Chapter 9 8

But the most talked about is how to get Jingxin to come back to the city. As long as he is called back, her parents will not stop her.Every day, Jingqiu hopes that her brother will be recruited back soon, fearing that his constant stay in the country will ruin his love with Zhongmin. Now when she saw the news of this top job, she was overjoyed and ran home to tell her mother.She didn't dare to say that she heard it from the third child, she only said that she heard it from her classmates. When my mother heard it was told by her classmates, she didn't quite believe it, but she felt that it was not a bad thing to ask, as long as she didn't count on it.Mom asked Secretary Hong of the school about it, and Secretary Hong said that he hadn't heard about it yet, but he would inquire about it next time he went to the Education Bureau for a meeting.Secretary Hong's daughter, Hong Ping, had already graduated from high school, but Lai did not go down in the city, which made the masses very dissatisfied.Now that Secretary Hong heard about the appointment, he was also very interested, and soon got the news.

Probably to thank his mother for telling him the news, Secretary Hong came to tell his mother as soon as he came back from the Education Bureau, saying that there is indeed such a document, but how to implement it is up to each unit. Law?You can't say that if parents can be teachers, their children can also be teachers, right? Secretary Hong said: "Mr. Zhang, thank you for telling me this good news. I am not yet at the retirement age, but my wife is about to reach the retirement age. She is not in good health and can retire from illness. I want her to retire from illness. Let me, Zhong Ping, take over the post. I think you will also retire from illness, and let your family Jingqiu stay in the city. Girls go to the countryside, and people are always worried."

My mother didn't expect that Secretary Hong, whom she usually only dared to look up to, was also worried about her daughter's going to the countryside, and felt sorry for the parents of the world.According to Secretary Hong's tone, if mother applied for sick leave, the school would agree to let Jingqiu take over the post. Mother was very grateful and thanked her a lot before leaving. Mom told Jingqiu the good news, saying that half of her worries over the years can finally be let go today.I'm going to apply for sick leave now, and let you take up the job, so you don't have to go to the countryside.When the task of your top job is done, the other half of my heart will be relieved.

Jingqiu said: "Brother should be allowed to take over the post. He has been here for so many years and has suffered too much. Moreover, Yamin's family objected to the two of them because his brother was in the countryside. If you can let my brother come back to the city , then nothing will happen.” Jingqiu told Zhongmin about this, and Zhongmin was overjoyed, saying that it's all right now, your brother and I can finally be together, and my family won't stop us anymore.Zhongmin quickly wrote a letter to his brother, telling him the good news. But my brother disagreed, saying that he has been down for so long, so he should just wait for the recruitment. It is too uneconomical for him to go to the countryside for so many years and take up the top position. It is better to give this opportunity to Jingqiu, so that Jingqiu No need to go to the countryside.

Jingqiu's mother is determined not to let Jingqiu go to the countryside. Her mother often has nightmares, always dreaming that something happened to Jingqiu. When her mother went to the countryside to see her, she was lying in a pile of straw with disheveled hair , eyes dull. Her mother asked her, "What's the matter with you? Jingqiu, tell mom, what's the matter?" She didn't speak, just cried, mother understood everything. Mother told Jing Qiu about the dream. Although Jing Qiu didn't know what happened to herself in the dream, she guessed that she must have been "ruined" like those educated youths.

My mother said: "I will never let you go to the countryside. You are still young, and you don't know what kind of danger girls will face in the countryside. Since ancient times, women have been so unlucky, and you have so many people in school. Trouble you, will you still be fine after you go to the countryside?" 25 Under Jing Qiu's repeated insistence, her mother asked the school to let Jing Xin take up the post, but the school said that Jing Xin had only been in junior high school and was not suitable for teaching. We agreed to Jing Qiu's post because she was a high school student, De Zhi All-round development of the body, suitable for teachers.If your retirement is a static new job, then we may not necessarily approve it.

Mom told Jingqiu what the school meant, and Jingqiu had no choice but to take up the post. You can't waste such an opportunity, can you?But she was very sad for her brother, and she wanted to find a different way for him. She thanked the third child in her heart for telling her the news in time, otherwise, her mother would not have known about it, and might have missed it.She really wanted to tell the third child about her appointment, but she didn't know how to tell him. She didn't have a phone, and she didn't dare to write a letter, let alone go in person, so she could only passively wait for him to come to her.And he actually seemed to express his determination to the party, saying that when she graduated, he would wait for her to graduate, and he really didn't bother her except for letting Changfang deliver the letter about the top job.

But now she is like what he said, suffering from lovesickness, and she really wants to see him.Everything that had the slightest connection with him was dear to her.Hearing people say "three", "exploration team", "province A", "city B", "military region", etc., all made her heart beat, as if she was referring to the third child. She never dared to call him by his name, she didn't dare in her heart, but when she saw someone with the surname "Sun" or "Jianxin", she felt very kind.There was a guy named Zhang Jianxin in the class, who was ugly and mischievous, but just because his name had "Jianxin" in it, she had a crush on him for no reason, and even borrowed her homework a few times. Copy it for him.

Now she goes to Teacher Jiang's house almost every day to learn how to play the piano, to hug Teacher Jiang's youngest son who is under one year old, and to borrow the sewing machine from Teacher Jiang's house.But beneath these goals, there seemed to be another purpose, and she herself didn't dare to think about what that purpose was.All she knew was that if Dr. Cheng wasn't at home when she went, she would be restless. She waited until he came back and heard his voice, and then she went home with peace of mind as if she had completed the task of the day. She didn't ask to be able to talk to Dr. Cheng. When she saw him, as long as she heard him come back and his voice, her heart would be at ease.She didn't know why, she just wanted to hear Dr. Cheng speak, because Dr. Cheng spoke Mandarin. People in City K do not speak Mandarin in their daily life. Mr. Jiang can speak standard Mandarin after staying outside for so long, but when he is transferred back to City K, he only speaks Mandarin in class. He usually speaks K Local calls.

People in K City are very picky. If they hear you speak Mandarin as a local, they will immediately alienate you and feel that you are putting on airs. What about Mandarin?" But they are still very tolerant to foreigners.Therefore, although Dr. Cheng has learned a lot of K City dialect, he still speaks Mandarin most of the time. When Jingqiu heard Dr. Cheng speak, she felt kind.Sometimes when he was talking in the next room, she would stop what she was doing and listen to his voice quietly.At that time, she often had the illusion that the person speaking in the next room was Lao San, this was Lao San's family, and she was from Lao San's family.She didn't know who she was from the third child's family, she thought it would be fine as long as she could hear him talk every day.

Fortunately, she has many opportunities to go to Dr. Cheng's house, because Teacher Jiang often asks her to make clothes.At the beginning, Mr. Jiang asked Jingqiu to help his son knit sweaters, but insisted on paying the wages after knitting, saying that knitting a sweater was not easy and would take a lot of time.But Jingqiu refused to take money, saying that I never take money for knitting sweaters.Teacher Jiang is about to give Jingqiu a piece of fabric, saying that she bought it herself, but the design and color are too young for her to wear. You can use it to make clothes, but Jingqiu will not accept it. Later, Teacher Jiang thought of a different way to repay Jingqiu.Teacher Jiang has a sewing machine at home, but she can only sew shorts, and Jingqiu can make clothes, but there is no sewing machine at home, and they are all made by hand.Teacher Jiang asked Jingqiu to come to her house to learn how to step on the sewing machine, and said: "My machine is empty, and the dust is so thick. I don't have time to use it, and I don't know how to use it. You should use it, or it will get rusty." gone." Jingqiu has always wanted to learn how to step on a sewing machine, and she has tried it a few times at a classmate's house, but she has no chance to learn more. Now Teacher Jiang asks her to use the sewing machine. Stepped on it and turned around. Teacher Jiang bought some pieces of cloth and asked Jingqiu to make gowns for her and her grandmother, and clothes for her two sons.Jingqiu cut it out and made it, and everything fits perfectly. At that time, Jingqiu only dared to make women's and children's clothes, and only dared to make tops. She felt that the pockets of men's clothes were difficult to make, and the waist and pockets of trousers were also difficult to make.Teacher Jiang bought cloth and asked Jingqiu to use her couple as test samples, to help her make cotton and woolen clothes, and to help Dr. Cheng make Chinese tunic suits and trousers.Teacher Jiang said: "Let's do it. I bought all the fabrics, so I don't want to waste it. Don't be afraid, if it is broken, it will be broken. It's amazing. Use it to make clothes for my brother. If it can't be done for my brother, I will make it for my brother. It won't go to waste." Jingqiu took the courage to cut and did it, and it turned out to be a good job every time. I don't know why, when Jingqiu makes clothes for Dr. Cheng, she often blushes and her heart beats.Once when making trousers for Dr. Cheng, it was necessary to measure the length of the trousers, the waist circumference, and the crotch and cross crotch.She took a tape measure and came to measure Dr. Cheng's waist. Dr. Cheng pulled up the sweater so that she could measure the waist of his trousers.Even though Dr. Cheng still had his shirt tied in his trousers, and absolutely no flesh could be seen, she jumped away in fright and said, "No need to measure, no need to measure, just find a pair of old trousers and measure." Another time was to make woolen tops, because the material was so good, Jingqiu didn't dare to make them with old clothes, so she had to ask Dr. Cheng to stand there, and she would measure his shoulder width and chest circumference.Holding a tape measure, she put her hands around Dr. Cheng's back to his chest, trying not to touch his body.When she closed the two sides of the tape measure and wanted to see the size of her bust, she suddenly felt that she couldn't breathe. Her eyes were facing Dr. Cheng's chest, and she felt that she could smell the manly breath of the third child again. She was dizzy, and said weakly: "I'd better make it like your old clothes." Then she ran away in a hurry.Later, she tried to avoid measuring Dr. Cheng's size, and just found an old piece of clothing to measure.After the clothes were ready, I didn't dare to ask Dr. Cheng to try them on for her. At that time, it was popular to wear "deliang" and some other chemical fiber cloths, which were called "material cloth" by the locals.Items made of cotton fabric, when ironed with an iron, are very crisp, not easy to wrinkle, very "straight" when worn on the body, and do not need fabric tickets, so people in K city wear fabric underwear as a fashion. Clothes and pants made of fabric need to be hemmed. Teacher Jiang saw that Jingqiu had to go outside every time to ask someone to do hemming, so she asked an acquaintance to help her buy an old hemming machine. That was an amazing move at the time. .In Jiangxin Island at that time, there were not many families with sewing machines. Most of the sewing machines were requests from girls when they got married. They belonged to one of the "three turns and one ring". The other two turns were bicycles and watches. Loud" is of course the radio.Now Teacher Jiang's house not only has a sewing machine, but also a seaming machine, which is simply enviable. Jingqiu has these modern weapons, making clothes is like adding wings to a tiger, not only doing it well, but also making it fast. Teacher Jiang introduced her colleagues and friends to ask Jingqiu to make clothes.Those colleagues and friends came to Teacher Jiang’s house on Sunday morning. Jingqiu made tailor-made for them. She cut and sewed the clothes on the spot. In a few hours, the clothes were made, ironed, buttonholes were locked, and buttons were nailed. , Mr. Jiang’s colleagues can put it on and go home, and the real thing is available immediately. At that time, sewing shops were not very popular, and the wages for making clothes were often more than the money for buying fabrics, and it took a long time to get the clothes, which might not fit well, so the people who asked Jingqiu to make clothes were more and more expensive. more and more. Teacher Jiang asked Jingqiu to charge a little processing fee, or less, as long as it was lower than the price of regular tailors outside.But Jingqiu refused to accept it, saying that this is using your sewing machine to help your friend make clothes, how can you accept other people's money?Besides, after collecting the money, it becomes an "underground black workshop", which is great for people to know. Teacher Jiang thought about it too, don't let people know that she caused trouble for Jing Qiu, she asked those who asked Jing Qiu to make clothes to send something in kind to express their affection.Those people gave Jingqiu all kinds of things, a few notebooks, a few pens, a few eggs, a few catties of rice, a few catties of fruit, etc., everything.No matter what happens, Mr. Jiang harvested it for Jingqiu, and said, "Don't hit the giver when you stretch out your hand." If others thank you, it's not for nothing, so just accept it.Jingqiu will take some, and give away too much, and return it to others. That semester, maybe because it was the last semester before graduation, the school didn't arrange for Jingqiu and the others to go outside to study engineering and agriculture, and stayed in the school all the time.Jingqiu picks up work at Mr. Jiang’s house every Sunday. When she is free, she goes to Mr. Jiang’s house to make clothes. There are often food and supplies sent by others at home. Her mother always jokes, saying, “Our family is very rich now. what". Jingqiu was very grateful to Teacher Jiang, and Teacher Jiang said, "Isn't this just to take advantage of you? Look at how many clothes and sweaters you made for me. Didn't I save all these wages?" In May, Duanfang came to K City again, this time bringing some hawthorn flowers, red ones, wrapped in a large piece of cellophane.Jingqiu knew at a glance that the third child asked Duanfang to send it, and Duanfang also winked at her, but the two of them dared not say anything in front of Jingqiu's mother and sister.When Jingqiu sent Duanfang to the long-distance station, Duanfang said: "The third child asked me to bring it to you." "Is he - okay?" Duanfang sullenly said, "Not good." Jingqiu was in a hurry: "Is he ----- sick?" "Well, I'm sick---" Seeing Jingqiu's anxious look, Duanfang laughed, "I'm sick of lovesickness. Well, you two have gotten better a long time ago, so don't tell me---" " "Don't talk nonsense," Jing Qiu quickly declared, "Who is dating him? I'm still studying, how could I do such a thing?" Duanfang didn't care: "What are you afraid of? I'm not from your school. Why are you hiding it from me? The third child doesn't hide anything from me. He really likes you. For you, he dumped his fiancée-- -" Jingqiu said seriously: "He didn't dump it because of me, they've blown it up----" "Isn't it good that he blows up his fiancée for you? That means you are fascinated by him." "What good is that? He can blow off his fiancee for me, so he can blow me off for others-" "He won't brag about you," Duanfang took out a letter from his bag, and said with a smile, "You promise me to read it too, and I'll give it to you, or I'll take it back and return it to him. Saying that you don't want him anymore, that you don't want to read his letter, made him jump into the river in a hurry." Jingqiu pretended not to care and said, "He didn't seal it, so you don't know how to open it?" Duanfang was extremely aggrieved: "Who do you think I am? If people don't keep their mouths shut, it means that they trust me. Why would I secretly open it?" She threw the letter to Jingqiu, "Forget it, if you don't show it, you will Don't read it, and say these petty words--" "Then---I'll take a look first, if I can show you----" Duanfang laughed: "Forget it, I'm joking with you, why should I read his letter? It's just the same set of 'Dear Xiaoqiu, I miss you, I miss you day and night----'" Jingqiu impatiently opened the letter, read it hastily, put it away, smiled and said to Duanfang: "You said something wrong, he didn't write the words you said." When Jingqiu came home that day, she was excited about the flowers and letters of the third child, but she heard a bad news. Her mother just heard it from Secretary Hong, saying that after discussion, the Education Bureau had made some changes to the appointment.This time, almost all the education system can withdraw, there are more than 20 in total, all for the sake of children.The children of these teachers are uneven, and not everyone can go to the podium.Therefore, the Education Bureau decided that all the children of teachers who took up the post this time would work as cooks in the cafeteria. Jingqiu's mother's retirement procedures were almost completed, but she was told that Jingqiu was going to be a cook instead of a teacher, and her mother was so angry that she almost peed blood. After Jingqiu heard the news, she was calmer than her mother. Maybe she was always prepared for the worst. She didn't panic when encountering these things. She comforted her mother and said: "If you are a cook, just be a cook. There is no distinction between high and low in revolutionary work, so it’s better to be a cook than to go to the countryside?” My mother sighed and said, "Through the matter now, I have no choice but to think about it this way. But when I think that my daughter is so smart and capable, but she can only spend her whole life by the pot in the cafeteria, I feel very angry." Jingqiu used the words of the third child to comfort her mother: "Don't think too much, don't think so far, the world is changing every day, maybe I have worked as a cook for a few years, and then changed to another job?" My mother said: "My daughter is still open-minded, and she can think more openly than her mother." Jingqiu thought, fate is like this, so what if you are not open-minded? During the summer vacation, Jingqiu's mother's retirement has been completed, but her top job has not been completed. I don't know what the school is delaying.Those classmates who got the top job after hearing the news from her have all completed the formalities, but she, the first person to hear the news, has not yet completed the formalities.Her mother was so anxious that she couldn't help it. She was afraid that she would wait for the second time, and she would wait for the matter, so she kept running to Secretary Hong to urge the school to do it quickly. Secretary Hong said: "It's not that the school didn't pay close attention. We submitted the materials a long time ago. It's because the Education Bureau didn't approve it. I guess the main reason is that the school is on summer vacation, and the teachers are not in the school. Why do we need cooks?" Is it possible to let them get a few months' wages for nothing as soon as they start working?" My mother was very depressed. It is estimated that the Education Bureau will not let top-ranked people go to work until the school starts in September. Jingqiu's family suddenly fell into a situation of extreme poverty, because her mother has retired, her salary has been reduced to 28 yuan a month, and Jingqiu's top job has not been done, so she cannot receive wages.In the past, my mother's salary of nearly 45 yuan a month was not enough to support the family. Now that it has been reduced by 30%, it is even more difficult. So, Jingqiu went to do odd jobs again. Although she hasn't said anything about her job, but in the eyes of outsiders, it seems that she has become a teacher and made a lot of money.Many people who used to have a good relationship with her are now alienated from her.Perhaps everyone can sympathize with the unfortunate, but if the unfortunate person suddenly gets a little lucky, some of those who used to sympathize with her will become very unhappy, and will see more luck than those who are already lucky. Not happy yet. Secretary Hong told Jingqiu's mother several times: "This period of time is critical, and I told you Jingqiu not to make any mistakes. We let her take over the post. Many people are jealous and often come to give advice. You must be very cautious. Otherwise, we won’t be able to do our jobs well.” Even director Li of the neighborhood committee knew about Jingqiu's appointment.On the day my mother took Jingqiu to look for a job at Director Li's house, Director Li said, "Mr. Zhang, I'm not talking about you. The money is endless. Just earn a penny. It's impossible to take care of everything. " Mom smiled awkwardly, not knowing what Director Li meant. Director Li said again: "Isn't it that you, Jingqiu, took your job as a teacher? Why do you come here to do odd jobs? We have more people and less workers here. I have to take care of those who have no jobs and no money. .” Jingqiu hurriedly declared, "My mother is retired, but I haven't finished my duties, so --- the family is still very difficult, and it's even more difficult than before, because my mother's salary is discounted--" Director Li said "Oh" and said: "Then you should also go to the countryside to exercise first, and then come back to work after you finish your duties. If you can't stay in the city like this, if I give you work , doesn't that mean you are supporting your unhealthy trend?" Mom said: "Jingqiu, let's go back, don't bother Director Li." Jingqiu refused to leave: "Mom, you go back first, I'll wait." She said to Director Li, "I'm not escaping to the countryside, but my family is too difficult. If I don't do some work, the family will not be able to survive. gone." Director Li calmed down and said, "If you want to wait, you can wait here. I can't guarantee that you will have a job." Jingqiu asked her mother to go back and waited there by herself.After waiting for two days, Director Li didn't arrange a job for her.On two occasions, "Party A" who came to ask for a job all fell in love with Jingqiu, but Director Li abruptly pushed the other people into the hands of "Party A". Director Li explained: "Your difficulties are temporary. You can borrow some money first and use it later. When you become a teacher, do you still have to worry about paying it back?" Jingqiu explained that her first job was not to be a teacher, but to be a cook. Director Li shook his head disapprovingly: "Why do you do this? I would rather be a cook than go to the countryside? If you go down for a few years, how many workers will you recruit back?" it is good." On the third morning, Jingqiu went to Director Li's house early and sat in the living room waiting for work.I was thinking about what to do if I couldn't wait for work today, when someone called her: "Jingqiu, are you waiting for work?" Jingqiu looked up, and was so surprised that she almost cried out, she was "sister-in-law", wearing a grass-green military uniform, the jacket was okay, and the military trousers must be too big, worthy of the name "turn left". "Pants, it is estimated that they have to be turned left to the back, so that they can be tied around his slender waist with a belt.She didn't know why he was dressed so reverently on such a hot day, but she took a closer look and found that there was a red collar badge on his clothes, and the military cap on his head also had a cap badge, so she knew he wasn't just wearing it for fun. "Sister-in-law" said happily, "I joined the army." Jingqiu couldn't believe it, he was so small, and he didn't look like he was in good shape. Why did he join the army when he joined the army?Could it be that he went to the army to serve as a guard for the chief? "Sister-in-law" never dared to talk to Jingqiu at school, and seldom talked to other people. She was really unknown, and almost no one in the class felt his existence. Unexpectedly, he joined the army, probably because she wanted to stay in the countryside. "Sister-in-law" asked again: "Are you waiting for a job?" Seeing Jingqiu nodding, "sister-in-law" ran to the back room and asked his mother, "Mom, why don't you find a job for Jingqiu?" Jingqiu heard Director Li say, "Why don't I find a job for her? During this period, there are fewer jobs and more job seekers---" "Sister-in-law" said: "Find her one quickly, she is waiting there." Director Li said: "Waiting there also requires me to have a job." Jingqiu heard "sister-in-law" whispering something to his mother, but she couldn't hear clearly.She was very grateful to the "sister-in-law", but felt embarrassed, as if she was begging him for something. After a while, Director Li came out and said, "Wan Changsheng from the paper factory came to ask for a job yesterday. It was quite hard work, so I didn't recommend you. See if you want to do it. If you want, you can go now." Bar." Jingqiu was overjoyed, and quickly said: "I am willing, I am not afraid of hard work. Do you need to write a note for me?" "You don't need to write a note. You said I told you to go, but he still doesn't believe it?" After Director Li finished speaking, he went on his own. Jingqiu only knows where the paper factory is, but who Wan Changsheng is and where to look for it.Seeing that Director Li was busy with her own business, she didn't intend to talk to her anymore, so she had to go to the paper factory first. She thanked Director Li and walked towards the paper factory.As she was walking, she heard someone riding a bicycle and ringing the bell beside her.She turned her head and saw that it was "sister-in-law", smiling like a bright flower, and said to her, "Get in the car, and I will take you to the paper factory. It will take you a while to walk there." Jingqiu blushed, and said repeatedly: "No, no, I'll be there in no time. Go ahead." The "sister-in-law" rode a bicycle and urged: "Come on, you have graduated now, what are you afraid of?" Jingqiu still refused to get on, so the "sister-in-law" had to jump out of the car and go with her.Seeing that everyone she met on the road looked at them curiously, Jingqiu felt uncomfortable and said, "You——go to work, I'll just go by myself." "Sister-in-law" insisted on going with her: "You don't know where to find Wan Changsheng, I'll take you there. I'm going to the army right away, can't we just say a few words with my classmates?" Jingqiu found that she didn't know "sister-in-law" at all before, maybe she didn't know any of the boys in the class. In her eyes, the boys in the class didn't understand anything except playful and mischievous with the teacher.Especially the boys like "sister-in-law" are simply little kids.But this little hairy kid actually joined the army, and he wanted to take her with him on a bicycle and talk to her. It seemed that he really needed to shave his eyes. She glanced at him and found that he had a beard on his face. She was very surprised, as if she had never seen him with a beard before.Could it be that as soon as he joined the army, Huzi was promoted from the grassroots to the top? When she arrived at the paper factory, the "sister-in-law" helped her find "Party A" Wan Changsheng.Jingqiu saw that the so-called Wan Changsheng was a middle-aged man who was less than 1.65 meters tall, thin and small, with a hunchback, and a dead air on his face, like a heavy smoker. Eye shit, this name is really ironic and humorous. "Sister-in-law" said to Wan Changsheng: "Master Wan, this is Jingqiu, my classmate, my mother asked her to come to work with you, please take care of her." Jing Qiu was amazed by the social language of "sister-in-law" when Wan Changsheng said to "sister-in-law": "What Jingqiu? Isn't this Teacher Zhang's big girl?" Then she turned her face and said to Jingqiu, " Xiao Zhang, I know you. Your mother taught me. At that time, she always told me to study hard, saying that if you don’t study hard, you will have no future. Why does Mr. Zhang say that you are ahead of others and you are behind others, and your own girl is not good enough? Study hard, and now you have to do odd jobs?" "Sister-in-law" said: "Don't talk nonsense, Jingqiu is very good at reading. She is waiting to be a teacher. She stays at home and has nothing to do, so she comes out to work." Wan Changsheng said: "Oh, the whole family should be teachers? That's good, but I, who can't read well, can do well." Jing Qiu smiled and said, "That's right, what's the use of studying? You're still promising, so I'll ask you to take care of me in the future." "Sister-in-law" told Wan Changsheng a few more words, and then said to Jingqiu: "I'm leaving, you should be careful, if this work is too tiring, ask my mother to replace it for you." When Jingqiu said "thank you", she didn't know what to say. When the "sister-in-law" walked away, Wan Changsheng asked, "Is he your girlfriend?" "no." "I also said it doesn't look like it. If he was your partner, would his mother be willing to let you do odd jobs?" Wan Changsheng looked at Jingqiu for a while, and said, "Xiao Zhang, don't worry, your mother taught me, I'll give you a job." I won’t treat you badly. You follow me to do the goods today, and I’m going to the river to buy some things.” That day, Jingqiu dragged a cart and followed Wan Changsheng to the other side of the river to handle goods.Wan Changsheng boasted all the way that he loves to read books, asked Jing Qiu to borrow some books for him to read, and said that he would give Jing Qiu an easy job.Jingqiu grunted and agreed, not knowing what kind of medicine was sold in this Wanchangsheng gourd. The work was finished at four o'clock that afternoon. Wan Changsheng praised Jingqiu and said that he would call Jingqiu if he wanted to make goods in the future. Here, all odd jobs are lazy, so just tell them not to work on Sunday, so you don’t have to pay them. But I don’t think you are lazy, if you give me some work, do you want to do it?” Jingqiu used to work part-time and never had a Sunday off, so she immediately said, "Of course." Wan Changsheng said: "Well, tomorrow you will drag this car to the city distillery at Eight Wharf to drag back the bags of distiller's grains I ordered. The factory is used to feed pigs. I am taking care of you. Don't let other odd jobs know, lest they say I'm partial to you." Jingqiu immediately made a gesture of gratitude, and Wan Changsheng's self-esteem seemed to be greatly satisfied. He said approvingly: "You can tell at a glance that you are a sensible person. Who treats you well and who treats you badly, you have a steelyard in your heart." , I took out two notes from my pocket, "This is the note for picking up the goods. You can use this to pick up the goods tomorrow. This is the meal ticket for the cafeteria. You can get two big steamed buns there tomorrow. It counts as you." lunch. Just drag the goods back to the cafeteria before five o’clock in the afternoon.” The next morning, Jingqiu got up early, went to the paper factory to get the cart and steamed buns, and set off for the eighth pier.The eight piers are on the other side of the river, about a dozen miles away.There is a freight ferry in the upper reaches of the river, where carts can be crossed. It is summer now, and the water in the river is nearly level with the bank, so there is no need to drag up and down the river slope. Just be careful when boarding the boat, so as not to take people with you. The car fell into the river. Like every time she went out to work, she took off her shoes as soon as she went out. She was afraid of losing her shoes, and she went out wearing shoes just to show her mother.Today, she is wearing her brother's old clothes from top to bottom. The top is a "sea soul shirt", and the bottom is a pair of patched trousers, which were cut short by her, only to the knees. The locals call the pants "Er Maju".At that time, women didn't like to wear trousers that were open in the front, so she sealed the front opening and opened the opening by herself. In summer, when the sun is bright, she wears an old straw hat, which is kept low so as not to be recognized by others. Lu Xun’s words keep wandering in her mind: “A broken hat hides one’s face in the downtown area.” She doesn't have a "small building", so she can't hide there to "be unified". As soon as she reached the opposite river bank, she felt that she had to go to the bathroom.She found a public toilet, but couldn't use it, because she was afraid that someone would tow her scooter away, and she wouldn't be able to pay for it. When I was anxious, I heard someone behind me say: "You go, I will help you look after the car." 27 Jingqiu knew who was speaking without turning her head.She blushed all of a sudden, why didn't he come early or late, he just ran here when she was most embarrassed. The third child walked up to Jingqiu, held the handlebar, and said again: "You go, I'll look at the cart." Jing Qiu blushed and said, "Where am I going?" "Aren't you going to the toilet? Go, I'll watch the car, it's fine." She was terribly embarrassed, how could this person talk straight?Even if you can see that others are going to the toilet, don't say it directly.She said: "Who said I have to go to the bathroom?" She just stood there and looked at him. He wore a short-sleeved white shirt, unbuttoned, revealing a white vest with blue trim, which was tucked into military trousers.This seemed to be the first time she saw him wearing short sleeves, and she found it very novel, and suddenly found that the skin on his body was so white, and the muscles on his forearm were bulging, as if the forearm was thicker than the big arm, which made her feel the man's arm. How strange. He smiled and said, "I've been following you since yesterday. When I saw that you were escorted by the military brother, I didn't dare to come up to say hello. If you destroy a military marriage, you will be dealt with severely. If you make trouble, you can be sentenced to death." She quickly declared: "Where is there any Brother Jun? He is a classmate, the 'sister-in-law' I told you about." "Oh, that's the famous 'sister-in-law'? Wearing a military uniform, she looks very dashing and heroic." He asked, "Aren't you going to the toilet? If you don't, let's go." "Where to?" she said, "I don't have time now, I'm working--" "I'll work with you." She laughed: "Do you want to work with me? You dress up like a son-in-law, and you still come with me---pull the scooter, aren't you afraid of being laughed at?" "Who's the joke? Who's the joke?" He immediately took off his white shirt, only wearing a vest, and rolled up his trousers, and asked, "Is this okay?" Seeing that she was still shaking her head, he pleaded, "You're graduating now Now, no one on this side of the river knows you, so let me go with you, can you drag it alone?" Jingqiu was immediately moved by his words. She wanted to see him for so long, but she really didn't want to let him go like this. Let's go all out today.She blushed and said, "Then wait for me." She ran to the bathroom, then came back and said, "Let's go, don't cry when you get tired later." He boasted: "Joke, dragging a car makes me tired and cry? I haven't cried in years." Seeing that she didn't wear shoes, he also took off his shoes and put them on the cart, " You sit in the car, and I will drag you." She declined for a while, and he insisted that she sit down, so she got into the car.He took her old straw hat and put it on himself, and then put his white shirt on her head, saying that it could not only cover the head and face, but also cover the shoulders and arms.Then he towed the car and set off. She sat in the car and instructed him where to go, he dragged for a while, then turned to look at her and said, "It's a pity that my dress is not red, otherwise, I would be like a bride's car. It's the red hijab--" She said: "Okay, you take advantage of me---" She yelled like a bullock cart, "Drive! Drive!" He chuckled: "As a bride, of course you have to 'marry'." As he spoke, he ran even faster. When she arrived at the winery, Jing Qiu realized that thanks to the help of the third child today, otherwise she would not be able to get the lees back by herself.The distiller's grains are still in a deep pond, which is hot and humid. You have to fish them out yourself and put them in jumbo bags. Each bag weighs at least a hundred catties. Moreover, the distillery is on a hill with a steep slope. , It is very difficult to go uphill with an empty car, and it is even more difficult to control the downhill with a full load.The third child raised the handlebars high, and the car continued to rush down the hill, exhausting the two of them. 不过下了山，路就比较好走了，一路都是沿着江边走。老三掌把，静秋拉边绳，两个人边走边聊，不知不觉就走到了上次他们约会过的那个亭子了。老三建议说：“歇会儿，你不是说只要下午五点之前拖到就行了吗？现在才十点多钟，我们坐会吧。” 两个人就把车停在亭子旁边，跑到亭子里休息。天气很热，静秋拿着草帽呼呼地扇，老三就跑去买了几根冰棍。两个人吃着冰棍，老三问：“昨天那个跟你逛街的男人是谁？” 静秋说：“哪里是逛街，你没看见我拖着板车？那是我的甲方，就是工头，叫万昌盛---” 老三警告说：“我看那个人很不地道，你最好别在他手下干活了---” “不在他手下干在哪儿干？这个工还是---千辛万苦才弄来的。”她好奇地问，“为什么你说他不地道？你又不认识他。” 老三笑笑：“不地道的人一眼就可以看出来。你要当心他，别跟他单独在一起，也别到他家去----” 她安慰他：“我不会到他家去的，打工都是大白天的，他能----把我怎么样？” 他摇摇头：“大白天的，他就不能把你怎么样了？你真是太天真了----。你找个机会告诉他，说你男朋友是部队的，军婚，动不动就玩刀子的。如果他对你有什么----不检点的地方，你告诉我---” “我告诉你了，你就怎么样？” “我好好收拾收拾他。”说着，他从挂包里摸出一把军用匕首，拿在手里玩。 她开玩笑说：“看不出来你这么凶。” 他连忙说：“你别怕，我不会对你凶的。我是看不来你那个甲方，眼神就不对头。我昨天跟了你们一天----，好几次都恨不得上去警告他一下，但又怕----你不愿意我这样做。” “最好不要让人看见我们在一起，我虽然毕业了，但我顶职的事还没办好，学校已经有不少人眼红，在钟书记面前说我坏话，如果让他们知道我们----的事，肯定会去打小报告，把我顶职的事搞黄----” 他点点头：“我知道，所以我只在你一个人的时候才会上来跟你说话。”坐了一会，老三说，“我们找个地方吃午饭吧。” 静秋不肯：“我带了一个馒头，你去餐馆吃吧，我就在这里看着车。这酒糟味道太大，逗蚊子，拖到别人餐馆门前去停着不好。” 他想了想，说：“好，那我去买些东西过来吃，你在这等我，别偷偷跑了啊。你一个人拖车，过河的时候很危险的。”他见她点头答应了，就跑去买东西。 过了一会，他抱了一堆吃的东西回来，还买了一件红色的游泳衣：“我们吃了饭，休息一会，到江里去游泳吧。天气太热了，浑身都是汗，这江里的水也太诱人了----” 静秋问：“你怎么知道我会游泳？” “江心岛四面都是水，你还能不会游泳？岛上可能个个都会游吧？” “那倒也是。”静秋顾不上吃东西，打开那件游泳衣，是那种连体的，上面象小背心，下面象三角裤的那种。那是最古老最保守的样式，但静秋从来没穿过，她认识的人也没谁穿过，大家都是穿件短袖运动衣和平脚短裤游泳。她红着脸问：“这怎么穿呀？” 他放下手里的食物，把游泳衣拿起来，教她怎么穿，说你这样套进去，然后拉上来。 静秋说：“我知道怎么套进去，可是这多---丑啊。”她平时内裤都是平脚裤，胸罩都是背心式的，从来不穿三角内裤或者“武装带”一样的胸罩，现在要她穿这种袒胸露背的游泳衣，真是要她的命，她觉得她的大腿很粗，胸太大，总是能藏就藏，能遮就遮。 她说：“你问都不问我一下，就买了这样的游泳衣，能退吗？” 他问：“退了干嘛？以前女孩游泳都是穿这个的，现在大城市的女孩也是穿这个，K市的女孩应该也是穿这个的，不然怎么会有卖的呢？” 吃过饭，休息了一下，老三就不断地鼓动静秋到附近厕所去把游泳衣换上。静秋不敢穿游泳衣，但又很想游泳，被老三鼓动了半天，终于决定换上游泳衣试试。她想，呆会把衬衣长裤罩在外面，到了江边叫老三转过脸去，自己很快地脱了外衣，躲到水里去。江水很浑，他应该看不见她穿游泳衣的样子。她想好了，就跑到厕所去换上了，罩上自己的衣服，从里面走出来。 他们把车拖到离江水很近的河岸旁，这样边游泳就能边盯着点，免得被人偷跑了。静秋命令老三先下水去，老三笑着从命，脱掉了背心和长裤，只穿一条平脚短裤就走下河坡，到水里去了。走了两步，他转过身叫她：“快下来吧，水里好凉快。” “你转过身去----” 他老老实实地转过身，静秋连忙脱了外衣，使劲用手扯胸前和屁股那里的游泳衣，觉得这些地方都遮不住一样。她扯了一阵，发现没效果，只好算了。她正要往河坡下走，却发现他不知什么时候已经转过身来，正在看她。她一愣，呆立在那里，指责他：“你----怎么不讲信用？” 她见他很快转过身去，倏地一下蹲到水里去了。她也飞快地走进水里，向江心方向游去，游了一会，回头望望，他并没跟来，还蹲在水里。她不知道他在搞什么鬼，就游了回去，游到离他不远的地方，站在齐胸的水里，问他：“你怎么不游？” 他支吾着：“你先游出去，我来追你。” 她返身向江心游了一阵，回头看他，他还是没游过来。她想他是不是不会游泳？只敢在江边扑腾？她觉得他真好玩，不会游，还这么积极地鼓动她游。她又游回去，大声问他：“你是旱鸭子？” 他坐在水里，不答话，光笑。她也不游了，站在深水里跟他说话。好一会了，他才说：“我们比赛吧。”说罢，就带头向江心游去。她吃惊地发现他很会游，自由式两臂打得漂亮极了，一点水花都不带起来，刷刷地就游很远了。她想追上去，但游得没他快，只好跟在后面游。 她觉得游得太远了，刚才又已经游了两趟，很有点累了，就叫他：“游回去吧，我没劲了。” 他很快就游回来了，到了她跟前，他问：“我是不是旱鸭子？” “你不是旱鸭子，刚才怎么老坐在水里不游？” 他笑了笑：“想看看你水平如何。” 她想他好坏啊，等看到她游不过他了，他才开始游，害她丢人现眼。她跟在他后面，来个突然袭击，两手抓住他的肩，让他背她回去。她借着水的浮力，只轻轻搭在他肩上，自己弹动两脚，觉得应该没给他增加多少负担。但他突然停止划动，身体直了起来，开始踩水。她觉得自己整个人都贴在他背上了，连忙松了手。 两个人游回岸边，他坐在水里，有点发抖一样。 “你---累坏了？”她担心地问。 “没---没有。你先上去换衣服，我马上就上来---” 她见他好像神色不对，就问：“你---腿抽筋？” 他点点头，催促她：“你快上去吧，要不----你再往江心游一次？” 她摇摇头：“我不游了，留点力气待会好拖车。你腿抽筋，也别游了吧。你哪条腿抽筋？要不要我帮你扳一下？”她给他做个示范动作，想上去帮他。 他叫道：“别管我，别管我---” 她觉得他态度很奇怪，就站在那里问：“你到底怎么啦？是胃抽筋？” 她看见他盯着她，才想起自己穿着游泳衣站在那里，连忙蹲到水里，心想他刚才一定看见她的大腿了，她怕他觉得她腿太粗，就自己先打自己五十大板：“我的腿很难看，是吧？” 他连忙说：“挺好的，挺好的，你别乱想。你----先上去吧---” 她不肯先上去，因为她先上去就会让他从后面看见她游泳衣没遮住的屁股。她坚持说：“你先上去。” 他苦笑了一下：“那好吧，你转过身去----” 她忍不住笑起来：“你又不是女的，你要我转身干什么？你怕我看见你腿----长得难看？” 他边笑边摇头：“真拿你没办法。” 那天僵持到最后，还是静秋转过身，老三先上了岸。等他叫声：“好了。”她才转过身。她看见他已经把军裤笼在湿淋淋的短裤上了，说反正天热，一下就干了。静秋把他赶上岸去，见他走得看不见人影了，才从水里跑出来，也把衣服直接穿在游泳衣上，再跑到厕所去脱游泳衣。结果外衣打湿了，贴在身上，搞得她很尴尬。 她叫老三把游泳衣带上，下次来的时候再带来，因为她不敢拿回家去。 老三帮忙把车拖过了河，静秋就不敢让他跟她一起走了，她自己拖车，他远远地跟在后面，一直跟到纸厂附近了，才按事先讲好的，她去交货还车，而他就到客运渡口去乘船过河，坐最后一班车回西村坪。 事过之后，静秋才觉得有点后怕，怕有人看见了她跟老三在一起，告到学校去。担了几天心，好像没惹出什么事，她高兴了，也许以后就可以这样偷偷摸摸跟老三见面。她知道他要跟别人换休才能有两天时间到K市来，最少要两个星期才能来一次。来的时候如果她不是单独一人的话，她也不敢让他上来跟她说话。所以两个人见不见得成面，完全是“望天收”。 不知道是不是因为老三说了万昌盛不地道，静秋越来越觉得万昌盛是不地道，有时说着说着话，人就蹭到跟前来了，有时还帮她拍拍身上的灰尘，借递东西的时候捏一下她的手，搞得她非常难堪，想发个脾气，又怕把他得罪了，没工做了，而且这些好像也只是些拈不上筷子的事，唯一的办法是尽力躲避。 不过万昌盛确实很照顾她，总给她派轻松的活干，而且每次都象愁怕静秋不知道一样，要点明了卖个人情，说：“小张，我这是特别照顾你呀，如果是别的人，我才不会派她做这么轻松的活呢。” 静秋总是说：“谢谢你了，不过我愿意跟别的零工一起干，有人说说话，热闹些。” 说归说，派工的是万昌盛，他派她干什么，她就不得不干什么。 有一天，万昌盛叫静秋打扫纸厂单身宿舍那几栋楼，说过几天有领导来检查工作，你这几天就负责把这几栋楼打扫干净。寝室内不用你打扫，你只负责内走廊和外面的墙壁。内走廊主要是那些住在里面的青工扫出来的垃圾，你把垃圾收集起来，运到垃圾堆去。室外主要是墙上那些旧标语，你泡上水，把标语撕干净，撕不掉的用刀刮。 静秋就到那几栋楼去打扫，女工楼还没什么，很快就扫完了内走廊。但到了男青工们住的那栋楼，就搞得她很不自在了。正是大夏天的，男工人都穿得很随便。比较注意的人，就在门上挂了帘子，遮住门的中间那部分，上下都空着，好让风吹进房间。不在乎的，就大开着门，个个打着赤膊，只穿短裤。 静秋低着头，一个门前一个门前去收垃圾，不敢抬头，怕看到光膀子。那些男青工看见她，有的就呼地把门关上了。但有的不光不关门，还穿着短裤出来跟她说话，问她是那个学校的，多大了，等等。她红着脸支吾两句，就不再搭腔了。 有几个青工叫她进他们寝室去打扫一下，她不肯进去，说甲方说了，我只打扫内走廊。那几个人就嘻嘻哈哈地把室内的垃圾扫到走廊上。静秋刚把他们扫出来的垃圾收到畚箕里，他们又扫出一些到走廊上，让她不能从他们门前离开。她就先到别处去收拾，等他们疯够了再回来收拾他们门前。 有一个寝室门上挂着帘子，静秋正在把门口的垃圾往畚箕里扫，里面有个人从门帘子下面泼出一杯喝剩下的茶，连水带茶叶全泼在她脚上了。茶水还挺烫的，她的脚背一下就红了。她想那人可能没看见她，就不跟他计较，想自己去水管冲一下冷水。 但这一幕刚好被一个过路的青工看见了，那人对着寝室里大声嚷嚷：“嘿，泼水的看着点，外面有清洁工在干活----”那人喊了一半就停下了，转而对静秋说，“是你？你怎么在干----这个？” 静秋抬头一看，是她以前的同学王一，班上乃至全校最调皮的一个。小学时班主任老是让静秋跟他同桌，上课就把张一交给静秋，说你们两个是“一帮一”，他上课调皮，你要管着他，不然你们就当不上“一对红”了。所以静秋上课时总在拘束王一，怕他调皮。班上出去看电影，老师总叫静秋牵着王一，怕他乱跑。而王一就像一匹野马，总是到处跑，害得静秋跟着他追。 进了初中，王一仍然是静秋的“责任田”。那时兴办“学习班”，因为毛主席说了：“办学习班是个好办法，很多问题可以在学习班得到解决。”所以班上只要有人调皮，老师就叫班干部把那个同学带到外面去办学习班。王一的调皮到了初中就变本加厉，几乎每节课静秋都在外面为他办学习班，其实就是跟在他后面到处跑，抓住他了就办一下学习班，过一会他又跑掉了。