life struggle

"What bastard bastard did it, the toilet doesn't flush after going to the bathroom, feces and urine are leaking everywhere, the stench is so bad, there's no place to lay your feet!"

The angry voice of an old man suddenly came from outside, which woke up a pair of mandarin ducks who were in high excitement.

Wu Xiaojun subconsciously let go of his tightly clasped hands, and asked in a low voice in panic, "Who is shouting what outside?"

Bai Lingyan opened her eyes quickly, and the wonderful sense of beauty that had just been aroused disappeared all of a sudden. She lowered her head and calmly adjusted her clothes lightly, turned around and opened the door, looked outside, then turned around and said, "Some people It’s just unconsciously, maybe the water in the toilet is blocked again, this kind of thing often happens.”

Wu Xiaojun said guiltily, "Lingyan, I'm sorry, I just joked a little too much, please don't mind me!"

Bai Lingyan said shyly, "What are you talking about! It's getting late, I should go home!"

Wu Xiaojun saw the big change in Bai Lingyan's attitude, he seemed to be a different person in an instant, and felt very uneasy about his impulsiveness, "Well, although the distance is not far, but we have to reverse the car a few times, it's better to start early. "

The two walked through the bustling New Year's market and arrived at Wenhua Road Station. Wu Xiaojun said, "Be careful on the road. When will you be back after the festival?"

Bai Lingyan stared at Wu Xiaojun and said, "My eldest sister gets married on the sixth day of the first lunar month, so she may come back later, I think it will not be later than the tenth day at the latest. What about you?"

Wu Xiaojun said, "According to the custom in our place, we don't go out every day and don't come back. We go out every now and then, and come back on the sixth day. Anyway, it's the same every year. After visiting relatives in the fourth day, it's okay to stay at home."

Bai Lingyan nodded lightly, and said distressedly, "Some time ago, you were restless and unhappy all day because of her and her family. I was sweating for you. I was always worried that you were too worried, and your body and spirit would completely collapse. Come down. I hope you can spend the short-lived good campus time with a comfortable, happy and fulfilling state of mind."

Wu Xiaojun said, "Thank you for your concern, don't worry, I'm fine."

Bai Lingyan said implicitly, "Xiaojun, you should be afraid of wolves and tigers in the past. Indecision should not be in your nature. Some things will leave troubles if you stop and stop. When everything will pass, you should seriously consider how to deal with it in the future." She, as a good friend, even if I give you a pertinent reminder at the end of the year, I also hope that you can have a clear answer."

On the morning of the 28th, Wu Xiaojun and his father had just bought new year's goods from the county and had just entered the house. They saw Chen Bing, a high school student in a neighboring village, who was studying at Xiangzhou Agricultural University, waiting for him.He asked in great surprise, "Chen Bing, why are you here? We haven't seen each other for some years!"

Chen Bing is much more mature and demeanor than before. The young man looks full of spring and spirit, and when he sees Wu Xiaojun coming back, he immediately greets him, "Going to the city to buy new year's goods, sir, you have gone too!"

In the past, Chen Bing often came to the house, and Wu Pingshun was also very familiar with him, "Xiao Chen, are you ready at home, how are your parents?"

Chen Bing said politely, "Master, everything is fine at home."

Wu Pingshun said, "You chat with Xiaojun, you finally come here, don't leave at noon, eat here!"

Chen Bing said, "Grandpa, you should be busy with other things. I have something to do in the morning, so I'll be leaving in a while!"

Wu Xiaojun said with emotion, "Chen Bing, time flies so fast. I haven't seen each other for three years. You are about to break through the darkness before dawn and see the dawn. I still have to search in the long night. I really envy you!"

Chen Bing said, "I'm just dawdling in school. Internships are the same as non-internships, and I won't be of much use in the future."

Wu Xiaojun said, "Graduation is a good thing, why be so pessimistic!"

Chen Bing said, "The employment prospects of our majors are bleak. The students who graduated from the senior grades either turned to the back door to become teachers through the back door, or opened their own shops to sell pesticides, fertilizers and seeds, which had nothing to do with their majors. It was a waste of four years. It’s a great time. But now I’m thinking about it, there’s no limit to the road, let’s talk about it wherever we go.”

Wu Xiaojun said, "That's true. The financial turmoil is breaking out in Southeast Asia, which has a great impact on our country. The current economic situation is very sluggish, and the employment situation is not optimistic. Many workers in large state-owned factories in Pingxi have been laid off. He suffered a heavy blow and even committed suicide by jumping off a building, maybe it will get better after this period of time."

Chen Bing said, "It does have a lot to do with this. Let's not talk about it. A few of our high school classmates are scheduled to meet at Yuanzhen Hotel at noon on the first day of junior high school. Let me inform you."

Wu Xiaojun said pleasantly, "Really, that's great, probably someone?"

Chen Bing said, "This was initiated and organized by my classmate Kang Weidong from the County Personnel Bureau, mainly Ding Bingxin and Qiu Qiaoying from Xiangzhou University, Zhang Yanbin, Tan Xiangyun, Wang Suzhen from Xiangzhou University of Technology, Zhao Guixia from Wuhan University and others."

Wu Xiaojun said in surprise, "It seems that Kang Weidong is promising now, and he ran to the Personnel Bureau in a blink of an eye. I will definitely participate."

Chen Bing said, "See you then, I have to inform other people elsewhere, so I won't talk to you."

Not long after Chen Bing left, he suddenly heard hoarse crying from far and near in the village. Wu Xiaojun asked his father in puzzlement, "Who is crying at this time? It's so loud, as if no one else can hear it?"

Mrs. Xiaojun led the cow out of the house and said, "It seems that the auntie is dead. The old couple guarded about ten acres of land, hungry and full all day long, and only a handful of bones left. Poor, people in the east and west villages are worried about them. Over the years, the boy Qianqin has never been alive or dead. It doesn't matter whether you ask or not. Now I'm finally free, and I don't have to suffer anymore."

Wu Pingshun was squatting in front of the door, smoking a cigarette, and listening to Mrs. Xiaojun talking non-stop, she said angrily, "Hurry up and take the cows out to bask in the sun, you have to talk nonsense, what's the difference between us and them, and you know how shy we are?" Talk about people with a straight face."

Seeing that Wu Pingshun was angry, Xiaojun's mother and Wu Xiaojun didn't dare to say anything.

Xiaojun's mother is warm-hearted and the only person in the village who knows how to cut paper. If anyone has a family affair, she is naturally indispensable.After tidying up the house, she said to Wu Pingshun, "His father, it seems that he is really a leftover aunt. Would you like to go and have a look?"

Wu Pingshun said, "Whoever's family has this kind of thing can't go, his family has to go, Xiaojun should go too, you just came back, and it's time to meet and say hello to the old and young in the village. Tell me behind my back that I can't point it out, and say you are arrogant."

The situation of Gousheng’s family is similar to that of Wu Xiaojun’s family, except that Gousheng and Wu Pingshun are seven or eight years older than Wu and Pingshun, and they are both close to 70 years old.Ever since Qianjin was found out for stealing Wu Xiaojun's book, and Wu Maiduo sent him away overnight to abscond, several years have passed since no one came back, and he doesn't know whether he is dead or alive.According to the intuitive feeling of the villagers, Gou Sheng knew it clearly.Perhaps it was because of the hopes and fantasies he had for his youngest son, no matter how his two sons kept scolding and beating them, tormenting the old couple to death, he still stood by him unmoved. Ten mu of land is not let go, and if there is a little leisure time, I will get up early and work late at night to work on the construction site, saving money and working hard to earn money.

Fortunately, Gou Sheng is in good health, and can bear no matter how hard or tired he is, but his wife is not good enough. Even if he does some light odd jobs with him, it is unbearable. Over time, he is seriously ill.Gou Sheng was reluctant to spend money to hospitalize her. The two sons turned a blind eye, neither of them willing to pay.The day before yesterday, I passed out three times. The two daughters were scared to death. They looked for two older brothers. The one who was not at home was not at home, and the one who was at home was waiting to go out. After talking for a long time, no one took the lead. My own mother was sent to the hospital, but it was too late to help, and she died soon.

Most of the people who were at home in the village had arrived, standing in groups of three or two, filling the entire small courtyard, and many people were busy preparing for the funeral.

Wu Xiaojun and Wu Pingshun stayed at Gousheng's house for a while, and had no place to intervene. They chatted with a few people in the village for a while and then went home.

Wu Pingshun returned home with his hands behind his back sullenly, squatted in the yard in a daze for a long time, smoked a few cigarettes, and sighed, "It's really not worth living for a couple who are left behind. , I haven't had a good day, and I have to be chilling when I get old and end up like this."

Seeing his father's melancholy, Wu Xiaojun didn't know how to express it well, so he changed the topic and said, "The day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve, so it shouldn't be delayed until the next year, right? Everyone is busy celebrating the festival with relatives, so we can't spare it." Time to do this for his family!"

"The time is set for the day after tomorrow. Gou Sheng is also a fussy man. He is also a gunner, and he also made a lot of paper coffin covers and courtyards. His two sons refused to pay for it. Either they don't fix these, or The money is paid by the dog, and the lords are blushing and have a thick neck. Hey, they are all a group of people. In my opinion, as long as you eat well when you are alive, you are better than anything else, and you are dead. If you close your eyes and don’t know anything, it’s no use being fancy.”

Wu Xiaojun said, "Grandpa Gousheng did this with at least two intentions. One is that Grandma Gousheng was wronged a lot when she was alive. Comfort; moreover, in order to restore some bad reputation to his son and daughter, I think it is not too much to start from him, it is his children who do not understand this intention."

Wu Pingshun said worriedly, "Xiaojun, you have also seen that today's Gousheng's family is tomorrow's tomorrow, and your uncle was also an example. My body is getting worse every day, and I don't know when it will be my turn." Me. It’s better to rely on yourself than to rely on the sky and the earth. You have to be prepared in your heart. When that day comes, only our family will be extremely selfish. You can’t count on anyone, so you must walk your own way. .”