Three

Three days before Cen set off pragmatically, the resident group leader Jiang Yizhen came to Cen's house, unlike before, this time she was followed by a lean young man.

"Wen Shu, what's going on with you here, so many materials?" As soon as she entered the courtyard, Jiang Yizhen found that something was wrong: the originally clean yard was full of lime, bricks and tiles, so that the road leading to the house had to be detoured.

"Qiao Daxing from the Housing Management Committee came yesterday and said that our house here has reached its deadline and needs to be repaired. Hearing Jiang Yizhen's loud voice, Zheng Wenshu, who was tidying up the house, came out of the room, "I'm waiting for their construction master." ”

I see. Hearing Zheng Wenshu say this, Jiang Yizhen remembered: Although the houses where the Cen family lives are the same as many households, the property rights are their own, but because they belong to the buildings of the middle Qing Dynasty, they are listed as key cultural relics in Lichuan by the county together with other relatively complete ancient houses in Yahou Street.

"I'm here so early today, so if there's any good news to me? Seeing that Jiang Yizhen was slightly red and panting, Zheng Wenshu made a joke.

"Isn't it?" Hearing her say this, Jiang Yizhen also smiled, "I really have good news to tell you." Then he turned his head and beckoned to the young man standing by the camphor tree in the courtyard: "Come into the house, what are you doing standing outside the door!"

"Isn't this Peng Kai?" Zheng Wenshu took a look and recognized the person.

"Do you know?" Jiang Yizhen was a little surprised.

"How big is Yahou Street, and which guy hasn't studied in the People's Primary School?" Zheng Wenshu thought she was asking a little strangely.

Jiang Yizhen also felt a little funny when he heard this: he actually forgot that Peng Kai had also mentioned on the way to Cen 's house just now that he and Cen Shishi not only studied in the same school in elementary school, but also participated in holiday social activities organized by the neighborhood committee together. She then said, "Since you know him, I won't say anything polite, and I have to ask you for a favor if there is something." ”

"Say it, as long as I can do it. Zheng Wenshu untied the apron tied around her waist and agreed.

"Just like your family's pragmatism, Peng Kai also took the college entrance examination this time, and the test was-" Jiang Yizhen said to Zheng Wenshu, but her eyes looked at Peng Kai.

"East China Institute of Water Conservancy. Seeing that Jiang Yizhen forgot for a while, Peng Kai hurriedly took over the conversation on the side.

"Okay," Zheng Wenshu was very happy for Peng Kai when she heard this, and couldn't help but look at him again, "I heard my old Cen say that it was a very good school." ”

"It's good, it's good, but it's not entangled. Jiang Yizhen is quick to speak.

"Then you have to find a way to hurry up and not delay school. When Zheng Wenshu heard this, she was a little anxious for Peng Kai.

"I still thought of a way, and it was almost solved. Jiang Yizhen said on behalf of Peng Kai.

"That's good. Zheng Wenshu is happy for Peng Kai.

"But we have to ask you to help solve the section from our county to the provincial capital. Jiang Yizhen immediately threw a question.

"I'll solve it?" Zheng Wenshu didn't understand what she meant for a while.

"Ah, that's the case," Jiang Yizhen saw this, and hurriedly explained: "Didn't you say yesterday that you were pragmatic planning to take the boat of the county meat company to deliver pigs and go to the provincial capital by water? ”

I see. Zheng Wenshu understood her intention, and hurriedly said, "Okay, I'll tell Huimin later." ”

"Then it's going to be a hassle for Hui Min. Jiang Yizhen thanked Peng Kai on behalf of her, "It's really a shame that she works in a meat company, otherwise there would be no way." ”

"It's all neighborhood, as it should be. Zheng Wenshu thinks it's not a big deal, "It's just that there are a lot of people who have to go to school for a while, and I don't know if I can go there." ”

"It doesn't matter, if you can get on, if you can't, we'll think of other ways. "Jiang Yizhen is very refreshing.

"Yes. "Peng Kai has been screaming, this will open his mouth. However, it can be seen that he still has a lot of hope.

"Okay, Kaizi, you can go back and wait for news," Jiang Yizhen waved at him, "I'm going to stay here for a while." ”

"Okay. Peng Kai agreed, turned his head to Zheng Wenshu and said, "Then I will thank Zheng's mother." ”

"No thanks. Zheng Wenshu smiled and nodded, watching Peng Kai leave. Watching Jiang Yizhen instruct Peng Lei arrogantly, just like instructing her own son, she felt very interesting. She had long decided that in Yahou Street, Jiang Yizhen was the most acceptable. This is not only because this woman is enthusiastic about public welfare, easy to fight grievances, but also outspoken and quick to deal with things, and never hides it. It's not easy to say that this woman is not easy, her parents died since she was a child, although she was adopted by her cousin with her sister, she actually grew up eating hundreds of meals, and although she married Lao Jia is a good person, she is a poor clerk, and she has no long things, but she also suffers from chronic nephritis, and drags a medicine jar all year round.

"Wen Shu, you said that some people are really inexplicable," looking around at no one, Jiang Yizhen sat on the chair and complained, "Children's affairs, what are you doing so much?

"What's wrong?" Listening to Jiang Yizhen's brainless words, and seeing the obvious unhappiness on her face, Zheng Wenshu was a little confused.

"What else can happen? Isn't it that the Feng family doesn't agree with my second child and his daughter to be friends!" It can be seen that Jiang Yizhen is really a little unhappy this time.

It turned out to be this, and Zheng Wenshu understood it as soon as she heard it. Due to the poverty of her family, Jiang Yizhen was forced to make a living, so she had to pass her second son Jia Yuan to her husband's shopkeeper Boss Xin in her early years, and changed her name to Xin Weiping. thought that he had found a way out for the kid, but after liberation, Boss Xin's ingredients were classified as capitalists. Although the second son was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University when the class line was not so strict, and made a girlfriend of Feng Qiaoying, who was studying at Shaanxi Normal University, the latter's parents resolutely disagreed.

"You don't have to think so much," thinking of this, Zheng Wenshu comforted Jiang Yizhen, "It's a new society, as long as the child is willing, no matter how much her parents oppose it, this thing can still be done in the end." ”

"That's what I think," Jiang Yizhen said unpleasantly, "but people don't give up." ”

"Don't give up?" Zheng Wenshu was really a little puzzled this time.

"Yes, Qiaoying's mother suddenly ran to our Lao Jia unit yesterday and reprimanded him face to face, and I must make him promise to take care of our son and stop pestering her daughter, making our Lao Jia so aggrieved. ”

"That's too much. Hearing this, Zheng Wenshu also felt unacceptable. Although she didn't know much about Jiang Yizhen's second son, she had also heard that Feng Qiaoying, who was in love with him, was originally his high school classmate, and because she admired his good grades and liked him to be honest, she not only took the initiative to pursue him, but even applied for colleges and universities in Shaanxi for him. It's a pity that her parents never agreed, and they didn't hesitate to make trouble with Jiang Yizhen and his wife.

"Hmph, the secretary of the commune and the head of the Finance Bureau, I think it's worse than my level. Thinking of her husband's grievances, Jiang Yizhen was angry. In Yahou Street, everyone knows that her Lao Jia is a person who can't do his duty, and he is afraid of breaking his head when the leaves fall on weekdays.

"Forget it, don't be like them," Zheng Wenshu persuaded, "It's your own body when you're angry." ”

"I'm not angry with them, I just feel sorry for Lao Jia. When Jiang Yizhen heard this, her tone softened a lot, and then she said: "I really don't understand, didn't the second girlfriend be born by her mother, why are there so many differences between the two of them." ”

"It seems that you are still satisfied with your future daughter-in-law. In order to relieve the other party's troubles, Zheng Wenshu joked.

"Not really. Jiang Yizhen replied casually, and then laughed. She is telling the truth: Feng Qiaoying is not only beautiful, but also very caring in her speech and deeds, which makes her very happy. Just before the laughter stopped, I heard someone outside the courtyard shouting, "Mother Zheng, is my mother there?"

"Your mom is here. Although the voice of the comer was not loud, Zheng Wenshu still heard who it was. She replied and said to Jiang Yizhen: "Your heart and liver baby is here." ”。

Sure enough, a moment later, Jia Ling, a girl with a slender body and a handsome face, appeared in front of Jiang Yizhen gently, and with her was her aunt and cousin Chu Lan, who was not much older than her.

"Didn't you tell you to finish peeling all the mustard mounds that you haven't finished peeling, why did they come out again?" Jiang Yizhen glared at her daughter, "The pickle factory has been urging it a few times." ”

"I'm not trying to be lazy," Jia Ling explained, although she knew that her mother was just pretending to be majestic: "It was Sister Xingju next door who asked me to come to you to persuade her, and her father was drunk again, smashed a lot of things in her room, and chased her to beat her." If you don't believe me, you ask Sister Lan. ”

"That's right. Chu Lan, who had bright eyes and bright teeth, said.

"And for what? It's been quiet for a few days. Listening to this kind of news, Jiang Yizhen felt that her head was too big.

"Sister Xingju's stepmother doesn't have a brother who is setting up a stall at the west exit of Yahou Street? I heard Sister Xingju say that her stepmother wanted to build a shed in the backyard in order to find a place for her brother to pile up sundries, and yesterday she found a few people to make holes in the wall, and Sister Xingju persuaded her not to do this, but she annoyed her stepmother and instigated her father to find her. ”

"Look, it's her stepmother again. When Jiang Yizhen heard this, she said to Zheng Wenshu.

Xingju is right. Hearing Jia Ling say this, Zheng Wenshu felt that this stepmother was too unreasonable. Who doesn't know that for the slightly better houses on Yahou Street, the residents and the housing management committee have signed a protection agreement. I remember that Qiao Daxing, a technician from the housing management committee, once said that the house where Xingju's family lives is older than the yard of their own, and residents can't use axes and saws at will.

"Let's go," Jia Ling urged beside her, "This time Sister Xingju's father is making a lot of trouble, and he is vicious." ”

"Go together?" Jiang Yizhen looked at Zheng Wenshu.

"Me?" Zheng Wenshu was a little hesitant: Tian Xingju's stepmother is used to sprinkling around, she has already heard about it, and besides, she has made an appointment with the housing management committee yesterday to start construction today, and she has to wait for the master here.

"Aren't you also from the mediation team of the neighborhood committee?" Jiang Yizhen said, "Besides, you are more reasonable than me, and Xingju's stepmother has no skin." ”

"W-okay. Zheng Wenshu felt that she couldn't save Jiang Yizhen's face. But at this moment, a sturdy man in his thirties walked in from outside the courtyard.

"What, you want to go out?" Seeing Zheng Wenshu walking out with Jiang Yizhen, Jia Ling, and Chu Lan, the man hurriedly asked, "Didn't I tell you yesterday that the construction would start this morning?"

Jiang Yizhen took a closer look and found that it was Qiao Daxing.

"I have something to do with Aunt Jiang, and I'll be back later. Jung explained.

"There is no one at home, what should we do?" Qiao Daxing was a little unsure.

"Am I still not at ease with your foreman?" Zheng Wenshu explained, "Besides, my old lady is at home. ”

"This time, there are not only master craftsmen, but also a few small workers that I don't even know. Qiao Daxing was still a little hesitant.

"It's okay, Aunt Zheng believes in you, and they don't have anything expensive at home, you can start work. Seeing this, Jiang Yizhen interjected on the side.

"Well, okay. Qiao Daxing hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed. Although he knew that Zheng Wenshu and Jiang Yizhen's two aunts trusted him, he still felt that the workers should explain after they came, and they must not damage the Cen family's private belongings.

"Let's go. Seeing that after Qiao Daxing agreed, while observing the place to be repaired, he wrote something in his small notebook, Jiang Yizhen pulled Zheng Wenshu by the hand.

"Okay. Seeing that Jiang Yizhen was so anxious, and thinking about Tian Xingju's pity, Zheng Wenshu followed her, Jia Ling, and Chu Lan out of their yard and stepped on the alleyway leading to Tian's house. Speaking from the heart, she is very sympathetic and admires Tian Xingju: although this girl's lover who studied in college was beaten as a rightist in five or seven years, sentenced to prison, and has been reforming on a labor camp, she just never gave up, no matter how her father coerced her and her stepmother ridiculed.

The lanes of Yahou Street are paved with regular granite, and there are groups of camphor trees on both sides of the lanes, which looks very refreshing. Because it was still early at this time and there were not many pedestrians, Jiang Yizhen, Zheng Wenshu and others walked on it, and the crisp footsteps of the four of them were heard in the middle of the alley.

"Wen Shu, do you think going to college is a blessing or a curse?" Leaving speechlessly, Jiang Yizhen suddenly asked.

"Why do you think that?" Hearing Jiang Yizhen say this, Zheng Wenshu felt a little confused.

"You say that going to college is a blessing, Tian Xingju's lover studied well in college, and I heard that he was still a party member and the president of the student union, but if he was not careful, he was beaten as a rightist and sentenced to a labor camp; Jiang Yizhen did not wait for Zheng Wenshu to answer the question, but said to herself.

Listening to Jiang Yizhen's words, Zheng Wenshu didn't know how to say it. She thinks that being able to read should be a blessing, at least there should be no such phenomenon as inviting trouble, but she can't tell why some people are blessed and some people are in trouble.

"Hey, I'm not saying you're pragmatic, don't be too careful. Seeing that Zheng Wenshu didn't squeak, Jiang Yizhen suddenly remembered that the Cen family had just received a pragmatic admission notice, and hurriedly explained.

"How could it be. Zheng Wenshu laughed when she heard her say this, "If you want to talk about going to college, who can compare to your family!"

Hearing Zheng Wenshu say this, Jiang Yizhen also felt funny. Speaking of going to college, in Yahou Street, my own family is really powerful. Although the family has never had a scholar in the past, they have never been defeated since the children took the college entrance examination. Outsiders say that her second son is smart, but it is a pity that she passed on to Xin Xi, in fact, she is most proud of her eldest son who is studying at Nankai University, although she does not know what he learned about mathematics and mechanics, but the "three good students" certificate sent home every year has made her get great spiritual satisfaction. Especially when he gave his younger brothers and sisters below, not only did his second son be admitted to college, but Jia Ling's girl was also good. is Chu Lan, the niece she has been taking care of, is also very optimistic.

Unconsciously, the four of them came to the back alley of Yahou Street.

"Hey, I was so noisy just now, why is there no sound at this time?" Just as Jiang Yizhen was thinking about things at home, Jia Ling spoke.

"Yes. Chu Lan also felt strange.

Jiang Yizhen looked up and found that he had arrived at the door of Tian Xingju's house. It's just that there is no sound in the house at this time, and it doesn't seem to be a big noise, and the only thing that is angry is the red flowers that are blooming on the two pomegranate trees at the door, which look very bright against the background of green leaves.

Could it be that Ling'er and Lanzi lied about the military situation? Jiang Yizhen pondered. But this thought only flickered before she denied it herself. Not only is this because the two girls are definitely not the kind of people who talk nonsense, but the scene they see when they enter the house is indeed proof that there was a scuffle here: the tables, chairs and benches in the house are crooked, and the floor is littered with smashed utensils...... To say that it is a mess is not an exaggeration.

Tian Xingju's father and stepmother may be tired of arguing, and they are sitting on the steps and thresholds of the bedroom with a long breath. Especially the father, his face is red, bald and sweaty, and he knows that he has poured a lot of wine at a glance. Seeing Jiang Yizhen, Zheng Wenshu, Jia Ling, and Chu Lan walking into the house, these two people started to make a difference in their hearts. Although they don't like Jiang Yizhen, they have an unspeakable fear of her. Just for the sake of face, Fang insisted on looking directly at the other party, which means that you don't have to worry about your own affairs.

Jiang Yizhen had already pulled her face down. She looked at the pair of living treasures coldly, and saw that their hearts were furious.

Zheng Wenshu knew that Jiang Yizhen had something to say, so she stood beside her and didn't squeak.

Sure enough, after the two of them couldn't withstand the forced gaze of the majestic gaze, and lowered their heads, Jiang Yizhen spoke: "What about Xingju?"

"Ran. Xingju's father didn't want to answer, but he couldn't resist Jiang Yizhen's majestic question.

"Where did you go?" Jiang Yizhen didn't give him a chance to breathe.

"Who knows?" Father Xingju will really be powerless. Although Jiang Yizhen's question was simple, it poked at his weakest place. On the surface, he doesn't like his daughter very much, but in fact, he takes it very seriously. He knew that his daughter was diligent and filial, and it was not comparable to the retribution cub born by her stepmother. If you want to say that when you are old, you can really count on her. It's just that he couldn't figure out why such a beautiful and capable daughter let so many young men with good conditions not associate with her, but she had to wait for a prisoner in a labor camp? In his opinion, by doing so, not only did she have no future, but she was constantly ridiculed and ridiculed by those insiders in the unit, and she couldn't raise her head before and after, which was enough to make a fuss.

"If you want me to say, you better go and find it," Seeing that Xingju's father and his wife were still deadlocked there, Zheng Wenshu spoke, "Your Xingju is fierce, if you treat her like this, she won't be able to think about it." ”

Hearing this, Xingju's father was a little panicked: Last year, at this time, his daughter was so embarrassed that she jumped into the pond behind the house because she was slapped twice by him, and she really didn't know what would happen when she saw it.

"Why don't you go find it?" Looking at his obscene appearance, Jiang Yizhen was angry, "Fill cat urine early in the morning, and take out anger on your daughter when you are crazy, virtuous!"

"Find, find, find. Thinking of the scene where his daughter rushed out of the yard crying just now, Xingju's father would no longer be able to hold on. He wiped the cold sweat from his head, bent over, and hurried towards the back of the house.

Jiang Yizhen turned her head and looked coldly at Xingju's stepmother.

It can be seen that Xingju's stepmother is a hundred reluctant, but she doesn't dare to look at Jiang Yizhen, and after snorting, she also moved her bloated body and walked out behind Xingju's father.

"Alas-", looking at the ugly behavior of these two people, Zheng Wenshu couldn't help sighing, and picked up the sundries that had fallen to the ground in the hall.

"Mom, come and see. I don't know when, Jia Ling ran to the backyard of the Tian family.

Hearing her call, Jiang Yizhen, Zheng Wenshu and Chu Lan walked over.

"Oops, how did you get like this?" Zheng Wenshu was taken aback by the mess in the backyard: two large holes had been carved into the white back wall of the front room. Leaning on the purlin poking in the middle of the hole, a herringbone shed was erected crookedly. Due to the fact that the shed had to be settled, a lot of flowers and trees in the backyard were shoveled, and those that were not shoveled were also trampled around, scattered among them were a mess of wood chips and brick slag.

"It's too unusual!" Jiang Yizhen didn't look at it, and was very annoyed after seeing it. This is not only because the house where the Tian family lives is one of the few old houses in Yahou Street, but also because this house is public, they have no right to move the land without permission.

"It's okay to build indiscriminately, but they are still bullying Sister Xingju, is it wrong for her not to let them do this?"

"Why do you say there is such a big difference between people?" Listening to her daughter's words, and thinking of Xingju's father and stepmother, Jiang Yizhen sighed towards Zheng Wenshu, "Your principal Cen is also a stepfather, but he is too good to say to Huimin, why is this mother-in-law so ruthless, and she wants to instigate her husband to beat and scold his ex-wife's daughter every once in a while!"

"Why? I didn't study, I don't understand the reason," listening to her mother's question, Jia Ling replied, "It's all like Uncle Cen, this Yahou Street must be harmonious and safe." ”

"Yo, girl, you're really on the point. Hearing this, Jiang Yizhen felt very reasonable. She turned to Zheng Wenshu and said, "It seems that this study is still good, and it can't be said that if something happens to Xingju's lover, everyone else will cause trouble." ”

"Not really. Hearing Jiang Yizhen say this, Zheng Wenshu agreed. When she heard Jiang Yizhen's question about going to college, her heart also rippled slightly, but after thinking about it for a while, she finally strengthened her previous concept. She thinks that her husband's insistence on letting children read more books is right, because it is better to have more knowledge. Not to mention anything else, it was because I studied in the poor night school for two years and knew a few words, so I could do something in the street palm factory and help Lao Cen support his family.

"It's just-" Just when Jiang Yizhen and Zheng Wenshu thought that Jia Ling was reasonable, Chu Lan burst out a half-sentence next to him.

"Just what?" Jiang Yizhen asked with a glance back at her.

"It's just that Sister Xingju is also responsible for this matter, and her father can't be blamed entirely," Chu Lan hesitated for a moment, but still said her thoughts.

"Being beaten for no reason, Xingju is still responsible?" Hearing this, Jiang Yizhen was a little strange, "Lanzi, you're not mistaken, right?"

"Auntie, I knew you would ask me like this," Chu Lan glanced at Jiang Yizhen and said, "If you want me to say, Sister Xingju's responsibility lies in the fact that she meets someone she likes and doesn't care about anything!"

"Girl, why are you talking?" Hearing Chu Lan say this, Jiang Yizhen was even more surprised, "Don't you and Lingling often say that love should be loyal?

"She is loyal to love, but she loves someone she shouldn't love. Chu Lan looked directly at Jiang Yizhen, "I know that the other party is a criminal, but I still have to wait for him, isn't this an unstable class position? At least it is a mistake." Of course, her father shouldn't have done this to her, and he should have persuaded education. After a pause, he added, "Especially that stepmother, it's quite annoying." ”

"You-" Hearing Chu Lan say this, Jiang Yizhen didn't know what to say for a while. It seems reasonable to say that she is not right, but I always feel that it is not the case. She couldn't help but set her eyes on Zheng Wenshu.

Seeing Jiang Yizhen's gaze that was obviously about listening to her own opinion, and finding that Chu Lan was also looking at her inquiringly, Zheng Wenshu was a little hesitant. She actually didn't agree with Chu Lan's statement, but she felt that she couldn't refute it, and this girl was the daughter of Jiang Yizhen's deceased sister, even if she didn't agree with her opinion, she couldn't be too straightforward, which hurt her face. After thinking about it, he could only pretend to be deaf and dumb, as if he didn't understand Jiang Yizhen's meaning. It's just that when she continued to maintain her usual smile on her face, her heart was a little flustered. She had already discovered that this Chu Lan was not only handsome, but also had a lively head, and seemed docile in front of Jiang Yizhen, but she was actually a very assertive girl. With this kind of character, there may be actions that Jiang Yizhen did not expect in the future. Of course, it is difficult to say whether this is good or bad, and at this moment, Jiang Yizhen, who has been raising her for five or six years, has not realized it.