Just after an autumn wind passed, a cold rain came again. The next morning, the chill penetrated through the cracks in the window frames, but disappeared in the warm air inside the house.
Jason got out of the soft and comfortable quilt, stretched out his hand to tuck his messy, bird's nest-like hair, stood by the bed, stretched out, and opened the window.
The moment the cold air came in, he shivered, and then quickly closed the window gap a little smaller.
He pulled on his slippers, opened the door, and walked towards the public water room at the end of the corridor without turning back and closing the door.
The water room is about the size of two bedrooms. There are four rows of faucets in the middle, and faucets are all hung on the walls. At this time, the water room is full of children. Some are washing their faces, and some are wiping their faces after washing.
Others just hold water cups to get hot water.
Jason yawned and saw a faucet at hand. He walked over, turned on the faucet, washed his face twice with cold water, then walked to the cabinet at the end of the water room and took out his toothbrush.
Cup and toothbrush for washing up.
The two children next to them brushed their toothbrushes and filled their mouths with foam. They laughed and sprayed bubbles at each other. Most of them were very curious about brushing their teeth. In particular, the toothpaste purchased by Wanshiwu was very foamy. After brushing, they could almost fake it.
Santa Claus.
After washing up, Jason went back to the house to change clothes, then walked around the Wanshiwu office and found that everything was as usual here.
The children were like fish swimming one after another, passing through corals and seaweeds. The strong wind outside the window had no effect on them. Some of them were even sweating from running back and forth.
At this time, the rosiness on their faces and the hope in their eyes had never appeared before.
After a while, Jason took the younger children to the day care center and handed them over to the older girls there. Then he went to the school downstairs to urge other children to read.
After finishing his work in the building, he left the building, got on a bicycle, and rushed towards the Bingshan Restaurant.
As soon as the wind chime rang, the waiter hurried up and took Jason to the office upstairs in the restaurant.
In addition to Cobot, there were several children there, the same little beggars that Cobot had rescued before.
They were still very thin, but their complexions and physical condition had improved a lot. At this time, they were talking in low voices.
Cobot and Jason led them out. Jason waved to them and said, "Follow me. We have two children there. They paid extra money to get a better house in the second phase, and their rooms are free."
Now, you can stay here first and come back after your place is renovated..."
The children were a little scared, but Cobot got on the bus first. They obviously trusted the leader very much, so they pushed and shoved them to get on the bus.
After sending the children to the Everything House where Jason was, Cobot did not get in the car when he came out of the building, but planned to take a walk around the East End.
Go around the building of Phase 1 and Phase 2, and behind it is the construction site of Phase 3 and Phase 4. At this time, the building is almost half completed, and further forward, you will find the Phase 5 and Phase 6 project not far from Bingshan Restaurant.
One construction site after another springs up from the ground like bamboo shoots, and tall buildings rise from the ground. Nothing is more shocking than this.
Cobot had not read many books, but he could still feel the majesty of the changing times, the roar of huge machines, like the rolling wheels of history, and the bigger and taller buildings, just like the ever-climbing upwards of human society.
branch.
After returning to the Iceberg Restaurant, he drove alone to the North District. Compared with the East District where there were many projects, it seemed very quiet, or a little lifeless.
The car was driving very slowly, so Cobot could see from the car window that in the windows of the manor, many heads of the twelve families were intently admiring the collections they had just acquired.
Beautiful oil paintings, exquisite sculptures, and antiques full of history. But they stood on the bridge and looked at the scenery, and the people standing upstairs also looked at them.
Cobot felt that these heads of the twelve families were like antiques left over from the previous era, carrying the hazy and hazy atmosphere of the previous century, exquisite and fragile.
The strongest barriers that fought against the storms of the last century are vulnerable to the roar of the machines of the new era. If they can wake up early, they may still be able to occupy a place in the new era, but if they are unwilling to do so, then the museum is
Their best destination.
The car stopped in front of Falcone Manor. When Cobot walked out of the car door, he subconsciously adjusted his tie and stamped his feet. Then he paused, shook his head, and strode into the manor.
inside.
He saw Alberto in the reception room. Cobot walked up to him, shook hands with him and said, "I heard you are engaged? Congratulations, but I still don't know which family the woman is from..."
Alberto shook his head and said: "No, she is not from Gotham. She is a girl from the metropolis that Evans met when he was rehearsing a play. The two of them fell in love, and the godfather did not object."
Cobot raised his eyebrows, as if he had some doubts about the last sentence. Alberto said: "I know that there are rumors that the godfather relies on his wife's natal family to gain power, but in fact, my mother is not a native of Gotham.
, nor does she come from any wealthy family, she is just a fisherman’s little daughter, coming from a small seaside town.”
"You two brothers... I mean, this disease of yours... Well, don't you have any objections?" Cobot asked tactfully. He was actually referring to Alberto and Evans.
Dissociative identity disorder.
Alberto shook his head and said: "I can't understand love, and I have no intention of pursuing true love. I hope that the Falcone family can stand in a wider world and transcend Gotham's rules.
and laws, to gain true glory.”
"When will the engagement ceremony be held?" Cobot asked again.
"In a week, how about choosing the location at the Iceberg Restaurant? By then, all the celebrities in Gotham will gather there, which will be good for your business."
Unexpectedly, Cobot shook his head and said: "I don't want to deal with the Twelve Families now. They are talking about Renaissance and Impressionism. God, do they still remember that they are a gangster family?"
Alberto smiled and said: "People are like this. After obtaining the wealth accumulated for them by violence and bloodshed, they desperately want to get rid of their origins and use various things to prove their nobility."
"You don't have to be bored with them. Maybe soon, you won't see most of them again." Alberto shook his head and said, "Wayne won't wait too long."
As he looked out the window, pieces of red leaves fell, and golden ginkgo leaves covered the altar. On the day of the engagement ceremony, the entire Bingshan Restaurant was covered with colorful fallen leaves, as if to celebrate the newlyweds.
celebrate.
Pairs of shiny leather shoes stepped onto the red carpet, and bosses in suits and ties walked into the brightly lit hall one after another.
Laughter, blessings and music sounded at the same time, poppies as red as blood, golden chandeliers, curtains in deep twilight, all kinds of colors complemented each other.
"...My student, a sincere, honest, and motivated young man, and such a beautiful, dignified, and noble-character girl will make a lifelong agreement with each other today..."
"As Mr. Falcone's teacher, I feel very gratified. Such an outstanding student, a junior worthy of love, a beloved son of God, a believer and a righteous man, should receive loyal love..."
At the front of the hall, Schiller glanced at Evans, then at the future Mrs. Falcone, and then turned his attention to the godfather standing behind Evans.
This was the first time that the old godfather stood behind someone, but he seemed very calm, with some nostalgia in his expression.
Then, Schiller began to pray. He said: "I have been directed by my merciful Heavenly Father to witness the commitment of a new couple here. St. Peter once said..."
Along with some obscure prayers, Evans held his fiancee's hand and turned around, looking at the photographer's lens.
Cobblet, Bruce, Dick, Jason, and many of Evans' classmates all came up and stood in several rows.
With a "click" sound, accompanied by applause and cheers, the photo flew out of the camera and landed on a brown table.
A hand wearing a black leather glove gently touched the surface of the photo with his fingertips. He put down the violin box in his hand, took off the felt hat on his head, and sat on the seat of the train car.
The distant air whistle sounded, white smoke rose, and the red carriage passed through the valley.
"Hello, sir, would you like a cigarette?" The cigarette boy on the train knocked on the door of the carriage. The door slowly opened, revealing an old face. Although the temples were gray, he was not angry or intimidating.
The cigarette boy saw the cigar box in his hand, so he smiled apologetically and was about to leave, but the old man stopped him, handed him a roll of money, and asked in Italian: "Excuse me, when will you arrive?"
stand?"
"Sir, if you are talking about the next stop, there are still ten minutes."
After Yantong finished speaking, he left, and when he arrived at the next station, another person entered the carriage.
Seeing the appearance of the old man opposite, his fingertips trembled slightly, he took off his hat and put it on his chest, and said, "Sir, can I sit here?"
"certainly."
The people on the other side heard that the old man's Italian always had a sinking ending, just like the people of the previous era.
"Do you know when the next stop is?" Italian with a classical accent echoed in the carriage. The man opposite answered, "It will be about twenty minutes later. If it is the terminal station, it may take a few hours.
…”
"It doesn't matter, as long as we can get there."
There was silence in the carriage. The man on the other side glanced at the violin box placed under the table and clenched his fingers.
"Relax kid, God bless you."
The old man opposite lit a cigar, put it in his mouth, and spoke vaguely.
He turned his head towards the window, looking at the scenery that looked like an impressionist oil painting, and quickly backed away from him.
The soft sound of the carriage doors colliding with each other, the noise coming from outside the door, the aroma of leather and cigars in the carriage, the ringing of bells from time to time, the loud greetings of the waiters... everything was just like it was when he was young.
He thought that the legend of these forty years had finally come to an end, and in the smoke of the cigar, he saw the calm and peaceful coast, the fishing boats in the sunset, the beautiful small town girl...
In front of the window of Falcone Manor, Alberto saw the lighthouse of Gotham light up, emitting a misty light, guiding the ship back on another cold rainy night.
The young godfather looked far into the distance, beyond the blurred coastline amid the rain, and saw the distant and beautiful Sicily that the protagonist of the legendary story had told him several times.
This chapter has been completed!