1
On the September afternoon, the "autumn tiger" is scorching. People in the mountains are working hard on their one-third of an acre of land. There are less leisure months, and people are twice as busy. The fatigue and enjoyment of a year are all in the harvest of this autumn.
There was no wind, and the air was filled with the salty smell of sweat. The occasional bickering and silly laughter were thrown into the golden fields along with the salty taste. Those who bent over harvesting stood up to wipe their sweat, those who took a nap and smoked pipes, and the children who shuttled between the ridges... everything was naturally and plainly but passionately staged, with no supporting roles.
A woman walked on the mountain road in the distance, her footsteps slow. That pair of red high heels always looked out of place when walking on the mountain road. The clothes are fashionable, but there is still a rustic taste, and it feels more or less like eating roasted sweet potatoes and drinking coffee. Perhaps, that is the true nature of the country that can never go away, a totem that cannot be changed by any packaging. On a hot day, the woman covered her forehead with one hand and held the package in the other hand, but the afternoon sun always graced her body, so bright and dazzling.
The fields became active, and the eyes were cast on the mountain road. The golden fields turned fiery red. The buzz of discussion was rising one after another, as full as ears of grain.
"Wow, isn't this Xiaofang? Why is she back?"
"It looks like she's developed, right? Look, the heel is more than ten centimeters, right?"
“Didn’t you say that she has been working outside?”
“Who knows, maybe she’s getting married?”
“Married? I think she is. Are you married to someone else’s mistress?”
“Haha...haha...”
The sharp and harsh words were still heard on the mountain road even though there was no wind. The small mountain village was no longer peaceful in the afternoon.
The woman took off her shoes and simply walked barefoot, amidst everyone's comments, she just turned a blind eye and walked. This is a return to nature, like playing barefoot in the mountains as a child. For a moment, he ran as fast as flying towards the old elm tree at the entrance of the village. There was only a sigh of discussion behind him, ringing in the fields.
Xiaofang is home! Carrying large and small parcels of things. In the evening, after dinner, the neighbors forgot about the day's fatigue. Adults and children came to the small courtyard in twos and threes, which they had never gone to on weekdays, because today they seemed to be watching the Western scenery. The child's face is pressed against the window glass, squeezing out a childish and cute deformed face; the old people are sitting on the edge of the kang and on the threshold of Xiaofang's house; there are also young people standing by the door...even I don't know who they are. The yellow dog at home also sat quietly in the yard with his tongue hanging out. Everyone who comes has the same mentality. It seems that the topics of conversation after dinner will be fresh now. Everyone wanted to get a taste of it first...
Only Xiaofang's father was sitting silently in the corner of the yard, smoking a dry pipe. Xiaofang Niang was busy in the kitchen, wiping her dry eyes with her clothes from time to time.
Xiaofang took out candies and gave them to the children; she entertained her grandparents with glasses of water; she answered everyone’s questions about the city... Xiaofang took the trouble to smile, although her toes Her head was severely swollen, but after not coming back for two years, she could not resist the warm condolences from her neighbors, even if they were mixed with subtle psychology. Xiaofang understands, but she doesn't blame her neighbors.
2
It was finally dark, and when it was time to turn on the lanterns, people left one after another. No one dares to stay up that late. There is still a lot of farm work to be done tomorrow. Only the colorful candy wrappers floated like butterflies in the small courtyard in the sudden wind...
Dad finally couldn't hold back anymore and banged the dry tobacco bag several times under the edge of the kang. , I have been holding back the words for two years, and I feel unhappy if I don’t say them anymore.
"Tell me, what did you do in the city? It's been two years, you haven't come home or contacted me, why on earth have you?" Dad was a little excited.
Xiaofang lowered her head and said nothing, moved her lips, and made no sound for a long time.
"Our family is an honest farmer, and a poor person cannot be short of ambition. If you do something shameful, then how can I keep my head up and be a good person in this life?" Xiaofang's father is a little unable to control himself. .
Xiaofang said calmly and firmly: "Dad, I have not brought shame to our family, no!"
"No? Then why do they say you became a mistress? I have such an old face. Where to put it?" Dad couldn't continue, shaking his hands and filling another bag of dry cigarettes.
My mother carefully tugged on my father's sleeve: "Her father, my daughter is back, so don't..."
My father shook off my mother's hand and continued to slap him with his head lowered. Dry tobacco. My mother was sandwiched between the two of them. She said "Oh" and continued to clean up the inside and outside of the house.
The stars twinkled in the night sky. Xiaofang was lying on the kang, her beautiful big eyes blank in the dark night. She didn't want to say more, let alone explain. She was still the same person and had not done anything that was disgraceful to the family tradition. She is still the Xiaofang who can walk barefoot in the mountains, climb trees to pick dates, and go down to the river to catch fish... However, many stories in life have happened to her inadvertently. She could only accept it bravely and calmly. As a mountain person, she understands conscience and principles of life.
The chirping of insects sounded the music of memories in the dark night...
3
That year, Xiaofang decided to go out to work. She wants to get out of the mountains, become a golden phoenix, give herself beautiful wings through hard work and diligence, and fly happily under the unobstructed sky.
When I arrived in the city, I saw that the money I brought was about to be spent, but my job was still unavailable. At the labor market that day, Xiaofang, who was sick, waited all morning but no one hired her. She didn't have lunch and was reluctant to part with the little money left in her bag. The illness, fatigue and anxiety, along with her failed wish to become a golden phoenix, made her When he got up, he fainted and fell to the ground...
When he woke up, there was an old man standing in front of the hospital bed, looking at Xiaofang with worried eyes.
The old man’s surname is Li and he is a retired cadre. His wife has passed away, and he only has a son who is a policeman to depend on him. His son was busy and neglected to take care of the elderly, so he hoped that Mr. Li would go to the labor market to find a nanny to cook, clean up the house, and talk to the elderly. As soon as Mr. Li arrived at the labor market, he saw a group of people surrounding Xiaofang who was lying on the ground. So Old Man Li sent Xiaofang to the hospital...
Xiaofang went home with Old Man Li. A girl in the mountains finally had her own "home", a place to stay that made Xiaofang burn. There was hope in life. Xiaofang takes care of everything about Old Man Li like his own father, and is also his lifesaver. Uncle Li likes Xiaofang very much. He is not afraid of being dirty or tired. The home becomes more and more like home, and Xiaofang regards this place as his own home. Even the son who was a policeman came back and discovered the earth-shaking changes in his family, which made him deeply moved.
Unforeseen circumstances, Old Man Li died suddenly of a heart attack. Xiaofang once again lost her "home". Uncle Li's son was often at work, so Xiaofang's job as a nanny was about to end. Xiaofang packed up everything and prepared to leave here and find a job again.
"Xiao Fang sister, there is no need to leave in a hurry, this is your home." Uncle Li's son comforted Xiao Fang and said.
"It's okay, brother, I'll look for a job as soon as possible and I can find one." Xiaofang said optimistically.
"I live here. I live in my work unit. If it is empty, it will be empty. We will tell you when we find it. Don't be anxious." Old Man Li's son emphasized again. So Xiaofang continued to live here and went to the labor market during the day to find a job.
But at this moment, Uncle Li’s son fell and injured his spine and brain while driving to chase a fugitive while performing a mission. This family is over all at once... This policeman's son hasn't dated a girlfriend yet...
Looking at Old Man Li's son lying on the hospital bed, he thought about everything Old Man Li and the policeman said to him. Then, thinking about all the things I have been doing in this family these days... Xiaofang, a girl from the mountains, made a major decision: to stay and take care of this uncared-for hero.
Since then, in the hospital, I always see a girl pushing a wheelchair with great effort, undergoing repeated examinations and rehabilitation training; in the community, I always see a girl pushing a patient in a wheelchair for a walk; on the street, I always see a girl holding a vegetable basket in one hand and pushing a wheelchair with the other, constantly talking about the prices at the vegetable market. Although the person in the wheelchair doesn't respond at all, just a seemingly endless stream of mucus flowing from the corner of her mouth...
Xiaofang didn’t have time to go home, she couldn’t leave. Not even for a day. Without her, the police officer has no one to take care of him. This is not okay. Xiaofang also did not contact her family because she was afraid of being opposed by her parents. So Xiaofang worked part-time while taking care of the family with the subsidy provided by Uncle Li's son's work unit. Xiaofang is from Yiwu, she is dedicated, just for a kind of repayment and gratitude, and she has a kind heart of a mountain girl. The community and street, as well as Mr. Li's son's workplace, were also moved by Xiaofang's attitude and choice, and silently supported her. Xiaofang felt the power of beauty.
That day, Erkui, who ran a canteen in the mountains, came to the city to purchase goods, but unexpectedly saw Xiaofang wiping the mouth of a drooling man in a wheelchair on the roadside...
As a result, the mountain exploded again, as if a kind of conclusive evidence confirmed some of the previous judgments.
“This Xiaofang actually married a paralytic. How can a good girl do anything for money?”
“I wonder how much money the paralytic’s family has? Maybe, he is a rich second generation? Otherwise, why would Xiaofang be willing? "
"Dad Xiaofang, your Xiaofang is going to be successful. You don't have to farm this time, so you can enjoy your happiness."
"Her parents must have agreed. They knew it a long time ago and kept it secret from our fellow villagers. What is the difference between this and selling your daughter?"
"It's not a good thing, it's embarrassing. "Thrown away"...
During those days, Xiaofang's father never came out of the house. He could only hear the sound of pipes and pots banging on the edge of the kang from early morning to sunset.
Mixed in, sighs...
Xiaofangniang no longer has a feud with those women. She hides, for fear that someone will call her through the wall of the yard...
Only the smoke from the roofs still curled up, and only the wild flowers on the fences bloomed and faded, faded and bloomed again...
4
That morning, there were some strangers on the mountain road. Several people who looked like leaders and people in police uniforms got out of the car, and walking on the mountain road was another unknown scenery. The small mountain village is boiling, but its reason is boiling.
The consolation money, the letter of thanks, the red certificate awarded... Xiaofang's father was a little caught off guard. He didn't know where to put his hand that was used to holding the dry tobacco bag. His face turned red and white, and there was blood on his forehead. Beads of sweat come. An honest mountain person has never seen such a scene. Xiao Fang Niang heated a pot of boiling water, took out the tea leaves that had been left for a long time and was reluctant to drink them, and brewed cup after cup of tea. But her eyes no longer seemed dry, and were filled with joy and pride.
"You have raised a good girl!" The city leader held Xiaofang's father's hand and said cordially and solemnly.
"Yes, yes, she is amiable and respectable. It is not easy for this little girl!"
"Yes, the society needs Miss Xiaofang's kind deeds. This mountain child, It’s really good!”
“It’s worth learning, it’s worth showing off, it’s not easy.”
Everyone praised her, and Xiaofang’s father finally knew what happened to Xiaofang. The story...
Suddenly I discovered that Xiaofang’s father’s waist seemed to be much straighter...
That day, Xiaofang’s father, who had rarely gone out in his life, sat down. Get in the car, carry a sack of your own "specialties" and rush to the city. Behind him were Xiao Fang Niang’s concerned and worried eyes, as well as the blessings from the villagers. That blessing is praise and admiration. Xiaofang's father suddenly felt that the mountains and the city were so close.
Eggs, old hens, wild vegetables and game from the mountains, and various herbs collected by the folks... With joy and satisfaction, with expectations and unprecedented pride, we ran towards the city... …
"There is a girl named Xiaofang in the village. She is good-looking and kind, with big beautiful eyes and thick and long braids"...that old song was playing in the car. Xiaofang's father laughed out loud...
A golden phoenix flew out of the mountains! Yes, the kind-hearted Jin Fenghuang is pushing a wheelchair slowly downstairs. Old Man Li's son spoke vaguely in words that only Xiaofang could understand. Xiaofang believes that it will be fine, it will be fine!
Because she knows: she is not alone. The power of society is supporting her, and the power of family affection is also coming to her.
She clearly heard the familiar footsteps and smelled the familiar smell of the mountains...