Chapter 803 I would rather be a chicken head than a phoenix tail
Time flies by, and suddenly I look back and it’s the end of another year.
As soon as New Year's Day passed, it was Spring Festival in a blink of an eye. The weather was getting colder and colder, and the northwest wind was blowing on my face like a knife.
Entering winter, Jichun began to run out of coal as usual, and we often heard news that there was another quarrel over coal somewhere.
After autumn, Wang Lidong found connections and got six tons of Jixi coal. He sent out trucks in time to catch up with the National Day, and each family got a share, so there was no need to worry about coal throughout the winter.
On this day, three kids were clamoring to ride a "children's tricycle". This thing is not complicated. Wang Lidong happened to have nothing to do. He hadn't done carpentry work for a long time, and his hands were a little itchy.
I found tools that I hadn't used for a long time, got some red pine wood from the lumber factory, and spent two days making three tricycles with my own hands.
At the front wheel, press the bearing bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, install the pedal, and a brand new wooden tricycle is completed.
The three little guys were scrambling for the first place. Wang Lidong shouted, "What does daddy usually teach you?"
The three bean sprouts immediately lined up in a row. Wang Lidong pushed the eldest boy, and the little guy excitedly sat on the tricycle. He kicked his calves and with a 'plop', he flipped over.
Zhou's mother felt very distressed and stepped forward to help her grandson. Wang Lidong hurriedly called to his mother to stop him. It is normal for children to fall and beat. Don't just go up and help him.
The boss also tried his best and didn't cry. He sat up and helped the tricycle up. After getting on the bus, he didn't use all his strength. The tricycle swayed and moved forward at a turtle speed.
Then I pressed the bearings and pedals on the other two cars. After a while, the living room was full of chickens and dogs, and the bells were ringing. My father-in-law twitched in distress when he saw that his precious purple clay teapot was knocked over by his grandson and fell to the ground in two pieces.
corner of mouth.
"Go play outside," Wang Lidong quickly pushed the three monkeys into the small courtyard.
My mother-in-law and my mother-in-law were not worried and followed me out together.
The father-in-law waited for Wang Lidong to sweep away the debris on the floor, then told him to sit down, "Are you going to hang out like this until graduation?"
Within a few days of his freshman year, my son-in-law completely let himself go, did not concentrate on his studies, and often missed classes. The teacher in charge turned a blind eye because of his reputation and his status as the number one scholar.
This has caused dissatisfaction among many teachers and students.
Fortunately, my son-in-law was very upbeat, and every time he took the final exam, his grades were all perfect. Students ultimately relied on their grades, and "scores" were the last word, so the dissatisfied discussions gradually subsided.
Wang Lidong smoked a cigarette and said, "Dad, I have published several books in the past year or so. How can I call it a fool's errand?"
"I'm not doing my job properly." My father-in-law took a puff of cigarette, "I like writing novels so much. I should have majored in Sihai Literature or Chinese Language as my first choice."
"I didn't even drop out of the professional courses." Wang Lidong took a puff of cigarette, "Isn't it true that private companies are not allowed to open factories now? When the country is liberalized, I will open a machinery manufacturing factory. Applying what I have learned is the best way to study.
method."
My father-in-law was surprised, "After graduation, are you going to start a business?"
"Our country is in desperate need of development. In one word, it is 'poor'. Dad, you are planning to research new pig breeds, but it has been almost a year since you applied for funding, and it has not been approved yet. It is better to rely on yourself than to rely on others. If
You have money, why don't you lower yourself and ask grandpa to tell grandma to throw away three melons and two dates?"
“Isn’t this the integration of industry, academia and research by Lao Mo?”
"In the late 1950s, Xiaozhi's universities began to combine industry, academia and research. Since the 1960s, Xiaozhi's economy has developed rapidly." Wang Lidong flicked the ashes of his cigarette, "Mere research without transformation is a huge disaster.
Waste*, turn the results into profits, and then invest in research to form a virtuous circle, only in this way can we go a long way.
Dad, the several kinds of pig, cattle and sheep feeds you have developed in the past few years are quite marketable. They are low cost and have good fattening effects. If they are put into production and put on the market, they will definitely have sales."
My father-in-law is not an old-fashioned person, and he is troubled by research funding. But thinking of the above style, the little flame that just sprouted was extinguished to the last dregs.
"Our world is different from our childhood. Let's talk about this later."
"In two years, I will start a business, and you can just do research and count money..."
At this time, Zhou's mother pushed open the door and walked into the house. She happily waved the telegram in her hand and reported, "Kun'er, your dad has telegraphed, saying that he will go home for the New Year this year."
Wang Lidong received the telegram, which contained only one line: "Arrived home on the 25th, Zhou Zhigang."
"Your eldest brother and second sister will also go home to celebrate the New Year this year." Mother Zhou was very excited. It has been ten years. After 69 years, their family has not been reunited again. She thought that in two days, her eldest son and second daughter would be back.
Well, there was no one living in the old house, so Zhou's mother couldn't sit still.
It's too late today, she plans to go back to her old house tomorrow, "Kun'er, when you go back tomorrow, take two baskets of coal back, and bring some of your cured ham and sausages. The day after tomorrow, let's buy some fresh pork and fry some meat.
ball...."
Wang Lidong had no interest in going back to that miserable place. He interrupted my mother's thoughts loudly, "Mom, if you don't stop me from going back, I won't go back with you."
"Kun'er, don't make trouble. Your father finally came back. How can father and son have an overnight feud? Xiao Xigua (the nickname of the third child) and the others are almost two years old, and they haven't met their grandfather yet."
"My dad has legs, but it's not like he can't walk. If he wants to see Little Watermelon and the others, he can just come to my house to see them. I didn't stop him from seeing them..."
"You kid, how..."
The mother and son had a quarrel over whether they would return to their old home during the Chinese New Year. Seeing that neither of them would let the other go, Fu Jinshan took the initiative to persuade them. Then the topic changed and he talked about the meeting between the parents of the two families.
My daughter and son-in-law have been married for so many years, but he has never met his father-in-law. This time, his father-in-law came back from Guizhou for the New Year, and they just happened to meet. "Mother, what day is convenient for you?"
Zhou's mother thought for a moment, and her family didn't have many relatives here. According to Jichun's tradition, they don't go out on the first day of the new year, but start visiting relatives on the second day of the new year. "My father-in-law, what do you think of the second year of the new year?"
"Okay," Fu Jinshan glanced at his son-in-law and agreed with Zhou's mother that he would go to Zhou's house to visit his father-in-law on the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year.
.......
The next day, Zhou's mother carried some New Year's goods and clothes packed overnight, took her granddaughter on the bus, and returned to Guangzichi, which she had not returned for a long time.
In the past two years, the Zhou family has been prospering. All three children have gone to college. The eldest son's father-in-law has become the leader of their province. The relationship between the Zhou family and their neighbors has undergone some subtle changes.
When the neighbors saw Zhou's mother, they were even more polite and polite, but there was a hint of alienation in their politeness.
In the past, everyone was of the same class. They ate coarse grains, slept on earthen kangs, and used dry latrines.
But now the gap is getting wider and wider. In two or three years, after graduation, the Zhou brothers and sisters will all enter public institutions. They have high diplomas and connections, and their career will be just around the corner.
There is a common problem in the world. When others are in trouble, they are willing to help. But when others get better and prosper, many people feel uncomfortable and unbalanced.
On the surface, he was becoming more and more polite, but behind his back, there were more and more gossips about everything. Most of them were focused on Zhou Bingyi, who were envious and jealous of him for marrying the only daughter of a big boss.
Many young people in the optical film knew Hao Dongmei, and several of them were Hao Dongmei's classmates in middle and high school. I felt so regretful...
There are also a lot of gossips about Wang Lidong. When he was a child, he was always at the bottom in exams, but in a blink of an eye, he became the provincial champion. Thinking of Wang Lidong’s father-in-law’s identity as a professor at Harbin University, everyone can’t help but wonder...
"Zhou Zhigang really has a good eye for the wives he chooses for his two sons..."
"Zhou Rong is marrying well. I heard the man is a great poet..."
"Not bad, that man is twenty years older than Zhou Rong. It was Zhou Rong who took the initiative to come to the door, and a big girl took the initiative to send him..."
Although Zhou's mother has not grown back, Qiao Chunyan, a reporter, often visits Wang Lidong's house whenever she has something to do. She talks quickly and talks about everything, so now Zhou's mother will not return to the post even if she has nothing to do.
Qiao Chunyan heard the noise outside the house, moved to the window, wiped the moisture on the glass with her sleeve, and saw through the glass that Zhou's mother was back. She quickly got off the kang and put on her coat. When Aunt Qiao saw that her daughter was about to go out, she shouted
, "What are you going to do?"
"My godmother is back!" After saying that, Qiao Chunyan opened the door and disappeared. Aunt Qiao mumbled in dissatisfaction, "You're not even so enthusiastic when you see me."
Father Qiao took a puff of dry cigarette and said, "Say less. It's not easy for Chunyan. We can't help her, so don't hold her back."
Qiao Chunyan greeted Zhou's mother and helped take the big bag on her back, "Godmother, why are you and Yueyue, my brother and my sister-in-law?"
Mother Zhou knocked on her waist and muttered, her wings were stiff and she was disobedient.
The three of them returned to the old house all the way. They didn't come back for many days, and there was a layer of dust on the kang on the table.
They lit a fire to burn the kang, and Qiao Chunyan helped fetch water. The two adults and one child took rags and brooms and worked for more than two hours to clean the two rooms.
After Qiao Chunyan filled the water tank with a bucket, she said hello to Zhou's mother and was about to say goodbye and go home. Zhou's mother hurriedly grabbed her goddaughter and left her to have lunch.
"Duoduo and Lanlan are waiting for me at home."
After hearing this, Mother Zhou didn't say anything to keep anyone company. She took seven or eight skewers of meat sausages from the package and grabbed a large number of white rabbits, asking Chunyan to take them back to satisfy the two children's cravings.
Qiao Chunyan took it unceremoniously and stuffed the candy into her pocket, "Thank you godmother, I'm leaving."
"When you have time, bring Duoduo Lanlan to play."
"okay."
The door of "Kacha" was closed, and Zhou's mother asked her granddaughter to stay in the back room, "Grandma will make lunch, and you can play by yourself."
Zhou's mother came to the kitchen, took the basin and took out rice for two people. She heard movement behind her and knew that her granddaughter had followed her out. "Yueyue, go back to the inner room quickly. It's cold outside."
Feng Yue said flatly, "Grandma, when will we go back?"
"When your grandfather and the others go back to work, we will go back to your brother-in-law's house."
"When will Grandpa and the others go back to work?"
"In previous years, it was held on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year."
Feng Yue found the calendar posted on the wall, stood on tiptoe and counted the numbers. There were still fifteen days left, and her little face wrinkled up...Fifteen days without TV, no heating, no toys, and no one.
Play together.....
On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhou Bingyi, Zhou Rong, and his wife, a group of four people, returned to Guangzipi. Zhou Bingyi came back last year, but Zhou Rong had not been home for ten years.
The moment she saw her daughter, Zhou's mother dropped the kitchen knife in her hand. The mother and daughter wept with joy, and their emotions could not be calmed down for a long time.
When Feng Huacheng saw Feng Yue hiding behind his mother-in-law, he showed what he thought was the kindest smile, bent down and clapped his hands, "Yueyue, you don't know dad anymore?"
Feng Yue hesitated for half a second, then took small steps and walked up to his father. Feng Huacheng picked up his daughter and kissed her twice. "Look at the gift dad brought you..." As he said this, he took out a colorful gift from his pocket.
plastic headband, "Dad, put it on for you."
It's rustic, rough in workmanship, and full of cheapness.
"No," Feng Yue pushed her hand, and the headband fell to the ground. Gululu rolled to the wall, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
Seeing her granddaughter "Teng Teng Teng" running into the back room, Zhou's mother picked up the headband and patted the dirt off, "This child has been afraid of life since he was a child. He will get better after a while."
Zhou Rong and his wife smiled awkwardly.
Seeing this, Zhou Bingyi called everyone into the back room, made tea, ate melon seeds, and talked about everyone's experiences and some interesting things in the past few years, laughing and having a good time.
Zhou's mother looked at her eldest daughter-in-law's belly and found an opportunity to drag Bingyi to the kitchen. Her eldest son and daughter-in-law have been married for seven years, and they are both in their thirties. In the words of the eldest daughter-in-law,
She will be an advanced maternal age soon.
Zhou Bingyi immediately excused the two of them from being too nervous about studying, "Mom, Dongmei is a sophomore and is very nervous about studying. If she had a baby now, Dongmei's homework would be delayed. When Dongmei and I graduate from college..."
Zhou's mother was unhappy and interrupted her eldest son. If there hadn't been a college student at home, she would have been fooled. "Your brother is also a college student. He has time to stay at home and take care of the children all day long.
Bingyi, please tell mom honestly, is it that you don’t want to have a baby, or do you two have health problems that prevent you from having a baby?”
Zhou Bingyi's heart skipped a beat and he glanced at his mother. Only the two of them knew about Hao Dongmei's infertility. Even Hao Dongmei's parents didn't know. "Mom, what are you talking about? Dongmei and I are both in good health. We thought about it the year before last."
Giving birth to a child is not just a matter of chance to take the college entrance examination.
I promise, after I graduate from college, I won’t push it again.”
When Zhou's mother saw her eldest son's promise, she could only believe it once more. What could she do if she didn't believe it?
Before the mother and son entered the house, Zhou's mother grabbed her eldest son and said, "Bingyi, Lili's parents will be visiting our house on the second day of the Lunar New Year."
Looking at his mother entering the house, Zhou Bingyi didn't understand what he meant. In 1977, Bingkun's father-in-law took the initiative to visit his mother as soon as he was released from prison.
This time my father came back from Guizhou and took the initiative to visit the family again.
In contrast, his father-in-law's mother-in-law has been back in Jichun for two years, but she still hasn't shown any intention of seeing her parents.
At night, Zhou Bingyi and Hao Dongmei had dinner, said goodbye and returned to Hao Dongmei's house.
Hao's father was busy in a meeting and was away from home, while Hao's mother was at home. The three of them didn't chat for a while before Hao's mother started talking about the child.
Zhou Bingyi is one of the top two.
As the couple got older and older, they couldn't hide the fact that they couldn't have children for much longer. After dealing with Hao's mother, the couple returned to their room.
Zhou Bingyi had a frank chat with his wife about the child, and the couple finally agreed that if their parents continued to press, they would tell the truth to Hao's parents and tell Zhou's parents that he was not in good health.
"Dongmei,"
Hao Dongmei looked at Zhou Bingyi.
Zhou Bingyi told about Zhou Bingkun's father-in-law and mother-in-law's visit to his house on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Hao Dongmei thought for a while and said, "Tomorrow morning, I will ask my mother to ask my father's opinion."
...........
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Zhou Zhigang was sitting on the kang, chatting with his family to relieve his boredom. Suddenly, there was a sound of bicycle bells outside the house. He moved to the window and saw through the window that his youngest son and his family had arrived. He quickly called the family out to greet them.
.
"My father-in-law, happy new year."
"Father-in-law, happy New Year."
Wang Lidong acted as a middleman and introduced both parties.
"Happy New Year, Happy New Year, come in quickly, come in quickly." As Zhou Zhigang spoke, his eyes glanced at the little baby in his daughter-in-law's arms from time to time. Seeing this, Fu Lili took the initiative to hand over her eldest son, "Dad, this is the boss.
Nicknamed Little Watermelon."
"Little Watermelon, this is grandpa, please call me grandpa."
Little Watermelon said cutely, "Grandpa."
"Okay, little watermelon, it sounds good." Zhou Zhigang excitedly hugged his eldest grandson, who had a tiger-like head and a tiger-like brain. He kissed him hard twice and looked at him carefully. His eyebrows and eyes looked like those of his younger son, and he was so happy that he couldn't close his mouth. "It really looks like him, and Bingkun."
It’s exactly the same as when I was a kid.”
After a while, Father Zhou calmed down, but suddenly realized something was wrong and looked outside the yard, "Hey, where are the other two children?"
"Little Grape and Little Apple were not covered with quilts last night. They caught a cold, so they didn't bring them over." Neither the mother-in-law nor Xu Du came today. One was worried about the two children, while Xu Du didn't want to come, so she
If you are not from the Zhou family, coming here will only cause some embarrassment.
When Feng Yue learned that Xu Du hadn't come, her face immediately drooped.
Zhou Zhigang quickly asked, "Are the two children okay?"
"It's okay, I have a slight fever."
Seeing that her husband kept asking questions, Zhou's mother stretched out her hand and pulled the hem of his clothes. Zhou Zhigang said hurriedly, "Look at me, father-in-law, please come in quickly."
A large group of people filed into the back room.
Although the two old men met for the first time, they talked happily and the atmosphere was very harmonious. Zhou Zhigang praised Fu Lili for being smart, capable, filial and virtuous... Zhou Zhigang looked at the eldest grandson in his arms, and the most important thing was
A little bit, it renewed the incense of the old Zhou family, and it was still one belt and three.
Fortunately, Zhou Bingyi and Hao Dongmei were not here, otherwise they would not know what it would be like to hear this.
Fu Jinshan also did not hesitate to praise his son-in-law, no matter how nice he said it. He not only praised Wang Lidong, but also praised Zhou Bingyi and Zhou Rong, the three heroes of the family. He gave Zhou's father a thumbs up and praised him.
"Teach your children well."
Zhou Zhigang said a few words in a humble tone, saying that it was the children who were responsible for their own success. He usually had little control over the children and it was their mother who took care of them.
"It's better for you, brother. I can see Lili and her three grandchildren every day, unlike me, who can only see them once every few years. When Bingyi Ronger graduates in the future..." Before he could finish his words,
But everyone knows that compared to the capital, Jichun is a small place. Zhou Bingyi may come back, but Zhou Rong will most likely stay in the capital. As for the third child, if he had not accompanied his father-in-law, he would never have stepped into this house.
Zhou Rong glanced at her daughter who was sitting next to her mother, talking and laughing with her mother, "Dad, I have decided to go back to Jichun to work after I graduate from college."
The room became quiet for a moment.
Zhou Zhigang glanced at Feng Huacheng, who had changed slightly. He knew that his daughter had made the decision impromptuly and the two had not discussed it. He looked at Zhou Rong and said, "What will happen to Huacheng if you come back? Are you not going to take the postgraduate entrance examination? Are you no longer a teacher?"
"After graduating from Beijing University, even if you can't enter a college, you will definitely have no problem becoming a high school teacher." Zhou Rong glanced at Feng Huacheng, "Huacheng, there are too many talented people in Beijing. I would rather be a chicken head than a phoenix tail. If you go back to Jichun, you
It’s the only one.”
Feng Huacheng picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea.
Zhou Zhigang answered, "Rong'er, I think Beijing still has a future. You are still three years away from graduation. It's too early to discuss this matter now."
"The earlier you decide, the sooner you can make preparations.... For example, if you want to transfer your job, you will have plenty of time, and you can slowly choose your position...."
Seeing that Feng Huacheng's face turned ugly, Zhou's father knew that his son-in-law was unwilling to return to Jichun to work, so he advised his daughter to study and work in the capital with peace of mind. She was not needed at home. The couple would be satisfied if she came back during the holidays.
.
Zhou Zhigang gently poked his wife beside him, "Her mother, do you think so?"
Mother Zhou forced a smile and nodded.
Feng Huacheng spoke up and said, "Zhou Rong, why don't you tell me what I think?"
Zhou Rong looked at Feng Huacheng and said, "Say."
Feng Huacheng first praised his daughter-in-law for giving up the opportunity to take the postgraduate entrance examination and study in Beijing, which most people dream of, in order to provide for her parents in their old age. "Filial piety is the first of all virtues. The key to the problem is the understanding of filial piety. Since ancient times, filial piety has been divided into two types: nourishing the mouth.
Body and mind.
Serving your parents by their side and taking care of their food, clothing, housing, and transportation is nourishing your body and mind. Traveling far and high to achieve success and making your parents proud of it is nourishing your mind.
Equally important, both are indispensable.”
After hearing this, Father Zhou nodded and said, "Huacheng said it well. You studying at Beijing University will bring glory to your mother and me. Besides, Bingyi will come back in the future, and Dongmei is in Jichun."
Zhou Rong looked at her parents and said, "Okay, then after I graduate from college, I will take the postgraduate entrance examination and stay in the capital to take on the responsibility of raising my parents' minds."
shameless.
An extremely selfish couple, but this matter had nothing to do with Wang Lidong. He grabbed a handful of melon seeds and gave half of them to his wife.
Seeing that Zhou Rong finally stopped getting into trouble, Feng Huacheng was relieved and a little proud at the same time. He took out his cigarette and was about to smoke it, but found a look of contempt on his brother-in-law's face, "Bingkun, are you any different?"
Opinion?"
Wang Lidong chewed the melon seeds in his mouth, ignored Feng Huacheng, but looked at his wife beside him and said, "Daughter-in-law, do you know where the phrase 'nourishing the mind, nourishing the mouth and body' comes from?"