Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 125 The First Pot of Gold
Liu Xiaonan put a collection of short stories of her own in front of Gu Yu: "Minister please review."

Gu Yu picked up the book and flipped through it, put it down and asked, "Can you tell me why you didn't give me a copy of "Longitude and Latitude"?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "The book "Longitude and Latitude" is published all over the country. You can see that book everywhere you go. Why let me deliver it to you in person? Besides, I believe that you have the book in your hand and you also have it in your heart." that book."

"This book is just a collection of your previous works, nothing rare."

"Give me two years, and I will definitely come up with an important work."

"I'll wait and see. Is the postscript I wrote okay?"

"That's great. It exposed all the embarrassing things about me when I was a child. It's the finishing touch for the novel collection, but it's embarrassing and bruised for me."

Gu Yu laughed heartily.

Not long after New Year's Day, Liu Xiaonan received a package from the other side of the ocean.The package was not big. When I opened it, it was a fully automatic mechanical watch made in Switzerland. There was a letter written by Yue Zifan inside the package.He couldn't wait to unfold the letter paper.

Hello Xiaonan: See words as faces!
It has been almost two years since I came to the United States, and everything is going well.I've always wanted to write to you, but I don't know what to write.Because of me, you and Xue Lian are separated by oceans, and you suffer from longing, and you feel deeply guilty and disturbed.

I often miss my homeland and never forget the rice wine your father brewed. In my dreams, we often see our teachers and students, Weng and his son-in-law chatting side by side.However, I can't go back to China for the time being, I have to protect Xuelian for you.

how to say?Any country has its civilized side and its barbaric side.After the initial period of incompatibility, Xuelian's study and life are on the right track, there is no problem, you can rest assured.Because I also have a job, Xue Lian and I only see each other on Sundays. Every time she talks about you, she can't help but burst into tears. The old father and old man like me can't help but be moved by the feeling of missing you.

Xuelian strictly abides by the romantic agreement between you and insists on not writing to you. I think you can understand.Fortunately, time flies, and in more than a year, you will be able to reunite, unite forever and never be separated, and fulfill my little wish of being a grandfather.

My body recovered well and I have basically adapted to life here, and the English conversation is effortless.In addition to helping friends to do some things, I also learned to start a small business, which can meet the most basic needs of Xuelian's life.

Now, Xuelian does not need to do more part-time jobs, and has more time and energy to devote to her studies.I didn't expect that I still have the ability to do business. When you and Xue Lian get married, I won't watch with empty hands.

I heard from Xuelian that you have been wearing the cheap watch you bought when you first started working, and the cover has been ventilated, so I bought you a Swiss watch.Don't think it's too expensive, I can afford it, and I will replace it immediately, so as not to have to remember to turn the watch handle to wind it every night.

Through the letter written by your Aunt Lin to Xuelian, I am very pleased to know that you have returned to work in the propaganda department of the textile factory and published a collection of short stories.I still say the same thing, slow down, accumulate more, and wait for the next outbreak.

Say hello to your parents for me.Tell your father, when I return to China, I will definitely get drunk with him.

I don't write to you anymore, and you don't have to reply. When Xuelian and I return to China, we will have a good talk.

Sincerely,
Handshake
Yue Zifan

December 1990, 23

After reading Yue Zifan's letter, Liu Xiaonan couldn't be calm for a long time. He finally waited for the most real news of Yue Xuelian's current situation, and couldn't help sobbing in his throat out of joy.

He took off his wrist, and bought the domestic watch with 40 yuan with his first month's wages after starting work, which has been with him for five years. Putting on the all-steel automatic Swiss watch, he suddenly felt heavy on his wrist. of.He shook his wrist, and the hands of the watch moved by themselves.

Liu Xiaonan took Yue Zifan's letter and went straight to Lin Yidan's home.Lin Yidan just came home from get off work and was making dinner when he saw Liu Xiaonan coming, but he added another dish.She was a little strange, usually Liu Xiaonan would not come to the house if there was no special event.

After careful observation, Lin Yidan noticed that Liu Xiaonan was very excited, his eyes were shining, and his voice was high-pitched, so he asked him what happy event he had.

Liu Xiaonan stretched out her wrist and showed Lin Yidan the watch: "Mr. Yue bought it for me. It must be a very expensive Swiss watch."

Lin Yidan looked at it and said, "This old man is quite caring."

Liu Xiaonan said: "Mr. Yue has changed a lot in the past few years. I still have a letter from Mr. Yue here. Would you like to read it, auntie?"

"Let me take a look." Lin Yidan wiped his hands and said, "I mainly want to know the real situation of Xuelian. Like you, I also doubt that Xuelian reports good news and not bad news."

After reading Yue Zifan's letter, Lin Yidan was completely relieved, and said with a smile, "I didn't expect this old man to be very promising after getting old."

Liu Xiaonan said: "Mr. Yue is able to go abroad with his friends. I feel that Mr. Yue has let go of everything in the past."

"I saw it. He shaved himself into a bald man." Lin Yidan smiled and took out a bottle of wine and said, "Xiaonan, have a drink or two with Auntie."

After dinner, Liu Xiaonan tentatively asked, "Auntie, do you have any specific plans for this year's Spring Festival?"

Lin Yidan understood the meaning contained in Liu Xiaonan's words.Her parents have passed away. Although she has brothers and sisters and invited her to go home for the New Year in advance, she feels that none of them are her real home.

She didn't want to be a passer-by, so she politely declined the invitation of her brothers and sisters and planned to spend the New Year alone.In order to relieve loneliness, I even wanted to ask the hospital leader for instructions, and arranged for her to be on duty during the Spring Festival.

Hearing what Liu Xiaonan said, she asked, "Have you made arrangements for Auntie?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "On behalf of my parents, I formally invite my aunt to my house for the New Year."

Lin Yidan was very emotional: "Xiaonan, you can always think of your auntie. Well, since my daughter is not around, I will celebrate the New Year with my son-in-law, and I will follow my son-in-law whenever he returns. During those years when I worked in the mine, every time I went home Passing by Liuzi Street, I never expected to have the opportunity to celebrate the New Year in Liuzi Street. Just in time, I will do a simple review for your mother and visit your father's vegetable greenhouse."

Liu Xiaonan said: "Although I didn't discuss it with my parents beforehand, I think my parents will definitely welcome Auntie."

Lin Yidan nodded: "I haven't seen your mother before. This time your mother was sick and hospitalized, so I realized that your mother is a very strong and strong woman. It is not difficult to understand that your father works in the mine and lives in two places. During those 30 years, he was completely relieved to hand over the family and the young and old to your mother. I am very happy to spend the new year with your family."

Liu Xiaonan was not without worries: "When I was in college, I had winter and summer vacations, and I could go home and help with some work, but now I can't help at all. My mother's body can't do heavy work, and she won't watch me Dad is suffering alone, and I am really worried about my mother's health. Taking advantage of the opportunity of the Chinese New Year, I want my aunt to persuade my dad to give up the vegetable greenhouse, reduce his own burden, and not drag down my mother."

Lin Yidan said: "You still don't know much about the psychology of the elderly. Have you ever thought about doing your own thing well, which will really reduce the burden on your parents."

Liu Xiaonan nodded thoughtfully.

In the month before the Spring Festival, the trading volume of the stock market was extremely active, with relatively large fluctuations.This morning, just after going to work, Liu Xiaonan read the morning paper, and immediately got up to ask Gu Yu for leave.At the close of the market yesterday, a stock he bought skyrocketed several times, and it is expected to continue to rise after the market opens today.

"No leave." Gu Yu said with a serious expression, "Recently you ask for leave almost every day. I don't know what you're busy with. You just ignored what I said."

"I have done all the work that should be done, and more than anyone else." Liu Xiaonan almost begged: "You can't confine me to the office, you have to give me some free time. Now it's not the subordinates asking for leave from the leader, but the younger brother I beg my sister to accommodate me."

Gu Yu leaned back in her chair proudly: "Sugar-coated cannonballs, I won't follow your tricks unless you have a special reason."

"You have to keep it a secret for me, and you can't tell anyone about it."

"If it's in private, while Yue Xuelian is not in the country, to do some sneaky and shady things, you don't have to say it."

"Others don't understand me, and you don't understand me? Why can't you think that what I do is a business."

"Don't talk nicely. I don't know you well. I still don't know what you are thinking and how you position your current job. Do you want to talk about it? If you don't talk about it, go out. I still have to work."

Liu Xiaonan said in a low voice, "I'm speculating in stocks. One stock has skyrocketed. Maybe there will be a higher return today."

"What? Are you speculating in stocks?" Gu Yu's complexion changed, and he almost shouted, "What's the difference between this and gambling? Xiaonan, Xiaonan, are you so short of money? You can tell me if you have any difficulties! No wonder you've recently I can’t write any works, so I’ve gone on a crooked path.”

"How did this become crooked?" Liu Xiaonan tried her best to defend: "I am investing and contributing to economic development. Since it is an investment, it will naturally generate certain income. Of course, we will produce a new type of cloth with our factory. Also, there are certain risks.”

"Don't tell me about investment, I don't understand. I warn you, you are not allowed to go anywhere today, just stay with me in the office."

"The opportunity is fleeting, let me go. If it's really not possible, I'll buy you a gift if I get some income, or treat you and your brother-in-law to dinner, as long as the brother-in-law doesn't blame him or be suspicious."

"I don't want your dirty things. When you put a good house in the countryside on my hands and neck, I gladly accepted it, because it was the labor income of your creation. But what are you doing now? ? Opportunity, getting something for nothing, and money first. Going on like this will ruin your future. Unless you also have plans to go abroad, then it’s another matter.”

"If I want to go abroad, I don't have to wait until today." Liu Xiaonan held her head and said in agony, "I know you are doing it for my own good, but I don't understand. When I was young, I dared to assert that I could become a writer. Now why don't you support me to break the law?" Rules and regulations, find another way? Okay, you can lock me in the office, let me become a wooden man without independent thinking, or a marionette at the mercy of others."

He is also a pen-player, but Liu Xiaonan is not suitable for political work. Gu Yu has already judged this, but he is still transferred to the Propaganda Department.

Liu Xiaonan's pain softened her heart: "You like to explore new things. It's not that I don't understand and don't support you, but you can distinguish between the main business and the side business. I have carefully designed the path for you, but you think it is full of traps. If I have nothing to say if you resist because you hate me in your heart. Today I will let you go for a whole day. From now on, I will give you half a day off every week. You can control it flexibly, and you don’t have to bother me in front of me anymore. Me. I believe that you can consciously abide by it, and I hope you can do it yourself."

"Thank you sister for your understanding and support." Liu Xiaonan stood up, neither serious nor modest: "However, I still have to say what I have to say. First, I have no hatred in my heart. On the contrary, I am full of infinite gratitude; second , what I do is not crooked, I rely on the same brain as writing. Maybe one day, I will achieve another kind of success, and you will be the unsung hero standing behind me; third, you have designed for me Even if there is a trap on the path, it is a gentle trap without bamboo sticks and covered with flowers."

"Get out of here!" Gu Yu gritted his teeth and said fiercely, "I really shouldn't know you bastard."

After getting out of Gu Yu's office, Liu Xiaonan rushed to the stock exchange hall non-stop, her eyes fixed on her few stocks.

The whole line is red, and the heart beats violently with the flashing numbers on the big screen, as if countless drums of war are beating at the same time.The soaring stock was still going up, and he thought it was time.

People should not be too greedy, leaving opportunities for others is also leaving opportunities for themselves.

He decisively sold that stock and bought two more new shares with all the proceeds.He had read related reports that stockholders in the south lined up overnight to snap up newly issued original shares.

Throughout the day, like many stockholders in the stock exchange hall, he spent in a state of almost madness, or ecstatic, or beat his chest, or danced, or was in pain. Show it off.

At noon, he only ate two pieces of dry bread, and his desire drove him to refuse to leave the stock exchange hall.At the close, he roughly estimated that the market value of the stock in his hand was several times that of the investment.

He returned to the dormitory with a kind of frenzy, and fell on his back on the bed. The severe exhaustion of physical and mental strength made him feel dizzy.Even with his eyes closed, there were still confusing numbers flickering in his eyes.

That kind of temptation is really huge, exciting and crazy, and it is hard to resist.

However, a weak voice kept echoing in his brain: Did this violate the original intention?Is it off track?

He sat up suddenly, shook his head, rubbed his eyes, and finally found a reason to excuse himself: I was looking for writing materials.

(End of this chapter)