Chapter 14 Chapter 1 Work (1)

It rained for several days in a row, not the kind of continuous rain that is unique to northern Taiwan, with half rain and half fog, but a real downpour.Always near noon, the cumulus clouds all over the sky are extremely gloomy, and then condense into a water curtain and fall suddenly at lunch, and then there is still a whole afternoon of light rain. Marty never had much for lunch.As usual, the younger brother went to the school library to study early in the morning, and the father went to work earlier, leaving only Marty and his aunt at home.A few days ago, Marty had dressed up and gone out to pass the time, but the rainy weather dampened her interest.

Marty helped Auntie wipe the table, sweep the floor, and take out the trash.Most of the time, she stayed in her room, read two newspapers, and looked for work.She abandoned the standardized resume sold by the stationery store, and used ten lines of paper to create her own style, writing a resume that was half-rule and half-narrative. Marty sent out two dozen resumes. I have lost my appetite all day, but in the dead of night, the hunger is overwhelming.Marty hoarded many kinds of instant noodles, and after Auntie fell asleep, she would sneak into the kitchen to cook.In terms of family affairs, Auntie is not a perfectionist woman, but she has a selective cleanliness in the kitchen and strictly refuses anyone to get involved.Since childhood, Marty has been proficient in how to cook a bowl of silent instant noodles in the dark at midnight. The late-night supper mixed with a little rebellious flavor is really delicious, and Marty has never forgotten it for many years.

Dad's job is actually only a half-day shift.Since my father retired from the Agricultural Bureau, he asked a friend to earn a job as a transfer team member in a private bus terminal.The work is very simple. Dad starts to work on a bicycle at five o'clock in the morning. After finishing his shift at noon and eating the bento provided by the company, he goes home by bike. Just as his aunt's short nap is over, he goes to work. Sitting opposite my aunt in the living room, the two organized a small work line to do the homework that my aunt ordered—a simple button processing operation.Dad and aunt both wear glasses, they are very skillful and silent with their hearts and hands united.

They kept Marty out of the affair.My aunt said, "I don't need your help. I'm a vulgar worker. I don't make much money." Marty hoped to find a job as soon as possible, and then rent a room to move out according to the location of the job. It's best to have some spare money for Dad on a regular basis.There has been no response to the resumes sent out, and it has only been a few days. Marty knows it is still early, and she also knows that the chances of waiting for a response seem to be slim.A woman in her thirties has been changing jobs in a wide range of fields, but she has never accumulated impressive achievements in any job. People dare not take it lightly, and she does not dare to use jobs that are too basic Willing to be low.In recent years, resumes have become longer and longer, but job opportunities have become increasingly slim.

In the bathroom Marty scrubbed his hands and face with cold water and picked the hair off the floor.Auntie was afraid of hair, especially Marty's long hair that fell on the floor.In the past, my aunt used to clean the floor with an expression of repelling snakes and scorpions. After sweeping, people easily became angry. After drying her cheeks, Marty walked out of the bathroom, and saw her father putting down the processed products, pushing the small bench and walking towards her.Auntie looked at Dad behind her back through reading glasses. "Marty, do you want to go for a walk together?" Pa asked.

"Well, that's fine. It doesn't seem to be raining today." "No more." The father and daughter walked in the alley in the afternoon, the sun was very strong, and the alley was immersed in tranquility.The bottom of the alley leads to a concrete and small community park with a few banyan trees and concrete benches, which is where they go for a walk. "Marty, are you used to living here?" "Very good, but I'm worried that I'll trouble Auntie." "Nothing. Oh, how can you say that you are also the daughter of our Ma family, so don't think about it. Huh?"

"Ok." They sat down on a bench in the small park.The school hadn't had summer vacation yet, and there were only a few preschool children squatting together in the small park, digging dirt and playing with great concentration.It seems that they are all four or five years old, which is Dad's favorite age for children. Dad's smiling eyes follow the small figure of the young child. "Dad was thinking a few years ago, why don't you hurry up and have a baby. When the baby comes, you'll be busy with things, so you can be more stable. Don't you think so?"

here we go again.Dad and Fang's parents-in-law's favorite argument is "to be busy with things", as if Marty's life has always been deviant, decadent and unrestrained, as if not having a regular job to stabilize his schedule is a kind of mental illness.Marty didn't answer. She knew that Dad was just talking casually. After talking for so many years, he got too used to it. Dad took off his reading glasses and held them in his hands. "How did you find a job?" "Sent some resumes. Don't worry, Dad, I think I'll find a job soon." On the subject, Marty felt more sympathy for Dad than for himself. "I don't want to be home every day, either. It's delicious and lazy. Dad, when I start working, I'll find a place to move out. I've thought about everything, so don't worry, okay?"

Dad's eyes looked so empty. He looked at the young children playing and remained silent for a long time.