In the northern winter, although thousands of miles of ice and snow drift, the interior is like spring, and every household will more or less potted some evergreen vegetation, which is verdant all year round.

Xiao Suiyuan happily circled around his grandfather and grandmother, and from time to time he called out a few words. But the old couple couldn't be happy, especially the old lady.

As the saying goes: if you have food in your hands, you don't panic in your heart. Giving away all the savings of 120,000 yuan, although this cannot be said to be a family with four walls, but in the future, if there is a big disaster and a small disaster, what should I do? The old lady can't help but think.

"The money is gone, what are you still thinking about all day long? The old man was upset and said something to her.

What else can you think about? I was afraid that the old thing would say something and be even more disliked, so I hugged Xiao Suiyuan: "Little thing, do you know how much has happened in this family since you came? When will you grow up? Grandma won't worry when you grow up." She muttered to herself, giggling and chuckling.

Jiang Heshui came back, he threw the coat he took off into his own room, and snatched Xiao Suiyuan for a while to be intimate. These days can torture him to death, and the strong pressure of life has made him unable to face the future. After thinking about it, he finally decided to give it a go. Instead of hiding in the house and sighing, it is better to go out and find something to do. So he spoke his mind.

The old couple looked at him for a long time, "Just stop a little, I'm worried about what you can do? Now that there are so many laid-offs, what else can happen to you?" The old man was very worried.

Jiang Heshui was silent, feeling that what the old man said was also reasonable. "Xiao Suiyuan will use more and more places to use money in the future, I don't even dare to think about Huaijun's affairs, I always feel that I am sure to find something to do. I don't want to rob anyone else, let's do something that others don't want to do, right?

"Think beautiful!" the old man looked at him with disdain, "At the moment, being a doorman and playing a shift are all sought-after poor." Besides, you can't run as fast as the old ladies, who can use you?"

The old lady was anxious when she heard this, "What are you talking about, old thing, you bury your own son like this?!"

"Why do I bury my son? Why don't I know if I am happy with the old man every day?" He said to the river again: "You are not good at picking up rags now, don't you see? ”

Jiang Heshui didn't say anything anymore, and the old man's words made him feel disheartened.

At night, he lost sleep again, he was unwilling to say anything, and he couldn't find his place if he didn't believe in the world. If it's really like the old man said, I don't know how many people will starve to death?

Early the next morning, he put on his torn coat and slipped out like a thief.

Although the winter in the north is cold, the daytime sunshine is abundant and warm. Some pedestrians walked with a popsicle in their mouths, and the newcomers were stunned by it.

The river is not in a hurry to survive, so it limps and walks unhurriedly. He dreamed of getting a job closer to home, even if it was for a lower salary, and he didn't miss a single factory he passed by, and all kinds of job postings.

I don't know how many soft nails I touched and how many closed-door soups I ate...... By noon, there was still no result. He went to a snack bar to fill a bowl of noodles and continued to wander around until nearly 3 o'clock in the afternoon when he felt a sense of despair. Everything proved what the old man said: he couldn't do the work he worked hard for, and the poor cleaner and people thought that his legs and feet were not good, and the position of doorman for five or six hundred yuan a month was even more popular...... When he was thirsty, he bought a bottle of mineral water, sat on a rubber chair in front of the store, lit a cigarette, and began to feel agitated.

The Liaohe River originates from Pingquan County in Hebei Province in the north, and the boundless Bohai Bay in the south; the total length of 1,430 kilometers from north to south, and the rolling hills and moats in the west, and the apple trees all over the mountains; and the downtown area with busy traffic in the east. This is the section of the river where I looked for Zheng Shujun with Xiaolinzi that night, and it was very lively no matter what time it was.

Jiang Heshui thought of Zheng Shujun, and forgot what he was doing for a while. The embankments on both sides of the river are full of people taking leisurely walks. On the ice in the middle of the river, there are many young skaters, sometimes old people and teenagers. They played with a dashing and elegant game, and the skates under their feet flashed in the sun......

He walked east along the river embankment, paying attention to everyone who passed, especially the woman, and fantasized that Zheng Shujun would miraculously appear in front of him. Suddenly, he had reached the north end of the Liaohe Bridge, and wanted to take away the sunset in the west from his heart.

Just as he was about to change the route and go home, he suddenly saw a lot of factories along the river on his left, one by one, so he decided to try his luck again.

An industrial area, when there are many people off work, there is a cement road between the river embankment and the factory area. A scrap yard is sandwiched between the walls of two companies, and the yard is filled with scattered and sorted bundles of different types of waste: plastic, paper and metal. A simple hut was facing the road and opposite the river embankment, and was tightly wrapped in some grass and straw mats. It is a hub for scavengers, who use different tools to collect scrap from all over the world and trade it......

A yellow dog lying in the doorway suddenly barked. The dog was also very snobbish, scurrying towards the unfamiliar and unpleasant waters. He has not been afraid of dogs since he was a child, and he knows that the louder the barking of the dog, the less it bites.

"Rhubarb!" the owner drank the dog, "out of the way, it doesn't bite." He smiled at the river, very honest.

As soon as I heard the accent, I knew that this was a Shandong man, who looked more than sixty years old, and the word suffering was engraved on his bronzed face.

"Rhubarb" lazily returned to his original place, lying down facing the river, his eyes staring at him.

The rivers and rivers seem to have come to another world, and they all feel new here. He didn't have a chance to strike up a conversation with anyone here, so he picked up like a child: he moved towards a bench not far from Rhubarb, and gestured to him in every way he could. Rhubarb began to grunt in warning, gradually revealing a mouth full of fangs. Fortunately, when he sat down on the stool in a daze, Rhubarb didn't attack him. He breathed a sigh of relief and lit a cigarette in the posture of a victor.

The busy people never seem to have felt the cruelty of the harsh winter, and their clothes are thin but steaming. They are an indispensable part of this society, they are huge, facing countless thousands of garbage producers every day, and although they have long been crushed by this shameless society, they seem to be forever in the autumn harvest season.

When the sun went down, the whole courtyard fell silent. In addition to the old man, there is also a woman, and this must be the old man's woman. Jiang Heshui guessed right. He handed the old man a large front door, and took the initiative to introduce himself, briefly explaining his intentions. The locals are very good and have never looked down on outsiders. The old man has been scavenging for more than 20 years, and the visit of rivers and rivers can be said to be unique. Shandong men have been warm-hearted since ancient times, and they let the river water into the house when they saw the cold weather.

Jiang Heshui was really stunned by what he saw: three children sat on a double bed in the corner, none of them normal—all mentally retarded, as if they had been conceived as an embryo. They all smiled when they saw the adults come in, completely ignorant of the warmth and coldness of the world and the sadness of the world, and their silly laughter seemed to be the whole of their lives.

Rhubarb had already squatted in front of the children's beds, for fear that the uninvited guest in front of him would snatch away its little master.

The whole shack was divided into three parts: at the north end was a small bedroom larger than a bed, with a small stove house by the doorway and against the north room; at the east end was the children's bed, opposite which was a cabinet of 20 inches from nowhere, on which a 20-inch television set rested; a cast iron stove was placed in the center of the shack, and its long tin chimney stretched out of the window on the east wall along the top of the children's heads; and a small square table with a few small wooden stools next to the pig iron stove.

The woman began to cook dinner. She turned on the television and added some coal to the iron furnace......

The room was getting warmer.

The rivers and rivers handed cigarettes to the old man one after another, which made the old man feel very uncomfortable. He looked at the lame man in front of him and didn't look like a bad man, and only after reluctantly did he report to him.

The old man's surname is Zhang, he is in his fifties, and he is not as old as Jiang Heshui imagined.

"She's my wife, she doesn't like to squeak, but she's diligent. ”

"In the future, I will call you Brother Zhang and Sister-in-law Zhang, why do you call me lame?"

"Medium!" Lao Zhang made tea as soon as he was happy.

The two of them gathered around the small square table and next to the stove, chattering closer and closer. Lao Zhang also served as a soldier for a few years, and he really showed off the most wonderful part of his life in front of the rivers and rivers. When he heard that he had also been a soldier, he didn't believe anything, thinking that he was bragging about not typing. Finally he moved his gaze to his leg, "What's that leg of yours?"

"Fighting a war",

"Who's going to make it look like this?"

"Vietnamese. ”

"My mother!" Lao Zhang suddenly realized, "Then in the future, I can't call you lame, disrespectful—then you are not meritorious?

"The heroes don't mention the courage of the year, they are all old chaff and rotten grain. "The rivers have been in the water for many years, and it is generally not easy to mention that period of time.

Lao Zhang Fei asked him to say what he had done, and Jiang Heshui had no choice but to tell him. He knew that anyone who had been a soldier cared about this.

"Why?first-class merit?! ”

In a big place, their conversation was actually overheard by Sister-in-law Zhang. She walked in front of Lao Zhang, "My brother is a big hero, hear me." Do you want to do it?"

Lao Zhang raised his face and said to Sister-in-law Zhang: "If I am a hero, I have to respect it." Is there a place to deliver wine in the house?"

"Cabbage, tofu, fatty slices. ”

Lao Zhang got up and wanted to go out. Jiang Heshui knew what he wanted to do, and grabbed him. The two pushed back and forth, and finally went out together.

It didn't take much effort for the two to come back. Two smoked chickens, two bottles of soju, and fruits that the children like to eat were all forcibly bought by Jiang Heshui. Needless to say, the couple is grateful.

It was dark outside. Sister-in-law Zhang brought the stewed tofu, cabbage and fatty meat slices to the table. Jiang Heshui asked Sister-in-law Zhang to tear apart the smoked chicken and give a few thighs to the child.

Several children ate very satisfied, and Jiang Heshui remembered Xiao Suiyuan when he looked at it, so he took out his mobile phone. Since his retirement, his mobile phone has always been turned off, and the 100 yuan phone bill does not know how many months it can be used. He went out early in the morning, and he didn't know how anxious his family should be? He quickly opened his mobile phone and reported that he was safe.

The two brothers chatted while drinking. Lao Zhang was ashamed of himself in front of the rivers and rivers, saying that he had been a soldier in vain in those years, and he didn't catch anything, and he didn't even mix up a party member. Jiang Heshui is also modest, saying that only in troubled times can heroes be produced, and his luck is good and he has encountered it.

Jiang Heshui did not leave this place that no one wants to visit soon, in fact, it is because of the children in front of him, who feel that they are not a cool story, but a beautiful legend. He didn't dare to ask this and that rashly, for fear of violating other people's taboos, so he could only pay attention with strange eyes.

Lao Zhang also seemed to see his thoughts, "Guess how old these children are?"

Jiang Heshui distinguished it with great interest, and divided the eldest, second and third according to his face: "The youngest is at most eleven or twelve years old, right?"

Lao Zhang laughed sullenly, and even Sister-in-law Zhang showed a rare smile. Lao Zhang couldn't help laughing, "The smallest one you said is the biggest, and they're all twenty! Grandma's, no matter how you feed it, you can't grow up." He sighed.

Jiang Heshui smiled stupidly, not knowing what to say. In an instant, his initial feeling for Sister-in-law Zhang was completely refreshed: she was not like the stereotypical rural woman depicted in novels, films and televisions, but her shallow smile wantonly revealed an abnormal beauty that was most easily missed by people. She was indeed an authentic rural woman, and although she was in her fifties, her skin was no rougher than that of the women in the city.

A few children who will never grow up are destined to be cared for all their lives from the moment they come into this world.

Lao Zhang's words box couldn't be closed as soon as it was opened, and he entrusted the unforgettable things and dishes he had for more than 20 years to the rivers and rivers.

In more than 20 years, the two families have found 16 abandoned babies. The first two were not only raised as adults, but also for college. But after they learned to be self-reliant, they evaporated from the world and never came back. The two also have a pair of biological children, and one of them went to college. As a result, the children are haunted, and after they start a family, they gradually drift away from their parents and do not interact with each other. The two of them were very sad about this, especially Sister-in-law Zhang. Fortunately, she has a big heart, but her words are getting less and less.

Sadness is sadness, but every time they encounter those little lives that have no one to support, their hearts soften again. During this period, the children who were okay and a little bit like were rushed to be taken away by others. The adopters didn't want to give some money or something, but the two of them never dared to take in the slightest, for fear of losing a bad reputation for child trafficking, and thinking that these children could live decently better than anything else.

The remaining three are getting bigger and bigger, and the road of life is still very slow. Although they don't have any extravagant hopes for this world, they just need to be fed and clothed, but what should they do in the future? The two of them often worry about it.

At one time, Lao Zhang wanted to go back to his hometown in Shandong to farm and weave for men and women, and regain his poor and quiet life, but Sister-in-law Zhang did not follow her. The reason is simple: she is afraid that the two children will not be able to find a home if they come back.

Once again, the rivers were deeply touched by real life. What a simple and kind sister-in-law Zhang, an infatuated watch has become her life's thoughts. Those two children undoubtedly lived for the so-called dignity, but the pity is that they did not yet know that the absence of moral dignity is shameless hypocrisy. Facing Sister-in-law Zhang, he didn't know what to say? Originally, he thought that he was already very noble, but in front of these ordinary farmers and scavengers, he was so small and pitiful. Once again, he firmly believed in a philosophy that had puzzled him in the past: greatness comes from the ordinary, and happiness comes from suffering. He remembered the dying words of a person who is not a celebrity: life is originally not happy, and what we usually call happiness is actually dedication to others.

When it comes to mothers, sister-in-law Zhang is the greatest, and when it comes to friends, Lao Zhang is the most trustworthy. Jiang Heshui was secretly glad that he had met the couple.

Lao Zhang also told Jiang Heshui that since he dispelled the idea of returning to his hometown in Shandong, he took down the acquisition station here last year.

Jiang Heshui remembered what Director Lin once said, that welfare home with good conditions, isn't the welfare home set up for such children? "Brother Zhang, why didn't you send these children to the welfare home at first?"

"Why don't you want to! Some people often persuade me to do that. Lao Zhang looked a little helpless, "But the Civil Affairs Bureau has to take care of me and prove it—the certificate must be signed by four people who saw me picking up the child, otherwise it will be said that I am a superborn guerrilla." Oh my God! I usually pick up my children when the sky is bright, and there is no one else but me? There are still a lot of formalities and so on, and I have to go back to my hometown in Shandong to do it, and I can't afford to toss it! The civil servant who worked in the matter also made an assumption with me: saying that without relevant proof, he could completely think that the child was born to someone else's wife. His grandmother's, I just have that heart, and I don't have that condition, right?"

Lao Zhang opened his words, straightforward and bold, and Jiang Heshui kept laughing. It seems that this big brother Zhang really regards himself as a friend, he thought to himself.

Later, I also figured it out: one sheep is put together, and the two are also put together, and I don't want to get those useless ones again. Lao Zhang said again.

"It's really not easy for you two to be together, it's admirable. Jiang Heshui said sincerely. He looked at the three children and thought to himself that Xiao Suiyuan was undoubtedly lucky, living in heaven under the careful care of his grandfather and grandmother, this world is really unfair. People really can't compare with each other in life, otherwise you may always be a poor worm, and only by comparing with the lower can you feel solid and happy.

"Brother Zhang, will I be an apprentice with you when I catch up with Ming'er?" Jiang Heshui asked Lao Zhang.

When the two of them heard this, they couldn't believe it even if they were beaten to death, and they looked at each other for a while.

"I learn to pick up the rags and send them to you every day, what's the matter?"

Lao Zhang didn't see him like child's play, so he took a hard breath, "This job is cheap, are you really not afraid of losing your identity?"

Jiang Heshui smiled, "What's that? If no one picks up this garbage, isn't the whole world full of garbage? Besides, so we can see each other every day, right?"

Lao Zhang was convinced and decided to help him, and with decades of experience in scavenging, he pointed out a path suitable for him......