On August 7, 1968, it was the 14th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which was the soul festival of the Zhuang people. At that time, the older siblings were already on summer vacation.

Because, as early as a few days ago, Mr. Cen invited our Qin family to the Cen family compound for the holiday, therefore, the sun had just set, Wei Ma asked Brother Jingtian, Brother Wenchang, Sister Lifen, Sister Wenjuan, me, Jingdi and Lilan to wear decent clothes and shoes, etc., and also brought four big chickens I raised to give to the Cen family, and after getting ready, we went to the Cen family together.

On this day, everyone was very happy, because in my memory, it was the first time that the Cen family had invited people from our family to their house as guests.

When we arrived at the living room of the central hall of the Cen family's compound, it was already crowded with a room full of people!

In the living room of the central hall, everyone has everything!

Mother is chatting with Mrs. Mao and two middle-aged women!

Teacher Cen and Uncle Lan, a middle-aged man dressed in a Zhongshan suit, were in a corner, making a birdcage and chatting with bamboo strips and bamboo strips.

A middle-aged man with an extraordinary bearing was standing and watching four boys and girls, and a little girl who was about my age playing poker!

I've never seen so many unfamiliar faces, and they make me curious!

When Mr. Cen saw us, he immediately put down his work, and the four boys and girls didn't play big cards anymore, and gathered with us, and everyone was busy introducing each other, and everyone got to know each other after the introduction.

One of the middle-aged women chatting with her mother was Uncle Lan's wife, her name was Lotus, and everyone called him Aunt Lotus, who was a few years younger than her mother. Aunt Lotus usually lives in the mountains with Uncle Lan, but she doesn't look like a mountain person.

Another middle-aged woman is a Chinese teacher at Daling Primary School, named Li Juxiang, everyone calls her, Teacher Li, she is younger than her mother, she is the mother of a little girl, and the man in the tunic is husband and wife. Mr. Li is a native of Daling Town, and is a distant relative of our family.

The man in the tunic is a math and science teacher at Daling Primary School, called Gold Rush, everyone calls him, Mr. Tao, Mr. Tao is a foreigner.

The little girl's name is Tao Yanfang, and she is very beautiful! Melon seed face, big eyes, and thick and jet-black hair! With a big smile on his face! The laughter is crisp and beautiful! It's a very cute girl! She was a few months younger than me, and my mother asked me to call her sister.

The middle-aged man standing and watching the cards was Teacher Cen's younger brother, called Cen Tianxing, and everyone called him Uncle Tianxing. He worked at the post office in the county town and was a telegraph receiver, and he informed Mr. Cen of his father's death last time. He also seems to be a scholar, but he is not married, has no children and no daughters, lives alone in the county, and only goes home during the New Year's holidays or when there is something to do.

Among the four young men and women, the oldest and oldest is Teacher Cen's son Cen Zuxing, who is a little taller than Brother Jingtian, more than 1.7 meters, as tall as Teacher Cen. Cen Zuxing is 15 years old this year, two years older than Jingtiange, and now, he has been in high school in the county for a year, and he is in the second grade after starting.

The tallest girl is Teacher Cen's daughter Cen Li'an, 13 years old this year, in the second grade of junior high school in Daling Primary School, and is in the same class as Brother Jingtian.

The most beautiful girl is Uncle Lan's daughter Lan Caixia, 13 years old this year, in the second grade of junior high school in Daling Primary School, and Brother Jingtian is in the same class.

Another boy who is as tall as Brother Jingtian is Uncle Lan's son Lan Feng, who is 15 years old this year, very handsome and strong, has been hunting with Uncle Lan for more than three years, and used to study junior high school in the junior high school of Daling Primary School, but now he doesn't study.

The four of them knew each other with their older siblings, so when they met, the older siblings mingled with them into two big tables of poker.

Wei's mother took Lilan and Jingdi to join her mother and they chatted.

I made birdcages and chatted with Teacher Cen, Uncle Lan, Teacher Tao, and Uncle Tianxing.

Teacher Tao smiled and said, "Ah Cai! Listen to Mr. Cen, you are a very smart and capable good child! ”

I said, "Teacher Tao! Mr. Cen is my master! He likes to praise me! ”

Everyone laughed!

Uncle Tianxing said: "Alas! Now this world is not a good thing for smart people! People who can see and hear clearly are either prone to accidents or are depressed! Only if you have no heart and lungs can you live a good life! ”

Teacher Cen smiled and said, "Tianxing! You are too pessimistic! There are no absolutes in things! Eyes, ears, heart, and brain should be put to good use! Blind, deaf, heartless, and lungless, will they be able to live comfortably?! Right? Ahh ”。

Everyone laughed!

We were chatting, and Sister Lian pulled Sister Yanfang over to chat with us.

Sister Lian smiled and said, "Ah Cai! Listen to my dad, you can recite a lot of ancient books! It's interesting to memorize a paragraph, let's listen to it! ”。

I said, "Yes! I'll recite a paragraph for you, my favorite, Master Wang Bo of the Tang Dynasty "Preface to the Pavilion of King Teng"! ”

So, Sister Li'an asked everyone to listen to me read quietly, and asked me to stand in front of everyone in the living room of the central hall, I stood there, sorted out my clothes, and began to read the "Preface to the Pavilion of King Teng" in Mandarin:

Yuzhang Ancient County, Hongdu New Mansion. The stars are divided into wings, and the ground is connected to Henglu. The three rivers and the five lakes are controlled, and the Ouyue is controlled. Wuhua Tianbao, the ruins of the dragon light shooting bull fight; Outstanding people, Xu Ru went down to Chen Fan's couch. Xiongzhou fog column, Juncai Xingchi. At the turn of the summer of Taihuang Pillow, the guests and hosts enjoy the beauty of the southeast. The Yawang of the Governor of Yan Gong, the halberd is far away; Yuwen Xinzhou's Yifan, the curtain is temporarily stationed. Ten days off, winning friends like clouds; Thousands of miles to welcome, full of friends. Teng Jiao Qifeng, the word sect of Master Meng; Purple Electric Green Frost, General Wang's arsenal. The family is slaughtered, and the road is famous; How do you know that the boy is victorious.

The time is September, and the order belongs to the third autumn. The water is exhausted and the cold pool is clear, and the smoke is condensed and the twilight is purple. Riding on the road, visiting the scenery in Chong'a; The Changzhou of the emperor, the old museum of heaven and man. The mountains are towering and green, and the sky is heavy; Feige Liudan, next to the landless. Heting Zhu, the lingering of the poor island; Guidian Lan Palace, that is, the posture of the hills.

Draped in embroidery, carved overhead, the mountains are open to its sight, and the river is shocking. Lu Yan pounced on the ground, Zhong Ming Ding Food House; The ship Mitsu, the green finch and the yellow dragon. The clouds are gone, and the color is bright. Luoxia and lonely birds fly together, and the autumn water is the same color as the sky. The fishing boat sings at night, ringing on the shore of the poor Peng Li; The geese were frightened, and the sound broke the pool of Hengyang.

Far away, Yixing flying. Cool and breezy, slender song and white clouds. Suiyuan green bamboo, the bottle of Peng Ze; Yeshui Zhuhua, the pen of Linchuan. Four beautiful tools, two dilemmas. Poor in the middle of the sky, extremely entertaining in the leisure day. The sky is high and the earth is high, and the universe is infinite; Happiness and sorrow come, and there are many things to know the void. Looking at Chang'an in the sun, Mu Wu will be in the clouds. The terrain is extremely deep in the south, and the heavenly pillar is high and the north is far away. It is difficult to cross the mountain, who is sad and lost? When they meet in Pingshui, they are all guests from other places. Emperor Huai is gone, what year is the Fengxuan room?

Whew! Bad luck and bad fate. Feng Tang is easy to be old, and Li Guang is difficult to seal. Qu Jiayi is in Changsha, not without a holy lord; Channeling Liang Hong in the sea song, is there a lack of bright time? The gentleman who relied on saw the opportunity and knew his fate. When you are old and strong, you would rather move the heart of the white head? Poor and strong, do not fall into the ambition of the clouds. Drink the greedy spring and feel refreshed, and be happy when it dries up. Although the North Sea is credit, it can be picked up; The east corner has passed, and it is not too late for mulberry elm. Meng tastes noble and clean, and has spare time to serve the country; Ruan Ji is rampant, how can he cry at the end of the road!

Bo, a three-foot life, a scholar. There is no way to ask for help, waiting for the weak crown of the final army; There is a pen with a pen, and Mu Zong's long wind. She hairpin wat in Bailing, Fengchen dusk in thousands of miles. It is not the treasure tree of the Xie family, and it is the neighbor of the Meng family. He is getting more and more court, chattering with the carp; Now I hold it, and I like to trust the dragon gate. Yang Yi didn't meet, and he felt sorry for Lingyun; The bell period has been met, why is it ashamed to play the flowing water?

Woohoo! The resort is not frequent, and the feast is difficult again; The Orchid Pavilion has been erected, and the ruins of Zize Hill. Parting words, fortunate to be grateful to Wei Yang; Ascending to the heights is what is expected of the public. Dare to be contemptuous, respectful and short-term; Every word is given, and the four rhymes are complete. Please sprinkle the Pan River, and pour the land and the sea clouds:

King Teng's high pavilion is near Jiangzhu, and Pei Yuming Luan sings and dances.

The painting building flies to the south of the clouds, and the bead curtain rolls up in the west mountain rain at dusk.

The shadow of Xianyuntan is long, and the stars change a few degrees of autumn.

Where is the emperor in the cabinet now? The Yangtze River outside the threshold is empty and artesian.

When I finished reading, everyone applauded and cried! I'm in tears, too!

......

I sat back down and continued to chat with Mr. Cen and them.

Teacher Tao wiped away her tears, looked at me with amazement and said, "Ah Cai! Amazing! Do you know the meaning of these songs? ”

I said, "Teacher Tao! I know, my parents have told me! When Wang Bo is composing songs, he expresses his mind, emotions, aspirations and life insights! ”

Teacher Tao nodded and said, "Not bad! What other songs do you like? ”。

I said, "Teacher Tao! I'm depressed during this time! I also like Ouyang Xiu's "The Story of the Drunken Man's Pavilion"! and Li Bai's "Will Enter the Wine"! ”

Uncle Tianxing said: "Ah Cai! I heard that you can still recite the Heart Sutra! Do you know what it means? ”

I said, "Uncle Tianxing! Yes! "Heart Sutra" is the Buddha's sealed work! The Heart Sutra speaks of the truth of emptiness! Everything is empty! Only by being empty can we attain nirvana and eternal life and be free from the suffering of samsara! That's what Mom and Dad taught me! ”

Teacher Cen smiled and said, "Okay! Don't take my apprentice's test! Let's go to the yard and take a family photo! ”

......

I don't know when, the sixth master and the stupid uncle have already set up an old-fashioned camera in the courtyard and lined up a row of chairs in front of the camera. The sixth master held a flash in one hand and a shutter airbag button in the other, ready to take pictures of everyone.

Teacher Cen told me that the sixth master's family used to open a photo studio, but later, the sixth master's eyes were not very good, so the photo studio was closed.

The sixth master asked the adults to sit on the chairs, Teacher Cen and Mrs. Mao sat in the middle, Uncle Lan sat next to Teacher Cen, Uncle Xing sat next to Uncle Lan, Mother sat against his mother, Mother Wei held her little sister and sat against her mother, and Teacher Li and Teacher Tao also sat on chairs; The older brothers and sisters stood behind the adults, and me, Yanfang, and Jingdi squatted in front of the adults.

After everyone set up the position, the sixth master shouted the password and took a few photos for everyone.

Soon after the photo was taken, it was getting dark, and everyone entered the living room of the central hall to prepare for dinner.

When we entered the living room of the central hall, the sixth woman and a few assistant cooks had already set up two tables of steaming feasts, lit a few old-fashioned lanterns, and the adults and brothers sat down at the table, and Wei's mother led us to sit down.

The dishes on the table are sumptuous, including braised large carp, white-cut chicken, white-cut duck, taro button meat, bacon, preserved fish, Zhuangjia knife-cut zongzi, etc.

After everyone sat down, Mr. Cen stood up with a wine glass and said, "Today is the 14th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which is the Ghost Festival of our Zhuang family. The second is to tell everyone some news about the children and discuss their future! Come, let's drink this glass of wine first! ”

My little brother and I looked at this table of dishes, and kept swallowing saliva, and before Mr. Cen finished speaking, we ate it!

When eating, Yanfang always looked at me and smiled, and she kept putting vegetables for me, Jingdi and Lilan!

The adults were toasting each other, and I, Yanfang, and Jingdi were desperately eating, eating, and drinking soup! It didn't take long for us to be full, and my little sister Lilan was also fed by me!

The four of us sat next to each other, eating melon seeds, drinking tea, and listening to the adults talk and discuss things.

......

After the adults have also finished eating, they clean up the food, dishes and tables on the dining table, they want to vacate the whole living room for a meeting, after the living room is cleaned up, they sit in the living room for a meeting with tea, fruits, etc. on the coffee table.

Teacher Cen said, "Tianxing, tell everyone what you know in the city." ”

Uncle Tianxing said: "Alas, it is like this! Due to the fact that the teachers of Daling Primary School have gone a lot, there are not enough people now! The prefecture has decided to cancel the junior high school of Darei Elementary School! The students in junior high school now, and the students who will go to junior high school in the future, will go to the city to study! The annual tuition fee is 12 yuan, and the monthly food and accommodation cost per person is 8 yuan, and the annual fee is 92 yuan per person! If calculated according to the six years of junior high school and high school, each person will need 552 yuan! That's a huge expense! Magnolia sister-in-law! Lotus sister-in-law! You can make a decision based on your family's situation! ”

Uncle Lan smiled and said, "Alas! Now, kids don't learn much in school! A few years ago, I had already dropped Lanfeng out of school! This time, it just so happens that Caixia doesn't have to read! There will be more than a dozen acres of paddy fields and a few acres of vegetable fields at home! In the future, let's farm at home! ”

The mother said, "Alas! We've been working in the office! We have nothing left but a property and a piece of wasteland left by the children's father! The children are all registered in the city, and in the future, only employment will have a way out! If they don't study, how will they be employed in the future? Therefore, no matter how difficult it is, we must let Jingtian, Wenchang and Lifen finish junior high school! Wen Juan has been in primary school for four years now, and she is about to be promoted to the fifth grade. Ah Cai, I'm going to study for a year after the summer! The two of them eat and live at home, and it doesn't cost anything! ”

After listening to the adults, I knew that my mother had too much of a burden on her shoulders! I really don't want to study, I want to do things and earn money! However, I don't have any other skills to make money except knowing that I can raise chickens and ducks, so I really go to learn other skills to make money right away!

Uncle Tianxing said again: "There is another thing, which is about the future of the children!" Now, students who have dropped out of school and are unemployed in many places have begun to be arranged in large numbers to work in rural areas! Over the age of fourteen, if you don't study, you can go farming! Of course, graduates also have to go to the countryside to work in agriculture first, and then it is possible to return to the city from the countryside to work! Everyone has been prepared for this in advance! ”

Listening to Uncle Tianxing's words, the brothers and sisters all bowed their heads and fell silent.

Uncle Lan said, "Alas! Now, there is nothing in the countryside, nothing but land and forests! It is very difficult for rural people to support themselves! The children of the city go there, and they also suffer! However, these things are still early, and in the future, let's take our time to figure it out! Now, the kids are on holiday too! Our family would like to invite the children to Guigu Gorge - our house to have fun! Let's just relax! You can't think about those uncomfortable things all day long, right?! ”

Teacher Cen smiled and said, "Okay! The sky is falling! Don't feel bad, everyone! There is no way to be unequal! God will always leave a way for us to walk! Early tomorrow morning, eight children, including Zu Xing, Li'an, Jingtian, Wenchang, Lifen, Wenjuan, Ah Cai, and Yanfang, will gather here! I will personally lead you to play in Guigu Gorge with Uncle Lan, Lotus, Lan Feng and Caixia! By the way, stay there for a while, and we're going to teach you some skills! Would you like to? ”

We kids applauded and agreed!

Jing Di said: "Teacher Cen! Why didn't you let me join the tour? ”

Teacher Cen smiled and said, "Jingdi! Later, there is a chance! You take care of your sister at home first, raise chickens and ducks! The skills we teach, in the future, Ah Cai will naturally teach you! ”

Everyone laughed!

After the discussion was over, it was not too early, my mother and Wei Ma took our family home, and Teacher Tao, Teacher Li and Yan Fang also rested at home in the staff dormitory of the school.

Our family happily walked on the deserted Daling Street, and at this time, it was very quiet!

The whole town is soaked in the hazy silver moonlight, and she looks extraordinarily beautiful, like a fairyland!

When I returned home, my mother and Wei Ma prepared toiletries, as well as a change of clothes and other luggage for me, Jingtiange, Wenchang, Lifen and Wenjuan.

......