Chapter 18 Chapter Seventeen

Fog fell on the Yangtze River in the early morning, and the boatman took the boat to ferry passengers to Hankou on the other side.The two nurses took care packages and Hu Lancheng, a total of three people took the boat.The oars were rattling in the water, and Xiao Zhou was sitting on the bow of the boat wearing a green cloth cheongsam, singing songs to the river at the top of his voice, singing mountain songs that he had never heard before.Her voice was clear, and she only felt that the thick fog was about to be penetrated by her.Hu Lancheng sat in the stern and listened, feeling as if the world would disappear in an instant, leaving only Xiao Zhou's songs.

Hu Lancheng looked at Xiao Zhou, she was just a precocious but simple little girl.Hu Lancheng asked her about delivering the baby at night, and Xiao Zhou said reasonablely: "It's cold, who wants to leave the warm bed? I can't help you if I go with you. It's freezing for nothing!" She said with a smile, "I have little qualifications, so I need to do more work! I got there by doing this!" Xiao Zhou, who had suffered a lot, said it was justified, as if all the principles of the world had been smoothed out by her.She told Hu Lancheng about her younger siblings, and about her deceased aunt: "Just like a relative, she treated me very well! My mother is a concubine, and my aunt treats me as close as she is from the bottom of her heart! My mother is also good, and she is generous to everyone." , bring her any good things and give them away!"

The simple human feelings are just like the hometown in Hu Lancheng's memory, he suddenly interjected and said: "My mother has the same temper!" He mentioned his mother to her, and they kissed suddenly. There was no news of Zhang Zhiyi for a long time.Only from Zhang Zijing, who came to visit occasionally, did Zhang Ailing know that her father had ruined the family property, ate everything and sold it all, and now he couldn't even rent a bungalow, so he moved to rent an apartment building.But she was just indifferent when she heard it, and she didn't bother to gloat.When the last trace of both hatred and pity disappeared, the fate between them was also exhausted.

The play was very popular, and the letters from the audience were bizarre, and she could only take it as a compliment if someone wanted to introduce someone to Zhang Ailing on a blind date.When interviewed by a magazine reporter with Su Qing, Su Qing talked about marriage issues in the tone of a female mentor: "I have repeatedly emphasized that working women are too hard, not to say that women can't suffer, but women can't be omnipotent. Working outside You have to fight with men, and you have to do one thing at home. The children have to be raised and educated, and there is no suitable nursery outside. However, men don’t seem to like working women. They think you are too capable, so let you be able to the end But those women who only dress up and don’t work are still popular, you earn money to support the family, and the husband just uses the remaining money to support other women. This happens often, and it is too wronged for working women!”

Zhang Ailing maintained her consistent objectivity and neutrality, and said: "I feel that using other people's money, even if it is the inheritance of parents, is not as free as spending money earned by myself. It is very pleasurable in my conscience! But using my husband's money, If you love him, it is a kind of happiness. I would like to eat his food and wear his clothes. That is the traditional right of a woman. Even if a woman has a job and the ability to make money, she is still reluctant to give up! Most people are always afraid of When a woman's level improves, it seems that once she improves, she will look down on men. In fact, I don't think there is any need to worry about this. If two people are equally knowledgeable, women will still be humble in front of men, because that is the essence of women. Because women want Worship will make you happy, and a man will only be happy if he is worshiped."

The reporter took advantage of the situation and asked whether the conditions for choosing a spouse were strict, and Su Qing was even more open-minded: "Based on my experience as a person who came here, at least five conditions are indispensable. , the physique must be strong and masculine, the face should not be hateful, and it should not be like Xiaodan! This face must be facing you every day, and it must be pleasing to the eye! Also, you must have a sense of life, don't talk dull, or can't say a fart for a long time , and... the age, it’s absolutely not okay to be young, a woman will grow old immediately after raising a child in her lifetime, and there should be no too many big ones, sexual activities are uncoordinated, it’s best not to be more than ten years old by about five years old!”

When it was Eileen Chang's turn, Su Qing was somewhat protective, but Eileen Chang replied generously: "I often hear people say what kind of person they want to marry, but in the end the marriages are far from each other, and some of them seem to be very satisfied, so I decided Don't have many theories. The conditions mentioned by Su Qing are of course reasonable. Which woman doesn't think so? But how many people get what they want? But I always think that men should be ten years older or even ten years older Most of the above don't matter, I always feel that women should be more innocent and men should be more experienced!"

Su Qing knew the meaning of Zhang Ailing's words, but at most her girlfriend could only understand, but her boyfriend could comfort her.After the interview, the two stood side by side on the balcony of Zhang Ailing's house, looking at the endless distance, thinking about the past, present and future fate of the woman.Su Qing sighed softly and said, "What do you think will happen in the future? Will there be an ideal home?" Eileen Chang's eyes were filled with the clarity and confusion of the world situation, and she pondered: "I think there is! But it will take many years at the fastest! Even if we can see it, we won't be able to enjoy it! It's the world of the next generation. Already!"

"What good is that? We'll all be old by then! In a peaceful world, will we become dependent?" Zhang Ailing did not answer.It was getting late, Su Qing had already left, Zhang Ailing was standing on the balcony alone, there was a touch of carmine in the distant sky at dusk, it turned out to be the moon.People under the same moon, are you by the Han River? During that time, Hu Lancheng was obsessed with Xiao Zhou every day.Go back to the hospital and don't go upstairs, go to the nurse's station first.Xiao Zhou saw him and ran upstairs.Hu Lancheng followed her up the stairs, turned in and out, and went downstairs again, but he didn't see her, so he couldn't figure it out, so he had to go to his room.As soon as the door was opened, Xiao Zhou sat in his room with a mischievous smile. Hu Lancheng blamed her for being naughty: "You are just a child!"

After talking and joking, he was copying the article on the table. Xiao Zhou came in with a bowl of hot noodle soup, put the bowl down and touched his earlobe.Hu Lancheng wanted to see if her hands were burning, but Xiao Zhou refused to show him, and said tauntingly, "I'm dying. If you know that it hurts, it will take a long time! While it's hot! Or you'll get dough! I'll give it to you!" Copy!" Hu Lancheng was eating the noodles, but couldn't help but look at her, looking away, it was still Xiao Zhou. Letters from Zhang Ailing came in frequently. She wanted to confide in her loved ones about her fear and helplessness.She doesn't expect how Hu Lancheng will answer, she just wants to prove to herself that there are people in the world who miss her and dote on her, and her love has a place to go: "My heart is always full of plans, the first time I plan to study in the UK, I don't hesitate I ran away from home and broke up with my father, but the outbreak of the European War blocked the way. Later, when I transferred to Hong Kong, I really worked hard and won two scholarships. I still hoped to be recommended to the UK after graduation. Burn it all, leaving no trace! Now, I am sitting alone, guarding the candle, thinking about the past, thinking about the present, thinking about the past two years of being so busy, is it also doomed to be overturned in my heart? It should be counted!"

However, this person, whom Zhang Ailing told and missed, on the other side of the war, ignited the fire of love again.One day, they snuggled up to the riverside to relax, and Hu Lancheng teased Xiao Zhou half-jokingly and half-seriously, saying: "No way! If I look at you like this again, I will love you! No matter how I arrange you, it's not right!" Xiao Zhou's face turned to the sunset glow in the sky, and it took a long time for her to speak out: "Don't worry about it! I'm fine by myself...Miss Zhang just wrote to you today! She writes so frequently, she misses you very much!" She said After getting up neatly, he went to sing loudly by the river.Hu Lancheng felt ashamed of himself, Xiao Zhou was quite clear about his emotions being so entangled.In a flash, he has decided to alienate Xiao Zhou.Is it for Eileen Chang?For Xiao Zhou?Or is it for yourself in the end?He couldn't tell. Xiao Zhou also felt this emotional change, and did not come to knock on his door for a few days.Hu Lancheng sat in the room, listening to her footsteps up and down, gradually getting far away, feeling unhappy.Until one day when it snowed heavily, Xiao Zhou came back in a snow-covered suit. As soon as he entered the hospital, he was stunned to see Hu Lancheng. He burst into tears and choked up and said, "The dean will not send you to Hankou to collect bills in such a heavy snow day." Others sent me! The siren was raised twice in the afternoon, one time I was on the Hanshui ferry, and the other time I was on Hankou Street, the plane was rising and landing suddenly overhead, machine guns were everywhere, and there was nowhere to hide! Just like that No one will know if he is dead!" Xiao Zhou complained in tears, and also regarded Hu Lancheng as a close relative. Hu Lancheng immediately turned and went upstairs and said angrily, "I'll go to the dean!" Wipe her tears, and warm her hand.Xiao Zhou raised his eyes, the tears were still wet, and a dimple formed on the corner of his mouth.Hu Lancheng sighed softly, knowing that from now on, the crime on his back has deepened. The two looked like a couple now, and Hu Lancheng was going back to Shanghai in March and reported to Xiao Zhou in advance.Xiao Zhou said calmly: "It should be! You have been away for so long, and the family must be thinking about it. Go back and see Miss Zhang, see Qingyun! There are children! This place in Hankou, don't come back after you go. Already!" She thought seriously and said seriously.Hu Lancheng felt a pain in his heart, and said as if making a wish: "I must come back! I will definitely come back in May at the most!" Xiao Zhou was not angry, but he had a determination to cut off the relationship and not worry about the two, and said: "I will marry you when you leave!" For him, I don't know whether it is luck or misfortune. It was a sunny day in spring in March, catkins were flying all over the sky, like a heavy snowfall, Zhang Ailing and Hu Lancheng were surprised to see it.The tricycle carried the two people around, their arms were close together, the car swayed, and their bodies rubbed against each other.The catkins flew around the car, and Hu Lancheng caught the catkins in Eileen Chang's hair, skirt and knees. The feeling of kissing and loving was unforgettable for Eileen Chang. After calming down, Hu Lancheng had another thought.He missed Xiao Zhou, and felt uneasy about Zhang Ailing.He didn't want to hide it from her, but he didn't know how to say it, his heart was pounding, and the words kept circling around his mouth: "What would you do if I had another lover?" Zhang Ailing was still smiling, and said with the same expression: "It depends on what kind of person it is!" "Is there a difference? For example, Xiao Zhou, whom I often mention to you in my letters!" Zhang Ailing didn't have much impression. Hu Lancheng was a little surprised and reminded: "I told you, she was the one who took care of my daily life in Wuhan!" Zhang Ailing seems to be teasing, but also asserts: "You! Whoever took care of you, you can love others as soon as you are grateful in your heart!" She loves, but she is not blindly self-confident. Her feminine heart begins to doubt, Faintly sad.