Summer vacation is coming, and Zhu Chaoyang feels he can finally say goodbye to bad luck.
This is a 60 square meters old commercial house in the 1990s, with two bedrooms and one living room. The floor is still covered with the popular plastic carpet, the walls are painted with lime, and many places appear black and shiny, full of the smell of years.
In the room to the right, with a large iron ceiling fan whirring slowly overhead, Zhu Chaoyang was bare-chested, wearing a pair of small shorts and lying on a mat on the floor, holding a book of about 50 or 60 pages in rough print with four big words on the cover: “The Secret of Growing Tall.”
This is an advertisement he saw in a magazine, and he remitted twenty dollars to the other party, and sure enough, he sent this “secret book”. Cheji wrote various ways to grow tall, and he circled the key points with his pen. In addition, there is a point that caused his special attention, he wants to grow tall can not drink carbonated drinks, carbonated drinks will affect the absorption of calcium, and it seems that cola can not be drunk in the future, he added an extra five-pointed star on this.
He was fascinated when suddenly there was a rapid knock at the door. He closed the secret book and tucked it into the bookshelf, got up, and opened the iron door, which was also separated by an old-fashioned iron fence security door. Outside the door stood a boy and a girl, two children about their age, the boy was about one meter sixty-five, a head taller than him, and the girl was shorter than him, and their expressions seemed to be very alarmed.
He hesitated. “Who are you looking for?”
“Zhu Chaoyang, you still live here!” With a gleam in his eyes, the boy pointed excitedly at himself. “Do you recognize me?”
“You?” Zhu Chaoyang looked at him and blurted out within a few seconds, “Ding Hao! you Why are you here?”
“Come to you, stop talking, open the door!”
After the door opened, Ding Hao led the girl behind him quickly into the room, hurriedly closed the door, and asked: “Is there any water?” I’m thirsty.”
Zhu Chaoyang poured water for two people, Ding Hao Gu Gu to drink, the girl slightly turned her head, and drank very carefully.
There was no expression on the girl’s face from beginning to end as if it were made of ice.
“Is she?” Zhu Chaoyang pointed to the girl.
“Pop, you can call her Pop, she’s my sworn sister.” Pupu, this is Zhu Chaoyang I’ve been telling you about. We were best buddies in primary school. Um… I haven’t seen you in five years since fourth grade.”
“Hello.” Poup gave him a deadpan nod, saying hello.
Because of the presence of girls, Zhu Chaoyang only wore a small short which was not appropriate, went back to a short sleeve, led them to their room to sit, and said: “Mouse, not seen for a few years, how do you grow so tall?”
“Ha ha, is it high? I don’t know.” Ding Hao scratched his head sheepishly.
“Well… You looked so anxious just now. What happened?”
“Hey, it’s hard to say,” Ding Hao shook off his hands and made a very old action, “Someone wants to catch us, we escaped from the car.”
Zhu Chaoyang panicked: “Human traffickers? Should we call the police?”
“No, no, not a human trafficker, how can a human trafficker take a child our age?” But…” Ding-Hao wanted to say but stopped, he laughed, and then he breathed, “It is really difficult to say ah.”
Zhu Chaoyang was even more puzzled: “What happened? What are you doing back here? Where have you been studying these past few years? As soon as the fourth grade started, the teacher said that your family had moved out of town, and I thought that I would never see you again, and you left in such a hurry that you didn’t say hello to me. Have you moved back now?”
Ding Hao’s expression changed, looked at Pu Pu, Pu Pu as if like a root wood, did not care about their talk, no waves on their face.
‘What’s the matter? Zhu Chaoyang felt more and more strange.
Ding-Hao took a breath and asked in a low voice, “You don’t know why I went out of town?”
“You didn’t tell me, so how should I know?”
‘Well… That’s because My parents were arrested.”
‘What do you mean?
Ding-Hao puckered his lips: “My parents killed someone, were caught and shot.”
‘What! Zhu Chaoyang opened his eyes wide and then scanned the two people with a watchful eye, especially Ding Hao, who was taller and bigger than him, coughed and said, “I… How come we never knew?”
“Well… Perhaps the teacher wanted to keep it a secret from you that one of your classmates was the son of a murderer. ‘ Ding Hao mouth with a hint of a self-deprecating smile.
“Ahem… Don’t say that. Your parents killed people. It’s none of your business. Hm hm. Why did your parents kill people?” He didn’t want to know, just wanted to talk about something so he could get rid of them as soon as possible. He hears Ding Hao’s parents killed people, and immediately alerts his heart, murderer’s child, he can never contact, didn’t five years, the past friendship is weak, suddenly ran to his home, he is a person at home, can not cope.
Ding-Hao slightly flushed, bowed his head and said, “I don’t know, I heard them say that my mother had cheated, my father was very resentful, and asked my mother to find a woman for him, and then…” Then my mom pretended to be pregnant, fainted on the way, and tricked a kind college girl into sending her home, um… And then my dad raped me, and then… Together they killed people, were quickly caught, and were shot.”
“This way…” After listening to his simple description, Zhu Chaoyang was startled again and felt uneasy in his heart. He wanted to send them away early. After a long time, he asked, “Where have you been these years?”
“In an orphanage in Beijing, murderer children like me are not raised by relatives at home, and can only be sent to an orphanage.” Pu Pu and I are the same, we are the first guardian lost, and the second guardian did not want to raise, was sent to the orphanage.”
Puying looked up at Zhu Chaoyang and turned his head away.
The atmosphere was suddenly awkward.
They’re both murderers, kids! Zhu Chaoyang was shocked again. He wished he had opened the door. If he had known this, he would have hidden in his room and pretended it was empty. What are they doing with themselves now?
After a long time, Zhu Chaoyang broke the silence with a cough and said, “By the way, you are in Beijing, how can you come back here?”
Ding-Hao looked a little strange, skimming his mouth: “Escaped, anyway, we don’t want to stay, it took several months to find Ningshi from Beijing.” Pupu is from Jiangsu, she doesn’t want to go back to her hometown, and I don’t know other places, so I can only go back here. I dare not look for relatives, they know we escaped, they will find the police to send us back. Originally, we wanted to stay in Ningshi for a few days and then think about where to go, but today was unlucky, we were on the roadside – “At this point, he suddenly closed his mouth and said no more.
“What are you doing on the side of the road?
Ding-Hao hesitated for a moment and laughed: “We don’t have much money on us, we can only beg for food on the roadside.”
‘What! Zhu Chaoyang simply could not imagine that his best primary school classmates would now be reduced to begging on the roadside.
“I know you’ll think less of me for saying this, but I can’t help it.” He bowed his head.
“No, no, I don’t mean to despise you.”
“Quack, is it? Ding Hao smiled again, and raised his head, “Then, well, a car stopped, the car said… What does it say, Pop?”
“Urban management law enforcement,” Popp said a few words coldly.
“Yes, urban management law enforcement, said here can not beg, let us change somewhere else.” We went first, then hungry, we went to a small noodle shop next to eat, hadn’t started to eat it, and came a van, the people down said they are civil affairs bureau, said someone called, there are two children begging, they want to take us to the shelter, contact parents. I can’t help it. Some adults want to take us away, and I don’t dare do anything about it. But if we do, won’t they send us back if they know we escaped from the orphanage? So Popp and I told them to stop the car and wait for us because we had to pee, and we ran away. Just ran to your neighborhood, I remember your address, I took a chance to knock on the door, did not expect you live here ah!”
After listening to his description, Zhu Chaoyang’s heart more and more uneasy, although Ding Hao is his best playmate in primary school, but not for a few years, feelings have long been indifferent, now these two “problem youth” in the house, how to do?
Could something dangerous happen if we just get out? If we leave them at home, what happens next? He frowned slightly and hesitated: “So you… What are your plans?”
Ding-Hao spread his hands and said, “I haven’t thought about it, maybe I will find a job, but Pu Pu is too small, you see she is also small, she is two years younger than us and only twelve years old.” It would be better if she had a place to study.”
“And you? You don’t read anymore?”
“The last thing I wanted to do in the orphanage was take classes, haha, I wanted to work for a long time.”
“But at your age, you’re a child laborer. No one would dare use yours.”
Ding-Hao disdain smiled: “I don’t say, who knows, you see me, so tall, which point like child labor?”
Zhu Chaoyang thought for a moment and asked somewhat awkwardly, “That… So, what are your plans for the time being? I mean… Where are you going to stay? Oooooo. My house is only this big, um… You saw it.”
Ding Hao seemed to see through his mind, and smiled: “You can rest assured, we will not rely on your home, but if you can, can you let us temporarily stay for a day or two, rest and go.”
“This…” Zhu Chaoyang showed a difficult expression, leaving two problem young people at home, this is a very dangerous thing.
Pu Pu looked up and said, “Mouse, forget it, let’s go.”
Ding-Hao approached Pupu and said in a small voice, “The bag fell on the car today, and I don’t have much money, I’m afraid…” I’m afraid there’s nowhere to live.”
“It doesn’t matter, there’s always a way,” Pupu said in a calm voice.
Ding Hao looked at Pu Pu one glance, and looked at Zhu Chaoyang, stood up, and smiled: “OK, then we will go first.” Goodbye, Chaoyang, and I’ll see you when I get a job.”
Zhu Chaoyang furrowed his eyebrows and sent the two to the door.
“Next time when I earn money from work, I will invite you to eat KFC. Goodbye, Sunrise!” Ding-Hao waved toward him, turned to take Pu Pu to walk, walked out a few steps, and turned back, “Almost forgot, Chaoyang, I have a bag of ice sugar gourd, is bought in Beijing, one by one wrapped up, you must not have eaten, I said, if you can still see you, I will give you a taste -“
Pupu white Ding Hao a glance: “bag is not on the car?”
Ding Hao Ah, then awkwardly touched his head, and shrugged: “That can only have the opportunity to bring you again later.” Well, you take care, bye!”
“This – will – wait -” Zhu Chaoyang heard him say so, in the heart quite a bit of guilt, after all, Ding Hao was his best friend in primary school, the two people went to school together for several years. Zhu Chaoyang was bullied by a senior student, Ding Hao also helped him fight, the result Ding Hao was beaten, he ran away, after Ding Hao half a sentence blamed his words did not say, but said if you do not escape, two people are to be beaten, one person is better than two people are beaten. Thinking of the friendship of the past, Zhu Chaoyang could not help but be moved, in an instant forgot that they were the children of murderers, summoned the courage to say: “If you have no place to live today, live in my home first, my mother works in the scenic spot, return home every few days, after two days tomorrow, you temporarily live in my home.”
“Really?” Ding Hao appeared a little overjoyed.
“Well, my mother’s room is not convenient to live in, why don’t you sleep on the bed and I will sleep on the floor with you?”
Ding Hao looked at Zhu Chaoyang and turned to Pu Pu: “What do you think?”
Pu Pu was silent for a few seconds, shaking his head. “It’s not good to disturb people.”
Zhu Chaoyang hurriedly said: “It doesn’t matter.”
Pu Pu was silent for a while, and finally nodded: “Then trouble Chaoyang brother, if you change your mind, tell us, we won’t blame you, we won’t stay in your home.”
Zhu Chaoyang blushed.
