Chapter 3 Sanman Geng and Furong girl

On the banks of the Furong River, there are not many hibiscus trees now.People say that when the hibiscus tree grows old, it will become a hibiscus spirit, and it will turn into a man who the woman comes out to pull at night.Someone once saw a group of beautiful women taking a bath in the river in the middle of the night when the moon was white and the wind was clear. Sometimes lotus blossoms floated in jade liquid, and sometimes fairy girls played in the clear waves... Each fairy girl must at least take a green-skinned offspring to be a spouse.No wonder a young man who took a cold bath would drown in the Furong River every year in hot weather.This made the 250-year-old children in the town startled, scared, and happy. Some of them with good water skills and courage even thought: As long as they don't lose their lives, they might as well go to meet Fairy Furong.From the standpoint of the leader, from the perspective of long-term interests, this is a threat to the population of the town and the construction of the militia.Therefore, the old hibiscus tree on the river bank has changed from a town of Fengshui to a town of superstition.Later, the township government arranged to plant castor beans, saying that they could be used to refine aircraft lubricants to defend the country. The elementary school students in the town planed the roots of hibiscus trees to plant castor beans, which not only strengthened national defense, but also broke superstition.Just like the Fangfang Lake pond behind the town, it was originally planted with water hibiscus, but after the commune was transformed into a rice field with grain as the key link.However, by the riverside wharf, there are still a dozen or so jumbo jelly trees surviving, and the trees are covered with vines.People in the town have different opinions as to how the dozen or so ancient Xueli trees were able to escape the national steel-making and iron-making movement.Some say that because of its poor woodiness, it is not easy to burn into charcoal.Some said that a comrade from the township government, who was later classified as a right-leaning opportunist, insisted on leaving it to the transitional masses to rest and enjoy the coolness.Some people say that even in a communist society where people eat and drink all they can eat, they may have to use cold well water to grind a few bowls of bean jelly to dissolve the greasy oil and leave the bean jelly tree behind. After four or five years, there are different opinions on such a trivial matter, which shows the complexity of Chinese history.No wonder there have been so many great scholars doing "textual research" in the past dynasties.Bean jelly trees and vines, on both sides of the stone steps of the wharf, form a thick shade along the road that the scorching sun can't penetrate, sheltering passers-by up and down.The tree is full of bean jelly males and bean jelly women, just like small bronze bells.They, together with the thick shade, are reflected in the mung bean-colored river water, and the quiet river water seems to be ding-dong, ding-dong...

Brother Man Geng, secretary of the brigade, was demobilized from the army in 1956 and was assigned to work as a civil affairs officer in the district government. It was at this ferry pier that he met the only daughter of the town inn boss Hu.The woman finished washing a basket of clothes, and was looking down at the tail lantern fish swimming in the crevices of the underwater rocks.Brother Man Geng came down from the shore and waited for the ferry. The first thing he saw was the beautiful oval face reflected in the river... He was puzzled for a moment: Good boy! Could it be that he bumped into a hibiscus tree spirit in broad daylight? Which one is in the town? Such a beautiful woman? The civil affairs officer was in a daze.He was not afraid of the hibiscus tree spirit, so he walked over unconsciously and continued to look at this charming face reflected in the mirror-like clear river.

As a result, the faces of two young people were reflected in the river.The woman was startled and blushed. She stretched out her hand resentfully and first disturbed and smashed the shadow in the river; then she stood up and cast a sideways glance at the youngest son in annoyance.However, both of them were immediately surprised and ashamed as if they had been shocked by electricity, they opened their mouths and froze: "Yuyin! How big are you?..." "Brother Man Geng, you are back..." It turned out that they had known each other since childhood.Brother Man Geng is the son of an old ferryman.Yuyin followed him into the mountains to pull bamboo shoots, pick mushrooms, and firewood.They also sang and played songs mountain to mountain, cliff to cliff, and scolded each other for fun.Xiao Yuyin sang: "Lai cubs stand in a row over there. If you dare to chop firewood, come here. You will be killed with a sickle, and your eyes will be buried with the sickle!" Xiao Mangeng replied: "The girl from the mountain is so good. Come here, the red silk handkerchief will cover you, and the flowery sedan chair will carry you!" The folk songs sang and cursed each other, Man Geng didn't lose, and Yuyin didn't win either.She cursed bitterly in her heart: "Short-lived ghost! Who cares about your red silk veiled sedan chair? Bah, bah!" Sometimes she thought in her heart: "Immortal and uneducated, let's see if you will come to carry the sedan chair in the future... "Later, people grew up year by year, and Yuyin became sensible year by year.Brother Man Geng joined the army.When Hu Yuyin thought of the folk song "The flowery sedan chair will carry you", her face would heat up, her heart would beat, and she would be sweet and shy.

A pair of childhood sweethearts stood face to face on a rock slab.But both of them lowered their heads again, looking at the toes of their shoes.Yuyin wore cloth shoes made by herself, and Man Geng wore liberation shoes issued by the army.Fortunately, it was noon on a hot and scorching day, and the cicadas on the tree squeaked—ah, squeak—just make noise, and the boatman across the river was Man Geng's father. I don't know if he fell asleep on the cool rock slab, or I'm pretending to sleep. "Yuyin, your hands are so white, it seems that you have never done labor..." It was the civil affairs officer who spoke first.It's very inappropriate to open your mouth and close your eyelids. It's very inappropriate to find something to say.

"Which one said it? I do things every day. I don't wear a straw hat or an umbrella. I don't know what kind of thing. I just can't get tan... Don't believe me? Look, I have calluses on my palms..." The voice of the only daughter of the innkeeper was very soft. , so light that you can almost only hear it yourself.But the Civil Affairs Officer is also audible. Hu Yuyin pouts her cheeks a little aggrieved, and wants to slap Brother Man Geng.But the slap is not obedient, if you want to stretch it, you only have the courage to stretch it halfway. Brother Man Geng smiled apologetically, and stretched out his hand to touch the callus on the palm, but his arm was not up to the mark, and it retracted halfway.

"Yuyin, you..." Brother Man Geng finally mustered up his courage, his eyes were wide open, and he stared at the beautiful woman without blinking, his eyes were full of questioning. Yuyin ate the Ganoderma lucidum grass, and she understood Brother Man Geng's thoughts: "I? Purely alone..." She also deliberately added, "I'm just alone..." "Yuyin!" Brother Man Geng's voice trembled, his military uniform was about to burst from his nervousness, and he opened his arms as if to pounce on him. "You... dare!" Hu Yuyin took a step back, two bubbles of tears immediately welled up in her eyes, like a little girl who has been bullied.

"Okay, okay, I don't now..." Seeing this, Brother Mangeng immediately felt a feeling and responsibility like a brother caring for his sister, his voice and expression softened. "Okay, okay, you go home, my uncle and aunt have been waiting in the shop for a long time, and you won't be at ease. Say hello to the two adults for me first!" Hu Yuyin lifted the laundry basket and nodded: "My parents are old and sick..." "Yuyin, I will come to see you another day!" On the other side, the ferry boat had already rowed over. Hu Yuyin nodded again, until her chin touched her collar.She carried the basket and walked up the stone steps step by step, turning her head every three steps.

When the civil affairs officer returned to the district government, he was smiling from head to toe. Yang Mingao, secretary of the district party committee, is a local, and he pays great attention to cultivating local cadres.Among the twenty or so young cadres of the district committee and the district government, Li Mangeng, the civil affairs officer, was the one he valued the most.Xiao Ligen is Zhengmiaozheng, a man of good looks, with a simple mind and a righteous style of work. He has a good identification in the army, and he has made four third-class meritorious service in five years of service.At that time, the county party committee was arranging to withdraw districts and merge townships, and Yang Mingao was about to be promoted to the county party committee to manage finance and trade.He recommended to the county party committee to promote Xiaoli to Furong Township, a big town in the mountainous area, to be the mayor and party branch secretary.The Organization Department of the County Party Committee had already talked to Li Mangeng, and was just waiting for his official appointment.At this time, Secretary Yang Mingao's precious niece who worked in the county commercial bureau came to the district government to investigate the supply and marketing work.Of course, all three meals have to be eaten in the secretary's uncle's dormitory.Secretary Yang didn't know whether it was by accident or on purpose, he sent civil affairs officers to the kitchen to call for every meal to eat together.The civil affairs officer vaguely heard someone say that the niece of the secretary of the district party committee has a relationship in the county like a monkey pulling corn, throwing one away and throwing the other away. Life is not serious.At the dinner table, I couldn’t help taking a few extra glances: Yes, the clothes are western style, and every time I eat, I have to take off the beige satin card smock, and only wear a light floral collarless sleeveless shirt, bare A pair of round, snow-white and tender arms, and such a piece of half-covered flesh under the delicate neck, it is easy to make people have wonderful associations.On the high chest, there are two small symmetrical buttons on the left and right of the cloth shirt.Even Secretary Yang Mingao, a leader who lives with a stern face all the year round, can't help but look at his niece's white and fat hands when eating, stare at the delicate part of her neck, and the corners of her mouth reveal There are a few traces of smiles that are not easy to be noticed.After all, Secretary Yang's niece is a person who has seen the world, and she is generous, with a pair of eyes that can talk and sing, scanning the civil affairs officer's body, as if she wants to take people's souls away.Li Mangeng had never been "scanned" by the sparkling eyes of a lesbian like this. He often blushed, clumsy, and lowered his head to count the legs of stools and tables.

In total, they ate four meals at one table, and they only knew each other as "Xiao Li" and "Xiao Li".On the third day, after Secretary Yang sent his niece away, he asked with a smile: "How is it? Huh? How is it?" Li Mangeng's mind was not flexible, he couldn't react, and he didn't know what to ask: "Secretary Yang, what's the matter? What's the matter?" '?" What a fool! A demobilized soldier in his twenties, so stupid, such a jerk.Obviously he had just sent away a person with flowers, but he opened his mouth wide and asked his uncle, "what'how"'?

That night, the secretary of the district party committee had a serious conversation with the civil affairs officer.For Yang Mingao, this is enough to condescend to honor him.If other young cadres had been replaced, they would have paid tribute to "Wuliangye" and "Luzhou Laojiao" long ago, and they would not be able to beat the water for washing face and feet.Secretary Yang Mingao, in his capacity as an uncle and old man, as well as the authority of his immediate superior, involuntarily laid out the political future and family life arrangements of the two young people in detail.Perhaps it is out of a leader's habit, as if he is arranging and assigning subordinate cadres to complete a certain task. "How's it going? Well, how's it going?" The secretary of the district committee spoke in the same tone as in the morning.Unexpectedly, the civil affairs officer stammered, eyes dodged, and it took a long time to squeeze out a fart: "Thank you chief for your concern, give me a few days, wait for me to think about it..." The secretary of the district committee was angry, eyes It's all black, I really want to pull my face down immediately and reprimand me: arrogant and arrogant, you have no leadership, you are a big civil affairs officer, you look like a champion, waiting to be the son-in-law?

The civil affairs officer took advantage of his work and went back to Furong Town.It is unknown whether the descendants of the ferryman and the only daughter of the innkeeper met again on the Qingyan board under the pier and had some discussions.At that time, I didn’t know which document stipulated that all Communist Party members and even non-Party activists who fall in love must truthfully report the situation to the Party organization in advance, and only after the organization’s approval can they continue to develop relationships, so as to protect the class of Party members. Composition, purity, reliability of social relations.A few days later, the civil affairs officer reported to the secretary of the district committee honestly and respectfully. "Congratulations, I've come to see little Xi Shi in Furong Town." Secretary Yang Mingao remained calm, half lying and half reclined in the couch, with Erlang's legs raised as high as his head, just in the shape of a shrimp.With a matchstick in his hand, he picked out the shredded meat and vegetable crumbs and other leftovers from between his teeth after drinking. "When we were young, we knew each other when we were pulling bamboo shoots and picking mushrooms..." The civil affairs officer's face was as red as that of cooked shrimp. "What class composition is her family?" "Probably a small business owner, equivalent to a wealthy middle peasant or something..." "Probably? Equivalent? This is what a civil affairs officer of yours said? What do Communist Party members do?" Secretary Yang Mingao cheered up and sat up from the couch, his eyes staring like two 25-watt light bulbs . "I, I..." The civil affairs officer was so ashamed, as if he sneaked into someone's orchard to steal fruit when he was a child and was caught by the owner on the spot. "Let me tell you in the name of the organization, Comrade Li Mangeng. The owner of the inn in Furong Town, joined the Qinghong Gang before liberation, and the proprietress is more complicated. She used to be a prostitute in a big port. You should understand, sister of a prostitute." That’s why it’s so delicate and coquettish…” Secretary Yang Mingao went back into the couch half-lying and half-reclining. He had worked in the local area for many years. There is a score, an account of class composition. The civil affairs officer drooped his head, barely crying. "Xiao Li, according to the Marriage Law, you have the freedom to marry someone. But the party organization also has its rules. You can choose: either keep your party membership, or ask the innkeeper's lady to be your wife!" Secretary Yang Mingao's routine is business, and what he talks about is principles.Of course, he never mentioned a word about his overripe peach-like niece. From troops to places, from simple to complex.The civil affairs officer is like a deciduous tree that has been beaten by frost. It has lost all its flesh in a few days.And that's not all.When the secretary of the district party committee formally announced the list of leaders of the county party committee's withdrawal from districts and townships and major townships, the civil affairs officer did not register.Instead, he was told to work as a cook in a township government.because of him When he was transferred from the army, he could not be used as a cadre, but could only be a civil servant. Li Mangeng did not report to the township government.He returned to the earthen house at the ferry in Furong Town to help the old man ferry.If you don't climb high, you can't fall too heavy.It is only right and proper for the descendants of the boatman to still be the boatman.It is our duty to sail the boat and the water. On a moonless night, Li Mangeng and Hu Yuyin met again.It's still the same place: the Qingyan slab on the pier by the river.Now it's much more convenient, Li Mangeng punted the boat by himself, and we could meet each other from time to time. "It's all my fault! It's all my fault! Brother Man Geng..." Hu Yuyin burst into tears.Under the moonlight, in the shimmering water shadow, her clear and charming face is just like the full moon in the sky. "Yuyin, don't cry. My heart hurts so much..." Li Mangeng, a tall man, couldn't cry.People who have been trained in the army cannot cry even if they are pierced by a knife. "Brother Mangeng! I understand... Dang, me, you can only have one... I am not good, I am alone. Mr. Blind at the age of 13 calculated a "spiritual horoscope" for me, and I will only tell you one person , I’m not the master in my life, and I’m going to return Kefu..." Hu Yuyin sobbed, hating her heart.She grew up so big, she never hated anyone, and they never hated her.She only knows how to hate herself. What are you talking about? It has been six or seven years since Liberation, and her thinking is still so feudal and superstitious! But Man Geng couldn't bear to criticize her.She is too poor and too delicate.It's like the shadow of hibiscus reflected in the water. When you stir it lightly with your fingers, it will be messed up and broken. "Brother Man Geng, I recognize you as my elder brother, okay? Then you recognize me as my younger sister. Since we have no fate..." My sister's infatuation and infatuation, like a piece of iron, will melt and melt.Li Mangeng couldn't stand anymore, he was about to go crazy! He rushed forward, hugged the person he loved, and kissed and kissed mouth to mouth! "Brother Man Geng, good brother, dear brother..." After a while, Yuyin cried on Man Geng's shoulder. "Good brother", "brother"... This is trust and responsibility.Li Mangeng let go of his hand, a masculine righteousness filled his heart and his chest.In this holy instant, the relationship between him and her has changed.The simple ethics of the mountain people gained the upper hand and won the battle.Heroism also grows in the land of emotion. "Sister Yuyin, you will be my real sister from now on... Although we are separated by a river, we still live in the same town. In this life, I will protect you..." This is the promise of life, the solemn oath. Li Guoxiang, the female manager of the town's state-owned restaurant, wanted to find the party secretary of the town brigade to learn about the class composition, background history, and current performance of the rice tofu vendor Hu Yuyin. She found the wrong person.She had already walked to the river and got off the pier before she understood: Li Mangeng, secretary of the brigade, was the civil affairs officer of the district government back then! Oh my god, what a ghost! We were about to get on the ferry, so she withdrew her feet. "Manager Li! Where are you going as the leader?" She ran into Wang Qiushe, the "roots of the movement" who had just got off the ferry. Wang Qiushe is thirty-five or six years old, has a rich and strong body, and is clean and tidy.Li Guoxiang smiled at him politely, and suddenly his heart brightened: That's right! Wang Qiushe is a well-known "movement root" in this town, and he has been an activist in all previous movements. Wouldn't it be nice to ask him about Hu Yuyin's situation? Save trouble and effort. So they talked as they walked, and they got along very well as soon as they talked, like two relatives and friends who haven't seen each other for many years.