Stringy Wind in the Ear - Chap 19
After the beginning of the dog days, the weather in the south city gradually became hotter. The sun at eight o’clock was already scorching, making people dizzy.
Li Xun moved his morning jogging and archery practice time forward by one hour, starting at 4:30 and finishing at 7:30, and then practicing for a few more hours after dinner.
These were his plans for his time during the holidays. He did not expect Song Yang to train on time. After all, Song Yang was not a professional athlete. There was no need to treat him so strictly. He could just have fun. However, Song Yang’s perseverance once again surprised him.
The vacation of the third year of high school was originally the most relaxing and pleasant time for children. Song Yang maintained the same lifestyle as him. He set the alarm clock at four o’clock every day, woke himself up with a handful of cold water, and then went to the doghouse to pull out the urine.
They went out in the moonlight and returned home in the sunshine.
After returning home, Li Xun wanted to send Chu Zhi to the Children’s Palace to learn painting, and then help his father with handicrafts – Teacher Sun helped Li Guotao find a relatively stable job polishing wooden tableware.
There is a small company that specializes in export business and has extremely high requirements for product quality. The last two steps are carving patterns and grinding and polishing. Things made by machines are all the same and have no texture, so they need to be done manually.
When Song Yang found out, he came over to help.
Li Guotao worked as a woodcarver for a while when he was young. He was very deft and used a utility knife to carve the designed patterns on the tail of the chopsticks. Li Xun and Song Yang were responsible for the grinding and polishing.
It sounds simple, but the actual operation is very complicated. The first wood that is transported in is all taken off the machine, and some even have thorns. They need to be polished with rough sandpaper for the most basic process before carving.
The sandpaper used for grinding ranges from 200 to 3000 mesh. The higher the mesh number, the finer the abrasive. Grinding alone requires seven cycles, and the grinding becomes finer and finer until the wood is as smooth as a piece of glass.
When Song Yang finished polishing his first pair of chopsticks, he felt a great sense of accomplishment and bought it at a slightly lower cost. Li Xun made fun of him for this.
“People like you must be very popular with insurance companies.”
“Why?”
“It’s so deceptive. I went in and was brainwashed. I bought one myself.”
“Don’t you think this is very memorable? This is the first finished product that we worked so hard on together! And its market price is more than three hundred yuan, so more than a hundred yuan is very cheap.”
Even though he emphasized all the key points, Li Xun still didn’t understand and said, “It costs more than 100 yuan to buy a pair of chopsticks, and they are made of wood. Anyway, I can’t do this.” He also emphasized it seriously: “No normal person can do this.”
Song Yang snorted angrily and buried his head in his work.
At this time, Li Guotao began to criticize his son: “It would be fine if you didn’t buy it for him, but you are still nagging me. Aren’t you annoying?”
“I…” Li Xun pointed at his nose and widened his eyes in disbelief: “Oh! I saved him money and I was wrong?”
“My parents didn’t say anything. Who are you to restrict my freedom of shopping?”
Song Yang looked over expectantly. Li Xun slammed the table and said confidently, “I’m his uncle!”
oh.
What a distinguished status.
The work that took Li Guotao more than ten hours to complete could be completed by three o’clock in the afternoon with three people working together.
Watching the money in his account increase from three digits to four digits, Li Guotao felt mixed emotions, both happy and disappointed.
His previous serious illness caused his business to be interrupted, and the family’s money flowed out like a torrent. He always felt that he was a burden, and he had written several versions of his suicide note. If it weren’t for Li Xun’s filial piety, he probably wouldn’t have survived until now.
The situation is different now. If he works harder, Chuzhi’s tuition will not be a problem. Maybe his son…
One night, he came to Li Xun’s room on crutches – after more than a year of rehabilitation treatment, he was able to stand up with difficulty, but he could not walk too far.
Li Xun had just finished taking a shower, with a towel still hanging on his hair. “Why aren’t you asleep yet so late?”
As soon as Li Guotao sat down, he asked directly, “Has Coach Wang contacted you recently?”
Coach Wang was Li Xun’s head coach in the national team. Li Xun left the team at the time on the grounds of returning home to take care of his family, and did not directly announce his retirement. According to the company’s statement, it was considered a leave of absence without pay. Coach Wang contacted him privately several times, asking him when he could return to the team. Li Xun had been hiding this from his father, but I don’t know how his father found out.
Maybe he heard it over the phone, or maybe Coach Wang also contacted my father privately.
This matter would not be brought up for no reason. Li Xun smiled and asked him what was wrong.
Li Guotao said: “You really don’t plan to go back?”
Li Xun hesitated for a moment and shook his head: “It’s fine now.”
Li Guotao supported his knees and rubbed his hands for a few times. “Dad can walk now and has an income. You don’t have to worry too much. You can leave the task of picking up and dropping off Chuzhi to school to me.”
“Did the coach say anything to you?” Li Xun asked.
“Not really, he just cares about my health,” Li Guotao lowered his head, “I’m just afraid of delaying you.” The depression that had been pent up in his heart for a long time was released with a breath, and he felt much lighter.
“Dad, don’t think like that. I’m really fine.” Li Xun hooked his neck and patted him. “Doing different things in different identities is a kind of enjoyment for me.”
“I’m afraid you’ll regret it in the future.” Li Guotao’s pupils glowed softly, and he said in a deep and calm voice, “I still remember the half minute before I fainted from the stroke, the most regrettable thing in my life suddenly flashed through my mind, and I regretted not being able to complete it.”
“What?”
“It’s not worth talking about the past.” Li Guotao smoothed his hair, “But you are still young, and you still have a chance.”
That night, Li Xun stared at the moonlight and could not fall asleep for a long time. A certain thought hit him like a wave, but when he woke up the next day, everything returned to normal. He continued to send Chu Shang to school and help his father with handicrafts.
He seemed to have made up his mind, and Li Guotao didn’t mention the matter again.
Just after the beginning of autumn, Song Yang began to prepare for the start of school. This year, the enrollment date for freshmen at T University is August 15th, followed by a long military training.
He was about to live with Li Xun every day, and he couldn’t afford to get tanned, so he bought a bunch of sunscreen products online, and a whole bag was filled with various types of sprays and mosquito repellents.
The night before school started, he packed out two large boxes full of stuff and three bags.
The next morning, the first thing Li Xun said when he saw him was: “Are you going into the mountains?”
Song Yang dragged the suitcase to the side of his car, patted it and said, “There are clothes in this one, pants and shoes in the black one, and some certificates, daily necessities, and computers in the bag… It’s a bit heavy, open the trunk first!”
Song Jingshan was supposed to send him off on the day of registration, but it happened that a friend’s son was having a wedding, so he entrusted his son to his uncle.
Li Xun moved the things into the trunk one by one, turned around and found that Song Yang was gone again. After a while, he came out carrying a huge storage bag.
Li Xun: “…”
Song Yang put the things in the back seat and said with a smile: “There are food in here. I was worried that it wouldn’t fit. Fortunately, your trunk is big enough.”
Li Xun was speechless: “Are you going to class or to have a picnic?”
“There is no conflict between the two. After the military training during the day, I need to replenish my energy at night, and I can also build friendships with my classmates.” Song Yang took out his phone from a small bag with some effort and opened the memo. “Help me see if I need anything else.”
The memos are divided into several categories: basic needs, life, leisure, matching, favorites, daily study and hey hey hey.
The “urgent needs” include some necessary documents and materials, no problem, Li Xun continued to scroll down to the column of daily necessities.
“Have you even bought the blackout curtains?”
“Ah,” Song Yang lowered his head and said embarrassedly, “We have to keep some privacy.”
Li Xun is an experienced person, and he curled his lips knowingly: “You have considered it very carefully.”
Song Yang pursed his lips and smiled: “It’s okay, it’s okay, you continue watching.”
Li Xun thought for a moment and said seriously: “I don’t think you need to bring your notebook. The management is loose during military training, and you are not that familiar with your classmates. This period is the peak period for losing things.”
Song Yang looked embarrassed: “What if I need to use it? I heard that the computer desks in the library have to be grabbed by force. I’m afraid I won’t be able to get one. How about going to an Internet cafe?”
Li Xun thought for a moment and said, “You can use mine.”
“That’s great.”
“What’s in this thing of yours?” Li Xun said as his fingertips had already clicked down. He only vaguely saw a few rows of website links before his phone was snatched away.
Song Yang said awkwardly: “It’s just some documentary URLs.” He regretted it right after he snatched it. This action was simply a typical example of self-incrimination.
“Oh——” Li Xun smiled, stared at the slightly red tip of his ear, and repeated in a strange tone, “Documentary.”
Song Yang’s face flushed like fire, and he quickly changed the subject: “It’s getting late, let’s get going quickly, I want to get to the dormitory early to get a good seat.”
Li Xun pretended to be stupid and said, “What kind of documentary is it? Can you share it with me? I usually like to watch documentaries.”
Song Yang: “The animal world is just a bunch of trivial things.”
“Ah——” Li Xun smiled silently, and slowed down his speech to a torturous speed, “animals, objects, world, realm.”
“…”
Song Yang stole a glance at him.
Li Xun laughed out loud: “I’m just kidding. When I watched the documentary, your hair hadn’t even grown out yet.”
Now Song Yang was finally sure what movie Li Xun was talking about.
In fact, he copied the website of the memo from the comment section of a social platform, and he had not had time to “investigate” it in detail.
He did not live on campus in high school and had no chance to discuss such topics openly with other boys, which made him feel a little ashamed. However, Li Xun’s generous and frank attitude gradually relaxed him, and he no longer felt embarrassed about being publicly executed.
So the topic along the way revolved around the documentary.
It’s totally inexplicable and I can’t stop.
Li Xun remained calm and composed, while Song Yang’s face turned red.
Two hours later, they arrived at the school.
This time when I came back to T University, the scene was completely different from last year. The long street in front of the school gate was filled with private parking spaces. There were more than a dozen security guards on duty, isolation belts were set up, and warning signs prohibiting parking and entry were erected.
Several campus buses were parked on one side of the gate, and a large number of people swarmed in. Most of them were students who came to South City for the first time. Parents helped to drag the luggage and were sweating profusely, but no matter what, their faces were still filled with happy smiles.
It was the first time for Li Xun to register his child. He had no experience and didn’t want to walk too far, so he had to drive around and enter from the northwest gate.
This is the residential area for their faculty and staff, and any license plate number registered in the system can enter.
Li Xun’s car stopped under a tree shade. Song Yang unbuckled his seat belt and said, “Put the luggage in the trunk here first. I’ll find you after I finish registering.”
It hadn’t rained for several days in a row, and the temperature was very high today. Li Xun asked with some concern, “Can you find the reception desk?” He raised his hand and pointed south, “You have to go through the gymnasium, the library, and the science and technology building, then go west, there is a comprehensive building…”
“It should be fine.” Song Yang took out a baseball cap and sunglasses from his bag and put them on. As soon as he pushed the door open, he was hit by a wave of heat that made his eyes go black. All the pores on his body were opened in an instant. “It’s so hot——”
He went back to the car and got a bottle of water before waving to Li Xun: “Let’s go.”
There were many new students with their parents, walking by in groups, talking and laughing. Li Xun got off the car and saw Song Yang still standing at a corner, looking down at his phone, probably navigating according to the map.
The sunlight was too strong, so he covered the screen with one hand and walked less than ten steps before backing up. His body turned half a circle following the phone, then he turned back and scratched the back of his head.
This action is both stupid and cute. It is obvious that the person has no sense of direction and is confused by the little arrow on the map.
Li Xun even dubbed his silly and cute look in his mind without authorization: “Huh? Why is this map wrong?”
He put on his hat with a smile, swung his keychain with his right hand, and passed by casually. Song Yang immediately grabbed him with shining eyes and said, “Master, Master, can you help me check which way the stadium is? This map doesn’t seem right…”
Yes Yes Yes.
Of course the map is wrong.
Li Xun laughed in his heart and walked over with his hands behind his back: “What’s wrong?”
Song Yang said aggrievedly: “This is not right and that is not right.”
