The train driver in the courtyard

Chapter 219 Liu Lan’s Decision

Liu Lan has been living since her husband died.

Because she is young and beautiful, matchmakers often come to propose marriage.

just.

The people introduced are either blind or lame, or people with poor backgrounds and no formal jobs.

Liu Lan didn't like any of them.

Occasionally, there will be someone you like, and the conditions are very good in all aspects, and they will already have a family.

Liu Lan also has self-awareness.

She is the brightly blooming wild flower on the roadside, with fragrant fragrance and tender stamens.

When you like it, you can pick it off, rub it in your hand, and be happy.

When you don't like it, you feel it's disgusting, so you just throw it into the ditch.

Never take it seriously.

But Xu Damao is different.

Xu Damao couldn't give birth to a son, so he urgently needed Liu Lan's two sons to help him support his career and provide for him in his old age.

Liu Lan and Xu Damao each had their own needs, so they were naturally interested.

After returning home, he took his two sons, Zhou Hailong and Zhou Haitao, back to his parents' home.

Liu Lan's natal family is located in Liumagou, a suburb of Beijing.

As soon as you enter the village entrance, you can see a standard farmhouse.

The adobe houses have thatched roofs, and there are slogans painted with white lime on the yellow mud exterior walls.

In Liu Lan's natal family, in addition to her nearly sixty-year-old mother, she also has three brothers.

The eldest brother and the second brother were both married, lived separately, and built new houses in the village.

The third brother is also married and lives with his wife in the old house.

The youngest son inherits the family business, which is not in line with the custom here in the capital. Instead, it is a bit similar to the youngest son guarding the stove on the grassland.

It's just that Liu Lan's parents doted on their younger son, so they made such a decision.

Knowing that Liu Lan had something to announce, the entire Liu family was called back.

In the low and cramped thatched house, the large kerosene lamp was fluttering in the wind and might go out at any time.

"Hey, third brother, my mother's eyesight is not good, and you can't even bear to give up some kerosene."

My sister-in-law was domineering by nature, so she stood up, took out a sewing needle, and raised the wick of the kerosene lamp a little higher.

The third sister-in-law curled her lips and said: "It's my family's business, it doesn't cost your family money, you are quite generous.

This month, Yuen Niang's old asthma relapsed.

Just to see a doctor for my mother cost me a full [-] cents.

All the money the family made from selling eggs was spent.

Where is the money to buy lamp oil?

If you are really serious, ask your oil pot to bring it over, and I can light two lamps for my mother at night. "

This was a very exciting time with guns and sticks, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed.

"From the third child's family, you and I have nothing to say about my mother's illness." The elder sister-in-law said with a sullen face: "My mother lives in your house and does work for your family, we are Liumagou.

Who doesn’t know that your mother is a good at growing crops, and she takes care of all five acres of your family’s land by herself.

Besides, doesn’t he have a daughter?

My little sister is a worker in the city and gets paid every month.

No matter what, they are richer than those of us who work in the fields.

If you want money, ask for it from my little sister. "

Liu Lan bit her lip when she heard this, and the dim light flickered, painting a gloomy color on her face.

A while ago, the third sister-in-law got five yuan back from her mother because she was ill.

But you must not say these words out loud, otherwise, according to my sister-in-law's temperament, there will be a big commotion.

"Snapped!"

The eldest brother took off his shoe soles and slapped them on the chair.

"What are you arguing about? My little sister has something to discuss with us today. Who are you two singing a big show here for?"

The eldest brother has always been dignified in the Liu family and is considered half the head of the family.

The third sister-in-law drooped her head and remained silent.

The elder sister-in-law lowered her head and muttered in a low voice: "You only dare to hurt your own mother-in-law, you are a bastard man."

"Snapped!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the round-mouth cloth shoes covered with mud flew to her head.

With a splat, it fell to the ground, and the dirt from the soles of the shoes was scattered on the ground.

The eldest sister-in-law dared not say anything anymore.

He stood up obediently, picked up the shoes, and threw them in front of his elder brother.

The soles and uppers of these shoes cost fifteen eggs. If they were lost, my sister-in-law would be so distressed that she would not be able to sleep in the middle of the night.

At this moment.

Liu Lanniang, who had been squatting in front of the table, sewing clothes, put down her needle and thread, raised her head and looked at her elder brother with muddy eyes:
"Boss, you learned this bad temper from your damn father, when will you change it?

How can any man yell at his own woman like that?

Before Da Fang got married, she was also someone else's daughter.

Would you be happy if others yelled at Xiaolan (eldest brother’s daughter) like you? "

"Mom, am I in a hurry?" The eldest brother scratched his head and laughed.

The eldest sister-in-law stood up from the chair, moved to the fire bed, and pouted: "Mom, you don't know, your son is very cruel."

"Okay, okay, Dafang, if he yells at you again in the future, you come to mom, and mom will make the decision for you."

The sister-in-law is like a newly married daughter-in-law, making a face at the elder brother, who is sitting on the chair and smiling innocently.

The third sister-in-law and the second sister-in-law both sighed in their hearts.

Despite her age, this old lady is really the anchor of the family.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly relaxed.

Liu Lanniang patted her sister-in-law's arm, her expression straightened, and she turned to look at Liu Lan: "Daughter, your three brothers are here, and I am also here. If you have any questions, just tell them. Let's do it together as a family."

Although Liu Lanniang lives in her younger son's home, she is most concerned about her poor daughter.

The short-lived Zhou Chaoxian only left two sons to Liu Lan, and they died young.

But her little daughter is as beautiful as a flower and has a bit of a temper.
Being poor and beautiful is also a sin.

Liu Lanniang came from before liberation and has seen too many tragedies.

Liu Lan put Haitao down and asked him and Hailong to play with the third brother's two children at the door. He stood up and said, "Mom, there is a projectionist named Xu Damao in our steel rolling mill. He wants to..."

Liu Lan told Xu Damao about wanting to marry her.

Of course, Xu Damao's infertility was concealed by her.

Liu Lanniang narrowed her eyes and did not say anything immediately. Instead, the third sister-in-law became more energetic: "Little sister, is the projectionist showing movies?
Those people are very arrogant. Every time a movie is shown in our village, the village chief has to greet them with cigarettes and wine. "

The eldest brother expressed his support: "This is a good thing. The key is that the man named Xu Damao has not been married yet.

Our little sister took advantage.

Once you get married, Hai Long and Haitao will have a father. "

When Hai Long and Haitao heard "Dad", they both dropped their eggs, turned around and ran over.

Hai Long: "Mom, didn't you tell us that dad was sleeping on the ground?"

Haitao: "Yes, you said that when we grow up, dad will wake up."

Only then did Liu Lan remember that she had not told her two children about her marriage to Xu Damao.

She knelt down, touched his little face, and said with a smile, "How about Mom find you a new father?"

The two children shook their heads in unison.

Hai Long: "The fat uncle who often comes to our house also said he wanted to be my father, but I didn't even agree." Hai Tao: "That's right, I only have one father, and his name is Zhou Chaoxian."

Hai Tao's words were nothing, but Hai Long's words made everyone in the room a little embarrassed.

The sister-in-law curled her lips slightly, seeming to be a little disdainful.

But because he was afraid of being beaten, he did not dare to say anything.

The second sister-in-law and the third sister-in-law looked at each other and lowered their heads in unison, as if the matter had nothing to do with them.

The second brother and the third brother also took out the pipe pot and started smoking fiercely.

If you don't support this kind of thing with both hands, you are against it.

Since Liu Lan followed the leader in the city, she has been carrying things home a lot.

Sanitary oil, bean cakes, corn noodles and toilet paper.

Especially toilet paper.

Rural people use local materials to clean their bags.

Bricks, tiles, branches and leaves. If you don't have any, a piece of garbage will do.

Where have I ever used such soft toilet paper?

If Liu Lan marries the projectionist and loses the help of the city leaders, the Liu family may not be so comfortable in the future.

It's just that they, as sisters-in-law and brothers, have no choice but to say this.

Seeing that only her boss supported her, Liu Lanniang sighed in her heart: Everyone has selfish motives.
She doesn't blame her son and daughter-in-law either.

After all, they are afraid of poverty.

Liu Lan Niang stood up and walked to Liu Lan holding on to the fire bed: "My daughter, as long as you like her, my mother will have no objection, and neither will your brothers and sisters-in-law."

After saying that, she turned to look at her sons and daughter-in-law with different expressions, and said in a cold tone, "What do you think?"

"Support is just like responding to the call from the brigade. Absolute support." The third sister-in-law stood up first.

Several others also nodded.

The eldest sister-in-law also showed her intelligence by the way: "Little sister, by next year, our production mutual aid group will be promoted to a commune. It is said above that we will eat from a big pot and eat for free, which is better than that of you city people. Life is easy. Just don't always look after us."

Mentioning the latest trends in the village, several brothers and sisters-in-law became excited.

"I heard that the commune provides free medical treatment and schooling."

"If you don't want money, what do you want?"

"Work points! I heard from Accountant Zhang that from now on work points will be money. Adult men will receive [-] work points, lesbians will receive [-] work points, and children will receive half of the work points."

"This is a good idea. When the time comes, you just need to sit in the field and enjoy yourself for a day, and you will get work points."

"comfortable!"

The Liu family's meeting was originally to discuss Liu Lan's marriage, but it gradually went sideways after the elder sister-in-law raised the topic of 'commune'.

The Liu family were both novel and excited about the commune.

They all discussed how the Liu family should farm and live after joining the commune.

It was getting late.

Liu Lanniang, who had been silent until now, stood up again and waved her hands to them: "You guys are arguing so happily, my old lady doesn't believe it, and you don't even work, how can the ground produce food?"

"Mom, you are already an old man. Who says you don't work anymore? You just do it leisurely. It's not your job anyway, so why do you have to work so hard?" The third brother said proudly.

Liu Lanniang shook her head: "You guys, if you think like this, you will always be hungry one day."

As soon as these words came out, the brothers and sisters-in-law suddenly did not dare to say anything.

The eldest brother whispered: "Mom, the commune is advocated by the higher-ups. You must not say such nonsense."

Liu Lanniang stared: "What the higher-ups advocated is correct, but the higher-ups didn't let you think about how to be lazy."

"We are just talking. Who can really stand there and not work? It would be so embarrassing if someone saw it."

Seeing Liu Lanniang getting angry.

The brothers and sisters-in-law did not dare to chat anymore, said hello to Liu Lan and left quickly.

It was late at night now.

Liu Lan is a temporary worker. If she asks for leave, her wages will be deducted.

So we decided to rush back to the city overnight.

Liu Lan Niang carried a lantern and sent Liu Lan to the road outside the village.

She carefully tucked the clothes of the two children, then raised her head and looked at Liu Lan: "Daughter, my mother has never gone to school, has no education, and can't make any sense.

Now that you are getting married again, don't mention those messy things in the past.

What should be broken must be broken. "

"Mother, I"

Before Liu Lan could finish speaking, Liu Lanniang interrupted her: "As for our family, don't worry.

Your brothers and sisters-in-law seem to have evil intentions, and they are not beasts capable of doing unconscionable things.

I have supported them for so long, and now that they are old, can they not support me? "

You, my daughter, are good friends with others to support me, an old woman.

If I die, I won’t have the shame to go underground to meet your father. "

When Liu Lanniang talked about the emotional part, tears overflowed from the corners of her eyes and her voice became choked with sobs.

Liu Lan was also infected by this emotion. She bit her lip and nodded heavily: "Mom, don't worry, I will break up with that person when I go back."

"Let's go, let's go, don't look back."

Under the dim light of Liu Lanniang's lantern, Liu Lan was riding a bicycle on the narrow path in the countryside.

Watching Liu Lan's back disappear little by little, Liu Lanniang sighed: "I hope she can really understand this time."

No one knows this girl better than she does.

The reason why Liu Lan went astray was not only due to family difficulties but also due to personality factors.

These days, everyone's life is not easy.

There are countless families who are poorer and more miserable than Liu Lan's family.

There are very few people who do that kind of thing.

The day after Liu Lan returned to the capital, she found Deputy Director Li.

He said that he had found a partner and wanted to sever ties with him.

Deputy Director Li was a little reluctant to leave this little rural widow.

But I didn't force him to stay.

After all, Lou Zhenhua has just fallen, leaving a large power vacuum. All his energy is focused on fighting Director Yang.

As for Liu Lan's marriage partner Xu Damao, Deputy Factory Director Li seemed to have some impression of him as a very smooth young man.

"Liu Lan, don't worry, I'm not that kind of person. Since you have found a good home now, I wish you happiness."

Deputy Director Li paused and said with a smile: "When the time comes, do you want me to help you host the wedding?"

"Get out!" Liu Lan spat in Deputy Director Li's face, turned around and left the office without hesitation.

"Bang!" The sound of the door closing startled Deputy Director Li.

He raised his sleeves and wiped away the scum from his face, and snorted coldly: "This little girl dares to show off her face to labor and management. Sooner or later, I want you to kneel down and beg me!"

Liu Lan has never been so comfortable.

Leave Deputy Director Li's office.

She went directly to the Publicity Department and asked someone to call Xu Damao out.

"Comrade Xu Damao, I agree to marry you!"

"Ah?!" Xu Damao turned to look at his colleagues who were watching the excitement, pulled Liu Lan to a place where no one was around, and asked in a low voice: "The director of the Women's Federation has gone to your house to talk to matchmakers so quickly."

"Not yet! I just came to tell you in advance."

Liu Lan felt relieved and felt a little embarrassed. She stuck out her tongue and ran away quickly.

Xu Damao looked at her pretty back and scratched his head: "This little widow is pretty good."

(End of this chapter)