The children of the Qiao family

Chapter 14

6
Qi Weimin was the champion of liberal arts in Nanjing this year.

The school posted the big red news at the gate of Qi's small courtyard.

For this, the second aunt held a banquet for three days in the small courtyard at home. She said: I took out all the coffin books to treat the guests, so happy!There is nothing to be afraid of when she dies in the future, she has this good son in her life.If you are dead, in the future, there will be a small wooden box to put the ashes in, and you will be a blessed ghost even after you die!

The teachers kept pitying Qi Weimin. This grade is enough to get into Peking University.

But Qi Weimin, like Qiao Yicheng, filled out his volunteer form in a row: Nantah University, Nantah University, Nantah University, disobedient to deployment.

Finally admitted to the Philosophy Department of Nantah University.

The teachers said that Nanjing University is of course a good school, but all scholars know that Peking University's liberal arts are the best.

The second aunt has not yet graduated from elementary school, and she doesn’t know Peking University and South University. She firmly believes that the son of the champion must go to a good school. Peking University is the best school in the north, and South University is of course the best school in the south. His son is filial and sensible. Knowing that his mother hates him, he chose the south. The best university is close to home, so you don’t need to take a car, and you can walk to home in 10 minutes.

Qiao Yicheng felt an indescribable depression after knowing Qi Weimin's performance, he would never catch up with Qi Weimin.

He has a good father, but he doesn't, he has a mother, but he doesn't have one, he has a natural intelligence, but he doesn't have one either, he can only study hard, keep studying hard, struggle and suffer.In fact, their origins are not too different. They all grew up in this narrow and small place. They are all fresh flesh growing on the scars of the city. Although they are connected with the blood of the scars, they have infinite vitality. But why, he begged Unbelievable, but Qi Weimin got it easily?He has seen Qi Weimin reviewing his homework, it's not that he doesn't work hard, but he has also seen Qi Weimin play with Xiao Qi every day until the exam, tutoring his younger siblings with homework, he even came to invite him to watch a movie, saying it was to relax.

Qi Weimin seemed to stand in front of Qiao Yicheng forever. He didn't mean to, but his shadow became the shadow of Qiao Yicheng's life.

However, ever since he found out that Qi Weimin did not apply for Peking University, but stayed in Nanjing to study, he felt an indescribable feeling, surprise, slight shock, mixed with a little touch and a little disdain. To do this for Qiao Qiqi.

He asked Qi Weimin: Why didn't you apply to Peking University?Didn't you say you wanted to go to Beijing before?

Qi Weimin said bluntly: I was willing to leave before, but now I am reluctant to leave.

You didn't go to Peking University because of Qiao Qiqi?Are you out of your mind?He is not your real brother.Qiao Yicheng said.

Qi Weimin laughed happily and said: He thinks he is my real brother.

Qiao Yicheng was furious. Qi Weimin was so fleshy that he was going to piss him off!Qiao Yicheng thought.

But then again, Qi Qi, is it really...

This thought has been hovering in Qiao Yicheng's mind for several years, like an airplane, booming above his head, gradually drifting away, unexpectedly turning back at this time.

Before Qiao Yicheng could figure this out, Qiao Zuwang staged a farce.

Qiao Zuwang has always been a warehouse keeper in the factory. This job is very idle when he is free, and he has to move it when he is busy. Looking around the factory, only Qiao Zuwang is a healthy person who can read a few words. , and the account was written clearly, so he was assigned a tall and burly dumb assistant to help him carry things.Qiao Zuwang has been working here for 20 years. In [-], he took advantage of the State Council's promotion of staff in enterprises and institutions to raise their wages by one level.Nothing to choose from except the occasional night shift.

This year, Qiao Zuwang's unit transferred Qiao Zuwang from his original post and asked him to go to the cafeteria to be in charge of purchasing.Qiao Zu went there happily, thinking that shopping would be a fat job, but unexpectedly, he realized that he was not going to be the head of the house, but a long-term worker.He has his own account manager. He takes the money every day and goes to the vegetable market with him. He is only responsible for pedaling three rounds. He enters the manager's office of the vegetable market to pay the bill. He loads the goods outside, and the money can't even be touched!He has been here for more than twenty years, and he has become a handyman!
Qiao Zuwang jumped up and asked the factory manager to reason. The factory manager said, now is not the time for the "Cultural Revolution", as long as the roots are young and red, it depends on the performance of your work. Where is your grade Qiao Zuwang?I've lost things a few times, and it's nice to say that it's lost, but I don't doubt that you've been worthy of you if you embezzled it privately.What's more, it's about efficiency now. A welfare factory like ours is no longer a solid job two years earlier, and it has to find a way to find a market, and it can't support so many idlers.The conversation made Qiao Zuwang blush, and he couldn't think of any good reason to refute.

Angrily, he worked in the canteen for two days, went home and drank some old wine, and suddenly had an idea.He put a strong hemp rope in his pocket and went out. He ran to the factory manager's house, knocked on the door, and without saying a word, pulled out the hemp rope and threw it on the door frame. Stretching out, the factory manager's wife and daughter screamed and cried.The factory manager was short and fat, and couldn't hold him back, so he had to soften his voice and beg him.

Qiao Zuwang got his wish, and in the second week, he took up the job as the concierge of the unit, and his salary remained the same.

Before Qiao Yicheng reported to the Normal University, Qiao Zuwang actually bought him a watch with his savings from bonuses for several years.Local products, Zhongshan brand.

The clicking sound of the gears was crisp.

But something big happened at the second aunt's house.

Qi Zhiqiang fell ill.

In Qiao Yicheng's concept, there is a kind of person in the world who is invulnerable to all kinds of harm, such as an iron wall and an iron wall. Qi Zhiqiang is undoubtedly this kind of person.

Qiao Yicheng has never seen him sick or tired. Qi Zhiqiang always seems to be standing when he can sit.

But suddenly, he fell down without warning.

After finishing the three-day celebration banquet for the eldest son, he collapsed in the factory and was sent to the hospital by his colleagues.

The results of the biopsy were available in three days.

Advanced liver cancer.

In just half a month, Qi Zhiqiang's tall body became thin and thin.His liver began to suffer from severe ascites, and he was in excruciating pain. Qi Zhiqiang had never caused any trouble in his life, and even at this time, he gritted his teeth and endured it. He would only groan when the pain became unconscious.

His face had begun to show the horrible gray color of a dying person, his broad forehead had shrunk, and his facial features appeared compact due to the sudden thinness, completely losing their original appearance.The tall, silent man with a serious face disappeared in a very short time.

The doctor was completely helpless, and the second aunt discussed with Qi Weimin and took him home.The second aunt leaned into Qi Zhiqiang's ear and asked him, "Would you like to take you home?"

Qi Zhiqiang's turbid eyes lit up, and he mumbled a sound in his throat: "Okay."

Only two days after his return, Qi Zhiqiang passed away.

On the night before his death, his consciousness suddenly became clear, and he said clearly: I want to drink some vegetable soup.

Where can I find fresh green vegetables at night like this?

In the end, a neighbor sent a small handful of vegetable seedlings, and the second aunt made it herself and brought it to Qi Zhiqiang's bed.

The whole family of the Qiao family came, and Yicheng stood by the bed, looking at this man sadly. No matter what troubles he had in his heart, Yicheng still admitted that this man treats them well, and every time he distributes things in the factory, there will be some Several of their brothers and sisters, behind the back of the second aunt, sent two money from time to time. During the festivals, the New Year's money is indispensable for the children of Qiao's family.

This man is kind to them.

The tears that Qiao Yi became Qi Zhiqiang were real, bit by bit.

Qi Zhiqiang barely took two sips of the vegetable soup, and he couldn't even swallow the chopped leaves. Qi Weimin bent down and carefully wiped the soup that flowed to the corner of his mouth for his father, his heart sank bit by bit.

On the body of the father, there is a kind of corruption that is close to death, which is chilling and painful.Qi Weimin suddenly hugged his father's neck, as if to give him a breath, Qi Zhiqiang raised his skinny hand to stop him.

The sober Qi Zhiqiang suddenly stretched out his hand to Qiao Qiqi, calling him: Come on.

Qi Qi leaned over, touching his uncle's bluish-gray fingers one by one.

Qi Zhiqiang touched his face and said: You really look like your mother.

Xiaoqi raised his eyes to look at his uncle, two lights danced in his clear black eyes, full of the child's fear of death: Uncle, will you die?
Qi Zhiqiang said: Xiao Qi, don't be afraid, I'll tell you a story.

Xiaoqi was very confused. Uncle never told stories, but it was elder brother who could tell stories.

Xiao Qi said: Okay.

Once upon a time, there were two families who were neighbors. One family had a male child, and the other family had two female children.

The light in front of Qi Zhiqiang's eyes gradually dimmed, and deep, deep memories emerged from the darkness, like a sky and water reflected at the bottom of a well.

More than 30 years ago, there were two families deep in the alley. One had a boy named Qi Zhiqiang, and the other had two girls, one named Wei Shuying and the other named Wei Shufang.They grew up together, played together in the alleys, worked together, and tried their best to feed their hungry stomachs.

The two little girls like Qi Zhiqiang very much, because he is young, tall, upright, kind, and capable, and he embodies all the benefits that a girl of commoner background would expect from a man.

Qi Zhiqiang likes the eldest girl Shuying. Shuying has a sharp and fair face, very shy and quiet, but the little girl Shufang is plump and lively.As the three of them grew older, a dramatic story happened in the poor and cold days.

The elder sister and the younger sister both fell in love with Qi Zhiqiang. Qi Zhiqiang and the elder sister were engaged. The mother of the Qi family gave Shuying a pair of jade bracelets. Zhiqiang give it to me.Qiao Zuwang is also very fond of you. His family has a shop with good conditions.

My sister said: I can give up everything, food and clothing, but Qi Zhiqiang cannot.

The younger sister said: Then I have no choice but to jump into the Yangtze River, sister.

My sister said: Don't die, how can I explain to the underground mother when you die?
Not long before the wedding, Shuying actually followed Qiao Zuwang.

Qi Zhiqiang didn't know the reason until a long time later.

The younger sister got engaged to Qi Zhiqiang as she wished, and Qi Zhiqiang joined the army.

Qi Zhiqiang remembered that he and Shuying lacked food and clothing, but they still had a good life.In winter, throw a sweet potato into the stove ashes, and it will be cooked soon, so pick it out and eat it separately.Xia Tian sneaked into the nearby army compound to watch an open-air movie, secretly sitting in the corner behind the screen, the people and scenes he saw were reversed.Holding hands quietly in the dark.

Those broken, bright, and vibrant memories appeared in front of Qi Zhiqiang who was dying, as if he could catch them with his hands.

Qi Qi leaned against him and asked: Uncle, what are you laughing at?Uncle, don't you only laugh when you're ready?
Qi Zhiqiang said: Yes, Xiao Qi.Turning to the eldest son, he said: "You treat Xiao Qi well, and I thank you on behalf of your aunt!"

Qi Weimin nodded: I know dad.

Qi Zhiqiang said to Xiaoqi: Uncle needs to sleep for a while.

The second aunt said to the children: Tell your father to rest, everyone is hungry, eat something.

The children of the Qi family and the Qiao family gathered at the same table to eat, Qi Weimin glanced at his father from time to time, and suddenly the bowl in his hand fell on the table, Qi Weimin said: Mom, why did I see that Dad has not breathed for a long time up?

The second aunt rushed to the bed, touched it, and Qi Zhiqiang's hands became cold.

The second aunt scrubbed Qi Zhiqiang by herself, and put on a new set of spring and autumn shirts and trousers.

Qi Zhiqiang had ascites, his stomach was distended like a drum, his jacket could only be buttoned up two buttons, and he wore white socks on his feet. His feet were swollen and he had difficulty putting on his shoes.

The second aunt said while doing it: You still miss her after all, so why did you agree to marry me then?Look at you, you are kind to everyone, but you are not kind to me. Once you leave, what will we do with our family, women and children?You don't care about it, you are in a hurry to reunite with her.But you still left me a good son, and my son will treat me well for you.

The children and Qiao Zuwang all came in.

The children of the Qi family cried bitterly.

The second aunt said to Qi Weimin: Min, warm your father's feet.

But Qiao Qiqi touched her uncle's feet, hugged her uncle's feet, and pressed her face against the snow-white soles.

The second aunt finally burst into tears.

This year, this eventful summer, happiness and pain, hope and despair, brightness and darkness, noise and silence, laughter and tears, are entangled and intertwined, enveloping Qi Weimin's family and covering Qiao Yicheng's heart.

Just like in a play, there is an old man shaking his long beard and sighing: Bitter—ah.Then, when it was time to elaborate, I still didn't-mention-it-.

(End of this chapter)