The boss was slightly startled, then quickly exclaimed: "Yes, it's her! This little brother, this little old man, I can be 100% sure that the little girl I mentioned before is the little one in this photo.
girl!"
Xia Haoran was also overjoyed, what is this called? It’s really hard to find anything even though you have worn iron shoes, it took no effort at all to get it!
Then, Xia Haoran put away the "photo" with a big move, and said: "Boss, thank you for the information. I am really grateful to you today!" After a slight pause, Xia Haoran continued.
: "It's just that I would like to ask the boss again. Can you tell me where this little sister lives and how can I find her?"
“Brother is so polite!”
The boss waved his hand nonchalantly and said: "It was my little brother who asked me first today. In fact, as long as they are the permanent residents of this urban village, I am afraid that no one will not know her. It is true, because as long as it is not school time
, this little girl will go all over the streets with an old woman in the village to pick up garbage such as drink bottles and cardboard."
"So, although I don't know where this little girl is renting, I know where the old lady lives." At this point, the boss paused slightly and continued: "It happens to be the hot summer, these days are
The best time to collect drinks bottles, I guess, maybe the two of them will go out on the street together again."
After learning the old woman's address and name from the boss, Xia Haoran gave the boss a lot of Mao Zedong, at least five or six thousand yuan, and then he saw that the boss was full of fear and excitement.
He left in a mood.
I learned from the snack bar owner that the old woman's surname was Dai, and she was originally the owner of No. 168 Shahe Village.
Logically speaking, urban villages like this are basically six-story independent buildings with small patios. Each floor is divided into 10-15 small rooms. If they are all rented out, it will cost 10-15 people per month.
The food and enjoyment, net of rent and rent are 50,000 to 60,000 yuan, and the income in a year is quite considerable. This is why every time when landlords in urban villages are mentioned, people often can't help but curse them as "bunts"!
But the Granny Dai mentioned by the snack bar owner is a complete weirdo!
She is not like other landlords who are clad in gold and silver. She has nothing to do all day except hanging out in the chess and card room and the mahjong table. This old woman is an out-and-out farmer, with low education and no skills, but
She still maintains a simple and unpretentious life, carrying a huge snakeskin bag every day and walking around the streets of Hangzhou, exerting her light and heat for the environmental sanitation work of the entire city.
No. 168, Shahe Village!
Xia Haoran looked at the large vermilion iron door in front of him, then slowly took a few steps forward and rang the doorbell.
In fact, in Xia Haoran's consciousness, among the several rooms on the first floor of this building at this moment, there is no Granny Dai mentioned by the snack bar owner, but there is a couple about forty years old.
, there is also a girl of twelve or thirteen years old, and a boy of about seven or eight years old.
Soon, the little boy ran over and opened the big vermilion iron door a crack, revealing a small head. He stared blankly at Xia Haoran outside the door and asked: "This uncle,
Who are you looking for?"
"Hello kid!"
Xia Haoran smiled slightly, showing what he thought was the kindest smile, and said: "I have something to ask Grandma Dai. Is Grandma Dai at home now?"
"Uncle, you are looking for my grandma!" Hearing Xia Haoran's words, the little boy tilted his head and looked at him with his big, delicate eyes, and said tenderly: "But my grandma is not at home right now.
." After saying that, he showed a look of 'I told the truth and I didn't lie to you.'
"Child, do you know when your grandma will come back?" Xia Haoran then asked.
At this moment, an energetic voice came from the yard and said, "Xiaohu, what's going on outside?"
"Dad, a young and handsome uncle came outside. He said he had something to ask my grandma for advice." Xiaohu turned his head and said to the middle-aged man in the room.
"Oh? Are you looking for your grandma?" The man in the room walked out casually and said, "Since I'm looking for your grandma, then open the door and invite the guests in."
"Okay, Dad!" The little guy pushed open the door, raised his little head and said to Xia Haoran outside the door: "Uncle, please come inside and talk!"
"Thank you, kid!"
Xia Haoran nodded with a smile, and then stepped into the door.
It’s really like that!
This family is still an independent patio-style courtyard. However, perhaps due to the land, the space reserved in the middle of this small patio is not large. Therefore, when Xia Haoran experienced this kind of courtyard up close for the first time,
The building structure of the dwelling gave him the feeling of being crowded, oppressive, and so heavy that he couldn't breathe.
But even so, urban villages in major cities across the country are home to tens of millions of "ant tribes". No matter how bad the living environment is, no matter how unbearable the living conditions are, for ordinary citizens
, for migrant workers, college graduates, technical school graduates and other low-income people living in concentrated areas, as long as the economy is affordable enough!
In any country, in any city, in any company, senior urban white-collar workers, or those elite elites, are only a minority after all. Those low-income grassroots people who work hard under employment contracts, work long hours, work loyally, and have team spirit
The crowd is the mainstream of practitioners in the entire society.
The abominable cost of living in cities, when talking about this, I don’t know how many people are holding back tears of bitterness. For example, in Hangzhou right now, the monthly living cost of a young man is roughly as follows:
Rent: (plus water, electricity, internet) about 1,800-2,500 yuan
Transportation: Bus card costs about 250 yuan
Meals: Except for occasionally buying food and cooking one or two meals at home on weekends, I basically eat out, which costs 1200-1500
Entertainment: Dinner with friends, going out for a walk, etc. Basically 500
Shopping: I try to buy as little as possible for myself, and rarely buy for my parents. I basically spend 500 on clothes and daily necessities.
Call fee: 100
Favor: Apportioned to about 500 per month
The total is about 4850-5850 yuan, and the current average salary in Hangzhou is basically 5389 yuan. From these two sets of data, it is not difficult to see that if you work hard and work hard in a month, you will only earn an "egg" in the end.
Home. So in comparison, the conditions in urban villages are indeed worse, but they are more expensive than cheaper!
"Hello
!”
Seeing the middle-aged man in the yard, Xia Haoran cupped his hands and said, "Sir, my name is Xia Haoran. Please forgive me for intruding!"
The man smiled, then made a 'please' gesture and said: "Mr. Xia, you're welcome, please come in the room!"
"Sorry!" Xia Haoran nodded and followed the man into the living room. The simple and exquisite interior decoration made Xia Haoran's eyes shine.
"I just heard Xiaohu say that Mr. Xia has something to ask Granny Dai for advice? By the way, my surname is Li, and I am the landlord of No. 168, and the Granny Dai that Mr. Xia mentioned is my mother." The man surnamed Li said as he said,
While making a cup of tea for Xia Haoran, he handed over a cigarette. Unfortunately, Xia Haoran never smoked.
"Yes, Mr. Li!"
Then, Xia Haoran recounted the previous conversation with the snack bar owner again and said: "Over the years, I have also inquired and searched through many channels, and finally I could only target the village where Mr. Li lives.
However, I don’t know exactly whose home the little girl is renting from. I heard that Grandma Dai usually takes good care of the little girl, so I came here just to find out the specific situation from the old man.”
After listening to Xia Haoran's words, the man surnamed Li was filled with emotion. He murmured: "I know that little girl, and my mother has invited her to our house for dinner many times. I really didn't expect that.
This little girl has such a tragic experience behind her, what a crime!"
"Who says it's not the case? This can be considered a trick of fate." Xia Haoran also had a sigh on his face.
only.
What he told the snack bar owner and the man named Li in front of him was not the truth of the matter at all. After all, it is better for as few people to know about some things as possible.
"Um, Mr. Xia, my mother went out to scavenge today." At this point, the man surnamed Li showed an uncomfortable look on his face, and said sarcastically: "Normally, for a family like ours, let's not talk about every month for the time being.
The monthly salary of my wife and I can fully support our family. But my mother has been used to living in poverty all her life and refuses to listen to anything she says, alas..."
"Haha, Mr. Li, are you worried about what outsiders think?"
Xia Haoran smiled slightly and said: "You can take care of yourself when you are old, have something to do when you are old, and have fun when you are old. In fact, I think those of us who are descendants, as long as our elders live a fulfilling and happy life, it will be enough.
There is no need to care about other people's opinions. Labor is the most glorious thing, not to mention that scavenging is a serious business, and it is not about stealing, robbing or doing bad things."
"This person, once they lose their spiritual sustenance, their life will be in vain; after working all their lives, if you let them suddenly sit back and enjoy happiness, they will suffer. I am not afraid of Mr. Li's jokes. My parents both work in factories.
In recent years, the factory's operation has become increasingly sluggish. After the two old men went through the 'internal withdrawal' procedures early, they left the workshop where they had worked hard for most of their lives. Now, they have returned to the countryside to open up wasteland and farm land."
"I think this is actually pretty good!"
Xia Haoran spread his hands and said: "Anyway, we, the younger generations, don't expect to say what achievements these elders have really made, or how much money they have earned, because we can completely build our own lives with our own hands.
So, as long as they are happy, everything will be fine."