February 15, 1980, New Year's Eve finally arrived.
Looking back on this day, it is the Spring Festival of the Gengshen year of the lunar calendar, the Year of the Monkey.
Therefore, on the glass windows of the four households in the east courtyard of Guanyin Yuan, there are little monkeys sitting on the peach tree or holding big peaches cut out by Hong Yanru and Su Xiu.
In addition, at the request of Xiao Hongjun and Ding Ling'er, two figures of Sun Dasheng holding golden hoops were cut out for them.
The Hong family's Spring Festival couplets also read, "Flowers and fruits are fragrant, and the paradise is beautiful. How can the beauty of the world be changed in the Year of the Monkey." The horizontal scroll is "Happy Family."
From this, we can see the hope of the Hong family for this year. They have no gold and silver treasures in their hearts, no high-ranking officials and generous salaries, but only the most down-to-earth and simple life.
But even though this wish was good, because Hong Yanwu's incident was weighing heavily on everyone's mind, everyone's mood was not very high on this night that was supposed to be extremely festive and full of laughter.
Everyone was pretending to be happy, and the New Year's Eve dinner was quite bland, with just a few drinks. After the meal, everyone was not even interested in guessing riddles to win gifts, and only passed the time by playing poker and tiger chess.
Only the two children in the courtyard lit foreign wax paper lanterns and they lit small whips sporadically, adding some brightness and vividness to the dark night.
Fortunately, around eight o'clock, Bian Jiangong, Su Jin, and Su Xiu all came to Hong's house. It's always more lively when young people get together.
So everyone ate mixed food and played group games of "head stickers" and "guessing numbers". While laughing and joking, the Hong family gradually forgot about the unpleasantness and finally felt a bit sincere.
Happy. Even the Hong family couple and Xu Manli who were watching showed long-lost smiles...
As usual, at the same time on such a night, we have to go and see those people related to the Hong family.
Like the Shui Family in Xiyuan, the Chang Family in Pingyuan Hutong, the Shou Family in Tea and Food Alley, and the Wanyan Family in Longkou Village, these are just a few places where everything is business as usual.
Like most families, those who haven’t finished the reunion dinner continue to drink and chat around the sumptuous table. Those who have already eaten are either teasing their children, playing cards for fun, or gossiping about family affairs. In short, they are reunited to spend time together.
On New Year's Eve, it's time to eat dumplings.
In comparison, it was the three police officers who had the hard work.
Xing Zhengyi has been promoted to deputy director, so he naturally takes duty on New Year's Eve as a natural responsibility. Of course, Zhao Zhenmin came as scheduled to deliver dumplings to him.
And Zhang Baocheng made some "progress" this year purely because he was broken up with his love and wanted to be clean, both publicly and privately. But no matter how you put it, he did make a contribution to the peace and tranquility of the people in the capital.
In addition to them, there are a few unusual things worth describing.
For example, there was a dispute at Song Guofu's house at this time.
The Song family's New Year's Eve dinner has come to an end. Director Song, his wife and their daughter Song Pingping are watching programs on the 18-inch color TV.
But no one expected that Song Guofu at the dinner table suddenly drank a full glass of wine in one gulp, and then made a request to his parents as if declaring war.
"Dad, Mom! I don't want to stay in the Grain Bureau anymore. You can find a way to get me to the Foreign Trade Bureau."
Of course Director Song and his wife were shocked, and subconsciously, they immediately objected together.
Mrs. Song said, "Nonsense. How good are you under your father? In other places, your marshmallow-like temper cannot be controlled by others? Do you think leaders are easy to get along with? Don't look at you.
The division chiefs, section chiefs, and directors around you are all very kind to you.
I'm very tolerant. That's because of your father. Son, don't be stupid. Your father's relationship is all about food. As long as you stay in the bureau, there will be people to take care of you even if your father retires. But if you change
The place and our family’s connections are beyond our reach.”
Director Song said, "Foreign trade? Do you also want to engage in foreign trade? Then let me ask you, do you understand English? Do you know Russian and Japanese? Don't think that you have a director who can only look at the mountains. I will follow
How many times have you said that the higher the level, the more people are staring at me. I want to get people like you who don’t know anything to go over. Not only will I give people instructions and give them instructions, I may also cause harm to the country.
Loss. Do you hope that your father will be expelled from the party? If that is the case, I might as well make you the section chief. At least if you make a mistake, I can still wipe your butt..."
But Song Guofu still persisted. "Mom, Dad, I know what you are saying. But if I don't practice it, won't I never understand the ways of the world? I don't know English, but I can learn it. How many people can learn foreign languages now?
? Don’t we all need to work hard to study on our own? Let me tell you, I am not just on a whim, I really want to do something. Where else can I broaden my horizons than the foreign trade department? Yesterday I had a drink with Xiao Wu,
Even he knows a lot of English words. He also said that foreigners like to drink wine together, which is called "keketai", which translates to "chicken tail". He also said that foreigners are very petty when they drink wine.
Then he would take a glass of wine and talk leisurely, and he might not finish it in an hour, just like us old men who go to a grocery store to drink. I just thought it was quite interesting what he said..."
Director Song and his wife did not expect these words, and they were stunned.
But Song Pingping didn't believe this. "Brother, that friend of yours also knows English? Isn't he a pig intestine cleaner? What's the use of learning English? Why do I think you can't bear this tone just because you're broken in love? In
Making up excuses..."
The girl followed and said, "Don't think that Fang Ting's new partner is that guy from the Foreign Trade Bureau. I tell you, mom has asked about it. She even dumped that guy. Fang Ting is talking to someone who has participated in
Fighting hero of southern Xinjiang. Do you also want to carry a gun and go to the battlefield? Besides, the battle is over..."
As soon as he said this, Song Guofu was even more surprised, and then his expression darkened.
Mrs. Song glared at Song Pingping fiercely, blaming her for revealing the secret, which frightened the girl and immediately deflated her mouth.
Unexpectedly, Song Guofu still persisted after a moment.
"No, I'm not vindictive. I just feel that everyone around me is making progress. I'm afraid that if I continue to live in a muddle, everything will be delayed. In fact, what Xiao Wu said unintentionally is very reasonable. He said, '
I am just a big kid, I only know sweetness but not bitterness. But I really don’t want to be such a “big kid” anymore. I have to rely on you for everything. Not only do others look down on me, but I also look down on myself. Just help me.
Can I do it this last time? From now on, I promise that I will never take advantage of dad’s relationship again..."
This was the biggest surprise. Director Song and his wife had never seen their son so serious before, and it was the first time they felt that he looked a bit like an adult. Their mouths could hardly close. Even Song Pingping didn't believe this.
My brother said it and touched his forehead, suspecting that he had a fever.
But the good thing is that Song Guofu's stubbornness paid off, and Director Song's eyes softened, leaving something to be said.
"You know that being independent is a good thing. But you can't be so hasty about it. After the festival, find a night and ask your friend named Xiao Wu to come over. I'll talk to him."
As soon as he said this, Song Guofu showed a relaxed expression. But Mrs. Song and Song Pingping were very puzzled.
One asked, "What can you come up with if you come to him?"
Another one also said, "That's right, Dad, do I need to ask a temporary worker for my brother's job?"
Unexpectedly, Director Song said, "Do you think I'm a temporary worker? The color TV you're looking at is the result of a temporary worker relationship. You don't understand, that Xiao Wu is not a simple person. He is very sophisticated in how he behaves. What's rare is that a person has principles and backbone.
He is well-measured and has no tendency to climb at the first sight or unrealistic extravagant expectations. Even if he hasn’t spoken to me, I would have transferred him to the Grain Bureau. If Guofu hadn’t told me that he is a
...Forget it. Anyway, as the saying goes, it is true that those who are close to Zhu are red and those who are close to Mo are black. Good teachers and friends can benefit people for life. Otherwise, who do you think Guofu is influenced by? Besides, the only one who can really understand Guofu is