Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 142 Growing Environment
After dinner, Liu Xiaonan explained the wedding date and the planned wedding in detail to Meng's father and mother.

This was last night, Liu Xiaonan and Meng Xiangxiang agreed temporarily: Before the wedding, Meng Xiangxiang's parents and relatives will be taken to Bincheng in advance and live in a hotel.Then set off from Bincheng to Liuzi Street to attend the wedding, all expenses will be borne by him.

And ask what the rules are here.

Meng's father and mother were very satisfied with this arrangement, and expressed their willingness to live in Liuzi Street for a while to see the fertile land and the big river flowing all year round.

Meng's mother said to Liu Xiaonan: "There are some rules in the countryside. You are all in the city and you are very busy with work. You can't be too old-fashioned. You and your parents can do whatever is convenient for you."

Meng Xiangxiang showed the watch on his wrist to his parents, and Meng's father and mother heard the price and clicked their tongues.Meng Xiangxiang gave another 2000 yuan to his mother, saying it was a gift from his aunt, and left it to his mother to supplement the family.

Meng's mother refused to accept it, and let her daughter keep it for herself to buy wedding supplies.

The mother and daughter pushed each other.Liu Xiaonan said to Meng Xiangxiang, "You can keep it for yourself, I have other arrangements."

Turning around, he took out an envelope from his backpack, put it in Meng's father's hand and said, "This is for Xiaomeng and I to honor the elders. We will build a few new houses for the family and improve the living conditions of the elders. Don't be too tired in the future. "

Meng Xiangxiang guessed it at a glance. It was quite embarrassing to hold 2000 yuan in his hand, and he felt very uncomfortable.She restrained herself and said to Liu Xiaonan, "You didn't discuss this with me."

Liu Xiaonan smiled and said, "We are not officially married, this is not within the scope of your control for the time being."

Father Meng took the envelope and dumped it on the kang, and a bundle of RMB slipped onto the kang, which made the old man tremble with fright, and the soot from the cigarette pipe and pot fell on the kang.He picked it up with trembling hands and asked Liu Xiaonan, "What are you doing here?"

Meng Xiangxiang didn't want to go to see Liu Xiaonan, the complacency and condescension of a giver would hurt her.She spoke very quickly for Liu Xiaonan: "This is 1 yuan, money that our family has never seen in our entire life, and it is his bride price for your daughter."

Holding the hot hand, Meng's father didn't know whether to accept it, so he put the money on the kang and pushed it to Meng's mother.

Mother Meng packed up the money and returned it to Liu Xiaonan: "Nephew, you can't do this. Thinking about finishing college, you've done your best, and your parents are so kind to her, we don't even know the old couple. Just say something. Thinking about being able to marry you is her blessing, her father and I are very happy from the bottom of our hearts. If we accept the money, it will be because we are greedy and we don't know what to expect. "

Like a mother, like a daughter.Liu Xiaonan was moved. He put the envelope in Mengmu's hand, held Mengmu's hand and said, "Auntie, uncle, I have no other intentions. One is that this is an old rule, no matter which dynasty or generation , is a must-go cutscene. Second, I have this ability, and I want to help the two elders change their living conditions, so I ask the second elder to accept it."

Father Meng said: "Building the house should be the work of my two sons. It is a joke to ask the son-in-law to pay for it."

Mother Meng said: "We are both in good health, and we don't need to spend much. There are many places to spend money in the city. Let you and Xiangxiang live well."

Liu Xiaonan said: "I think so. With a new house built at home, Xiaomeng has no worries. After marrying me, I can work and live our small life with peace of mind. Both of us will be very busy at work in the future, and we are far away from home. It's not easy to come back, I'm afraid I don't have much time and energy to take care of the family, so it's better to settle the matter in advance."

Liu Xiaonan was sincere, but her daughter didn't express her opinion, and Mother Meng looked at Meng Xiangxiang hesitantly.

Meng Xiangxiang slipped down from the kang, smiled unnaturally and said to Liu Xiaonan, "Xiaonan, come out with me, I have something to say."

Liu Xiaonan followed Meng Xiangxiang to the Westinghouse.At a glance, he saw that half of the gable wall was covered with awards, which were all the honors Meng Xiangxiang had received from elementary school to high school.

He looked at one by one, and said to himself: "I have been excellent in character and learning all the way, and I am still a top student in college. Now, with my own efforts, I have taken the position of a key middle school teacher, with self-esteem, self-love and self-improvement. Her heart is full of arrogance, and she longs to be appreciated and respected by others, especially those she loves."

Meng Xiangxiang didn't speak, and stood behind Liu Xiaonan, both aggrieved and sad.Since you know everything, why hurt other people's self-esteem?

There was no reaction from behind, Liu Xiaonan continued: "But this kind of arrogance is not Mr. Guan's kind of arrogance, strong self-esteem is accompanied by inferiority and sensitivity. Seeing the dowry gift of 1 yuan, I feel that my feelings have been tarnished, Being commodified, I feel that the person I love despises me. If it were me, I would think in reverse that my excellence is worthy of the other party’s sacrifice. This is also a way of love and has nothing to do with character.”

He is impeccable in emotion and reason, and touches the deepest part of his heart.The little dissatisfaction and hurt in Meng Xiangxiang's heart became invisible. She hid behind Liu Xiaonan, a little ashamed and guilty, a little happy and satisfied, and a little worried.How does he know everything?

Liu Xiaonan turned her head and looked at Meng Xiangxiang: "You called me over, what do you want to say to me?"

Meng Xiangxiang dodged Liu Xiaonan's gaze, and said in a low voice, "I know what I'm asking, and you've said everything I want to say, great writer."

Liu Xiaonan held Meng Xiangxiang's face in both hands, and asked her to look at herself: "I didn't regard this 1 yuan as a bride price, nor did I use this 1 yuan to buy out everything about you, and I didn't have a sense of superiority." Looking at you and your family, my real thoughts are actually very simple. If Meng Duoduo also gets married in the future, we will come back to visit the elderly together during the New Year and holidays. There are at least four people in the family. Where do you think you will live? If there is another child Besides, you have two older brothers. I call you Meng Xiang because I think you can become the wife of my dreams, understand me, and we can appreciate and support each other all our lives."

Meng Xiangxiang's dark eyes remained fixed, and she admired and supported each other all her life. This question was too profound, and she had to understand it slowly.He has been hurt by love, which gave him a special understanding and expectation of marriage. Being the wife of his dreams is not an easy task.

Liu Xiaonan gently squeezed Meng Xiangxiang's slightly opened mouth into an O shape with both hands, kissed it and said, "You still don't fully understand what I told you before. Since we are going to form a new family , I have to accept everything from you, and you have to accept everything from me, including money. Money is not all evil, nor is it used to overwhelm others. If you have the ability to improve the living conditions of the elderly, can't you do a lot An option among the good things?"

Meng Xiangxiang nodded vigorously, kissed back and said, "I'm sorry, I misunderstood you. Back then, you funded me to go to college without any selfish intentions; today you built a new house for my parents, and you also have no selfish intentions. Only then did I understand what you said The meaning of relatives, how can I doubt your sincerity?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "I don't blame you, I also came out of poverty, I can understand those thoughts in your heart. You have many advantages and characters that others don't have, and this is what I value most. Little temper, I don't mind."

"I'm not playing petty temper." Meng Xiangxiang refused to admit it, put his arms around Liu Xiaonan's neck and said, "Senior brother will always be a senior brother. Your Meng Xiang only knows about reading and teaching, but he knows very little about social experience and life experience. Give more pointers."

Liu Xiaonan didn't have to turn around, he could see everything in this small room with a glance.There are several quilts stacked on the Kang, and only an old-fashioned wardrobe is placed on the floor.In addition to two small round mirrors and a few graduation photos on the top of the cabinet, all the textbooks from junior high school to high school are neatly stacked, which complements the wall full of awards.

He said: "Handling the chores in life is not what you are good at. From now on, you can only focus on your education, and leave other things to me."

Meng Xiangxiang had nothing to say anymore, took Liu Xiaonan's hand back to the east room, and said to her parents, "Father, mother, this money is Xiaonan's whole heart, please accept it! We will build a new house next year." .”

Meng's father and mother readily accepted.During the subsequent conversation, Liu Xiaonan learned that the Meng family used to have four houses, which were used for the second son's marriage. The old couple bought these three old houses and moved here with their two daughters.

Speaking of this, Mother Meng has a lot of emotion.Patriarchal, the daughter cooks, feeds chickens and pigs, and has to hold books in her hand. As a result, the daughter is more promising than the son, and I feel sorry for the daughter.

Meng Xiangxiang was still grateful to her mother. If it wasn't for her mother's insistence, she might have given up the chance to go to college.In that case, how could he meet Liu Xiaonan and change his life's destiny?

She embraced her mother and said, "It's my mother who has good vision and drove me out of the house to venture into the world. That's when I met your nephew. How is your nephew? Isn't he outstanding?"

"That goes without saying." Mother Meng smiled happily, "Our Liu family produces talents, no less than your Meng family."

Listening to the conversation between mother and daughter, Liu Xiaonan remembered what his father said to him, a good woman can change the fate of a family, or even a family.He talked about another purpose of his trip, and showed his family tree to Mother Meng.

After reading it, Mother Meng told him that the older generation of the Liu family had passed down word of mouth from generation to generation, and there was indeed a group of people who went to the Guandong and settled in southern Liaoning, but there may not be any records in the genealogy, so let him not have too much hope.In two days, ask Meng Xiangxiang to take him to Lijiazhuang to fulfill his and his father's wishes.

Meng Xiangxiang tidied up her room, laid out a new bedding, lit a plate of mosquito coils, and let Liu Xiaonan go to bed early.Liu Xiaonan considered that Meng Xiangxiang would have a lot to say and wanted to speak to her parents alone, so she followed her arrangement.

When they came to Westinghouse, Meng Xiangxiang asked Liu Xiaonan, "Are the pancakes I baked delicious? Are you full?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "The pancakes are delicious, and the sweet potatoes are also delicious. I'm full."

"I saw how many sweet potatoes you ate. Do you really like sweet potatoes? Before you ate my dried sweet potatoes, I always thought you were trying to comfort me."

"I have lied to others, when did I lie to you? Think about it, from the time we met to now, have I ever said something that hurt you? I don't know why, I always feel that you need my special care. Okay, you Don't have so many psychological burdens, I treat this place as my own home, eat well and sleep well, and don't need your special care. Just like how I treated you when you were in my house, be casual and natural."

After coaxing Meng Xiangxiang away, Liu Xiaonan lay flat on the kang, closed her eyes and calmed down for a while, and gradually gathered her thoughts into "That Trombone".Lie on the kang, spread out the manuscript paper, and write down along the original train of thought.

A few days ago, Yue Xuelian's senior sister called to inquire about his writing progress, hoping that he could deliver the manuscript before the end of the year.He told the senior sister that due to some things, the progress of the manuscript may be delayed.

Meng Xiangxiang opened the door and came in, bringing a basin of hot water for Liu Xiaonan to wash her feet.Seeing him writing on the kang, I quickly pulled him up, it was very tiring.

Liu Xiaonan said that she was used to it, and she used to write like this when she lived in a dormitory.

Meng Xiangxiang said that she had studied like this when she was in middle school, her neck and shoulders were tired, she was so tired that she wanted to put it on a dining table, and her sister had no place to sleep.Later, she moved a small wooden box to the kang, studied with her legs crossed, and then stretched her legs when her legs were numb.

Burning a fire and feeding pigs with books in their hands and a wooden box as a desk, have I ever had such hard work and perseverance?Liu Xiaonan expressed his feelings and said a line from the movie: "There will be bread, there will be milk, and there will be everything."

Meng Xiangxiang said, "If I want a sewing machine, you won't even buy me a sewing machine, so why are you talking about bread and milk?"

Liu Xiaonan smiled and said, "A sewing machine has made you obsessed. So, after school starts, I'll buy you a women's [-] bicycle, with a slanted beam, and you can wear skirts on the bicycle."

"Your bicycle is very good, you don't need to buy it."

"That's mine. It's inconvenient for me to not have a bicycle. We have one for each of us."

Liu Xiaonan sat on a low stool and washed his feet, while Meng Xiangxiang washed his socks beside him.Meng Xiangxiang looked up at Liu Xiaonan from time to time, hesitant to speak several times.

Liu Xiaonan said, "If you have something to say, speak it out, don't act like a schoolboy who made a mistake."

Meng Xiangxiang raised his head and said, "I have to sleep on the same kang with you tonight."

"I am the only person added to the family, and the real problem is in front of me. Now I know the importance of the house?"

"Understood! You don't have to worry about how many guests come to a big house like yours. My father and mother have discussed it and use your money to build a new house next year."

"Let your father sleep with me on a kang, won't it be solved?"

"My father refuses. He knows that his son-in-law is a writer and can't disturb you. Parents agree, anyway, the day of marriage is not far away. Besides, Uncle Liu said that if you feel sorry for me, he will break your leg , I'm sorry you don't dare."

Liu Xiaonan looked at Meng Xiangxiang: "Meng Xiangxiang, are you sure you are mentally prepared for marriage?"

Meng Xiangxiang was taken aback for a moment. Does marriage still require psychological preparation?She said: "I have been secretly in love with you for four years. Every time I see you on campus, I feel that you are very close and far away from me; every time I see you and Teacher Yue walk out of the campus intimately, I feel for you Feeling happy and suffering for myself. The teacher who took me confessed to me several times, and I told him that I have someone I love, even though I don’t deserve him. After Mr. Yue returned to China to find me, I cried a lot for you One game, that's not what I want to see. Now that it's a matter of course, what else do I need to do mentally?"

Liu Xiaonan asked, "Is the wooden box you used for study still there?"

"Yes." Meng Xiangxiang pointed to the side of the old-fashioned wardrobe, a small wooden box placed on two red bricks: "There are a few pairs of cloth shoes that my sister and I wear at home. Why do you ask this?"

Liu Xiaonan didn't answer, and wiped off the dust from the bottom of the wooden box with a rag, moved it to the kang, took off the scarf around Meng Xiangxiang's neck and spread it on it.Sitting cross-legged on the kang behind the wooden box, he spread out the manuscript paper and continued his writing.

Meng Xiangxiang knew that this was the situation when Liu Xiaonan wanted to experience her study."I'll take out the shoes," she said.

Liu Xiaonan said: "No need. The publishing house is urging the manuscript, and the parents are urging the marriage. In the next two months or so, we will be busy."

(End of this chapter)