The next evening, when I came back from sketching, Lao Zhao and Ah Guang were in the studio of the cultural station, sorting out the details of the sketch. On the wall behind Da Niu's desk, hang two lines of Wang Wei's poems written by him in Han Li:

Prime Minister Bai knows how to press the sword

Zhu Men laughed early

I asked Da Niu, "Why are you so lost?"

"Alas, this world is like this, it's better to do more than to say more, to be able to pat on the back, to flatter, to dare to eat and take, are all appreciated by the leaders. I've been working for more than ten or twenty years, but I can't mention it. Many classmates in high school and college, some of them are now professors, directors, and station directors, and I, the head of the small cultural station in Sanjiang Town, are also looked down upon. Even Ah Gou'er, since he became the secretary of Sanyuan Village, has looked down on people, and sometimes he doesn't respect people when he speaks. Alas, the way of the world has changed!" Da Niu smiled bitterly, took a sip of tea, and then continued: "Hello, I heard that in Shenzhen, you started your own business and developed well, and later, when you earned enough living expenses, you played what you liked, and lived a detached and chic life! I envy you, the great painter, and the classmates are all like this? Is it true?"

"Isn't it just life? Maybe you only see me on the surface, people have two sides. You may not be able to see other aspects of me? In the depths of the heart, you can't see it...... Or, it doesn't have to be nice on the surface, but bitter on the inside. Everyone just sees the appearance, I see hello, you see that I am also very good. However, on the other hand, my inner world, the depths of my soul, may not be like this for others to see every day? It may be very hard, or maybe? Just like a person who is very gentle on the surface, he may not be very strong and irritable in his heart. A person who is quiet on the surface, but has a wild heart, right? ”

I didn't necessarily understand what I said, he seemed indifferent, just smoking. From time to time, he also used one hand to touch his toes, as if he had "Hong Kong feet"? It seemed to be scratching an itch, and after scratching the itch, he also took the itchy hand to his nose and smelled it. He saw that I was looking at him, felt embarrassed, looked at me with a blush, and smirked at me. I can't talk about him, but I can't see that he is uncomfortable, so Da Niu scratches his itchy hands in the tea, and he doesn't bother to wash his hands and clean them. When I saw it, I just shook my head and smiled bitterly, and I didn't dare to drink the tea he brewed anymore. Da Niu suddenly remembered something, chased after me and asked:

"After so many years, after you went to Shenzhen, I couldn't see you, why was you under Xue'er and her father at that time, and you did a good job, why did you suddenly go to Shenzhen?"

Da Niu's words also made my thoughts, back to that innocent era, I chatted with Da Niu about the year-

In the year I graduated from junior high school, because of Xue'er's stubbornness, Xue'er's father decided to give me a public assignment quota to go to the county's training class on the basics of fashion design. After graduating from junior high school, I was fortunate enough to be sent by the town garment factory to study design for half a year, and then came back to be her father's master. It was a good job at the time. Working in the technical room of the commune's garment factory, with a fixed salary of 34 yuan per month, in the countryside in the early eighties, it was really the envy of many people. At that time, the secretary and mayor's salary was only forty-eight yuan per month, and Xue'er's father was only the highest forty-eight yuan in the whole factory, according to the treatment of the mayor and secretary.

Of course, when Cher introduced me to her father, she just said that she found that there was such a person among ordinary classmates who could draw some pictures.

In this way, I have the opportunity to meet with Cher every weekend, and the design work I am doing is actually not complicated, on each clothing sample, design some patterns such as flowers, grasses, insects and fish, and after the design is completed, Cher and her father will check the final draft.

In my spare time, I also insist on painting, and her father often praises me: my mind is easy to use, I am eager to learn, I can draw well, and the design patterns are particularly popular with Hong Kong customers. She also continued to write, and also published some prose works in the city newspaper. Of course, Cher sometimes comes back on weekends and secretly gets some handicrafts in the factory to do, mainly cutting the shapes of cloth dolls or small animals, which can be pasted on children's clothes, so that she can earn more than 20 or 30 yuan a month. Most of the money I earn is used to buy me some brush, ink, rice paper, Chinese painting paints, and occasionally some reference books and reference books for me.

In short, Xue'er thinks about me everywhere! Sometimes Xue'er helps me make my share of hand-cut cloth, so that I can buy more time to learn to paint, and I don't know if it was through her uncle or some way, she got a print of the eighty-seven fairy pictures, and said that I should copy it. During that time, Cher was almost always frugal, and the money she saved was given to me almost when she was boarding at school. She asked me to use my monthly salary as much as possible for the family, and she knew that my mother was not in good health and had to take medicine all the time. As soon as Cher has any pocket money left, or some money to earn some handicrafts, she will keep it for me. And every weekend, when Cher came back from school for these two nights, Cher always thought of a way to be with me, so that I could buy time to paint more, and I could see that Cher had always been on me.

In this way, after high school, her academic performance began to deviate from the subject, and even dropped a lot. I advised her not to help me like this, but Cher just wouldn't listen, saying that I was her everything, and she was willing to do it. At that time, every night, I would write a diary to record my affairs with Cher, and I often wrote to her in my diary, preparing to give her this diary full of love for Cher when the time came.

Next to the half-moon pond in the village, under the big banyan tree, and under the kapok tree at the Hanjiang wharf, we have left a beautiful memory of the moon before the flower. At that time, the two of us were in love for the first time, and we often looked forward to the future. Cher said that her biggest dream is to be with me all the way, to see me work hard to become a real painter. If I can succeed, she is willing to put in as much effort as she wants, it is worth it, and she can even support me without studying and go all out to support me behind the scenes. As long as I am willing to work hard, pursue and persevere, she will definitely make selfless dedication and support to the end! In her heart, she has already put me first. Our love is pure and noble, and we encourage each other.

During that time, we talked about the topic of literature, calligraphy and painting, and Xue'er often talked about Lin Weiyin and Jin Xuelin, she said that Lin Weiyin was really happy, Xu Zhimo, Liang Sicheng, and Jin Xuelin all loved her, and Jin Xuelin never married for her!

Occasionally, Cher would talk about her uncle's Pengcheng factory, and one night on a date under the kapok tree on the dock, Cher said to me:

"Han Zhe, I heard my dad say that my uncle is very short of design talents, my dad said that after nearly a year of sample design, your ability can be completely independent, and the pattern of the design is also very fashionable, very popular with Hong Kong customers, it seems that you are interested in letting you go to Uncle Pengcheng's company to help. ”

I thought to myself: If I go to Pengcheng, what will be the result of my love with Xue'er? I have just stepped out of society, and I am really grateful to Xue'er from the bottom of my heart to have this kind of working environment! At that time, we both felt very good, Xue'er became more and more temperamental, that kind of temperament that came out of my bones! More and more beautiful, I fell in love with Xue'er more and more. But I wasn't ready to leave Cher. I said to Cher:

"Cher, I don't want to leave you. ”

Xue'er didn't speak, lowered her head as if thinking about something, and then said emotionally: "I don't want you to leave me, I don't know why?" At school, I often think about you, and I have to go back to school every Sunday afternoon, I am a little reluctant, if you go to Pengcheng, I may not be able to read." ”

"Xue'er, it's good if I don't go to Pengcheng. ”

Xue'er said: "Otherwise, I'll go to Uncle Pengcheng's company with you, and I won't study." ”

I didn't respond to Cher's words, I just looked at Cher silently and affectionately. The two of them looked at each other, and they didn't seem to be in a very good mood all of a sudden, and they were a little worried.

On the way back, I kept thinking: as soon as Xue'er arrived in high school, her grades were so bad, and her grades were much worse, not as good as when she was in junior high school, it must have been influenced by me. I asked myself: Is it because Cher is always trying to help me and affecting her studies? Her father devoted himself to the production management of the garment factory, and the company of Uncle Xue'er in Pengcheng had a very sufficient supply of goods, which at that time, the garment factory in Sanjiang Town was still the most famous processing enterprise in the county.

Cher's bad grades also made her mother a little relieved, and sometimes came to urge her. Once her mom finally found out about some of my delicate relationship with Cher.

After Xue'er went to high school, I would go outside the garment factory every Friday night to wait for Xue'er to come back, because at that time there was no bridge in Sanjiang Town, and it was a boarding system to go to high school outside the town, and Xue'er came back late every Friday night, and I would go to the dock every time to wait for her and help her push her bicycle, for fear that she would work hard. The ferry boat and the shore are only a piece of fir trees 40 or 50 centimeters wide, 7 or 8 meters long, and about 10 centimeters thick. Xue'er is weak, and I'm really afraid that she will accidentally fall into the river. And every Sunday afternoon, when Cher goes back to school, I will also take her to the ferry, and after giving her her bicycle to the ferry, I can come back with confidence.

One night I took Cher back to the garment factory, and Cher came back to live in the factory. That night, when we arrived a few dozen meters away from the factory gate, we habitually separated, and when we were about to enter the factory one after the other, we were all stunned for some reason why her mother suddenly appeared in front of us. Cher's mother watched me push Cher's bike, talking and laughing with Cher. With a dark cloud on his face, he walked over fiercely, cleanly, grabbed the bicycle I was pushing, pushed it himself, and pushed me away from Xue'er. Her sudden movement startled both Cher and me, and she was so angry that she didn't speak, maybe because she was on the street? I was stunned for a moment, and the word "auntie" couldn't be called all the time, and Xue'er and her mother walked briskly in front of her. After Cher called out to her mother, she could only quickly follow her mother. Then when Cher turned to look at me, I noticed that her eyes were red and tears had clearly fallen.

At this time, I was like a useless thing for people to throw on the street, and I stood on the road and didn't know where to go. There were also strange eyes all of a sudden, as if I was a thief who had stolen something from someone else, and was suddenly exposed to the sun and had nowhere to hide. I began to feel uneasy in my heart, and walked back with difficulty, thinking along the way: I wonder how Xue'er's mother will scold Xue'er at night? Will I be okay with Xue'er again? Will Xue'er's father quit me if he finds out?

When I returned to the factory that night, I didn't care about eating, so I secretly ran to the door of Xue'er's father's room, although the door was closed, her mother's voice was faintly heard inside:

"No wonder your academic performance is so poor, it turns out that you are in love, and you are still helping to work to earn money! Our family doesn't need you to earn money! My good daughter. When did you start? Did you start junior high school? I wondered how could I suddenly recommend a talent to your father? It turns out that he really does not shy away from his relatives! He went to study in the county and gave him the family's bicycle to use.

Xue'er's mother spoke in a very angry tone, and her voice was very loud, and Xue'er didn't dare to reply, so her father interjected at this time:

Although his family is poor, he is very studious, very hardworking, intelligent, talented, and more valuable is that he is conscientious, responsible, persevering, and persevering. If he works his own, or meets a famous teacher for guidance, he will become a great weapon in the future! But Cher, but at this stage, you are in high school, preparing for the university entrance examination, not the time to fall in love. ”

When I heard Cher's father's words, my heart was so moved that I burst into tears! I secretly warned myself: I must not let down Cher. Just listen to her mother continue:

"I said her father, you better let Hanzhe go, I don't want him to continue here, if he doesn't leave Xue'er, I can't let go, he will ruin our Xue'er's academic performance." Lao Zhang, you really have to find a way to let Hanzhe go, Xue'er is in love too early now, it will ruin her studies. ”

Xue'er pleaded at this time: "Dad, don't be like this, Hanzhe is a very self-motivated person, he can't continue to study because his family is poor, I know him very well." He has always been very good to me, we usually encourage each other when we get together, it is not as serious as you think, he will give me confidence and give me strength. ”

Cher's mother said, "That's not a reason. ”

Xue'er said sincerely: "Mom and Dad, Hanzhe will not be a simple person in the future! I just thought of a way to help her, Dad, do you remember that the book "Mustard Seed Garden Painting" you gave me back then, I gave it to Hanzhe, and since then, my daughter has remembered Hanzhe in her heart. If you insist on getting him away, maybe I won't be able to read even more. As soon as he leaves, no matter where he goes, his daughter's heart will follow him there, maybe I will also be desperate to chase him? Dad, you still help him, he needs this job, he needs your help. ”

As soon as Cher said she liked me, her mother became even more angry. Said with a face:

"What is there to like, what is the reason, his family is so poor, Lai Toad wants to eat swan meat, don't think about it. ”

"Mom, if you like someone, you like it, you don't need a reason! When my father was sent to you, he was nothing, and he was also a poor boy, didn't you still fall in love with my father with your aunt? Hanzhe will not let me down! Even if he is sorry for me in the future, my daughter is willing to do it, and it is my daughter's own life, Dad. Cher begged her dad again.

"Lao Zhang, look at it, I'm in high school, I'm more organized in my speech, and I'm sarcastic, how can this daughter raise her like an outsider, and she only cares about others. I said no, no, he had to get out of here. Cher's mother said categorically.

Cher choked up when she said this, and I heard tears streaming down my eyes outside the door, and my chest was a little hot. It's the first time I've heard these words, and she won't say them to me so bluntly in person, but she knows it very well in her heart. Since the day she sent me the book, she has been giving me strength with a kind of silent love! Encouraging me, giving me confidence, and this kind of spiritual support that has made me keep improving! This kind of selfless help from all sides has touched me. I heard Cher say these words outside the door, and I wanted to break down the door and rush in immediately, hugging Cher in my arms.

"No matter how good Hanzhe is, you can't affect your studies in order to fall in love now, and when you are admitted to college, your mother will not object at that time, anyway, not during this period. Cher's mother continued in a particularly resolute voice.

Xue'er seemed to be crying, she knew that she couldn't resist her mother, so she could only cry and beg to her father:

"Dad, don't, don't, okay?"

Cher's father said, "Cher, what your mother said is right,"

Xue'er's mother said: "That's it, Lao Zhang, you can arrange it well, anyway, Hanzhe can't be here anymore." ”

Cher's father said, "Okay, give me some time, let me figure it out." ”

All that was left in the room was Cher's helpless cry.

I didn't dare to listen to it anymore and ran back to the dorm......

"What are you talking about?" Old Zhao's words interrupted my thoughts. He and Ah Guang also came over to drink tea at this time, and Lao Zhao said to Da Niu as soon as he entered the door.

Ah Guang drank a cup of tea and said:

"Lao Zhong, Niu Station, I was chatting with Lao Zhao just now, this idyllic landscape of Sanjiang Town can create a long scroll, this original ecological village is already a luxury in China in the future! ”

Da Niu answered: "No problem, I will ask the cultural station to do a special topic, pat your sketching scene, send it to the county TV station to broadcast, and report the beautiful pastoral scenery of Sanjiang Town, it will be called 'Kyoto Painter Painting Sanjiang', so decided, Hanzhe, tomorrow I will go to Ah Gou'er and ask him to sponsor it." ”

Lao Zhao and I both said at the same time, we will go to Ah Gou'er together tomorrow.

Da Niu said, "Hanzhe, you haven't said how you can run to Shenzhen." ”

I smiled and said, "I'll have a chance in the future." The group went to the dining hall for dinner.