Tacitus in love, Plato in trap

Chapter 19 Past, Present

"Wow! What a tall building! It's over six floors!"

"...Your standards for 'tall buildings' are really low—by the way, didn't you come here for an internship before?"

"Wow! A cafeteria where food is served on iron plates by swiping a meal card! This is the real cafeteria! I miss it so much!"

"...Don't tell Auntie Zhou this, or she won't make a meal for you after we move back to the court."

"Wow! There are so many people! And there are so many beautiful young ladies!"

"...The Criminal Tribunal, the Administrative Tribunal, and the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Civil Tribunals. There are many judges, clerks, and non-staff members in these business courts alone! And there are always many girls who study liberal arts and law, so—— Wait, are you interested in them?!"

"Wow! The equipment looks similar to our courtroom, but the key points are more advanced than ours! It's amazing!"

"...This is also a district court after all, it's our own court that has dispatched courts!"

"Wow! Everyone, including the judge, works in the same office!"

"...No way, the space in this hospital is already very tight. It is already very good to let the administrative court lend us their meeting room, not to mention that we moved in more than a week earlier due to an emergency—— By the way, Fang Quan, can you stop being surprised? Didn’t you just move to this hospital to work, do you want to feel emotional when you see everything?!”

"Wow! It's Yuan Yan!"

Hearing Fang Quan's exclamation, everyone in the first-class court put down their tidying up work and looked at the door of the temporary office of the meeting room.

"Hey, are you busy?" The guy named Yuan Yan waved his hand and walked into the crowd very naturally, "If you need anything else, just tell me, as long as it is within our ability, our administrative court will try our best to solve it." Satisfy everyone!"

"Oh, Xiao Yuan, you are so polite." Hearing what he said, the chief judge immediately laughed like a flower, "We have been bothering you people in the administrative court these days, so why bother you any more? ? We really are..."

"Ah, yes, President," Yi Zhongming leaned forward with a blank expression, and stood in front of Yuan Yan—this man was almost the same as when he participated in the civil servant training four years ago, even now, he He still looks like a student, the only difference is that he has changed from a clerk of the trial court to a clerk of the administrative court—"Our telephone—"

"It's easy to handle, I'll figure it out later." Yuan Yan responded enthusiastically, "Judge Yi, don't force yourself too much. Even though you have encountered such a terrible thing, you still stick to your post with injuries. If you don’t get an excellent at the end of the year, you won’t be able to justify it!”

"Don't argue with me there, we have been here for a year, don't say 'you'!" Yi Zhongming curled his lips unhappily, "I heard that on Saturdays and Sundays when I rest, you are the one who helped us The people in the family have done the heavy lifting of moving."

...and also became so familiar with everyone including Fang Quan in an instant.

"Ah, ah, since our administrative court provides the venue, we have to do our best to provide the service - after all, in that matter, there is only Xiao Fang left in your court, isn't it?" Yuan Yuan seemed to have suddenly realized Yan patted his head, turned to Fang Quan on the side, and put his arm on his shoulder, "By the way, let me tell you what I'm here for, I'm here to find Xiao Fang! During the lunch break later, you want Don't go back and pack your things, I'll help you too!"

"Oh, that's great, I'm thinking about it! Thank you Brother Yan!"

Fang Quan's smile was as bright as a sunflower.It's really annoying.

"what's the situation?"

After the person surnamed Yuan left, Yi Zhongming asked Fang Quan pretending to be calm.

"Oh, brother Yan heard that I had no place to go when he helped us move on the weekend, so he said that I could go to his rented house for a while. So I moved all my things to him. Within today It should be all sorted out."

"Huh?" Suppressing his anger, Yi Zhongming tried his best to speak in a calm tone, "You just agreed so casually to live in the house of someone you just met for two days?"

"I only know you for two days!" Fang Quan puffed up his cheeks, "When I was an intern in the trial court, he was a clerk there, so judging from the time span, I have known him for more than two years , much longer than yours!"

"put--"

"Okay, I think it's almost done. According to this progress, we can officially start work in the afternoon." The chief judge clapped his hands and said to everyone, "Then let's go to eat first! ——The courtyard is not like a court. Here, if you go late, you won’t have anything to eat.”

"Then I'll go directly to Brother Yan's house after lunch." Fang Quan turned around and confirmed the itinerary with him again, in case Yi Zhongming didn't hear the conversation just now.

"Go, go, go!" Regarding his irritability, Yi Zhongming didn't even bother to hide it now, "Don't come back to the court in the afternoon!"

Fang Quan rolled his eyes at Yi Zhongming, and rushed to the cafeteria as if flying - alas, he was still a kid who just came out of school.

So the young people of today...

Shaking his head like an old man, Yi Zhongming put his hands behind his back and walked out of the big simple apartment behind the judge and the others.Yi Zhongming, who was originally happy because it was more convenient to approve cases and go home after moving to this court, is now feeling very upset.

A few days ago, I finally felt that the distance between my heart and soul was a little closer because of that incident. Now I just ran to live with that guy surnamed Yuan casually. What is Fang Quan thinking about every day? ? !

... It is said that three years old is a generation, so the difference between myself and Fang Quan is more than two generations, so this is the generation gap... Is it?

The set meal served in the cafeteria today has three dishes: fried lettuce leaves, fried lettuce shreds, and minced meat tofu that looks like vomit. There is no other choice.Yi Zhongming took the plate from his aunt with a detached attitude, sat in the corner, and "enjoyed" his "lunch".

Maybe the other party didn't have any other intentions at the beginning, and everything was actually just a mistake?Well, it's very possible, that kid, that kid has always been a nice person, it's just a matter of temperament to say such heartwarming words, but I...

So, for the kiss that should have fallen on Fang Quan's lips, the feeling of regret and gratitude that had been entangled in his heart for several days became more and more intense at this moment.

Throwing the untouched dinner plate to the cleaning lady, Yi Zhongming opened the curtain and walked out of the cafeteria.Before returning to the office, he would like to visit the small garden of the hospital.

buzzing~~

The mobile phone in his pocket seemed to have spotted this point and vibrated happily.Glancing at the contact, Yi Zhongming frowned, but before the call was about to hang up, he decided to press the answer button.

"Aloha Xiao Ming~~ I heard that you have moved here? Oh, yes, after all, your family has become like that, so you can't continue to work there—by the way, I'm going to visit you this afternoon Executive Bureau, so how about having a meal together after work? I am also very worried about your head injury~~"

... Just listening to his voice can add fuel to the fire - this guy surnamed Qian is indeed a talent.

Yi Zhongming took the phone from his ear without thinking, and pressed the red button to hang up.However, just as he was about to put the phone back in his pocket, it vibrated crazily again.

"Ah, hang up the phone or something, Xiao Ming, you are too fickle~~" After pressing the answer button again, Yi Zhongming regretted it again, "I know the rules, and I am definitely not here to inquire about the case or intercede with you for dinner. Yes, I just wanted to be a friend—”

"The two of us haven't been 'friends' for a long time, have we?" Yi Zhongming said coldly.

"Oh, Xiao Ming is really ruthless—no, is this already unfeeling?—But I still like Xiao Ming even if he is like this~~ (Yi Zhongming unconsciously takes the phone away) Could it be that Did Xiao Fang make you unhappy?"

"Fang Quan—hey, I said it was just on the phone, so you're just trying to trick me?"

"What's the matter! Anyway, it's not about work~~" Qian Kun on the other end of the phone smiled lightly, "Oh, did I hit the mark?"

"Last name! Money! Of!"

"Let me guess," Qian Kun said cheerfully, ignoring Yi Zhongming who was gnashing his teeth on the other end of the phone, "Is it because you, Xiao Ming, are imposing your own ideas on others again?"

"!!! It has nothing to do with you at all!" Yi Zhongming yelled at the phone, which caused several people walking in the garden to cast strange glances at him, "If it weren't for what you said at the beginning If so, Fang Quan and I can keep—”

"Really? Are you sure you can keep the relationship between the judge and the clerk?" Qian Kun on the other end of the phone slowed down meaningfully, "Speaking of which, they really look alike."

"Who?"

"Xiao Fang and your ex-boyfriend, elementary school boy~~ I originally told Xiao Fang about you with a playful attitude just because of this, but..." Qian Kun sighed very displeasedly, "Your taste is really terribly stubborn..."

Yi Zhongming was silent for a while, and then slowly said, "Qian Kun."

"Huh? After so many years, Xiao Ming actually called me by my full name outside the court!"

"Some things, even you, don't necessarily know everything."

"Huh? Wait, Xiao Ming, what do you want to say? And tonight—"

After hanging up the phone, Yi Zhongming stuffed the phone back into his pocket and hurried to the office.

Yes, it was precisely because the person surnamed Qian didn't know anything, that's why he made that kind of joke with Fang Quan, and the matter developed step by step to the present situation.

...No, can't blame that guy entirely.In the final analysis, everything is actually your fault.

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If calculated according to Fang Quan's method, Yi Zhongming has known this kid for more than 20 years.

At that time, Sanshui was not as prosperous as it is now, and the old street not far from my home was still there. There was a row of small shops on this street, and there was a non-staple food shop called "Fangfang Fushi".When he was in elementary school, he always stopped here on his way home to buy some snacks such as spicy sticks and gummy candies from the kind owner couple.

I don't know when, another kid running around on the ground has been added to the store. Yi Zhongming didn't remember his name. He was also young and only remembered that he had another kid who could be funny after shopping. playmates.

Since he was studying in a key school, Yi Zhongming had to stay in school until after seven o'clock every day after he entered junior high school. I don't go home anymore, so even if I go back, I will face a dark and empty house, so he often chooses to wander around on a bicycle after school.It is said to be wandering around, but in fact, there are often fixed places to go: there is an alley behind the old street, which is wide and narrow enough for only one person to pass through. Take a peek inside.

The owner of the non-staple food store always has dinner between 07:30 and [-] o'clock. The family of three (later turned into four) sits at the dining table in the inner room, watching TV and chatting about the trivial things in life. Yi Zhongming will always feel fascinated by the warm scenes. Just watch it every few days, and all the troubles about study, classmates, family, etc. will disappear in an instant.

It’s one thing to feel the wonderful atmosphere, and it’s also a pleasure to see the kid who grows up like fermented dough—he’s in elementary school now, and he refuses to take off the red scarf around his neck even when he’s eating. However, he seems to be very casual about his studies. Even if he fails the exam, he just sniffs his nose with a smile and forgets his parents' scolding.

... This is children, their smiles can heal all pain, their growth can give people infinite surprises, and their words can bring infinite joy to the world.Yi Zhongming thinks that he likes children, if he looks at children, he may not have to face the unpleasant things brought about by his elders and peers.

Then be a teacher!Yi Zhongming thinks this way, a teacher in elementary school or kindergarten is very good.So after being promoted to a key high school without any suspense, he aimed at several well-known normal colleges across the country and studied hard.The evening self-study in high school was postponed until later, usually at 09:30 in the evening, so he could no longer go to sneak/peek at the life of the owner of the non-staple food store like he did in junior high school, but this does not mean Focusing on Yi Zhongming/I don't remember them in my heart, every time he goes to and from school, he will deliberately pass by there, trying to grasp their life dynamics.

It was a night in the late autumn of the third year of high school. Yi Zhongming's results in the latest city-wide mock exam were not particularly satisfactory. Even if the current situation was more than enough to apply for key normal colleges, he felt a little uncomfortable after being criticized by the teacher.After skipping the evening self-study, he rode his bicycle and wandered around. Before he knew it, he returned to the familiar alley and stopped at the familiar window. very nice.Through the crack of the window, he peeked inside, nothing had changed, the family of four still happily sat around the dining table watching TV and chatting as in memory, but Yi Zhongming's focus had changed.

Is the boy sitting at the dining table the same as the little boy before?

Generally speaking, boys' puberty will come later than girls, but in him, Yi Zhongming can already see the prelude to his youth, his voice gradually became deeper, and his face began to take shape The more obvious outline—growth is really a cruel and beautiful thing, but Yi Zhongming couldn't take his eyes off the "monster" who had grown to the point where he almost didn't know him until he left the dining table.

Unbelievable, yet subtly touching.

Ah, sure enough, the growth of a child is...

... No, his sister next to him is obviously an innocent young girl, why is he not interested at all?

Probably because I have known that kid for a longer time...?

Are you kidding me, I have known that little girl for more than five years, okay?Five years is not too short, okay?And to say that I have known that couple for a longer time, even if I like children, I should be a little distracted/focused when I see them this time, okay!

So why?

...Could it be that, for so many years, I have actually been looking at that kid alone?

!!!

This is really an incredible conclusion!

Cold sweat dripped from his back, and his breathing became short of breath.

No, no, this is definitely not the case, I am just spying on the daily life of a happy family to a child with a distinctive personality in his family——

--and many more!

Speaking of which, "peeping" at other people's family life seems to be something that is not worthy of praise...

Squatting down against the wall, Yi Zhongming covered his mouth tightly to prevent himself from screaming.

For a long time, my vision was only studying and peeping at that family person, that child. Now I look at myself from the perspective of society, and I am simply a perverted and heinous sinner!

sin……?

No, I am already such a bad person, but I can still go to school, eat and sleep normally, without JC running to the school to arrest him, can it be said that my behavior is actually allowed by the society? ?

So is the standard for the establishment of "crime" based on one's own inner judgment, or is it based on the judgment of society's outside world?

...I always thought that common sense and virtue are equivalent to the order of this social operation, but now it seems that this is not the case-the thing that makes up the "order of social operation", the law, actually exists beyond common sense and virtue s things.

Since then, he has never peeked into the private life of the owner of the non-staple food store. If he had that time, he would go to the library to borrow law-related books to study.The ambition of the college entrance examination has also changed accordingly, from the teacher's class to the law major-in this case, it is a bit mysterious for him to go to the law major of a good university with his usual grades.

But fortunately, his score in the college entrance examination into the legal major of Sanshui Politics and Law is quite stable.Dozens of other people became his classmates with their own goals: some, like Fang Quan, longed for justice; some, like Qian Kun, purely out of interest; He got a good job after graduation; he was the only one who was looking for a basis for his actions—as for whether it was a qualitative basis or an excuse, he himself didn't understand the ambiguous boundary.

Time flies, and many, many things happened after that. During his study and life, Yi Zhongming also gained a lot of new understanding of the law. Being entangled in affairs and not going home often made his concern for the owner of the non-staple food store gradually change. Dan, he basically forgot the original purpose of studying law, so when he returned home during the winter vacation in his senior year, he was only slightly surprised to see that the non-staple food store changed hands for a few days, and then he devoted himself to the graduation thesis. Among them.

But some hurdles are destined to be difficult to overcome.

During his second year of graduate school, he was invited to participate in the training of the undergraduate debate team. There, he saw a third-year junior who was very similar to that kid. The boss's son is quite similar.The memory of his youth was awakened, and he began to have frequent contact with this junior, and they had a relationship after drinking muddleheadedly at a celebration banquet.Coincidentally, the junior was originally a double, so the two started dating naturally.However, the relationship between the two was not so smooth. In Qian Kun's words, Yi Zhongming "often imposes his personal ideas on each other", so more than a year later, when both of them ushered in the graduation season, They broke up naturally.

……what else can we do?After all, he had some impure motives, so he had no right to blame others.

Then, more than three months ago, Fang Quan, the true self of the owner of the non-staple food shop, appeared in front of him.Apart from being taller and thinner than before, the child's appearance has not changed much.As a clerk, he gets along with him day and night. Even after more than ten years, Yi Zhongming's memory and feelings have gradually recovered.

It is natural for people to pay more attention, expect more, and even demand more from people they know. However, Yi Zhongming's "more" is also reflected in a very bad aspect-more desire.Perhaps his Fang Quan's thoughts were not so nasty, but the accumulation of feelings, the pressure of work, the demands of the body, and even the emotions that could not be vented on the previous double boyfriend were all intertwined, and they all became lower/half/body reaction.The physical contact between men and colleagues could not satisfy him at all, and Fang Quan's dullness in work even inspired his urge to violently violate/offend him to some extent.

So he actually did it that day.

Thankfully it didn't work out.

In any case, it is very unwise and irrational to do this to an old neighbor of more than ten years.After listening to Fang Quan's speech of not accepting his apology and using himself as a negative example, Yi Zhongming decided to calm down completely and observe this young man who has grown into an excellent law student.The result still disappointed him. Young people are young people, and their thinking is too naive.

Of course, I am not mature enough.After all, in the eyes of older people, he is just a young man.Because you are young, you will still be full of vigor and confusion.Whenever this kind of time comes, Fang Quan can use a more childish brain circuit, intentionally or unintentionally, and speak some words of encouragement based on facts, which makes him quite heartwarming.

...Ah, yes, this feeling is the same as standing at the window and spying on the owner of the non-staple food shop for dinner, warm and healing.Even though he no longer wants to touch the other party as urgently as before, he still feels that he is more spiritually attached to Fang Quan.

Therefore, the relationship between him and Fang Quan really only needs to be maintained to this extent...

... or not?

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

While going upstairs, Yi Zhongming whispered unhappily.If he could smoke, smoking three or four packs of cigarettes would probably ease his mood, but he didn't know how to relieve it, it just made the wound on his head more itchy.Taking off the hat, Yi Zhongming wanted to scratch it to his heart's content, but he thought of the doctor's order, so he obediently put the hat back on.

"Tsk! Damn! Damn!! Damn!!!"

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"...Later, the judge couldn't stand the work in the Civil Court, so she was transferred to the logistics department, but she still couldn't get out of the shadow of the pile of divorce cases/cases she had handled, which is why our noon The fruit is often pears—Fang Quan, are you listening? Hey, hello! Fang Quan?"

"Ah, what?"

Fang Quan turned around as if waking up from a dream, with one hand still on his right cheek.Yuan Yan closed his eyes and sighed.

"... Nothing. But you, what are you thinking?"

"Ah, me?" Fang Quan's face was flushed with a punch, "What... nothing..."

"Really? You will definitely be scolded by the judge for looking like this during the court session!" Yuan Yan adjusted his glasses with a smile, "Is everything cleaned up? It's almost time to go back to work."

"Ah, um..."

"Then I'll wait for you outside the door."

Yuan Yan turned around and walked towards the entrance, his warm smile was replaced by a blank expression.