In Xie Ying's memory, the Xie family's true life as a "family" began on that day.
January 29, 1994, the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month. Mr. Xie Hongxuan closed the clinic and walked back to Rulin Street with a calm step. The alley where Xie's family is located has four families, all sitting in a row.
As for the bungalow in the south, Xie Hongxuan's home is at the east end of the alley. The door of his house is larger than that of other houses, and the house is also the largest in this alley.
Hearing his door open, his wife Feng Yuzhen came out of the main room holding a handful of soybean sprouts. "Go pick up Xiaoying?"
"Yes." Xie Hongxuan has already wiped the bicycle clean. It is a standard 28-inch large bicycle with a red child seat installed on the back seat. Xie Hongxuan always wipes the seat before setting off. Picking up his granddaughter is
He always took it seriously as a ritual matter.
"You have to go to the Children's Palace to pick you up today, right?"
"Yeah." Xie Hongxuan said: "I'm going to perform on the TV station on New Year's Eve. I've been rehearsing every day these days. My child is tired - I'm leaving. I need to cook less food. I can't eat too much. I've grown a lot in the past two days.
Got fat."
"Okay. Be careful on the road and don't race with those young people."
"knew!"
"Wear your scarf well. If you catch a cold, you'll have to cough again."
"knew!!"
"Don't buy so many snacks for Xiaoying! She has to eat well."
"Know it!!!"
As soon as he came out of the alley, Xie Hongxuan pedaled his bicycle very fast, and gradually broke out from the crowd of young people. He rode away from the crowd, and the young people around him were chased by him inexplicably. Not only that, he also bought a bunch of bicycles at the intersection.
I felt that the candied haws was not enough, so I bought another roasted sweet potato.
My granddaughter has to go to school and sing, so she’s tired! When she finishes rehearsing, she has to put snacks into her mouth as soon as possible. Just hold the candied haws in your hand, and hide the baked sweet potato in your pocket. If you bake it
When the sweet potatoes are cold, my granddaughter doesn’t like eating them.
The winter wind is cold and dry. Xie Hongxuan is wearing a scarf, but his face is still numb from the cold. It takes 20 minutes to ride a bicycle from home to the Children's Palace. In the season when dripping water turns to ice, human joints and bicycle parts are frozen.
He used a lot of strength and his movements were clumsy. Xie Hongxuan was sweating on the top of his head, thinking about his granddaughter, so he didn't feel tired.
While waiting at the traffic light, a young man hummed "Xiao Fang" and moved his upper body up and down in time to the song. Xie Hongxuan still couldn't accept the concept of "pop song", but "Xiao Fang" was so popular that he
After passively listening to it many times, he almost learned it. He muttered: "Young people, you have to sing songs that are high-spirited and full of vitality! ... Don't let these melancholy sounds corrode your thoughts."
The young man was confused, but fortunately the green light relieved him, and he ran away quickly. Xie Hongxuan sighed deeply, pedaled hard, and started pedaling the bicycle. Times have changed, and the music played in the streets and alleys is
"Pop songs" and songs from Hong Kong, but he stubbornly listened to "model operas" because he liked sonorous and powerful music.
When they arrived at the Children's Palace, there were already many parents waiting outside. Xie Hongxuan was well-known in the local area, so when they saw him coming, everyone greeted him warmly. Xie Hongxuan greeted them, but his eyes glanced at the old three-story building.
It is a small building. The Children's Palace must have been there for more than ten years, right? Xie Hongxuan still remembers that his daughter rehearsed shows here. After so many years, the building has not been renovated, and the windows are in danger. If the wind is stronger, the glass will blow
Came down.
Three years ago, "Donghai Town" became "Donghai Street". On the day when the street office was established, the city's big leaders came to cut the ribbon. Three years later, the changes in Donghai Street are not obvious, except for many
There are a few buildings and a few more traffic lights, but everything else is as usual. Xie Hongxuan really hopes that Donghai Experimental Primary School and Children's Palace can be renovated. He hopes that his precious granddaughter can study and sing in a better environment.
Xie Hongxuan crossed his arms and kept pacing, chatting with acquaintances about home affairs. The acquaintances all knew that he had a second son who was very profitable, and asked him with a smile when he would move to the south to enjoy the blessings of his son, so that he would not have to suffer the cold in the north.
Bitter.
Some people are envious, and some people say it sourly. Xie Hongxuan said seriously: "If he buys me a heated building, I will live there; but if he wants me to follow him to the south, that is impossible. My roots are
Here! I was born here and I will die here!”
"If he buys you a building, then he's very capable!" A middle-aged man said with a smile: "Have you heard that the family home of the power plant is going to be sold out, but we still can't afford it."
My son can afford it!
Xie Hongxuan thought happily and couldn't help but shake his head. The second son is doing big business in the south. He wears the most impressive big brother on his waist and talks about business worth millions. Hey! I don't know if he is bragging! Anyway, he has already
He came back after sending a lot of money, and he proudly said that money is just a piece of paper to him. Just half a month ago, he said that he would send a sum of money to his family to install a telephone at home. Xie Hongxuan kept
Told him - don’t show off or be impetuous! Be down-to-earth!
But the second son is so promising, how can he not be proud?
Others had already started to say "congratulations" to him, but Xie Hongxuan said "It's no secret", but he grinned from ear to ear. It seems that the trip his second son came back the year before last was very effective. He deliberately walked towards the entrance of the alley.
He parked the car and let the neighbors see his majesty. Xie Hongxuan used a trolley to push his son's things home. All the neighbors saw it. Xie Hongxuan loudly "blamed" his son for spending money and causing trouble for him.
, but don’t mention how beautiful it is.
The door of the Children's Palace opened, and the children poured out one after another. Xie Hongxuan saw Xie Ying in the crowd at a glance, and a flower of vicissitudes of life bloomed on his frozen face. "Xiao Ying, Xiao Ying, grandpa is here
Here it is!”
Xie Ying was wearing a bulging cotton coat, two purple sleeves, and two long braids. She was jumping around, and her braids were swinging around. She ran very fast, and almost moved to her grandfather's side instantly.
She hugged her grandpa tightly, her big eyes flashing, and she asked thoughtfully: "Grandpa, are you cold?"
"It's not cold! Your grandpa is in good health! Are you hungry? Should you like candied haws or roasted sweet potatoes?"
"Candied haws!"
Xie Ying unceremoniously took the candied haws from her grandfather's hand and handed it to her grandfather's mouth skillfully. Xie Hongxuan shook her head: "I have bad teeth, so you eat it."
Although she held the candied haws in her hand, Xie Ying still looked like a strong gymnast. Like a vaulting horse, she jumped onto her exclusive seat lightly and raised the candied haws to the sky, as if she had raised a starting gun: "Grandpa
,Set off!"
"okay!"
Xie Hongxuan pedaled hard and drove all the way to the west. The sunset completely disappeared, leaving only a circle of orange clouds. The grandfather and grandson were bathed in the last ray of light, and a vivid scene was reflected in the remaining light.
Silhouette. Xie Hongxuan started a routine inquiry - are you cold, are you hungry, are you tired from rehearsals? "Xiaoying, if your hands are cold, just put your hands inside grandpa's clothes."
Xie Ying was busy eating candied haws, and only nodded or shook her head to answer her grandfather's questions, regardless of whether he could see it or not. Her hands were not cold, but she still reached into her grandfather's back. As long as his warmth could be transmitted
If it comes to her, then grandpa will be very happy, right? Xie Hongxuan doesn't urge his granddaughter to talk because he knows that as soon as all the candied haws are eaten, the granddaughter will start chatty mode.
Sure enough, after passing a trash can, Xie Ying accurately threw the bamboo stick into the trash can. She touched her mouth boldly and started talking nonstop.
"Grandpa, I was dancing rubber bands with Hu Baozhu today. I stepped on her shoes and she didn't talk to me all afternoon. Alas, her parents sent her all her things from Shanghai. She cherishes them.
I wrote her a note, but she didn't reply to me. If I bring her a piece of chocolate tomorrow, she won't be angry, right?"
"Hey! Baozhu is still so petty! But of course she cherishes the things her parents bought. You can give her something to eat to make amends."
"Grandpa, just now Teacher Yu specially told me to eat less salty food and drink more water these days. I laughed so hard that my face hurt. She also said that my expressions were not vivid enough and asked me to go home and look in the mirror.
Lian. Do you think she is too strict with me? Zhu Fangting’s singing is terrible. Not only does she go out of tune herself, but she often leads others astray, but the teacher just doesn’t dare to say anything about her.”
Zhu Fangting is the child of a leader in the city and an old acquaintance of Xie Ying's. The precious granddaughter has a lot of dissatisfaction with classmate Zhu. Classmate Zhu has spoken rudely to Xie Ying several times, but Xie Ying has promised her grandparents that she will not
She takes the initiative to start conflicts with her classmates, but she is a dove of peace.
Xie Hongxuan frowned and said, "Xiaoying, if she bullies you again, just tell me and don't be wronged, okay?"
"Well." Xie Ying played with her braids and continued to report on the day: "Grandpa, I went to the office today, and my aunt gave Hua Tianlong a lesson again. Hua Tianlong was so funny, he didn't do his homework.
He also found a reason, and his reasons are different every day! Guess what he told my aunt today?"
"How did you say that?"
"He said that he had clearly finished his homework, but after finishing it he was so tired that he put it in his schoolbag. It was only when he got to school that he came to his senses. He had written it in a dream."
Xie Ying laughed loudly, and Xie Hongxuan was also amused: "Oh, this Hua Tianlong is really the most troublesome child in our area! His parents come to give your aunt gifts every three days, and beg your aunt with tears in his eyes,
Let her urge Hua Tianlong to study hard. Unfortunately, the couple's efforts were in vain."
"My aunt has never accepted gifts from his family!" Xie Ying said loudly: "My aunt made it very clear in the school that students' parents are not allowed to give gifts."
"Well, your aunt is very poor, but she is very poor and has integrity - she didn't say what time she would be home?"
"I went to see her after school, and she was still correcting papers. There will be a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow, and she has to tell her parents her results, so she has to work overtime tonight."
"Alas, the salary cannot be paid, but she is as enthusiastic about her work as ever." Xie Hongxuan sighed melancholy: "Her salary was delayed for half a year last year and four months this year. I don't know if it can be paid before.
Come down?"
"My aunt works so hard, why does the school default on teachers' wages?"
"I don't know either! Nowadays, the news says every day that teachers' salaries should be improved, but why are they still not being paid?" Xie Hongxuan let out a melancholy sigh: "If wages were not paid a year ago, I would have to do anything.
Let her change her career! Let her work as a clerk or secretary in a factory, which is better than being a teacher! She is so exhausted every day that she can’t even eat enough.”
Although my sister-in-law has not been paid for several months, Xie Ying's daily life has not been affected in any way, and she is not worried about it. She asked cheerfully: "Grandpa, when I go home later, can I watch "Little Dragon"
person?"
"Can you finish it when you get home?"
"There are ads in the middle! I won't be able to finish it when I get home. I can still watch it for a few minutes!"
"Then just watch for a while! It's been a tiring day and it's time to relax."
Xie Ying cheered, swung her feet happily, and sang the ending song of "Little Dragon Man". However, Xie Hongxuan felt a faint melancholy in his heart. The little dragon man was persistently looking for his mother. Xiaoying also cried when she was a child.
Shouting for her mother. Now she can't remember that past event, but Xie Hongxuan still feels uncomfortable when she thinks about it.
The grandfather and grandson were talking. When they reached Rulin Street, night had really fallen. The lights in the alley were all on, and every household was preparing dinner. When passing by Wang's house, Xie Ying stretched her neck and looked into the yard.
Look, thinking to myself: "Can Wang Haochuan eat?"
"Huh? What's wrong with Haochuan?"
Xie Ying lowered her voice: "His mother lost her temper again! His father was also angry. No one cooked for him. He bought a pack of crispy noodles at noon."
"Oh, his parents are really interesting. They can make their children hungry when they quarrel!"
"Grandpa, can I send him a package of biscuits? These are the sandwich biscuits my mother sent me."
"That's your cookie, give it to whoever you want."
Hearing Xie Hongxuan's bicycle bell, Song Jinquan, who lived in the middle of the alley, came out and said hello: "When are you going to have a drink?"
Grandpa stopped the car, and Xie Ying jumped to the ground steadily like a gymnast, cheering: "Grandpa Song, do you want to drink again? Then I can make extra money!"
The two old men are lifelong friends. No matter whether they are worried or happy, they always get together for a drink. Go to Hua Tianlong's house and buy a pound of cold pig ears, half a pound of fried peanuts, and half a pound of fried silkworm chrysalis—
- Commonly known as the "third child", Xie Ying always runs errands to buy it. Regardless of whether grandpa pays or Grandpa Song treats, as long as she runs errands, Xie Ying can always earn 50 cents to 1 yuan in errand fees. For primary school students, that
It's a lot of pocket money. So, as long as the grandpas have a drink, Xie Ying is particularly happy.
Xie Hongxuan took off his scarf, puffed out his breath, and said, "It depends on your mood. Anyway, I have nothing to do tonight. Do you want to call Lao Hu and join us?"
"I met him in the morning and he said that his blood sugar was high and he had stopped drinking recently." Song Jinquan readily took out 20 yuan and stuffed it into Xie Ying's hand: "Xiaoying, I'll ask you later."
Xie Ying stood at attention and saluted: "I obey! Sir, please rest assured!"
Xie Hongxuan pushed his bicycle and murmured in his heart that his old friend probably missed his two sons who were suspected of being "enemy agents" again. Since his two sons left home, Lao Song has often been depressed. Although in front of others, he has always been depressed.
He said how great his son was, but only his old friends could see his loneliness. It was almost the New Year, and Lao Song would miss his son so much that he couldn't sleep. Xie Hongxuan thought, he must have a drink with his old friend.
But as soon as he entered his yard, Xie Hongxuan was not in the mood to drink at all.
He suspected that he had made a mistake. Who were those three people who were tugging at each other?
Xie Hongxuan murmured to himself: "I... couldn't this be a dream?"
Xie Ying was also dumbfounded: "Second uncle's family...why are they here?"