Chapter 8 Section VIII

"You didn't have dinner." "I came directly from the river beach, and the shovel was brought back by others." Runsheng sat on the edge of the bed and told her honestly that he hadn't eaten dinner.Xiaolan lifted the small aluminum pot on the stove, and while the heat was steaming, she brought out a plate of dishes and a bowl of buns, put them on the table, and asked, "Do you eat noodles? There are ready-made vermicelli..." Runsheng shook his head, and had already grabbed a bun: "If you have meat buns to eat, save the noodles!" He wanted to say something mischievous, but Xiaolan didn't smile, so he didn't care, and started chewing.

"I remember when you were playing football in the county, you liked sweets." Xiaolan said, and took out a bag of cakes from under the Wudou table, untied it, and spread it in front of Runsheng, "You can eat whatever you want!" "Is there anything else good? Take it all out!" Runsheng ate happily, deliberately teasing Xiaolan, "I'm really hungry..." Before Runsheng finished speaking, he saw Xiaolan take out a bottle of beer, take off the lid, and was about to pour it into a glass. He took a step forward, grabbed the bottle, and said, "Did you forget? I like to drink from the mouth of the bottle... ..."

Xiaolan looked at him caressingly: "However you drink it, doesn't it all smell like wine?" "You don't know, wow, drinking it from the bottle will satisfy your hunger." Runsheng said, "You can eat it too!" "I've eaten." Xiaolan said, "This is for you." "You should eat with me." Runsheng teased her, "That's like... a family." He wanted to say "husband and wife", but finally he was a little shy and didn't say it. Xiao Lan blushed suddenly, lowered her head, and said nothing. Runsheng noticed that Xiaolan had become shy, and her voice was lowered, unlike the cheerful tone she used to talk to him in the past, and the high-octave quacking laughter was no longer there.Now in front of him, she completely showed the gentleness and demureness of a virtuous wife.He felt awkward, why did he speak in such a low voice?Why do you just squeeze the corners of your mouth when you smile and don't make a sound?When did you learn this rule?

Xiaolan made tea for him on the stove. "Xiaolan, it doesn't matter if you don't eat, you sit in front of me." Runsheng said, "I was fishing for stones on the beach, and I couldn't help but look at the embankment we sat on..." "I'll make the tea, and I'll come." Xiaolan still wasn't moved by his teasing, and said, "That's good." He ate and drank, finished a bowl of steamed stuffed buns, drank a bottle of beer, hiccupped, and caught the dark red teacup Xiaolan handed over to him with both hands. "Are you full?" she asked, looking at him affectionately.

"Such a good treat, am I still not full?" He smiled and looked at her with the same affection, but she averted her eyes, pretended to clean up the dishes, and turned away.At this moment, he noticed that there was a melancholy expression hidden in her beautiful eyes.He said, "Sit down and let me take a good look at you. What are you doing clearing up those dishes?" But she took out a bundle from the box next to the bed, untied it, and brought a new dress to Runsheng: "Try it, see if it fits?" "This..." Runsheng was a little embarrassed. "What is 'this'! Try it!" Her voice was still low, but she was stubborn, "Put it on and let me see."

Runsheng put it on.She tugged at the front of the front, hemmed it back in a daze, ironed it with her hands, admired it, and smiled consolingly, exactly as if his wife was sending him out to visit relatives. His demeanor moved him, and he hugged her into her arms, and called emotionally: "Xiaolan...you are so kind..." She turned her head and broke free from his arm: "Try the pants again." "Just right." He picked up the waistband of his trousers and compared the length with his own legs, "You really have a heart!" She refolded the clothes neatly, wrapped them in waste newspapers, put them in a mesh bag, and said, "It's the first time I've been paid, so I'll buy you a set of clothes as a souvenir."

"Then...well, you wait..." Runsheng's emotional tide was churning in his heart, and his voice was trembling with excitement, "When I start raising bees, I will...my bees...brew the first bees... A jar of honey... for you..." Xiaolan listened, tears poured down from her eyes, as if the tears had been prepared long ago.Runsheng thought Xiaolan was moved by his sincerity, so he stretched out his arms again.Xiaolan stammered, "Let's go out...for a walk..." He and she avoided the road and walked up to the ridge of the field, the frozen wheat leaves rustling under their feet.He put an arm around her shoulder, but she trembled.What's wrong?He asked softly, "Xiaolan, are you cold?"

"No," she said. "What about you?" "I'm going to sweat!" He deliberately exaggerated, "You had a cold war just now..." She didn't say a word, walked and stopped. There is no moon, the stars are shining coldly in the dark gray sky, and the northwest wind is blowing, although it is small, it is cold enough. "Runsheng..." She stood for a moment and called him softly. "Your personality seems to have changed a lot!" Runsheng said, "I really love listening to your sharp talk in the past..." She kept silent again.

"Sing 'Nine Nine Sunny Days' again for me! Xiaolan." Runsheng said emotionally, "After listening to your singing that night, I won't listen to singing on the radio anymore!" "Woo..." Xiaolan cried. Runsheng was startled, and held Xiaolan's shoulder: "What are you doing? Did someone bully you?" "I...I'm sorry...you..." She finally said something, and she threw herself into Runsheng's arms, "You... scold... me..." Runsheng was taken aback, and asked eagerly, "Quickly tell me, what's the matter?"

"My...uncle...let me...introduce..." a very embarrassed voice. "Is it the person you watched the movie with that day?" Runsheng pushed Xiaolan away, grabbed her shoulder, and asked anxiously. "that is." "meet……" Both of them lowered their hands and stood quietly. "What does that man do?" Runsheng asked. "The accountant of the management station." Xiaolan said, "His father and my uncle are friends, so he told me about this person..." "What is his father doing?" "County cadres..." Runsheng let out an "oh" as if awakened, and suddenly understood that her uncle was in the village and his father was in the county. They were both subordinates and old friends, and their sons and relatives could work in the sand and gravel management station. , and get married, just like the right family... Thinking of this complicated relationship, Cao Runsheng, an eighteen-year-old brother, almost instinctively thought of his father, who was just an expert in raising pigs and cattle.In his low self-esteem spirit, there was a strong disgust, and he waved his hands angrily: "That's good! That's good! I'm leaving..."

Xiaolan grabbed him tightly, and said bitterly, "You...have you heard what someone said..." He stopped, stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets, and stood upright in the wheat field. It suddenly occurred to him that she hadn't explained her attitude towards that accountant clearly!Why are you going to leave?He asked: "Are you willing or not? It's clear in one sentence, the question is very simple!" "My parents forced me..." Xiaolan said, "When I came to work at the management station, I didn't know that my uncle had such intentions..." "Now that you know, what should you do?" Runsheng listened patiently, "I won't force you, I just want to hear a truncated sentence from you." "What do you think... what should I do?" Xiaolan asked. "Your life-long event, how dare I add words?" Runsheng said bluntly, "Today's young people, everyone is in charge of their own affairs." "I want to hear your opinion..." Xiaolan insisted. "Ask me to say..." Runsheng was unequivocal, "I quit my job at the management station and went home to find another job! Now in the countryside, people can't die of hunger!" "I thought so too..." She lowered her head, "It's so easy to find this job..." "Forget it! Forget it!" Runsheng said, "You can do as you want, and I won't interfere with you..." "Runsheng..." Xiaolan grabbed his arm, cried again, and murmured, "I just received my first salary, so I'll buy you a gift and serve you a meal, okay? Let me make up for it..." "..." Runsheng suddenly felt sour in his nasal cavity.He understood what she said, and all this seemed unnecessary again.He said, "Okay! That's it... I'm leaving." "Don't worry!" She grabbed his arm again, "I'm sorry! You can scold me..." "There's nothing to be sorry about! Nothing!" Runsheng suddenly felt that he had grown taller, and said boldly, "Why am I scolding you? You didn't hurt me! You decide what happens to you!" "I still can't forget you in my heart..." "Don't make things complicated on purpose! Just forget about it..." "I know that you are fishing for stones on the river beach, and you are suffering a lot..." Xiaolan said emotionally, "If you catch the stones, you don't have to worry about selling them. I will tune the car for you..." "No, no, no! No more!" Runsheng said stubbornly, "You have helped Uncle Changcai by selling so many stones. My stones are easy to sell, and I have experience in chasing and blocking cars... ..." "I'll put a car there for you every ten or eight days." Xiaolan said affectionately, "Give me a favor!" "No. Xiaolan, I'm leaving." He made up his mind to leave this time. "Go back to the management station and put on your clothes." Xiaolan blocked him again, "You ride my bike, it's so late..." "Don't!" Runsheng shook off his hand and strode away. Just two or three steps away, he heard suppressed crying from behind.He wanted to turn his head around and comfort her, but after a little hesitation, he finally did not turn his head away, as if a stick was pinned to the back of his neck, making his neck stiff.He strode across the wheat field, the frozen wheat leaves creaking under his feet... It's over, his and her first love!Such a soul-stirring first love ended like this!He was walking on the smooth asphalt road, and now he felt the biting cold of the northwest wind. His mind was in a mess, and he just mechanically stretched his long legs to walk, as if he was depressed, sad, or doing something. Depending on everything, I can't tell what it's like... Runsheng finally walked into Cao Village. The village alleys were quiet, and the dark silhouettes of houses were quietly hidden in the darkness of winter night.He walked downstairs to his house, the wooden door was ajar, and when he opened the door, his mother's voice of inquiry could be heard from the back room.If he didn't come home, the door wouldn't be locked. My mother would just sit under the lamp and do needlework, waiting for him to come back. This was already a habit.Walking into the yard, in the pigsty on the left, the grunt of the old sow and the squeaks of the piglets can be heard in sleep; in the cowpen on the right, the sound of the old cattle chewing cud can be heard rhythmically .He came back to the familiar real world from the open field, and his heart suddenly became stable. "Run baby, are you going to the management station?" The mother raised her head from her needlework, "I heard what your elder uncle said. Have you eaten yet? I'll keep it in the pot for you." "I've eaten." He sat on the chair and lowered his head. Thinking of eating her meal, he felt uncomfortable again. "I'll contact... about selling stones." He had to lie. "Humph! How are you doing?" Father didn't fall asleep, sat up, put on his cotton coat, and said dissatisfiedly, "Look at the cabinet——" Runsheng turned his head. On the longboard cabinet containing grain, there were a pile of oil-stained paper bags and a pile of unopened wine bottles... What's going on? "People in the village watched you sell stones to Changcai, and know that you have a classmate who is invoicing at the management station. It's a good thing—" Mother doesn't know whether she hates it or appreciates this kind of thing, "I beg you to help them sell stones. !" "Hey! How could I..." Runsheng was at a loss for words. This was undoubtedly another unexpected event.He had seen some unhealthy reports from the newspapers, and heard many ugly acts of bribery from others, but it was the first time in his life that he personally experienced it.Yes, no one would bribe his father. He only feeds pigs and cattle, and can't do much for others.He used to study all the time, and he never met anyone who asked him for help.Now, for the first time, he saw the tribute that was called "tribute" on the beach. Packs of pastries, cigarettes, and bottles of wine with various decorative patterns were enshrined on the lid of the cabinet.Don't say he can't accept these tributes!Thinking of Xiaolan and his unrememberable first love, he hated even looking at those tributes. "Why do you take these things from others?" He annoyed his mother, "If you accept them, go sell them stones!" "Ah! My baby—" the mother didn't get annoyed, and called affectionately, "When those people enter the door, they can't stop them. If you don't believe me, ask your father..." "I have never eaten and drank other people's food for nothing in my life." The father did not directly testify for his mother, but he talked about the family rules. As a father, he loved his only son more than his wife, but he never forgot to give his son practical advice influences.He took this matter far more seriously than his wife, "Even if we can help others, we can't accept these things sent in the dark! What's the smell?" "Whoever takes it will send it away." Runsheng blamed his mother. "That being said, even though you say that, don't bother—" the father fully showed the foresight of the head of his family, "I can't help others, and I don't want to offend the folks..." "What do you think we should do?" My mother was also anxious, "Why give it back to others? Once you return it, you will surely offend someone!" "Let me think about it..." Father pondered. "I'll return it!" Runsheng stood up, "Return it to whoever sent it. It's a simple thing, but it's so complicated!" Runsheng walked out of the small door of the back room irritably, and walked into his small mansion. He needed to lie down quietly by himself, thinking about what he and she had gone through, it was like a dream...