Interactive reading
Feng Zhiai, born in 1995. A native of Changsha, Hunan, he graduated from Hunan Normal University. His works have appeared in literary and art reviews, hundred reviews, masterpiece appreciation, young writers, Hunan literature, literature and art newspapers and periodicals. He is currently working for Xiangjiang Literature and Art Magazine.
Feng Zhi'ai recommends "Paper Boat"
Excerpt from Paper Boat
Fu Xiuying
When I arrived at the tea house, Old Lou had already arrived. He sat on a very large sofa in a comfortable position. There was a cup of tea in front of him, and wisps of heat came out, and he looked a little weak. The napkin on the table, folded into a rather delicate boat, was moored at the edge of the table, as if it were temporarily stranded, and as if it were going to sail at any time. It looked like he was already waiting for me.
This tea house is on the edge of the fifth ring road, hiding in a courtyard. The door face is inconspicuous, but it is the kind of yard that looks ordinary, gray, red lanterns hanging on the lintel, the girls are wearing cheongsams, there are bamboo in them, a big jar of water lilies, the water is babbling, the path is paved with pebbles, and the girls' high heels walk on it, crooked, causing the guests to keep an eye on it.
Come on? Old Lou pushed the paper boat toward the edge of the table, his eyes not looking at me, as if he were talking to the paper boat. Old Lou wore a dark green cotton shirt today, rough white slacks, obvious eye bags, and a look is not good sleep. He raised his hand, and a girl ran over in broken steps. Old Lou pointed to the teacup in front of him and whispered.
I sat down opposite. The air conditioning inside was sufficient, the heat outside had receded at once, the pores of sweat were tightening, and I could feel the bulges on my back, gently rubbing against my chiffon dress. I shivered silently.
Yesterday was another night of commotion. Old Lou said, his voice hoarse. Only then did I notice that his spectacle leg was broken, and the white tape was sticky, which looked a little funny. But I didn't dare laugh. Old Lou suffered misfortune, and I still had the leisure to make fun of it, which seemed too unkind. Although, I have long been surprised by Old Lou's misfortune. The couple had a big quarrel for three days and a small quarrel for two days, which almost became a common thing, and my friends, including me, were used to it. If they don't argue for a while, we think it's rare. What a woman – it's hard to serve. Old Lou looked up at me and said, I'm sorry, not that you ha. A girl came over with tea and showed the art of tea in front of us one by one. This girl is not the one who is just that, born full and plump, but clumsy and hesitant, and she is a novice at first glance. Old Lou took the paper boat away so as not to get wet with tea. The girl was distracted by Old Lou's movements, and the water spilled out and flowed down the edge of the cup. Fortunately, my eyes were fast, and I pulled a napkin to wipe it for her. The girl blushed and even said sorry I'm sorry. Old Lou waved his hand and sent her away.
I know what you mean, that is, I am not a woman. I picked up my teacup and took a sip with my mouth pointed. This old white tea is extremely light in the mouth, but the sweetness is long. In fact, I don't know much about tea, and my limited knowledge about tea is sold to me by Lao Lou. Old Lou is a northerner, but Mrs. Lou is an authentic southerner and has a lot of experience in drinking tea.
I didn't treat you like a woman at all. I treat you like a buddy. Old Lou fiddled with the paper boat in his hand. I don't know if it's because of the moisture of the tea, it sounds like his throat is not so hoarse.
Okay, what nonsense. I leaned back and leisurely lifted Jiro's legs, like a buddy posture. Say, what's wrong?
I can't even mention it. Old Lou let out a long sigh. I'm also a professor, how come I can't even get a woman? For a while, Old Lou should have not cared about dyeing his hair. From my point of view, the white hair roots turned up like snowflakes, a little dazzling, as if they had suddenly aged ten years. My heart was pounding. What a particular guy Old Lou is, sometimes, it's a little too much. Dressing is always meticulous. Most of the men around me were dressed casually and didn't care about their own image. Old Lou is exquisite. Old Lou's exquisiteness has also attracted ridicule from people of the same sex, of course, perhaps mixed with envy and jealousy. Old Lou smiled and squinted, accepting all these ridicules and attacks. Old Lou has a good temper, everyone knows. Old Lou's good temper brought him good popularity. In general, talented people have some difficulties to get along with. To say that the good point is personality, to say that it is not good, that is, to be unique, colorful, ignorant, and unsophisticated. The rare thing about Old Lou is that he is both talented and easy to get along with. Such a person, what can you do with him?
Marriage is this thing. Old Lou sat up straight, took a look at the teacup, and took a sip slowly. It's boring. Over the years, I've heard Old Lou talk about marriage more than once. Sometimes, I often wonder if I was poisoned by Old Lou and did not dare to enter the marriage. By the way, I seem to have forgotten to say it. I'm single. In Beijing, older young women like me have gone. Big cities are a good thing about that. Everyone is busy, each taking care of each other, and no one has spare time to stare at your life and judge your life. Even if it was Old Lou, a friend of many years, he didn't ask much about my love life. It's too personal. Isn't it?
So uncomfortable, why not separate?
As soon as the words came out I regretted it. They all say that it is better to persuade and not to persuade to leave, and to demolish a temple than to destroy a relative. Although I don't think much of these precepts of the old ancestors, is it too much to go straight to persuade people to divorce? Moreover, Old Lou's wife, I have also seen, Sven and Xu, looks like, not the kind of beauty that looks amazing, but can't help but look carefully. That time she held my hand, gentle and pleasant. I secretly wondered if she looked at me with an ordinary appearance and was so friendly to me? An mediocre-looking woman is not qualified to be her imaginary enemy. In my limited life experience, a woman with a bland appearance tends to easily get more same-sex friendships.
You don't understand. Old Lou took a sip of tea and shook his head.
What is he saying? I don't understand. Of course I don't understand. I, a man who has never been married, really can't understand why people have to jump into the mud pit of marriage and roll around, rolling around, endlessly.
She may be menopause. Menopausal syndrome. I tell you, she's completely like a changed person. Before, she wasn't like that. Sometimes I wonder if she is still the same person she was, whether someone has made a mistake and secretly changed me. I'm a man, alas, you know, I just feel wronged, you know, wronged, wronged. Old Lou said a lot in one breath, and he seemed to be holding back. In daily life, Old Lou is a taciturn person. Except, of course, in the classroom. It is said that Lao Lou is radiant and witty in class, and can charm a group of girls. That should be another old Lou.
Then live well. I looked at the paper boat and was a little insincere. What can I say. As a friend, as a buddy, maybe I can only be a patient listener. We can never really participate and intervene in the lives of others. I also understood this truth a long time later. The paper boat was made very delicate by Old Lou, just like the real thing. It was moored on the edge of the table, at a very sharp angle, as if it were about to fall at any moment.
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