The sky was barely bright, the sun was just turning red, there was a thin layer of sugar-like frost on the eaves and branches, and there were no pedestrians in the alley yet.
However, although the revolutionaries are still sleeping soundly for the revolution, the "ghosts and ghosts" have already gotten up early.
In Furu, you can now see some people who always walk with their heads down, showing humility and caution on their faces, sweeping the streets with big brooms. They are all the targets of control on the streets.
This is a special scene in a special period and a special year. Volunteer workers like this, who cannot even get a comment like "learn from Lei Feng", are the main force that has steadfastly maintained the clean environment of the streets of the capital in the past ten years regardless of rain or shine.
strength.
These people are very dedicated and conscientious, with almost no need for supervision, because everyone has their own designated area of responsibility, and for fear of being held accountable, no one dares to mess around. Everyone wants to sweep the floor spotless, even worse than their own home.
clean.
It should be said that the sanitation workers in the capital should be the most grateful. It is precisely because of these people that their workload has been greatly reduced. However, as of now, their good days are numbered.
Among the people sweeping the streets, Hong Yanwu was naturally included.
Since Hong Yanzheng and his wife have children to take care of and their workplaces are not close to each other, it has always been Wang Yunlin's task to clean up the Hong family. So these two days, Hong Yanwu has to get up early every day to sweep the streets for Wang Yunlin.
Let the mother sleep a little longer, and prevent her from being so tired that her back hurts so much that she can't turn over every night.
In the east courtyard of Guanyin Yuan, in addition to the Hong family, the Su family also belongs to the category of voluntary workers.
The head of the Su family is called Su Shenzhen. His wife has passed away, and he lives with his son Su Jin and daughter Su Xiu. He is a tailor who repairs the actors' "helmets" at the Beijing Kunqu Opera Troupe. But in fact, this job is not good for him.
For Tailor Su, it was a bit unfair, and the reason why Old Su came to sweep the streets was somewhat unfair.
Why?
Because the ancestral home of the Su family was originally Su (zhou) in Jiangnan, the needlework skills were also passed down from ancestors. Because their ancestors made several new clothes for the emperor when Qianlong went to Jiangnan, the emperor was attracted by this craftsmanship. Qianlong left
The imperial edict selected his ancestor into the palace and brought him back to the capital. From then on, the Su family was forced to become a tailor in the Department of Clothing of Guangchu Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and had to move to the capital to settle down.
Southerners are attentive, and their euphemism and sophistication are not comparable to those of northern craftsmen. Therefore, the Su family's needlework is highly valued in the palace and has always been very popular. Even during the Cixi period, when clothing production was at its most prosperous, there were as many as two to three hundred clothing craftsmen.
, the Su family's craftsmanship was also outstanding, and it was the favorite of the old Buddha. Later, it was not until the Republic of China that the Su family moved from the palace to the people.
However, although the Su family no longer had official positions, their craftsmanship was still there. Old Su's father even married an embroiderer who also escaped from the palace. The couple thus combined the splendor of "palace embroidery" and "Su embroidery" into one
First, with his craftsmanship that cannot be matched by others, he has still created a new world among the big houses, and is also sought after and favored by the ladies and ladies of wealthy families.
The people who asked the Su family to make clothes were all from wealthy families because of their exquisite workmanship and high reputation. In this way, Su Shen learned from his parents from an early age and developed a good skill in making cheongsam.
The texture, color, and workmanship of the finished product he made in his prime even shocked his father.
Speaking of which, Hong Yanwu's mother Wang Yunlin was also a customer of Su Shenzhen. After she married into the Hong family, some of the most expensive cheongsams made in the capital were all made by Lao Su.
But it is a pity that after liberation, Su Shen needle had no use.
Because the new life discards the old and establishes the new, advocating frugality, the cheongsam gradually fades out of people's lives. Although Tailor Su has a pair of dexterous hands that can turn a piece of white cloth into colorful flowers, he no longer has the opportunity to use this method. So he was helpless.
Therefore, in order for his family to have food to eat, Lao Su had no choice but to end his freelance career and seek employment with the government.
In fact, it stands to reason that with the skills of the Su family, if it is put in the "helmets" industry, making costumes for Peking Opera is not a waste. However, the only one engaged in this industry in Beijing is the "Sanyiyong Costume Shop", an old business.
, has already been fully staffed.
As a result, they couldn't coordinate, so the government had no choice but to accept old Su's job as a tinker in the Kunqu Opera Troupe. However, there was still some embroidery work there. Tailor Su was not a complete waste, so in order to make a living, he just accepted it with a pinched nose.
But the most unfortunate thing is that within a few years, the "movement" came again.
In this way, Su Shen, a grown man who used needle and thread to mend costumes every day, became the first target of the "Destroying the Four Olds". After that, he also wanted to participate in all meetings and conferences related to feudal consciousness.
was implicated. Therefore, he became the only subject of control in the east courtyard besides the Hong family.
On the contrary to Tailor Su, the one who had great luck was his neighbor Lao Ding - Ding Guiru.
Because it stands to reason that "Beng Douding" was still a shop, no matter how big or small, so even if it eventually failed and became a small stall, it should be classified as a small owner.
But it happened that Lao Ding knew how to get into trouble. During the "movement", he was on guard against being "reckoned with old debts." Before "cleaning up the class ranks," he unexpectedly found an old cotton robe full of holes in it.
Come, let’s make a report about “remembering the bitter and remembering the sweet” all over the world.
Lao Ding told everyone about the bitterness of his journey to Beijing to beg for food, and described his father-in-law as a "capitalist" who exploited and oppressed him. The "romantic" story made some young Red Guards and workers fall into tears after hearing it.
tear.
As a result, he became the "working class" who suffered greatly before liberation. Later, he also changed the status of small business owners to "urban poor".
This is called, the same flower bears two different fruits. The gap between people's encounters is so big due to their different operating methods.
At this time of year, the political atmosphere is undoubtedly much more relaxed. After Hong Yanwu finished sweeping his own house, he immediately went to help Su Shen clean his house. The two of them sweeping the streets were not like the past where they could only work hard without daring to do anything.
Communicate and start chatting naturally.
"Uncle Su, you might as well stop swiping from now on. I'll do it with you every day..."
Hong Yanwu was the first to speak. He was sincere. This kind of work was nothing to him. When he was learning from Master Yu, every day he would sweep the yard and outside, which was larger than the area of the two families combined.
.
"Thank you, but the 'Ethnic Affairs Committee' won't agree. Forget it, I'm used to sweeping every day, so I just treat it as exercise."
I don't know whether it was because he was being polite or because he had some political concerns, but Su Shenzhen just smiled and declined, and then asked, "Boy, do the clothes still fit you? You have to be careful when taking off your clothes, don't expose the 'flesh' underneath.
Come."
Tailor Su was referring to the new jacket worn by Hong Yanwu. Wang Yunlin thought her son was too thin and asked him to change it overnight using Hong Lucheng's dress and mandarin jacket yesterday.
Even though the outside was made of ordinary fabric and was very plain, the inside was made of blue silk, with a hollow brass dragon buckle nailed on it. Old Su was worried about being discovered, and it was not a big deal.
Son.
"It fits. Don't worry, I will pay attention to it. I haven't thanked you personally yet, which makes you feel tired."
"Anyway, we have been neighbors for so many years, so why do we talk about the word 'thank you'? If I say that, do I have to come to thank your family for the sausages? Your mother is really not a good person.
explain……"
I'm sorry that these days we are so poor that no one can live without the help of others. It has become a normal practice for neighbors to give gifts to each other. If any family wants to get something good, no one can be alone. As long as they can share it
, a handful of melon seeds is never too few, you have to send some to your neighbor’s house, what is important is the friendship between the two.
Wang Yunlin is a lady, she is not a person without vision, and she will not be stingy. In addition, over the years, because of Hong Yanwu's incident, Wang Yunlin has always felt sorry for several old neighbors, so she brought her back from Xu Manli this time
Among the things, I gave a whole large meat sausage and a can of luncheon meat to each of the three neighbors in the east courtyard.
In those days when food and clothing were scarce, this was no less than a generous gift. Not only were the Bian family and the Su family extremely happy to receive the gift, but even Lao Ding no longer worried that Hong Yanwu would pursue his second daughter-in-law's rude remarks.
Son.
Naturally, when some neighbors looked at Hong Yanwu's return, they became more tolerant from the bottom of their hearts.
Today's Hong Yanwu can truly understand his mother's painstaking efforts.
Since yesterday, his mother has been smiling from heart to face, almost singing a ditty.
However, my mother has never been so busy. Whether she gets up early or after get off work, she has become a voluntary servant of the courtyard. She greets everyone who gets up quickly.
"Old sister, I have raised your fire, you can make porridge!"
"Lao Su, the water is boiling on my stove. If you want to make tea, use mine first."
"Old Ding, you have a letter at home. I met the postman at my door. I won't bring it in for you. Hey, what else can you say thank you for? If you want to say thank you, this neighbor can't thank you enough."
All the people in the yard were excited. But everyone understood that Wang Yunlin was not only happy because his son had returned, but also worried because she was afraid that he would cause trouble again in the future.
We are catering to everyone with extra care.
People are already walking around on the streets, and street sweeping is in its final stages.
Precisely because he thought of these, Hong Yanwu was speechless, and he showed a hesitation that he was reluctant to speak.
Seeing this, Su Shenzhen probably saw what Hong Yanwu was thinking, and whispered, "It's good if you can understand your mother's difficulties, and just be filial to her from now on. But I have to remind you, you really have to be right."
Your father is getting better. Don't always think that he doesn't want to see you and won't come close to you. Now, if you can do something for your father, you should do something. Don't always contradict him. Do you understand this? "
Hong Yanwu was not sure. He looked at Su Shenzhen and nodded, his expression also solemn.
I couldn't help but think: Today is the time to have a serious talk with my mother about my father's illness.