Chapter 49 3

Wu Zhenqing came to work, and there was a thick stack of gas certificates on the table.Wu Zhenqing looked at them, and the director of the neighborhood committee (of course an aunt) looked at Wu Zhenqing and said: "Today we need to change thirty-two tanks. In the future, the people who change the gas will send the certificate here, and you go to work here every day. We The neighborhood committee also subscribed to a few newspapers. You can read the newspapers when you are free. But you can’t leave to do other things. Maybe some people suddenly run out of gas when they are making lunch. If you can’t find them, it’s bad. Can it be done?"

Wu Zhenqing said, "Yes." The director of the neighborhood committee warned again: "Don't lose anyone's certificate or gas tank. Renewing a certificate will cost a lot of procedures. If the tank is lost, it will be even worse. Only you will pay, one tank costs two It’s more than a hundred yuan, and there’s nowhere to buy it.” Wu Zhenqing said: "Thank you. I have memorized everything." He picked up the thick stack of gas certificates and walked out the door. He pumped up a three-wheeled flatbed truck first, and when it was full, he began to go door-to-door to exchange gas tanks.

First, he had to carry empty cans from the upstairs of each house and load them on a tricycle, and then pedaled to the ventilation station. When he arrived at the gas exchange station, he had to line up to issue tickets, and then moved down the empty cans one by one, and exchanged tickets for cans one by one. A person in charge of changing the cans said stiffly: "These cans cannot be changed." Wu Zhenqing asked, "Why?" "It's too dirty, it needs to be cleaned." His tone was still very hard. Wu Zhenqing begged, "This...comrade, I just took over this job. Besides, I've already got tickets..."

The person in charge of changing the cans said, "Don't babble. It's a new rule...the next one..." Wu Zhenqing said: "Comrade, don't you want me to push these empty cans back?" The person in charge of changing the cans said: "That's right, that's what it is. You can change it if you want, and we have someone to clean it for you." Wu Zhenqing breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's so grateful! Next time I promise..." The person in charge of changing the cans said: "There is no need to be grateful. Just brush a can and pay an extra 50 cents."

Wu Zhenqing understood: "Do you still need money?" "Nonsense! Do you think it's for nothing? The next one, the next one, push the car away, don't get in the way!" The other party didn't bother to talk to him anymore, and went to pick up other people's tickets. Wu Zhenqing had no choice but to push the car away, put a few dirty empty cans on the flatbed truck, pedaled the flatbed truck back to the community, carried the heavy gas tanks upstairs, and went up to deliver one household, and then another household, several round trips , His steps became heavier and heavier, and his clothes were soaked with sweat.Later, Wu Zhenqing carried it on his shoulders, but he couldn't lift it up. He carried it again, but couldn't lift it up again. Wu Zhenqing mustered his strength for the third time, and finally managed to lift it up.His waist was no longer as straight as before, and his steps were not so steady, as if he would be overwhelmed at any time.

When going upstairs, he had to hold on to the handrail of the stairs with one hand to borrow his strength, and he managed to get up to the fourth floor. With a bang, the gas tank fell heavily on the ground. The door of a house opened, and a young woman came out and scolded him angrily: "Can you be gentle? You think this is a construction site? It scared the children awake!" Wu Zhenqing gasped and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." "Hate!" The woman turned and entered the room, and the door slammed shut. Wu Zhenqing continued to go upstairs carrying the gas tank. At this time, he was exhausted and could no longer lift the gas tank all at once.He had to pick up the can and put it on the corner of the banister, then bent down and carried it on his back.

He carried the gas tank up to the sixth floor, bent down, let the gas tank slide to his chest, and hugged him. When the gas tank fell gently to the ground, he himself sat down on the ground. He stood up slowly with one hand on the wall, and knocked on the door of a house, but no one opened the door after knocking for a long time.He knocked on the opposite door instead, and a middle-aged man with the appearance of an intellectual wearing glasses opened the door. Wu Zhenqing said: "Comrade, I'm sorry to disturb you. I'm changing the gas for our community. I took a lot of effort to carry it up to the sixth floor, but this family didn't keep anyone. I really don't know what to do." ..."

The man said: "There were still people in their house just now, and they may have been out for a while." Wu Zhenqing said, "Do you know where their family members might have gone?" The man shook his head and said, "We've just moved here, and we're not very familiar with each other." He stepped back and closed the door. Wu Zhenqing stared at the gas tank in a daze, and wanted to knock on the door of another house, but he raised his hand and put it down again hesitantly. The opposite door opened again, and the middle-aged man with the appearance of an intellectual came out again. He saw Wu Zhenqing sitting on the ground guarding the gas tank, with his back against the wall and his eyes closed.Quite sympathetically asked:

"Hey, I said, what's wrong with you?" Wu Zhenqing slowly opened his eyes: "It's nothing, take a break." "Are you okay?" Wu Zhenqing smiled wryly: "It's okay, there are no diamonds, so I won't take on the porcelain work." "What did you mean just now... you plan to put the gas tank in my house first?" "That's the plan." "Then why didn't you say it clearly just now?" "I'm afraid... I'm afraid of hitting a wall!" "When I went back to the house, I thought, maybe that's what you mean. Then let it go to my house. Their house is back, and I'll help carry it over. It saves you from sitting here and waiting."

Wu Zhenqing said: "Thank you so much!" The man helped Wu Zhenqing carry the gas tank into his home.When Wu Zhenqing left, he said: "I have caused you trouble." His eyes were full of gratitude. Wu Zhenqing went downstairs step by step, got on a tricycle, and pedaled it to a construction site. He removed the four dirty empty cans from the car, and wiped them with broken bricks and sand on the beach.He asked a worker for permission, and took a water hose to flush the gas tanks. After a while, those dirty gas tanks took on a new look. As he ran his head under the tap, washed his arms, and washed his hands, he saw blood blisters on his hands.

He pedaled the three-wheeled flatbed again, and came to the gas station again. The person who changed the gas tank just now said: "Hey! You really put in a lot of effort, brother! For your good performance, you don't have to wait in line, you have priority!" Then he pointed to Wu Zhenqing to remove the gas tank from the car and said to others: "I see clearly! The power of role models is infinite! This is a model! That person's, you can't change it. You can either pay 50 cents for the service fee to scrub it for you, or pull it back and brush it yourself. If you can't scrub it to this level, don't pull it again. !" The accused person reluctantly took out his wallet and resentfully handed over fifty cents. Wu Zhenqing moved the replaced tank to the car. The person being told muttered, "Damn, there are activists everywhere." Wu Zhenqing glanced at him, and forbeared not to have an attack. He pedaled the three-wheel flatbed back to the community, and then removed the gas tank from the car, carrying the tanks upstairs one by one... In one family, while connecting the trachea of ​​the family, he said: "This tank, if it is too dirty before changing it, you have to clean it up." A young man in his twenties said, "Who are you talking to?" Wu Zhenqing said, "Follow you." The young man said: "We pay the service fee to the neighborhood committee every month!" Wu Zhenqing straightened his waist and said: "You understand, this tank of gas was bought by me after cleaning the tanks for you, and this is no exception! I am only responsible for changing the gas, and I have to clean the tanks for each household without the instructions from the neighborhood committee. " The young man said: "That won't work, then we have to ask the neighborhood committee!" Wu Zhenqing said coldly: "I remember your family. You can change it yourself in the future, and I won't earn your money anymore." He went out, and when he stepped down two stairs, he heard the young man say in the room: "Damn it! What, the gas changer is so good!" He turned around sharply and rushed upstairs, as if he wanted to kick the door open.But facing the door, he calmed down again, turned around and went downstairs slowly. At noon, he came to the duty hut of the neighborhood committee. He put some pickles in the biscuits and ate them while reading the newspaper. A little girl came in and seeing Wu Zhenqing was alone, she asked timidly, "Uncle, are you a gas exchange?" Wu Zhenqing stopped chewing and looked at the girl. The girl said: "My house needs to change the gas." Wu Zhenqing chewed and said, "I'm human, so I have to eat. Come back in the afternoon!" The girl said: "My grandma is heating up my meal, and the gas is gone. I have to go to school after I eat." Wu Zhenqing had no choice but to put down the newspaper, took the unfinished biscuits, and walked away with the girl while eating. After this day's work, he was really tired and lay down.When I went home at night, the footsteps going upstairs were almost like that of an old man.His mother asked him if he was tired from work, and he said that he only changed a few tanks of gas a day, so why are you tired?So he changed into his slippers and entered his big room. As soon as he entered the room, he threw himself on the bed, unable to move. He fell asleep, but soon, the familiar nightmare came again, and he exclaimed: "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!" "Son, son..." Wu Zhenqing opened his eyes, and his mother stood by the bed, leaned over to look at him, and asked, "Son, what worries you again?" "fine." Aunt Wu said, "It's good to have nothing to worry about. This is two hundred yuan. You take it. Find a chance and give it to me in front of your father. Say it's this month's salary." Wu Zhenqing said: "Mom, why do you lie to my dad by acting in such a play?" Aunt Wu said: "Is it okay if you don't lie to him? He was strong all his life, and now he can't even be strong anymore. Just point out that you are promising, which has become his strong capital. Let him know that you have no serious job now. , he can't regret getting sick?" Wu Zhenqing took the money against his will. Aunt Wu gave him money again: "This is twenty yuan, I will keep your pocket money." "Really! I'm not a child, what pocket money do I want!" "Be obedient, take it!" Aunt Wu forced the money into her son's pocket, "Aren't you going to watch a movie with me tonight! If the two of you want to buy something to eat, let the girl pay for it !" "I won't go!" Wu Zhenqing took the money out of his pocket and threw it back to his mother. The money fell on the ground, and Aunt Wu picked it up: "Where can I go! Let people wait at the entrance of the theater? Who told you to agree to watch with them?" Wu Zhenqing sat up all of a sudden, and said violently, "Did I agree? Did I say I was willing to go?" "Although you didn't say that, but you took the ticket, one ticket per person, doesn't that mean you agreed in front of others?" "But who told you to go around looking for a partner for me? Who told you to agree to pick it up at home because you are a woman? Who told you to take out two tickets in front of others? You have to give them to me in front of others!" "I'm your mother! You're in your thirties, and you haven't even had a date. Can I be a mother? Besides, I led the family here? Didn't they come to you on their own initiative? He introduced him warmly on his own initiative, so what can I say, you don’t need to worry about my son? Besides, I don’t think you seem so disgusted with other girls!” Wu Zhenqing stood up from the bed and said, "I am disgusted in my heart, can I show it on the surface? Doesn't it hurt others?" Aunt Wu said: "If you don't go tonight and let people wait in front of the theater for nothing, you won't hurt the girl's self-esteem? The girls are fatter. Anything but fatter is more than enough for you! Like a flower like a jade There are girls as slender as fairies, so why should I marry you?" Wu Zhenqing said impatiently: "Anyway, I won't go! I won't go!" He left the big room angrily, broke into the small room, and fell on the bed again. Aunt Wu followed to the small room: "Son, Mom also knows that you don't like people that much in your heart, and Mom doesn't force you to fall in love with someone you don't like. But we can't hurt the girl's self-esteem, and we can't It’s a shame for the introducer and we’ve met a few times, if we really can’t get along with each other, then we can make up some excuses from our side, it’s considered our family’s solemnity.” Wu Zhenqing remained silent. Aunt Wu stuffed the money into his pocket again: "Mom knows that you are tired today, and you can tell that you are not tired. Mom will cook you something delicious. You are full, washed your face, and put everything together Head, change into decent clothes, and watch a cultural show, isn't it considered that you have relieved your fatigue and relieved your mood?" Wu Zhenqing reluctantly agreed: "Just this once!" In the evening, as soon as he walked to the entrance of the theater, the fat girl found him and greeted him enthusiastically. She was wearing a suit and skirt, but she looked rich, without losing the demeanor of a fat woman. Wu Zhenqing wore a Chinese tunic suit, his face was clean-shaven, and he looked quite masculine. The fat girl said, "Actually, you are quite handsome!" Wu Zhenqing said: "I completely agree with you." The fat girl asked, "What about me?" Wu Zhenqing looked around and said, "Are you...you look like her..." The fat girl followed Wu Zhenqing's gaze, and saw a middle-aged female singer with two extremely sensual lips and two hands clasped on her chest painted on the billboard. It is a suit of the same style and color as her. The fat girl asked, "Is what you said a compliment or a derogation?" "It's neither a compliment nor a derogation, it's a statement of seeking truth from facts." "What I said just now was not realistic. Women are always better at imagining than men..." After she finished speaking, she smiled happily because of her retort. Wu Zhenqing said: "Yes, if only I could have a little imagination for you." The fat girl said: "Come on, don't make fun of me." As she spoke, she raised her elbow, which meant that Wu Zhenqing wanted to hold it. Wu Zhenqing pretended not to understand: "Your arm is wrongly seated?" The fat girl said: "Don't pretend to be stupid. We also have an internship..." A pair of men and women holding each other stepped up the steps beside them, Wu Zhenqing said: "Okay, then I will be an intern with you." He took her arm up a few steps and stopped. The fat girl asked, "What's wrong?" Wu Zhenqing said, "Why do I feel so awkward." The fat girl said: "This is entirely your psychological effect. That's why I said we all have to consciously practice." Wu Zhenqing said: "It doesn't seem to be entirely a psychological effect..." He turned his head to look at the other couples who were holding each other's arms, and suddenly realized: "No, the male should be on the left and the female should be on the right. We... have the opposite." The fat girl asked: "Has no man ever reversed this tradition?" "Probably not. Besides, why should we start a new trend?" He pulled his arm from the fat girl's and lifted it up. The fat girl said, "Then, I have to respect this tradition." She took him up the steps and into the theater. On the stage, the middle-aged female singer painted on the billboard was singing loudly, singing an aria from a western opera that we could not understand. . In the auditorium, the fat girl said: "They are all women, and they are all fat women. She is so popular. This world is too fucking unfair!" A few spectators in the front row turned to look at her when they heard her words. Wu Zhenqing said: "Yes, it is even more unfair to the men who may become their husbands." The announcer came out and announced: "Ten minutes rest." After they walked outside the theater, Wu Zhenqing asked, "Do you want to eat something?" "No, I have started to lose weight for more than three months, you should have full confidence in me." Wu Zhenqing hurriedly said: "Hey, I have to explain clearly, what does this have to do with me?" The fat girl asked, "You don't care if I'm fat or not?" "Of course I care!" "Then where is my word wrong? Why do you have to argue with me?" "I didn't mean to argue with you! I mean, let's not misunderstand each other!" "I don't misunderstand you, you always misunderstand me!" The fat girl suddenly called out to a woman's back, "Zhang Meng!" That woman was Zhang Meng, and beside her stood the handsome soldier who was about to retire. "Ge Hong!" Zhang Meng and the fat girl happily ran to one place, half hugging each other intimately. Zhang Meng introduced Ge Hong to the soldier: "This is a comrade-in-arms from the same company as me." He then introduced the soldier to her, "This is...a friend of mine." The fat girl said bluntly, "Just say it's your boyfriend!" Zhang Meng felt a little unnatural, and the soldier smiled reservedly. The fat girl said: "I have it too..." She turned her head to look for Wu Zhenqing, who was hiding behind a pillar when the girl found him, she ran over and pulled him to Zhang Meng: "Let me introduce you..." Wu Zhenqing was embarrassed and annoyed. Zhang Meng said: "We know each other. We were in a company at first, and he was my squad leader." The fat girl said, "Hey, it's so clever! Then you can introduce them to them!" "Let us get to know ourselves——Zhao Xiaotao." Zhao Xiaotao stretched out a hand to Wu Zhenqing, and Wu Zhenqing gave him a symbolic shake, "Wu Zhenqing." "Nice to meet you." "Me... too..." Wu Zhenqing stammered. He and Zhang Meng's eyes were averted at the first touch, and both of them looked unnatural. The performance bell rang, and the fat girl took Zhang Meng's arm and said to the two men, "Hey, we two want to have a little private conversation, please sit together." In the theater, a solo dance was being performed on the stage. Off the stage, the fat girl whispered to Zhang Meng: "Tell me the truth, did Wu Zhenqing ever fall in love when he was in the Corps?" "I... I can't say for sure. We haven't been in a company as long as you have been in a company. What did he say?" The fat girl said, "I'm not ashamed to ask... But I don't intend to let him disappear from my life." Zhang Meng asked: "Do you think you will succeed?" The fat girl said, "It's going well so far. I think it will! He's my favorite, so I'm going to keep an eye on him." On the other side, Wu Zhenqing and Zhao Xiaotao who were sitting together seemed to have nothing to say to each other.Zhao Xiaotao asked proactively, "Which unit are you in?" Wu Zhenqing said: "Future Development Company..." "What projects are you developing?" "Luck is mainly to develop personal luck. Can I help you?" "No, I'm lucky." "When you are unlucky, you can find me through Zhang Meng." "thanks!" "Excuse me for a while." Wu Zhenqing got up and left. He walked out of the theater, walked on the sidewalk alone in frustration, and walked into a small restaurant. When he came out of the small restaurant, he was already walking staggeringly. After Wu Zhenqing returned home, Aunt Wu asked him, "Is the show good?" He said: "It's beautiful, it's very beautiful." "Did you send the girl home?" "No one asked me...to have to...send her home!" "Are you drinking again?" "Borrowing wine... to drown your sorrows..." Aunt Wu pushed him to the hut: "Your father is not asleep yet, so please give your father his salary and send him his salary." Wu Zhenqing, who was pushed into the hut, said, "Dad, I... have paid. This month I paid a little less... two hundred... next month... I paid more..." As he spoke, he took money out of his pocket. What he took out and put on the bedside table were nothing more than a handful of steel jumpers and ten-cent notes. He suddenly woke up a lot from the alcohol, took out his pockets all over his body, and never took out any money. Old Wu stared at him. Wu Zhenqing shouted: "It's broken...it's lost..."