Chapter 2 A Midsummer's Dream

Lingling woke up from her afternoon nap and could clearly hear the conversation between her mother and aunt in the sitting room. The mother said: "...some girls are born with a good life. They don't have to suffer a little bit. They are like little princesses at home. After they get married and officially crowned, their children are obedient and they live a smooth life." The aunt just laughed a few times and didn't answer. "It's a pity that our two sisters don't have such a blessing." Lingling turned on one side on the bed, neither making a sound nor getting up.

Father died early.As a widow, the mother has a long distance from her fate. She listened to her mother's words: "Our two sisters have finally tasted the ups and downs." As a career woman, Auntie is already a new middle-aged woman, feeling frustrated, and has no intention of getting married. Auntie finally spoke, "They say you are good-looking, and I am capable, but they are all like a tortoise." Lingling's mother smiled, "Here, eat this fried rice cake." Auntie said, "I'm really worried about Lingling." Lingling immediately pricked up her ears.

The mother sighed, "Why worry so much, people's luck is unpredictable," she complained, "There is no proof, it has nothing to do with appearance and qualifications, and it is often the smart and good-looking women who suffer the most .” The aunt said: "The new women think differently." "What's the difference? They're all made of flesh and blood." "They don't take marriage that seriously." "It's because it's hard to find a partner. The men on the market are getting more and more wretched and incompetent." Lingling couldn't help smiling when she heard this, admiring her mother's careful observation.

"My daughter is only twenty years old, so worrying so early is too much." "A beautiful woman grows old at the flick of a finger, and she is youthful in an instant, and it will be the end of spring all at once." Lingling was in a daze. "Really," the aunt said, "how did we become middle-aged?" The two sisters went to the terrace, and Lingling could no longer hear their conversation. She got up, went to the bathroom to wash her face, and brushed her fluffy hair.In the future, they were so worried about her future. Lingling played a game called flying chess when she was a child. Every move seems simple, but in fact there are lines in every step, which is very related to the success or failure of the final game.

The same is true of being a human being. If you pass through the labyrinth, turning left or right at the beginning has already determined the direction of the road ahead. Thinking of this, Lingling's forehead was sweating. It would be nice if someone would give some pointers. According to legend, the maze is an abyss, and if you fall, you will be smashed to pieces. Lingling has seen this kind of people before. One mistake broke their hearts. On the outside, they still wear bright makeup and bright clothes, but their souls have been shaken in the dark, and they are no longer a complete person.

The road of life is lonely, you should go right, and if you make a mistake, you will be surrounded by laughing people. Lingling was still leaning on the bed with her arms under her head, meditating alone. After two years, I will graduate, and I will start to play the first step of chess. If you find a government job, the people and things you encounter must be dull, but safe and reliable. Going outside, of course, will give you a greater sense of satisfaction, but the risk will be greater. Lingling asked herself: How should I go? She thought of a scholar in ancient times who fell on the table and had a dream of a yellow beam, and Zhuangzi, who dreamed that he was transformed into a butterfly. After waking up, because he saw the truth of the world, he walked into the mountains and became a scholar. , do not ask common things.

Lingling has a problem. Whenever she thinks about serious things, she becomes dizzy and very tired. She picked up a fashion magazine and flipped through it. "Lingling." Someone called her. Lingling raised her head. who?It was not my mother's voice, nor my aunt's. "Lingling." She turned around and found a young woman standing at the door of the room. She was dressed fashionable and looked familiar. It was strange, where had she seen her before? Lingling put down the magazine politely and smiled politely, "Which aunt are you?" The young woman smiled, "My surname is Zhou."

Lingling was taken aback, her surname was also Zhou. "Are you my mother's friend?" It turned out that there were guests outside. She sat down gently, "I am her best friend and your bosom friend." Lingling smiled, this aunt is very cute. "I know why you're worried," she said. "Really?" Lingling asked, "You know?" "For a lifetime event, isn't it?" "Yes." Lingling blurted out. "Drill it in advance, you can get a little experience." "How about a drill?" "follow me." "Where are you going?"

"Go to the set, remember, Lingling, everything is fake, if you don't like it, call Aunt Zhou, and I will come to rescue you." Lingling had never heard of such a strange thing, and she couldn't help asking: "Is the plot the same as the real thing?" "It's incredible, it's terrible." "Where is the set?" "Close your eyes and I'll take you there." The childlike Lingling felt that this game was too much fun, so she immediately closed her eyes. After a while, Aunt Zhou said, "You can open your eyes." Lingling browsed around quickly.

She found herself in a luxurious mansion, furnished in her favorite style and color. Lingling has a feeling that she is married and her husband is very financially well-off and has everything that one expects. She wears a sparkling sapphire ring on the ring finger of her left hand and wears an expensive suit. The servants shuttled around as if they were preparing a banquet, Lingling heard someone say: "This is my wife's 28th birthday, we must celebrate it well." What, twenty-eight years old, Lingling thought blankly, where did the years go? She went out onto the terrace, and the whole azure harbor lay before her eyes.

Living such a comfortable life, I don't know how many people will be envious, mothers and aunts can rest assured. But why, Lingling thought, why was she feeling sad in her heart? The maid came over and said, "Ma'am, listen to the phone." Lingling answered the phone, and she called out a name: "Is it Jiajun?" "Lingling, there are Japanese guests arriving at the port today. I have to greet them. I won't be home until about nine o'clock." Lingling was anxious, "But the guests here will come at seven o'clock." "They are all acquaintances, you greet them first." "Jiajun, once a year, please give me some face." Lingling begged. There was silence for a while: "I will try my best to arrive early." After that, he hung up the phone. Lingling's tears welled up in her eyes. No, no, it's not a Japanese guest, this is Jiajun's mistress Mimi Ouyang. This woman finds out all the important anniversaries, pesters Jiajun, and opposes the wife his famous matchmaker is marrying. Lingling covered her face, fine clothes and gourmet food could not feed her haggard heart, but she still had to force a smile, greet relatives and friends, and spend the most embarrassing night, if she knew she would not put on such a show. She lowered her head. The guests arrived quickly one by one. They all praised her endlessly: "Lingling, your set of jewelry is really speechless." "Lingling, you have everything by yourself, and you don't leave any of your beauty, wealth and wisdom to us." "Lingling, how long does it take to be you?" Lingling had to cheer up to laugh, chat, and socialize with this group of guests. Jia Junzhi hadn't arrived yet when he was seated. The guests were a little bit puzzled, but they didn't make a sound. The characteristics of modern people are indifferent, reserved and generous. Why pursue it?Can't help her again. When the banquet was over, Jia Jun came back in a hurry. He obviously drank too much wine. His once handsome face was now covered with fat. He loosened his tie and widened his chin, and waved goodbye to the guests. Lingling looked at him quietly. This night was like a mess, he ruined himself and his wife. Just when Lingling thought he was going to bed, he changed into a clean shirt and went out again. Lingling couldn't bear it anymore and asked him, "Where are you going?" A car horn blares outside the window. Lingling leaned over the window and saw Mimi Ouyang sitting in a blood-red convertible, waving towards the upstairs unscrupulously. Lingling was heartbroken. She sat on the edge of the bed, and Tong Jiajun said, "You must go out?" Jia Jun smiled and took his coat, "Take care of your baby and don't think about it." Lingling suddenly remembered that she was already three months pregnant. Jia Jun flew downstairs, as if he couldn't wait another minute. Lingling fell on the bed, clenched her hands, she really couldn't handle it, she didn't want to stay in this mansion any longer, she shouted "Aunt Zhou, save me". "Lingling, Lingling." Someone pushed her. Lingling found herself in tears. But she had left that horrible place, she was still lying in her little bed, it was just a simulation. Lingling still had lingering fear, "It's too scary." Aunt Zhou teased her: "I don't know how many women yearn for this kind of life." "The price is astonishing." "It's just that you can't see it. I know some wives are so sophisticated that they can play cards with their husband's girlfriend and go shopping and laugh." "What, even the minimum human dignity is gone." Aunt Zhou looked at Lingling, "You have no stretching ability at all." "yes." "Well, let's try another form of life." Lingling said: "I'm not afraid of being poor, but being poor with dignity." Aunt Zhou smiled. Lingling let out a breath, "I'm ready." She automatically closed her eyes. She felt Auntie Tong push her and said softly "Go!" Lingling slowly opened her eyes. "Okay, okay, wake up." Someone cheered. Lingling saw his face clearly, "Jia Jun?" Jiajun held her hand tightly, and this time, he played a simple young man. "Where am I?" "You just came home from the hospital and fell asleep exhausted." "What's wrong with me?" "No illness, you just became a mother." Lingling felt a sharp pain, "Where's the baby?" "it's here." Lingling saw a little fluffy round head, she hugged him quickly, the little guy was waving his fists, with exquisite facial features, suddenly burst into tears. Lingling laughed. Jia Jun said, "I'm going to work." "What time is it?" "This month, I will earn a little more from the night shift." "Jia Jun, this is really not an option, I should also find a job." "Who will take care of the children? You have a good rest." Rest? The dirty clothes in the simple small apartment piled up like a mountain. Lingling got out of bed, went to the kitchen and found that there was nothing to eat. Suddenly the doorbell rang, and Lingling went to open the door. A middle-aged woman came in, her eyes were like copper bells, and she said in a nagging voice, "It's not my job. I just came here for a day or two because I saw you were unattended. .” Who is this, heh, it's Jiajun's mother. At this moment the child began to cry again. It was unbelievable that such a small human voice could be so loud. The woman still complained to herself: "I don't agree with this marriage at all..." Lingling returned to the room, brushed her hair, "Aunt Zhou, you made a mistake, I won't be willing to spend the rest of my life here." Lingling heard Aunt Zhou's laughter like a silver bell. Lingling hurriedly said, "Hey, Aunt Zhou, don't be joking." The woman came in and continued to express her opinion: "Don't think that if you come from a better background, you can be arrogant when you come to my house. I don't take this kind of thing, tell you, to be our daughter-in-law──" "Aunt Zhou, help me." Lingling went back to her bedroom again. Aunt Zhou said, "Lingling, you can't take it in half an hour." Lingling was angry, "It's so contemptuous of people, how did you put me in such a situation." "A simple and simple family, monogamous and monogamous, it's very standard." "No no no," Lingling shook her head wildly. "Ah, I see. Your servant is a maid, a driver, two cars, and an annual salary of one million plus housing allowance." "How do you know?" Aunt Zhou was angry and funny, "Of course I know, you are me, and I am you." Lingling didn't understand. "Don't you feel it's a pity to come back so soon? Your husband loves and respects you so much, and the child is so cute." "Really, that little boy couldn't be more interesting." "You see, if you can't endure hardship, you can't get the joy of parenting." "It's too bitter. Such a mother-in-law still hates me all the time. The poorer she is, the worse she is." Aunt Zhou couldn't help laughing, which made Lingling embarrassed. She asked: "Why do you insist on me relying on men? I have my own skills, I can go out into the world, and do a good job." "That kind of life is not easy." "Auntie has achieved outstanding results." "Your aunt has been struggling for more than 20 years, and she knows herself when she is bitter." "I see her ordering the world, who dares not to obey." "Would you like to try it?" "Wait," Lingling learned well, "I don't want to start from scratch." "what?" "I don't want to go through a difficult stage and play a small role to climb up. This time I will be a big star as soon as I appear on the stage." Aunt Zhou nodded, "I understand, you are already a successful person from the beginning." "right!" "Lingling, your attitude is very open to question." "Hey, it's just a game, not real." "If it's true, how do you deal with it?" Lingling was a little sad, "If it's true, in any difficult situation, I have to go through it day by day." Aunt Zhou laughed again. In her eyes, Lingling is naive and ignorant, but she is innocent, straightforward and cute, worthless but very desirable. "Successful people, eh?" "yes." "Okay, I'll let you try that flavor." Lingling opened her eyes. Marble desk, leather back chair, the huge office is silent, Lingling sits on the chair with dignity like a queen. Sitting opposite her were her three right-hand men. Everyone seems to have encountered an extremely difficult problem and cannot solve it. This meeting has been held for some time. Lingling said: "Someone betrayed us." Vice President Stephen said: "It's the Australian Gang." Lingling sighed, "Now the British trust them and promote them. We seem to have only two ways to go." Everyone is silent. Lingling said: "One is to try hard, and the other is to retreat with honor." Charles, the assistant to the general manager, was very angry, "The Australian gang took all the credit for us, and you want me to retire quietly like this? It would be better to call me dead." "Everyone calm down." "This situation cannot be reversed in three or two years. It is our precious time to waste our precious time with them. I do not agree to stay." Charles said. Lingling said, "Well said." She turned her head to look at Amanda, her deputy general manager. "And you." "We seem to be forgetting one very important thing." "What?" Lingling asked. "Life." Lingling smiled, "Amanda, I don't believe anyone in this room is worried about life." Unexpectedly, no one in the room made a sound. Amanda said: "To be honest, I am a widow with two children who are studying abroad and the expenses are huge. This job is bread and butter for me. If I can't find a better job elsewhere , I had to stay." Lingling was taken aback. Amanda said frankly: "I have no savings." Lingling said, "I heard that the Australian Gang had contacted you." "They want to transfer me to the authority group." "What about the salary?" "High fifty percent." There was commotion in the room. Lingling was shocked. In this way, as long as Amanda agrees to nod, the salary is already higher than her. This is an individual attack trick used by the enemy. "Your decision?" Lingling asked. "The choice is too obvious, Lingling, I believe you will forgive me." Lingling was at a loss for a second, and then calmed down. Amanda added: "If everyone waits patiently for a few more days, the company must make arrangements." Lingling pretended not to care and said, "The company seems to only want to deal with one person: Zhou Lingling." The three subordinates quickly watched her. Amanda said honestly: "Yes, we are all unfortunate people involved." Lingling knew that the factional struggle was doomed. "I have decided to leave. Anyone who has crossed the federation with me please notify me within three days." Charles stood up, "I can give you the answer now, I will live and die with Zhou Lingling." "Okay, okay." Lingling nodded. There are gains and losses, and this battle is not an ugly loss. "The meeting is dismissed." The two boys went out, and Amanda came over and said, "Lingling──" "I don't want to listen, please go." "Lingling, either friend or enemy, this is your usual style." "Please go out, the door is over there." Amanda had to leave. Lingling felt more tired than ever. She was so tired that she could hardly keep her eyes open. After passing one mountain after another, one pass after another, there is never a chance to rest, and you will always climb up, because there is no way back, and there are pursuers ahead. She finally picked up her briefcase, opened the door and went out. After falling downstairs, the driver Lao Wang drove the car over and let her board. Lingling rested her head on the car seat cushion for comfort. "Miss Zhou, is there a car available at night?" "What time is it?" "It's half past seven." It's so late, I haven't tried to get off work before 7 o'clock in the past one or two years. "It's my little girl's birthday today, so I want to get off work early." Old Wang said. "You can leave after you send me home." "Thank you Miss Zhou." "you are welcome." After another month or two, he will carry another general manager. Lingling sighed deeply.When she got home, she quickly poured out a glass of whiskey and drank it with ice.The phone rang and Lingling knew who it was. "Jiajun, I'll be waiting for you." There seems to be an indescribable difficulty there. "You can't come?" "Mother-in-law suddenly appeared tonight." Lingling smiled wryly, "The old lady is more important than me?" "She's my child's grandmother." "Yes, you are the father of the child, and your wife is the mother of the child. Everything is for the child, the child is innocent, the child is innocent, 'Lingling, you don't want to compete with the child', all these are your usual skills." "Lingling," Jia Jun was displeased, "what's wrong with you?" Lingling was surprisingly resentful. When she was a wife, her husband was a standard lover, but when she was a lover, her boyfriend was a standard father. No matter what, Zhou Lingling will always be the loser. "Are you coming or not?" "Not today." "You can do whatever you want." "Lingling, we agreed: the most important thing is to maintain a civilized relationship, neither to delay nor owe, nor to dominate, nor to occupy, but to live with the situation." Lingling dropped the phone. She went to bed.After tossing and turning, I finally opened the drawer and took out the bottle of sleeping pills... "Aunt Zhou, save me back." With a spin, Lingling came back like the previous few times, and Aunt Zhou was looking at her. Lingling asked anxiously, "I didn't commit suicide, did I?" "How come, get up tomorrow and be a good man again, and start fighting again." "Oh my God." "Well, no life is easy to live, it's full of helplessness and sighs." "I see." Aunt Zhou looked at her with a half-smile, "Understood?" "Yes, this road is really difficult to walk." Aunt Zhou said: "Each road has to be walked through it with perseverance." "By the way, who are you?" "Who am I? Guess." "How do you know magic?" Aunt Zhou just laughed. Lingling felt more and more like a person. Looking at her, Lingling suddenly said: "If it weren't for your slightly higher nose bridge, I think you look exactly like me, only more than ten years older." Aunt Zhou touched her nose with her hand, "The bridge of the nose has been repaired." "What?" Lingling was taken aback. "You still don't know, Lingling? I am you, and you are me." Lingling was confused, and jumped up from the bed, "You are me? Don't be kidding, how could I see myself, hey, don't go." Aunt Zhou, no, the young woman Zhou Lingling walked towards the gate, turned her head and smiled at the young girl Zhou Lingling, and opened the door to leave. "Don't go, don't go." "Lingling, Lingling, wake up, wake up." Lingling was sweating profusely, waving her hands, "Don't go, don't go." "I'm going to have dinner here, how do I get there?" Lingling finally woke up. Her aunt said with a smile: "Such a big fashion magazine is pressing on the chest, of course it is a nightmare." Lingling's eyes widened, dream? Not really.The red sun was hot outside the window, and she had a daydream. It turned out that he had just woken up from his nap. What a strange dream, but it is quite educational. Lingling got up from the bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face. "Where's mom?" "Drying clothes on the terrace, hurry up and help." "coming." What a weird dream.