1990: Starting from Baojia Street

Their house is on the first floor. Compared with the floors above, the first floor is more prone to moisture return and has less exposure to sunlight, so it is more likely to have a musty smell.

Zhou Yan had just stepped through the door with one foot when a loud shout suddenly came from behind.

Xiaoyan, you are back.

The sound was very penetrating and echoed in the corridor. At first glance, I thought it was several people shouting at the same time.

Zhou Yan turned around and saw that the person calling him was a middle-aged woman in her forties, not tall and a little stout. Soon Zhou Yan found the woman's information in his mind. She was Zhen Aihua, the lover of Zhang Hongjun, the deputy director of the Opera House.

Aunt Zhen. Zhou Yan called out.

Zhen Aihua walked towards Zhou Yan. When she got there, she looked at the bag Zhou Yan was carrying and asked, Did you just come back?

Well, I just came back. Zhou Yan nodded.

Zhen Aihua looked inside the door, wrinkled her nose and said, You haven't been home for too long, and the house smells musty.

Then she actually walked directly into the house, first turned on the lights, and then opened the windows in the kitchen and living room, Open the windows to let out the air. Is there any fragrance in the house? If not, I will send some over later. A few sticks of incense can drive away the smell.

Zhen Aihua is a well-known arrogant person in the family compound of the Opera House. She likes to take care of everything big and small in the compound. Zhou Yan's mother died young and left him alone. No matter how pitiful he looked, Zhen Aihua certainly had to care.

However, in a situation like this, others would at most pay a few words of concern and would never directly enter the house.

She is usually too intrusive, has no sense of boundaries, and is annoying to everyone, but everyone knows that she is not evil-minded, but just too enthusiastic.

I'll look for it later. Zhou Yan responded.

If you can't find it, remember to tell me. Zhen Aihua nodded and was about to walk out. Then she remembered something, By the way, a few days ago, sister You came to see you. You were not at home, and now you are back. , do you want to call them and talk to them?”

Zhou Qing?

Zhen Aihua smiled with her teeth exposed, Of course it's Zhou Qing, do you have another sister? It's probably because your father was embarrassed to come, so he asked her to come. I wanted to ask you if you would go to celebrate the New Year.

Well, I understand. I'll call her later.

Zhen Aihua then asked, You have to call my house. Don't go to the canteen outside. If you want money, you have to queue up.

At this time, the initial installation fee for telephones was too expensive, and few homes had telephones installed. Only two families in their family compound had telephones installed. If other families wanted to make calls, they could either borrow them from these two families, or go to a nearby canteen. .

It's never good to go to someone's house to answer the phone, and there are a lot of calls from people, so the phone calls at small shops are basically queued.

Thank you Aunt Zhen.

You're welcome. Zhen Aihua waved his hand and walked out.

After Zhen Aihua walked away, Zhou Yan went over and closed the door. He was worried that other neighbors would come to care about him soon.

After the windows were opened, the smell inside the house was much better.

Zhou Yan put down his backpack and looked around the room. Looking at this familiar yet unfamiliar home, he still felt a sense of belonging in his heart. He knew that this sense of belonging was brought to him by his predecessor.

When he was in Chang'an, Zhou Yan thought for a long time whether to go back to Jinling or Yanjing, and finally decided to go back to Jinling.

Zhou Yan thought clearly. His previous life left him a lot of things, such as a young and healthy body, and enviable musical talent. It cannot be said that he accepted these good things happily and left everything else behind.

His eyes finally settled on the photo of his mother's body on the altar table. If nothing else, he would at least come back and burn incense for her.

…

Zhou Yan spent more than a day cleaning the house inside and out, and finally tidied up the house.

At noon the next day, Zhou Yan was chopping vegetables when a head suddenly popped out of the window opposite the chopping board.

Zhou Yan was startled and almost cut his hand.

Outside the window is a girl of fifteen or sixteen years old, with a double ponytail, big eyes, black eyes, and a little baby fat on her face. She looks a bit like Zhou Yan between her eyebrows.

It's his sister Zhou Qing. There are three brothers and sisters in their family. The eldest Zhou Hong looks like his father, and Zhou Yan and Zhou Qing both look like their mother.

Third brother, you're back! Zhou Qing could not suppress a smile on his small face.

Zhou Yan also managed a smile, Why are you here?

I'm coming to find you.

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Qing's head had disappeared from the window. After a while, Zhou Yan heard Zhou Qing's shout from outside the door, Third brother, open the door for me quickly.

Zhou Yan could only put down the knife in his hand and open the door for Zhou Qing.

As soon as the door opened, Zhou Qing came up and hugged Zhou Yan's arm, Third brother, did you just come back today? Why did you come back so late this year?

Zhou Yan struggled slightly, but did not pull away. He could only let Zhou Qing hold his arms.

Why are you here at this time? Zhou Yan asked.

The family compound of the Opera House is in Gulou District, and Zhou Qing and the others live in Yuhua District, which is quite far away from here. It’s just lunch time, and Zhou Qing has most likely not eaten yet.

Li Xiaolan's home is nearby. I came to see her to play. I stopped by to see if you were back. I didn't expect you to be back.

Li Xiaolan should be Zhou Qing's classmate, and Zhou Yan has some impressions.

Have you eaten?

Zhou Qing shook his head pitifully, Not yet.

Eat here.

Thank you, third brother.

Zhou Qing finally let go of Zhou Yan's arm and ran to turn on the TV.

Watch less TV.

Before entering the kitchen, Zhou Yan gave instructions.

In fact, there is no need for Zhou Yan to ask because the TV at home is broken, but since he came back, he has not turned on the TV from the night before yesterday to now, so he doesn't know.

The main reason is that the TV set at home is small and old, not much bigger than a palm, and it is black and white. Zhou Yan has no interest in it at all.

After Zhou Qing turned on the TV, he saw a patch of snowflakes on the screen and called Zhou Yan, Third brother, the TV is on strike.

Well, I'll send it to be repaired later. Zhou Yan said perfunctorily. There was no way he could repair this TV. It would be a waste of money.

Zhou Qing ran to the kitchen door, scratched the door frame and said with a smile, This TV is too old. Don't repair it. I'll buy you a colorful one with my pocket money.

We have just entered the 1990s, and color TVs are still a scarce commodity. Just one costs several thousand yuan. Most people can’t afford one without eating or drinking for a year.

If someone else said this, Zhou Yan would think it was bragging, but when Zhou Qing said it, it wouldn't necessarily be the case.

Zhou Yan's father, Zhou Yaowen, was a government cadre before and his family had a relatively strong foundation. Later, in 1984, he resigned and went into business. He went to Pengcheng to open a factory. He just caught the limelight and made a lot of money.

Although Zhou Yaowen would not give Zhou Qing a lot of money, it was normal for her to save hundreds of pocket money a year.

Keep your pocket money for yourself. I don't usually watch TV.

It's boring.

Zhou Qing muttered and ran to the sofa again to sit down.

Ten minutes later, Zhou Yan came out with three dishes and one soup.

Braised pork ribs, scrambled eggs with leeks, stir-fried green vegetables, and a large cup of chicken soup. The chicken was an old chicken that Zhou Yan bought from the market early in the morning. He simmered it for several hours until it was fully cooked.

As soon as these dishes were brought out, the aroma filled the living room.

Zhou Qing took a deep breath and said, Third brother, you didn't go to Yanjing to study music, but to learn to be a chef, right? You used to be able to scramble even an egg.

While she was praising him, she also didn't forget to expose Zhou Yan's past shortcomings.

Eat quickly.

Hmm, Zhou Qing said while loading rice from the rice cooker, Third brother, do you eat so many dishes at home by yourself?

There were originally three dishes. Now that you're here, I'll add one to you.

Thank you, third brother. These ribs must have been added for me, right?

Zhou Yan smiled and said, Do you think the ribs can be cooked in these ten minutes?

Zhou Qing's face suddenly fell, Then you add a green vegetable.

…

After dinner, Zhou Yan wanted to send Zhou Qing away, but Zhou Qing was very shameless and refused to leave.

Zhou Yan had nothing to do with her. He couldn't beat her away with a stick, so he could only let her play in the living room while Zhou Yan ran into the house to write.

The soundtrack work for Raise the Red Lantern is only halfway done. All the samples have been completed. There is still a lot to do in the later stage. At the beginning of next year, Zhou Yan will go to Chang'an.

He wanted to take advantage of the year before to review the materials he and Zhao Jiping summarized some time ago to facilitate subsequent work.

At around four o'clock in the afternoon, Zhou Yan went to the living room to change tea leaves and found that Zhou Qing had left. He was also relieved. When this girl was here, his work was not stable.

But Zhou Yan didn't expect that Zhou Qing would come again the next morning.

Zhou Qing was a talkative girl, and she would talk endlessly. One morning, Zhou Yan felt like there were a thousand ducks quacking in his ears.

After dinner, in the afternoon, Zhou Qing finally came to see him.

Zhou Yan was sitting on the sofa reading a book. She ran to him and squatted down in front of him. Then she held her chin with her hands and made a pitiful expression. Third brother, come home during the Chinese New Year. We all want you to come home.

Let's talk about it later. Zhou Yan didn't even raise his head, his eyes still looking at the book in his hand.

This time Zhou Qing took action directly, grabbing Zhou Yan's arm and shaking it, Third brother, just promise me. As long as you promise me, I won't bother you for the next two days.

Zhou Yan glanced at her and said with a smile, You also know that you are annoying?

Hehe, just a little bit.

Still somewhat self-aware.

Then for the sake of my self-awareness, just agree.

Zhou Yan nodded, Okay.

Ah? Zhou Qing didn't expect Zhou Yan to agree so simply, but was stunned. She was already prepared for a protracted war.

Classmate Zhou Qing, I have agreed to your request. Now it is time for you to fulfill your promise.

Oh, okay, I'll leave right away. Zhou Qing quickly stood up and ran out. Halfway through, she turned back and said, Then we'll pick you up the day after tomorrow.

No, I'll go there by myself in the afternoon.

good.

After Zhou Qing left, Zhou Yan felt that the whole world was pure. Fortunately, his predecessor did not agree to move back. Otherwise, facing such intensive verbal attacks from Zhou Qing every day, he would have suffered from neurasthenia sooner or later.

But from Zhou Qing's perspective, she was quite pitiful.

It's true that she has two brothers, but the eldest brother Zhou Hong is eight years older than her. As long as she can remember, Zhou Hong didn't go home much in boarding school and could only play with Zhou Yan every day.

Within two years, when she was five years old, her parents divorced. Her mother did not take her with her, only Zhou Yan.

A few years later, when she was in elementary school, her father went to Pengcheng to do business again, and she could only stay at home with her grandparents, so her childhood was quite lonely. She had two brothers, but almost none.

It was also because of this that when she met Zhou Yan, she talked so much, as if she wanted to make up for what she had not said together before.

Zhou Yan was able to agree to spend the New Year mainly because of Zhou Qing. He knew how sad this girl would be if he refused again.

…

When Zhou Yan arrived at Zhou's house, there was already a large family in the house.

Their Zhou family is prosperous, and there are five brothers and sisters in Zhou Yaowen's generation, three boys and two girls, none of whom died in infancy.

Zhou Yan's two aunts are both married out of town. They usually come back to visit during the holidays. Naturally, they cannot be in Jinling during the Chinese New Year.

Uncle Zhou Yaohua is in his fifties and is the director of the city library. This is probably the end of his official career. He is a good old man himself and his heart is not in officialdom. He usually likes to write and play chess, but his work in the library is more important. It suits him.

Zhou Yan's father, Zhou Yaowen, is the second child.

The third uncle, Zhou Yaozu, was the principal of Jinling Middle School. He was a workaholic and very strict. Zhou Yan was often spurred by him when he was a child.

Zhou Yan's generation is also very prosperous, with three children in each family. Except for Zhou Hong and their eldest cousin Zhou Yu, who are already working, the others are still in school.

And apart from the two of them, Zhou Yan is the eldest among them.

Zhou Qing calls him third brother, he is also from here. In this generation, he is the third brother.

So when Zhou Yan arrived, he saw a group of younger brothers and sisters looking at him eagerly.

Thanks to [Shi] for the 500 reward

Thanks to [Tongren Wuji] for the 100 tip