wei Xiaozhu was surprised, "Rare to have time, not going to visit your teacher?"

Li Heng shook his head, "I only went not long ago. My teacher and Sister Xiaolin aren't in Shanghai right now, have to wait until next semester."

Then he asked, "What about you, any activities today?"

Wei Xiaozhu said, "I plan to go to Wujiaochang to accompany Wanying and the others to sell braised food."

Li Heng thought for a moment and said, "How about you wait for me, I'll go home to take a shower, change clothes, and go with you in a while."

Wei Xiaozhu said okay.

Every winter and summer vacation, Lushan Village was desolate, terrifyingly quiet.

Wei Xiaozhu stood in the alley, looked up at the small building at No. 25 for a long time, and asked him, "Yu Laoshi hasn't moved out yet?"

Li Heng said, "She will live here for another two years."

Hearing the word "2 years," Wei Xiaozhu understood in a second, saying meaningfully, "Didn't expect Yu Laoshi, who has such good conditions, to also be a sentimental person."

Li Heng took out the key, opened the door, and entered the house.

Going up to the second floor, he pointed to the sofa and said, "Sit as you please, I'll be quick with my shower."

Wei Xiaozhu didn't go to the sofa, but went to the attic outside, sat on the swing, looked at the small building at No. 25 for a while, then looked at the small building at No. 27 next door, always feeling that the feelings inside were too complex, and ordinary people couldn't handle it at all.

Fourteen or fifteen minutes later, Li Heng took out the washed clothes to dry on the balcony.

Wei Xiaozhu asked, "Do you usually wash your own clothes?"

Li Heng had his back to her, "No, I usually hate washing dishes and clothes the most; Mai Sui helps me do these."

Wei Xiaozhu looked at his back and suddenly didn't ask anymore.

Another half hour passed, and the two rode their bicycles to Wujiaochang.

Don't know if it was a coincidence, but he actually ran into a strange old acquaintance at the braised food shop, Wu Shiyao.

At this time, the girl surnamed Wu was buying braised food.

Suddenly bumping into Li Heng riding over, Wu Shiyao was stunned, her gaze wandering between him and Wei Xiaozhu without a change in expression, then she paid Bai Wanying generously, and then waited...

Li Heng asked, "You like eating braised food too?"

Didn't expect Wu Shiyao to shake her head, "Haven't eaten it yet, today is the first time trying it."