"That's a precious first draft. Zhong Xiu sighed, pinned the hair that blocked the light behind his ears, and began to flip through the content of the novel, and after reading a few lines, he asked again, "The red and blue strokes on this are you proofreading?"

Geng Hao looked at Zhong Xiu reading the novel and said, "Hmm." I saw some help to change. ”

"What type is this?"

"Supernatural suspense. ”

"I like the supernatural suspense genre the most. Zhong Xiu casually sighed in his mood. Geng Hao also believed that she was not false when she said this kind of thing, after all, she was the one who could make up the Jinlan River casually. After reading two or three pages, Zhong Xiu carefully closed the first draft, handed it to Geng Hao with both hands, and his eyebrows were crooked, "If this book is published, can you help me get a copy of it then?" The kind with the author's signature." ”

Geng Hao took the first draft, glanced at the author's name on the cover, and said with a smile: "This shouldn't be a problem." If he had a little conscience, he would definitely have to send two copies of the novel after it was published. ”

"Then I'll wait. Zhong Xiu said happily, his eyes caught a glimpse of the black and gray scarf hanging on the wall, a trace of expectation flashed in his eyes, and asked Geng Hao, "Is that scarf still warm around it?"

Geng Hao turned his head to look at the scarf on the wall. It was in the first snow of winter, Zhong Xiu gave it to him, saying that it was woven by Zhong Ling, and he also brought a pair of cotton boots. Every year in winter, Geng Hao relies on the clothes sent by Zhong Ling to keep out the cold. Hearing Zhong Xiu ask, Geng Hao said sincerely: "It's very warm and comfortable, I didn't expect that the eldest sister not only cooks deliciously, but also has skillful hands." ”

After listening to this, Zhong Xiu pursed his lips and smiled, like a child who has been praised. However, Zhong Xiu has always been like this, hearing others praise her eldest sister and second sister is happier than hearing others praise herself, Geng Hao didn't pay much attention to it, just continued: "It's just ......"

"Just what?" Zhong Xiu's smile stiffened slightly, and he hurriedly asked.

Geng Hao looked at her nervous appearance and said, "It's just that I let Sister Zhong Ling take care of me like this every year, I'm really embarrassed." ”

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. The eldest sister has long regarded you as a family. Zhong Xiu's voice stopped abruptly, picked up the teacup and took a sip of boiling water, "The eldest sister has always regarded you as a younger brother." ”

"I've always regarded my eldest sister as my eldest sister. Geng Hao continued.

Zhong Xiu raised his head slightly, looking at Geng Hao and smiling softly and brightly. Cowpea lay at her feet and took a nap. Geng Hao felt for a while that this year's vigil was much better than last year's, at least at this time there was someone to talk to.

Suddenly, there was a thunderclap outside, which frightened Geng Hao and Zhong Xiu. As soon as the left side started, the right side followed behind. Geng Hao looked at his watch, it was already eleven o'clock, and it was indeed time to set off the cannon.

"It's not too early, so I'll go first. ”

As soon as Zhong Xiu stood up, Geng Hao said, "I'll send you back." When Zhong Xiu was waiting for Geng Hao to put on his coat, he suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly said, "By the way, we are not at home tomorrow, we are going to attend a cousin's wedding, and we can't invite you to eat dumplings at home." ”

"Get married on the first day of the Lunar New Year?" Geng Hao couldn't cry or laugh, and when he went to get the flashlight, he asked again, "Then when will you come back?"

"I shouldn't be back tomorrow. Zhong Xiu was puzzled, "What's wrong? Is there something in the past?"

"Isn't tomorrow your birthday too? Geng Hao said, took out a gift box from the drawer, and handed it to Zhong Xiu, "I can only wish you a happy birthday in advance." I didn't know it was your birthday last time, but this time I prepared a birthday present, and I don't know if you like it or not. ”

Zhong Xiu took the gift in a daze, and it took a long time to react, and he said with a sigh on the edge of the gift box: "Don't be so polite, I usually don't pay much attention to giving birthday gifts when I grow up, so to speak, I have never given you a birthday gift." ”

"I haven't had many birthdays since high school. Geng Hao wiped his neck and said with some embarrassment, "Let's go, I'll send you back?"

Zhong Xiu nodded, called Cowpea, and opened the door to go out first. Cowpea got up lazily, sleepy-eyed, and went out with Geng Hao, who turned off the light and locked the door at the back. At this time, there was a lot less artillery sound outside. Generally, after half past eleven, the artillery is concentrated because it is closer to zero o'clock at that time.

Outside the door, the snow was falling, and clumps of cotton were falling in a flutter. The courtyard in front of the village committee was covered with another layer of snow, and Zhong Xiu's footprints when he came were all covered, leaving only a shallow mark.

There are all kinds of lanterns hanging on the trees on the ramp, since the Mid-Autumn Festival of the previous year, every year, Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and other festivals that need to hang lanterns, the children of Mo Village will make one more lantern and hang it on the tree on the ramp of the village committee. Every time Geng Hao saw these lanterns, he felt a wave of warmth flowing in his chest.

Cowpea was also a little tired at this time, and she followed Zhong Xiu's side very tiredly, dragging her legs forward, leaving small paws on the snow. Seeing this, Geng Hao directly hugged Cowpea. Cowpea nestled in his arms, felt the warmth, and fell asleep again after a while.

Geng Hao and Zhong Xiu both wore hats, and walked carefully in the snow, walking on the road below the ramp, and they were much more relieved and bold. The hardened road is smooth and spacious, and there will be no more unintentional deep mud puddles and unable to pull out your feet. In order to make it easier for vehicles to drive on the road, the snow on the road is melted with a snow melting agent every once in a while.

Walking on the cement road, Geng Hao remembered the muddy path when he first came, and sighed for a while, saying: "This is the third year I have spent in Mo Village, and it has been two and a half years since I came here. The change in Mocun is really big, when I walked on the road of Mocun, it was still a loess road, and I couldn't get off at all. ”

"When you say that, life flies so fast. It's been two and a half years, and I thought I had just graduated. Zhong Xiu couldn't help but follow the feeling, looked up at the highway as one of the signs of the passage of time, and suddenly felt bad in his heart, and asked softly, "This time next year, you will celebrate the New Year at home." ”

Geng Hao suddenly fell silent, also raised his head, looked at Mo Village's appearance, and thought for a long time before answering: "Yes, there is still one year, the contract will expire, and I should leave." If I leave, will Mocun Primary School really be closed?"

"I don't know. Zhong Xiu replied shallowly, his tone full of uncertainty, "It's also possible that there will be a new teacher coming to Mocun Primary School next year, or maybe not, it all depends on luck." ”

Geng Hao pondered for a while and decided to change the subject: "By the way, this highway should have been built to Taoyuan Village a long time ago, right?

"I heard that the project was temporarily suspended due to insufficient funds, and the town will ask the county for some financial subsidies next year, and then continue to build. Think about it, building such a long road, from the county seat all the way to Taoyuan Village, this investment alone is not small. Zhong Xiu said, glancing at the flashlight in Geng Hao's hand again, "I don't know, when will I be able to press the street lamp." ”

"Is the public welfare organization in the county still in contact?" Geng Hao suddenly remembered Gong Na.

Gong Na is a person who loves to make friends, and when she was in Layue, she also asked Geng Hao and He Xiaoxiao to climb Nanping Mountain in the county seat. Geng Hao's birthday gift to Zhong Xiu was also bought at that time, and Gong Na and He Xiaoxiao were specially asked to be staff officers at that time.

Gong Na and He Xiaoxiao's suggestions ranged from clothes and shoes to expensive skin care products, but Geng Hao didn't take them. Although he had said that Zhong Xiu was just his friend, the two of them, the staff officers, obviously meant something else for him. When he was in college, He Fang chased girls by giving these gifts, and Geng Hao saw a lot. Later, Geng Hao decided what birthday gift to buy by himself, but when choosing a style, he asked the two of them to help make suggestions.

Thinking of this, Geng Hao glanced at the gift box in Zhong Xiu's hand again. I don't think there should be any problems, but I still feel a little uneasy.

Zhong Xiu didn't notice Geng Hao's abnormality, but just answered Geng Hao's question seriously: "The public welfare organization is still in contact, but they said that according to the investigation situation, we have to observe it again this year, and we will probably start to arrange it into the funding point candidate next year." ”

Geng Hao said: "It will take so long?"

"Well, they said that there are several more counties than we are, and they all have to be arranged first. In the past two years, our village has been relying on tourism projects to drive development, which can be slowed down temporarily. Zhong Xiu said and was worried again, "I don't know if this tourism project will work, I always feel that it is not particularly reliable." ”

"Aren't you still planting trees? If tourism is unreliable, it should be no problem for you to plant trees to get rich. Geng Hao encouraged.

The two of them were not in a hurry, they walked slowly, and after a few minutes, the villagers on both sides of the road began to fire cannons again, and Geng Hao and Zhong Xiu had to hide.

When he was about to send Zhong Xiu, Geng Hao suddenly said, "Do you want to open the gift now and see if you like it?"

"Look now?" Zhong Xiu checked the heavy box in her hand, and under Geng Hao's affirmative gaze, she opened the gift box, and the first thing that caught her eye was her repeater, and there was a small boxy pink box next to it, guessing what jewelry should be in it through the shape of the gift box. Zhong Xiu didn't rush to open the jewelry box, but just asked, "Don't you use this repeater?"

"This repeater means a lot to you, and it won't be good if you really break it if you use it again. I've already bought a new one, so you might as well keep it. Geng Hao explained with a smile.

Zhong Xiu glanced at Geng Hao and said suspiciously, "Do you know the meaning of this repeater?"

Geng Hao choked for a while, remembered Director Mo's words, and said not to tell Zhong Xiu, his mind quickly turned, and he said vaguely: "I guess." ”

Zhong Xiu didn't pursue it anymore, reached out and picked up the small pink gift box, and Geng Hao helped her hold the big box. Inside the small box is a silver metal watch with a thin chain, which is very delicate and beautiful. Zhong Xiu was a little surprised, her watch was broken, and she always wanted to buy a new one, but she didn't have time to pick it up in the city, so she didn't expect Geng Hao to give it to her first.

"This watch is beautiful, thank you!"