"Don't spit the bones on the table," Mother Lu elegantly ate the boiled shrimp. As a middle-aged woman who has extremely high demands on herself, her dinner would always only consist of avocado, lettuce and shrimp. "You have to wrap the bones in paper and put them on the table."

On the plate. Otherwise, if people see us when we go out to eat, they will think that our family has no rules."

Lu Manman responded, as if he had long been accustomed to this kind of dinner atmosphere.

The dishes on the table are all what she likes to eat.

However, there were always only her and her mother at the table.

You can't eat while watching TV, and you can't eat for a while and look at your phone like some classmates do.

"I just called your class teacher to ask," Mother Lu wiped the corners of her mouth. She thought it was disrespectful to have something on the lips when talking to others: "Your English has deteriorated and you only got fifth grade. This is

Your strengths."

"There was a question that I originally chose correctly, but later I corrected it and made it wrong." Lu Manman had just clamped a piece of lion's head when it accidentally fell down.

Mother Lu took a deep breath and said, "This shows that you are not sure about this knowledge point, otherwise why would you want to change it. Even if you get it right, it is meaningless. Have you thought about the division of arts and sciences next semester?"

"I..." Lu Manman glanced at her mother. She wanted to study liberal arts and she liked history very much.

However, before she could speak, Mother Lu had already said to herself: "Your father and your uncle are both doctors. You should know that our family has a wide network of contacts in the hospital. If you study medicine, you will join your uncle's hospital in the future."

The hospital should be fine."

"I know." Lu Manman responded without any expectations: "I can study science."

Licheng.

Qi Xueer had eaten and drank enough, and lay carelessly on the sofa, with a bottle of Coke just taken out of the freezer.

"You also told me how you did in the exam this time!" Qi's mother sat next to Qi Xueer, opened the Coke and took a sip.

"Mom, can't you get a new bottle for yourself! Oh, that's it. It's not easy for me to get into high school!"

"I bought them all. I can drink whatever I want." Qi's mother didn't have any requirements for Qi Xueer's grades: "You won't be last at the bottom again, right? If you ask me, you can go to a medical school and I'll look for you in the future.

Second aunt, take it to your second uncle’s hospital."

"Am I a nurse?" Qi Xueer shook her head and stepped on the sofa with her bare feet. She could be said to be very domineering: "I'm afraid that I will make the patient's condition worse!"

"Then what are you going to do in the future? Set up a stall like your mother and me!" Qi's mother rented a shop in front of the primary school, mainly selling stationery and small gifts, and also selling fried skewers part-time.

"That's great!" Qi Xueer became happy: "The potatoes and hams that are fried every day are not sold out, so I will eat them all! If it doesn't work, I will be a teacher like my dad!"

"It's just you." Qi's father came out wearing a sweatshirt, holding it in his hand and looking at it. "Nowadays, to be a teacher, you need a bachelor's degree and a teacher qualification certificate! If you can take over my mantle, hehe, your father and I will

I’m satisfied! My real daughter, if you are admitted to college, I will treat you to a hundred tables of flowing water!"

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Qi's mother poked Qi's father's arm with her finger: "One hundred tables, you have a lot of money! But if she can really get into college, I will have the nerve to invite my second sister."

At night, Qi Xueer lay in bed and listened to music.

She was listening to "Chengdu" by Luo Chen, and she had always been curious about what this city with pandas and hot pot was like.

It is definitely more developed than their small town.

But big cities don't seem to be that nice. For example, her cousin who lives in a big city doesn't seem happy when they meet every Spring Festival.

If, Qi Xueer holds her mobile phone and fantasizes, "If I can get into college, I must go to a big city! Qi Xueer, you can do it!"

Qi Xueer was drowsy in her sleep but was woken up by her mother.

She was about to complain, but found that her father, who used to have a playful and smiling face, now also had a serious face.

Something happened.

Lu Manman fell asleep.

She heard her parents arguing.

"I have a major surgery in a few days, so I can't go back with you."

"Yes, I am the chief surgeon, no one can replace me."

"You can take Manman back with you. Her grandmother has always liked her very much."

grandmother?

Lu Manman suddenly sat upright, and the old man's kind face immediately appeared in her mind.

As for her busy father, Lu Manman did not complain, in fact she was very proud.

Her father is very responsible and serious in his profession. Although he often forgets about his family, the patient always needs his father more than her.

Hearing the footsteps approaching, Lu Manman quickly pretended to be asleep, not wanting to worry his parents.

"Manman." Mother Lu's voice was filled with rare fatigue and sadness: "Mom wants to tell you something."

Lu Manman slowly opened his eyes and saw his mother's red eyes.

"Your grandma, she just passed away." Mother Lu paused, not knowing whether to comfort Lu Manman or herself: "When people reach this age, death is always unexpected."

Mother and daughter's hands were folded together across the quilt.

"You go to sleep first and come back with me tomorrow."

There was no airport in Licheng. Lu Manman came out of the airport and followed his mother on the train back home.

It's a pity that my mother bought a sleeper berth. She really wanted to experience the scene of people chatting from all over the hard-seat carriage. It must be very lively.

"Dad," Qi Xueer followed her father. Her mother went to attend to the funeral. "Did the second aunt come by plane?"

"Absolutely." Qi's father stood up straight in an instant and began to greet the guests who came.

"I've never flown on an airplane." Qi Xueer raised her head and glanced at the sky, as if she saw herself flying in the air.

My second aunt's family came in the afternoon.

Lu Manman had to trot to keep up with his mother's pace.

For some reason, Lu Manman felt that her mother at this moment was so real and vivid. She was not the person who, in front of the rich wife, only cared about whether her caloric intake exceeded the standard every day.

Licheng is unfamiliar to Lu Manman. She will only come back during the Spring Festival.

There are not many people on the street, except for the elderly, children and students, and very few young adults.

The smell of the sea was everywhere in the streets and alleys, which made Lu Manman feel a strange sense of intimacy.

Did your mother yell like that girl on the street when she was a child?

Everything here was better than the big city where she was, making her feel more comfortable.

Everything seems to have slowed down.

"Hurry up!" Mother Lu urged: "If it's any later, your grandma will be cremated!"

When they arrived, it was still a step too late.

Mother Lu hugged the urn and cried.

Everyone else is very restrained.

"Grandma is 82 years old this year, so she is mourning."

This was news that Lu Manman overheard from relatives she didn't know.

She was very sad and had to hold back her tears.

From now on, will dad, mom, and she all become little boxes?

No matter you are a rich man or a beggar, you have all become a box. This is the equality of all living beings.

Qi Xueer saw her cousin.

Sure enough, her face was still drooping. She seemed to have forgotten who was the person who just cried in front of her grandma's body with runny nose.

night.

Lu Manman and Qi Xueer just officially started talking.

"There will be a vigil tonight." Qi Xueer sat next to Lu Manman: "You can sleep for a while now."

Lu Manman raised her head and realized that this person's name was Qi Xueer. She was her cousin who was two months and nine days older than her. She was also the cousin she thought was the most beautiful.

"Thanks."

Qi Xueer glanced at her knees and was shocked: "What are you doing?"

"Do the questions." Lu Manman continued to work on the questions, and she put the test paper on her knees.

"Oh my god." Qi Xueer felt like she was shocked: "Are all the people in your big city so diligent? You usually have a lot of homework, right? How many people in your school can go to college every year?"

Faced with Qi Xueer's barrage of questions, Lu Manman patiently answered: "There are people in the class who work as hard as me. There are not many homeworks. Our school has a 100% undergraduate rate."

"Awesome!" Qi Xueer gave a thumbs up: "Manman, do you have any plans for the summer vacation?"

"Plan?" Lu Manman found that she had never thought about this problem. According to her mother's plan, she would go to cram school in two days. But now this matter should be put on hold. "I have no plan."

"Oh my God," Qi Xueer leaned closer: "You work so hard on your homework, aren't you going to travel just to finish it?"

"Xue'er," Qi's father came over: "Your mother asked you to come over."

"Uncle." Lu Manman quickly stood up.
To be continued...