Everything seems to have an answer.
Aunt Lin's sister has been here, but she still seems very wary of Xiaolan.
When Xiaolan stood in the middle of the living room and greeted her politely, she just gave her a quick smile, and there was unconcealable defensiveness and embarrassment behind her smile.
Xiao Lan saw Uncle Cheng. Uncle Cheng was not too old, but one night after Xiao Lan moved away and Cheng Lin disappeared, Uncle Cheng was suddenly struck by a stroke and became a wheelchair user. Aunt Lin chose to accompany her. At her husband's side, waiting.
Uncle Cheng was still a little excited when he saw her. Xiaolan held Uncle Cheng's hand and listened to Aunt Lin say many things.
Xiaolan felt sad for Aunt Lin and felt sad for Uncle Cheng.
But this is not what Xiaolan wants to hear. ________________________________________
"Auntie, you haven't told me where Xiaolin has gone."
Late at night, Xiaolan was lying next to Aunt Lin. Under the weak night light, Aunt Lin looked haggard and weak.
Aunt Lin was silent for a while, then turned her face and stared at Xiaolan.
"Xiaolan, do you... know where the 'boundary monument' is?"
boundary marker?
"The boundary monument... is it a national boundary monument, or something else... a boundary monument..."
"do not you know?"
Xiaolan nodded honestly.
Seeing this, Auntie stood up half-lying with support. Xiaolan also imitated Auntie Lin's example and lay half-lying next to her.
"I'll start talking after you move out."
Aunt Lin rubbed Xiaolan's hair and stared at the dark corner that was not illuminated by the desk lamp. Her eyes seemed to fly to the not-so-distant past. "When you moved out, you hadn't decided where to go. Our two families discussed it. After a while, we have decided that you should go back to Fengwu for a while and find a suitable place before contacting us. Your uncle Cheng and I have just found jobs in Yangjiang and are preparing to stabilize our lives. It is not just a matter of time to leave.
"When you set off, both our families were sad. Xiaolan, you were crying as you walked, and Lin Zi was comforting you and saying that he would find you soon. Alas, our two families are just like one family...
"In the first year you moved away, we kept in touch every day. You said at that time that although Fengwu was poor, there were fewer people and fewer rumors, so it was better to stay in your hometown. Lao Cheng and I both It makes sense. You two are young. After this incident, we just hope that you can grow up peacefully. We decided to let Lin Zi finish junior high school in Yangjiang and let us go back to Fengwu. I moved to another school, and I miss you every day. But on the surface, there is no noise or fuss. I only call occasionally, and when I hear you urging him to go back, I will secretly shed tears alone at night.
"Things changed starting from the second year. The year after you moved away, we had less contact. It wasn't that we had less contact, it was Sisi and Lao Liao. I heard from them that they were looking for We were planning to move to another place. We were very anxious at the time. No matter how we asked them, they would not tell us where they were going. Not long after that, we couldn’t contact you.
"We were trying our best to make phone calls. Your phones were all turned off. We contacted old acquaintances in Fengwu, and they all said they hadn't seen you for a long time. Lao Cheng and I even made a special trip back to your old house. , the furniture and furnishings are the same as before, except that the luggage of three people is missing. We think you just moved away, but we can't figure out why you left like this without telling us.
"Linzi was in trouble for a while, and we had never seen Linzi like that before. He probably got sad afterwards, so we didn't mention it again.
"Then another year passed. During this year, we have been trying to contact you, but all failed. You really disappeared from the world like what was said in the news. It's summer again, and Lin Zi appears on the road. There was a car accident, a very serious car accident. Lin Zi almost... almost died that time. Lin Zi stayed in the hospital for nearly two months. After returning home, he became a little different. He was always evasive and liked to be alone. When I looked in the mirror as a human being, I didn't dare to look at the two of us directly. At that time, we simply thought it was a minor sequelae of a serious illness, so we didn't pay too much attention to it.
"Then one day, Lao Cheng and I were working outside, and suddenly we received a text message from Lin Zi, saying, 'Mom and Dad, I'm going to the boundary marker to look for Xiaolan, please don't miss me.' With just such a sentence, we both hurried home. On the way I was still calling the teacher, and the teacher also said that he didn’t go to class. When I got home, I saw Lin Zi’s cell phone lying on the table, but he was gone. Since then, I haven’t seen my Lin Zi again. , I haven’t heard a word about him again..."
Before she had time to feel sorry for the lonely Aunt Lin, Xiaolan was first attracted by the words Xiaolin left.
Go to the boundary monument to look for Xiaolan?
Boundary monument, is it a place name?
Why did I appear in the attic in Yangjiang? Where did my parents go? Where did Xiao Lin go? What happened to me?
All this can be answered by finding the boundary monument.
"Xiao Lan, I'm not telling you this to ask you to go look for Linzi on our behalf." Aunt Lin hugged Xiao Lan and her voice began to tremble slightly. "To me and your Uncle Cheng, you are just like us." Just like my daughter, after Lin Zi left, I really felt as if my life was over. I am so happy to see you again, Xiaolan, I beg you, please stay with your uncle and aunt, okay?"
Xiaolan was silent.
Auntie seemed to see something in Xiaolan's eyes, sighed softly, and lay down.
It's a few days later again.
It's late at night, the darkest hour. Under the dim light in a small corner of the living room, a thin figure was writing at the desk.
Aunt Lin, Xiao Lan really wants to be by your side.
But Xiaolan still has her own way to go.
A shadow appeared at the door of the bedroom and disappeared after a while. Xiaolan did not see it.
After closing the pen, Xiaolan looked around, folded the paper in front of him in half, rubbed it a few times, and placed it neatly on the table.
With guilt for her uncle and aunt, Xiaolan is about to embark on her own journey.
Putting on her coat quietly, Xiaolan was afraid of waking her sleeping uncle and aunt. After avoiding the tables, chairs and benches in the narrow living room, she came to the door.
A schoolbag rested quietly in the middle of the door.
There is a white envelope inserted in the schoolbag.
Xiaolan pinched out the envelope. There were only three big words on the envelope.
"To Xiaolan."
Xiaolan's hands began to tremble. The envelope was not sealed. If you turned the envelope sideways, you could see the thick stack inside.
money.
It's all money.
The shadow at the bedroom door appeared again.
Xiaolan turned around and the shadow disappeared again.
But she could hear, low sobs. The looming sobs, the sobs that were desperately restrained, seemed to echo in her ears.
Xiaolan lifted up her backpack. The backpack was also heavy, but there was a strange feeling of warmth on her back.
"Aunt……"
The hoarse voice echoed in the living room.
I can't say any more.
Xiaolan opened the door, quickly stepped out, closed the door lightly, and rushed down the stairs as if running.
