text/Yuancun
My mother called me from Shanghai and told me seriously: "Qingwa, the epidemic is so noisy that I can't go back. You can bring another 50,000 yuan and prepare eight-color gifts. By the way, buy two more good cigarettes and go to Xi Zhangying as soon as possible. Thank you, Cousin Zhang. Alas, I don’t know how valuable people are. We ladies have done something wrong to your cousin, and we owe you a favor!”
一
The cousin my mother mentioned to me is named Zhang Shucheng. Speaking of which, according to the words of our hometown, he is called "uncle who hangs the side". He and my father were childhood friends, and he was the son of an uncle and aunt of the same race who I had already given birth to. When I was young, visiting relatives often came to our Liuhe Bay. Because they liked to catch fish and shrimp with my father, they became good playmates. In terms of age, he is two years younger than my father, so he affectionately calls my father "Brother Zhongyi". This is because my father’s name is Liu Zhongyi.
We played well together as children, but when we became teenagers, my father and cousin Zhang were selected by their respective brigades to undergo intensive training at the militia camp organized by the commune's armed department when the commune was still established. This lasted for about two months. What I practiced was some formation, assassination, and shooting movements. As the two of them trained, they had more opportunities for contact.
Originally, during this militia training, the friendship between my father and my cousin Zhang would not deepen much under normal circumstances.
"Hey, that's not an ordinary situation. What kind of situation is it?" When my father and my cousin Zhang were chatting together, my father said more than once, "That's an ordinary situation."
It turns out that during the militia training, there was a fight between the young militiamen and the resident villagers. The fight started when a militiaman made flirtatious remarks to several local young women while watching an outdoor movie at night. That time, the two sides fought in chaos as soon as they started fighting.
My father met Cousin Zhang who ran back to the station and rushed out the door with a semi-automatic rifle . He asked in surprise: "Shucheng, how dare you use the gun? The gun has an empty magazine, what's the use? The moment you use the gun, the nature of the gun has changed. Don't you dare, don't you?" Dare!"
"The gun has a bayonet, it's better than a fire stick!" Uncle Zhang said, "Let's take a look at it, our basic militiamen are not vegetarians!" After hearing this, my father immediately took Zhang Biao. He took his uncle's gun and forcibly pulled him into the house and persuaded him: "Hey, do you think this is a war with the Kuomintang and bandits? Soldiers and civilians are one family, not to mention the militiamen molesting women first."
"If a bitch doesn't lift its tail, how can a bitch get up? Aren't those little girls in the movie It's a waste of time." Cousin Zhang argued, "Damn it, I can't bear to hear them scolding the militiamen for being useless. I came out and said something, and they gave me a slap in the face."
My father managed to calm down Cousin Zhang and put the gun back in the camp. Fortunately, this release allowed Cousin Zhang to escape punishment.
During the armed fight, other militiamen actually took part in the fight with guns drawn. As a result, three guns were taken away by the villagers, and one was found in a pond after extensive investigation. This incident alarmed the regional military division and public security bureau, and a large number of personnel were dispatched to thoroughly investigate the root cause. The militiaman who threw the gun was also sentenced to one year in prison, and the militiamen who used the gun and participated in the armed fight were detained or punished. Fortunately, Cousin Zhang had my father testify, which showed that his reason overcame his impulse that night and did not participate in the armed fight. This is why the investigators were not held criminally responsible under "secondary" circumstances.
"Your dad and I don't have a normal relationship." When I was young, Cousin Zhang said to me, "Your dad is a very loyal person, and he values poor friends and makes good friends!" He also told me proudly: "When I got married, my family still lived in a rotten thatched hut, but it was covered with a pure wool blanket from Shanghai. That was a big gift from your dad! I wore a military uniform. The coat was also given to me by your father! "
二
" Speaking of your father, he is really poor and generous. "My mother once complained in front of me, "This Zhang Shucheng, I don't know what good things he did for your father in his previous life. Anyway, your father was good to him.Your dad just started working in the army, and his salary was only dozens of yuan a month. Buying blankets for Zhang Shucheng cost more than two months' salary. Later, when Zhang Shucheng was building a house, he borrowed 500 yuan from him. Your father didn't have enough money, so he borrowed 200 yuan from his comrades. "
I once asked my mother: "How many gifts did Cousin Zhang get when you and my dad got married? "
" doesn't want to mention how many gifts he got. He asked his wife to sew two homespun quilts, and only got 60 yuan as a gift. He also said that he wanted to wish us a happy life. "My mother said disdainfully, "Your father still defended him, saying that it is not easy for rural people to make money. Rural gifts usually cost 10 to 8 yuan, and a gift of 30 yuan is a big gift. He also said that the quilt his wife made was a pure cotton quilt with a plaid and colorful embroidered quilt cover. It had hand-embroidered dragons and phoenixes showing harmony unicorns sending children . It was a work of art and could not be measured by how much money it cost. The Lord is precious! "
" I heard that Cousin Zhang later embroidered cross-stitch, and one piece sold for several thousand. They are ingenious and can be regarded as skilled craftsmen among the people. I said, "Didn't you give me one of those two quilts when I got married?" It’s so beautiful that your daughter-in-law praised it as an original and environmentally friendly product. "
My mother smiled and said, "That's all for later. If your cousin hadn't suffered a cerebral infarction later and her hands were inoperable, we would have asked her to make two more embroidered quilts, and she would definitely have to do it. Your cousin Zhang's family takes up too much of our family's time. By the way, do you know when his family will remember to pay back the 500 yuan to our family? You won't pay it back until you get married. Your father's monthly salary at that time was two to three thousand, and there was nothing you could ask him to do to pay it back. But he was very good at what he said. Every yard is a yard, and you have to pay it back. As a result, the money was paid back. When your father heard that he had a grandson, he gave him another 200 yuan gift and bought a baby cradle, and more than half of the money was lost. "
When my mother said this, I couldn't help but think of Cousin Zhang's precious son Gou Sheng who had a runny nose. Gou Sheng is two years older than me. When I can remember, every year before the summer harvest and New Year's Eve, Cousin Zhang would come to my house twice to visit relatives. When he came to the house, it was mostly in spring and summer. He brought two chickens, or about 150 eggs and salted duck eggs in a bamboo basket. When he came back in the new year, he usually brought some sesame leaves, ground sesame oil and mung beans. He also brought his son Gou Sheng with him. l5
At that time, my family only lived in two bungalows, and there was a bed in the living room, which was where my brother and I slept at night. As soon as Cousin Zhang arrived, my father asked my brother and I to move to the back room and share a bed with my mother. He and Cousin Zhang stayed on the same bed, and spent the evening chatting about childhood affairs and current farm matters. Cousin Zhang would sometimes ask my father questions like a primary school student, and my father would take the trouble to introduce to him what he had seen outside. The two of them could always chat in low voices until midnight. The two of them were smoking while chatting. Although my mother always reminded my father to open the windows for ventilation, the house was still filled with smoke every day.
Every time Cousin Zhang comes home, his appetite is surprisingly good. Naturally, the chickens, ducks, eggs and salted eggs he brought were all eaten quickly. My father bought beef, pork, chicken, and fish, as well as fried dough sticks and big steamed buns from outside. Every meal was a big bowl, with large pieces of meat, and two or three ounces of white wine in the evening. During the time when my cousin lived and ate at my house, although my brother and I couldn't stand his bad hygiene, such as putting steamed buns on the table, throwing cigarette butts, etc., we were very satisfied with the food at home every day during that period.
Cousin Zhang comes to our house to entertain him. When he leaves, my father always It is to prepare him with good cigarettes and wine, and also give him some pocket money. My mother always packs my old clothes and shoes into big and small bags for him to take back. Many of those clothes were 80% new, but they were no longer fashionable in the city; some were brand new, but they just made excuses to say they were not in good style so that Cousin Zhang could accept them without having to refuse. Gou Sheng came home a few times, and when he came home, he was always dressed in new clothes by my parents.
It wasn’t until Gou Sheng got married that he stopped coming to my house with his cousin Zhang to visit relatives. A few years later, his son became Cousin Zhang's little tail.They come to my house and stay for a few days. However, my family’s living conditions have greatly improved since the new century. My parents now lived alone in a three-bedroom apartment. When they come back, they have no worries about food and accommodation.
At this time, my father was close to retirement, but he suffered from emphysema and no longer smoked. Cousin Zhang is still addicted to smoking. However, he knew that smoking was not good for my father, so he suppressed his addiction. I really wanted to smoke, so I went downstairs to smoke one.
三
My father died at the age of 69. Or because of cardiopulmonary failure induced by emphysema.
When my cousin Zhang learned that my father had passed away, he hurried to my house from the countryside. Seeing his "loyal brother" lying in the crystal coffin , my cousin just touched his good brother's cold hands and called out deeply: "Brother, where can I find you when I miss you in the future!" Then he burst into tears.
During the two or three days after my father's death, Cousin Zhang stayed by the crystal coffin as if he had lost his soul. He also stayed with me and my brother at night. He just watched silently, always letting the incense burn in front of his father's coffin at night. From time to time, I would see him wiping his eyes with his sleeve.
After sending my father away, cousin Zhang would come from the countryside to burn paper for my father on the anniversary, second anniversary, and third anniversary of my father's death, as well as every Qingming Festival and the first day of October in the lunar calendar. My mother was very moved and said to me when she went to my brother's home for retirement in Shanghai: "You, Cousin Zhang, do have feelings for your dad. However, he is also old. Next year he will come to burn paper for your dad. If you tell him, don't go to the grave to pay homage." "
It was the fourth anniversary of my father's death last year. Uncle Zhang asked Gou Sheng to drive a van and bring fire paper , ghost coins, steamed buns, fruits and other sacrifices to my father's grave in the cemetery. I remembered my mother's instructions, and after insisting on leaving Cousin Zhang and Gou Sheng to eat in a restaurant, I specially sent them a box of wine and a box of ham sausage, and then I said to Cousin Zhang: "Cousin Zhang, my dad passed away three or four years ago, and you come here to pay homage to him every year. You I'm getting older and it's difficult to move around. From now on, I won't have to pay this small gift every year. People can't be resurrected. Besides, the epidemic is also serious. "
I said this, but Uncle Zhang and Gou Sheng didn't mind. Gou Sheng also said: "I now have a car. My father always talks about these commemorative days of my Uncle Liu every year. Let him come, he will feel at ease just to see my Uncle Zhongyi's tombstone!"
After hearing what Gou Sheng said, I said: "It's better not to let Uncle Zhang run all the way here and there every year again. My best wishes Just talk about it. By the way, if you have any difficulties at home, don't forget to tell us. My mother also told me to try my best to help you! "Oh! That's okay!" After I said this, Uncle Zhang's face looked a little serious and he sighed, indicating that he obeyed my opinion.
He didn’t want to, but Gou Sheng chuckled and said: "Brother, we are living pretty much the same now, there is no difficulty. However, I still want to thank you for your kindness."
Gou Sheng said, he took the gift I gave him under the car and said to me: "My father doesn't smoke or drink anymore, and he doesn't eat meat well, you still Take these back!"
"Hey, you kid, why are you so ignorant?" Seeing that I was a little embarrassed, Uncle Zhang scolded Gou Sheng and said with a smile, "Then, let's go back and ask your mother for me!" After saying this, Uncle Zhang got in the car, and Gou Sheng stepped on the accelerator, and the car drove away with a bang.
After Cousin Zhang left, it is true that he never came to pay homage to my father again. To be honest, he never contacted me again in the city. In the cemetery, during the Qingming Festival and October 1st, there were paper money burned for my father earlier than I did, and they were placed as offerings. Who did this? I always guess it was Cousin Zhang. Thinking about what I said to Cousin Zhang, I felt that it was a little inappropriate.
During the epidemic, my business was greatly affected, especially a restaurant I bought at a large price. After the renovation, I expected to welcome a large number of diners after the full lockdown was lifted, but unexpectedly, everyone stayed at home and stayed home. This investment seems to be a loss.
didn’t know who was adding fuel to the fire, so he turned my business situation into a liability and wanted to jump off the building. The news reached the ears of my cousin Zhang.
A few days ago, my cousin Zhang asked Gou Sheng to drive the van directly to my house. When I saw them, I took out 50,000 yuan and explained my purpose: "This money is not much, I will help you first. I still have a few cows at home to sell, and it is not a problem to get another 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. My dear, everyone is faced with disasters. As long as you survive, there is no mountain of flames that you can't overcome."
I had not yet reached the point of being insolvent, so naturally I couldn't accept this generous gift from Uncle Zhang and his son, so I explained the situation to them. Gou Sheng said: "Brother, our family has been helped by my loyal uncle for decades. My father really wants to help you, so don't give in to his wishes!"
"My dear, we have been living together these years. It's really much more lenient. You are in trouble, so you are really looking down on your cousin Zhang!"
I heard Cousin Zhang blushing like this, and I had no idea at the time, so I had to accept the money. Seeing this, Uncle Zhang and his son didn't even eat, and drove back in a hurry.
I reported the righteous deeds of Uncle Zhang and his son to my mother. My mother was very moved and told me to repay my cousin Zhang and his family twice as much. I listened to my mother's words, and although I agreed on the surface, I didn't plan to do it in a hurry.
Why? I really want to use this rumor to play the role of a recipient in front of Uncle Zhang and his son, so that they can feel more happy when they pay tribute to my father from afar.
(pictures selected from the Internet)
