Rebirth Night Talk

Chapter 18

After returning home from the hospital, Zhao Xuejun lived near the window in the back kitchen. This is the life center of the whole family, so it is more convenient to take care of him.

One night, when Zhao Xuejun got up to pee, his mother was so frightened that his hairs stood on end when he was hiding something on the beam.Gao Juzi gestured to her son to be quiet, and she tiptoed off to sleep after hiding.Zhao Xuejun, who was startled, lay on the bed and never fell asleep again. This night, he saw his mother changing the bag every half hour.She took the trouble to dig out wonderful places to hide things in that simple home, such as: under the noodle tank, behind the cabinet, in the belly of old leather shoes, unthreaded her son's old cotton jacket, stuffed it in, and then sewed it up...

"Mom, go to sleep, it's going to be dawn." Zhao Xuejun looked at the roof and whispered helplessly.

Gao Juzi opened his son's quilt, afraid of bumping into him, so he lay down carefully.She lay down for a while, then whispered: "San'er, Mom has been having nightmares, what do you think we should do?"

"What... did you dream about?" Zhao Xuejun also asked quietly.

Gao Juzi turned around, held his head, looked at his son and said in a low tone: "Son, mom sometimes dreams that the police station came to arrest me, and sometimes dreams that the money is lost. Sometimes, I think there is money to be found. It was just a dream, and it scared me to death. When I woke up, I had to take a look. Say, good son, what should mother do, if this continues, she will go crazy sooner or later."

Xuejun felt that his mother was cunning, and he just didn't get the chance to be cunning in his previous life.She was born with a flair for doing business, so she was very calm.She is not like others who can't help but start to be vain when they see money.When Gao Juzi went to Shanghai, she didn't bring enough things every time she came back, and sometimes she even returned empty-handed on purpose.She has limits on how much she earns. Zhao Xuejun calculated that she dare not earn more than 500 yuan a month.Once it exceeds five hundred, stop immediately.The mother who earns money is very self-disciplined, the clothes are still the same clothes, and the shoes are the same pair of shoes.She lived around people in a simple and secretive way, as if she had never had the money.

The crickets in the corner of the room chirped quietly, but Zhao Xuejun didn’t speak. He was seriously thinking about the childhood in his dream. Sometimes people’s memory often deceives you. You think you can do many things in the past, but in fact it is impossible.You always think that you can change as long as you go back. In fact, this kind of thinking is very shallow. The system and the environment, society and the crowd, people must live in a big social family. Once some rules are violated, they will be abandoned by the society without hesitation. Even if you know more about the future society, you have to live through the present to have a future.On this point, he felt that he was not as good as Orange's mother, who was wise.

Zhao Xuejun called his mother: "Mom."

Gao Juzi responded to his son very gently: "Huh?"

In the dark, looking into his mother's eyes, Zhao Xuejun felt a bit of pain in his heart for his mother who had lost countless times of weight. He said, "Mom, don't send things to others in the future. Just wait a few more years until I grow up." Yes, make money to support you. Mom, if you believe me, I will earn a lot of 3000 yuan in the future, and you will have 300, [-] million... Well, [-] million may not be certain."

Gao Juzi laughed and his shoulders twitched. After laughing, he gently touched the scar on his son's chest, and asked him softly, "Does it still hurt?"

Zhao Xuejun shook his head: "It doesn't hurt, it didn't hurt a long time ago."

"Go to sleep. Mom knows that my third son is filial. Well, mom won't make any money. Mom just waits, waits for my third son. Make money, earn 300 million haha..." The mother patted him lightly, and said indifferently. Yes, mother and son will fall asleep together.

The next morning, at the breakfast table, Gao Juzi said to her husband, "Jianguo, while our mother is here, let's take a family portrait."

Zhao Jianguo looked up at his daughter-in-law, then at his mother, stretched out his chopsticks and picked up a piece of potato shreds into his daughter-in-law's bowl: "Comrade Gao Juzi has a good idea, um, I support it."

Gao Juzi was very happy, and also picked up a chopstick of shredded potatoes for Zhao Jianguo: "Then, what time?"

Zhao Jianguo glanced at it, supported his youngest son who was moving back and forth on the floor, and thought for a while: "Then, next time you come back from Shanghai? At that time, Junjun will be able to leave the house, so let's carry him."

"Okay, listen to you!" Gao Juzi pulled it into his mouth, took a last bite of food, stood up, put on his shoes and ran out.Today, she is late.

It was a certain day in spring, around the time of Ching Ming Festival, early in the morning of this day, the father abused his power for the first time in his life, he asked for the key of the government bathhouse, took his sons in, and locked the door behind him.Zhao Xuejun was sitting in a large aluminum basin, and his father's big hands carefully walked around his post-operative scar and scrubbed him meticulously.The eldest brother stood under the shower head, covering up something shyly, and he made a huge foam with medicine soap and rubbed it on his lower body.His strange appearance only made his father laugh all the time.The second brother extravagantly put a large pool of water, and swam around in the clear water.

On the day of the trip, the weather was clear and cloudless.Father was wearing his new clothes, a set of dark blue serge cadre uniforms, and he deliberately rolled up his sleeves to reveal the watch inside.He also had a borrowed camera hanging from his chest.Mother wore a silk scarf, heated it with chopsticks, and curled her bangs beautifully. She also applied some colorful fragrance powder that she was reluctant to use.Zhao Xuewen and his three brothers were wearing sweaters of the same style, with neat crew cuts.Grandma wore her new leather shoes and a brand new dark camel baotou.

My mother was very excited that day. She suggested that the whole family go out on foot. In fact, the two bicycles at home really couldn't carry so many people.In this way, the eldest brother rode a borrowed tricycle with his grandmother, Zhao Xuejun, mother, father, and second brother.Originally a straight avenue leading to the park, they deliberately detoured two streets. My mother wanted to greet everyone she knew along the entire street and say hello to them all.

They took pictures under the stone lions in the park, on the arch bridge, in front of the statue of Mao Zedong, and beside the wooden boat in the park.In all the photos, they all looked serious, looking forward, with their hands behind their backs, standing straight and straight.Later, this roll of photos was washed many times, and the family portrait was washed and hung in the center of the house. No matter how many times the family moved and how many places they went, these photos always followed.

After taking the photo, the Zhao family sat together on the lawn of the park.Gao Juzi fanned himself sweating with a handkerchief, Zhao Jianguo looked at the children playing in the distance, and said to Gao Juzi with a sense of happiness, "I think we are all getting old."

"That's you, I don't think I'm old." Gao Juzi was a little unconvinced, she continued to look over there after she finished speaking, she looked at the eldest brother, the second child somersaulted on the lawn, and the third child nagged there and said: " Brother, don't tear the bark... Brother, you carefully broke your neck. Brother! I said it all, don't pick up popsicle sticks, it's dirty! Brother..."

Gao Juzi turned around in confusion and asked Zhao Jianguo: "Have you noticed? I think, our Junjun is more like a father than you."

Zhao Jianguo was a little unconvinced. After listening for a while, he shook his head helplessly: "He is a father, so what should I do? Hey! Maybe we really made a mistake in giving birth to him, and this is more ink-stained than an old lady. I don't care, it's really lenient. ...Oh! Hiss... Mom, you hit me, don't hit me with a stick?"

Grandma looked at the dissatisfied couple angrily, she kept seeing them bow their heads, and then said: "Don't talk about Junjun, Junjun is wrong, he is like his master, is he benevolent and righteous?"

Gao Juzi asked in a puzzled whisper, "Really like the old man?"

Zhao Jianguo also whispered: "Don't listen to my mother, she likes to put all the excellent qualities on my father..."

Zhao Xuewen and Zhao Xuebing, carrying Zhao Xuejun on their backs, went to the front to find a sesame candy stand to make sesame candy.Zhao Jianguo looked into the distance and pondered for a while and said to Gao Juzi: "Juzi, maybe in the future, you will have to work harder."

His wife turned her head to look at him strangely. Zhao Jianguo stretched out his hand and straightened his wife's hair in front of his old lady who pretended to be looking at other places: "The organization is currently assigning a leadership team to Jiangguan County. My business has already been decided. number one."

Gao Juzi's eyes lit up, and she stared at her husband: "Really?" She was excited for a while, and then muttered sadly: "It's not good to go to Jiangguan County, where the poor family Five people wear one pair of trousers. In a county town, there is only one road less than three miles away, so who can live there for three years?"

Zhao Jianguo stood up, stretched his waist, yelled loudly, and said poetically and boldly: "There will be times when the wind and the waves cleave, and the clouds and sails will be hung directly to help the sea...Orange, I don't worry about that side, I only worry about it." We three children, from now on, I may not be able to come back once a month." After he finished speaking, he sat next to his wife and said apologetically, "That... can you change your job in the supply and marketing department?"

Gao Juzi, who was very happy at first, immediately drooped her face. She looked at her feet and said nothing. Zhao Jianguo was a little anxious, and walked around beside him: "Jiangzi, you have to understand me. Jiangguan is too far away from here. You Look, three children, our mother is getting old. I'm really worried."

Gao Juzi still didn't speak...

On the way back, the parents' attitude was obviously a little alienated, and the three children felt it sensitively.

In those few days, the atmosphere at home was really getting more and more depressing. Except for grandma's nagging, there was hardly any sound. Most of the time, Zhao Jianghui would sit by the coal pool and smoke, and Gao Juzi would hold a The son grew up watching Bill in a daze.

In order to solve the problem that the atmosphere at home is getting more and more dull.Zhao Jianguo held the first democratic life meeting of the old Zhao family on Saturday night.Before the meeting, Zhao Jianguo said: This meeting, regardless of size, everyone has the right to speak. Parents will not use domestic violence to suppress speech, and will respect the opinions of their children.

The children didn't believe his words at all, but they were more interested in the candy on the table.Everyone scoffed at Zhao Jianguo's so-called not using domestic violence and respecting their opinions.

"Dad, just talk, we are obedient, really." As the eldest son, Zhao Xuewen was finally forced to speak under the stare of his father.

Zhao Jianguo was a little disappointed, so he coughed twice, straightened his throat, tried his best to suppress his fluttering voice with a calm tone, and said that he was going to Jiangguan County to be the top leader.

The three children glanced at each other, except for some sparks in Zhao Xuejun's eyes, the other two were basically not interested in it.Children of this age seem to be ignorant of what power can be exchanged for.However, they cheered twice in response to Jing'er.They said that Jiangguan County is very poor, their father has gone, and they have to take care of themselves.

Zhao Jianguo expressed his satisfaction at the children's sensible attitude.Later, when Zhao Jianguo said that they could only come back once a month in the future, they were really surprised. Think about it, how much less beatings they will suffer!When they heard that their father hoped that their mother could change jobs so that they could take better care of the family and so on.Zhao Jianguo's tone suddenly became higher: "Next! Let's vote with a show of hands. First of all, a show of hands that agrees with Comrade Gao Juzi's adjustment of work."

After Zhao Jianguo finished speaking, he raised his hand. When his grandma saw his son raised his hand, he also raised his walking stick.

The three brothers glanced at each other, and Zhao Xuebing was the first to speak suddenly: "Dad, the great men have said that women hold up half the sky. Why should my mother change jobs!"

Zhao Jianguo was furious, and immediately pointed out his son's sinister intentions: "You are afraid that your mother will not bring you food from Shanghai in the future! Just admit it!"

Zhao Xuewen also answered: "Dad, that's not what I said. I'm going to take the entrance exam this year, and I'm considering living on campus. If I'm busy at home, I'll go to school. In fact, there's nothing to do at home. Look, we'll pick up the tap water next month. No, no need to carry water. My second child and I will do the fire and briquette at home. I don’t agree with my mother giving up her favorite job. I think it’s very good for my mother. My mother is so happy every day! Yours Work is work, and I also think it is very important here with my mother."

Gao Juzi was so moved that her nose burst into tears. She didn't speak, but just wiped her nose and tears with a handkerchief.

As the youngest of the three sons, Zhao Xuejun made the concluding remarks: "I don't mind where Mom goes. In fact, Dad, we are all grown up. I know that grandma is the one who worries you the most in this family. Don't worry, we can take care of ourselves. , take care of the family. Grandma will leave it to us, and we promise to complete the task.”

Zhao Jianguo was tired of raising his hands, and finally put them down depressed.He lowered his head and thought for a while, then raised his head and said in a high tone: "Anyway, your mother must change jobs, otherwise I don't worry."

"Dad, you can't do this, this is authoritarianism, and I oppose it!"

"Yes, we are all grown up, Dad, don't force my mother, look, my mother is crying."

Gao Juzi waved his hands again and again, and said in a sobbing voice, "It's okay, it's okay...Mom also feels tired from going to Shanghai. Besides, after two years, the contract is over, so there will be no chance of a business trip. It doesn't matter whether it's early or late."

"Dad, you are overthinking. In fact, you can hire a nanny at home!" Zhao Xuejun thought why his father was so stupid!

The house suddenly quieted down, hiring a nanny?The old Zhao family’s ancestors have been honest people for generations, and it’s enough to serve others. What is the concept of hiring a nanny? That is bourgeois exploitation, right?

Gao Juzi thought for a while, then his eyes lit up: "I think it will work."

Zhao Jianguo objected again: "No, no, the children are grown up, a family of boys, your whole little girl is at home..." After he said half a sentence, Gao Juzi immediately understood.

Grandma, who had been silent all this time, suddenly put her walking stick on the round table at home with a "pop!".

"Tomorrow, when you go home, find someone to put paint on the birthday materials I put in the brigade yard. Jianguo, you go back and tell your third uncle, just say what I said, tell you to change Sister Xia to the city, and just tell me Said...to serve me. You...you will give your younger sister Gaixia five yuan every month. From now on...you will give her a pension when Gaisha gets old."

In this way, under the interference of grandma's power, the first democratic life meeting of Lao Zhao's family ended in failure.

Early the next morning, Juzi's mother moved all of Zhao Xuejun's belongings out of the front yard hut. Zhao Xuejun sat on the recliner and listened to his mother talking about Aunt Gaixia.This aunt could be regarded as Zhao Jianguo's cousin.Her life was not good, her husband died early, and she had a little girl who also died in six years or so.Later, Aunt Gaixia got married again, and the other party went unexpectedly before she got married.This rural place is afraid of life.After a delay, now, Aunt Gaixia is 40 years old this year.Living in her natal family all the time, being supported by her brother and mother, life is very difficult.

Speaking of it this way, this Aunt Gaixia is really suitable to come to Old Zhao's house.That night, Zhao Jianguo came back from his hometown with a really satisfied expression on his face. Ren Gaixia said that she was willing to come, but she just had to wait. She wanted to collect the family affairs and match her little daughter with a ghost marriage before coming back. .The problem was finally solved, and Zhao Jianguo happily went to his wife to show his merits, but no matter how he flattered him, Juzi didn't want to talk to him.

In the days that followed, the three brothers could see Zhao Jianguo every night, squatting in circles in the backyard wearing a broken vest with holes in it. At the beginning, I looked at the windows of the house with a sad face.

Beside the record player in the small kitchen, grandma was listening to Broken Bridge, sewing old socks, and said to Zhao Xuejun with a resentful expression: "Your father, you should!"