I left the bar early and went straight to Huang Li’s apartment.
She was wearing home clothes when she opened the door, holding half a cucumber in her hand: "We are a rare visitor." She turned sideways to let me in.
"Tomorrow I am going to the Shuangyang Mountains to look for Cynomorium cynomorium." I got straight to the point as soon as I entered the door.
I came to Huang Li just to get some information about Cynomorium Cynomorium from her.
"Have you had another side effect?" She turned around and looked at my face carefully.
Huang Li took out a document and spread it out on the coffee table. "Cynomorium cynomorium likes shade, and often grows together with gallbladder. I'll go with you this time."
"It's too dangerous, not to mention venomous snakes and beasts, just the complicated terrain, even the local hunters have to take a detour." I've only encountered peaks weighing more than ten kilograms on the outside.
Huang Li suddenly stood up and sat astride my lap, her hands naturally wrapped around my neck: "Aren't you protecting me?"
"Do you know how dangerous this is? The Shuangyang Mountains is not a place for outings. " I also took the risk.
"So you need me. Besides me, who else can identify the real Cynomorium cynomorium among a dozen similar poisonous weeds?" Huang Li said her advantages.
I was silent for a moment. She was right. Only Huang Li knew what Cynomorium cynomorium looked like.
“I’ll go to Xiaoyu’s hometown tomorrow. You have to find a reason for yourself.” My reason was to go back to visit relatives.
After leaving Huang Li's apartment, I went to an outdoor equipment store in the city.
"Going into the mountains?" The shop owner is a dark-skinned middle-aged man.
His eyes lit up as soon as he heard my purpose, "That's a dangerous place."
He started to take things from the shelves without me saying anything else: reinforced hiking boots, anti-scratch jackets and pants, a roll of high-strength paracord, and a hunting knife with thick back teeth.
He placed things on the counter one by one, as if setting out a ceremony for an expedition. "This is Gobo's brand. The blade is hard and easy to use.
I inspected each item silently.
“That’s it.” I ordered all the equipment and took out my phone.
The boss scanned the QR code and said, "Okay, I wish you a smooth return."
He collected the money, stuffed the equipment into a large mountaineering bag by category, and handed it to me.
In the early morning of the next day, before it was bright, I drove the BYD to Huang Li's downstairs.
She was already waiting by the roadside with a hiking bag beside her.
Lin Xiaoyu, who was sitting in the passenger seat, was a little surprised, "Why are you here? Isn't school on vacation yet?"
Huang Li found an excuse: "I'm on annual leave. I've heard that you have rich medicinal materials resources, so I just took this opportunity to find some samples and go back for research."
Lin Xiaoyu was also dubious and didn't ask any more questions.
Half a day later, the car stopped at the door of Lin Xiaoyu’s hometown.
Mother Lin was drying herbs in the courtyard. When she saw us coming in, she quickly wiped her hands on her apron and came over to greet us.
"Xiaoyu is back?" She smiled and took her daughter's hand.
His eyes looked past us toward the door, "Where is Xiaoqing? Why didn't you come back with us?"
Lin Xiaoyu held her mother's arm: "Xiaoqing has just started school and is busy with her homework. , you have to study harder."
Mother Lin nodded, her eyes fell on Huang Li: "This is...?"
"Mom, this is Teacher Huang Li." Lin Xiaoyu quickly introduced.
"Xiaoqing was able to successfully enter the medical university, thanks to Teacher Huang's help."
Mother Lin suddenly became enthusiastic and wiped her hands on her apron: "It's Teacher Huang! Please sit down in the room and I'll pour you tea."
Mother Lin was about to lead us into the room when she suddenly remembered something and sighed: "Look at my memory, I'm just happy for it. The old man is so happy." The old problem recurred in the past two days, and my waist hurt so much that I couldn't walk." Huang Li stopped when she heard this and said, "Uncle is not feeling well? I have learned some acupuncture, do you want me to see it?"
Mrs. Lin was overjoyed and took us into the back room quickly.
Father Lin was leaning on the bedside. Huang Li asked about the symptoms carefully, and then took out a needle box from the cloth bag she carried with her.
"Uncle, please relax, I will try the needle at Yaoyangguan point first."
Father Lin frowned at first, but after a while his brows relaxed: "After the soreness and swelling passed, I felt much relieved."
Huang Li gave a few more injections, and beads of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead.
About half an hour later, when the needle was started, Lin’s father could already sit up on his own: "Teacher Huang’s craftsmanship is really amazing!"
It was impossible to go into the mountain due to the dark weather today.
Mother Lin brought hot tea, her face full of gratitude: "Teacher Huang, I really don't know how to thank you."
"It's just a little effort." Huang Li smiled and put away the needle bag.
"I would also like you to tell us the way into the mountain."
While they were talking, I walked alone to the stone mill in the corner of the courtyard.
Father Lin was able to walk around now: "We don't have much else here, but there are a lot of herbs. In the past, my grandfather's generation even saw Ganoderma lucidum as big as a palm!"
Mother Lin's eyes flickered between me and Xiao Yu, and she added softly: "It's great to see you guys come back together."
I subconsciously looked at Xiao Yu, and stretched out my hand to gently hold her shoulders.
"Auntie, I also want to spend more time with Xiaoyu when I come back this time." I said it naturally, as if we were still a close couple.
Mother Lin smiled so much that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes stretched out: "Okay, okay, don't look at it. I'm going to prepare dinner, and you guys have a good rest."
After she turned around and entered the kitchen, we exchanged a look that meant that the scene had to go on.
During dinner, Mother Lin specially arranged for me to sit next to Xiao Yu.
When setting out the dishes, they always give them to me first and then to Xiao Yu, as if to hint at something.
Huang Li sat opposite, quietly observing every subtle interaction between us.
"I heard that your medical school coursework is very heavy?" Father Lin asked Huang Li, trying to find a topic.
Huang Li withdrew her eyes from Xiao Yu and me, and turned to Father Lin: "It's really not easy. But Xiaoqing's sister is very hardworking and will definitely be able to keep up."
After dinner, Xiao Yu helped her mother clear away the dishes, while Father Lin and I checked the equipment to be brought tomorrow in the yard.
"Shuangyang Mountains have changed a lot in recent years." Father Lin squatted aside and watched me organize my backpack.
"Most of the previous trails were covered by vegetation. It's easy to get lost if there is no familiar person to guide you."
I nodded and rolled up the rope carefully: "We plan to go up the mountain from the east side. I heard that we can also find some marks left by old hunters there."
Father Lin hesitated before he spoke: "Be careful."
As night fell, the temperature in the mountain dropped quickly. Xiaoyu and I were arranged in the same room. This was Mother Lin's special arrangement.
"I sleep on the floor." I said softly and took out the spare bedding from the cabinet.
Xiaoyu stood by the window: "My mother seems really happy."
"When the time is right, we will slowly explain it to her."
She turned around and said to me: "Thank you for cooperating with me in acting."
There is only one step between us, but it seems like there is an entire galaxy separated by it.
What was once a close relationship is now only a deliberate alienation and a last resort disguise.
Late at night, I was lying on the floor and heard Xiaoyu tossing and turning on the bed.
“Can’t sleep?” I asked softly.
“How about you go to bed and sleep?” Lin Xiaoyu said softly
The next morning, we said goodbye in the eyes of Mother Lin’s gratification.
Huang Li was already carrying a professional mountaineering bag and holding a map in her hand.
"It takes about two hours from here to the bottom of the mountain." She pointed to a winding line on the map.
When I turned to leave, I looked back. Mother Lin was still standing at the door, waving to us.
At that moment, I suddenly realized that this performance was more difficult than we expected.
Because we are not only deceiving her mother, but also deceiving our own hearts.