Chapter 69: Family Visit
The summer of 2003 was filled with disinfectant, thermometers, white vinegar, masks, and Banlangen granules, and it was spent in a state of panic.
For the children who were protected by their parents, it was a quiet summer. Besides the empty streets and the smell of disinfectant, there was also “Romance in the Rain” playing on TV, and Jay Chou’s songs were always playing on the Walkman. The boys would also play computer games together.
The difficulty of the middle school entrance exam was also reduced in some areas. The English exam canceled the listening section, the difficulty of the math problems was reduced, the weight of the physics and chemistry scores was adjusted down, and some schools even canceled the physical education score… Mi Yang’s school kept all the questions for Chinese, math, and foreign languages, only adjusting down the scores for physics and chemistry. Compared to previous years, the difficulty was also much lower.
He and Bai Luochuan had been carefully taught by Wei Xian for these few months, and their grades were stable. They got high scores without any surprises. Bai Luochuan got first place in the whole school, and Mi Yang was fifth.
The young master Bai was unhappy about this for several days. The few who got second place had bonus points for being city-level outstanding students. If they didn’t, their scores would be about the same as Mi Yang’s, and their two names could have been next to each other.
Most of the competitions Mi Yang participated in were for interest, and the awards were all to reduce tuition and get some scholarships. They were all school-level awards and had little to do with his scores. However, he was quite satisfied with this ranking. He had never done so well before. He had studied casually in Shanhai Town before, and then only went to the city for high school. He was quite satisfied with getting into a key university after three years of hard work. How could it compare to now, planning his future step by step, which was very reassuring.
Mi Yang, in turn, consoled him, “I think it’s pretty good. Fifth place is not bad. It’s higher than my estimated score.”
Bai Luochuan frowned. “The second place got too many bonus points. Without them, you’d still be 0.5 points higher than him.”
Mi Yang packed his schoolbag, taking some of the books he didn’t want back with him. He said to him, “It’s fine. We can try again next time.”
Bai Luochuan glanced at him. “Why do you still want these stupid books? Zhou Tong and the others have all thrown them away.”
Mi Yang said, “Oh, I’m taking them back for Xiaoxue. My mom said maybe Xiaoxue can read them in the future. It’s good to have an extra set of textbooks.”
Bai Luochuan said, “They’ll definitely be revised in a few years. Don’t take them back. So many books are too heavy. If she wants to read something, I’ll buy a set for her later.”
Mi Yang’s books were confiscated. He could only casually take a math and a Chinese book. He said to him, “Then I’ll just take these two back. If I don’t have one, Xiaoxue will cry again.”
Bai Luochuan clicked his tongue. “So troublesome. Alright then.”
A few summer vacation workbooks were also given out for the last summer vacation. After Zhou Tong and the others got them, they came to find Bai Luochuan again, mainly to ask about his plans for the summer vacation, whether he was going anywhere to play. A few of them were planning to go abroad for a summer camp during the summer vacation.
Bai Luochuan shook his head. “No, I’m going back to the mountains.”
Zhou Tong was impressed. “Young Master Bai’s awareness is high. Cultivating one’s character.” He glanced to the side and asked, “Mi Yang, are you going too?”
Mi Yang nodded. “Yes.”
Bai Luochuan would go back to Shanhai Town every winter and summer vacation. The old Mr. Bai had retired and settled there to enjoy his later years. His parents were both very busy with work, so he would go there for a vacation every year to be with the old man, as a way of showing filial piety for them.
Mi Yang would go back with him. His family’s situation was similar. His grandfather’s and grandmother’s houses were both there. Every year when he went back, besides teaching him book restoration by hand, Mi Hong would also teach his grandson some of his other miscellaneous little skills. His personality had become more and more strange these past two years, but although he was silent, he was still very good to his grandson.
Speaking of Shanhai Town, Mi Yang was quite nostalgic. After all, it was the place where he had grown up. Besides the border town, Shanhai Town was the most familiar to him, and he always felt very relaxed every time he went back.
This summer vacation, Luo Jiangjing also had someone send them back.
This time, the car was a Buick business van, which was a little bigger than before and was also convenient for bringing more things. Bai Luochuan himself had brought several boxes of luggage, but now his eyes were on Mi Yang’s side, his brow furrowed. After holding back for a long time, he finally lowered his voice. “Why did you bring her?”
Mi Yang was holding a little girl in his arms. The road was a little bumpy, and the child was sleeping soundly, obediently in her brother’s arms.
Mi Yang looked down at her and then said in a low voice, “Shh, don’t wake her up. She just fell asleep.”
Bai Luochuan said, “There’s a lot of space in the back. You can put her in the back to sleep.”
Mi Yang said, “No, she’ll roll off.”
Bai Luochuan said impatiently, “She’s so big. She’s too heavy!”
Mi Yang said, “She’s not heavy. It’s fine…”
The two of them argued in a low voice for a while. The little girl in his arms moved, and they both fell silent. Bai Luochuan watched as the child curled up in Mi Yang’s arms and fell asleep again, his lips pursed and not saying a word for a long time.
The journey was relatively long. At noon, they stopped in a small coastal city for lunch.
The specialty here was seafood. There was no menu. Whatever was caught that day would be placed in a transparent water tank at the entrance for everyone to choose from. You would just say how you wanted it cooked, and they would make it for the guests. It was all about the freshness.
Bai Luochuan and Mi Yang went to order. The young master Bai chose all the things he had never seen before, for the novelty. Mi Yang was the complete opposite. He held his little sister’s hand, and the two of them discussed and ordered some of the dishes their family often ate, prioritizing what was familiar.
Bai Luochuan bumped Mi Yang with his elbow and asked, “Should we get two more desserts? For your little sister.”
Mi Yang looked at him with a smile. The young master Bai didn’t blush at all, so he nodded. “Okay. Xiaoxue, did you hear that? Quick, thank Brother Bai.”
He said it naturally as he looked down, but Bai Luochuan’s ears twitched. He suddenly looked at Mi Yang, his eyes lighting up.
Mi Xue, without her parents around, was still a little timid. She had been hugging Mi Yang’s leg and hiding behind him. Hearing this, she only said it in a low voice.
Bai Luochuan immediately said, “Too quiet. I can’t hear you. You should teach her again.”
Mi Yang then squatted down, held the little girl, and said, “Xiaoxue, be polite. Say ‘thank you, Brother Bai’.”
Mi Xue said it again in a low voice. Bai Luochuan no longer disliked the little girl. He suddenly felt as if he had discovered a new world. From the start of the meal to getting back on the road, he was exceptionally attentive to the little girl. Whenever he saw something new on the roadside, regardless of whether it was cheap or expensive, he would insist on buying it and stuffing it into the little girl’s arms, then righteously demand that Mi Yang teach her to thank him again.
After a few times, Mi Yang also noticed. He looked up at Bai Luochuan without a word.
The brother and sister opposite him were both silent. Bai Luochuan couldn’t help but touch the tip of his nose and cough. “I just thought it was interesting. I just bought some things for your little sister to play with.”
Mi Xue had learned her lesson on the way and was not as wary of Bai Luochuan as before. She said, “Thank you, Brother Bai.” Then she looked up at Mi Yang, waiting for her own brother to nod before she dared to touch the toy.
Mi Yang nodded lightly. The little girl then took the little red leather ball and played with it by herself, her eyes still looking at the back. Bai Luochuan had bought her too many toys, and they were all placed on the back seat. The colorful toys were still very attractive to a child.
Mi Yang stroked her little head. “Go on. Be careful not to fall.”
The little girl nodded and obediently went to play by herself.
Bai Luochuan sat to the side, pretending to look out the window, and chuckled to himself. He then lowered the armrest between him and Mi Yang to get a little closer. He said to him, “Hey, why don’t you call me that too?”
Mi Yang said, “Haven’t you heard enough on the way?”
Bai Luochuan snorted. “You didn’t even look at me when you called me that. I’ll buy you…” The word “toys” hadn’t even left his mouth when the teenager opposite him pulled down the brim of his hat, covering his proud face. Bai Luochuan chuckled under his hat. “Why are you so shy?”
Mi Yang stuffed an earphone in his ear and said calmly, “Stop it. Let’s listen to some music.”
