A pleasant life in a courtyard

Chapter 2 Causes of Suffering
three years ago.

Before dawn, Zheng Cuiping got up early to light a fire and cook.

Since the family's mainstay fell down at the beginning of the year, she has taken over her husband Li Shengli's job as an apprentice in the fitter workshop.

Because he passed away due to illness, there was no pension. Now a family of four lives on the apprentice’s salary of 18 yuan, and they have to squeeze out money to pay off the previous foreign debt of more than 200 yuan.

These foreign debts were all borrowed to treat Li's father's illness. Although employees could not spend much money on medical treatment and medicine, the Li family's pockets could not support it at that time.

It turns out that just relying on Father Li's salary to support a large family can live a comfortable life, and they can still save some money every month.

Later, the Li family heard rumors from outside that people with rural household registration could not stay in the city, but the family was frightened. They were afraid that even the mother and the children would be driven back to the countryside. Later, the elders in the courtyard gave them the opportunity. I came up with the idea to raise money to buy the house I live in now. I can’t help but let people live in my house.

In this way, the Li family spent all their savings and with the help of relatives and friends, they finally gathered the money and bought the house. After that, they began to pay off their debts.

After finally waiting for the account to be settled, Father Li collapsed within a few days of good times. He was sent to the hospital for a check-up and was told that the leukemia could not be cured and he could only wait to die. The medical conditions at that time could not even make the patient feel better. arrive.

Even though the doctor said that staying in the hospital was of little use and it was better to go home to save some money and eat something good, Zheng Cuiping still let her husband stay in the hospital despite financial pressure.

She didn't know a few Chinese characters and didn't understand any big principles. She only knew that the sling bottle in the hospital could help her man sleep soundly.

In the last few months of Dad Li's life, it was the period when the Li family had the best food in recent years. Zheng Cuiping brought various delicious foods to the hospital in different ways every day, hoping to give him more nutrition. In her simple life, In my mind, as long as I can eat, I can live.

It's a pity that no matter how hard Father Li couldn't let go of his big family, he didn't survive even half a year and passed away with a heart full of reluctance for his wife and children.

Thinking of the way her man refused to close his eyes before he died, Zheng Cuiping squatted in front of the coal stove, feeling sour in her heart. She murmured to the ignited flame: "Shengli, since you left, the boss seems to be a different person. I don’t know if this is a good thing or not. You must ensure that the children can grow up safely. Life is too hard now. Today is the boss’s birthday. I can’t even boil an egg for him. .”

After saying that, she buried her head in her arms and cried aggrievedly, until the sound of children getting up was heard in the room. She quickly wiped the tears on her face, got up and was busy, pretending that nothing happened.

It was said to be breakfast, but it was just a bowl of porridge for each person. The porridge bowls handed to the children were full, but the bowl in front of Zheng Cuiping only had half a bowl.

As the youngest child in the family, Li Ming didn't notice anything was wrong. Meal time was the happiest time for him every day. On the contrary, the eldest sister Li Xia sensed something was wrong and glanced at Li's mother without moving her chopsticks.

Li Xiang sat down without energy after washing up. When he saw the difference in the bowls on the table, his heart skipped a beat. Is the family going to run out of food?

He stretched his head to look into the pot and found that there was still some left in it. He asked with some confusion: "Mom, there is still more in the pot. Why did you only eat so much?"

"This is enough for me. It's for you. Today is your birthday. According to the past rules, I have to boil an egg for you. But you brothers and sisters also know the situation at home. When things get better in the future, Angry, mom will make up for it again, just use half a bowl of porridge instead today."

When he heard this, Li Xiang felt sad and funny at the same time. How could he, a man, pick food from his mother's mouth? What would he become?

In the few months since he came here, even though he was hungry and scratching his lungs, he never thought of touching his family's food rations. The moral bottom line of being a human being is there. How much of a beast he must be to be able to bear the sallow face of his family. I ate the half bowl of porridge with peace of mind.He grabbed Ma Li's bowl, poured all the porridge in the pot into the bowl, then put it in front of her, and said simply: "Mom, our family is pointing at you now. If you are hungry, Anyway, what should we do?"

"I can still eat in the factory cafeteria at noon. Mom will definitely be full by then, so don't worry about eating."

As she spoke, she was about to pour the porridge back in the bowl, but Li Xiang held her back.

"Mom, can you stop worrying me? I can't even count how tiring the work you do is. It's strenuous work that no matter how much you eat, it's not enough. Your face has turned black. Don't think I don't know. Brother Zhuzhu has already said that you will only eat one whole-grain steamed bun every day, and you won’t even be willing to eat one vegetarian dish.”

Seeing that her eldest son had exposed her, Zheng Cuiping felt guilty and held the bowl of porridge in silence for a while. The younger brother, who was drinking the porridge in a hurry, also lowered his voice and became cautious.

The atmosphere at the dinner table became quiet. Li Xiang looked at the skylight outside and guessed that it was getting late. Without further words, he picked up his bowl of porridge and drank heavily.

After he put down his bowls and chopsticks, picked up his schoolbag and went out, he angrily threw a few words to the still silent Ma Li.

"If you are hungry again, then I will drop out of school and find a job, and I will be our family's labor force. You can hire whatever you want."

Zheng Cuiping, who had been silent at first, stood up from her stool when she heard what he said. She ran outside the door and shouted at Li Xiang's back: "Little bastard, listen to me. If you dare to drop out of school, I will Just break your legs, forget what you promised in front of your father!"

Zheng Cuiping's shouts attracted curious neighbors. Some of them poked their heads out of the house, wondering what the fuss was about this family so early in the morning!
Li Xiang didn't want to argue with his mother in front of everyone, so he waved his hand to indicate that he had heard, and then hurried to school quickly.

After a while, seeing that work time was about to come, Zheng Cuiping returned to the table and didn't bother to sit down. She glanced at the little porridge left in her younger son's bowl, transferred half of it from her own bowl, and then ate the rest in one go. Finished the porridge.

After taking the cloth bag and going out, he did not forget to tell his daughter: "Xiao Ming will finish eating later. There is no need to clean up the dishes. After sending your brother to the old lady's house, go to school quickly. Run a few steps on the way so as not to be late." .”

Li Xia was not dissatisfied with her mother's partiality just now, and responded obediently: "I know."

. . . . . .

If there hadn't been any emergencies in the afternoon, Li Xiang might have just regarded today as an ordinary day filled with worries about food and drink.

When he saw his neighbor Jia Dongxu in the compound, panting and anxiously waving to him outside the classroom under the leadership of the teacher, Li Xiang's heart suddenly sank to the bottom. What kind of thing would happen that would make Jia Dongxu come to school? Find him.

Before he even got there, the bad news had already reached his ears.

"Li Xiang, come with me quickly! Aunt Zheng suddenly fainted in the workshop and has been sent to the hospital."

(End of this chapter)