Chapter 12 Chapter Eleven
By the time Mu Xin was discharged from the hospital, the year had passed, and due to physical reasons, Mu Xin's rotation training was also cancelled.But Duan Xiucai actually succeeded in coordinating, and moved Mu Xin to a mail room with less radiation. His daily work was to distribute documents and newspapers, or stamp documents and important letters with official seals.
Mu Xin was puzzled again from the bottom of her heart and thanked that she had never really turned against Duan Xiucai because of his occasional difficulties. Because of her willingness to endure, Duan Xiucai was still willing to let her go no matter how grievous she felt.So, objectively speaking, Duan Xiucai may have discovered occasionally that all the humiliation in the past is just the first lesson taught by society to newcomers—a lot of times, real villains are not as scary as hypocrites, because the former are just stupid and straightforward. The latter is the quiet trap.
after that.The days passed by like this: the mailroom is clean, only a 40-year-old eldest sister and Mu Xin are partners, they read newspapers and gossip together every day, and Mu Xin often hesitates whether to keep the child in her stomach , but really want to get rid of it, but she can't muster the courage. She still lives in the duty room of the sub-bureau, in a simple but peaceful environment. Seeing the official recruitment documents, Mu Xin felt that what Zhu Hangsheng said was right, it is always too passive to hold on to the buddha's feet temporarily, it is better to make plans early.
She even imagined how proud it would be if she could leave here?But she also knows that the exam is too difficult, and the opportunity is very accidental. Just like last year, Yang Qian delayed the exam and missed an opportunity because he was escorting prisoners in other places. Then this year, when it is her turn, she will really be ready Yet?Or, can she really have this luck to go to the examination room?
The future is a puzzle, and no one can answer it before it comes.
During the Lantern Festival, Hao Huinan finally returned to Xiushan after her vacation.
"It feels so good to take annual leave." Lying on the bed in Mu Xin's dormitory, she sighed with emotion, "It would be great if I could take annual leave 52 times a year, even if it's only one week each time."
"What else are you dreaming about?" Mu Xin rolled up the magazine in her hand and tapped her on the head, "Going home for a blind date?"
"I can't stand my mother's pressure, so I have to deal with it a few times. It's not interesting. Basically, I am more concerned about when I can leave Xiushan, a poor place. Nine out of ten will ask me whether I plan to go to the provincial capital. Or take the test back to my hometown? Don’t look at it. Is it up to me? Is it useful to plan well? I’m going to be a low-level civil servant and I’m almost peeling off. They still want me to take the provincial and municipal test and treat me like a fairy ?”
Mu Xin smiled helplessly, Hao Huinan glanced at her and sighed: "Don't talk about me, talk about you, what are you going to do?"
"have no idea."
"How old is the child?"
"Two months."
"If you want to stay, live well, if you can't, just move out. I think as long as your mother-in-law is not involved, your husband is still pretty good."
"Do you think my mother-in-law will let us go out and set up our own house?" Mu Xin fell on the opposite bed, looking at the upper bed board with a blank expression, helpless.
"Do you still have feelings for Yang Qian?"
This is really a sharp question, Mu Xin looked at Hao Huinan, but did not answer.
"Don't blame me for being straightforward. I have never been a mother, so I may not understand some things. But I know that it is very difficult for a woman to live alone with a child. Besides, we are still in an agency, and there will be many troubles that cannot be foreseen in the future. Do you want to remarry, if you remarry, will it affect the child, will the other party despise the child, will the child's biological father come to snatch the child... It's all trouble, didn't you read it? The bloody reality!"
"Let me think about it again." Mu Xin closed his eyes wearily, "Let me wait—wait, I want to see how amazing his family can do."
Hao Huinan stopped talking, she looked at Mu Xin sympathetically, and thinking about herself, she felt that life was really a mess.
The answer was soon revealed—at the end of February, the Organization Department of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Department of Personnel issued an examination brochure, specifying that grassroots selected students who had served at the grassroots level for three years (including three years at the end of July of that year) could sign up for the third The public recruitment examination will be held in the second ten days of this month.The content of the examination is the same as that for recruiting civil servants for the public, but the selected candidates are ranked separately and admitted separately, and do not account for the quota of social recruitment.On the second day after the start of the registration process, Mu Xin saw Yang Qian's registration form in the political department of the sub-bureau - Provincial Public Security Department, as Mu Xin expected.
However, Mu Xin's own willingness to apply for the exam surprised others even more - the Youth League Provincial Committee, although this is a system that can be promoted faster in the eyes of outsiders, but there are so many strong players, and there are so many applicants, it is not obvious that he wants to go. Is it the denominator?
So new rumors about Mu Xin became popular: those who hide deeply have backgrounds!Don't you see that no matter whether it's a job error or her mother-in-law's troubles, she can save herself from danger every time?That's because there is a background behind it!She has someone at the provincial party committee!Xiaowei, the security guard in the reception room, said that a man came to her once, claiming to be her brother, and carrying a paper bag from the Propaganda Department of the Provincial Party Committee in his hand!Although the work card I took out belonged to the newspaper office, an envelope fell out of the bag without paying attention, and the red letter on it also said the Provincial Party Committee Office!Tsk tsk, such a talented person has been aggrieved in our sub-bureau for two years, what a shame!
Gradually, it also reached Mu Xin's ears. She was surprised at first, then smiled wryly, and didn't explain much—is explanation useful?Even if she said that the reason for applying for the Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League is because the position is not limited to majors, would anyone believe it?Others will only say that there is no money here, so it is better not to talk too much.
It’s just that you can’t avoid rumors but you can’t avoid slander—on weekends, Mu Xin had to go home to take the ID card exam, bumped into Xiao Yuhua head-on, and announced to her with a little pride: “Tell you, I’ve already talked to Zhong Xiaoxue’s father. Saying hello, as long as Yang Qian can pass the written test, the interview will be fine. I heard that Xiaoxue doesn't have a boyfriend now, I knew she would never forget Yang Qian, and now she has finished teaching and returned to the provincial capital. There should be an explanation for the matter.”
Seeing that Mu Xin didn't speak, Xiao Yuhua suppressed his anger and continued: "I might as well tell you that Yang Qian has already returned to the Provincial University and met Zhong Xiaoxue and her father. I told her father that our Yang Qian Although we got divorced, it wasn't Yang Qian's fault. We, Yang Qian, were innocent at the time. When Xiaoxue went to teach, he thought he was dumped and was in a bad mood, so he hurriedly found someone to marry. Yang Qian also Didn't refute me, doesn't that explain the problem? Xiaoxue's parents are reasonable people, and they won't embarrass the two children for this. When Xiaoxue graduates and becomes a university teacher, Yang Qian also returns to the provincial office. People are regarded as masters, understand?"
It cannot be denied that when Xiao Yuhua uttered the last words, Mu Xin's heart was finally beaten hard.
She raised her head in a daze, looked at Xiao Yuhua's smug expression, and suddenly lost her mind for a moment: Yang Qian didn't refute...he acquiesced, didn't he?He didn't say that, and he didn't do that. What happened now?Does he really want to compromise, to completely give up on himself and this child?
Mu Xin's wild thoughts ended the moment the door rang, and when he woke up, he saw Yang Qian standing between Xiao Yuhua and her, looking at this and then that in a daze: "Mu Xin, are you back? What's the matter?" , are you two reconciled?"
"Reconcile? How can you reconcile? Reconcile with your father's life?" Xiao Yuhua looked at Yang Qian bitterly, "Did you sell it to her family? Why do you care about her family so much? They don't even fit , and go on the pole to get sticky, I said earlier that from her mother to her, Kefu, Kefu! Do you know?"
"Why do you call my mother Kefu? You say I'm okay, don't get involved with my mother? You are not Kefu, and your husband died early, so it has nothing to do with you?" Mu Xin finally broke out. Pointing at Xiao Yuhua's nose in a daze, he reprimanded quickly, "If you hadn't insisted on finding something to do and writing an IOU, would I have gone to the dormitory? Will your husband come back to find me? I obviously didn't do anything, but he died, He was drenched to death by the heavy rain, and he was killed by you, you are the only one who can kill you, and your fate is hard!"
Before the words finished, Xiao Yuhua yelled, rushed up, and slapped Mu Xin with a "slap", Mu Xin's eyes were also red, and before Yang Qian could react at all, he quickly backhanded, "Papa "Give Xiao Yuhua two slaps!"
In an instant, the sky collapsed and the earth collapsed!
Without even thinking about it, Yang Qian rushed forward, grabbed Mu Xin, pushed him onto the bed, held her down, and said with red eyes, "Why did you hit my mother?"
Mu Xin's strength was not as strong as his, so he could only stare and shout: "She scolded my mother, shouldn't I beat her for my mother? A man in his fifties fantasizes about selling his son to get rich every day, shameless!"
"You say I'm shameless?" Xiao Yuhua screamed, crying and rushing upwards, slapping Mu Xin's body cracklingly, the slap hurt and changed his foot, and kicked Mu Xin's leg with all his strength, "Your brother, don't The face is so rebellious, you dare to scold me, why do you scold me? Son, hurry up, beat her to death for me!"
In the chaos, Yang Qian just grabbed Mu Xin's arm and yelled, "Apologize to my mother, apologize!"
"Not at all!" Mu Xin's calf was kicked green, but she couldn't struggle, she opened her mouth instinctively at the last moment, and bit Yang Qian's wrist fiercely.Yang Qian was in pain, and as soon as he let go of his hand, Mu Xin jumped up, turned around without even thinking, picked up a folding umbrella beside him, and threw it at Yang Qian!
By the time Yang Qian dodged, Mu Xin had already stood up straight, turned around and kicked towards Xiao Yuhua. Xiao Yuhua was short and couldn't dodge. Xin had already grabbed her ID card and ran towards the door.Yang Qian wanted to chase, but when he turned around and saw Xiao Yuhua's grinning expression, he turned around and went to help Xiao Yuhua first.
In the distance, Mu Xin seemed to still be able to hear Xiao Yuhua's ghostly cries and howls from behind the open door, and it was only then that she realized that there was a child in her belly.She quickly got into a taxi, felt that nothing was wrong with her stomach, and then began to check the injuries all over her body - there were footprints everywhere, the skin on her legs was scratched and bloodshot, her face began to be red and swollen, her left ear was ringing, a handful The hair was pulled out, and the scalp hurt when touched... But, she didn't even have a tear.
This marriage is finally coming to an end.
When I went to the hospital the next day, Hao Huinan was with me.
Along the way, Hao Huinan looked sadder than Mu Xin, and asked at least twenty times: "Have you really decided? Don't you regret it?"
Mu Xin reluctantly gave her a smile: "Who told me a few days ago, 'If you don't stop, you will suffer from it'?"
"I'm right, Kekesi really wants to get rid of it, but it's a human life." Hao Huinan sighed.
"If you can be happy after birth, that's all. Now, even if you stay, it may not be good for him. Why bother?" Mu Xin shook his head with a wry smile.
During the conversation, the hospital arrived, Hao Huinan stood at the gate of the hospital and asked Mu Xin for the last time: "Is it really decided?"
"Really," Mu Xin said with a sigh of relief, "That's it, long-term pain is worse than short-term pain."
After finishing speaking, she walked inside without hesitation, and Hao Huinan had no choice but to follow, but her heart was agitated.
After all, the People's Hospital is a county-level hospital with a limited number of patients, so it didn't take long for Mu Xin's turn.When she got up and walked into the operating room, Hao Huinan held her hand tightly, looking at her hesitantly, but only saw the determined expression on her face——Hao Huinan finally let go of her hand slowly, seeing Mu Xin walked in quickly.The moment the door closed, Hao Huinan almost cried out.
Due to technical limitations, the people of Xiushan also did not have a painless abortion.In fact, even if there is, Mu Xin will not choose - one is because the painless abortion is too expensive, she is poor and has no so much money at this stage; but because, after all, this is her child, the child she killed with her own hands, she feels She is guilty, and she wants to use overwhelming pain to remember the existence of this child in order to redeem part of her guilt.This is the price she must pay.
So, at the end of the operation, what Hao Huinan saw was a Mu Xin who almost seemed to be fished out of the water——she came out with the help of a nurse, her face was pale, and her body was trembling slightly.
Hao Huinan almost burst into tears: "Are you okay? Can you do this? Do you want to be hospitalized?"
"Just take a break," Mu Xin forced a smile, and sat down next to Hao Huinan, comforting her, "I have a leave of absence, you go to work and hand it in for me, I have to go to your place to rest for a few days."
"No problem, I have to drag you away if you don't tell me," Hao Huinan's tears finally fell, she looked at Mu Xin who was limp on her shoulders at a loss, "What should I do, what should I do like this?"
"Sit down for a while, let me rest for a while, and I'll be fine." Mu Xin closed her eyes, tightly covered her lower abdomen that was still in severe pain with one hand, and held Hao Huinan's hand with the other.The sweat from her palms mixed with Hao Huinan's tears, and it was wet, as if it would never dry out again.
In the afternoon, Mu Xin and Hao Huinan returned to her simple dormitory for the village chief.It is a reconstruction of a residential house, and when you look up, you can still see the rafters exposed to the air, covered with old ash.There was no heating in the village, so Hao Huinan kept a stove on. He was afraid that Mu Xin would catch the cold, so he spread an electric mattress and covered her with two quilts. water.
For a long time, the two of them didn't speak, and could only hear Mu Xin's suppressed moan because of abdominal pain occasionally. Gradually, when Xu saw Hao Huinan's unbearable gaze, Mu Xin suppressed the moan again into long, deep breaths.
Because of the pain, she was breathing harder than usual, and Hao Huinan couldn't bear to hear it.
When the knock on the door sounded, Hao Huinan looked back suspiciously at Mu Xin, who was half asleep and half awake, stood up and went to the outer room to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, a gust of cool air rushed in, and at the same time, there was a loud voice: "Village chief, it's not good, there's a fight! Ding Shuren is about to beat his wife to death again!"
"This bastard just doesn't let me worry!" Hao Huinan roared violently, and pushed the person in front of her, "Hurry up and call the police, is it useful to just look for me? Ding Shuren dares to beat me together! Go, go, I'll come right here! "
She turned back to the room and saw that Mu Xin seemed to be asleep, then picked up her coat and went out.When she gently closed the door, she didn't see tears welling up from the corners of Mu Xin's tightly closed eyes—so, Mu Xin thought, no matter where she is, it's a rural area, a county town or even an urban area; ;No matter what the occupation is, farmers, employees or even civil servants... domestic violence exists.Some things really have nothing to do with appearance, family background, education, salary...If you don’t love, you don’t love anymore. Although when you love, you will apologize, and there are even some people who kneel down and pray that you were wrong, that you were possessed by a demon at that moment...but the injury is the injury. Once, there will be a second time. There are even Nth times.Once you start it, you can't stop it.
So, let's end it.Mu Xin buried her face deeply in the pillow, let the pillow cover absorb her excess tears, and gradually fell asleep while sobbing. She hoped that when she woke up, she would have the strength to start again.
Yang Qian came a little faster than Mu Xin imagined.
But the next afternoon, Yang Qian learned the whole story from Zhang Le——Hao Huinan wanted to stay at Ding Shu's house with a few neighbor women to keep an eye on him in case he retaliated and beat others, so he had to send Zhang Le went to deliver food to Mu Xin, but Zhang Le didn't know much about the truth, he only knew that the couple had an awkward quarrel, and the children disappeared, so he called Yang Qian as soon as he meddled in his business.
Yang Qian was looking up case materials in the team at that time.The moment I heard the news, my feet were cold.
Without thinking about it, he drove to Xiadingjia Village, and found out where Hao Huinan lived without any effort.When he arrived, through the glass on the door, he happened to see Mu Xin covering his stomach with one hand, and trying to pick up the thermos bottle on the ground with the other, wanting to pour a cup of hot water for a drink.But the weight of a warm bottle is so heavy for her at this moment.She finally finished pouring the water tremblingly, and put the thermos bottle back on the ground beside the table. As soon as she lowered her head, she couldn't help but tears fell, hitting the old table top, and then smeared into the dark wood grain .
Yang Qian's heart trembled, and he pushed open the door of the back room with a "creak". When Mu Xin looked up and saw that it was Yang Qian, he was not surprised, only numb.
"I heard," Yang Qian managed to squeeze out the words, and took a heavy breath, "Why did you kill the child? He is obviously innocent!"
In the end, it was already like a roar.
Mu Xin looked at Yang Qian quietly, there were still tears on her face that she hadn't had time to wipe off, her face was pale, her eyelids were a little swollen: "Get a divorce, Yang Fan, I'll call you when I finish my vacation, let's go Go through the formalities. The house is the down payment from your family. I didn’t make a contribution, so naturally I don’t need to write my name in the future. However, if you still have such a small amount of friendship, please help me get the IOU back—since I don’t live anymore If it doesn’t make that house, there shouldn’t be any need to pay for the decoration.”
Yang Qian took a deep breath, gave Mu Xin a desperate look, finally turned around, and slammed the door out.
In the warm sunshine of early spring, Mu Xin looked at the receding figure outside the window, and wanted to pick up a cup to drink water, but didn't realize that her hands were shaking all the time until the water spilled out.
Half a month later, Mu Xin finally left Hao Huinan's house, gave her a smile in Hao Huinan's worried eyes, got into Zhang Le's car, and went back to the branch office to sell her leave.Two days later, Mu Xin and Yang Qian went through divorce procedures at the District Civil Affairs Bureau.
The weather was really good that day, Xiao Yuhua didn't show up, and Mu Xin felt much better.When she left, she stood by the river that had completely thawed at the gate of the Civil Affairs Bureau, clutched the divorce certificate in her hand, and turned to look at Yang Qian.Her expression was indistinguishable from joy to sorrow, perhaps because the emotions contained in it were too rich, so Yang Qian couldn't see through it.He didn't know whether this ending was a liberation or a bondage for her, but he felt that he had been deeply bound by an invisible rope.
He raised the divorce certificate in his hand and asked her again: "Mu Xin, are you sure?"
"What is there to be sure about? When I was beaten to death by my husband and mother-in-law knowing that I was pregnant, if I still have illusions about this marriage, I am too cheap "She even smiled, biting out the pronunciation of the word "贱" in a correct voice, and Yang Qian was startled when he heard it.
Is this the woman he has been thinking about?Was it the girl he used to toss and turn when he closed his eyes and thought of her in the student dormitory and couldn't fall asleep?Is it the one who squeezed out all the time to take the train to the training base just to meet her for a noon to relieve the pain of lovesickness?He obviously never didn't love her, and never thought of giving up on her, but how could she fight his mother so hard?Even if it is true that the mother did the first thing, even if it is true that the old man has some corners, even if the mother will always make some self-righteous choices in order to fear that her son will suffer - just because he didn't refute it at the time, it doesn't mean that he will obey, but she didn't even Give him a chance to explain!Moreover, how could she scold the elders with such ugly words?
Elders are always good to their children, aren't they?If there is a generation gap, it is always heart and soul, isn't it?Mu Xin herself has parents, why can't she understand?Why did she insist on going this far?
In the end, did he see the wrong person, or did she turn bad?
Yang Qian couldn't understand no matter how he thought about it.After a long time, seeing that Mu Xin was still looking at him, he had no choice but to reach out and take out the IOU from his pocket and hand it over.Mu Xin took it over and took a look at it. She didn't tear it off, but put it in the divorce certificate. "You won't tear it up?" Yang Qian asked in wonder.
"Keep it," Mu Xin said with a distant smile, "Keep it and remind myself how ridiculous the world is, how ridiculous love itself is, and myself, who is a ridiculous fool. Fortunately, I won't do it again. Get stupid." Yang Qian finally had nothing to say.
In March, the exams started as scheduled.Yang Qian and Mu Xin were not in the same examination room, but they met each other when they entered the examination center.Yang thinks it's darker, probably because he has been handling the case outside this month.Mu Xin lost a little weight, so she must not have had a good rest, and the food in the cafeteria was even less oily.The two glanced at each other, passed by without speaking, and never met again until the end of the whole day's exam.
Three weeks later, the test results were announced.The Xiushan Public Security Bureau was completely annihilated, and none of the candidates who were eligible to take the exam passed the written test and entered the interview.Mu Xin felt that it was expected for her. She was in a hurry to prepare and was in a bad mood. In the examination room, she also experienced dizziness caused by hypoglycemia for a while, which delayed her answering time for about half an hour.Then look at Yang Qian, who has similar grades to his own, he is somewhat gloating—Xiao Yuhua, you are busy again, you should live with a higher heart than paper, and you should salivate at the signboard of the provincial department However, he had to live on a three-acre land in Xiushan!you deserve it!
But she was too happy.A few days later, the documents from the Municipal Bureau were delivered to the Xiushan Sub-bureau—the large-scale visits were in full swing, and all departments of the sub-bureau had to dispatch policemen who had no team experience to each squadron.The police station was training. Because of his family affairs, Mu Xin left a bad impression on the director. In addition, his performance in business was mediocre and nothing extraordinary, so he was sent to the most remote, The most chaotic and busiest police station in Siding Town is the housekeeping office.
On the day when the document was issued, Mu Xin had a calm expression, as if she had already gotten used to the ups and downs.On the contrary, Gu Qing couldn't bear it, but he couldn't say anything, because everyone in the overall situation knew how Mu Xin's mother-in-law went to the branch office during Mu Xin's hospitalization, and caused a commotion in the director's office.
The topic sentence is: "The good policemen you have trained, you have to find a way to stop her for me! She beats ordinary people and her own mother-in-law while wearing a police uniform. This is naked class oppression!"
As she spoke, she took out a stack of photos—in the photos, Xiao Yuhua had scratched red spots on his arms, redness and swelling on his face, and bruises on his legs.She sat on the floor clutching the photo tightly, crying with snot and tears: "I am an orphan, my wife is dead, my son is too busy at home, and my daughter-in-law is still abusing me... Wow, I Don't live anymore, my relatives, why don't you take me away too, what do you eat over there, I can't live with such a daughter-in-law..."
For this passage, I sang it more than five times repeatedly in the way of howling and mourning.
The director was furious, and called the director of the command center and Gu Qing to the office on the spot to question: "What's going on? Can the soldiers you lead only focus on work? Family problems are all messed up like this. If the chaos continues, it will affect the Don't talk about work, isn't this embarrassing? Hurry up and find a way, so as not to affect the normal work!"
When he said this, Mu Xin's mother-in-law was still crying, her voice was hoarse from crying, making people look infinitely pitiful.But Gu Qing, who has also been someone else's daughter-in-law, thinks that it is difficult for an upright official to break up housework. It's not that she hasn't heard of Mu Xin's abortion operation, and even heard Meng Yueyue describe Mu Xin's swollen face and exposed scalp. injury.The only thing to blame is that the child is still a policeman himself, but he has no sense of forensics. He didn't even think of doing a forensic appraisal.As a woman, she naturally sympathizes and wants to protect her soldiers, but unfortunately, this time, the chief has spoken, and she is helpless.
By the time Chu Hangsheng knew about it, it was already around May Day.There was no news from Mu Xin for a long time. After thinking about it, he still sent a text message: "How are you?"
It didn't take long for Mu Xin to reply: "Not bad."
"What about at home? Is it still peaceful?"
"I don't know. I'm divorced. I'm transferred to the Siding Town Police Station as a back office. Brother, you can come and play if you have time."
With just a few words, Chu Hang's heart skipped a beat.
divorced?When did this happen?The work has also been transferred...the police station, there are so many trivial matters there, and it is still in Siding Town, where there is a logistics base, safety is a problem!She is a single woman, where does she live?What about children?Why didn't you talk about the child?Ordinarily, it should be four or five months, but at this time the divorce, what happened to the child?
Without even thinking about it, Chu Hangsheng put down his work and went out, met the newly recruited intern head-on, and greeted him respectfully: "Director, Director Xu was looking for you just now."
"What's the matter?" Chu Hang stopped in his tracks.
"I don't know. He said that if anyone sees you, he will tell you."
"Understood, thank you." Chu Hang waved his hand, paused, and turned a corner to the director's office.
"Xiao Chu, you are here, come over here, I have something to discuss with you." Director Xu is in his forties. He used to be Chu Hangsheng's master when he debuted, and later served as the director of the thematic department. Qun Hangsheng, the youngest deputy director in the agency and a director reporter trained by himself, has always been very proud, and always fights for him whenever there is a good opportunity.
This time is no exception.
"The training is organized by the General Administration of Press and Publication. Opportunities are hard to come by. Go out and have a look, gain a lot of knowledge, and I will wait for you to take my seat in the future." The old director said earnestly.
"Can you let me think about it?" Chu Hang frowned. "Still thinking about it?" The director was surprised. "It's too late to grab such a good opportunity. Is there anyone else who wants to think about it?" Can I answer you tomorrow?"
"Okay," the director looked at Chu Hang's voice, and as if he suddenly thought of something, he added, "Is there a date?"
"Ah?" Chu Hang's voice was taken aback, and he answered after a while, "Nothing."
"Don't be so categorical. You are in your thirties. There are suitable people who can consider it." The director took off his glasses and looked at Chu Hang's voice carefully. "A person's life is very short. If you hesitate, you will grow old."
Chu Hangsheng didn't know what to say.
It was already evening when he arrived at the Siding Town Police Station. He parked his car outside the courtyard of the police station. When he walked in, he heard a young man in the courtyard shouting, "Sister Mu, don't forget to cook noodles for supper."
A familiar voice came faintly through the window: "Understood, bring back some mustard!"
"No problem!" The young man who shouted turned around and took a few steps outside, saw Chu Hang's voice at the gate of the courtyard, recognized it slightly, and grinned: "Brother Chu?"
"Are you... Officer Zhang?"
"Call me Zhang Le, you are looking for Sister Mu? She is inside, go into the second door on the left. Not much to say, brother, I am rushing to the police, let's go first!" Zhang Le waved his hand after speaking, He walked to the door with a smile and drove away.
Chu Hang sized up the building in front of him—a small blue and white two-story building was facing him. Walking into the building, there was the second room on the left on the first floor. There was a "Household Registration" sign on the door. The table separated the inside and the outside, and Mu Xin shrank behind the table, staring at the computer intently, holding something in his hand, eating well.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Mu Xin turned her head, holding a piece of steamed bun in her hand.Chu Hangsheng caught sight of a bottle of sesame paste next to him, and then turned his gaze back to Mu Xin's face. It had only been a few months since he had seen her. She had a pointed chin, pale face, and thin figure, as if she was a different person.
Chu Hang's heart tugged, he didn't know what to say, but Mu Xin stood up happily: "Why are you here?"
Seeing Chu Hangsheng's gaze cast on her stomach, Mu Xin smiled: "The child is gone, I am free." When she said this, there was a smile on her face, but her eyes were calm.Chu Hangsheng clenched his fists tightly, and after a long while, he could only let out a sigh.
"This place is so chaotic, is it appropriate to have a woman on duty?" Chu Hangsheng sat on the sofa, and he didn't need to pay too much attention to hear the noise of people coming and going, mixed with the sound of a large number of transport vehicles running around.
"Actually, it's nothing. There are gay men who stay here on duty every night. I have no place to live. I stay in the camp to read books, surf the Internet, and I can also share a dormitory. It saves money on renting a house, and I'm much richer than before. What's wrong?" Mu Xin didn't care, and while picking up the unfinished steamed buns and sesame paste bottles, he turned around and poured water for Chu Hangsheng.
"You can't eat this all the time, it's not nutritious." Chu Hangsheng's eyes followed the sesame paste bottle.
"This is dim sum. Eat something to make you hungry for a while. In the evening, you have to cook noodles for the comrades on duty. That's the main meal." Mu Xin handed the water to Chu Hangsheng, sat aside and said with a smile, "When I was young, I was about six years old. , I went to Beijing with my dad. At that time, he went to purchase for the factory. He was very busy during the day, and left me alone in the hotel to eat steamed buns. When he came back at night, he would cook instant noodles in an electric cup and put some mustard shreds when it was cooked. , Incredibly fragrant! At that time, I thought, if only I could eat instant noodles with mustard shreds every day. As a result, after more than 20 years, I turned into a supper chef in the police station, and I was still reluctant to eat instant noodles—— It’s expensive and the portion is small, so it’s better to eat vermicelli. In winter, it’s freezing and snowy outside. I’ll make some shredded pork pot here, then cut some shredded Chinese cabbage into it, and cook a big pot of cabbage shredded pork noodles. Anyone who patrols at night or goes out to the police and freezes through the cold wind will be able to come back to life by eating a bowl of noodles."
"Are you still in charge of cooking?" Chu Hang laughed helplessly, "You really make the best use of it."
"I'm the only woman here at night. If I don't cook, who will do it? It's up to them to make instant noodles with hot water at most. It's neither nutritious nor cheap, and the taste is definitely not as good as cooked noodles." Mu Xin smiled and shook her head.
"Just wait until there is a chance to pass the exam," Chu Hang sighed, and changed the subject, "Do you have time to review?"
"You can count as much as you can, and you know how difficult this kind of exam is." Mu Xin smiled calmly, "If you don't pass the exam, it's good to stay here. The mountains and rivers are beautiful. Although it's busy, it's not complicated. I'm happy Simple."
Chu Hangsheng stopped talking, "Is it simple-minded to be happy"-not so long ago, when she was seconded to help work in the Municipal Bureau, she didn't say that.He still remembered that she had said that she hated her mindless self, and that she was terrified by the gradual numbness of the day.But now, she is actually numbing herself, completely simplifying her life to shredded cabbage in noodles, instead of passion and longing for struggle.
Chu Hang lowered his head and sighed deeply.
He asked himself: In such a situation, can he still walk away?
Chu Hangsheng quietly gave up the opportunity to study abroad.Not only that, but a few months later, the provincial newspaper sent reporters to the grassroots station for interviews, and Chu Hangsheng signed up without hesitation, specifying that he would go to Siding Town, Xiushan District.There was a sound of surprise in the society.When he was promoted to director reporter, it wasn't that Chu Hangsheng had never been to the grassroots, and now he has enough qualifications. Is it necessary to suffer again?
The director persuaded in a good voice: "If you go down, a lot of things in the department will be pushed to me alone? If I find another person to replace you, you are not afraid that this job will not be yours when you come back? "
"I just want to go down and have a look, director. I think this is more meaningful than studying abroad. The grassroots is the source of news, and the voices from the masses are the most vivid, right? You taught me this at the beginning. "Chu Hangsheng answered unhurriedly.
The old director had nothing to say, he waved his favorite student out of the door, heaved a long sigh, and thought, this young man after divorce is really getting more and more weird, or family is the cornerstone of the business - family issues are handled well It is true that procrastination delays work, but it seems that there are many after-effects after cutting the mess quickly...
But Mu Xin was still taken aback by the arrival of Chu Hang's voice: "Where are you stationed?"
"Siding Town, I will often appear in the town government next door to you or in the village below. Oh, by the way, what is your friend, the village chief, doing now? The only female village secretary in the town, isn't it easy? "Chu Hang's voice came late, just in time for the night's supper—on a hot day, Mu Xin mixed cold noodles, a table with red and green dishes, and a plate of salted duck eggs cut into petals.
"Oh, I just got on the phone and said that there is a meeting for activists joining the party at night, and they want to train a few young party members to be leaders in getting rich." Mu Xin replied.
"Don't you want to set up some kind of agricultural association?" Zhang Le, who had been busy all day catching thieves, finally had the strength to interject, "Hehe, there are only three or two kittens in their village, and the association..."
"Xiadingjia Village is the smallest administrative village in our area. It is remote. It is useless to expect urban villages to be rebuilt and demolished. The terrain is bad, and nothing can be grown. In addition, the road was not good, and no one was willing to invest in it. Later, the road was built. I can make some money by packaging fans, so life is easier. But you also know that in rural areas, no matter how you do odd jobs, the work in the field can never be left behind, it is the lifeblood. Planting good land, everyone It’s a bumper harvest, and the agricultural association organizes the sales to make it easier.” Mu Xin explained to Zhu Hangsheng.
Zhu Hangsheng pondered for a while: "Or, I'll go to their village to stay. Let's see how our female village head grabs the work of a village."
Zhang Le was infinitely vigilant, and while Chu Hangsheng was out to answer the phone, he hurriedly asked, "Is he married?"
“反正现在没老婆。”穆忻绕个弯，倒也实话实说。
“那不行！”张乐急赤白脸地反对，“把这么个人放在楠楠身边，太危险了！万一他俩干柴烈火了怎么办？”
“楠楠……”穆忻表情很纠结，过好久才缓过气儿来，“拜托你别这么恶心行吗？我认识她这么多年，都没这么称呼过她。再说了，万一他俩好上了也是好亊。男未婚女未嫁，关你什么亊？”
穆忻瞥一眼张乐，果然就见张乐认真皱眉思考，过会儿一拍大腿：“不行，我得去村里的警务室待着！早布控，早防范！”
“你疯了？”穆忻惊讶，“这边的活儿谁做？”
“谁爱做谁做？你们这些知识分子就是缺乏行动的勇气！”张乐说完，三两口吃完碗里的面，火烧秘股似地跑了。
诸航声转一圈进来，四处看看，纳闷地问穆忻：“张警官人呢？”
穆忻抿嘴笑，“他去掸卫革命果实了。”
褚航声琢磨一下，还是没弄明白，但穆忻不说话了，只是低头吃饭。隐约还能听到不远处的马路上农用三轮车的“突突”声，诸航声出神地想：这里，和几十公里外名店相比，衣香鬓影的商业步行街一样，其实，都是G城，都是省会。
其实，也不过几十公里，却是两个世界。就好像，几个月前，和几个月后的今天，对穆忻而言，就是两种截然不同的人生。
如今，穆忻的一天，愈发平淡无奇。
早晨八点钟照例是开例会，所长每天都有话说，都有任务布置，所长说完了是教导员，专门强调出勤情况。
“一个个的都紧张点，别那么懈怠！不知道咱所人手紧张吗？早来个三五分钟能办多少事？分局要搞规范化建设，第一个査的就是出勤。你们也看见了，局机关天天早晨用摄像头拍谁迟到，抓到就通报批评。现在整治到所里了，自己心里都得有数，谁要是害我被局里批评，我回来就拿谁开刀！”罗教导威胁，周围响起此起彼伏的笑声。
“张乐，你上午去趟丁素华家，看看她儿子有可能在哪里落脚。”所长插嘴。
张乐“嗯”一声，笑嘻嘻地捅播忻：“一块儿去？是郝慧楠他们村的，问完了中午你们吃炒鸡。”
“好啊，那我找人替我盯会儿户籍那摊儿，”穆忻突然想起什么似的，“还可以叫上我哥。”
“那你也别去了。”张乐白她一眼，穆忻笑了。
当然后来穆忻还是像小尾巴一样跟上了张乐，破捷达轰隆隆地开往下丁家村，张乐把车停在警务室门口，一路往里面溜达。
先看见一老大爷，站在田埂边扒拉西瓜秧子，张乐挥手：“大爷，看儿子呢？”
“呵呵小张啊，就你知道我心疼这些瓜，”大爷回头看看张乐，扁扁嘴，“都怪今年两太多，看把我儿子淹的。”
张乐笑嘻喀地蹲下，递给大爷一支烟，开始聊家常：西瓜今年收购价多少钱？农技站的人来过了？要是咱的西瓜也能打着商标卖就好了，这年头有身份证的都是贵族，没见阳澄湖大闸蟹那一个个恨不得连户口本一起卖吗……
穆析在旁边乐呵呵地看热闹，一边扯几根狗尾巴草编兔子，张乐聊天聊到一半，扭头看见了，大喜：“多编几个，—会儿送给村长！”
然后扭头跟大爷解释：“出门也没给咱村长带点礼物，太不讲究了……”
穆忻瞬间被这人的厚脸皮吩得差点跌到水沟里……
那个上午，两人就在下丁家村这么走走停停，不知道的还以为是逛街，沿途张乐起码跟三个大妈，四个大爷打过招呼，依次问候了对方家里房子整修，孩子上学，儿女打工等情况。并对其中一个患风湿性关节炎的大爷表示了亲切慰问，承诺要回去上网查查有没有什么偏方。快到丁素华家的时候，好远就看见一个老太太坐着敲核桃，张乐告诉穆忻，“就是他，儿子叫丁大志，三年前离开咱村，户口倒是没有迁走，据说出去打工，前阵子被通缉了，到现在还没有抓住。”
一边说一边扬声道：“大娘，敲核桃呢？我帮你。”
丁素华看看张乐，再看看身后的穆忻，咧嘴笑了：“你对象儿？”
张乐一边拿核桃一边笑：“我们同事，刚调过来，管户籍，我陪她下村转转熟悉一下，别哪次不留神迷路了。”
穆忻笑一笑不说话，也拿过核桃来敲，老太太仔细看看穆忻，突然说：“是个好姑娘，就是年轻的时候怕不顺遂。”
穆忻吓了一跳，用看神婆的目光盯着老太太看，张乐哈哈大笑，“大娘，你上次也是这么说你们村长的！”
“她也一样，”老太太拿核桃砸了一下张乐的手，“你什么时候找对象？你爹妈不急？”
“急有用吗？大娘你儿子倒是结婚了，不是也不在身边？结婚不是标志，生出孩子才保险！哦不对，你儿子在外地，生孩子也会送回来。”张乐拍拍脑袋。
“说是得送他媳妇那儿。”老太太愁眉苦脸。
“哟，还真有媳妇了？我记得……他比我小好几岁呢？”
“你是不小了，大志今年都二十四看。”
“媳妇漂亮吗？带回来过？”
“哪回来过啊！”老太太坐久了腿麻，一边捶一边抱怨，“有了媳妇忘了娘，不如他姐，连他的叔伯兄弟都比不上。”
“叔伯兄弟到底是人家的，儿子才是自己的。”张乐顺手把一个敲好的核桃仁扔到自己嘴里，被穆忻瞪了一眼。
“哎，可不能这么说，他叔伯兄弟前两天还来看我，给我送吃的，比他强。”
“他叔伯兄弟住得不远吧，远就不来了。”张乐垂着眼帘，继续敲核桃。
老太太却突然不说话了，只是埋头继续敲核桃，张乐抬头看看老太太，笑一笑，转头又笑话穆忻，“你看你那架势，怕砸着手咋的？”
两人说说笑笑又敲了半天核桃，快中午的时候张乐看看手表，对穆忻道：“走，找村长吃饭去。”
回头跟大娘告别：“走啦大娘，有什么事往所里打电话找我就行。”
老太太“嗯哼”了—声，再没有说话。
直到走出好远了，张乐才感慨：“老太太还挺警觉，看样子前些天赵旭辉他们来打听丁大志的下落把老太太给惊着了。不过这个叔伯兄弟好几年不来柱了，怎么想起来送吃的了？我看这意思应该不止送吃的，说不定还有钱……”
张乐嘀嘀咕咕地往前走，穆忻在后面晃荡着一把狗尾巴车，不紧不慢地眼着。结果还没有走到一半张乐的手机就响了，张乐掏出手机看看，五官快要皱成一堆：“这还让不让人吃饭了！”
说完了收起电话，垂头丧气地看穆忻：“走吧，去大丁洼，有人的电动车丢了，还有一户的庄稼地半夜让人毁了，一条线，一起看看。”
结果一回头看见穆忻手里的狗尾巴草兔子，张乐越发窝火。
然而让他更加暴躁的事情还在后面——距离大丁洼还有几公里的时候，汽车抛锚了，原因彪焊得让人无语：没油了。
穆忻蹲在路边，嫌张乐丢人，把草兔子往他身上扔：“开车之前不看看有没有油？”
“你说得轻松，这所里开车不都靠蒙吗？给汽车加油得自己先垫钱，猴年马月能报销还不知道，这不就得少加点油，一次加三五十块钱的，我本来琢磨着打个来回是没问题，谁知道还要跑趟大丁洼……”
呜嘎哇啦手机响，张乐接起来，没好气儿：“甭催甭催，车没油了，让赵旭辉赶紧给我送点油来！”
说完了他转身回车里拿出两瓶矿泉水，扔一瓶给穆忻，擦把汗抱怨：“这日子真没法过了。”
穆忻笑一笑，没说话。
回到派出所时已经过了中午，好在有人帮忙留了几个包子，放在微波炉里转一转，咬一口，皮厚馅小，但总算是口热饭。
穆忻刚吃两口就有人推门进来办业务，是个四十多岁的中年妇女，脸拉得老长发脾气：“我们上午就来过了，说是户籍警不在，让下午再来。不就开张死亡证明吗，这么简单的事儿还得跑两趟。”
穆忻赶紧放下包子，接过资料清点，一边听女人继续抱怨：“上班时间还外出，这在国外根本就是不可能的，逼得我飞机改签……”
穆忻多少觉得自己有点理亏，也不便反驳，只是专心上网查找，俄而“呀”地一声，扭头看中年妇女：“老人过世了吗？怎么没销户口？网上显示还健在。”
中年妇女怒了：“人都死了好几个月了，怎么'建在'？你们工作怎么做的？”
穆忻无奈：“老人过世后没有及时注销户口，所以没法开死亡证明，您得先注销户口才行。”
“怎么注销户口？”女人不耐烦。
“在医院去世的吗？那得持有医院证明……”穆忻一点点的解释，女人却愈发愤怒。
“国内真是繁琐得要死，早就让他跟我们出去，他偏不……”女人气愤地收拾好东西往外走，一边走一边骂，穆忻把脑袋埋回到电脑后，没敢再看她。
好不容易等女人走后咬了两口包子，接着又进来一个要给新生儿落户的，穆忻查点了一下证件，纳闷的问对方：“准生证上怎么少了一个章？”
对方一听就急了：“怎么会，我这就是从街道办事处领的准生证，不是造假的。”
“我知道，”穆忻手指准生证下方的一栏，“按咱区的规定，要在孩子出生后给母亲单位或者母亲户口所在地街道办事处报出生信息，信息审核通过后会由街道办在这里盖个章，拿着印章齐备的准生证才能来报户口……”
如此这般又费了一大通口舌，穆忻终于把对方送走了，这才坐回座位上，看着已经完全冷掉的包子，再没有吃的胃口。
刚好张乐出警回来，路过穆忻屋门口，笑嘻嘻地进来：“怎么了，有人欠你钱？”
穆忻没跟他犯贫，只问他：“咱这里以前发过跟户籍有关的各种'明白纸'吗？就是那种张贴在宣传栏或者随着出生证明发放的。”
“明白纸？”张乐想一想，“没有，上次发明白纸还是村两委换届的时候，我帮人发过投票规则。”
穆忻点点头，随手打开一个WORD文档，开始起草一份新生儿落户明白纸和注销户口明白纸。
张乐探头看看，伸个大拇指晃悠：“穆姐你真是勤勉。”
穆忻一边写流程，一边叹口气：“要不是今天挨了骂，我也不想干这活儿，毕竟枪打出头鸟，我还是想想过会怎么跟所长请示比较好。他要是不同意，我干了也是白干。”
“我估计所长能同意，毕竟算个政绩嘛，”张乐笑嘻嘻的，突然想起什么似的，“对了，你以前见过《犯罪成本核算》没有？”
"What it is?"
“我最近从网上看见的，也记不清是哪个地区的派出所搞了这么个玩意儿，就是拿几个案件做例子，计算误工费、医药费什么的，用数字吓唬人，让大家脑袋发热想打架之前都悠着点。这不是夏天到了吗，民事案件高发。”
“挺好的主意！”穆忻赞扬。
“估计没太大的用处，不过倒可以试试。穆姐你帮我写个呗，你也知道我小学语文没毕业。”张乐笑呵呵的，原来在这儿等着她。
穆忻笑了：“行。”
“等我给你个草稿，你帮我组织一下怎么表达，”张乐掐指算算，“上次给副所长说了，每个警务区发几份贴宣传栏的话，得个百八十份吧？”
...
窗外还是此起彼伏着农用三轮车的“突突”声，但在这间略有些空荡的办公室里，听着张乐的嘟嘟囔囔，穆忻却觉得如此平静。
虽然，有些感觉仍然陌生，但再不是最初的怨念，也不再是后来的绝望——在基层政府机关工作的第三年，她拿不准自己的心是麻木了，还是沉淀了？
到下午四点多，穆忻终于构思完了自己的“明白纸”内容，刚准备喝口水，却听见门外有人在哭。她犹豫一下，偷懒的心到底还是输给了自己的敬业精神，转身关上电脑往楼下走。然而怎么也没想到，在一楼不算大的大厅里，一个嚎啕大哭的农村妇女身后，她居然看见了杨谦。
杨谦没看见穆忻，他只是看着那个哭得粗声大嗓的妇女有些发怔。穆忻站在户籍室门口，一边看杨谦一边在心里苦笑：不知杨谦愣在那里是因为想起了自己的母亲，还是想起了从头到尾都没有大声哭过的下堂妻？他当然不会知道过去几个月里穆忻过着怎样的生活——白天，作为超级替补队员，穆忻在做好户籍工作之余还得接下领导压过来的若干杂活儿，诸如给指挥中心提交的报表、值班室要接的电话、审讯室要做的笔录甚至打字复印……放在以前她会抱怨，可现在看在能遗忘某些事的份儿上，她还挺感激自己能够如此忙碌；晚上，闲来无事时，她用全派出所唯一一台外网电脑上网，那些文艺兮兮的诗歌散文是早就没心情看了，想打发时间的时候就看看小说、看看视频，勤奋起来就浏览一些公务员考试资料，到十一点多上床，用—本《公共基础知识》培养睡意，直到困极睡着。可不知为什么，她的睡眠始终不沉，常常会梦见高考、爬山、逃跑这样让人惊醒的事，而醒来抹把冷汗，往往不过凌晨两三点。
所以，这段时间里，她还真没怎么想起过杨谦，自然也没空悼念那段被落魄事业影响的婚姻，以及被失败婚姻戕害的事业。或许，她要感谢自己一刹那的狠心——她舍弃了一个与自己血肉相连的孩子时，她既已遭受了刺骨锥心的痛楚惩罚，便同样成全了一个无牵无挂的自己。
是的，她如今，跟他杨谦，甚而杨家所有人，都没有任何牵连了。
穆忻就这么安然地走出户籍宰，丝毫不看杨谦，只是走向蹲在地上痛哭的妇女，她蹲下身，语调平和地问她：“大姐，出什么事了？”
“警官，警官，你得救救我们家军儿，他真是个好孩子，他什么也不懂，”痛哭的女人终于看见一个看上去很好说话的女警官，迫不及待抓住穆忻的手，她的手湿漉漉的，不知道是鼻涕还是眼泪，但紧紧攥着穆忻不撒手，语气急切，“警官，你得救救他，他才十六，他还小，他不懂亊儿啊！他是让人撺掇的啊！”
“怎么回事？”穆忻见问不清楚，抬头问身边站着的赵旭辉。
赵旭辉看看杨谦再看看穆忻，为难了一下才答：“她儿子偷电缆，被杨哥路过的时候抓到了，审了有一会儿了。”
穆忻却连看都没看杨谦一眼，只是心平气和地问赵旭辉：“孩子多大？”
“刚满十六，”赵旭晖叹口气，“虽然说能从轻，但好像不是第一次了，涉案金额不小。”
“不就是段电线吗，警官，我们赔，我们能赔啊！”女人一边哭一边抓住穆忻的手，使劲晃。
穆忻挣脱不出来，叹口气安慰她：“大姐，不是我不帮你，只是这电缆不是普通电线……”
她为难地看看赵旭辉，赵旭辉叹口气，接上：“是啊大姐，按《刑法》规定，破坏广播电视设施、公用电信设施，危害公共安全的，要处以三年以上七年以下有期徒刑。要是造成严重后果了，七年以上也是有可能的。”
“啊！”女人崩溃地尖叫，“怎么办啊，我怎么跟他爹交待？两个儿子交给我，我给送局子里了，怎么办啊！”
“怎么又变成两个了？”穆忻皱眉。
“她和老公是离异后再婚，那边带来个十七岁的儿子，这边是个十六岁的，”赵旭辉无奈地叹口气，“她老公在南方打工，把孩子扔在家里。这俩孩子虽然不是亲兄弟，但一直处得挺好，一起上学，一起逃学，连偷东西都搭伴。”
穆析咬咬唇，不知该说点什么好。她感觉到被面前女人握着的那只手开始哆嗦，便惊讶地扭头看看眼前的女人，只见对方已经哭得快要喘不过气。她刚想开口，没想面前的女人却猛地甩掉她的手，狠狠把她往旁边一推，转身就想往派出所的墙上撞！赵旭晖大惊失色，反应极快地一个箭步冲上前去，用自己的身体挡在女人的脑袋和墙面之间。而穆忻被那一下推得踉跄着往一边倒，却在倒下之前蓦地撞进身后的怀抱里。
只是顷刻之间，所有人都抹了一把冷汗。
撞墙失败的女人被赵旭辉紧紧箍住手腕，可是却箍不住她号啕大哭的嗓门，她一边哭一边喊：“让我死吧，用我的命换我儿子不行吗！”
穆忻愣住了，是要过了好一会儿，她才从惊愕中清醒过来，意识到自己正靠在杨谦怀里，而他的怀抱，一如既往的温暖。
穆忻轻轻站直了身体，悄无声息地离开杨谦的怀抱。杨谦略微有点失落地低头看看她，却发现她连正眼都没看自己，多少还有点气闷。赵旭辉被面前的女人哭得焦头烂额的，没顾上看另外两人的神情，只顾一路劝解着把女人往接待室里带。穆忻犹豫一下，还是快步跟上，杨谦愣愣地看着穆忻消失的背影，发了一会儿呆，最终也跟上去。
于是，那天，隔着一道玻璃窗，杨谦就看见了另外一个他从来没见过的穆忻，一个在接待室里一边给人递面巾纸一边用带有当地方言的普通话陪人絮叨的穆忻。
女人哭诉：“大妹，你不知道，养个孩子那就是养笔债啊！男人指望不上，一年才回家一次，我早晨五点就得起来给一家人做饭，等孩子上学了我得去厂里打工，赚点钱。中午下地，下午再打工。傍黑天还得回家做饭洗衣服。我一天到晚不停地干活，我哪有时间管孩子？再说我才上到小学三年级就不上了，孩子看的那些书我一句也看不懂，我也管不上孩子呀！我真是压根就不知道孩子逃学的事儿！这个小作孽的，他爹在外面挣钱累成那样，还不是为了让他有书念，别再像我们一样累死累活一辈子……”
穆忻拍拍女人的手，再递张纸：“大姐，我知道你不容易。”
“你不知道，”女人接过纸。哭得更惨了，“就那两亩果树可把我累死了，你说都是种果树的，怎么就有人的树结的果子那么多呢？苹果啊杏啊，我种的就是不如人家种的收成好。还有我家院里种了棵无花果树，年年摘的无花果都不舍得吃，拿去市里卖钱，天天坐马路边上守着，都卖完了还不够孩子那点辅导资料钱。养的鸡、收的柴鸡蛋、院子里种的扁豆、自家地头刨出来的地瓜、晒干的丝瓜瓤子，都得留着礼拜六、礼拜天去公路边等着卖给来山里玩的城里人，大妹，我都不知道该怎么说，我就这么忙活，我公公一场病，家里欠了两万多块钱的外债。又赶上孩子爸在外面打工被人骗了，说是今年能不能拿着钱还不好说，你说我可怎么办？不怕你笑，大妹，两万多块钱，在你们公家人看来觉得没啥，在我们觉得，那就是一辈子都还不清了啊！”
穆忻听得心酸，握紧女人的手：“大姐，我也是穷人家的孩子，缺钱的滋味我知道。”
见女人不相信地看着她，她苦笑：“你不信啊大姐？你别看我穿着这身制服，可也是天天为钱发愁。我爸死得早，我十几岁时他就没了。我妈下岗了，虽然是城里人，可除了有间小破房子，算是有个住的地方，