22/09/4631
Valenti struck the mechanical keys of the typewriter and typed today's date in the upper left corner of a piece of white paper.
She sat alone at the table in her home workroom, concentrating on recording the consultations that had just ended - starting from this summer, she applied for a nine-month leave from the base, and most of the consultations she was responsible for were done offline. The conversation turned to online communication.
She moved out of Tanyi and came with her husband of two years to the province of Niah, located south of Tanyi.
Nigeria is a very special province. Most residents who immigrate from the wilderness to the third district through legal means need to live in Nigeria for three years first. If the immigrants have no criminal record during these three years, they also have a certain or With a variety of life-support skills, they can officially obtain the third district's quasi-residence permit.
Valenti's purpose of coming here is very clear - because most of the people living here come from the wasteland of District 3, it is only in this place that she can truly see the specific lives of the wasteland aborigines who have not been destroyed by chelates.
This may help her understand more deeply and truly the reserve mercury needles who were rescued back to the base.
"Dear, dear -" her husband Virgil's voice came from the kitchen. Valenti remained unmoved and still stared at the work at hand, until the voice turned into an anxious "Valenti, Valenti! Come and help me!" She got up and walked quickly towards the kitchen.
"What's wrong--"
As soon as Valenti asked her question, she already understood what had happened - the hook they attached to the kitchen tiles fell off, and Virgil, who was cooking, quickly grabbed the iron spoon and wooden shovel that fell. He held a kitchen knife in his other hand, and in an extremely awkward posture, he was holding the soup pot that had been knocked several inches away from the stove.
Valenti exclaimed, and quickly stepped forward to take the wooden spoon from Virgil's hand. The soup in the soup pot had splashed everywhere, making the entire stove a mess. Virgil turned off the fire and took the pot away. Went to the table nearby.
Valenti laughed out loud, "...what are you doing?"
"The kitchen here is too small! It can't be turned around at all," Virgil wiped his hands on his apron with some annoyance, "Every time I bump into this or that -" He looked up at his wife, "No. Sorry to interrupt your work again... What time is it?"
"Eleven forty-four." Valenti glanced at the clock, "What time do you want to go out this afternoon?"
"I'm not in a hurry. I'll just leave at two o'clock. The boss has to have a meeting in the afternoon and can't keep an eye on me." Virgil began to clean the rag and bent over to clear the stove. "Didn't your student say that we would arrive at twelve o'clock today? Don't you want to pick her up at the corner of the street? It's hard to find this place."
"No, if she can't find a place, she will call me. We can just wait."
As she spoke, Valen walked leisurely to the soup her husband had just cooked. She held the table with one hand and tasted the saltiness with a spoon in the other.
Virgil, who was racing against time to chop celery, glanced at his wife.
"Is it okay?"
Valenti raised his thumbs generously, "Excellent!"
"Mrs. Viking! Mr. Wood!" The postman's bicycle bell and shout came from downstairs, "I have your letter!"
Virgil quickly put the freshly chopped celery on the kitchen knife, just waiting to sprinkle them into the pot before eating.
He took off his apron and washed his hands briefly in front of the sink. "Go and do your work, Valenti. There's nothing else to do here. I'll go downstairs and get the letter. Remember to open the door for me later."
"Um."
The two touched each other gently, kissing like butterflies.
Virgil left the kitchen, walked through the living room, and walked down a narrow and dark wooden staircase outside the home. Fortunately, the building they lived in only had two floors. The stairs, which could only allow one person to pass, were so cramped that it made people feel chest tight. The creaking noise between the wooden boards made him feel uncomfortable with every step he took.
Unfortunately, the height of each staircase here is not uniform. He must look at his feet very focused. Even a moment of distraction can easily cause him to sprain his feet or fall.
Virgil held his breath. On the last floor of the stairs, he saw a pair of black boots stained with mud directly in front of him - there was a person standing at the entrance of the stairs.
His eyes moved upward little by little. This person was wearing a large black cloak and a suit underneath. She was carrying a brown suitcase in her left hand, and her right hand was hidden under the cloak, seeming to hang by her side.
The moment their eyes met, Virgil saw clearly that she was a young woman. She had black hair, black eyes, and an indifferent expression. This brief look at each other made Virgil feel a chill for no reason, and even shuddered. She was like an animal. Instinct made him look away quickly.
This feeling is like passing by a cold winter with falling snow.
The young woman first took a step back to make way for outward passage.
"Thank you," Virgil said softly.
After Virgil passed the stairwell, the young woman walked up the creaking stairs. Virgil glanced up with some concern - the clothes on this person seemed to be a mercury needle dress.
Virgil moved his shoulders and took a deep breath as he walked out so that he could quickly return to normal. The postman uncle was waiting for him on the street outside. He waved to him when he saw him from a distance.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Wood!"
"Hello!" Virgil nodded towards the postman, "Excuse me, where is our letter?"
The postman took out a pile of paper products of different sizes from the bag. There were postcards made of cardboard and official letters sealed in long white envelopes. Most of them belonged to Valenti Viking - that was her She received greetings from colleagues who were traveling around the world.
"Not only is there a letter, there is also a package!"
"Oh, so many!" Virgil took it, "Thank you."
He took the postman's ballpoint pen and signed a form for himself and Valenti.
"Do you have a visitor today?" the postman asked.
"Yes, he is Valenti's former student." Virgil replied.
The moment he raised his head after signing, Virgil suddenly felt a sense of embarrassment. He looked sideways at the streets on both sides, only to realize that the people in half the street were looking at him - every old man and woman who came out to sit and chat in the afternoon. , all listened to his conversation with the postman without saying a word.
"No wonder!" the postman exclaimed in a loud voice, "I think she looks like a mercury needle, so majestic! Will she stay at your house?"
"No, no," Virgil waved his hand quickly, "She just came to our house for dinner today..."
In fact, Valenti had already rented a house for her student at the other end of the street, but Virgil did not dare to say any more, otherwise, he would be caught by the postman and asked to find out.
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