Chapter 9 Chapter nine

Jiaqi has the first ring in her life, a small platinum ring, without any pattern, just the simplest and most plain appearance.Because it was not a famous brand, and the price of gold was quite cheap at that time, it only cost a few hundred yuan, and Meng Heping bought it with his own subsidy.It turned out that he went to buy this in the afternoon, and he put it on her finger. Her fingers were very slender. The size recommended by the clerk in the jewelry store to Meng Heping was still a little too big. No, I'll take it to the store and change it, they say it can be changed." Jiaqi shook her head: "I want this, just wrap it with woolen yarn."

Meng Heping said, "That's not pretty." Jiaqi smiled brightly: "I don't want to look good, I just want this." She wrapped the ring with red wool for half a circle. It was not very good-looking, like the gold ring worn by the old lady in the past.In his hometown of Dongpu Ancient Town, Jiaqi often saw the old man sitting on a wicker chair by the river basking in the sun, squinting his eyes and listening to Shaoxing opera on the radio.The old lady's face is full of wrinkles and silver hair, and she wears a blackened gold ring on her finger, which has been wrapped with woolen yarn, even the woolen yarn has been soaked in too much time and dust.But Jiaji likes it very much, it is a lifetime that lasts forever, no matter how many wars and injuries, it is still preserved and becomes a memory of time, as if it is eternal.

Jiaqi never knew about the stalemate in Meng Heping's family. He only knew that he changed to another company for an internship. He worked very hard and never had time to rest. Once she thought of it and asked him: "Why don't you go back to Shenyang recently?" Meng Heping was eating beef vermicelli. His cheeks have become thinner recently. Jiaqi looked at him with some distress. He just buried his head in the vermicelli: "I'm tired, I don't want to go back." He was really tired, because he was always spinning when he was working overtime because he was doing technical work.Two months later, I switched to another company. I didn’t formally sign a contract, but the salary was slightly higher. Because I couldn’t live in the school dormitory after graduation, I rented a house in the neighborhood near the company.

When he moved on Saturday, Jiaqi helped him clean up. The two folded newspapers into hats and put them on their heads to cover up the ashes.Jiaqi was in charge of cleaning up the sundries, while Meng Heping was in charge of cleaning the walls. Standing on a stool, he took a broom and tied a feather duster to wipe away the dust hanging in the corner. The Painter", Jiaqi remembered that she had learned this song in kindergarten, and couldn't help smiling secretly. Both of them were exhausted that day, and when they finally cleaned up the house, they were really exhausted. Jiaqi slumped on the sofa and lamented: "I really don't want to get up." It was just hungry, so hungry that the two of them woke up at noon. I only ate a little bread and continued to work, and now I am so hungry that my chest is pressed against my back.

Although tired, Meng Heping was still in high spirits when he saw the bright mirror-like floor tiles and the small but well-equipped kitchen: "Let me cook noodles for you." Jiaqi shouted: "Don't!" The last time he soaked instant noodles, the water didn't boil, and the noodles were all hard. From then on, Jiaqi refused any food he cooked.She rubbed her sore knee, and ran into the kitchen to order the noodles. The oil, salt, sauce, and vinegar were not complete, and the cooked noodles were raw. She put the noodles on the table, and when she looked back, Meng Heping was already sleeping on the sofa. caught.

He looked good when he was asleep, with a straight nose, but his brows were slightly frowned.She cautiously stretched out her fingers to smooth the eyebrows.Unexpectedly, he raised his face and kissed her finger. It turned out that he had woken up. She was tickled and giggled. He hugged her and kissed her deeply. The noodles were unpalatable, but he ate them in big gulps, and praised her: "Boiling white noodles is so delicious, my wife is really good at cooking." Dissatisfied with the wedding: "Who is your wife?" He smiled very firmly: "It must be in the future, and it will always be."

Although both of them are busy, she can only occasionally come over to cook a meal for him and clean up the house, but the time together is always precious.In August, Meng Heping's company organized employee activities, and went to a scenic spot in the suburbs for rafting and barbecues. Each person could bring a family member.There was a lot of laughter and chatter on the bus, all young people, like a group of elementary school students going on a spring outing, the atmosphere was lively and lively.The tour guide who followed the car was a dark young man with a very poor mouth. He showed his white teeth when he grinned, like an advertisement for toothpaste for black people.Shortly after getting off the expressway, I turned onto the special highway for the scenic spot, but the timing was unlucky. Just in time for this road to be repaired, the road surface was full of potholes, and the bus was shaking, and someone shouted: "What's wrong with this road? It's like a pockmark, big and small, almost shaking my intestines out."

As a result, the young tour guide smiled and said: "Misters and ladies, the road we are taking now is the famous and charming Dimple Avenue." Before he could finish speaking, the wheels ran over a big stone, and there was a muffled sound, and the vehicle body After another violent bump, someone asked, "Then what is this?" The guide didn't change his face: "This is a cute little Huya." This time, everyone in the car burst into laughter, and Jiaqi laughed too. Meng Heping turned his face. Through the car window, the summer sun slanted on his face, and his long eyelashes were coated by the sun. Fluffy gold circle.He took the opportunity to kiss her secretly, but the car ran over a rock again, and he just hit her nose.She couldn't help laughing, and he smiled in her ear and said, "Cute little Huya."

His breath tickled her ears, blowing the broken hair on her neck. The weather was fine that day, and Jiaqi always thought that her whole life would be like that day, with the sun shining brightly and the sky clear, and Meng Heping was by her side, holding her hand forever. During the barbecue, everyone was already familiar with each other. She was called "Meng Heping's family" by others. She said that other people were also so-and-so's family members. A group of family members roasted corn and beef on the river beach, and there were many crispy chicken wings, which was unexpected Surprisingly, Meng Heping's grilled chicken wings were surprisingly delicious. She thought he had no cooking talent at all.That day, Jiaqi ate a lot of chicken wings and drank a lot of beer, which shocked all the colleagues in Meng Heping Company.Even Lao Liu, the marketing manager who has gone through the "alcohol test", was shocked by her, and immediately nicknamed her "Beer Family".

So many years later, when I met this manager Liu at a business dinner, he could recognize her at a glance: "Oh, you are the beer family. I don't drink this wine today, I can't drink it. There is a peerless master Here, I really can't drink." Jiaqi smiled, the other party was an old Jianghu, and during the dinner, they chatted happily, except for this sentence, and never mentioned anything else, let alone Meng Heping. After that day, Jiaqi realized that she actually missed it very much, the day when she was called a "family member". Because everything was good then, because it was Meng Heping.

Meng Heping actually loved her very much and always called her a silly girl. He always thought of many things for her in advance, even Xu Shifeng was very puzzled: "Meng Heping is a good person, Jiaqi, why did you give up?" Jiaqi smiled, but her expression was in a daze. Looking at the tree outside the window, whether it was still green in the past, but the tree is still like this, how embarrassing for people. Xu Shifeng felt worried, and asked, "Jiaqi, did you have any misunderstanding with Meng Heping?" There is no misunderstanding, he accompanied her home during the Chinese New Year, with big bags and small bags, the train during the Spring Festival travel season was packed like sardine cans, and it took more than ten hours to arrive. Meng Heping was not at all tired, taking care of her and Luggage out of the station, everything is in order. He has always been careful in doing things, and with him in everything, Jiaqi always feels that she can rely on her and rest assured. Meng Heping gave You Mingyuan a pair of cigarettes as a meeting gift, and Jiaqi thought it funny when he saw him take them out: "What kind of cigarettes are these? Why are there no trademarks or anything? They are pasted with white paper?" Meng Heping smiled: "I said I wanted to see my uncle. A friend asked someone to get it from a tobacco factory for me. I heard it was good tobacco." You Mingyuan looked at the cigarette, then at Meng Heping, and took it without making a sound. The reunion dinner was cooked by three people together. Originally, You Mingyuan didn’t let them into the kitchen, but Jiaqi insisted on helping his father, and Heping also put on an apron with a smile. So the three of them cooked together, and it was You Mingyuan As the chef, Jiaqi and Heping are assistants.Jiaqi chopped shallots very quickly, and the chopping board thumped, and she smiled peacefully: "Look at this posture is enough to bluff." Jiaqi didn't even lift her head: "It's not as bluffing as you play the piano." You Mingyuan, who was busy frying rice cakes, asked casually, "Can Heping play the piano?" Jia Qi said: "It's pretty good, at least I can't hear it badly." Heping said: "When I was a child, I hated practicing the piano the most, because at that time practicing the basic skills of fingering was the most boring. My mother is like this sometimes, always thinking that she is doing it for my own good." Jiaqi asked: "Isn't Auntie a singer? Why do you have to be forced to practice the piano?" Heping said: "I can't learn to sing "Come in February" from her. My mother said that boys are good at playing the piano and can cultivate temperament." You Mingyuan's hand holding the spatula stopped suddenly, the rice cake sizzled in the pot, and the oily smoke choked up, Jiaqi couldn't help asking: "Dad, what's wrong?" You Mingyuan said: "It's okay." He was busy filling up the rice cakes and frying other dishes. The Spring Festival Gala is still like a hodgepodge, and the TV is turned on just for the excitement.Meng Heping had a good appetite and ate a lot of stewed meat with dried plums and vegetables. Jiaqi taught him to eat pickled amaranth stalks. The jelly-like stalks in the middle are the most delicious.Meng Heping followed her example and sucked up the stalk meat with a bang, which was very interesting.The three of them drank two pots of real good wine, and You Mingyuan didn't know why he didn't talk much. Jiaqi thought, maybe it's because his father drank a little too much wine, and he became more silent when he drank. At twelve o'clock, firecrackers from far and near have already sounded. The so-called "early firecrackers and early fortune" is also considered a folk custom.Jiaqi's house also set off firecrackers, wrapped them with long bamboo poles, and stretched out the window to light them. Meng Heping volunteered to set off firecrackers. Jiaqi covered his ears and poked his head out to see.The wind hurts a little on the face.And the window of the house on the other side of the small river was also setting off firecrackers. In the darkness, small groups of golden flames could be seen, flickering and exploding into the dark night. Meng Heping felt fresh, everything was like returning to his childhood, the Chinese New Year was so colorful and bright, and he hadn't celebrated the New Year like this for many years.He held the bamboo pole with one hand, and plugged his ears with the other. He closed his mouth exaggeratedly to her who was also covering her ears. She watched for a long time before realizing that he said those three words.Smiling and exaggerating, he closed his mouth and said three words. The firecrackers were still going off vigorously. He refused to obey, and raised his voice: "Hey, you just sent me away with a happy new year?" Her voice was caught in the firecrackers far and near: "We should say happy new year when we celebrate the new year, and isn't it just three words?" "no the same." Jiaqi pretended to be stupid anyway: "Whatever is different, it is the same." On the morning of the first day of the lunar new year, I have to eat Fuju. The big red oranges are sour and cool. When eating during the festival, I tear off a small piece of the orange peel and put it in the charcoal fire. The room is full of fragrance.It's just that they have to catch the train back in the afternoon.You Mingyuan packed the luggage for Jiaqi, but in fact there was nothing to pack, just put some food on the left and right.After graduating from university, there were no winter and summer vacations, and the days back were so short. Jiaqi had been dependent on her father since she was a child, and she also felt very sad, and said softly, "Dad, don't do it." A cigarette came, and he smoked dully. Meng Heping thought he was worried about himself, so he called "Uncle" and said, "Please rest assured, I will take care of you during the happy period." He looked very sincere, "Now we are both graduated, as long as we work hard, It won't be long before I can buy a house and get married. Uncle, I will treat Jiaqi well, love her dearly, prevent her from being wronged, and let her live happily all her life." You Mingyuan didn't say anything. Jiaqi softly called her father, You Mingyuan put out the cigarette, and lovingly touched her face: "Silly girl." Father's palms are wide and warm, with thin calluses on the palms, and the unique aroma of tobacco on the fingertips.Jiaqi felt sad because she made her father worry about her. Meng Heping has been refusing to go home, and Jiaqi has persuaded him countless times, but he is always silent.Before the new year, Jiaji advised him to go home anyway. After all, it was Chinese New Year. Meng Heping said, "I will accompany you back to Shaoxing." Jiaqi said, "You go back to Shenyang first, and I will come after the new year." Fuck, Jiaqi almost broke his tongue, but in the end he couldn't resist him, so he had to say: "You can accompany me back to Shaoxing, but before you go to Shaoxing, you have to go back to Shenyang to see your uncles and aunts. How can you be so angry with your parents?" Heping was still silent, and Jiaqi was almost soft-spoken, and finally got angry: "If you don't go back to Shenyang, you don't have to go back to Shaoxing with me." Meng Heping sighed: "After returning from Shaoxing, I will go back to Shenyang, okay?" He looked really tired, and Jiaqi couldn't persuade him to go back to Shenyang first, so there was nothing he could do.Fortunately, as soon as she rushed back from Shaoxing, she forced Meng Heping to transfer directly to Shenyang at the train station. It's just that Jiaqi didn't expect to see Meng Heping's mother, and the car was parked downstairs in her company's dormitory. Just after getting off the train, she was still carrying big bags and small bags, and she saw Meng Heping's mother get off the car, she was startled for a moment, and called out politely: "Auntie." "What about peace?" "He came home." Meng Heping's mother said coldly: "He hasn't been home for half a year, not even on New Year's Eve, but he went back home today." Jiaqi was silent, and Meng Heping's mother said, "Get in the car, I have something to tell you." Jiaqi said: "Auntie, if you have something to say, just say it." Meng Heping's mother asked coldly, "Do you know where your mother is now?" Jiaqi's heart twitched, the convenience bag in her hand was too heavy, and she had already pulled it between her fingers when she rolled her mouth tightly. Meng Heping's mother raised her face slightly, and said in a contemptuous tone, "Get in the car, I have something to tell you." Jiaqi plucked up her courage and looked straight into her eyes: "Auntie, thank you for your kindness. Although I really want to see my mother, I don't think this is the most appropriate time, and I don't want to disturb her life , and please, don’t disturb her life. Because she must know nothing about me and Meng Heping, it’s none of her business. I didn’t do anything wrong with Meng Heping, if you don’t like Me, maybe it’s because I’m not good enough to meet your requirements. But Meng Heping and I love each other sincerely, and I will try my best to make you like me, not because of anything else, just because you are his mother. You I love Heping selflessly, and I love him the same. I hope you can give me and Meng Heping a chance to make us happy." After a long while, Meng Heping's mother smiled: "Speaking is better than singing, don't expect happiness in this life. Happiness? Do you think you can give Heping happiness?" Jiaqi is neither humble nor overbearing: "He loves me, and I love him too. We are happy together." Meng Heping’s mother still smiled lightly: “If you want to be happy selfishly, you can continue to cling to Heping. Let me tell you, Heping was originally admitted to the scholarship just for you. The plan was abandoned. His father was very angry at what he did. Why did he change three jobs in half a year? It was because of you. You love him, and if you love him, don’t implicate him. You keep saying you love peace, and you can give peace What? Do you know who your mother is? She gave birth to you, left you with a little hooligan, and got divorced again. You don't want to see her, do you know what she looks like now? She's always Hanging out with a group of drug addicts, what would she do for drugs? She is a frequent visitor to the drug rehabilitation center and police station, going in and out frequently. When an acquaintance at the Guangdong Public Security Bureau mentioned her to me, they used one word to describe her , shameless. I really didn’t expect that your family has a long history, even though you mother and daughter haven’t seen each other for more than 20 years, you are really the same thing, just caring about your own selfishness.” Jiaqi was trembling all over, she didn't know whether it was anger or anxiety, she didn't know, she didn't know that her mother had been in such an embarrassing life all these years, she always thought she was happy, she didn't hate her for abandoning herself back then, if she was Happy, but Meng Heping's mother's every word is like a sharp knife, gouging out her heart. Her voice was also trembling, but there was a strange light in her eyes: "Auntie, if you want to humiliate me in this way, then you are wrong. I don't feel any shame, there are indeed many people in this world People are unhappy, and many people are miserable, but it's not all their own fault. Maybe they did something wrong, but you, don't you ever do anything wrong? I don't know what peace is The sacrifices I made, he didn't tell me about the scholarship, but no matter what decision he made, he had his own reasons. I love him, trust him, and no matter what he does, I will support him."