childhood, on earth, my university

Chapter 11: In the world (4)
Grandma received me warmly and hurried to burn the samovar.As usual, my grandfather asked sarcastically:

"Have you saved a lot of money?"

"No matter how much it is, I earned it all myself!" As I said, I deliberately took out the cigarette pouch and lit a cigarette.

"Cigarette purse!" Grandpa screamed, "Okay, do you intend to make me angry?" He stretched out his small and powerful arms, and his eyes shot green light, and he rushed towards me.I jumped up and banged my head on his stomach, and the old man sat down on the floor.He blinked in surprise, and looked at me with a dark grin:
"Did you knock me down? Grandfather, your mother's father?"

"You hit me hard enough in the past." I muttered under my breath, but I knew in my heart that I had gone too far.

Grandfather got up from the floor all at once, snatched the cigarette from my hand neatly, threw it out of the window, and said in a trembling voice:
"Wild boy, God will not forgive you, understand?"

He turned back to the grandmother who had just come in and said:

"Old woman, look, this kid actually started to attack me. You ask him." Grandma came over, grabbed my hair, shook it, and muttered:

"Tell you to call, give you some color and see..."

In fact, my grandmother didn't hurt from the beating, but I felt wronged in my heart. I broke free, ran to the front hall, lay down in the corner, and listened disheartened to the gurgling sound of the samovar.

Grandmother came over.She bent down and whispered:

"I was just putting on a show just now, otherwise your grandfather would be upset. He is in poor health and has suffered enough. Don't be angry with him, respect him, you are not young, Alyosha , you should understand this."

Grandma's kind words warmed my heart like a warm current.I hugged my grandmother tightly.

In the evening, my grandmother and I came to the wilderness.I told my grandmother about life on the boat, and my grandmother listened to me quietly, just as I liked to listen to her.When I spoke of Smoore, she solemnly crossed herself and said:

"He's a good man, may Our Lady bless him! Don't forget him!"

Later, I mustered up the courage to tell her about my dismissal, but she just said lightly:

"You are still young, you don't know how to live..."

I decided to make a career out of catching songbirds, so subsistence wouldn't be a problem.I bought a net, a ring, some bird traps, and made some cages.In this way, every day when it was about to dawn, I would wait in the bushes in the ravine.Grandmother, carrying baskets and bags, picked fresh mushrooms, lotus fruits and walnuts in the forest.

At the bottom of the ravine, came the cry of the little gorse.I saw lively birds showing their red heads in the gray weeds.Curious birds chirped happily all around me.They playfully bulged their white cheeks, roared and chattered, and kept busy.They are clever and curious, and they want to touch everything, but they all fall into the bird trap one by one.I couldn't bear to see them bumping into each other.But for the sake of making a living, I can't take care of that much anymore.I transferred the birds to cages and covered them with bags.That way they're much better behaved.

A group of yellow sparrows flew down in the hawthorn bushes, like a group of naughty primary school students, singing loud and clear songs.The Shrike stood on the soft branches of the briar, combed the feathers on its wings with its beak, and searched for the prey keenly with its black eyes.Suddenly, leaping up like a lark, it caught a bumblebee, stuck it carefully on a thorn, and then perched on a branch, turning its sneaky little gray head.The alert sparrow flew past without a sound.A laggard gray bird stood on the alder tree, screaming like a general.

As the sun rose higher and higher, more and more birds gathered and their singing became more and more vigorous.The whole ravine echoed with the singing of birds.

At this time, from somewhere above, the grandmother shouted:
"Alyosha, where are you?"

I ran up.She sat on the edge of the ravine, spread a kerchief on the floor, and put on it bread, cucumbers, apples, and a pretty little glass bottle of vodka infused with hypericum.

I gave her the bird I caught.She took them to the market to sell.The first time she sold birds, my grandmother earned forty kopecks.She said in disbelief:

"Look, I thought it was just a joke. Who knew it could really make money! Every time I go to the market, my grandmother can always earn a ruble or more. However, she feels that keeping the bird in a cage It's not good, so I advise you to say:

"Alyosha, don't do this bird-catching job!"

However, I am fascinated by bird hunting, and it can support me.I got some good fowler gear and talked to other experienced fowlers.I often went alone to hunt birds in the Kerstov Forest and on the banks of the Volga, thirty versts away.

There are crossbills that live in pine forests, and beautiful long-tailed white tits.

I usually go out in the evening and walk on the Kazan road all night.Sometimes braved the drizzle of the autumn rain, moving forward in the deep mud.At dawn I went to the woods, set up the traps, hung up the cages, and lay down in the clearing, waiting for the day.There is silence all around, and everything is immersed in the sound sleep of autumn...

A flock of birds woke up.Gray coal tits hopped from branch to branch like balls of white fur.On the top of the pine tree stood a fiery red crossbill, pecking at the pine cones on the tree with its curved beak.The white Apollo silk butterfly swayed on the top of the pine tree, with eyes like black beads, looking suspiciously at my open net. The forest was still silent 1 minute ago, and in an instant, all the birds are singing together.

I can't bear to catch these little birds.I like to watch them.A blue tit looked and looked at the birdtrap, probably realizing that it was a danger to itself, but it slipped in from the side anyway and cleverly snatched the bait.The haughty bullfinches are more stupid, and they burrow into the nets in flocks.When they were covered by nets, their eyes were wide open, terrified, and their thick mouths kept pecking at their paws.The crossbill always walked into the trap calmly and generously.However, appreciation is appreciation, and pity is pity.By noon, I had all the birds I caught in cages, wrapping up a day of birding.When I go home, I only walk in woods and fields.If I go on the road and pass through the country, those children and young men will snatch my birdcage and break my tools.When I get home in the evening, I'm often tired and hungry.

The experience of catching birds made me feel that I have grown up a lot and become more powerful, and I can calmly listen to my grandfather's malicious ridicule and ridicule.

8
When the snowflakes came, my grandfather sent me to my grandmother's sister's house again.

I feel that the life of their family has become more boring.Once, the master said to me commandingly:
"Hey, tell me about your life on board!"

I will talk to them.I was so engrossed as I was talking that I even forgot about the audience in front of me.However, my recollection was quickly interrupted by the two housewives who had never been on a boat:
"No matter what, you're always a little scared, right?"

I don't understand what's so scary about it.

"That ship will sink if it reaches deep water!" The old lady thought that the ship was like a cart, supported by wheels on the bottom of the river.

"Since it's made of iron, how can it still float? Even an ax will sink. They are chattering and chattering.

They looked at me in amazement when I spoke of Smalley and his books. "Reading is very harmful, especially when you are young," said the young housewife fearfully.

I live in such a dull environment, in order to find relief, I try to work as much as possible.In this family, there is no need to worry about work.In addition to doing chores around the house, I went to Gendarmerie Springs once a week to do my laundry.The laundress there always makes fun of me:
"How did you start working as a woman?"

Sometimes they got on my nerves, and I wrung my wet clothes together and hit them, and they hit me back in the same way.Even so, I still find it happy and interesting to stay with them.

While washing clothes, they talked about their masters and their own affairs.They talked eloquently and all over the place.The most talkative was a laundress named Natalia.She is in her early 30s, well-dressed, quick at work, full of vigor, and her words are particularly sharp.She also sent her daughter to middle school to study.Therefore, her companions respect her very much and always discuss with her in case of problems.They talked over the whimpering of the stream and the pounding of wet clothes.However, washing clothes in the cold stream in winter is a chore after all.Their hands were cracked from the cold, and all their faces had chilblains from the severe cold, and their wet fingers were too stiff to bend.

After doing these things, whenever I have free time, I go to the woodshed to chop wood, which I think is much more interesting than staying in the master's house.I originally wanted to take the opportunity of chopping firewood to be alone for a while, but the orderlies who lived in the yard often came to the firewood shed to talk about things in the yard.

I also often help the orderly write letters home and love letters.But I like writing for Sidorov best.Every Saturday, he must write a letter to his sister in Tula.

He always called me into his kitchen, sat next to me at the table, and whispered in my ear:
"Okay, let's write. Start with the old format: 'My dearest little sister', then write 'One ruble received, but don't send any more money, thank you. Well'. Actually, we are not doing well at all, like dogs. Hey, don't write this. You just write 'fine', she is still young, only 14 years old, why let her know this. Further down , just read and write for yourself.”

After a while, he said again:

"Just write and tell her not to trust those gentlemen. If she saves a ruble, give it to the priest, and if the priest is a good man, he will keep it for her. But the best way is to bury it in the ground, and no one can do it." Don't let them see it, but you must remember where you buried it..."

I kept writing and writing, and I stopped listening to Sidorov's ramblings, and I wrote how boring and miserable it was to live like this!He looked, sighed, and said:
"You've written enough, thank you! Now she knows what to be afraid of..."

"Don't be afraid of anything!" I said angrily, even though I was afraid of many things myself.

"How strange you are! How can you not be afraid of anything? For example, my lord, and God . . . "

Whenever I received a letter from my sister, Sidorov always implored me:

"Please read it to me, hurry up..."

The letter was sloppy and short and empty, but he insisted on me reading it three times.

I once heard from orderlies about the tailor who lived in the yard.The tailor was a dutiful and easy-going non-Russian who worked in a high-end clothing store in the city.His wife is petite and exquisite, has no children yet, and reads books at home all day.The husband leaves early and returns late every day to work in the city, and the wife goes to the library twice a week just like a little girl.Everyone in the yard thought that the tailor's wife was crazy, saying that she read too much and couldn't do housework, so the husband had to go to the market by himself and order the cook to cook.Besides, those officers and masters in the yard deliberately teased her viciously.They wrote her notes, expressing their love and pain of longing for her.She even replied to them, apologizing for it and asking God to help them stop loving her.The officers got the letter, laughed at her behind her back, and continued writing to her under another name.

The orderlies laughed as they told the story, and kept cursing the tailor's wife.I felt bad for her and decided to take a chance and tell her about it.Once, I saw her cook go out of the pantry, so I sneaked to her house.She was sitting at the table reading a book, and when she saw me, she was startled and cried out in a low voice:

"who are you?"

I hastily and incoherently told her what happened.She sat there like an angel.She started to look very angry, and she smiled surprised when she heard it.

After I summoned up the courage to finish speaking, I turned around and walked towards the door. She stopped me:
"You kid is really weird... Come here!"

I moved forward cautiously.She took my hand:
"Did someone ask you to speak? No? Oh, that's all right."

"You'd better move away from here." I solemnly advised her.

"why?"

"They'll make trouble for you."

She smiled happily and asked again:
"Have you ever been to school? Do you like reading?"

"I don't have time to read."

"As long as you like to read, you'll find the time. Well, thank you."

She handed me a silver coin.I didn't have the courage to refuse, so I was a little embarrassed to accept it. When I left, I put the silver coin on a small column on the handrail of the stairs.

For several days, I was immersed in excitement, and I kept thinking about the bright room and the angelic tailor's wife.I want to see her again.What would happen if I went to her to borrow a book?

Then, I did just that.I still saw her in that room.She lent me a book with a black cover, a novel by the French writer Montpin.I wrapped the book in a clean shirt and a piece of paper, and hid it in the attic, so that the owner would not find it.

One Saturday, I went to the attic to dry the clothes, and suddenly remembered the book, took it out, opened it and read it.In the evening, the host family went out to pray at night. I took the book to the kitchen and immersed myself in reading it.Books transported me to another life, where I met good heroes and sinister villains.These people in the book are nothing like the ones I've grown tired of seeing in real life.I was so fascinated by the sight that I heard the doorbell ring and didn't realize I was going to open it.

When I reacted, I found that the candle was almost burnt out, and the candlestick that had just been wiped in the morning was full of wax oil, and the long burning lamp was extinguished at some point.I hurriedly got busy in the kitchen, stuffed the book under the stove, and relit the long burning lamp.Then, hurriedly ran to open the door.

As soon as the owner's family came in, they complained to me.The old lady kept questioning me when she saw the lit candle, but I kept silent for fear that she would find the book.

After dinner, the host family went to bed.I took the book from under the stove and went to the window.The moonlight shines directly on the window, but the font on the book is too small to read clearly.Then, standing on a stool in the corner, I leaned over to look at the ever-burning lamp in front of the holy image.Looking at it, my SA fell asleep on the stool.I didn't wake up until the old lady was yelling and pushing again.

Over morning tea, everyone interrogated me.The master asked sternly:
"Where did you get the book?"

When I said that the book belonged to the priest, they looked at the book carefully again, and were shocked and dissatisfied that the priest also read novels.But after all, it made them feel a little relieved.The master trained me for a while, and reminded me that reading is harmful and dangerous.

Later, I took the book to Sidorov and told him what happened.He took the book, opened his small box quietly, took out a clean towel, wrapped the book, put it in the box, and said:

"Don't listen to them! Just come and see me. If I'm not there, the key to the chest is behind the icon, and you can open it yourself."

The attitude of the owners towards the book suddenly raised the status of the book to an important and mysterious position in my eyes.I felt like I was standing at the door of some great secret.All I wanted was to finish the book, and I was worried that it would be lost or accidentally torn.But the old lady kept a close eye on me.

For several days in a row, I was in a terrible mood, in a trance, depressed, restless, unable to sleep, and always worried about the fate of that book.One day, the tailor's cook saw me and urged me to return the book.Taking advantage of my master's lunch break, I came to the tailor's house with an expression of embarrassment and dejection.

The tailor's wife received me.I told her that the book hadn't been finished yet, and the host didn't let her read it.As I said that, for some reason, tears filled my eyes.

"Oh! how ignorant these people are!" she said, frowning. "Don't worry, I'll write to your master!"

"Don't write! Don't write!" I begged her, "They'll laugh at you and scold you!"Do you know that the people in the yard don't like you, they all laugh at you and talk about you. "

After I talked a lot, I suddenly realized that I had talked too much and stabbed her.She bit her lip, sat down on the chair, laughed happily, and said repeatedly: "Oh, how stupid, how stupid! Why didn't you take the little money I gave you last time, why?"

"I do not want."

"Well, what can I do? If they let you read, come here and I'll give you the book..." After a pause, she said:
"Okay, goodbye."

I touched her hand very carefully, and hurried away.

9
I was afraid that the tailor's wife's books would be thrown into the stove by the old lady and burned, so I tried not to think about them as much as possible, and I dared not borrow books from her again.Every morning I go to a small shop to buy bread for my morning tea, and I borrow some colorful little books from that shop to read.It cost me a kopek apiece for each one, which was a considerable expense, and most of them gave me no satisfaction at all.Some feel a little rewarded after reading it.But it was the biographies that fascinated me more.For some reason, all martyrs remind me of "good things", the female martyrs remind me of my grandmother, and the male martyrs remind me of my grandfather when he was not angry.

As long as I have a little free time, I try to read books secretly.However, it was finally discovered by the nasty old lady, who ran to the attic and tore the book to pieces.She tore out my book several times, and I owed the little shopkeeper 47 kopecks.He wanted me to repay the debt, and threatened that when I went to his shop to buy something again, he would withhold the owner's money to pay off the debt.

But I have nowhere to get money.My wages were handed directly to my grandfather by the master.I decided to steal some money to pay his debt.But thinking of the master's trust in me, I couldn't do it in the end.I suffered for two or three days because of this matter.Unexpectedly, this problem was solved quickly and easily.

(End of this chapter)