Lin Wenjing had been living in Shanghai for four years, and after leaving Beijing, her stepmother took her and her younger brother back to their hometown in Fujian, buried Lin Zhimin's ashes in the ancestral grave, sold the house and property, and then moved to Shanghai to settle down.

Stepmother Aunt Mi is a native of Shanghai South City, the family background is average, there is an old mother and an idle brother at home, the family suddenly has three more mouths to eat, grandma and uncle are naturally full of complaints, fortunately, Aunt Mi has some savings to supplement the family, Wenlong is his own grandson, and the two are safe.

Since leaving Beijing, Lin Wenjing has never gone to school, but fortunately, a diploma from the preparatory department of Peking University is enough for a girl, she has worked as a clerk, kindergarten teacher, department store salesperson, and governess over the years, working hard and making money, just to bury her heart's desire, that is, to return to Peking University one day.

Today she just got off work from the Sincere Department Store, and she didn't even have time to eat lunch, so she hurried to Mr. Huang's house in Nanshi to be a tutor, Mr. Huang was doing things in a foreign company, and there was a fifteen-year-old son at home who was in middle school.

Today, when waiting for the tram, it has been delayed for a long time, and when she arrived near the dock, she was stopped by the patrol police, Lin Wenjing was anxious, she didn't have a watch, she didn't know if she was late, the convoy on the road was still moving, and the open-top truck was full of armed soldiers wearing green hats, and I didn't know which marshal was passing by, disturbing the people uneasy.

Finally the convoy passed, Lin Wenjing hurried away, when he arrived at Mr. Huang's house, Mrs. Huang's face was very unsightly, muttered a few words in Shanghainese, although Lin Wenjing lived in Shanghai for many years, but still could not speak Shanghainese well, apologized in Chinese with a slight Fujian accent, Mrs. Huang's tone was slightly softened, and said: "Young Master is in the house, Nong go in." ”

Lin Wenjing pushed the door in, and suddenly a basin of water was poured from head to the bottom of his feet, and there was a piercing laugh in his ears, and Young Master Huang slapped his face and laughed: "It's a plan, it's a plan." ”

This basin of water is probably left over from washing vegetables, a fishy smell, and a few vegetable leaves sticking to his head, Lin Wenjing was stunned by the sudden prank, and was so stunned that he couldn't speak, and the Yin Dan Shilin cloth skirt was also wet, dripping down.

When Mrs. Huang saw it, she wasn't angry at all, and said unhurriedly: "This kid, it's naughty again, Miss Lin should go to the bathroom and wipe it." ”

Lin Wenjing put down her schoolbag and went to the bathroom, Mrs. Huang's card friend urged her outside again, so she went by herself, Young Master Huang looked around and saw that there was no one, gently opened Lin Wenjing's schoolbag, pulled out a few banknotes in the mezzanine, and stuffed them into his pocket.

The boy is in the period of youth and rebellion, and he can't discipline Lin Wenjing at all with his skills, but today Young Master Huang is very obedient, a pair of cunning eyes blinked, but he didn't make any more tricks, so he stayed up like this for three hours, and Lin Wenjing didn't leave until the Huang family had dinner.

When he went out, he met Mr. Huang coming back from a foreign bank with a briefcase, no matter at any time, Mr. Huang's shoes and hair were always shiny, and he politely invited the governess to stay for dinner, but Lin Wenjing naturally declined politely.

Out of the Huang family, through a few alleys is their own home, into the house to see the hall on the dining table cups and plates, only some leftovers, grandma in front of the Bodhisattva squinting her eyes chanting words, aunt and Aunt Mi are arguing, uncle holding a declaration with Erlang's legs out of the matter.

Lin Wenjing put down her schoolbag to clean up the dishes and chopsticks, and her aunt looked at her and said, "After washing the dishes and chopsticks, come to see Xiao Nan, Allah is going out to play cards." ”

"Got it." Lin Wenjing agreed in a low voice.

My uncle put down the newspaper and said to himself, "Today is the day when Sincere Department Store pays his salary." ”

Aunt Mi also coughed dryly.

Lin Wenjing hurriedly picked up her schoolbag and looked for it over and over again, but she didn't find the salary just paid today, which was a full fifteen yuan! A month's salary! I lost it.

Seeing Lin Wenjing's embarrassment, my aunt snorted coldly: "If you don't want to pay for white food, how can there be such a good thing." ”

Aunt Mi glanced at her and said, "Maybe I forgot somewhere, look for it." ”

Lin Wen was sweating anxiously: "I remember that it was placed in the mezzanine of the schoolbag, why can't I find it." ”

"It's also appropriate for a girl's family to save some private money, and my aunt is from here, so I understand it very well." My aunt dropped a sentence lightly, got up and left.

Aunt Mi's face was ugly, and she also went back to the house.

Lin Wenjing was very aggrieved, standing at a loss, and her uncle comforted her: "I can't remember it for a while, so I think slowly, there are so many three hands outside, is it somewhere that someone picked it up?" ”

"No, I'm careful." Lin Wenjing said that these salaries are very important to her, and she has never left her side for a moment, except for the few minutes when she washed her face at Huang's house.

But the Huang family is a decent person, and they will never take their own money.

The uncle yawned, presumably an opium addict, and put down the newspaper and went out to enjoy it.

Although there were still some leftovers, Lin Wenjing had no appetite for food at all, and after washing the dishes and chopsticks, she went to serve her uncle's child, and finally put the child to sleep after being busy with and urine for a long time, and then dragged his heavy steps back to the attic, this cramped space is his warm nest.

There are a few books next to the bed, which are still the textbooks left in the preparatory department of Peking University, and every time she opens these textbooks, Lin Wenjing feels very peaceful and quiet.

Suddenly, my aunt's sharp voice came downstairs: "Xiao Nan is crying again, come down and hug him." ”

There is a table of eight immortals in the living hall downstairs, and the uncle is playing mahjong with the guests, one of the people with a dragon tattooed on his arm is surnamed Bai, everyone calls him Mr. Bai, it is Aunt Mi's concubine, a white-faced person on the beach, Lin Wenjing is very afraid of him, because his gaze always makes people think of animals such as toads or snakes.

"Xiao Jing is getting more and more smart, and it's okay in the company." Seeing Lin Wenjing going downstairs, Mr. Bai said with a smile, a pair of white eyes spinning unscrupulously on the girl.

The work of Sincere Department Store was contacted by Mr. Bai, this department store is the best shopping mall in Shanghai, the salesperson is very demanding, can speak Chinese and English, has a handsome face and a slender figure, it is simply a beauty pageant, Yilin Wenjing's own qualifications could have been selected, but Mr. Bai did not take this credit on his own family.

"It's okay, thank you, Uncle Bai." Lin Wenjing coaxed the little nephew in the cradle and replied politely.

"Oh, that's good, what's the matter to tell Uncle Bai, all the gossip is settled." Mr. Bai shuffled the cards and bragged, "Who do you guess Allah is having dinner with today?" Gold Rong Huang Boss! ”

Everyone was amazed, slapping the sycophants, Mr. Bai boasted about his ability with a paper cigarette in his mouth, and a pair of eyes rolled on Lin Wenjing's face from time to time.

Lin Wenjing was busy all day, she was really tired, she slowly dozed off while shaking the cradle, and suddenly had a pain in her arm, and immediately woke up, and saw her grandmother walking away from the side with a gloomy face, twisting the Buddha beads in one hand and holding an awl for tailoring in the other.

Her arm was pricked with blood by her grandmother, but Lin Wenjing didn't dare to make a sound, who told herself to doze off.

My aunt was shouting again: "I don't know how to add water when the teapot is empty, and I don't have any eyes at all." ”

Lin Wenjing hurriedly went to pour water and make tea again, and when she was in the kitchen, she heard everyone in the living room talking about herself.

"Xiaojing is not young this year, why don't you get married?" This is Mr. Bai speaking.

"It's early twenties, it's too early to get married, and someone in the family has to work." This is my uncle's voice.

Mr. Bai also said: "Brother Mi's words are wrong, if you marry well, you may make a lot of Tongdian, Allah knows a boss who is in the tobacco business, and he wants to marry a second-room ......."

The voice was lowered, probably whispering, and by the time Lin Wenjing came back with the kettle, everyone's expressions had become ambiguous.

"It's not early, there will be something tomorrow, so I'll leave." Mr. Bai got up and took his leave.

Uncle politely said, "Let's play two more rounds." ”

"There is really something to do, I asked Inspector Ye from the patrol room of the French Concession to have tea." Mr. Bai picked up his top hat.

"That's serious, not sloppy." Uncle sent the guest out, and Mr. Bai glanced at Lin Wenjing meaningfully before leaving, which made her tremble involuntarily.

Finally finished a day's work, Lin Wenjing returned to the attic, although extremely tired but couldn't sleep for a long time, she knew that the family was ready to sell themselves at a good price, no father and no mother, alone in Shanghai, maybe marrying someone is the best way out, at least the person who married himself will not be like the Mi family to call themselves as servants.

Suddenly someone knocked on the door, who would be so late, Lin Wenjing asked in a low voice: "Who?" ”

"Yes, Sister." Outside the door is his half-brother Wenlong, the only one in the family who is related to himself, he is ten years old, and he is studying in high school in Nanshi.

Wen Long climbed into the attic, holding a bun in his hand: "Sister, this is for you." ”

Lin Wenjing's eyes were red, but her younger brother still hurt herself: "Wenlong, you can eat, Sister has eaten." ”

"Sister is deceiving, Nong's belly is growling." Wen Long forced the bun to his sister.

Lin Wenjing ate the steamed buns, felt a lot better, and asked, "How are Wenlong's recent results?" ”

Wen Long said: "Recently, there has been a war outside, and it is not peaceful, and the school is on vacation. ”

"Oh......" Lin Wenjing went out early and returned late, and he didn't know that his younger brother was on school holidays.

Wenlong said again: "Sister Nong, rest assured, Ala will study hard and be admitted to Peking University in the future." ”

"Why do you want to go to Peking University?" Lin Wenjing felt a faint pain in her heart, it was a scar that she could never heal.

"Because there are rock sugar gourds in Beijing." Wen Long said very seriously.

Lin Wenjing's eyes suddenly appeared in front of the campus of Peking University, the rock sugar gourd in Shichahai, the crooked bicycle in the alley, the sunny, carefree, and the unforgettable first love.

Looking up at the low ceiling, tears flowed backwards in her eyes.

……

Five years ago, he and Xiaoshunzi took a steamer from Tianjin to Shanghai, taking a fifth-class Chase shop, but now it is a luxury first-class cabin, as if it was just yesterday.

The whole ship has been chartered by Chen Zikun, a huge sea ship only loaded 30 people, along the way without stopping at any port, the starry night rushed to Tianjin, arrived at Tianjin port at noon on the third day, disembarked and went straight to Beijing on a special train.

In the afternoon, we arrived at Beijing Zhengyangmen East Railway Station, the platform was already under martial law, a team of soldiers of the road guard stood solemnly on both sides, waiting for Chen Zikun to get off the special train, the drums sounded in unison, and someone shouted: "Salute!" The soldiers immediately brushed their rifles and saluted.

Zhao Jiayong, the captain of the convoy road police, was dressed in military uniform and trotted forward: "Humble duty to Chen Dashuai to say goodbye." ”

Chen Zikun smiled: "My own brother, what are you doing with this scene." ”

Zhao Jiayong said: "You are now a handsome, you must stand up for everything, otherwise let people know and think that we don't understand the rules." ”

Chen Zikun laughed: "You are reasonable, prepare the car, and go home." ”

Zhao Jiayong said: "I'm afraid I can't go back home first." ”

"Why?" Chan wondered.

A person came over next to him, wearing a straight blue tweed uniform, with a golden ribbon on his shoulders, and a saber with a golden tassel hanging from his waist, and saluted: "The humble post is the military attache of the presidential palace, and I was ordered by the president to invite Chen to the Xinhua Palace for a banquet." ”