1985, the year of the great writer, began with Infernal Affairs!

She looked down with lingering fear and saw that a stone slab had come loose, its edge warped, and that had tripped her.

"Are you alright?" Xie Lu asked, still supporting her.

"No, it's nothing."

Xie Lu's palms were very warm; the temperature could be clearly felt through his thin polyester shirt.

She could smell the faint scent of soap on Xie Lu, as well as the smell of sunshine.

Xie Lu loosened his grip, bent down to examine the stone slab: "This one's loose. I need to tell the village, or something bad will happen later."

Xie Lu righted Zhao Wanwan's car, pushed it across the bridge, and then came back to push his own car.

The two crossed the bridge and got back on their bikes.

By the time we reached the edge of the county town, the sun was already setting.

Zhao Wanwan's family lives in a residential compound on the east side of the county town.

Those were the staff dormitories built by the steel plant, rows of neat red brick bungalows, each with a small courtyard.

The yard is planted with flowers, grass and vegetables. It's dinner time now, and smoke is rising from the chimneys of every household, filling the air with the aroma of food.

When they arrived at the entrance of the compound, Zhao Wanwan stopped.

"I've arrived," she said.

Xie Lu stopped, supporting himself on one leg: "Alright, you can go in now."

Zhao Wanwan didn't move.

She gripped the handlebars, her fingers unconsciously rubbing together, her lips pursed as if she wanted to say something but didn't.

The glow of the sunset shone on her face, giving her fair skin a faint blush.

The wind blew the stray hairs across her forehead, and she raised her hand to smooth them down, tucking them behind her ear.

Zhao Wanwan finally spoke: "Um... thank you for giving me a ride."

"Don't mention it," Xie Lu said with a smile.

"Be careful on your way back, it's getting dark."

"it is good."

The two remained silent for a few more seconds.

Children ran out of the compound, laughing and playing.

"Then I'll go in."

"Um."

Zhao Wanwan pushed the cart slowly into the yard.

After taking a few steps, he turned back.

Xie Lu was still standing there, holding his bicycle, bathed in the sunset.

His shadow was stretched long, extending all the way to the poplar trees by the roadside. The wind blew up Xie Lu's slightly faded shirt, causing the hem to flutter.

Xie Lu waved to Zhao Wanwan.

Zhao Wanwan waved, then turned around and pushed the cart into the yard.

Xie Lu only looked away when her figure disappeared around the corner of the red brick house.

Xie Lu got on his bike, turned around, and rode back the way he came.

The wheels rolled over the dirt road, raising a fine cloud of dust.

When Zhao Wanwan pushed her cart into her courtyard, her mother, Li Xiuqin, was coming out of the house, carrying a basin of washed vegetables.

"You're back? Why are you so late? Your dad has asked you that several times."

"I went to a classmate's house." Zhao Wanwan parked the car and put up a kickstand.

"Which classmate?" Li Xiuqin asked casually, carrying the dishes towards the kitchen.

Zhao Wanwan originally wanted to tell a little lie, but after pausing, she felt that she didn't seem to need to lie, so she told the truth: "Lawyer Xie."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiuqin paused for a moment.

She turned to her daughter: "Xie Lu? The one who got into Wuhan University?"

Li Xiuqin had also heard of Xie Lu's reputation. After all, he was the only student from their county to be admitted to Wuhan University through the college entrance examination. How could Li Xiuqin, who used to focus on college entrance examination results all the time, not have heard of this name?

"Um."

Li Xiuqin didn't say anything, but looked her daughter up and down a few times.

Zhao Wanwan felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by her mother, so she lowered her head and patted the dirt off her pants.

"How did you get there?" Li Xiuqin asked.

"Riding a bike."

"That's so far, and you're all alone?"

"Law Xie brought me back. He rode to the entrance of the courtyard and watched me enter before leaving."

Li Xiuqin's eyes flickered.

She didn't ask anything more and turned to go into the kitchen.

But as he reached the kitchen door, he turned back and said casually, "Go wash your hands first, it's time to eat. Your dad got two sausages from the factory today, so I chopped some and stir-fried some chili peppers."

"Okay," Zhao Wanwan replied and went to wash her hands under the tap.

I washed my hands and then my face, and then wiped my neck and arms with a damp towel.

After doing all that, she went to her room.

The room was very tidy.

A single bed, a desk, and a wardrobe.

The desk was neatly stacked with books, the top of which was a brand-new third edition of the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (OALD) from 1974, a gift from her father for her college admission.

It is said that the father went through many connections to buy it.

There was a map of China on the wall, with Wuhan circled in red.

Zhao Wanwan sat on the edge of the bed, lost in thought for a while.

She suddenly remembered that during her three years of high school, Xie Lu's name was always prominently displayed at the top of the results list after each exam.

She stood below, looking up, feeling not only resentment but also a little envy.

I envy Xie Lu for being so smart and composed, as if he can get the best without any effort.

But she later learned that it wasn't effortless.

It is because Xie Lu has put in a lot of unseen efforts that it looks effortless.

Just like this afternoon, he rode for more than an hour to take her home, without ever complaining of being tired.

When they arrived at their destination, they simply waved and turned to leave.

Clean and neat.

Zhao Wanwan lowered her head, remembering the hundred yuan she had put in Xie Lu's pocket.

That was money she had saved for a long time, starting from junior high school, from New Year's money and pocket money she saved every day, every penny she had saved.

Sometimes when she thinks about spending this money, she hesitates and then gives up the idea after a while.

But when she learned that Xie Lu was being harassed by the village clerk who demanded two hundred yuan from him.

Without hesitation, she decided to give the hundred yuan to Lawyer Xie.

Zhao Wanwan heard her mother calling her to dinner from outside. She stood up, took a deep breath, and went out the door.

The table was already set with dishes: a plate of stir-fried sausage with chili peppers, a plate of stir-fried greens, a bowl of tomato and egg soup, and a large pot of corn porridge.

Father Zhao Jianguo was already seated in the main seat, holding a copy of the Liaobei Daily and reading it.

"Dad," Zhao Wanwan called out.

Zhao Jianguo put down his newspaper and took off his reading glasses: "You're back? Where have you been so late?"

"I went to a classmate's house." Zhao Wanwan sat down next to her mother.

Which student?

"Lawyer Xie," Li Xiuqin answered for her daughter, while serving soup to her husband. "He's the one who got into Wuhan University."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jianguo said "Oh," and took the soup bowl: "The only one from the county to get into Wuhan University?"

"Um."

Zhao Jianguo nodded, didn't ask any more questions, picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of sausage: "Let's eat."

The family ate their meal in silence. Li Xiuqin would occasionally put food on her daughter's plate, while Zhao Jianguo read the newspaper as he ate. Halfway through the meal, Zhao Jianguo suddenly spoke up:

"That Mr. Xie... is your family from the countryside?"

Zhao Wanwan paused for a moment with her chopsticks: "Yes, the one below is from Shuangshui Village."

What do your parents do?

"Farmers."

Zhao Jianguo said "Oh" again and continued eating.

After a while, he asked again, "It's not easy to get into Wuhan University. After graduation, your job assignment will definitely be good."

Li Xiuqin glanced at her husband, gave him a disapproving look, and said nothing.