After coming out of the recycling office, Cen Xinrui didn't care about the changes in Lichuan County, and went straight back to his home on Yahou Street.

Walking into the laneway of Yahou Street through the archway, Cen Xinrui felt both familiar and unfamiliar. What is familiar is the laneway or those lanes, the trees are still those trees, and the strange thing is that the houses on both sides of the lanes have changed a lot, either the windows on the wall facing the street have been opened, or the yard has built a new residence, especially among the people who come and go, there are many faces that they don't know, and at a glance they know that they are new residents who moved in after going to Baling Lake.

Witnessing all this, Cen Xinrui suddenly had a feeling of not being very comfortable.

"Hey, isn't this a new talent?" At this moment, a familiar voice came from behind him.

Is it Mother Jiang? Cen Xinrui turned his head. Sure enough, it was Jiang Yizhen.

"Mother Jiang, hello!" Cen Xinrui stopped and called out very respectfully. He found that although the other party walked and talked as before, he was obviously old.

"Oops, you've grown taller again," Jiang Yizhen was a little surprised when he looked at Cen Xinrui, who was obviously much taller than herself, "You seem to have not been home for more than a year." ”

"Yes. Hearing Jiang Yizhen ask, Cen Xinrui answered honestly. In the more than three years of decentralization, he has only returned home twice in total, so much so that every time his grandmother saw him, she tearfully held his hand and refused to let go. It is said that Balinghu Commune is not too far from Lichuan County, and it was connected to the highway last year, so it is possible for him to go home often to see, but because the county educated youth office has repeatedly emphasized that the educated youth must insist on doing revolution in the countryside, and cannot run home at every turn, as if they will never cut the umbilical cord, plus he also wants to gain the trust of the organization through his good performance and get the opportunity to recruit workers, so he has to force the desire to go home in his heart.

"You go to the countryside to have-" Jiang Yizhen asked tentatively

"It's been more than three years. Cen Xinrui replied calmly.

"It's so fast," Jiang Yizhen sighed, "People are taller and stronger, but it's not a way to keep doing this." ”

"Stay up, there are some things that you can't rush to come. Listening to Jiang Yizhen's words, Cen Xinrui felt the same way. But at this moment, after all, he is three years older than when he went to the countryside, not to mention that his thoughts are much more mature, and he is a lot more restrained in terms of emotions alone, so he responded lightly.

"Yes. Jiang Yizhen nodded. Although her family does not have children to go to the countryside, she still has some understanding of the situation of Cen Xinrui's group, after all, she is a resident group leader, and those parents who have educated youth in the family will confide their worries and worries to her from time to time.

"Where does Sister Jia Ling work now?" Cen Xinrui asked out of etiquette and concern for his young partner. In his mind, Jia Ling is a very good girl in all aspects, even when she was a Red Guard, she didn't behave too out of line. During his days in Baling Lake, as long as he thought of Yahou Street, her image would naturally appear in his mind like other familiar neighbors.

"Ah, she is now in Qingjiang Machine Tool Factory, first worked in the workshop for a while, and then transferred to the propaganda department of the factory. When it comes to her baby girl, Jiang Yizhen is very happy.

"Have you got a family?" Cen Xinrui asked again.

"Not yet, but a friend has it, it was introduced by a colleague, in the Guangzhou army. ”

"Ah, what about Sister Chu Lan?" Since Jia Ling was asked, Cen Xinrui couldn't help but ask another girl from the Jiang family.

"Her work hasn't been scheduled yet, but it's almost connected. Jiang Yizhen replied briefly. Without waiting for Cen Xinrui to ask another question, he said: "You haven't gone home yet, go back quickly, your mother and grandmother are talking about you every day." ”

"Okay. Looking at Jiang Yizhen's expression, Cen Xinrui was a little puzzled, you must know that when she usually sees him, she has to say that she is very angry and affectionate, how can she be very happy when she talks about Jia Ling, but when she mentions Chu Lan, she seems to be a little unhappy? But he didn't say anything at the moment, so he waved his hand to the other party, and walked in the direction of his home. He thought as he walked, wondering how his mother and grandmother would feel when they knew that they had come back suddenly, especially Lin Hongying was willing to help him return to the city. He thought they would be taken aback. It's just that he never thought that it was him who his mother and grandmother were talking about at home at this time.

"Mom, what do you think I'm doing today, my eyelids keep jumping like this?" asked Zheng Wenshu, who was cleaning up the dishes and chopsticks in the kitchen, to her mother-in-law in the hall.

"Which eye?" asked Mrs. Cen, who was sitting facing the doorway, leaning sideways.

"Left eye. ”

"The left eye jumps wealth, the right eye jumps disaster," Mrs. Cen got up from the chair with a little difficulty, and slowly walked to the kitchen, "Could it be that there is something happy today?"

"Really?" Hearing her mother-in-law say this, Zheng Wenshu didn't believe it. But just as she was cleaning her last rice bowl, a call came from the door-

"Mom, grandma, I'm back. ”

"Isn't this a new talent?" Although Mrs. Cen was dizzy with old eyes, her ears were fine, and she knew who was coming to her side when she heard the familiar voice. She trembled forward, grabbed her grandson who was walking towards her, and took his arm around her arms.

Zheng Wenshu heard it in the kitchen and hurriedly walked out. Seeing his sturdy son, he was very happy in his heart, and he didn't know what to say for a while, and after a while, he asked: "Have you eaten, if you haven't eaten, Mom will make it for you." ”

"I've eaten it. Cen Xinrui pressed his mother's hand and signaled her not to be tired.

"Where did you eat?" Zheng Wenshu was still a little uneasy, she knew that the child was always afraid of being tired.

"At Lin Hongying's. ”

"Lin Hongying, isn't she working in the Food Bureau now, why did you go to her place to eat?" Hearing that her son was eating at Lin Hongying's, Zheng Wenshu was a little strange. She knew that he had never been very interested in this girl, and he would not have a relationship with her easily.

"Oh, that's it. Looking at her mother's inquiring eyes, Cen Xinrui knew that she had questions in her heart, so he helped her sit down with her grandmother and told her why she returned to Lichuan County.

It turned out to be the case, hearing him say this, Zheng Wenshu understood, but immediately thought of a question: "What are you going to do?"

"I just want to listen to your opinion," Cen Xinrui looked at his mother earnestly, "If I want to say it myself, it's better not to return to the city like this." ”

"Why?"

"I don't want to go down this path. Cen Xinrui said. Raising his eyes and seeing his mother's puzzled expression, he explained: "If you return to the city due to illness, you can leave Baling Lake, but this is a fraud, it is obviously a violation of the policy, if you don't find out, it's okay, if you find out, you will be sent back, and it will affect Lin Hongying." Besides, if you can't find a job for a long time, there is no point in recycling, and you can't be so old and have to be supported by your father and you. ”

Hearing her son say this, Zheng Wenshu didn't say anything for a while.

"That-" Mrs. Cen took her heart on the side, "If you don't come back this time, will there be a chance to return to the city in the future?"

"I can't say that," Cen Xinrui said, "but there is no endless road, and I don't think we will stay in the countryside for the rest of our lives." ”

Hearing him say this, Mrs. Cen didn't know what to do, so she could only turn her eyes to her daughter-in-law for solving.

Seeing that her son and mother-in-law were all looking at her, Zheng Wenshu obviously felt the pressure: Applying for sick retirement will naturally exempt her from the hardships of working in the countryside, but what can she do if she returns to the city without a job? Even if she has the opportunity to recruit and enroll students, she does not know what year she will wait for. Besides, Cen Huanian was not at home, so he asked himself to answer him alone, and he didn't know the bottom of his heart.

Seeing that his mother didn't say anything for a long time, Cen Xinrui knew that it was difficult for her to answer her own questions, so he said to her in a decisive tone: "Mom, don't think about it too much, let me decide this matter myself." ”

"Then listen to you. Seeing her son say this, Zheng Wenshu could only agree. However, she still expressed her thoughts: "Xinrui, what you just said makes sense, and my mother is convinced." But you have to be mentally prepared not to be able to return to the city for a long time, and you must know that waiting for recruitment and enrollment in the countryside, I don't know what year and month it is, especially if you are getting older day by day, many practical problems will come to you. After a pause, he said, "However, no matter what decision you make, your family will understand you and support you." As long as we are not driven away, Yahou Street and this house will always be your place to stay. ”

"Thank you, Mom," Hearing this, Cen Xinrui was very moved, "When the recycling office goes to work in the afternoon, I will go to Lin Hongying to reply to the letter." ”

"There's no need to be in such a hurry, on the contrary, I'm already back, so let's stay for two days and then go back to Baling Lake." Seeing her son's anxious appearance, Zheng Wenshu persuaded. After a pause, he said: "Mom knows that you didn't want to associate with Lin Hongying in the past, but she is still good to you, so whether you accept help from others or not, you must remember that others are good." ”

"I know. Cen Xinrui should admit it.

"Your father has been working in school for more than three years, and the family has not ordered newspapers and periodicals again, why don't you go to Xinhua Bookstore to have a look?" Zheng Wenshu knew that her son liked to read, and suggested.

"Is there any news from Dad recently?" Hearing his mother talk about his father, Cen Xinrui hurriedly asked. The last time he went home, Zheng Wenshu told him that his father had good luck in the cadre school, because the worker propaganda team member who was responsible for taking care of the students in the education field was Lao Liu, a postman from the Post and Telecommunications Bureau, who took good care of him, and the job for the party was cooking, which meant that he didn't have to go to the field.

"Teacher Fan came the day before yesterday, saying that he heard that the cadre school was going to liberate a group of censored cadres recently, and it was likely that your father would be among them. ”

"Really?" Hearing the news, Cen Xinrui was a little excited, but he immediately had some doubts again, because he had heard this kind of news a few times in the past, but when it came to the end, it was another situation, which made people very depressed.

"This time it's probably true," Zheng Wenshu knew what his son was thinking, and hurriedly comforted him: "A few days ago, Lao Peng of the People's Primary School sent clothes to your father and several other people who were also censored, and when he came back, he told me that your father looks good, and he wants us not to worry." ”

"That's great. Cen Xinrui rejoiced.

"Are you going to Xinhua Bookstore?" Zheng Wenshu was happy when she saw her son, and she was also happy in her heart, "Why don't I borrow it for you in Haozhi's country?"

"Forget it, it's time to read books, it's rare for me to come back, so let's do something for the family. ”

"You, your father and your brother are not at home, what can happen?" Seeing Cen Xinrui say this, Mrs. Cen who had been listening to the two of them on the side felt sorry for her grandson, "It's better to listen to your mother, and rest at home for two days." ”

"I'm not tired, grandma. Seeing this, Cen Xinrui turned around to comfort his grandmother, and then said to Zheng Wenshu: "Otherwise, I'll make some lotus coal." ”

"That's fine. Unable to resist her son's kindness, Zheng Wenshu finally agreed, but she told Cen Xinrui, "There is still yellow mud for lotus root coal at home, but loose coal has to be bought at a coal store temporarily." ”

"I'll go now, take advantage of the good weather, buy it and do it. Cen Xinrui thought to himself that his brother was far away, and he should do more for the family.

Just do what you say. Soon, Cen Xinrui sorted out the baskets and carried them to the coal shop. It was also a coincidence that just after weighing the remaining 140 catties of coal in the plan book and preparing to carry it home, he met Shao Yishan, who also came to buy coal.

"I'm going to go to your house after dinner. Seeing Cen Xinrui, Shao Yishan was very happy. Shao Yishan has not seen his friends for nearly two years since he was transferred from a collective household in Baling Lake to a commune on the edge of the county because he was not accustomed to working in the lake area.

"How do you know I'm back?" Cen Xinrui felt a little strange.

Lin Hongying told me. ”

"Why, you're too-"

"Yes, it was Lin Hongying who informed me. ”

I see. At this time, Cen Xinrui understood that in the matter of recovering the decentralized personnel in the town, Lin Hongying did not only care about herself, but also thought of other people. However, he did not feel any discomfort about this, on the contrary, he admired her a little, it seems that she is really a woman who is affectionate and righteous, and dares to act, and can be associated.

"What are you going to do? Are you sick?" Shao Yishan was very concerned about Cen Xinrui's thoughts.

"I don't want to go back to the city like this," Cen Xinrui told his friend frankly, "How can I live without a work arrangement?" There are more than 20 people, so I can't stay at home and gnaw at the old, and you know the conditions of our family, even if my parents are willing to support me, I can't afford to support me." ”

Hearing him say this, Shao Yishan didn't squeak. As a classmate who has been in the same school since kindergarten, he had long thought that Cen Xinrui would make such a decision. No wonder Lin Hongying asked him to do a cutting-edge job when she talked to him, it seems that, like him, she also thought about what decision this classmate would make. In her words, Cen Xinrui has always been arrogant, and it is difficult to accept such an arrangement.

Do you tell him what Lin Hongying asked him to do? Looking at Cen Xinrui, Shao Yishan hesitated. After thinking about it, he felt that he should tell Xinrui about Lin Hongying's conversation with him, no matter whether it was effective or not, at least he should be entrusted with loyalty.

Listening to Shao Yishan's words, Cen Xinrui didn't squeak, but he felt that he couldn't underestimate Lin Hongying anymore.

Looking at Cen Xinrui's thoughtful expression, Hao Yishan didn't know what to say.

"What are you going to do?" Cen Xinrui turned around and asked.

"You know, my body is not good, and I really can't bear it in the countryside. Shao Yishan hesitated.

"Oh, Yishan, what I just said was just about myself, not about you. Hearing him say this, Cen Xinrui immediately realized that his words might have aroused the association of his friends, and quickly explained, "Everyone has their own situation, and it is good that you are willing to return home when you are sick." ”

Hearing Cen Xinrui say this, Shao Yishan nodded, but then asked, "You decided not to retire from illness?"

"Yes. Cen Xinrui told him in the affirmative.

"That's fine. Shao Yishan said that he could understand, but there were still some things he didn't say, that is, he felt that although Cen Xinrui's decision was not a disappointment to Lin Hongying's kindness, he must still be a little disappointed in Lin Hongying. He knew very early on that Lin Hongying liked Cen Xinrui very much, because this guy was too good at reading and was handsome, but what was the use of these! A good student who went to the mountains and went to the countryside was worthless. Besides, didn't Lin Hongying talk to a partner in the army, I heard that she was going to get married soon, couldn't she let go of the original unrequited love at this moment?

"Forget it, let's not talk about it. Cen Xinrui looked up at the sky and said, "The weather is good today, let's hurry up and make lotus root coal, and after dinner in the evening, I will go to your house to talk." ”

"Okay. Shao Yishan saw this, nodded, and walked towards the coal store.

Bidding farewell to Shao Yishan, Cen Xinrui walked home with coal. In the past, he couldn't carry this burden of one hundred and forty pounds, but now it is not very difficult to carry it on his shoulders. It seems that going to the countryside is not without benefits at all, at least, the labor is out, which can be regarded as a compensation for himself, Cen Xinrui thought. But what he didn't expect was that when he walked into the yard with coal, he found that his mother was talking to a woman in her thirties, and looking at the other party, it seemed that it was the newly moved resident surnamed Feng that his mother had said.

"You're a newcomer, aren't you?" She is really familiar, and without waiting for Cen Xinrui to put down her burden, she greeted her.

"Xinrui, this is Director Feng I told you. Zheng Wenshu hurriedly introduced.

"Hello Director Feng!" Cen Xinrui put down his burden and nodded with a smile.

"What Director Feng, it's okay to call me Sister Feng, or Sister Shuhua. Seeing Cen Xinrui call himself like this, Feng Shuhua hurriedly said.

Hearing her say this, Cen Xinrui's heart didn't move. Since he entered society, he has dealt with many public officials, some of whom are very modest, but some of whom are very arrogant, not only speak in a good tone, but also be unhappy if they do not call him a position, for fear that others will not know his identity. Like the one in front of me, it should be said that it is rare, but I don't know if she has this posture because she is a neighbor with her own family.

"You're really diligent, and you'll help the family as soon as you come back. Feng Shuhua walked over, looked at the loose coal that Cen Xinrui had dumped on the bluestone slab in the courtyard, and looked him up and down again. Because Cen Xinrui used to go home during the Chinese New Year, and at that time she and Gui Qinglin took their son to the countryside to reunite with their parents, so they moved to Yahou Street for more than two years, and they only knew his name and did not see him. At this moment, she felt that compared to the photos she saw at Cen's house when she first came, he was more handsome and energetic.

"Yes," Cen Xinrui said earnestly, "I don't come back often, and my mother is getting older day by day, and she is about to lose her mind." ”

"Good filial piety. Feng Shuhua praised. Since she started working, she can't stop dealing with young people, but not all of them can think about their parents like Cen Xinrui, which can't help but make her feel that the other party is a good person. From Cen Xinrui's performance, she even thought that she should educate her little child well in the future, and she couldn't let his grandmother get used to it like before, and it would be too late for him to climb on his parents' heads to and pee.

"Sister Feng, the people in your office are still waiting for you, so let's get busy first, and I will take care of the child for you." Zheng Wenshu said on the side.

"Then I'm going to trouble you again. Feng Shuhua hurriedly thanked him, and then said to Cen Xinrui: "I have something to go out now, let's talk tomorrow - oh, my lover also likes to read, you can definitely talk together." ”

"She's—" Seeing Feng Shuhua waving his hand and walking out with a satchel, Cen Xinrui asked Zheng Wenshu.

"I heard her say that there was a case in Qingxi Commune, which was implicated in our town, and she wanted to rush over to deal with it, and just now she came to tell me that if she came back a little later, she would pick up her child who was in the first grade. ”

Hearing what his mother said, Cen Xinrui shook his head slightly.

"What, what's the problem?" Seeing her son's expression, Zheng Wenshu was a little puzzled.

"Nope. Cen Xinrui hurriedly covered up. ........ (A few hundred words omitted here)

"Rest, rest. Seeing that Cen Xinrui didn't say anything for a while, Zheng Wenshu thought he was tired.

"It's okay," Cen Xinrui looked up, the sky was blue, and a round of warm sun hung overhead, it was a good weather for making lotus coal. "I'll hurry up and make it today. As he spoke, he mixed yellow mud into the loose coal, poured water on it, and stirred it vigorously with a shovel in his hand.

Zheng Wenshu took it from the house to make a mold for lotus root coal, and took a bucket of water to help Cen Xinrui sprinkle water on the place that was not wet enough.

"Mom, it's enough for me alone, you can go and rest. Seeing this, Cen Xinrui hurriedly said.

"Good, good. When Zheng Wenshu heard this, she saw that Cen Xinrui did a very good job, so she didn't need to meddle herself, so she put down the bucket and stood aside. Looking at her son who was busy with work, she had a very complicated mood at this time: by now, he is already twenty-one years old, but he has no work to do, no books to read, and I don't know what the future holds, which can't help but make herself anxious. Look at the many people in Yahou Street, just because there is a way, the children do not need to be decentralized, and they can even find a good job, which makes people stare at them dryly. Isn't it too unfair for others not to say it, just that Yang Qionghua, who obviously has a boy and a girl, and two children, but that boss Hong Xiaoyongleng did not go down, and arranged a job at the county water conservancy bureau? Could it be that the policies promulgated by the state are only effective for Xinrui and Shao Yishan, and cannot control Hong Xiaoyong?

What Zheng Wenshu thinks, Cen Xinrui doesn't know. At this moment, he only feels that the monthly coal plan of the three members of the family is too little, if there is more, he must make more lotus root coal, so that his mother is always worried about cooking rice and boiling water, and sometimes he has to find a way for the eldest sister.