18. The abdomen is the other half of marriage (below)

  Sunday morning at 10 o'clock, Jiang Zhihan returned from his morning exercise and hastily ate something. The three of them set off for Xishan. After a bumpy ride on the public bus for nearly an hour, they arrived as the last family to arrive. There were already three families seated in the pavilion, two couples who were acquaintances of Jiang Zhihan's, colleagues with whom his mother frequently interacted. None of them had brought their children, saying that now that they were grown up, they didn't want to go out with their parents anymore. The remaining pair was a mother and daughter, but they were unfamiliar faces.

  Among them, the girl looked about the same age as Jiang Zihan. She had a slightly round face and her facial features were not particularly delicate, not typically beautiful at first glance. The girl had light makeup on her face, her small breasts were bulging, much more developed than most girls of this age, wearing short sleeves and shorts, with a pair of pink shoes, exuding youthfulness and a hint of sensuality. However, the concept of sensuality had not yet taken root at that time, so most girls were classified as not very good-looking by adults. The middle-aged woman was dressed more fashionably, looking younger than her mother and others just by her face and clothes, vaguely visible as a beauty in her youth.

  Li Jiongjiong introduced that this was nearly twenty years ago, when she had just entered the factory and was in the same workshop and group as her colleague, who was also her best friend. Later, they transferred to different units and lost contact after leaving Zhongzhou. Many years later, they had the opportunity to reunite again, and it could be seen that both of them were truly delighted from the bottom of their hearts.

  It's been a long time, and it's inevitable to feel emotional. After talking about some old things, Li Qiang formally introduced Jiang Zihan to Wu Ayi, saying that she was her mother's best friend in the past. Jiang Zihan smiled and called her Wu Ayi. Wu Ayi waved her hand and said, "Actually, you should call me mom." Jiang Zihan's mouth opened wide, he had never met anyone who asked him to call her mom on their first meeting, right in front of his own mother.

  "Wo Auntie explained: 'In those years, your mom and I were incredibly close, and we even got pregnant in the same year. So we made a pact that if we both had sons or both had daughters, we would become sworn sisters or brothers and recognize each other's families as relatives; but if one of us had a son and the other a daughter, we would become in-laws. Therefore, from the moment you were born, I became your mother-in-law. Tell me, shouldn't you call me mom?'"

  Jiang Zihan heard the legendary "pointing to the belly as a marriage" actually happened to himself, and couldn't help but find it interesting. The several uncles and aunts beside him also thought it was funny, urging Jiang Zihan to call her mom. Facing a stranger he had just met, Jiang Zihan still couldn't bring himself to say "mom". However, he was now quite experienced and didn't want to give in easily. He rolled his eyes and decided to shift the focus of the battle, saying: "Wu Auntie, this is the new era, we emphasize free love. If I call you mom, that also needs your daughter's agreement, right?" Unexpectedly, the girl responded quickly: "I have no opinion on that." The adults burst into laughter, leaving Jiang Zihan with a bright red face, and in the end, he still only called out "Wu Auntie". Wu Auntie's daughter was named Wu Siyi. When it was her turn, the adults teased her together, but she calmly called Hei Rongrong "mom", leaving Jiang Zihan shaking his head in amazement.

  This time it was a picnic, each family brought food, no more than braised beef, cold mixed chicken, cucumber salad, bread, pastries, fruit and drinks, everything was complete. On this day, the sky was high and the air was refreshing, a group of people ate and drank while talking about their past experiences, it was very pleasant. Jiang Zihan thought to himself, this is the true way for friends to gather.

  After lunch, someone suggested playing poker. Three men and an aunt set up the game, while the remaining women sat together chatting. Wu Aunt smiled and said: "We adults chat, you listen and get bored, why don't you two young ones go out for a walk?" Another aunt joked: "It's been so many years since we last met, hurry up and improve your relationship." Jiang Zihan agreed and walked out of the pavilion with Wu Siyi. The two discussed for a while and decided to climb the nearby Cuiyu Peak.

  Two people walked and chatted, Jiang Zhihan learned that Wu Siyi was a senior in a bank school, and the new semester was also in her second year. Wu Siyi settled accounts with Jiang Zhihan after autumn: "You're quite sinister, others let you call them mom, but you put the fire on me." Jiang Zhihan dryly laughed: "You know their thinking mode, girls being reserved is a virtue, but for boys it's not being generous. That's why I asked for your help." Wu Siyi had a lot of sympathy and said: "What's the big deal about calling someone mom? It doesn't cost a pound of flesh. These adults love to make this kind of boring joke, if you really want to fall in love, they'll be like the sky is falling." Jiang Zhihan smiled and asked: "Have you tried challenging them?" Wu Siyi shook her head and said: "Nowadays boys are very boring, one by one likes to pretend to be cool, stupidly putting their hands in their pockets, as if they want to find a hat from that era to wear on their heads and learn from others."

  Wu Siyi asked Jiang Zhihan what he did during the summer vacation, and Jiang Zhihan said that he was exercising and reading. Then he shared some interesting things he read with her, and she listened with great interest. This summer, Jiang Zhihan felt that he had undergone a big change - whenever he met unfamiliar girls, he could quickly chat with them and become familiar. This didn't happen often before, from Shi Lin to Xiang Xiang Xiaoqin, to Wu Siyi, even though some of the girls were older than him, they all got along well.

  Wu Siyi asked Jiang Zihan: "You're so hardworking, what's your great ideal?" Jiang Zihan replied: "I'm not too clear myself, maybe it's just that I don't want to drift with the tide, or maybe I want to achieve something, but it's all vague and unclear. Anyway, it's just that I don't want to live a boring life like some people." As he spoke, he suddenly remembered last night's dinner and told Wu Siyi as a joke. Jiang Zihan imitated those self-interested women very vividly, and Wu Siyi laughed so hard she was doubled over. In the end, Jiang Zihan said: "Later, I summarized their conversation for them - in ancient times, women followed three principles: before marriage they followed their father, after marriage they followed their husband, and after their husband's death they followed their son. But these women were talking about three comparisons: comparing their husbands' titles, comparing the wealth of their families, and comparing their children's grades." Wu Siyi giggled and said: "You're really vivid in your description. However, don't think that just because you'll have money in the future, you'll be able to escape this kind of person - they're everywhere, no matter where you go, you can't avoid them." Jiang Zihan turned his head in surprise, thinking that this girl was very insightful and had a maturity beyond her age. Wu Siyi said with emphasis: "These adults are so self-interested, so boring, so disgusting!" After finishing speaking, she still wasn't satisfied and repeated it again. Jiang Zihan couldn't help but laugh.

  They had climbed about two-thirds of the way, and Jiang Zhan saw Wu Siyi slightly panting, so he said, "Let's take a break and have some water." The two casually found a large stone by the road, and Jiang Zhan sat down, using his hand to gently brush off the dust on the adjacent stone, letting Wu Siyi sit. Wu Siyi looked at him and smiled lightly: "You know how to care for girls, that's great. You'll definitely have some girl who likes you." Jiang Zhan said: "Why does your tone sound like you're much older than me?" Wu Siyi said: "I am older than you, after all." Jiang Zhan said: "We were born in the same year and month!" Wu Siyi laughed and said: "Didn't they say I'm three days older? Anyway, generally speaking, when I look at boys from your key middle school, I always feel like they're a few years younger." Jiang Zhan asked: "Why is that?" Wu Siyi said: "Maybe it's because you've been cooped up in the classroom for too long, affecting your development, haha." And then continued to say: "I heard you say you love going to the library so much, I thought you were like that too. But it seems you're okay, not very immature." Jiang Zhan couldn't help but smile wryly.

  Two people were chatting, when someone suddenly greeted them. Jiang Zhihan looked up to see Chen Yimeng and Qu Yingmei. Qu Yingmei smiled and said: "Last night I asked you out to play, saying it was with your mom, but it turned out to be a date." Jiang Zhihan didn't explain much, just saying: "You two are so romantic." Chen Yimeng suggested: "Why don't we go hiking together?" Qu Yingmei pulled his hand and said: "We'll leave first, this guy is the most clueless, likes being a third wheel." She laughed as they walked away.

  As the two walked away, Wu Siyi suddenly said: "Is this girl your friend?" Jiang Zihan said: "My good friend's girlfriend." Wu Siyi: "She looks good with a hint of worldliness." Jiang Zihan was drinking water and spat it out, laughing and saying: "Your mouth is too sharp!" Wu Siyi said: "Sorry, I've been reading a book lately and keep using this phrase to describe a woman. I think about the people I know, but can't think of what 'having a worldly air' means. Today when I saw her, I felt like she was exactly that, just like that!" Jiang Zihan thought to himself: Women's mouths are truly venomous.

  After a short rest, they continued to climb up. At around one o'clock, they reached the top of the mountain. It was the hottest part of the day and the morning mist that filled the mountains had also dispersed. In front of them were lush green trees, undulating hills, and the dense buildings of Zhongzhou City stood in the distance. Climbing high and looking far, isn't it a pleasure?

  Jiang Zihan slightly tilted his head and saw that the girl beside him was a bit quiet, with some sweat on her forehead and a slight urgency in her breathing, which caused the two mounds on her chest to rise and fall. Jiang Zihan's heart skipped a beat, and he withdrew his gaze, quietly looking into the distance. Suddenly, Wu Siyi spoke up: "My mom got divorced last year, and I followed her back to Zhongzhou. I insisted on changing my surname to hers. She said that if I took her surname, others would think it's strange and might ask if my parents were divorced. I told her what's the big deal? Since you gave birth to me, raised me, and took care of me as I grew up, of course, I should take your surname. Let me tell you, I've met a few rich and powerful people, but they're not better than those boring people in the city. They're just more ruthless and vain, with an extra layer of skin on them." Jiang Zihan didn't know how to respond to this, so he just listened silently, finally saying: "I just think that one day, the people who are good to me and the people I want to be good to can live a good life. What others do is none of my business."

  Wu Siyi said let's go back, and the two of them started walking on the mountain road. Wu Siyi became a bit silent, not knowing what she was thinking about, Jiang Zihan didn't want to bother her either, just quietly walked beside her. Probably because she had a lot on her mind, Wu Siyi didn't watch where she was going, missed a step, twisted her ankle and sat down on the ground, letting out an involuntary "ouch". Jiang Zihan asked with concern: "Is it serious?" Wu Siyi said it should be fine, just need to rest for a few minutes. Jiang Zihan poured some water onto her ankle, roughly equivalent to applying a cold compress.

  After a few minutes, Wu Siyi stood up and took a few steps, but it was painful to the point of sweating. Jiang Zihan helped her sit down and said, "Let me take a look." Wu Siyi herself untied her pink sandals, and Jiang Zihan glanced over to see that her toes were painted with pink nail polish. The girl's feet were slender and white, but her ankles had already begun to swell noticeably. Jiang Zihan said, "There's no way you can walk, I'll carry you." Wu Siyi frowned and said, "Are you sure? I'm not light." Jiang Zihan had grown a couple of centimeters taller over the summer break, but he still didn't look particularly tall or sturdy. He smiled and didn't say anything, walking down to the next step and crouching down.

  Wu Siyi's hands were on his back, and Jiang Zihan's hands were lightly supporting her buttocks. After walking for a while, Wu Siyi laughed and said, "You're still not capable of tying up a chicken." As they walked, Jiang Zihan felt that with the ups and downs of the stone steps, there were two warm and soft things behind him that were touching his back, one loose and one tight, slowly giving him a numb and tingling feeling. Gradually, that numb and tingling feeling spread throughout his body, his heart beating faster, sweat seeping out from his back, and his footsteps becoming somewhat floating. Wu Siyi was leaning on his back, her hair occasionally brushing against the nape of his neck, her mouth by his ear, lightly asking, "Are you tired?" Jiang Zihan shook his head. Wu Siyi seemed to have felt something too, and the two of them stopped talking.

  The effect of Jiang Zhihan's summer vacation training was immediate, and he didn't feel tired at all along the way. His footsteps weren't much slower than when he walked alone. Before long, the pavilion where the adults played cards came into view. Wu Siyi whispered in Jiang Zhihan's ear, "I'm having a great time today." Jiang Zhihan turned his head, and for a moment, the girl's face was only 5 centimeters away from his. He seemed to see his own reflection in her eyes, and a faint scent of girlhood wafted over, suddenly making Wu Siyi seem much prettier. He lowered his eyes and replied softly, "Me too... I'm glad to meet you."