NIP #586 - Duel with Tong Xiaoliang
#586 - Duel with Tong Xiaoliang
The cafeteria was filled with soft sunlight, and the air was filled with the lingering aroma of food after lunch. Mrs. Chen Xiang wiped the kitchen utensils while introducing the situation of Hidden Mist Village to Tang Yin.
"The electricity and gas fees here are paid centrally," her voice was soft and gentle. "Although the village has always advocated saving electricity, everyone still supports it as much as possible so that the children can watch TV and study."
Speaking of this, a trace of pride flashed in her eyes, "Do you know? Wang Lina was the first child in our Hidden Mist Village to be admitted to university. Now, my eldest son, Qin Ming, is also carrying the expectations of the whole village." Her tone carried a hint of worry, "Everyone believes that as long as they can make a name for themselves, they can improve the conditions in the village."
The sunlight slanted in through the window, casting mottled shadows on Mrs. Chen Xiang's slightly tired face. She stopped what she was doing and looked into the distance, as if looking at some invisible scenery.
"I don't want my eldest son... Qin Ming to be bound by this place," she said softly, "He should live freely in a wider world."
Her eyes dimmed slightly, "As for my second son, as you can see, he is really useless, so I have to keep him by my side..." Speaking of this, her tone suddenly brightened again, "But my eldest son, I'm not bragging, he is really excellent..."
The afternoon sun gradually became lazy, and Mrs. Chen Xiang's words began to reveal the heaviness of the past. "My late husband was also very smart, but his temper was too irritable, so the two sons respectively inherited his brains and his temper."
Her voice became lower and lower, with deep self-blame, "It's all my fault, I didn't give birth to the children well. I had a difficult labor when I gave birth to my second son, and we almost died there... Maybe it was because of the difficult labor that the child became like this..."
Tang Yin listened quietly, with ripples in his heart. They had only met for the first time today, but he didn't expect Mrs. Chen Xiang to confide such private past events to him. Looking at her slightly haggard but still gentle profile, Tang Yin thought to himself that she must have endured too much.
Zhao Gang should have married her earlier, so that she might be more relaxed. But then he thought that as a widow with two middle school sons, her remarriage would indeed be much more difficult than ordinary marriages. Was Zhao Gang worried about this?
Just as Tang Yin was lost in these complicated thoughts, a casual glance swept across the clock above the TV - it was already three o'clock in the afternoon. It's almost time...
The wooden door of the cafeteria was suddenly pushed open, making a creaking sound, and three young figures stood at the door against the light. The afternoon sun poured in from behind them, casting long shadows on the floor.
Walking in the front was a slender young man, wearing a neat school uniform, his black hair slightly messy, but giving people a sense of uninhibited handsomeness. "I'm back... Oh." When he noticed the stranger in the room, he raised his eyebrows slightly, revealing a surprised expression.
Behind him, a girl with a ponytail subconsciously shrank back. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, "...!" She let out a soft exclamation, hiding behind her companion, only showing half of her head to peek.
"Stranger!" The last round-faced boy shouted excitedly. He wore a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and his face was filled with a childlike innocent smile.
Mrs. Chen Xiang hurriedly put down the rag in her hand and introduced everyone with a smile: "Welcome back, this is Tang Yin, who just moved to Hidden Mist Village in a hurry."
Tang Yin stood up and bowed slightly, "Please give me your guidance!" He noticed a trace of scrutiny in the young man's clear eyes.
"That's rare, I'm Qin Ming." The young man showed a polite smile, but his tone carried a trace of subtle vigilance.
"You are Mrs. Chen Xiang's eldest son, I've heard so much about you." Tang Yin said gently.
Qin Ming looked at his mother with a somewhat helpless expression, "Mom, what did you say?"
Chen Xiang smiled apologetically, "Let him take care of my useless son."
"Really..." Qin Ming shook his head and turned to point to the two people behind him, "Ah, he is Tong Xiaoliang, she is Gao Mei."
Tong Xiaoliang suddenly struck an exaggerated pose, "I am the Great Demon King, offer your life to me!" His voice was full of chuunibyou.
Tang Yin replied with a blank expression, "I don't want to."
Gao Mei peeked out from behind Qin Ming, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum, "T-That, Xiaoliang, who is this person, is he the legendary handsome guy? So scary..." Her big eyes were full of vigilance.
Tong Xiaoliang pushed his glasses up his nose and said with a serious face, "Qin Ming's appearance and personality should be better than him, right?"
"Brother is better than him?" Gao Mei's eyes lit up.
"Better than him, better than him." Tong Xiaoliang nodded repeatedly.
Just then, Tang Yin suddenly stood up, a glint of slyness flashing in his eyes, "Then let's have a showdown."
"Eh!?" Qin Ming looked surprised.
Tong Xiaoliang stood up straight, "Wait! Your opponent is me!"
Tang Yin smiled provocatively, "Okay, Bladder Control Duel START!!"
"You're really something, you saw through me! I can't hold it in anymore!!" Tong Xiaoliang's legs twisted unnaturally.
"Actually, I'm almost at my limit too!" Tang Yin also began to pace back and forth.
Tong Xiaoliang shouted while jumping, "How about whoever can't hold it in wins!"
"Okay! No, no way!" Tang Yin suddenly realized the absurdity of this proposal.
Gao Mei finally couldn't help it, "Why don't you go to the toilet!!" Her face flushed red.
"Oh dear!!" Mrs. Chen Xiang quickly waved her hand to stop this farce.
In the midst of the chaos, this inexplicable competition was forcibly interrupted. The sunlight still warmly shone on the floor of the cafeteria, reflecting the cheerful figures of several young people. The afternoon's tranquility was broken, but it brought a touch of unexpected vitality.
The atmosphere in the cafeteria gradually eased, and the sunlight shone through the gaps in the blinds, painting mottled shadows on the floor. Qin Ming looked at the two people in front of him who were making a scene, and couldn't help but smile: "...Tang Yin and Xiaoliang get along well."
Tong Xiaoliang immediately puffed out his chest and announced with a smug look: "We are bladder control companions."
"That's right, oh no." Tang Yin wanted to agree, but suddenly realized that this title was not very glorious, so he quickly changed his words.
Qin Ming coughed lightly, trying to steer the topic in a normal direction: "...Let me reintroduce her, this is Gao Mei." He pointed to the girl with the ponytail next to him.
Gao Mei lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum: "...Please give me your guidance." She wore a slightly oversized pink sweater, paired with ill-fitting jeans, giving the overall impression of being slightly childish.
Tang Yin looked at Gao Mei's attire and said politely, "Please give me your guidance, your clothes are very unique."
Gao Mei's face flushed red, and her fingers twisted together uneasily: "...Is there something wrong? They were all bought at the dollar store in town at the end of last year."
Looking at Gao Mei's dress, Tang Yin sighed inwardly: Too sad, she's not an elementary school student...
But he still maintained a gentle smile: "No, it looks good, we should be able to get along well in the future."
Upon hearing this, Gao Mei suddenly hid behind Qin Ming, her voice filled with obvious panic: "...B-Brother, is this flirting, so scary."
Qin Ming was a little dumbfounded: "Shouldn't be?"
Looking at Gao Mei's evasive appearance, Qin Ming understood: ...It seems that even without that misunderstanding with Wang Lina, Gao Mei is still very wary of Tang Yin. They really are incompatible, this is really a sad reality.
His gaze fell on the neatly arranged tableware on the table, and Qin Ming suddenly noticed something: "Ah, so much of the tableware has been repaired? This was supposed to be my job, I'm so embarrassed."
Tang Yin waved his hand, revealing a relaxed smile: "Not at all, it feels quite interesting, and besides, there's still a lot left."
Chen Xiang interjected in a timely manner: "Qin Ming, don't worry about these things, hurry up and do your homework."
"...Ah, um, then I'll go back to the dormitory." Qin Ming nodded and turned to leave.
Tong Xiaoliang shouted relentlessly: "The duel isn't over yet, Bladder Control Man!"
Gao Mei quickly grabbed the corner of Tong Xiaoliang's clothes: "...Th-Then, we'll take our leave first..." Saying that, she dragged Tong Xiaoliang, who was still in an excited state, away quickly.
Watching the backs of the high school students leaving, Chen Xiang said with a smile: "In this way, you've met almost everyone in Hidden Mist Village, right?"
"Yes, I guess." Tang Yin nodded, but silently added in his heart: Except for one person.
He carefully recalled: "That, sorry, I didn't explain clearly just now, one, two, three... counting the reporter, there should be fourteen people, right?"
Chen Xiang counted on her fingers: "Eh, one, two... Oh dear, not counting you, there should be fifteen people, right?"
Just then, the door of the cafeteria was gently pushed open, and a figure appeared silently at the door. ...The last person appeared just at the right time.
"..." The person just stood there silently, without saying a word. He looked old, but gave people a sense of inexplicable oppression.
Chen Xiang hurriedly introduced: "Ah, you've come at the right time, Tang Yin, this is Grandpa Wolf of Hidden Mist Village."
Looking at this mysterious old man, Tang Yin was thoughtful: ...It seems that no one knows his name.
The air in the cafeteria seemed to freeze, Tang Yin looked at the old man with a weathered face and said politely: "Hello."
"..." Grandpa Wolf just stared straight ahead, his turbid eyes empty, with a dull expression on his face, as if he hadn't heard Tang Yin's greeting.
Tang Yin didn't mind and continued: "I just moved here today, please give me your guidance."
"Coming..." Grandpa Wolf suddenly muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and erratic.
--Coming. These simple two words stirred a ripple in Tang Yin's heart.
"Eh, what's wrong?" Tang Yin asked subconsciously.
The old man didn't answer, but slowly raised his right hand covered with age spots and gently beckoned to Tang Yin. His withered fingers looked particularly pale in the sunlight.
Tang Yin hesitated for a moment, then bent down and put his ear to the old man's mouth...
"The wolf is coming!" Grandpa Wolf suddenly raised his voice and shouted in Tang Yin's ear.
--Tactical retreat! Tang Yin's instinct made him jump back instantly.
"--Oh! You scared me to death!" Tang Yin clutched his chest, his heart beating faster. He was almost tricked by this old man.
Grandpa Wolf still maintained that dull expression: "..."
Suddenly, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "...Ehehe." The old man showed a meaningful smile, a glint of slyness flashing in his eyes, making it impossible to figure out what he was thinking.
"Hehehe, that, hungry, belly." Grandpa Wolf's tone suddenly became like a child's.
Chen Xiang quickly responded: "...Wait a moment, the rice ball will be ready soon."
Tang Yin was surprised to find that this was the first time he had seen Grandpa Wolf communicate normally with other people. The old man's behavior was still strange, but at least he expressed a clear request.
Before long, Chen Xiang brought over steaming rice balls. Grandpa Wolf couldn't wait to grab one and stuff it into his mouth, scattering white rice grains all over the floor. After eating, he dragged his faltering steps and staggered away.
"According to Mrs. Chen Xiang, he has lived in Hidden Mist Village since a long time ago, but his brain has some problems and he often causes trouble for others." Tang Yin silently recalled the information he had just learned.
...Has it been like this since a long time ago?
Could it be that some tragic experience caused his mental disorder...
Tang Yin shook his head, feeling that he might be thinking too much.
But about the meaning of the code "The wolf is coming"... Tang Yin felt that he should not have guessed wrong... This old man personally experienced the Yellow Spring Feast, from Wolf Boy to Grandpa Wolf, the fear at that time was probably always lingering.
...And, maybe he has also seen that monster.
Although he wanted to ask in detail, but looking at his condition, communication would probably be quite difficult.
"So, you've met everyone, right?" Chen Xiang asked with a smile.
"Should be." Tang Yin nodded. Although he had talked a lot with Mrs. Chen Xiang, his communication with other young people was limited to ordinary greetings.
...Including Wang Lina too.
I'll come back tomorrow to strengthen our relationship, Tang Yin secretly planned.
"Take a rest until six o'clock in the afternoon, thanks to you, today's work was completed ahead of schedule, you've been a great help." Chen Xiang said gratefully.
"It's nothing, it's nothing." Tang Yin waved his hand modestly. After helping to prepare dinner and busying around, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Looking at the clock on the wall, it was almost five o'clock.
I didn't pay attention to the time last time, but counting it, it should be foggy soon. This thought made Tang Yin feel a little nervous, with a hint of anxiety.
Since I have nothing to do, I'll go outside and take a look.
He gently raised his head and looked up at the sky, everything around him was dyed a warm red by the setting sun. This should be the last time Tang Yin could see the distant mountains.
...No, I must live until the fog clears and the sky is clear.
Then, together with important people, look into the distance again and leave this place. This idea made him reaffirm his determination.
At this moment...
"The salt harvester, returns from the raging waves." A childish, out-of-tune singing voice suddenly came, instantly breaking Tang Yin's tension.
"...Oh" Tang Yin turned his head and looked over.
Little Mei skipped and hopped across the plaza, running towards Tang Yin. It seemed she already recognized him. Quietly following behind her was the girl named Hua Lu.