Chapter 8 7. Before all misfortunes happen, there is no warning
The cold winter is so long.In this season when there are more nights than days and dark clouds than sunshine, people's mood can easily become gloomy and gloomy.But for Xiaoman, this cold winter is simply a catastrophe.Of course, what she was worried about did not happen—Wang Jingfang did not drive her out of the house. On the contrary, he really asked Liu Liping to increase her salary by 100 yuan a month, which means that she can now get 600 yuan a month. Yuan, this is indeed a considerable income for a nanny.But after getting the money, Yu Xiaoman couldn't get excited at all, and all this could not alleviate the pain in her heart at all.In these cloudy weather with northwest wind blowing, she felt that her life had completely lost the bright colors it used to have.The boundless loneliness and loneliness surrounded her just like this weather where it is difficult to see the sun, and she was oppressed and breathless.Especially on weekends, she still couldn't help thinking of Wang Liang.Although Jiang Meiduo's sense of mystery in her heart is gone, and she even feels disgusted when she thinks of the word "love", she still listens to Jiang Meiduo's advice and stops looking for Wang Liang's whereabouts.But the handsome boy's face would still appear in her dreams.Man, why are you so ruthless?She couldn't figure it out, would Wang Liang really forget her for the sake of money?
There is still no news about Ah Hui, and Liu Liping is a little crazy about A Hui's disappearance. Every time she sees Yu Xiaoman, she always scolds A Hui.When Liu Liping scolded people, she completely turned into a stranger that made Yu Xiaoman look scared. She looked like a shrew, her face lost all the usual warmth, her facial features were shifted, her almond eyes stared like eggs, and her eyebrows hung down. Forehead, the voice creaked, it sounded very harsh.She said that if Ah Hui could be caught, she would have to beat Ah Hui's face swollen, and then send her to the police station.Listening to Liu Liping's words and seeing the terrifying expression on Liu Liping's face, Yu Xiaoman firmly believed that she could do anything.Therefore, in the bottom of her heart she couldn't help feeling sympathy for Ah Hui who didn't pay back her debts. After all, they had the same fate, so they couldn't help but feel sorry for each other.Now, Yu Xiaoman is not as concerned about Ahui's disappearance as before.First of all, she didn't expect Ah Hui to pay her back the money, and second, she was very afraid that Ah Hui would really be sent to the Public Security Bureau by Liu Liping.Furthermore, Jiang Meiduo did not have any restrictions on the loan period of the 5,000 yuan, which invisibly relieved her psychological pressure. Return it to Jiang Meiduo.
When she no longer expected Ah Hui to appear, Yu Xiaoman was puzzled by Liu Liping's crazy attitude.No matter how annoyed Liu Liping was when it first happened, it was understandable.Now that several months have passed, even Yu Xiaoman doesn't want to think about mentioning Ahui anymore, but Liu Liping's hatred for Ahui has not diminished with the passage of time. On the contrary, she hates Ahui even more day after day. To the bone, but still insist on chasing Ah Hui, why is this?What's more, Ah Hui was only wrong to leave Liu Liping without saying goodbye, and didn't take her passbook or jewelry or other valuables?This question lies in the fact that Xiaoman's innocent little head has been circling for a long time, but she still can't get an answer, until she went to Fuyang Town with Liu Liping on the morning of the first day of the new year. ——According to the local customs, you can’t go out on this day. No matter how important you are, you must finish it on the first day, or leave it until after the first day of junior high school.On the first day of the new year, people can only reunite with their families happily.If you break the rules, you will be very unlucky this year, you will be busy on the road every day, and disasters will be waiting for you at any time.But because of Ah Hui's matter, Liu Liping, who had been in a bad mood, had to go out on this day.Liu Liping's decision made Yu Xiaoman even more uneasy. She had a rough and rough winter, and it was not smooth at all. She had been looking forward to a brand new spring waiting for her after the Spring Festival. One day, Liu Liping brought her an ominous omen...
This year's Spring Festival, for Xiaoman, is lonely and desolate.On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, when many people in Jinyu Villa were busy hanging red lanterns and pasting the word “Fu” at the door of their houses, the door of Villa No. 3 was surprisingly cold, let alone decorated with lights. Even the happy red confetti is hard to see, only the dead leaves rolled up by the northwest wind dance lightly in front of the door from time to time.Yu Xiaoman couldn't help thinking of those Spring Festivals spent with her parents in Zhaihua Village.In that courtyard with dilapidated gatehouses and low earthen walls, even though poverty was everywhere inside and out, on New Year’s Day, my father would still post red couplets written by primary school teachers in the village to the courtyard. On the door.Mother will also use the money saved from frugality to buy her a cheap new dress with colorful colors.When grandma was alive, she would tie a big bow on the handle behind her head.No matter how poor the people in the village are, they also know to put crispy fried peanuts, melon seeds and cheap candies on the wooden table in the main room early in order to entertain all the neighbors who walk into their house on this day.The reason why Yu Xiaoman still remembers every Spring Festival in Zhaihua Village is because her parents never quarrel on this day. Although they don't talk much, they always show love for each other.At the same time, on this day, she undoubtedly enjoyed the treatment of a princess at home. Her parents did not ask her to do any work, and she was dressed up beautifully and followed other girls in the village from door to door.And no matter which door the girls walk into, they are greeted with beaming smiles...
Yu Xiaoman stood blankly in front of the kitchen window, daydreaming.Perhaps it is only after losing that we feel precious.When she was in Zhaihua Village, she never felt how happy and beautiful it would be to celebrate the Spring Festival with the villagers and family.Now, her parents are deceased, she is wandering outside alone, recalling the past, there is an indescribable sadness in her heart.
It was so silent inside and out.For a while, there was a sweeping sound in the corridor.On this day of family reunion, Sister Tian is still doing her work, and she has to work until very late before going home.Sister Tian not only had to complete her own task, but also took on the extra work of transporting garbage to the garbage truck.Usually, this work is done by a migrant worker. Although it is not too heavy, the garbage truck does not come until after seven o'clock every night. about an hour.Therefore, people who have enjoyed commuting to and from get off work on time are generally unwilling to do this kind of work that is never too early or too late.Yesterday, the migrant workers went home to celebrate the New Year, and the foreman of the property company asked Tian Jie to take over the work, saying that he would double her salary.Sister Tian was very happy to get double salary.Sister Tian said that today and tomorrow, she will work overtime. In the second day of junior high school, she plans to take a day off to go back to her natal home to see her elderly parents.She said that in this way, she can quickly save enough money to buy a computer for her son.Sister Tian's son often goes to Internet cafes with his classmates after the winter vacation, which makes her worry all day long.Internet cafes have become a big public nuisance now, and many children lose themselves there.Newspapers and television constantly report that some children skip school for clubbing, run away from home, and even commit crimes.Sister Tian was afraid that her son would learn bad things.She said that no matter how much hardship she endured, as long as the child can walk the right path and become a person, she will be satisfied.The world is becoming more and more unequal. Some people can spend a lot of money, while others work hard for more than ten dollars.Sister Tian's situation made Yu Xiaoman involuntarily think of Jiang Meiduo, a woman who lives in a luxurious villa like a palace and enjoys a life like a queen. Although she is no longer mysterious to her, she still walks into her from time to time. life.She had to admit that in her heart, she still liked Jiang Meiduo, and it could even be said that she loved her deeply.Although Jiang Meiduo's cohabitation with a Taiwanese businessman made her heartbroken, and Jiang Meiduo's view of love made her hard to let go, but Jiang Meiduo's beauty and kindness completely conquered her.In this world, no one cared about her, praised her, and helped her like Jiang Meiduo.Therefore, with the passage of time, Jiang Meiduo, who had been removed from the dross, reappeared in the image of an angel in her mind.However, when she put Jiang Meiduo and Sister Tian together on the balance of her heart, she felt an indescribable feeling in her heart. They are actually two kinds of people who are incompatible...
Yu Xiaoman really wanted to open the door and go outside to chat with Sister Tian.But she was worried that she would not be able to help crying.She thought, no matter what, she should not shed tears today. According to the customs of her hometown, it is very unlucky to cry on the Spring Festival.
In the evening of that day, Yu Xiaoman still had an unexpected surprise: at the end of the day, the postman brought her the New Year's card that Wu Jing sent her—it was a card that Wu Jing sent to her based on her imagination. The portrait she painted has a round head, a round apple face, a smooth forehead, and a pair of innocent eyes, looking at the distance with interest.Looking at her own portrait, Yu Xiaoman was amazed that Wu Jing was so amazing that she actually painted the childish look she had when she was a middle school student.In the lower left corner of the portrait is written a line of small characters: Dear little sister, I am eagerly looking forward to you becoming a student of Yeda.On a small note attached, Wu Jing told Yu Xiaoman that she would spend New Year's Eve with her boyfriend and his family.After the Spring Festival, she will go south with her boyfriend to open up a new world at their alma mater.The vivid portrait and simple congratulatory speech moved Yu Xiaoman to tears.After all, in this strange city, there is still someone who misses her and cares about her.But thinking that Wu Jing is about to leave the city, Yu Xiaoman's heart surged with an inseparable affection.Although she and Wu Jing had only met each other twice, the close connection between their souls made them feel like friends at first sight.When two pairs of eyes that are as pure as water look at each other, they can't help but expose their hearts to each other.Between them, they can talk about everything, including those unspeakable family privacy.Yu Man once imagined that the friendship between her and Wu Jing would eventually become a sister-like brotherhood with the passage of time.However, now that Wu Jing is leaving, so hastily drawing an end to their friendship, how can this not make her feel sad?
Inspired by this greeting card, in order to live up to Wu Jing's expectations of herself, Yu Xiaoman couldn't wait to call Wu Jing's classmate who was teaching at Ye University.The other party was a cheerful and passionate young man, and Yu Xiaoman could feel the charm of his enthusiasm on the other end of the phone.The young teacher named Qin Cheng told Yu Xiaoman that he had heard Wu Jing talk about her situation a long time ago and had been waiting for her call.He also told Yu Xiaoman that he would do everything in his power to help her: for example, he could solve the problem of textbooks for her now.Also, if Yu Xiaoman is afraid of walking alone at night at night, he can also be responsible for taking her home.Qin Cheng also told her that she will meet many new friends in Ye Dali, which will make her life happy and fulfilling.Yu Xiaoman no longer has any reason to refuse another person's kindness.She immediately agreed to Qin Cheng that she would go to Ye University to sign up after the Spring Festival.
It was Wu Jing's greeting card and the phone call to Qin Cheng that accompanied Yu Xiaoman through New Year's Eve, changed her miserable and helpless state of mind, and made her feel an indescribable warmth.When she was sitting in front of the TV watching the Spring Festival Gala, she always held the greeting card in front of her chest, and at that moment it seemed that Wu Jing was sitting beside her.
On this night when the whole family was supposed to be reunited, Wang Jingfang was missing, and Liu Liping had no news.Except for the greeting card, Yu Xiaoman's New Year's Eve in Villa No. 3 didn't feel like the New Year at all.She had thought that Wang Jingfang would come back to take a look at his sick wife, and Liu Liping would rush to send some New Year's goods, or buy a New Year's gift for her cousin and show her love.In the end, it all fell through, and the two men didn't even make a phone call.They completely regarded villa No. 3 as an empty nest, and completely forgot about the two people in the villa.Fortunately, Yao Xiuhua didn't even know that this night was New Year's Eve. After eating the red rice and white rice that Yu Xiaoman made for the two of them, which symbolized the prosperity and purity of the New Year's Eve, she I fell asleep early again.Yu Xiaoman guessed that the color of Yao Xiuhua's dream was also monotonous and boring. In the black and white background, there would never be feasting and feasting and singing and dancing.However, perhaps such a dream is also much better than waking up.She doesn't need to stand blankly in the darkness of the kitchen like Yu Xiaoman, look at the busy traffic of other people's homes, recall the joys of the past, and taste the bitterness of loneliness.
On this New Year's Eve, Yao Xiuhua was indeed much happier than Yu Xiaoman.She has long since stopped caring about trivial matters such as whether her husband Wang Jingfang will come to see her, or whether Liu Liping will come to give a little gift, and she will not be touched by the bustling traffic at other people's homes.These little girls' little sentiments have never sprouted in her emotions and desires.The Spring Festival, for her, has no other meaning except that she is one year older.For many years, it has always been like this.If you have never had something in your life, you will not be troubled by its loss.It is precisely because there has never been a colorful mood in life, so Yao Xiuhua's dream is indeed monotonous. Not long ago, she had been dreaming that she was sitting paralyzed at the bottom of the cliff, surrounded by black holes, and she couldn't see her fingers. The desire to survive It made her try to climb up again and again, but no matter how desperately she tried to break free from the heavy body, it was of no avail. The fat body imprisoned her in place like a rock. In desperation, she yelled shouted.So, she was surprised to find that her soul was separated from her body while shouting, and her soul floated up towards the cliff. The ground is gray and yellow... But now, Yao Xiuhua's dream has completely changed its style.She often dreamed that she was running on the road, relaxed and cheerful like a child; sometimes, she also dreamed that she was riding a bicycle, driving fast on the narrow streets of a small county... In her dream, she always Running, walking, moving freely.That's because when she was awake, she had completely shed that heavy body.But she didn't want anyone to know, including the girl who took care of her and seemed harmless to her.These days, she has been sticking to a diet, trying to restrain the hunger that makes her feel heart-wrenching. Fall down a thousand times and get up again.She's going to make that dream come true, never back down, never!In fact, on the silent New Year's Eve when firecrackers were banned in this city, Yao Xiuhua was awake all the time, and she didn't even close her eyes all night.Only when she heard Yu Xiaoman's footsteps did she pretend to fall asleep.She kept reminiscing, eyes wide open, remembering every bit of what she had been through for more than fifty years.She laughed for a while and cried for a while, with smiles and tears on her face at the same time.In her lost childhood, she saw herself sitting pitifully on a small wooden chair in her adoptive parents’ house, playing with a small gauze bag given to her by her neighbor’s grandmother. For most of the day, she just sat and played obediently. , not daring to move, for fear of making a noise and being scolded by her adoptive mother; the memories left to her from her school days should be regarded as good ones. She saw herself standing on a high podium, stuttering and reading something, and the audience was There was a dark crowd, people waved little red books in their hands, and shouted "Salute to Yao Xiuhua"; later, she walked into the ranks of young girls in such a daze, she never understood what love is, All she knew was that her adoptive mother liked Wang Jingfang, so she became his wife... She suddenly thought of the urgency of time and the ruthlessness of time.For most of her life, she has never belonged to herself, and she has never done what she wants to do.Including standing on the podium to give reports to others. Although it is very beautiful, it is not her own intention.In the past years, at home, she was always ordered to do this and that by her adoptive mother; at school, she was forced by the teacher to stand on the podium several times in shock; and later, she became Wang Jingfang's wife, habit makes her still obey her husband. She replays her past scene by scene in her mind. What she sees is just a doll, an unlovable clown doll with a A rope, always being held tightly by others.This doll has never lived its own life, never lived the life it wanted... Where am I?For more than fifty years, where have I been?She sat up abruptly, her dry and lifeless eyes were sparkling with the fire of desire.In order to get back to the past, she can't wait any longer, she must act now.So, she jumped to the ground with bare feet like this, and walked to the stairs with bare feet again.At that time, Yu Xiaoman was holding her own portrait, sitting in the hall watching TV, her eyes were engrossed in the pop singer who was twisting and singing on the TV screen, and she didn't notice Yao Xiuhua standing at the stairs.Yao Xiuhua woke up suddenly when she saw Yu Xiaoman sitting there alive in the hall and heard the singing on the TV.Thinking of how recklessly she was exposed in front of others, she couldn't help shivering.But when she walked into the bathroom barefoot, she still felt very excited. She felt that her legs were full of strength, like two Optimus Primes, supporting her bloated body without trembling.For her own "progress" and her "do whatever you want", she really wanted to laugh a few times or open her voice and yell.But she didn't want to disturb Xiao Man at such a moment, although she knew in her heart that the girl would find out her secret sooner or later, maybe after she ate the food that the girl hid in the bedroom, the girl had already seen the clue, but as long as The girl didn't tell the truth to her face, and she never took the initiative to expose herself.She intended to postpone that day for as long as she could.Therefore, except for that stealthy meal, she has always been very cautious about her actions, always walking in the corridor while the girl was out, and at the same time, trying not to leave any flaws.Now, standing barefoot on the cold tiles in the bathroom, she was sure the girl couldn't hear her, and the sound of the TV drowned everything out.Therefore, she boldly turned on the light switch in the bathroom, put her face on the mirror, and carefully measured herself for a long time.In the mirror, she saw a puffy and swollen face, a pair of dead red eyes sunken deep in the drooping eyelids, and the thinning hair was disheveled and gray.However, she is still very satisfied with herself, at least, the pile of fat on her chin that hangs down to her chest has disappeared, and there is a trace of blood on the lips that were once black and blue.Therefore, facing herself in the mirror, she forced a small smile.In order to prove her youth, she even picked up Yu Xiaoman's inferior lipstick from the marble table and applied it on her lips.Sure enough, the woman in the mirror looked much better with her red lips.But she didn't let the beauty last long, she tore off a piece of toilet paper and wiped it off...
Yu Xiaoman was actually aware of Yao Xiuhua's actions on New Year's Eve.That's because of Yao Xiuhua's omission in Baimi: Maybe it's because she has never used lipstick before. After she finished using lipstick, she forgot to screw back the lipstick sticking out of her head, just like putting a lid on a pot. The lid is on top of the lipstick.Someone touched his own lipstick, and Yu Xiaoman discovered this abnormal phenomenon that night.This discovery surprised her, but she didn't say anything, just sneaked a peek at Yao Xiuhua's door before going to bed.She seemed to be used to Yao Xiuhua's various tricks, such as stealing food, pretending to sleep in front of her husband Wang Jing... But Yao Xiuhua actually played with her lipstick, which still shocked her.However, when she stood at the door of Yao Xiuhua's room, she found that everything was normal, the living dead was still sleeping and snoring loudly.
Yu Xiaoman didn't take this matter to heart.She had too many things to think about, and for Yao Xiuhua, her only responsibility was to cook well, and it was enough for her to eat and drink well.As for this woman's emotions, she always thinks it has nothing to do with her.What's more, Yao Xiuhua had already lost her emotions and desires, no matter what, there would be no feelings between them.Therefore, no matter what happened to Yao Xiuhua, whether she yelled "go home", whether she ate it secretly, or touched her lipstick, Yu Xiaoman was always surprised by it at first, and then the method she adopted is ignored.
Therefore, the lipstick incident that happened on New Year's Eve was quickly forgotten by Yu Xiaoman.
In the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, when Liu Liping rang the doorbell, Yu Xiaoman had just woken up and didn't even have time to wash her face.When she opened the door and saw Liu Liping standing outside the door, she knew something serious had happened.Liu Liping looked terrified and upset.Let Yu Xiaoman follow her when she enters the door.
"I haven't washed my face yet, and my aunt hasn't eaten yet." Amidst Liu Liping's urging, Yu Xiaoman muttered softly as she quickly put on her shoes.
"It's too late. My cousin promised to come over in a while and cook for my cousin, so don't worry about it."
"Where are you taking me?" Yu Xiaoman couldn't help asking when she followed Liu Liping to the door.
"Go to Fuyang Town." Liu Liping said with care, then opened the car door and pushed Yu Xiaoman in.
"Ah Hui showed her head last night! What I was worried about happened. This damn little fairy called my mobile phone and blackmailed me. He asked me to deposit 100,000 yuan into an account in her bank. I am limited to three days. If I delay, I will show it to me. I immediately thought that she was going to attack my son Liu Chao-she knew that child, liked that child, and the child also liked her very much. If she wanted to kidnap the child, it would be easy...I think this Ah Hui is crazy, a bit crazy..." On the deserted road, Liu Liping was driving a fast car, talking about things in a panic after.
"Is this true? Ah Hui, how could she have such courage? This is a crime!" Yu Xiaoman said in surprise and fear.It was at this moment that she suddenly found the answer that Liu Liping had been brooding about Ah Hui's departure.
"I've seen it for a long time. This little fairy has a bad stomach. For money, she will do any immoral thing. I knew she wouldn't just walk away. Her evil eyes have been spying on our family's money all these years. ..." When Liu Liping said this, the features on her face shifted again.
"Ah Hui, she won't really do this, she is playing a prank!"
"Hmph, you underestimate her too much." Liu Liping sneered, "She would even dare to ask her to kill someone for money."
"Then—if this is the case, you must report to the Public Security Bureau immediately!"
Hearing what Yu Xiaoman said, Liu Liping slammed on the brakes suddenly, stopped the car on the side of the road, turned her head, with a straight face, and solemnly said to Yu Xiaoman who was sitting on the right seat of the cab: "This matter As long as you and I know, you can't tell anyone, including my sister, and I don't want her to know too much."
"why?"
"No reason. I just don't want others to know about it. Understand? I didn't even tell you Brother Qian."
Yu Xiaoman became more and more confused: "We went to Fuyang Town, isn't it just to take Liu Chao back to Baiyun and hide it?"
Liu Liping shook her head: "It's not that complicated. I just want to see the child and tell my sister's family not to let Liu Chao go out and watch him closely."
Only then did Yu Xiaoman breathe a sigh of relief: "Maybe Ah Hui is threatening you, she won't attack a child. I don't think she is that fierce."
"I hope so! I brought her here a few times before, and it seems that she likes Liu Chao very much. However, people's hearts are unpredictable, so it's better to be on guard early."
After the car was on the road again, Liu Liping slowed down and her nerves relaxed a bit: "Actually, I don't like children very much. I haven't seen him for half a year. That child doesn't have any feelings for me. Every time I come , he didn't seem to know him, and he ignored me. Xiaoman, do you like children?"
"like."
"As long as you like it." After Liu Liping said this inexplicably, she started driving the car with all her heart.
The car stopped in front of a very imposing courtyard in the south of the town.Liu Liping said, "Here we are!" and opened the car door. First, Yu Xiaoman got out of the car with her travel bag, and then she drove the car to an open space on the right side of the courtyard.
Standing at the gate of the courtyard, Yu Xiaoman looked curiously and enviously at the tall wall painted with black and white prismatic patterns, and the two brand new black lacquered gates with upside-down "Fu" Spring Festival couplets.Without going in, she could imagine what a wealthy family this was in the countryside.
Liu Liping, who had parked the car, walked over and slammed the round knocker on the black-painted door.
"Who is it?" A woman's thick but wary voice sounded from the door.
"It's me! Open the door!" Liu Liping said anxiously.
After a short trot, the courtyard door, which was locked inside and fastened with a thick chain, opened.A strong, tall, rough-faced woman appeared at the door.
"This is my sister Liu Lihong." Liu Liping pointed to the woman at the door and said to Xiaoman.
Yu Xiaoman looked at this woman who was completely different from Liu Liping in disbelief.She found that Liu Lihong was nothing like Liu Liping in terms of figure and appearance.From her broad face, dark red skin, protruding goldfish eyes and somewhat stern gaze, there was no trace of Liu Liping.If Liu Liping is a beautiful woman in the city, then her sister can only be regarded as a third-class peasant woman in the countryside.
"Come in!" Liu Lihong didn't show much enthusiasm for the arrival of her sister and Yu Xiaoman.There was even a bit of indifference in her slightly aged voice.
Liu Liping frowned, and walked towards the door, asking, "Where's my brother-in-law?"
"He took the child to my mother-in-law's house. I have to go there soon." Liu Lihong still said in an emotionless tone.
Liu Liping said nothing more.After Liu Lihong re-locked the courtyard door and put on the chain buckle, she led them through the huge courtyard in silence. The wine-red high-heeled leather boots on Liu Liping's feet stepped on the path paved with stones, making a crisp clicking sound. .
"Why are you still going out today?" Liu Lihong asked when pushing open the purple door with tea-colored glass.
"I have something urgent." Liu Liping replied.
"I thought you were here to see the children." "I don't have that kind of leisure."
The door was open, and on the floor of the main room covered with square red tiles, a little boy was squatting there playing with a four-wheeled car.
"Chaochao, your mother is here." Liu Lihong shouted at the boy.
The boy didn't seem to hear it, and he was still playing with the toy in his hand intently.It wasn't until a group of people came to him that he stood up abruptly, hugged the car, and hid behind Liu Lihong.
Liu Liping really didn't have any feelings for her son. She hadn't seen her son for half a year, but she didn't bend down to talk to her son or kiss her face.When Yu Xiaoman saw Liu Chao at first sight, she fell in love with this frail and intelligent child with a pair of big eyes and melancholy eyes.She really wished she could hold the child in her arms and play with him right away.However, at first, the child was a little shy of strangers, hiding behind his aunt Liu Lihong, turning his face away, unwilling to see his mother, and also unwilling to see Xiao Man.Later, when Liu Liping took out a plush panda toy from the travel bag and let Yu Xiaoman stuff it into his arms, he had a smile on his face and slowly approached Yu Xiaoman.
"Where's Sister Ahui?" When Yu Xiaoman took the opportunity to hold Liu Chao in her arms and asked him to call herself "Sister Xiaoman", the boy immediately raised his head and looked at her face and asked.
Yu Xiaoman looked into these expectant eyes, and when she didn't know how to answer, Liu Liping rushed to say angrily: "Ah Hui is dead, don't mention her name again."
"Ah Hui—sister is dead—" the little boy burst into tears, "I miss her so much—"
Liu Lihong hurriedly stepped forward and said angrily: "It's New Year's Eve, what a dead person. Don't listen to your mother. Sister Ahui will come to see you in a few days."
"Don't lie to him. Ah Hui is really dead. If she comes again, she will be a ghost." Liu Liping said fiercely, ignoring the child's feelings.
"Is this true?" Liu Lihong shifted her gaze to Yu Xiaoman's face.Liu Chao's big eyes also stared straight at Yu Xiaoman.Perhaps, he never believed his mother's words. "You are always Ahui and Ahui, don't you bother me!" Liu Liping said sharply.It seemed that she was really bored, and she was not angry with her son or sister.
Yu Xiaoman peeked at her with puzzled eyes. The grumpy and distracted woman in front of her was completely different from the Liu Liping she remembered.
What's bothering her?It seems that it's not just because of Ah Hui's call.Really, what is a little Ah Hui in the eyes of the omnipotent Liu Liping?Didn't she already clamor for sending Ah Hui to prison?Now, Ah Hui really showed her face, why didn't she report to the Public Security Bureau and arrest Ah Hui?Perhaps, what she said that Ah Hui was going to kidnap her son was not the whole reason why she was so panic-stricken and uncharacteristically so.Yu Xiaoman thought in puzzlement.
Liu Liping asked her sister if there was anything to eat at home.Liu Lihong said that there were leftover dumplings and various steamed buns in the kitchen from last night.Liu Liping asked Yu Xiaoman to take Liu Chao to the back kitchen to warm up the meal.
"Sister Liu, don't you want to eat something?" Yu Xiaoman, who was growling with hunger, asked.
"Eat it yourself! I'm not hungry." Liu Liping just waved her hand impatiently.The subtext is "what are you talking about".
Yu Xiaoman carried Liu Chao resentfully into the kitchen.
When she had a hasty meal and returned to the main room with Liu Chao, Liu Liping and her sister Liu Lihong had entered the inner room and closed the door.Seeing this, Yu Xiaoman took Liu Chao to the yard knowingly.
"Is Sister Ah Hui really dead?" When he came to the yard, the boy suddenly remembered the topic that had no answer just now, and continued to ask. There was a big exclamation mark in his big eyes, as if to say , "How could she die?"
"Sister Ah Hui is not dead, she just went home to see her mother." Yu Xiaoman didn't want to deceive the child.
"Will Sister Ah Hui still come to see me?"
This time, Yu Xiaoman didn't know how to answer.So, she put the boy on the ground and coaxed him: "Come, sister Xiaoman will play games with you."
Sure enough, the boy was fooled.
Yu Xiaoman played hide-and-seek with Liu Chao in the yard for a while, and when she was tired, she sat on the stone bench and played "pull the big saw and play house".Fortunately, the weather is not cold, it can also be said that the spring is beautiful.Therefore, she tried her best to reveal all the games she played with her friends in Zhaihua Village when she was a child.
The little boy quickly became fascinated by her, obeyed her every word, and never left her.
"Chaochao, do you miss your mother at your aunt's house?" She asked in a low voice when she came to the gate of the courtyard with the boy in her arms.
The little boy shook his head: "I don't want to."
"Miss Dad?"
"I don't want to." The little boy shook his head first, and then asked, "Sister, what is my father like?"
"Why, your father never came to see you?"
"No."
"You don't even know your own father?"
"do not know."
"You remember it wrong. Why didn't your father come to see you?"
"I remember correctly. Mom brought uncle here twice."
"Uncle? What's your uncle like?"
"Uncle wears very new clothes. Uncle likes me very much."
"You are so pitiful." Yu Xiaoman held the little boy tightly in her arms, "Are you at aunt's house?"
"it is good!"
"Don't you want to go home?"
"In no mood!"
Yu Xiaoman wanted to ask something else, when Liu Liping hurried out of the house with an empty travel bag, and shouted at her: "Xiaoman, put the child down quickly, we have to go."
"What? Let's go back now!" Yu Xiaoman couldn't believe her ears.
Hearing Liu Liping's shout, the boy hugged Yu Xiaoman's neck tightly: "I won't let sister Xiaoman go!" His face was pleading, and his voice was full of sadness. "What are you talking about! Come with me!" Liu Liping ignored her son's pitiful appearance, and just fired at Yu Xiaoman.
Yu Xiaoman hurriedly put the boy on the ground, followed behind Liu Liping who was walking fast like the wind, and walked out the door.
The boy followed suit.他在于小蔓的背后飞快地跑着，两条小腿趔趄着，随时都有摔倒的危险。
于小蔓不能不频频回头。但在刘丽萍的威严下，她又不敢停下脚步。
男孩到底追上了她，一把扯住了她的衣角，用含泪的眼睛久久地凝视着她。
于小蔓再也挪不动脚步了，她回过头，看着眼里满是泪水的男孩，禁不住弯下腰，摸着他小小的脑袋说：“回家吧，超超！过几天小蔓姐姐就来看你！”
“超超，过来，让姐姐走！”这时，他的姨妈刘丽红也赶了过来，用那鼓突的金鱼眼，死死地瞪着他。男孩立刻松开手，听凭眼泪在脸上流着，不哭不闹地回到了姨妈身边。
于小蔓不由心酸地哭了起来。她低头朝外走着，没有勇气回头，更没有勇气再看男孩一眼。
她想，这男孩实在太招人疼爱，也实在太可怜了。倘若他大声地哭喊，像其他孩子那样躺在地上打滚耍赖，她的心里还会好受一些。可这孩子却始终是不声不响地，只用眼里的泪水讲话，那情景简直令人心碎。
当于小蔓走到敞开着的车门前时，坐在车里的刘丽萍已怒气冲冲地发动了车子。她心有余悸地坐在了刘丽萍的旁边，悄无声息地偷偷抹去了脸上的泪滴。是的，正如刘丽萍自己所说的那样，她半点也不喜欢这个孩子。否则，她就不会这样绝情地离去，没有抱一抱孩子，亲一下孩子的脸。不仅如此，她甚至没有对孩子说一句温情的话。可那又是个多么让人爱怜的孩子啊！他那大大的眼睛，与年龄极不相称的忧郁的眼神和眼里的泪滴，就像用刀刻在了于小蔓的心里。她怎么也想不明白，刘丽萍为什么会不爱她自己的儿子。一路上，有好几次，她想问问刘丽萍其中的原因，但目光一碰到刘丽萍那铁青的面孔，涌到嘴边的话，只能一次又一次地咽下去。在回来的路上，刘丽萍发疯般地开着车子，车子在坑坑洼洼的马路上跳起高来，吓得于小蔓连连喊着“慢点、慢点”，可刘丽萍像是根本没有听见，继续着她的飞车游戏。
一路上，于小蔓什么也顾不上想了，只心惊胆战地看着汽车在荒凉的光秃秃的原野上一闪而过，看着几只孤独的小鸟在天际追逐着西斜的太阳。后来，她索性闭上了眼睛，摆出了听天由命的架势。她知道无论自己多么害怕，刘丽萍也不会放慢车速的。
也不知过了多久，就在于小蔓还深深地陷在惊悚之中时，刘丽萍突然来了个急刹车。于小蔓慌忙睁开眼睛，这才发现已到了金玉别墅3号楼门口。
“刘姐，我下车啦！”于小蔓惊魂未定地说着，伸出一只手想去开车门。
然而，刘丽萍却抢先一步，拉住了她的手。
“等等，我有话跟你说！”刘丽萍用威严的目光瞪着于小蔓。不知为什么，于小蔓突然从这目光中看到了一股杀气，她不由自主地从刘丽萍的手中抽出自己的手，两眼惊慌地盯着车门。车门紧锁着，车门外直对着的是暮色中黑洞洞的楼道。尽管从车前的挡风玻璃处，可以看见别墅的大门口有小轿车进出，亦有三两对年轻人搂肩搭背地走过，但3号别墅周围却不见一个人影。而由于车子密封的原因，坐在里面什么声音也听不见。
在刘丽萍的目光的紧逼下，于小蔓的身体莫名其妙地颤抖起来。
“你害怕我？”刘丽萍大概也觉出了于小蔓的胆怯，便换了一副笑脸问。
此时，于小蔓已吓得说不出话来，只是鸡啄米般地点着头。
“你怕什么？”刘丽萍依然笑着，但她笑得很难看。这难看的笑容，越发加剧了于小蔓的恐惧。
“我不知道。”于小蔓哆嗦着嘴唇说。
“是因为我对那孩子的态度吗？”刘丽萍竟把自己的儿子说成“那孩子”。不过，在这样问着的时候，她的脸上依稀又显出了往日的神情。“我说过，我不喜欢小孩。还有，他的出生，并没给我带来快乐。相反，让我吃尽了苦头，甚至差点儿死去。”
“是因为难产吗？”这会儿，于小蔓的神经开始松弛下来。她琢磨着刘丽萍所说的“吃尽苦头”的含义，猜想那大概指的是难产。因为她从电视上看过不少妇女因为难产死去。
“从怀孕时起，他就开始折磨我。真的，我压根儿就不想生下这个孩子。可那会儿，我对怀孕一类的事，缺少起码的常识。当我知道自己怀孕时，已没有办法摆脱他了。他出生时，我一个人孤零零地躺在床上叫喊了两天两夜……”
“钱哥呢？他为什么不到医院陪你？”
“是呀，那会儿他在哪？从某种意义上说，他其实就算不上一个真正的男人，软弱无能、死乞百赖、游手好闲，除了能写几句无病呻吟的诗外，没有半点生活能力。在外面，他不能像一个丈夫那样，为我遮风挡雨；在家里，他衣来伸手，饭来张口，油瓶倒了，决不会弯腰扶起来。他就像是寄生在我身上的一个怪胎，吃我喝我，靠我生活，对我却没有任何责任和义务。人啊，一步走错，便是步步全错。当年，我从偏僻的乡下走进繁华的都市，一下子就迷失在灯红酒绿里。开始只想混出个人样，挣大把大把的钱。后来，在那样的地方呆久了，我开始明白，一个女人要想彻底改变自己的命运，仅仅有钱是不够的，还必须找一个有权势的人物当自己的靠山，只有这样，人家才不会看低你。就这样，我嫁给了当时还在海南当兵的钱春阳。我承认，我对这个只有空壳没有灵魂的男人并没有多少感情，我更看重的是他头上顶的那个市长儿子的头衔。我原以为一旦走进市长的家门，我也就成了名副其实的市长的儿媳妇，从此也就身价百倍了。但我削尖脑袋挤进的这个家庭等待我的又是什么呢？垂死的公公，装腔作势的婆婆，傲慢无理的哥哥弟弟和两个尖酸刻薄的妹妹。他们始终用一种蔑视的目光瞧我，把我看成是他们家的女佣。当他们需要从我这里捞到好处而千方百计地利用我时，他们称我嫂子或是弟妹，背地里却总是在非议我，讥笑我。等我在这个城市站稳脚跟，想摆脱这个家庭弃钱春阳而去时，却什么都晚了，他们一方面威胁我，嚷着要告发我。我很害怕这件事被宣扬出去，那样的话，我们两个人就全完了。因此，为了我心爱的男人的仕途，我只能委曲求全；另一方面他们又让钱春阳对我死搅蛮缠，哭天抹泪，寻死觅活……没有办法，我只能硬撑着过下去，因为我不想回到从前那种凄惨的日子里。”
“他们对刘超也不好吗？”不知不觉间，于小蔓开始同情起刘丽萍了。
“是的。他们根本就容不下他。”
“就为这，你把刘超送到了乡下？”
“……”刘丽萍苦笑笑，没有回答。过了一会儿才缓缓说道：“还有一些别的原因。他们讨厌那个孩子，甚至希望他死掉。可我不能那样做，既然我把他生了下来，就得把他抚养成人。不过，我还是委曲求全地答应了他们的条件，我让那个孩子姓我的姓，让那个孩子住在乡下。”她停顿了一下，像是在犹豫，尔后，似乎终于下定了决心，开始用一种于小蔓从未见过的恳切目光望着她，“你能答应我一件事吗？”
于小蔓不解地望着她。无所不能的刘丽萍会有什么事有求于她呢？
“有空时多去看看那个孩子。从白云到福阳镇坐长途汽车也很方便，只四十公里的路程。想想，他也挺可怜的。小小年纪，得不到父爱，也没有多少母爱。其实，我姐姐并不多么喜欢他，她有自己的孩子，有自己的生活，是在万般无奈的情形下，才收留了这样一个累赘。正是在这样的环境里，那孩子变得少言寡语，性格孤僻。是的，我对不起他。可我没有别的办法。也许你已经看出来了，我和我姐姐一点没有相像的地方。其实，她不是我的亲姐姐，她同我没有半点血缘关系。她是我继母和前夫生的孩子。我母亲死时，我才三岁，为了有人能照看我，父亲当年就把继母娶进了门。”刘丽萍的眼圈红了，“你能想象在继母和比我大四岁的姐姐的威严下，我的处境是多么艰难。假如没有她们，我也许就不会在小小年纪便离开家门，流落他乡了。这些年，我什么苦没吃过，什么样的侮辱没受过？一件很平常的东西，别人垂手可得，我却要付出百倍的努力；无论在什么人参加的宴席上，我扮演的永远都是女招待的角色。即使在我有了大把的金钱之后，我仍然没有资格跻身于那个破落贵族的行列。”刘丽萍讲到这里，长长地叹了一口气，“你瞧，我把话题扯远了。还是来说说那个孩子的事吧！也许你还不知道吧，那个孩子是在福阳镇出生的。虽然姐姐和我之间的关系并不亲密，但除了她还算是我娘家的人外，我没有一个人可以依赖。因此，当那孩子将要出生时，走投无路的我只能来投奔她。我在福阳镇医院生下了那个孩子，又把他留在了福阳镇。起先，我姐姐怎么也不肯收留他，在我开出了每月两千元的价码后，她才勉强答应下来。从此，我身上就像套上了枷锁，姐姐和姐夫张开了贪婪的血盆大口，不停地从我身上榨取钱财。我不仅为他们在镇上建起了海产品加工厂，支付了造这座房子的费用，而且还要担负他们家所有亲戚朋友婚丧嫁娶的支出。而这些钱，姐姐都是以照看那个孩子为由索要的……”
“你为什么不把孩子领回去呢？我可以帮你照顾他，我很喜欢他。”于小蔓禁不住抢着说。
“我看得出来你很喜欢他，可我不能……”
"Why is this?"
“……也许有一天，你会知道这其中的原因。可现在，我什么也不能说。”刘丽萍神色黯然地摇了摇头，转尔，又一次用恳切的目光望着于小蔓，“你还没有回答我，你愿意常去看望那个孩子吗？”
于小蔓很郑重地点了点头，但她好像仍然没听懂刘丽萍的意思：“你是说让我一个人去看他？”
“是的。我真的不想见他，可我对他还负有一份责任，所以——”刘丽萍说着，便长长地叹了一口气。
于小蔓满心疑惑地张了张嘴，还想问下去，但这时刘丽萍已打开车门，跳下了车。她来到车尾，打开后备箱，从里面拿出一个红色的小皮箱，随手递给正站在楼道口掏钥匙的于小蔓：“喏，把这个先放在你这儿，我明天来取。”
于小蔓顺手接过了小皮箱。她转身打开防盗门时，刘丽萍已钻进驾驶室，发动了车子。
“刘姐，你不进来坐会啦？”于小蔓大声问。
刘丽萍没有回答，只是用力关上车门，隔着玻璃窗朝于小蔓挥了挥了，便一溜烟地将车开走了。
于小蔓一走进家门，就闻到客厅里有一股浓浓的油烟味。看来王景方是真的来过了，并为妻子做了饭菜。这让于小蔓感到了莫名的宽慰。不管怎么说，这个男人在一年里，还是尽了一回做丈夫的义务。她打开客厅里的电灯开关，把小皮箱放到沙发上，径直走进厨房，想验证一下自己的猜测。
果然，昨晚她收拾得于干净净的灶台和摆得整整齐齐的灶具，全都挪了位。用过的菜刀和菜板上还沾着菜屑，托盘里放着吃剩下的尚有余温的半个馒头，炒菜锅和刀铲已分了家，一个油脂麻花地被扔在水池里，另一个脏兮兮地呆在燃气灶上……虽然整洁的厨房让这个不会料理家务的男人给搞得一片狼藉，锅朝天瓢朝地，但于小蔓并没因此而气恼，想到衣冠楚楚的王景方笨手笨脚地在厨房里忙碌的情景，她不禁哑然失笑了。看样子王景方在这里整整呆了一天，是在给妻子做完晚饭看着她吃完以后，才匆匆走的。否则，吃剩的馒头，就不会还带着余温。让于小蔓更觉好笑的是，王景方在大年初一，也不得不破了一回规矩，没有出门去买那些快餐食品，而是亲自下厨房，操刀主勺地当起了厨师。无论怎么说，大年初一上街去买吃的，都是不吉利的，也是让人不齿的。按照老一辈人的说法，这一天，只有乞丐才会吃外面的东西。更何况，大多商家都关门过年，根本就不营业。好在于小蔓提前备下了一大堆馒头，不然的话，这年真不知该如何过了。
于小蔓在水池里洗了洗手，便手脚麻利地洗刷起灶具来。待她把厨房收拾得整洁有序后，才想起自己还没吃晚饭，于是，她拿过托盘里那半个馒头，来到客厅里，打开电视，坐到沙发上，边看电视边吃了起来。
在经历了一天的惊险旅途之后，昨晚她还是愁绪百结的心境此时突然变得一片宁静。家的舒适和安全，让她在不知不觉中有了一种难得的满足感。她暂时把所有的事情都抛到了脑后，只一门心思地看着电视节目，还情不自禁地随着电视里观看小品的观众一块儿乐。
也不知过了多久，窗外突然传来一阵哭声。开始，于小蔓还以为这声音是电视频道串音了，但她侧耳聆听了一会儿，才断定哭声是从院子里传过来的。女孩子的好奇心立刻把她吸引到了厨房的窗前。
此时，大院门口已站了不少人。半明半暗的路灯下，一个披头散发的女人被两个男人搀扶着，正哭天抢地地大喊大叫。于小蔓刚想看个明白，不料，门外又响起了急促的敲门声。
“小蔓，是我，快开门！”
于小蔓听出是田姐的声音，便立刻打开了门。
“田姐，你还没回家呀？出什么事了？”于小蔓看着一脸惊慌神色的田姐问。
“不好啦！唐老师的丈夫吴总裁死了。”
"what?"
“那个干巴老头死了，是给淹死了。”
“你是说掉到了海里？”
“不是。是在游泳池里淹死的。”
尽管，平日里田姐对这个从不把打扫卫生的她放在眼里且把自己的老娘赶出家门的男人十分不齿，但到了这一步，她的脸上还是露出了深深的惋惜：“听说他是在宾馆的游泳池里游泳时直接过去的。说是淹死的，其实是犯了心脏病。游泳池哪能淹死人。他中午大概是喝多了，下午三点多进的游泳池，是和两个陪游的女人一起进去的，游着游着，他就不见了。等打捞上来，就没气了……对了，小蔓，唐老师说你有她女儿吴婧的地址，你能跑一趟，把吴婧找回来吗？”
“我这儿有吴婧的电话。”于小蔓急中生智地说。
“那就快点给她打电话。”田姐催促着。
于小蔓从抽屉的隐蔽处找到吴婧给她写下的电话号码，便开始拨电话。田姐则站在一旁焦急地看着。
“电话可能是坏了，打不通，老是嘟嘟地响。”过了一会儿，于小蔓抬起头说。
“那怎么办啊？要不，你还是去跑一趟吧！唉，这一家人虽说跟咱非亲非故的，往常，唐老师站在天上，咱站在地上，可出了这种事，咱总不能站在一边看热闹啊！你说咱不帮她，这院里还有能帮她的人吗？”田姐也不知是在说服于小蔓还是劝告自己。
于小蔓点了点头：“好吧，我这就去！”
于小蔓手忙脚乱地穿好鞋子，便和田姐一起走了出去。
两人来到院子里，就见那伙人正架着唐老师往家里走。整个大院里，都响着唐老师悲切的哭声：“天哪，你就这样走了，留下我一个人，我可怎么活呀——”
“唉，人到这份儿上，真可怜啊！我这辈子不求别的，就求全家人都平平安安的。”田姐望着唐老师离去的背影，叹了口气说。可这个女人对她的丈夫真的那么有感情吗？于小蔓在心里想。不知为什么，她并没有被唐老师的哭声所打动。只有想到吴婧，想到这个女孩将和自己一样，失去了父亲，从此没有了父爱时，她的心头才涌上一股酸楚。
“小蔓，见着吴婧，先别告诉她吴总裁没了。只说家里有急事就成了，免得让她也哭哭泣泣的。对了，要我和你一起去吗，小蔓？”来到大院门口，田姐看着院外黑沉沉的夜色说。
于小蔓真希望有个人能陪自己一起去，可一想到田姐的丈夫和孩子正等着她回家，就打消了这个念头：“那地方我很熟。我一个人能找到。”她说。
这时，刚好有一辆出租车从门口驶过，田姐冲出租车招了招手，出租车立刻停了下来。
“田姐，我坐公共汽车去！”于小蔓赶忙说。
田姐却不管不顾地把于小蔓推进车里，又从衣袋里掏出十五块钱塞给司机：“师傅，把她拉到和平路5号。十五块钱够了吧？”
“田姐，我不坐出租！”于小蔓仍想下车。
但田姐一边摁着关紧的车门，一边把头探到车窗边说：“小蔓，今晚路上人少，搭出租安全。再说，也能节省点时间。”
一脸厚道的司机师傅回过头看看身单力薄且怯生生的于小蔓，也随声附和说：“别心疼那几块钱，搭个出租，买个放心。要不，你一个人跑这么远的路，你妈在家那心还不一直得悬着。”
见于小蔓没有吭声，司机师傅又从挡风玻璃前的台面上拿起一张名片塞给她：“我姓李，这是我的名片，你拿好。要是我服务有什么不周到的地方，你尽管提意见，打投诉电话也行。这些都在名片上写着。往后需要用车，也请你打我名片上的呼机号，我随叫随到。”
司机李师傅说完这串开场白后，才发动了车子。
“这人真逗！”于小蔓把名片放进衣袋里，偷眼看着一脸真诚的李师傅，脸上禁不住露出了笑容。
这天晚上，于小蔓从和平路5号回到家里时，已将近午夜。
凭着记忆，她没费什么周折，就找到了和平路5号，但，当她摸黑来到三楼吴婧的住处时，迎接她的却是紧锁的房门。她在门外敲了又敲，喊了又喊，门里始终没有回音。但她仍然不死心，又跑到楼下的马路对面，朝着吴婧的窗口张望——那里黑洞洞的一片，没有一丝丝亮光。一开始，她还怀着侥幸的心理，以为吴婧是去了男朋友家，或是和男朋友一起在外面逛街，便又回到楼道里，在三楼由花砖砌成的已破败的露台上向外张望。就这样，她在黑暗中望眼欲穿地又等了一个多小时，就在她快要失去耐性的时候，楼下突然传来一阵脚步声，她立刻回过身，快步走到楼梯口。此时，她几乎断定来人就是吴婧。
在等待吴婧走上楼来的那一刻，于小蔓的心跳突然加快了，呼吸也变得急促起来。来人气喘吁吁走上楼来的缓慢脚步，在她听来，犹如一声声重锤擂在心上，时间倏忽间变得紧迫起来。她觉得自己还没准备好，不知该如何说服吴婧回家，仅仅告诉她“家里有急事”，恐怕很难打动吴婧，她会以为这又是唐老师的花招。可直截了当地告诉她父亲死了，又太残酷了。尽管，吴婧对父亲的所作所为充满了厌恶，可父亲毕竟是父亲啊！就像她自己每每想起自杀的母亲时，心中的那份痛苦一样……
“你找谁？”就在于小蔓正紧张得不知所措时，一个上了年纪的男人已迎着她走上楼来。
“我找吴婧——就是那个门里租住的一个女孩。”于小蔓指着吴婧的房门说。她也不清楚在黑暗中男人是否能看清楚她手指的方向。
男人显然已明白她要找的人是谁了：“吴婧今天一大早就走了，让我们老两口替她照看房子。”
“她去哪儿了？”
“说是去南方，我们也没细问。你是她的亲戚？”
“这么说她真的走了，一时半会儿回不来了。”于小蔓失望地说。
“少说也得半年才能回来。”男人说。
于小蔓没有再问下去。她谢过那男人，就独自下楼了。
吴婧此时也许正和男朋友坐在南去的火车上。他们相互依偎着，沉浸在对未来的美好憧憬中。只要她不和家里联系，就得不到父亲已去世的消息。于小蔓心里涌上了一股说不出的滋味，真不知道该为吴婧的离去高兴还是遗憾。她在宽阔的马路上驻足，怅然地抬头望着遥远的天空，在蓝黑的天幕上有几颗星星闪着奇异的光芒，有两颗挨得很近，它们相互辉映着，看上去亲密而甜美。奶奶在世时，曾给她讲过星星的故事。奶奶说，世界上每一个活着的人，天空都有一颗属于他的星星。而当一个人做了坏事时，他的星星就会变得黯淡无光；如果一个人死了，那颗属于他的星星便消失了。现在，天空中属于吴总裁的星星早已殒落了，也许，那颗星星很久以来就没有光泽了；而吴婧和她的男友的星星却越来越明亮。于小蔓猜想，那两颗挨得很近的星星，离自己也最近的星星，就是满怀着对生活的向往，正在南去旅途中的吴婧和她的男友。于小蔓禁不住笑了，她甚至感觉到那两颗星星在向自己微笑致意。只是，那颗属于她自己的星星又在哪儿呢？她的目光在天幕上一遍又一遍地巡视着，却始终没有找到与自己对应的星星。
“你是个在生活中找不到自己的位置的人。”因此，天空中也没有你的星星的位置。她记起了不久前看过的电视剧中的一句台词。不由叹了一口气，但即刻又安慰自己说，你很快就会找到那颗属于你的星星，过几天你就该去夜大报名了，到那时，秦程会帮你找到它的。
当于小蔓的目光从天空移回到现实中来时，眼前的路又变得十分漫长。公共汽车居然早在十点半之前就停开了，而她身上又没带够搭出租车的钱。没有办法，她只能沿着公共汽车的路线徒步往家赶。好在这个节日的夜晚，天气并不算太冷，但街市上却比往常清冷了许多。除几家酒店仍开门营业外，大小店铺都关门闭窗，全黑着灯。
于小蔓紧挨马路边树阴的暗影里快步走着，一边还提心吊胆地观察着周围的动静，生怕碰上不测。她听阿慧说过，那些喝醉酒的男人常常在半夜里袭击独自走夜路的女人。酒鬼们都是些亡命徒，一旦哪个女人碰到他们手里，就很难有机会逃脱，在酒精的作用下，他们失去了理智，酒胆包天，什么可怕的事都干得出来……在深夜里独自行走的于小蔓，心里想着阿慧绘声绘色地讲过的这段话，越发胆怯起来，两只眼睛不由瞪大了，死死地盯着每一扇经过的酒店的大门。见大门里没有人走出来，她就松一口气；大门一开，她就赶紧驻足，看走出的是男是女，是一伙人还是一个人，然后再决定是继续往前走还是躲到大树干的后面。
路北一家大酒店的门开了，走出一伙摇摇晃晃的喝得烂醉的男人。于小蔓刚想躲避，却见后面又跟着走出两个年轻女人，她们浪笑着，和那几个酒鬼搭肩搂背地缠到了一起……这反让于小蔓放下心来。渐渐地，她的胆子大了起来，因为她发现凡是夜晚开门的酒店，生意都很红火，总是人来人往，有男有女的，所以，大可不必惊慌。
穿过一条东西大街，按着公共汽车的站牌，她又拐上了一条南北马路。这是一条比较偏僻的街道，既没有灯光闪烁的酒店，也没有疾驶而去的小汽车，马路两旁的建筑物里不见一星星灯光，四周一片寂静，仿佛整条马路都睡了。这突如其来的静寂，比经过那些酒店门，更让于小蔓胆怯。她一边侧耳聆听着周围的动静，一边加快了脚步，望着那稀疏的几盏昏暗的路灯，她紧张得几乎透不过气来，仿佛每一个黑暗的角落里，都有一个鬼影在等着她。越想越怕的她，禁不住跑了起来。
路越走越短，前面大概有一百米左右，就又是一条灯火辉煌的东西大马路了。于小蔓这才松了一口气，渐渐地放缓了脚步。就在这时，她听到了一个声音，一个轻微的却有点刺耳的声音——她下意识地停下脚步，朝着发出声音的方向张望——从她右侧的小巷里，走出一个高个男人，起先，男人在黑暗中小心翼翼地移动着，仿佛害怕惊醒人们的好梦，就像一个影子飘忽在空气中，那样没有声响和分量。但男人从巷刚一露头，却又撞了墙般地随即背转身，缩回到巷子深处。紧接着，