Father's Land Mother's River

Chapter 46 Mohair White Scarf
Normal work after New Year's Day.While working, Liu Xiaonan felt her cheeks were hot all the time, as if she was being burned by two beams of strong light. She raised her head to look for the light source, but her eyes quickly hid like a frightened little rabbit, and she lowered her head to avoid it.

Wu Yanli is a bit abnormal today, she seems to be not concentrated enough, a few large pieces of fabric appear in succession, and the loom is not running smoothly.

Wang Aiqing was helping to mend the defective cloth, she didn't understand what happened to the girl today, she was half-hearted.Didn't have a good rest last night?Family emergency?Physical discomfort?

Wang Aiqing simply asked a few words, Wu Yanli blushed slightly and just shook her head slightly.Wang Aiqing thought of another possibility, the girl fell in love, or fell in love with someone.Who is the one?
Wang Aiqing observed her words secretly, only to find that Wu Yanli's adoring eyes often sneaked onto Liu Xiaonan.And Liu Xiaonan seemed to be aware of it too, and unconsciously stared obsessively at Wu Yanli's back.She understood a little bit, and was conflicted in her heart.

After all the looms were running, Wang Aiqing came to Liu Xiaonan, first smiled admiringly, and then whispered into Liu Xiaonan's ear, "I've read your novel "The Teacher" twice, it's great. Your elder brother I am full of praise, I am convinced that you will have a great future and development in the future, and let me send you a message, don't be complacent and complacent, you still need to forge ahead."

Liu Xiaonan wondered secretly, this doesn't sound like what the big brother in the village said?He didn't think too much, and said to Wang Aiqing: "Don't worry, Master Wang. I know how much I am now, and how far I have to go."

Wang Aiqing said: "It's good to know. You are only 22 years old. You have a long way to go in the future. Don't be in a hurry to fall in love. It's not too late to talk about it after you have a successful career."

Liu Xiaonan distinguished: "I'm not in a relationship, and I don't want to. I know who I am."

Wang Aiqing nodded her head and said trustingly: "Master Wang is just reminding you that you have a great future and a long way to go. Don't let down your great youth."

There was something in Master Wang's words, and there was deep meaning hidden in Wu Yanli's eyes, Liu Xiaonan was momentarily uncertain.Wu Yanli walked past him, and he looked straight into her eyes, wanting to find out.

The expression on his face was as calm as before, but his eyes were flowing, like a stone thrown into a deep pool.Looking at each other, Wu Yanli stopped, hesitated to say something but didn't say it, and looked around.

Liu Xiaonan took the first step and joked next to her ear: "You stop a loom, and I am relaxed. Are you afraid that I will be tired if you stop the loom one after another?"

Wu Yanli's eyes were a little flustered, like warp and weft threads entangled in a ball, unable to interweave a smooth and smooth pattern.She looked over the top of Liu Xiaonan's head, and whispered into his ear, "Teacher."

Liu Xiaonan heard it clearly and was really surprised.How would she know?She also likes to read?The circulation of literary publications is good, and local literary publications will be loved by local young people. If you often buy literary publications, it is not surprising to see your own novels.So, will Gu Yu see it?
Seeing Liu Xiaonan standing there in a daze, Wu Yanli pressed his ear again, and her surprise turned into waves of voices: "I saw the novel you wrote. Your photo is really exciting. If it wasn't for your name below, I thought I was wrong."

Liu Xiaonan begged, "I beg you to do one thing, don't say it."

Wu Yanli opened her eyes wide: "Why?"

"Running blackboard newspapers has already wasted a lot of my spare time. If the workshop finds out and asks me to write this or that material, I won't have time to write novels."

Wu Yanli agreed.When she was about to leave work, she said to Liu Xiaonan, "I'll keep it a secret for you, can you do something for me?"

Wu Yanli read the novel written by Liu Xiaonan from her younger brother.Her younger brother has just entered the first year of high school, and he doesn't like to study when he comes home, he only reads extracurricular books.Yesterday evening, I bought a magazine and came back. I put down my schoolbag and hid in the room to peek. My parents found out.

Parents want to confiscate it, saying that if you don't study hard, you will be a shift worker like your sister in the future?My younger brother argues, how can I write a good composition without reading extracurricular books?At least let me read this "Teacher", how can people meet such a good teacher?Amazing.

What novel is so attractive?Wu Yanli doesn't read much at ordinary times, she just snatched the publication from her younger brother out of curiosity, and the author Liu Xiaonan's name was the first thing she saw.She thought it was the same name, but when she saw the author's photo, she was shocked.

No wonder I always felt that he was different, but I couldn't see that he was outstanding in that aspect, except for his reticence.During the interval of weaving, he always stares at a certain place in a daze, his eyes are blank but bottomless, making it hard to figure out.

Following his gaze, it is often a wall or a loom, which is very casual and nothing special.Now I fully understand that he is immersed in his own spiritual world.

A calm daughter's heart suddenly rippled, and Wu Yanli exclaimed: "I know him!"

The younger brother didn't believe it, and said she was bragging: "If you can bring home the author of "Teacher", I will study hard in the future."

That night, Wu Yanli finished reading "Teacher" word by word, stared at the photo of the author for a long time in a daze, put down the book and lost sleep again.In her sleep, she was working on the same machine as him, the distance was so close.Leaving the machine, she and him are far away again, separated by two different worlds.

She didn't sleep well all night, and saw that real figure again at work. She lost herself completely, and made major mistakes in her work one after another.Fortunately, she suddenly thought that her brother's words were the best excuse. Taking him home to show her parents might be able to overcome the insurmountable barrier between the city and the countryside.

Didn't Wang Aiqing cross over?Wu Yanli believes that she can do it too. Putting aside her identity as a rural person, such a courageous, talented and energetic young man suddenly came to her side, what is it if it is not fate?
Thinking this way, my mood gradually calmed down, and when I got off work, I made that request decisively.

After dinner, Liu Xiaonan took the bus designated by Wu Yanli, and Wu Yanli would wait for him at the terminal.For him, this is just an ordinary invitation, and it is a joy to show up to help others, and he dare not and cannot have other ideas.

When the train arrived at the terminal, Liu Xiaonan saw Wu Yanli standing on the platform, covered tightly and stomping her feet non-stop. It was not difficult to see that she had come out a long time earlier than the appointed time.The anxiously waiting figure was reflected in the snow, stretched long and thin by the lights of the street lamps, constantly changing its position in the cold wind.

The two met, Wu Yanli led Liu Xiaonan into a residential area, and climbed up to the fifth floor along a narrow, dark staircase full of debris.

This is the first time Liu Xiaonan has entered an ordinary urban household living in a building.As soon as you enter the door, you can see a single iron bed on the aisle between the two rooms; on the right hand side is a small bathroom, next to the bathroom is the kitchen; on the left hand side is a narrow wall with clothes hanging on it.

At first glance, it is about the same size as the two tile-roofed houses in my own house, but it is just a concrete floor, a bathroom, and heating.

As soon as she entered, Wu Yanli yelled for her younger brother to come out, the person he wanted to see had arrived.The younger brother didn't show up, but the Wu family's parents greeted him together, and enthusiastically let Liu Xiaonan into the bedroom and living room.After a few simple greetings, Wu's parents began to inquire about Liu Xiaonan's family situation and work situation.

Wu Yanli stood aside, looking embarrassed.Liu Xiaonan told the truth frankly, there was nothing shameful about it.It's just that I feel a little awkward in my heart, and I feel that the purpose of this trip has changed.

Wu Yanli's younger brother rescued Liu Xiaonan.When the big boy saw that his sister really brought the author home, he was admiring and pleasantly surprised, and begged Liu Xiaonan to tutor him in writing.

Liu Xiaonan followed the older boy to another small room and sat down in front of a desk.

The older boy told Liu Xiaonan that this was his sister's room, and that he slept in the corridor and only occupied his sister's room when he was studying.

The room is very small, with a single bed, a wardrobe and a desk, it seems full.Wu's parents and Wu Yanli stood at the door watching, and Liu Xiaonan began to get down to business.

Liu Xiaonan picked up a few literary publications on the desk, flipped through them and said to the big boy: "Every teacher will say that if you want to write a good composition, there is no shortcut except to read more, write more and practice more. In high school, I suggest Don’t waste time on these magazines, and only read the proses of famous literary figures in extracurricular books. You must read them carefully, not just watch the fun, and only by repeated reflection can you improve your writing ability.”

Liu Xiaonan talked about his experience and understanding, and he proposed to read the composition written by the big boy.The big boy reluctantly took out his own composition, Liu Xiaonan read one, the handwriting was scribbled, and there was nothing to say.

Liu Xiaonan asked the big boy for a pen and a blank book, re-copied his composition word for word, and put them side by side for the big boy to read: "If you are a Chinese teacher, if you don't know the content, , Which one will leave you with a good initial impression? Which one will you read first, and spend more energy carefully reviewing it?"

The big boy yelled in surprise: "Big brother, how did you practice this calligraphy?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "I practiced it by copying the stone tablet inscribed by Mr. Guan in the novel. As long as you work hard, you can also practice good calligraphy. During the winter vacation, go to Xinhua Bookstore to buy a copybook with a pen that you like, and practice repeatedly. , Practice until your wrists are sore and you can't hold the pen. We don't want to be a calligrapher, at least the handwriting is neat and comfortable to look at."

Wu Yanli brought Liu Xiaonan a cup of hot water, stood aside and said to her younger brother, "Study hard with your elder brother, you must count your words, and you must study hard in the future."

The big boy pushed Wu Yanli out of the room: "Big brother is giving me a lecture, but you don't understand, so don't bother us."

Liu Xiaonan followed the big boy's composition, explaining sentence by sentence while writing, and expanded the composition of about 1000 words to more than [-] words, so as to open up the big boy's thinking.

The big boy exclaimed: "You don't write drafts when you write?"

Liu Xiaonan said: "I never write a rough draft. I write a draft first, and then start writing when the idea is mature. It is only a thousand or eight hundred words, and it can be written in one go. You should consciously exercise this ability in normal times to save time during the college entrance examination."

The big boy said: "You speak better than our Chinese teacher. Big brother can organize a composition tutoring class in the future. There must be people who like to listen to your lectures."

"You can't say that. This is just my personal experience. The knowledge taught by the teacher in the classroom is accumulated over the years and must not be ignored." Liu Xiaonan relaxed and said, "However, your proposal is worth my consideration. If One day I will lose my job, so I might as well take a composition tutoring class to see how it works, maybe it is a way out.”

The big boy insisted on practicing calligraphy according to Liu Xiaonan's handwriting, so Liu Xiaonan had to copy a few ancient prose for him as a model.

The big boy glanced at his parents and sister who were in the other room and kept looking into this room, and whispered to Liu Xiaonan mysteriously, "My sister may be in love with you."

Liu Xiaonan was taken aback suddenly. He raised his head to look at the big boy and said calmly, "Don't make wild guesses about your sister. I work on the same computer as her, and that's why I asked you to help you write essays. You How old are you, what do you know?"

The big boy said unconvinced: "Who doesn't know a little about that kind of thing? My sister doesn't read books at all, but she rushes to read the novels you wrote, and sometimes looks at your photos and secretly giggles, isn't that What is falling in love with you?"

Liu Xiaonan warned: "If you still want me to help you write essays in the future, don't muddy the water."

After transcribing several ancient essays, Liu Xiaonan checked the time, just in time to catch the last train, and got up to leave.Wu's parents said a few polite words, but their attitude was very cold.

The behavior of her parents was inconsistent. Wu Yanli was afraid of hurting Liu Xiaonan and making him unhappy, so she wanted to send him to the station to explain a few words.

Liu Xiaonan resolutely refused to let her see it off. It was cold and the corridor was dark, so I still didn't know who would see who.Before leaving the house, he said to the older boy, "If you need my help to solve any problems in the future, ask your sister to tell me."

The big boy winked at him mischievously, implying that he knew everything.

There were few passengers on the last train, Liu Xiaonan sat by the window and stared outside, the fuzzy night scenes of the city flashed past him one by one, leaving almost no trace.His heart was both relaxed and heavy, and he felt that the trip was worthwhile, at least he saw the truth of reality clearly.

Wang Aiqing's point of view is correct. I am still young, and have serious lack of social experience and life experience. I have not yet established a foothold in the city, and I really don't have the conditions to think about it in advance.

If it is truly pure, time can verify everything, wouldn't it be another kind of beauty to keep it in my heart for the time being?
The Spring Festival is coming soon, and the textile factory sends out buses to send the farmers' rotation workers back to their hometowns for the New Year, and the factory entrance is bustling again.Liu Xiaonan, Guan Xiaoyun, Yu Zhiyong and the others lined up in groups of townships to get on the bus, carrying large and small parcels containing gifts for relatives.

Dong Xiaojun found Guan Xiaoyun carrying a cardboard box, saying it was a little gift for her parents.Guan Xiaoyun accepted it without hesitation, with a somewhat complacent expression.

Liu Xiaonan joked with Dong Xiaojun: "You should come with us and go to the countryside for a new year. If you want to be a son-in-law of Liuzi Street, you must understand the customs of the countryside."

Dong Xiaojun looked at Guan Xiaoyun and said: "It's a little rash to go now, but I will definitely go in the future. I think I like the countryside."

Yu Zhiyong, who was standing in the other row, followed suit: "Xiaoyun, tell me, doesn't he like the countryside? Xiaonan and I put him in the car, and we have to go if we don't."

Guan Xiaoyun said: "You two don't need to worry about my affairs. If you have the ability, you should settle your own affairs first."

Perhaps because of a sympathetic heart, Liu Xiaonan turned her head subconsciously, and saw Wu Yanli standing in an unobtrusive place, with her arms on her chest, beckoning to him quietly.He walked over, and Wu Yanli took out a paper bag from her bag and handed it to him.

Liu Xiaonan touched it softly, and asked, "What is this?"

Wu Yanli said shyly, "I knitted a white scarf for you out of mohair. My younger brother loves to learn, and practice writing according to your handwriting every day. I don't know how to thank you."

After finishing speaking, he turned around and hurried away, as if he was afraid that others would find out, and did not leave enough time for Liu Xiaonan to react.

On the moving bus, Guan Xiaoyun sat beside Liu Xiaonan, strongly demanding to see what Wu Yanli gave Liu Xiaonan.

Liu Xiaonan refused to show it, but Guan Xiaoyun threatened him that if he didn't show it, he would reveal all his affairs.In desperation, Liu Xiaonan had no choice but to take out the paper bag, opened it, and the two buried their heads to admire it secretly.

This is a one-meter-long snow-white scarf, woven with fine mohair yarn, which is dense and compact, with a layer of fine fluff on the surface, which feels soft and warm to the touch.Wrapped around the neck, it must be free and easy, elegant and warm, adding an extraordinary and pure scenery to this severe winter.

Guan Xiaoyun observed Liu Xiaonan's pretending to be normal, and whispered angrily: "You are so attractive to women! That evil spirit has not shown his face, so this one sent a promise. Fortunately, I didn't get involved in this troubled water. You Don't be too complacent, be careful that you fall into the crowd of women and you can't get out of your birth, causing troubles that you can't shake off. It's not that having too much is a good thing."

Liu Xiaonan glared at Guan Xiaoyun, but put the scarf away without saying anything.He remembered that when he was in high school, his mother took off the thread gloves his father had accumulated for many years, and knitted him a thin sweater with fine thread and needles, which took time and effort and required enough patience.

This scarf is precious.He could fully imagine how Wu Yanli spent so much time in the limited time of this month to go to the mall to choose wool, how to avoid the suspicious eyes and questioning of her parents, how to use the rest time to knit stitch by stitch. In order to deliver it to him before the Spring Festival.

She kneaded the delicate, warm and longing feelings of her daughter into the pure white scarf.

(End of this chapter)