The literary era since 1979

Chapter 181 Is it really just a coincidence?

"Teacher Fang, when are you planning to return to Beijing?"

Gong Xing walked slowly in the corridor. When he thought that they would soon be separated, his face was filled with sadness and he felt bad.

"That depends on when the ticket was purchased for me."

Fang Yan said, "I guess it will only take one or two days."

Gong Xing let out a cry and his heart sank.

"There is no never-ending feast."

Fang Yan said, "Although I also want to go with you, if possible, it would be best to visit the place where I once worked in the production team, but I have already made an appointment with Cun Bao to 'see you in Yanjing', and I can't break the appointment."

Then he sighed, "And if I count, I haven't been home for almost a month. It's time to go back and visit."

When he heard the word "home", Gong Xing lost his mind.

Seeing her pace slow down, the dialect also slowed down:
"homesick?"

"Well, counting the days, it's almost been a month."

Gong Xing's eyes were moving, with thoughts of separation and homesickness, he was even more worried, his brows were slightly furrowed, like clouds covering the moon.

"Fortunately, it won't be long before you and I can go home."

Fangyan walked down the stairs and took a glance.

Gong Xing nodded slightly and remained silent, thinking that he could go back home anytime, but he could not always see his loved ones.

The two came to the floor where Gong Xing's room was located. Just as they reached the stairs, Zhang Yu, Zhao Jing and others suddenly appeared in front of them.

Guo Kaimin, who was waiting for something to happen, shouted without hesitation:
"Gang Shizi, congratulations. I've listened to Zhang Yu's words..."

"Don't talk nonsense, Teacher Fang is here!"

When Gong Xing heard the word "gangshizi", he was immediately startled.

"what!"

Guo Kaimin was startled when he noticed Teacher Fang, and he held back the words he wanted to say.

"'Solid stone'?"

"In Shanghai dialect, the word 'gang' has a bad meaning."

I can't help but think of the dialect, the insult "gang｜luan" is equivalent to "gan｜luan", which means stupid or foolish.

Gong Xing's cheeks turned red as he explained that this was just a nickname given to each other's characters during the filming of "Good Things Come Hard" in order to make it easier to get into the role. These were just random names and could not be counted.

Fang Yan raised his eyebrows and looked at Guo Kaimin:

"What did she call you?"

"Teacher Fang, she called me 'Gang Gang' in the crew."

Guo Kaimin complained to the teacher like a primary school student, saying that this word, in Shanghai dialect, means "idiot", which is too bullying!
Gong Xing immediately interrupted: "It's because the character he played in the play actually abandoned such a good wife and repeatedly blamed her for the wrong thing, so I called him 'Gang Gang'."

Fangyan looked at her flustered appearance and smiled without saying anything.

Guo Kaimin said unconvincedly: "She just thinks she is better than me, so I call her 'Gang Shizi'."

Gong Xing said: "He is deliberately taking revenge on me. In the play, I am a desperate person, so he calls me 'Gang Shizi'."

Before Fang Yan could speak, Zhang Yu came over and said in a low voice, "Teacher Fang, Sister Gong Xing is now called 'Gang Shizi', the 'Gang' in steel, not the 'Gang' in 'Just now'."

"Why did you choose this name?"

Fangyan said with interest, "Could it be as strong as steel and stone?"

Zhang Yu's eyes widened, "How could you guess that?"

Fangyan was stunned and couldn't help but think of "Shi Tiesheng".

Zhang Yu glanced at Gong Xian secretly, "Don't be fooled by Sister Gong Xian's weak appearance. In fact, her heart is stronger than steel..."

"Comrade Zhang Yu!"

Gong Xing noticed that the two of them were talking. Based on his understanding of best friends, he was sure that they were talking about him, with a shy look on their faces.

Zhang Yu shuddered and smiled awkwardly.

Gong Xing was both embarrassed and annoyed, but when Fang Yan looked at him, his face turned red. When he thought about how he knew his nickname, his face instantly became hot and burning.

My whole brain was also dizzy from the heat.

Only after Fangyan said goodbye did I wake up from my trance.

"See you later, everyone!"

"Goodbye, Teacher Fang!"

Zhang Yu, Zhao Jing and others waved their hands.

Gong Xing watched his back disappear around the corner, his eyes seemed to have lost focus, becoming vague and unclear.

"Sister Gong Xi."

Zhao Jing called out softly.

Gong Xing came back to his senses, locked his eyes on Zhang Yu, and asked in a resentful tone: "What did you just say to Teacher Fang?"

"I say, I say..."

Zhang Yu rolled his eyes, "What a coincidence."

"What's the coincidence?" Gong Xing asked anxiously.

"Look, Teacher Fang has a pen name called 'Yanzi'."

Zhang Yu smiled and said, "And Sister Gong Xing, your name is 'Steel Stone'. This is too coincidental! It's like you planned it beforehand!"

Gong Xing's eyebrows twitched, and his heart started beating along with them.

"It would be fine if you didn't say it, but once you said it, it really was the case."

Zhao Jing and Guo Kaimin looked at each other and also felt strange. "I didn't give myself this nickname!"

"You forced it upon me, and I won't accept it."

Gong Xing suppressed his shame, glared at Zhang Yu and Guo Kaimin, the two culprits, and then walked away pretending to be calm.

"I'm going to pack my bags!"

Without bothering to see the reactions of Zhao Jing and others, he quickly returned to his bedroom, locked the door, and let out a sigh of relief.

"Yanzi, Yanzi..."

"Pfft, is it really such a coincidence!?"

Muttering "Yanzi" in his mouth, he slowly walked to the table.

Gong Xing picked up "That Mountain, That Man, That Dog" and turned to the title page, where he saw the words clearly written, "I wish you have stars in your eyes, mountains and seas in your heart, and from now on, I wish you will ride your dreams and live up to your youth."

"Dreams are your horses."

"Dreams are your horses."

Recalling the little things that happened during these days, the corners of my mouth can't help but rise.

Thinking about going to the place where Fangyan had stayed, and maybe even going to Hezhuangping where he had been sent to work in the countryside, I became excited.

………………

When we arrived in Yanjing, the afterglow of the setting sun fell on Fangyan's face.

Sitting on the bus going home, looking out through the window, I saw that both sides of the road were filled with stalls, densely packed and bustling.

Nowadays, it is deserted and there are only a few people.

I don’t know if it’s because all the stalls were closed at night, or because there was a major crackdown, but everyone was in danger and panic.

I was thinking about all sorts of things all the way, but when I returned to the house I had been away from for nearly a month, my mind was filled with only one thought:
"I miss you guys so much!"

Fangyan strode forward, "Mom, I'm back!"

"Yanzi (brother)!"

Fang Hong and Yang Xia walked out of the small kitchen, surprised and happy.

Fang Yan raised the gift in his hand and asked, "Where's my little sister?"

"Shhh."

Fang Hong made a gesture to keep quiet and said softly, "Xiao Ya is tutoring Yan Zi."

Fangyan also lowered his voice and said, "It's time for the high school entrance exam, right?"

Yang Xia nodded and said that the exam would start in late June. Not long ago, Fang Yan’s school conducted a physical simulation test.

"How did you do on the exam?"

Fangyan walked into the room and put all the things on the table.

Last June, the Yenching Primary and Secondary School Admissions Office announced that students admitted to key middle and high schools would be required to take additional physical education tests.

Because of the lack of preparation in various aspects, the additional sports test in 1981 was of a trial nature, so the additional test was conducted after admission.

Starting this year, key middle schools will implement an additional physical education test before admission, and the additional test will be conducted after the cultural subjects entrance examination.

The exam consists of three items: 60-meter sprint, long jump, and shot put.

Each score is converted to a 10-point system, with a full score of 10 for each item. Candidates will be considered qualified only if the total score of the three items reaches 18 points.

"29 points."

Fang Hong was beaming with joy when she talked about it: "It was just that the shot put was not good enough, only 9 points."

Yang Xia asked the brother and sister to sit down and went back to the small kitchen to watch the fire and add another dish tonight.

Fang Yan asked: "Sister, what happened between you and Brother Han..."

"Not yet."

Fang Hong said that her marriage would be postponed, at least until her younger sister finished her high school entrance exam, and there was no rush anyway.

"Have you got the letters of introduction?"

The dialect makes it clear that this is to make way for the high school entrance examination.

"Issues: certificate of singleness, letter of introduction..."

Fang Hong counted on her fingers, "I've even prepared candies, and will give them to the comrades who registered for us."

Fangyan asked, "Have you bought the courtyard house on Yandaixie Street in Shichahai?"

"Bought it!"

Fang Hong said that the house had been handed over to the construction team for reconstruction, and when it was completed, she would go to the Friendship Store to buy a TV and a washing machine. The only problem was that the situation was very tense now, and a large number of people who traded in foreign exchange certificates were arrested for "speculation and profiteering", and the timid ones dared not to do it anymore.

Fang Yan said: "We can ask Yoko, Yui, Mike and others for help, but..."

"Xiaoya and Ruoxue also suggested this."

Fang Hong said: "They have all been replaced. They were all replaced at market prices. They didn't suffer any loss at all."

The two chatted for a while about the situation of self-employed individuals. Han Yuemin followed his advice and didn't show off his wealth, didn't make a fuss, and kept a low profile.

Fangyan felt relieved and tiptoed back to the room.

"My mother and I occasionally go to your house in Hougulouyuan to clean it. It's very clean."

Fang Hong lent a hand and said, "If you want to go there to practice your creative skills, you can do so anytime."

"It's not urgent."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "As for me, I will go to the editorial office tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)