Stepmother

    Song Zhaodi shuddered and looked around subconsciously, but found nothing: "Where is the old horse?"

    "In my dream." Zhong Jianguo blurted out, "No, you, why are you not afraid?"

    Song Zhaodi: "When you said that just now, I was a little scared. But you said that in your dream..." He looked at him, "I have never done anything to be sorry to the old horse, what am I afraid of? ?"

    "I didn't do it either." Zhong Jianguo swallowed and couldn't help grabbing Song Zhaodi's hand, subconsciously feeling that as long as he did this, the old horse would never come back, "but he smiled at me. , but also very sincere. If Sun Wanru smiled at you like this, are you afraid?"

    Song Zhaodi imagine: "I should be afraid. But I can't imagine it."

    Zhong Jianguo felt very tired.

    "In addition to laughing, did the old horse pounce on you?" Song Zhaodi asked, "Did you say, Captain Zhong, come to accompany me?"

    Zhong Jianguo's face changed suddenly: "Song Zhaodi, I'm not joking with you."

    "Be quiet, don't wake the children up." Song Zhaodi said, "It's ten o'clock."

    Zhong Jianguo took a deep breath and lowered his voice: "He also said thank you to me. Can you imagine the old horse saying thank you to me? I have helped him a few times before, and he I didn't say thank you seriously."

    "Probably because you wanted to hear Lao Ma's thank you so much that you dreamed about it in your dream." Song Zhaodi patted his hand, "If you think about it every day, don't think about it too much. , go to sleep."

    Zhong Jianguo didn't dare to sleep. Seeing that Song Zhaodi was about to lie down, he quickly grabbed her: "Let's talk for a while, no matter what you say."

    "I have to go to class tomorrow." Song Zhaodi pulled him to lie down, "Today is the old horse May 7. My mother said that the dead will go home on this day to see their families, their families. If he's okay, he'll go to reincarnation. If you really see the old horse, it's the last time."

    Zhong Jianguo thought about it carefully: "That's right. Zhao Di, did we go to see the old horse yesterday, and the old horse came back with us? You forgot, before he became independent, he said that he saw a man Shadow, right by the bamboo raft door. I dreamed about the old horse just now, and it was also by the bamboo raft door."

    Song Zhaodi frowned: "Self-reliance?"

    "Yes." Zhong Jianguo said, "After eating, go out with Zhenxing to wash your face."

    Song Zhaodi does not believe that there are ghosts in the world, even if she can travel through: "Probably want to see Zhenxing, but I didn't expect to go out with him independently, not Zhengang."

    "It's also possible." Zhong Jianguo said, "Zhao Di, let's go see the old horse tomorrow, and tell the old horse to take Zhou Shufen away too, don't come again. Come again a few times, even if In a dream, I can also be scared of a heart attack by him."

    Song Zhaodi didn't seem to be joking when she saw Zhong Jianguo, she hesitated for a while, and couldn't help asking: "Zhong Jianguo, are you afraid of me?"

    "Why am I afraid of you?" Zhong Jianguo said, suddenly thinking of Song Zhaodi's origin, and the whole person froze.

    Song Zhaodi looked at him: "Are you afraid?"

    Zhong Jianguo shook his head.

    Song Zhaodi: "You are not afraid of me, a living person, what are you afraid of him?"

    "You are alive, he is dead." After Zhong Jianguo finished speaking, he felt inexplicably, "I don't seem to be afraid anymore."

    Song Zhaodi: "Then go to bed. Tomorrow morning, call the children to cook, and I have to make up for sleep."

    Song Zhaodi usually wakes up at six o'clock because she falls asleep before ten o'clock. Zhong Jianguo made such a fuss, she might not be able to fall asleep at eleven o'clock. Zhong Jianguo thought of this and was embarrassed to say anything. But when he closed his eyes, he couldn't help but think of the old horse grinning at him.

    Open your eyes and see nothing around. Zhong Jianguo sighed and hugged Song Zhaodi in his arms, ignoring Song Zhaodi's muttering that it was uncomfortable to sleep, and turned off the light directly.

    The next day, Zhong Jianguo did not mention that he dreamed of an old horse. After breakfast, I took seven children to visit Zhou Shufen and Ma Zhonghua. In front of the tombs of the two, they promised to take good care of Zhenxing and Zhengang.

    After this, Zhong Jianguo never dreamed of Ma Zhonghua again. Song Zhaodi never dreamed of Zhou Shufen.

    There are many children in the family, and there is a lot of noise all day long, and Song Zhaodi is not given a chance to think of Zhou Shufen. And just because there were so many children and the summer vacation came, Song Zhaodi only brought the two children back to Xiaosong Village to learn painting with Deng Peilin's old friend.

    Daddy's face was terrifying when he saw his father beating up, and he was able to kick him with strength. Before setting off, Song Zhaodi explained that he was not allowed to be naughty and mischievous. .

    The farthest place is on the back mountain, and because of fear of angering Zhong Jianguo, he gave him a fried shredded pork with a belt.

    There are six children at home, Song Zhaodi and Erwa came back after staying in Xiaosong Village for half a month.

    Song Zhaodi came home and saw that the house was clean and there was not even a single weed in the vegetable field. The next day, I killed the big goose at home, and went to the non-staple food factory to buy three catties of pork belly. Making a pot of braised pork, and a pot of stewed goose, the seven children were paralyzed again.

    Although the children can eat very well and are subsidized by the army, Mrs. Duan often calls Song Zhaodi to pick vegetables in her vegetable garden, and Song's mother often sends dry goods to Song Zhaodi. What kind of dried fungus, sun-dried ground fungus, day lily, dried beans, etc., so that the life of the Zhong family is very enjoyable.

      It's still easy when the baby and the third baby are.

    However, if the seven children sit together, if you say a word, I say a word, if you keep talking, Song Zhaodi will get a headache from the noise. Whenever this time, either dodge away, or pretend not to hear.

    In the midst of the noise, the pace of time has come to the Spring Festival of 1977.

    After the Spring Festival, I am seventeen years old and grown up.

    Sister-in-law Duan's hair was half white. Because she listened to Song Zhaodi's words, she no longer cared about Liu Ping's affairs. She wanted to eat and buy what she wanted all day long, but she looked better than a few years ago.

    Sun Wanru and Shen Xuancheng were still noisy. Mother Shen was pushed back by Song Zhaodi since that day, and she never came back. However, occasionally some sugar and Hainan's specialties are sent.

    Shen Ying and Sanwa are in the same class, the little girl doesn't like her mother, she likes her grandma, and occasionally goes home with Sanwa, she can't help telling Sanwa that she misses her grandmother.

    Song Zhaodi knew that Mother Shen was still alive.

    After graduating from Zili, Dawa and Zhenxing junior high school, Zhong Jianguo wanted to ask them to go to Yongcheng to go to high school, and asked someone to inquire, the high schools in Yongcheng and Hangcheng were only in name.

    Students do not listen carefully, and teachers do not teach carefully.

    Zhong Jianguo waved his hand, and the three sons were not going anywhere, just at home.

    On the afternoon of the Lantern Festival, Master Liu came back early and saw Zi Li washing vegetables by the water well, so he waited for Zhong Jianguo in the courtyard.

    Not long after Zhong Jianguo came back, Master Liu waved at him, pointed at Zili and said, "Jianguo, the child graduated last year and has been at home for more than half a year, you go back and find him a Work, or let him join the army. I'll see if I can transfer him to Liu Wei."

    Zhong Jianguo did not mention "resuming the college entrance examination" soon, his son did not go anywhere, just waited at home to take the college entrance examination, and later studied missiles, aircraft, and manned spaceships: "Don't look at being so self-reliant. , in fact, only sixteen years and five months. Zhenxing has not yet turned sixteen, and the eldest child has just turned fifteen. I want to send the three of them to join the army. Sending them over at such a young age will cause trouble for the army. "

    "Zi Li is only sixteen years old?" Master Liu was surprised, "He, he is taller than me."

    Zhong Jianguo: "The big baby is better than self-reliance, but yesterday he quarreled with the third baby. Send him to the army, he can cry when he is a little wronged. He will be sent away by the army at that time. It's a shame to come back."

    "I told your aunt a few days ago that your children are all grown up." Master Liu said, "Looking at how tall they are, I forgot that they were not yet eighteen. age."

    Zhong Jianguo nodded: "It's fine to stay at home for two years, help Zhaodi with housework, and after two years Erwa and Zhengang have grown up, they will help Zhaodi, Zhaodi I won't be tired anymore."

    "Zhao Di was really tired a few years ago, it's time to take a good rest." Master Liu couldn't help regretting that there were seven big boys in the Zhong family. He should not have asked Zhong Jianguo for adoption. Self-reliance and regeneration. But after thinking about it, he didn't feel at ease if he didn't look for him, "By the way, Jianguo, Qi Lao was released."

    Zhong Jianguo: "I saw it in the newspaper. Several children in the family know about it. I heard Deputy Commander Wu remark that Qi Lao was ill and is now in the hospital. I think Bring self-reliance and rehabilitation to see the old man."

    Senior Liu waved his hand: "Don't worry about this. I went to the commander as soon as Mr. Qi appeared in the newspaper. The commander said, Mr. Qi still doesn't know that his grandson is here."

    "The commander didn't tell Elder Qi?" Zhong Jianguo was surprised.

    Senior Liu: "The commander is afraid of rebirth. He plans to go to see Lao Qi again after a period of time when there is rumors that Lao Qi is looking for a child in the imperial capital."

    "The commander is thoughtful." Zhong Jianguo said, "If Qi dares to find a child, it means that he is not in any danger."

    Master Liu wanted to nod, and saw Zhen Gang coming out to collect clothes next door: "I heard from your aunt that your seven children live in one house, how can you sleep?"

    "Zhengang and Sanwa used to sleep together." Zhong Jianguo said, "In the past two years, the children have grown up, I asked them to sleep in the guest room, the older baby and Gengsheng slept in the guest room for one night, The door of the guest room is locked, and it is said that sleeping in the guest room is uncomfortable. Now, I will make Erwa's bed a little wider, and Erwa and Zhengang sleep together. "

    Master Liu saw the big baby come out, "I guess he is calling you to go home for dinner."

    "You pay attention to Mr. Qi's affairs." Zhong Jianguo said, "In the past, the two children could not see each other and would not ask. Now they can often be seen in newspapers, but they have never been able to see the real person. Suffering."

    Master Liu nodded: "I will ask the commander tomorrow when I see it."

    "Commander?" Dawa has a good hearing, so she turned around and asked Song Zhaodi, "My dad and Grandpa Liu talked about the commander, what do you want the commander to do?"

    Song Zhaodi sat at the table and waited to eat: "It's probably a matter of self-reliance and rebirth."

    "Can we see Grandpa?" He asked after putting down the vegetable bowl.

    Song Zhaodi shook her head: "When your dad comes back, you can ask him." The voice fell, and Zhong Jianguo came in.

    Seeing Zi Li's eyes full of hope, Zhong Jianguo knew what he wanted to say without asking: "Zi Li, this matter can't be rushed." After a pause, "If there is no news from the commander, I will show you. Go to the imperial capital with Gengsheng.”

    "Dad, I also want to go to the imperial capital." Dawa said hurriedly.

    Erwa said, "Dad, I want to go too."

    "Uncle Zhong, I want to go too." Zhen Gang said weakly.

    Sanwa walked to Song Zhaodi: "Mother, I want to go too."