The literary era since 1979

Chapter 218 A Pair of Ordinary People

As the night grew darker, a few dim street lights were on on the small road in front of the guesthouse. Gong Xing and two other people, who had just finished dinner, walked together to digest their food.

"Why are you guys looking at me like that?"

Gong Xing frowned slightly. From the time he had dinner until now, he always felt that the way Zhao Jing and Zhang Yu looked at him was weird and strange.

Zhang Yu said bluntly, "Sister Gong Xi, did something unpleasant happen between you and Teacher Fang?"

Gong Xian was surprised and doubtful, "No."

Zhao Jing's tone was full of concern: "Really?"

"Really not, I and ..."

Gong Xing almost blurted out "Yanzi" and quickly changed his words: "Teacher Fang is very good, why do you think so?"

"No?"

Zhang Yu and Zhao Jing looked unconvinced. They felt that the relationship between them was not as close as before, and seemed very awkward and cold.

"Don't let your imagination run wild. We are fine!"

Gong Xing immediately realized that it might be the pure revolutionary friendship that had been elevated, and he was not as relaxed as usual.

Seeing how confident she was, Zhang Yu put his doubts to rest.

But Zhao Jing narrowed her eyes into slits.

After walking for a while, Zhang Yu suddenly asked, "Sister Gong Xing, when do you plan to return to Shanghai?"

Gong Xing asked back: "Do you want to go back to Shanghai?"

"Xiaoyu and I would like to have more time, but the factory only gave us one week off."

Zhao Jing's tone was filled with helplessness, "We can only stay in Yanjing for one more day. We have to go back the day after tomorrow."

Zhang Yu's eyes were full of envy. "Yes, if only we could be like Sister Gong Xian and have a month and a half."

"That was my job! I was seconded to Guixi Film Studio to shoot 'That Mountain, That Man, That Dog', but I didn't expect that my part would be finished so quickly." Gong Yu couldn't help but laugh: "I had already reported to the film studio when I came to Yanjing."

"what?"

Zhang Yu said: "If it were me, I would definitely not report it and would just take advantage of this holiday to have fun..."

Zhao Jing deliberately put on a serious look: "Comrade Xiaoyu, do you know what your behavior is called?"

“No organization, no discipline.”

Zhang Yu stuck out her tongue and said, "I'm just saying that. I've always been learning from Sister Gong Yu, a role model who loves her job and is dedicated to her work!"

Gong Xing and Zhao Jing looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Okay, okay, don't make fun of me."

Zhang Yu asked: "Sister Gong Xian, when are you going back to Shanghai? Do you want to go back with us the day after tomorrow?"

Gong Xing shook his head and said guiltily that he was going to visit his old unit, the General Political Department Art Troupe.

"When we leave, you, Sister Gong Xian, will be the only one left in Yanjing." Zhao Jing felt both regretful and worried.

"It's okay, don't worry about me."

Gong Xing said: "Even if something really happens, I can still go find Teacher Fang."

Zhang Yu nodded repeatedly: "That's right, Teacher Fang will take good care of Sister Gong Xi."

Gong Xing's eyes flickered, and she returned to the guesthouse chatting and laughing with her girlfriends. When she passed the front desk, she was stopped.

The waiter told them that a director claiming to be from Shanghai Film Studio had just called from another province and was looking for Gong Xing by name.

When I asked his name, it turned out to be the director Song Chong, with whom I had previously collaborated on "Good Things Come Hard".

The next day, I called back.

Gong Xing learned from Song Chong that Song Chong was looking for her to continue working with him and play the leading role in "Happy Bachelor".

Zhao Jing and Zhang Yu observed her expression and were surprised that she was not as happy as they had imagined.

"Something's wrong. Something's very wrong. Can you see it?"

"Of course I noticed. In the past, when Sister Gong Qian heard about acting, she was very enthusiastic. She is not as hesitant as she is now."

"........."

With the sound of the phone being hung up, the whispers between the two came to an abrupt end.

Gong Xing sighed quietly, and Song Chong asked her to return to Shanghai as soon as possible to observe life at the Jiangnan Shipyard and gain in-depth experience.

"Sister Gong Xi, what's wrong with you?"

Zhao Jing asked with concern: "Aren't you happy?"

"happy."

Gong Xing frowned slightly and forced a smile.

If I were to be single again, I would be 100% happy.

But, I am not single now.

Happy, but not completely happy.

All this is due to the bad brother Fangyan!
………………

When the four of them were strolling around Houhai Lake, Gong Xing told them the news.

"In other words, you plan to return to Shanghai tomorrow?"

Dialect looks left and right.

The three of them nodded with some regret, especially Gong Xing.

"Then we have to change our original plan. I'll take you to buy tickets this afternoon." Fang Yan said, "After buying the tickets, I'll take you to Wangfujing for a stroll. What do you think?"

Zhang Yu was surprised: "Teacher Fang, where did you originally plan to take us to play?"

Fangyan said that they were originally scheduled to go to Shichahai Sports School and other places.

"Teacher Fang, I have a question."

Zhao Jing was puzzled. Places like the Yanjing Wushu Team and the Shichahai Sports School would not be open to outsiders, right?

"Of course it's not open, but it's also a coincidence."

Fang Yan smiled and said that in order to create "Huang Feihong", he needed the guidance and assistance of a martial arts coach.

So, I contacted Shichahai Sports School.

When the school heard that it was Teacher Fang, they opened the door and recommended the school's famous coach, Wu Bin, who was not only the head coach of the Yenching Wushu Team, but also the mentor of Jet Li and others.

"That's really a shame."

Zhang Yu felt regretful for not being able to meet Jet Li.

Zhao Jing deeply agrees. After all, ever since Jet Li starred in "Shaolin Temple", he has become the most popular idol in the country.

Gong Xing, on the other hand, was also feeling disappointed, but it was not because of Jet Li, but because he felt he had let Fang Yan down.

He must have made such careful arrangements because he knew that I practiced boxing and liked martial arts.

When she thought of this, she looked at him affectionately and let out a long sigh.

At this moment, the melodious sound of erhu came to my ears.

An old man was playing "The March of Light" solo with his eyes closed.

There was a circle of people gathered on the side.

Nowadays, Houhai has no fences and no bars everywhere. It is full of green trees and colorful flowers.

In a grove not far away, there stood a group of half-grown children, stretching, kicking and pushing their legs seriously.

"Look at my springy legs!"

At this moment, a little boy jumped into the air and kicked.

"Sister Gong Xi, how is that kid doing?"

Zhang Yu turned around and asked, Gong Xian smiled and said, "His hands and feet are well coordinated, and his moves are well-organized. He must have been taught by an expert."

"They should be from the martial arts class." Fang Yan looked over and his eyes fell on that childish face, who looked very similar to Wu Jing in "Tai Chi Master".

Pass by them and wander along the Houhai Lake.

To the south of Houhai is Beihai, and to the east of Beihai is Jingshan.

Among them, Jingshan West Street is a beautiful street in the old city, but they did not go there.

Instead, we crossed the white marble Yinding Bridge, came to Yandaixie Street, and stopped at Fangyan's courtyard in Shichahai to rest.

"Teacher Fang, I didn't expect you have a house here."

Zhang Yu's eyes sparkled as he looked around.

Gong Xing blinked and said, "Sister Hong also lives in Yandaixie Street, so you guys should be..."

"That's right, neighbor!"

Fang Yan smiled and said, "We live not far from each other. We are separated but not far away. We don't disturb each other, but we take care of each other. We are just a bowl of soup away from each other."

"A bowl of soup distance?"

Zhao Jing and Zhang Yu looked at each other and listened to his explanation.

When Gong Xing heard the words “having one’s own space while still maintaining an intimate distance”, he vaguely felt that he was comforting himself.

"Okay, I won't boil the water."

Fang Yan led them to the study and said, "I'll go get a glass of water. You wait here for a while."

Gong Xing volunteered to lend a hand.

Zhao Jing and Zhang Yu always felt that something was wrong, but they couldn't tell what was wrong, so they watched the two leave.

Soon, they were the only two left in the study.

Looking around, all the furniture is made of rosewood.

On the wall, there are framed calligraphy and paintings.

Huang Binhong, Li Keran, Wang Xuetao, Wu Zuoren, Jiang Zhaohe...

"Oh my god, I didn't expect Teacher Fang to have so many collections."

Zhao Jing was deeply attracted and couldn't help but sigh.

Zhang Yu asked: "Are these all considered famous painters?"

"Of course!"

Zhao Jing thought about it and said, "But if you want me to tell you how good the painting is, I can't tell you. You have to ask Sister Gong Xing. She knows about painting."

Zhang Yu exclaimed, "Speaking of Sister Gong Xian, she and Teacher Fang have been gone for such a long time, why haven't they come back yet?"

Not long after they finished speaking, Fang Yan and Gong Xing were holding iced Arctic Ocean in their hands, with small water droplets attached to the glass bottles.

Gong Xing had a smile on his face. He had just expressed his deep feelings to Fang Yan, and his mood was gradually improving.

"It's a hot day."

Fangyan took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his face.

Gong Xing glanced at the handkerchief and smiled faintly, and the worries of parting seemed to be forgotten at this moment.

"Sister Gong Xi, come and look at this."

Zhang Yu pulled her to Li Keran's painting of a shepherd boy riding a cow.

Zhao Jing said as she drank her drink, "Teacher Fang, I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable about calligraphy and painting."

"That's wrong. Having a lot of collections doesn't mean you know a lot." Fang Yan said, "I haven't studied much."

Zhang Yu asked: "Why did you buy so many calligraphy and paintings?"

"There is a saying that goes, the more you lack something, the more you make up for it."

Fangyan said bluntly: "I am a vulgar person, so naturally I have to pretend to be more refined."

"You're leaving the secular world?"

Zhang Yu said, "I'm not well-educated, please stop lying to me." "If you are a vulgar person, then we are all vulgar people!"

What kind of world is this?
To tell the truth, no one believes it!

Seeing Zhao Jing and the others looking disbelieving, Fang Yan shook his head helplessly.

"Where did you buy these paintings from?"

Gong Xing's eyes were full of love.

Fangyan casually mentioned the Peace Painting Shop and the Foreign Guest Service Department, which are the places where he usually goes shopping.

"How about we go to the Peace Painting Shop this afternoon?"

Gong Xing thought about buying a painting to take home.

Zhang Yu and Zhao Jing also had the same intention.

Fang Yan raised his eyebrows, "You want to buy paintings?"

Gong Xing smiled and said, "I want to buy an inexpensive one."

"Yes, yes, I want to buy one too."

Zhang Yu nodded. "Teacher Fang, do you have the kind that is very cheap but very valuable, and, uh, and..."

"Did you mean 'there is a lot of room for appreciation'?"

The dialect explains this word.

Hearing Zhang Yu repeatedly saying yes, Zhao Jing said, "Vulgar! But I am vulgar too, Mr. Fang, please help me take a look too."

"Haha, that's settled then."

Fang Yan glanced at Gong Xian calmly.

…………

In the afternoon, after buying train tickets back to Shanghai, everyone went straight to the Peace Painting Shop in Wangfujing.

As soon as I entered the door, the salesperson standing at the counter not only did not come forward to serve me, but immediately ran into the back room.

Zhang Yu curled her lips: "What kind of attitude is that!"

"Forget it, Xiaoyu."

Zhao Jing consoled him with a few words, then turned to look at Gong Qian, who was already fascinated by the pictures: "Sister Gong Qian, do you like any of the pictures?"

"I, I like them all."

Gong Xing was excited at first, then distressed: "If I could, I really want to buy them all."

Fangyan smiled without saying anything, and saw the salesperson and the manager walking hurriedly up to him.

The manager rubbed his hands and said, "Hey, Mr. Fang, you are here. Which paintings do you want to pack today?"

Pack!?
Zhao Jing and Zhang Yu were shocked, their eyes widened.

Fang Yan waved his hand and said, "Forget about it today. I'm here to buy paintings with my friends."

The manager immediately asked the salesperson to get the goods. This customer was a big customer of the Heping Painting Shop and he had to be served well!

Gong Xing recovered from his shock and asked softly, "You...you often come here to pack?"

Fangyan joked, "I'm just like you. I wish I could buy them all."

"Am I vulgar?"

Gong Xing blushed and said secretly.

"It's better to be vulgar. It's cute."

"You are so vulgar... cute."

"That's perfect. I'm vulgar, and you're vulgar too. We have the same vulgarity." Fang Yan looked at Gong Xing who glared at him shyly and couldn't stop smiling.

There are no two people who are naturally suitable for each other, only two souls with like-mindedness.

(End of this chapter)