At the end of 2006, when the spirit of the New Year has not faded away, the New Year atmosphere in the mountain villages is still very strong.
Ma Lu finally washed the rag and put it on the clothesline. Looking at the clean house, she also thumped her waist.
"It's done..."
She loves to be clean, and the house is always kept in order, so this kind of work is not a problem at all.
But this year is different.
First, Dacheng and Zhenzhu lived in the imperial capital, and sent some money back from time to time. He repeatedly said that he wanted her to take care of herself, but not to be like his father who gets old and sick, suffering himself and worrying about his children...
Who doesn’t want to enjoy happiness?
In the past, I saw that the children were very stressed, and the elders were also nervous.
Now I see that Dacheng's life is getting better and better. Listening to what I said on the phone, I no longer have to worry about it at the end of the year.
With this relief, Ma Lu couldn't help but relax a little, and she didn't work so hard.
Now he is serving the old man at home, and seeing his legs and feet gradually becoming more agile, the grandson can now stand up crookedly and shout twice——
That's good.
…
At first, this baby stayed in the incubator for several days, thinking that he was too weak to take care of himself.
Who would have known that after my parents returned to the Imperial Capital, they would receive various nutritional supplements every month, such as calcium supplements and so on.
As long as it is said that they can feed their children, the old couple will not be reluctant to part with it three times a day.
In addition, children from rural areas have strong skin. Now that he is one year old, although this child looks a little thinner, he has not suffered any serious illness at the beginning of the year and the end of the year. It seems that his body has slowly recovered.
This is truly a blessing from God.
While he was thinking about it, Father Lu took his grandson and walked back step by step with his waist bent.
Lu Ma hurriedly greeted her.
"Oh, my little baby is really awesome today. Are you tired from walking such a long way?"
As he spoke, he looked at the old man: "How is it? Did you walk a little longer today?"
Dad Lu is also happy.
"It's much better. I walked ten minutes longer than yesterday. If we really go to the Imperial Capital next year, I won't need anyone to serve me there."
"I can also give you some help."
When Ma Lu heard this, her smile dropped slightly, and she looked a little reluctant: "Are you really going?"
Before he finished speaking, he saw a three-wheeler outside driving along the mountain road. Lu Cheng and Zhu Zhen got out of the car.
…
The carriage of the tricycle was filled with all kinds of festive gifts that were most popular for visiting relatives in the countryside, large barrels of sugar and oil, well-known tobacco and alcohol, all of which were presented with sincerity.
It took quite a while just to unload these things? Lu Cheng finally took out a couplet from the car and said to Lu Ma who was helping to carry things:
"Mom, is the paste ready? Let's post the couplets early in the afternoon."
Just as you were talking? The neighbor’s aunt also came over with a basin in her arms.
"Dacheng is back? How's the New Year's shopping going? You told your mother not to make the paste, and I'll make it all at once? It's easy for us to take turns using it."
Looking at the tobacco, alcohol, food and oil all over the floor again, I couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment. My tone was a little hesitant:
"Dacheng, you..."
One look at these valuable things and it's obvious that they are not for the Chinese New Year.
The neighbors also lent them a lot of money!
Dacheng originally came back last night, but today he specially found a car to drive to the city to buy so many gifts? Why? Tonight.
…
There is a custom in their village——
Debt does not last a year.
As long as you can afford it this year, you can give it on the 29th of the Lunar New Year, and it will never be delayed until the first day of the Lunar New Year.
In the past, there was no way, and people knew that they were not sincere and refused to pay back the money, but now...
To be honest? Lu Cheng’s family has been waiting for this moment for too long.
…
Pearl quickly smiled and said:
"Auntie? Are you at home at night? Dacheng and I have done quite well at the construction site this year. If it is convenient? We will go to your house to sit in the evening. Thanks to you all these years..."
She was always a smart person. She was reading books in the imperial capital. She was also dealing with different people. Now she is even more considerate when she talks, which makes people feel like spring breeze.
The aunt next door instantly understood what the gifts on the ground were for, and her expression immediately became excited and a little embarrassed.
But he said it politely:
"Oh, why are you being so polite? We are all neighbors. It's not urgent. If you need it urgently, just do it..."
Incoherent.
…
This is the art of speaking among Chinese people.
The person who borrowed the money was not so good, but the person who was paid back was polite and politely refused again, for fear of hurting the relationship.
But Lu Cheng is not the kind of person who thinks he is capable even if he borrows money. To be honest, the debts of the villagers are burdened on him, and life is always uncomfortable.
Now that I have survived, no matter what, I can no longer owe you money.
He smiled:
"Auntie, please don't be polite. If it hadn't been for your help over the years, our family would have been in trouble."
"In the evening, not only yours, but also those in our village will come together to bear witness. I will pay off all the debts."
After hearing this, the aunt next door couldn't say anything anymore.
She can be polite, but the villagers have no reason to let her be the good person to show their respect.
So he smiled, his expression no longer restrained: "Okay, I'll tell them all - don't worry, it's the end of the year, they will all be here."
Auntie put the paste down and people immediately moved to the next door.
…
Lu Cheng put away his things and smiled at Pearl, getting the same relieved and relaxed expression.
It seems that the pressure of debt is not just on his mind.
He turned around and said: "Mom, please post the couplets earlier this afternoon. I'll have to spend a lot of time in the evening."
There are many families in the village who owe more or less money.
"OK."
If it weren't for the Chinese New Year, and they don't have the rules here to treat others to a feast, then I would have to treat everyone to a meal this time anyway.
But it’s better this way. Pay back the money quickly before the New Year is over, and your relationship will be different when you drink again next year.
Otherwise, we will be in debt and it will be difficult for both parties to treat each other to dinner.
…
Lu Cheng climbed up and down to apply paste, while Zhenzhu hugged the child, feeling the pain of his beloved one.
She hadn't seen her son for a whole year, and when she saw him again, her heart seemed to melt.
The grandparents take good care of the children. Even though it is winter, the child's face is not chapped, which is quite a treasure in the village.
Looking at the clothes on the body, they are not particularly thick, but the child's palms are warm, and the little baby has a lot of energy, which proves that he is indeed in good health.
Although it may still not be as good as an ordinary healthy child, Pearl already feels very good.
When she came back last night, the first thing she did was to hold the child next to her and watch her for most of the night.
It’s really no matter how you look at it, you love it.
While teasing the child, Mother Lu looked at her son, a little hesitant:
"Dacheng, are your dad and I really going to the Imperial Capital next year?"
She looked around - this is a beautiful place, all the folks from the countryside are here, and they suddenly went to a place they were unfamiliar with...
…
"must go."
Dacheng knew what he was thinking and said it without hesitation.
"Mom, you only think about your fellow villagers, why don't you think about your sons and grandsons?"
I have asked this question many times on the phone.
"We are also busy over there and have no time to take care of the children, so we have to rely on you to help... But Xiaobao can't always be separated from us."
"Besides, Xiaohai is still young, and it's time to work hard on her grades. Pearl and I contacted a school in the imperial capital and went to make up classes to catch up with the progress. Then we can be in the middle and high schools in the imperial capital, and the college entrance examination will be better than others.
It’s a more relaxed place.”
"Also, you two are not that strong now. If you live in this village and have no other income, can you still have the strength to farm? How much money can you make from farming?"
While brushing the paste and pasting the couplets, he analyzed it carefully with Ma Lu.
"Zhuzhu and I are in the imperial capital, and it's not like we don't have a place to live now. The yard is no smaller than our house. Pearl makes steamed buns every day, and I am busy decorating at the construction site every day. No one at home is watching, and I can't even have a hot meal when I come back.
…”
Just listen to some words, the main thing is to bring your parents to the imperial capital.
As I get older, I can no longer do farm work like I did when I was young.
…
"You two come with me. Firstly, you can help take care of Xiaobao, and secondly, Xiaohai goes to school. When we go home, we can have a hot meal, right?"
Mother Lu had heard them say this more than once on the phone.
She knew the truth in her heart, but she was still reluctant to give up for a while, so she said that in the end.
Now seeing that Xiaohai's studies were all tied up, and thinking about how he couldn't get a good meal while working on the construction site... he gritted his teeth and finally made up his mind to remain silent.
However, when I turned around and went into the kitchen to prepare New Year's goods, my eyes were a little red.
——Dacheng had planned it well just now, and everyone in the family had made arrangements, but Lili was not mentioned.
This brother and sister... their fate has ended after all.
What a sin, how did this Lili become like that?
…
Lu Cheng actually saw his mother's eyes turn red.
But if his mother doesn't mention it, he won't mention it either.
He was in the imperial capital, and now he was studying with Pearl, and there were many channels for him to get the news.
If nothing else, Pearl would be on the forum.
She knew that Lili wrote novels every day, so she was wary of her and would search for them from time to time.
It had been a while since she had written any more, and the magazine stories had remained half-written, so he was actually relieved.
Pearl didn't say anything, and her expression was satisfied.
She originally thought that this trouble would be over, but who would have thought that at the end of the year, she had a sudden idea and searched the name again.
——This is great!
Click on the real name's post to take a look, then follow up the article to take a look, and then take a look at the top parents, brother and sister-in-law, and the scoldings from the readers below...
This is exactly the same as the novel she originally wrote in the magazine, just in a different shell!
What else don’t you understand about this?
Looking at the income again, the couple fell silent.
…
Thirty thousand yuan a month.
Thirty thousand yuan is equivalent to the annual income of many people nowadays.
But Lili had so much money in a month, but her family never took a penny from her, and they didn't even make a phone call.
Pearl was so angry that she cursed at home again. If the family hadn't been able to afford the shame and still had to live a good life - she would have even scolded her at school by now.
It was Lu Cheng who comforted her:
"Forget it, our family didn't pay the tuition this year. I think she is still in school. She can make money on her own. Just treat her as a distant relative, the kind that we don't have any contact with."
As soon as she said this, the anger in Pearl's heart was released with a pop. She looked at Dacheng with a half-smile but not a smile: "Distant relative?"
Lu Cheng lowered his head.
Lili writes in the novel how feudal and ignorant her family is, and how vicious and greedy her brother and sister-in-law are...
Of course he was also angry.
But what can we do? Do we really want to go to school to get things done?
This is the only way it can be.
He's just a distant relative, and I won't have any contact with him from now on.
Pearl also understood this in her heart. It was impossible to break up the relationship, so let's just let it go.
Now seeing the look in Lu Cheng's eyes, she also smiled, lowered her head and continued to coax her son without saying any more.
…
Lu Cheng went out after dinner in the evening.
The village is not big, and the only people who have close friendship with them and are willing to lend money are the families in the surrounding area.
He walked from house to house, carrying grain, oil, cigarettes and alcohol from each house - human relations in the village were too great, and things could not be done in a business-like way.
If you really talk about the interest on borrowing money, I am afraid that there is a high probability that you will fall out and become enemies.
It's better to convert it into these expensive cigarettes and alcoholic drinks that are usually reluctant to part with. After all, they have borrowed money for so many years, and they also express their gratitude.
Secondly, there is also such dignity.
I have to say that everyone who saw these cigarettes and alcoholic beverages had no dissatisfaction on their faces.
Everyone's money in the village is just deposited in the bank. How much interest will it cost after one year of death?
How much are these cigarettes and alcohol worth?
In addition, these things are usually reluctant to buy, but now they are given away as if they are free...
Fortunately, he came after dinner, otherwise Lu Cheng would not have been able to escape at the first house.
…
Xiao Hai also followed.
He is now fourteen years old.
In rural areas, at this age, he should be the governor.
He knew all the money borrowed from his family. Even because he had been in the village, he sometimes knew it better than his brother and sister-in-law.
After all the money was repaid, Lu Cheng only had three IOUs in his hand - almost no IOUs were taken from the village when he borrowed the money.
That is to say, the two amounts were relatively large. Lu Cheng felt sorry for himself, so he insisted on writing.
On the dark road, the three of them held flashlights and walked briskly and happily.
Xiao Hai was following beside him, and he asked a little uncertainly:
"Brother, do I really want to go to the Imperial Capital next year? I heard that the tuition fee is very high if I go to school in other places."
Lu Cheng patted him on the shoulder:
"Don't worry, I will get you a household registration. You study hard and I will sign you up for tutoring classes when you go to the imperial capital after the Chinese New Year. Just keep up with your grades."
Xiaohai nodded.
"I can definitely do it."
His academic performance in the town's junior high school was among the best. He was worried about going to the big city and knew that he would definitely not be able to keep up, but... he was not afraid of studying.
I heard from his brother that now that the debt has been repaid, life is getting better day by day, and he will have plenty of meat when he goes to the imperial capital...
With this sentence, he will definitely be more motivated to study.
In the past few years, I have only tasted meat once or twice a month, and I am often hungry at school.
…
"Then...where is my sister?"
He asked carefully - the family has made arrangements, but they don't mention his sister. Are you really angry?
Thinking of his sister, Xiao Hai also felt extremely complicated - when his sister was in her third year of high school, she never stopped having sex every time she went home.
And when he was in junior high school, as long as he didn't catch up with the weekend when his sister came back, the house was still the same as before.
It's impossible not to have some ideas in your mind.
But no matter how complicated his emotions were, after so many years as a family, their relationship suddenly became inexplicably cold, and he still wanted to find out.
In the dark night, Xiaohai couldn't see clearly the expressions of his brother and sister-in-law.
Just as Pearl was about to speak, Lu Cheng touched the back of her hand.
She remained silent again.
Just listen to Lu Cheng sigh softly:
"Xiaohai, I won't hide it from you either."
"Your sister was very profitable there at first. She could earn four to five thousand yuan a month...but she kept the money for herself. When your sister-in-law gave birth to a child, our mother asked her to borrow money..."
He thought of Pearl's surgery, and he gritted his teeth and was speechless.
Pearl took a deep breath.
"It's nothing, I just feel that the relationship is not deep and there is no fate."
"Xiaohai, your sister is quite capable. When she wrote the book, she included us all. You can read it later when you have some free time."
What to cover up?
Xiao Hai has been sensible since he was a child. Now he is fourteen, and he will not be fourteen forever. Sooner or later, he will know.
It was better than him meeting his sister and not being wary at all.
Xiaohai's eyes widened.
He is not stupid, he can more or less guess what is written in this book.
Definitely nothing nice to say.
Pearl smiled at this time:
"When you go to the imperial capital, if you happen to meet each other, you should do whatever you want. We just have less contact, and we are not deeply grudges. It won't affect us, ah."
Xiaohai remained silent.
But at the same time, he also knew that his sister must have done something very wrong.
And his sister-in-law... is still so good and cares about her family so much...
This strengthened his belief.
If his sister doesn't admit her mistake, he will definitely stand by his brother and sister-in-law.
In the dark night, Pearl's words were gentle and powerful, as if it was an understatement with a smile, and she was extraordinarily generous.
But only Lu Cheng knew that Pearl was holding his hand back so hard that her nails dug into it.
